Off of the Grid

[John Picard]

Here is a thread from another forum I frequent where someone from Canada discusses being "Off of the Grid".

Much of what he posted intrigued me, and what impressed me is that he's not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid. After posing some questions, I became intrigued at why I myself could do since I live on 10 acres on the edge of civilization. I theorize that with some solar panels and storage batteries, I could run all of the lights in my house and perhaps some other appliances. Convert to LED lights and power consumption would be even further reduced. My water heater is due to be replaced soon, and I've been thinking that a solar water heater would benefit me better. Bear in mind that I live in Oklahoma, where it gets "damn hot" in the summer months and the winters are wacky, with some days in the 60's and then next week in the 30's, with the week after up into the 70's again.

Does anyone here have any sources or ideas for re-wiring, plumbing, or any of that to make a house independent? Not only am I capable, but when we were hit with an ice storm this last winter, that knocked out power, I had my gas stove for cooking, I collected rain water in buckets for the commode and for cooking, and I put my food on the back porch in an ice chest to stay preserved. I usually keep the thermostat low anyway, so the fact that I couldn't run the furnace was no big deal. I bundled up in some sweats and hunkered down like pensioned old widow

Seriously, comments and suggestions are welcome!

 

[Samurai8472]

As soon as I saw the title I thought it was about a guy hiding out like John Connor in T3 lol

 

[M'Sharak]

Here is a thread from another forum I frequent where someone from Canada discusses being "Off of the Grid".

Much of what he posted intrigued me, and what impressed me is that he's not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid.

Speaking of "not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid", you might want to look into George W. Bush's ranch house in Crawford, Texas. It's got a lot of just the sort of thing in which you're expressing interest here.

 

[John Picard]

Here is a thread from another forum I frequent where someone from Canada discusses being "Off of the Grid".

Much of what he posted intrigued me, and what impressed me is that he's not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid.

Speaking of "not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid", you might want to look into George W. Bush's ranch house in Crawford, Texas. It's got a lot of just the sort of thing in which you're expressing interest here.

Very true. I do remember news reports where GW's house is more "green" than that lying tub-of-shit AlGore's.

I am rather shocked and amazed that in a forum of people who preach and believe all of this Global Warming/Manmade Climate Change BS that no one practices what he preaches beyond using Compact Florescent Lights But then I shouldn't expect any of those people to frequent the Science and Technology forum.

A few weeks ago, while reading a current issue of Popular Mechanics, I saw an interesting product that screens the gray water that drains from a bathroom sink and stores for use to supply the tank above the commode. It's a water saving device that really makes sense and is something I would definitely install.

 

[Deckerd]

My water heater is due to be replaced soon, and I've been thinking that a solar water heater would benefit me better. Bear in mind that I live in Oklahoma, where it gets "damn hot" in the summer months and the winters are wacky, with some days in the 60's and then next week in the 30's, with the week after up into the 70's again.

I was under the impression that photovoltaic panels converted light more than heat, therefore they would work all year round (provided the sun is shining). In the UK some new builds are laying elements under an area of garden soil and using a converter to turn this into house heating.

There's a (probably apocryphal) story about someone who uses their swimming pool as the storage battery for their wind generator.

 

[BCI]

A very sad story: when our local utility annouced a price hike, our shared flat decided to check offers. I found renewable energy that would have been cheaper than the new price of our utility - but the democratic decision was made to go for the cheapest, all nuclear provider.

 

[TerriO]

Here is a thread from another forum I frequent where someone from Canada discusses being "Off of the Grid".

Much of what he posted intrigued me, and what impressed me is that he's not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid.

Speaking of "not the typical, misled, hippie wanna-be young kid", you might want to look into George W. Bush's ranch house in Crawford, Texas. It's got a lot of just the sort of thing in which you're expressing interest here.

Very true. I do remember news reports where GW's house is more "green" than that lying tub-of-shit AlGore's.

I am rather shocked and amazed that in a forum of people who preach and believe all of this Global Warming/Manmade Climate Change BS that no one practices what he preaches beyond using Compact Florescent Lights But then I shouldn't expect any of those people to frequent the Science and Technology forum.

I'm not an Al Gore fan, either, but let's concentrate on the message, not the messenger, please. And blanket insults like that really don't strengthen your position at all.

Not a warning. Not even a friendly. More of a "please don't drag political mudslinging in here" request.

 

[K'riq Sa]

Great Thread

Morning all...

I live out in the Mojave Desert on 40 acres of land and have many unfinished projects , one I am almost finished with the Jack Bar at Hole #1, on my private golf course....

Drinks on me everyone, out at the Red Rock Resort.....







acridly,

K'riq Sa
Minister of the Church of Willy Nilly