|
Post by admin on Sept 2, 2006 16:24:22 GMT -5
Who in their right might would WANT to live offgrid..and what is that anyway? I got that question "What does that mean? when I called local zoning people in town. OFF Grid means being able to live without electricity, city utilities, or shopping as usual for food. None of us think it will happen to us, okay so then if, no WHEN IT DOES, will you die or will you be a survivor? You have to have skills to be a survivor, so are you willing to learn what to do?? I'ts kinda sorta like camping out, but it would be AT YOUR HOUSE. This isn't play time any more.
|
|
|
Post by stdisam on Sept 3, 2006 15:51:48 GMT -5
The Amish live off-grid and do quite well with it.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Sept 4, 2006 20:56:40 GMT -5
Peggy, when I called locally, nobody knew what it meant. I asked if a person has to have power to their home if they are wanting to live off the grid. There was silence...as in WHY? I said sometimes there are people who would like the option to go off the grid and I was wondering if our county had taken this into consideration, is it allowed...they truly didn't know....LOL Elaine
|
|
|
Post by stdisam on Sept 6, 2006 17:57:36 GMT -5
Well, you would have to do without the internet to do this, but all you have to do to live off-grid is just to have your electricity and telephone turned off. You don't have to live a hundred miles from nowhere to do that.
Probably the question you should ask the dummies at city hall is if there is a law that says you have to have your electricity turned on.
Anyone can live off-grid wherever they are, I would suppose, if they just make up their minds that that is what they want to do.
|
|
|
Post by stdisam on Sept 6, 2006 18:00:00 GMT -5
By the way, off-grid means that you are not connected to the utility companies. Doesn't mean you don't shop for your food.
|
|
|
Post by admin on Sept 6, 2006 21:05:41 GMT -5
Didn't mean to type that about shopping, don't even know why I did...duh......and about living off the grid, who am I kidding, just how would I survive without the internet and the window shaker. I can't sleep when it's too hot. I just spent forty bucks at Walmart for a tower of three fans, it's an impressive thing that if the electricity goes off, Mark can plug into the generator and I can get instant cool before I hurt somebody (grin). Elaine
|
|
|
Post by admin on Sept 6, 2006 21:15:38 GMT -5
You know, living in Alaska it wasn't a big deal living off the grid even in the summer. Nobody where we lived had electricity except the Bureau of Indian Affairs school I attended. So it wasn't weird or a hardship. The water was in a barrel just inside the door of our house, the fuel for the oil lamps, coleman lantern, coleman camp stove in mama's kitchen, generator(for sunday and wednesday church services), chain saw and snow machine(I don't know what they call them nowadays)was on our front porch. I remember it getting so cold daddy stuck a screw driver in either the kerosene or the gas and the screwdriver stuck straight up. It just didn't seem like a hardship at all. I think it really wouldn't be so bad now if it wasn't for the heat and humidity here in Florida. There's no reason why we can't cut down on the amount of electricity we use. That may be the next challenge. Seems the fish raising in a barrel is on hold for a while until we can gather all the ingredients for the biofilter. I don't think we have enough rocks, and we need to get activated charcoal and some other things then he has to put it all together. With Marks shoulder still hurting, he really hasn't felt like doing much after being at work all day. Won't go to the doctor because that would mean workmans comp and doc would put him on no work and going to therapy. That would cause a lot of problems, money is tight enough already.
|
|
|
Post by Melanie on Sept 9, 2006 16:11:42 GMT -5
WE DO! We have a field that we want to build on that would cost EXACTLY the same to bring standard electricity or install solar panels. We have decided to go solar! We also have biodiesel and wood heat. It is cheaper and greener for our area. I believe everyone must make the best choice for themselves, no one answer is the CORRECT one! Melanie in Greece
|
|
tx2wv
New Member
Posts: 8
|
Post by tx2wv on Dec 5, 2006 22:32:32 GMT -5
Hi, I am new, my name is Amy and I live in South Texas. I would love to disconnect the electricity, but am unsure how I would handle 115 degree heat in the summer. Currently, I use a hand crank radio for music/news/weather in the house, and solar lights purchased at home depot. These are the kind that are used to line the walkway...by mounting the solar portion on the outside wall, and then running the wires through the wall or a window, and positioning one of each three lights in various positions, I am able to light my living room, dining room, and kitchen. The kids have battery operated coleman lanterns in their rooms, and I have placed 15 watt flourescent bulbs in other areas to help lower electrical bill. I am working on getting solar power for the entire house, but am working up to it a little at a time. Charge the laptop and phone in the car. Schoolwork, sewing, craft projects, etc., are done in the dining room using the solar lights and at times oil lamps. You might want to try the small solar lights to get you in the mood and practice of solar power...
|
|