Imagine heating your home without relying on the local power plant. Wouldn’t it feel good to meet
your need for electricity without harming the environment? For a growing number of people, these
ideas have become reality. Out of concern for the environment and a desire for self-reliance, these
people have made the bold decision to live off the grid.
What exactly is “the grid”? The grid, short for “the power
grid,” is the linked system that supplies electricity to
most homes and buildings in developed nations.
Homes that are off the grid are not hooked up to the
local power supply. Instead, they produce all of the
energy they consume. As a result, people living off the
grid avoid the environmental and fi nancial costs that
come with on-grid living.
The key to getting off the grid is replacing electricity
supplied by a power plant with a renewable energy
source, like wind or solar power. Buildings that use solar power have solar panels on the roof or
near the building. When the sun’s light hits the panels, the panels collect the energy. Wind power is
collected by turbines, also known as windmills. When the wind blows, the blades move, producing
energy which is turned into electricity by a generator.
Some people go even further off the grid. In addition to setting up a renewable energy source, they
also have an independent source of water. They dig wells to access ground water or use a cistern, a
type of tank, to collect rainwater. Those most committed to living off the grid may even lack garbage
service. These people generally live a life that creates very little waste, growing their own organic
fruits and vegetables and raising chickens and goats for eggs and milk. By avoiding the consumption
of packaged foods, they greatly reduce paper and plastic waste.
As challenging as it may be to live off the grid, most off -gridders feel that the benefi ts far outweigh
the diffi culties. Jorge and Ella Alvarez, off -gridders in northern Arizona say, “We love being off -grid.
It’s defi nitely hard work, but it puts everything in life into perspective. It’s surprising to fi nd just how
much you can do without. Many people think we have a harsh and depressing lifestyle. Nothing
could be further from the truth. We see living off the grid as a gift that has allowed us to be more in
touch with nature and each other.”
This view is shared by Wendy Johnston, a mother of three, living off the grid with her family in
Ontario, Canada. Wendy recalls, “In the house I grew up in, we would leave lights on all day, the
thermostat up at night, and water running without a second thought. I wanted my children to be
raised with more respect for the environment and an awareness of the impact that they have on it.
My children don’t take energy for granted. I love the fact that they are learning how to take care of
the earth while, at the same time, learning to be self-suffi cient.