One further comment, the idea of Net Zero is all the rage these days, including Net Zero houses, but of course the Net is the keyword, and Net still means grid connected.
Genuine nice-living off-grid homes can exist, the passiv haus type things, but they are not easy to do, and as I said previously, very expensive and not necessarily all that easy to operate. They obviously go better in warmer or temperate climates. I recall seeing articles from years ago where some eccentric inventor types built passive style homes partly subterranean, with large earth berms, and using old Coke cans (empty) built in layers in the earthen walls as air insulation, etc etc.
It def easier today to build a low energy demand home with access to relatively cheap solar panels and batteries for storage, but even there, the PV only produces so much power, so there remain limitations on the use of electrical devices in the home.
Very good. The issue with the off-gridder types, is they are mostly wanna-bes and they don't generally have the skills to do the energy balances to determine what it REALLY takes, its mostly wishful thinking. The issue with the net-metering types, and why some of them get very resentful when they are finally called on their free-riding by the utilities, is they DO want to be off-gridders but they really cant, given their actual lifestyle needs. So they simply try to blame the 'big, bad capitalist' utilities who are 'out to screw the little guy'. Which is not actually true.
Trying to live off-grid and maintain a 21st century western lifestyle is extremely difficult to do, its probably only possibly if you have large amounts of money to design and build super-custom energy use systems and housing.
Of course it fairly easy to live off grid if you are willing to live in near poverty.
There is a major irony in the fact that to go safely off-grid you basically need lots of money to design and build... (and this is the thrust of my follow-up post. Even if someone (or indeed an island economy) can go "off-grid" - they/it is still deeply embedded in the industrial system.)
"While the internet often glamorizes the idea of off-grid survivalism, the reality is starkly different. Experts in off-grid living suggest securing stable lodging, a generator, and a propane tank. Ample supplies are also essential for survival, but the family had none of these items. “They had a lot of literature with them about outdoor survival and foraging, but it looked like they supplied at a grocery store,” said Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes, who determined that the unfortunate family had died from exposure to the elements."
Yeah, crazy story. Very sad. I have family records that one my ancestors attempted to do homesteading in Megantic in the late 1800s and drowned in Spider Lake in the process.
One further comment, the idea of Net Zero is all the rage these days, including Net Zero houses, but of course the Net is the keyword, and Net still means grid connected.
Genuine nice-living off-grid homes can exist, the passiv haus type things, but they are not easy to do, and as I said previously, very expensive and not necessarily all that easy to operate. They obviously go better in warmer or temperate climates. I recall seeing articles from years ago where some eccentric inventor types built passive style homes partly subterranean, with large earth berms, and using old Coke cans (empty) built in layers in the earthen walls as air insulation, etc etc.
It def easier today to build a low energy demand home with access to relatively cheap solar panels and batteries for storage, but even there, the PV only produces so much power, so there remain limitations on the use of electrical devices in the home.
Very good. The issue with the off-gridder types, is they are mostly wanna-bes and they don't generally have the skills to do the energy balances to determine what it REALLY takes, its mostly wishful thinking. The issue with the net-metering types, and why some of them get very resentful when they are finally called on their free-riding by the utilities, is they DO want to be off-gridders but they really cant, given their actual lifestyle needs. So they simply try to blame the 'big, bad capitalist' utilities who are 'out to screw the little guy'. Which is not actually true.
Trying to live off-grid and maintain a 21st century western lifestyle is extremely difficult to do, its probably only possibly if you have large amounts of money to design and build super-custom energy use systems and housing.
Of course it fairly easy to live off grid if you are willing to live in near poverty.
There is a major irony in the fact that to go safely off-grid you basically need lots of money to design and build... (and this is the thrust of my follow-up post. Even if someone (or indeed an island economy) can go "off-grid" - they/it is still deeply embedded in the industrial system.)
From this pretty tragic story: https://realselfsufficiency.com/familys-tragic-end-highlights-dangers-of-unprepared-off-grid-living/
"While the internet often glamorizes the idea of off-grid survivalism, the reality is starkly different. Experts in off-grid living suggest securing stable lodging, a generator, and a propane tank. Ample supplies are also essential for survival, but the family had none of these items. “They had a lot of literature with them about outdoor survival and foraging, but it looked like they supplied at a grocery store,” said Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes, who determined that the unfortunate family had died from exposure to the elements."
Yeah, crazy story. Very sad. I have family records that one my ancestors attempted to do homesteading in Megantic in the late 1800s and drowned in Spider Lake in the process.
Nice take on "No Man is an Island", a sermon by Jon Donne. BTW, I loved "The Good Life" on BBC.
Let’s create a business. Off grid for politicians and activists. They will be astonished a cow need to be fed ahead of milking it.