Living Off The Grid

In recent years there has been great concern over the growing demand for energy, and the lack of non-renewable energy resources to meet the demand in the future. In addition, the question of “sustainability”—the ability to balance social, economic, and environmental needs in energy production to meet both current and long-term requirements—has come to the fore. It is clear that America must expand energy production quickly, and that we must develop renewable, sustainable energy sources to meet long-term demand and protect our future. There are many proposed solutions, such as wind and solar power. But the technology for these resources is not yet fully developed, making them, at best, low-output alternatives. Because renewable sources are

Off the grid defined as not requiring utilities, such as electricity, water, sewer, natural gas, heat, insurance, cars and other services. To truly live off the grid means to have a home that operates without the assistance of any public services. However, to achieve this independence, is to use renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar or geothermal. Generators and fuel reserves needed. Another way is to do without electricity. However, doing without water is not an option you need water to survive. Therefore, living off the grid you must have a water source, such as a nearby lake, stream, or rainwater.

Author Derrick Jensen states in “Forget shorter showers,” that simple living will not solve the environmental problem. First, the water, energy, and waste used by industries and agriculture are far greater than the amount used by families. Next, switching to more green technology can still cause more damage than it is intended too. Finally, placing the blame on simple living people is not where the actual problem lies. Orion contributor Derrick Jensen argues, “Municipal waste accounts for only 3% of the total waste production in the united states” (341).

In his book, Living Off the Grid:A Simple Guide to Creating and Maintaining a Self-Reliant Supply of Energy, Water, Shelter and More (2008) Dave Black lists the following eight reasons many people are choosing to go off grid in America today: There is no grid available, to minimize environmental impact of the grid and leave a smaller carbon footprint, to avoid utility costs, saving money by lowering bills, emergency insurance, entertainment of an intelligent mind, reducing use of fossil fuels, and public image. He goes on to explain that whatever reason or reasons a person may choose to go off grid there is a long list of realities that one must face in relation to such an undertaking. Ability, location, shelter, laws, resources needed,

2. Wind power is generating electricity by collecting wind, and it saves energy in the world.

Going off grid is the desire of many Preppers, and some have successfully done just that. It requires planning and hard work however, and furthermore it requires you keep an eye on the future.

Wind energy, one of the oldest forms of renewable energy used by humans, is produced simply by harnessing the power of the wind with wind turbines and generating electricity. Geothermal energy is energy from the heat of the Earth, and is drawn from locations with naturally heated water like hot water reservoirs and geysers or areas deep within the Earth accessed by drilling (NREL, "Learning About Renewable Energy"). Hydroelectric power, in simplest terms, uses the power of water rushing downwards to rotate a propeller attached to a generator that in turn produces electricity (Perlman). Another form of renewable energy is biomass, such as wood, biofuel, and bio-waste, which is burned to produce energy; however, it is not clean energy.

Hydroelectric is a form of energy it is a renewable resource. Hydroelectricity is the most important and widely used renewable source of energy. Hydroelectric relies on water, which is clean and renewable energy source. Renewable energy comes from natural resources. Non-Renewable energy source includes coal, oil and natural gas. Water is renewable because water continually recycles itself. To harness energy from flowing water, the water must be controlled; a large reservoir is created, usually by damming a river to create an artificial lake or reservoir. Water is channeled through tunnels in the dam. The energy of water flowing through the dam causes the turbines to turn and make the

I see our community sharing more burdens and hoarding more resources. Our consumerist society doesn’t give people the chance to not spend money on things. Living off grid doesn’t mean living outside a community, like a hermit. There’s an idea of a social contract that states members of the community have consented, by the active living in the community, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the rule of the community. Our society’s rules about required amounts of electricity provided to a home or required building standards or required trash collection begins to cost more than what a person has, the submittal to the rule of the community has become more powerful than individual’s freedoms and too many of those individual freedoms are

“Understanding sustainability as a holistic perspective from which to view the world allows us to recognize the interconnectedness of all things. This perspective leads to a critical examination of our role in society and the complex and evolving relationship between environmental, economic, and social issues. We realize that our success and happiness depends not only on ourselves, but also on our community and surroundings. As a student initiated and consensus-based group, the Sustainability House at Barrett seeks to act as a support community for integrating sustainability into the lives of its

“A wind turbine is a machine for converting the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy”. (1) The inventor of the first electric wind turbine was Clevelander Charles Brush, who ran his entire Euclid Avenue mansion off of one for 20 years, which later made the cover of Scientific American in 1888. (2) Although the use of alternate energy didn't rise a great deal afterward, this event did open the eyes for many environmentalists. Wind power is only one of our several “energy source[s] whose ‘fuel’ is free and will never be exhausted” (3) with the pros and cons not completely weighed out as to whether it will be truly beneficial or not. The two main issues regarding wind turbines are the environmental effects that they have and the

In 1831, scientist Michael Farday discovered the first form of electricity. He found that when a magnet moved inside a copper coil it created what is known as an electric current. This invention is known as a turbine generator. Even today, in full sized power stations this simple invention is still used and works very effectively. These power stations create mass amounts of energy to turn the turbines. Most of the time the energy is made from the heat, for example when coal is burned. More environmentally friendly power stations use wind or flowing water to turn these turbines. This is known as renewable energy because it will not run out, unlike when oil and coal are used.(3)

We are facing an energy crisis on Earth. Burning fossil fuels are harming the atmosphere; this global warming and affects produces chemicals that hurt our body. People are starting to think about using alternative energy. Wind power would be our first choice, because it’s clean, inexhaustible and renewable. Today, wind power is mainly used in Europe. We believed wind power would be the main source of alternative energy for world use.

Rainwater collection can help minimize the demand for water that gardening makes during the hottest, driest periods. Rain barrels are a great way to capitalize on this free source of water. Reasonably priced and easy to install, gardeners are advised to take a look at utilizing rain barrels. Rainwater collection for use during dry spells is not new technology; rainwater has been being collected for over 2,000 years. This ancient technology has found new life among today 's green gardeners. Costs of municipal water are rising and drought restrictions now face many areas of the United States. While the average American may not be inclined to install a large cistern in their yard, rain barrels provide a reasonably priced and easily installed option that produces a nice supplement to traditional water sources. Water is a much valued and often taken for granted natural resource. Water is essential to life, human, critter, plant and other. Many Americans turn on the tap, leave it running for whatever their intended purpose, such as brushing one 's teeth, and never give a thought to the big picture of water shortages around the world. Often gardeners turn on their sprinklers with not much thought beyond their knowledge that their plants need a thorough soaking. It may seem to some that water is in abundance. Lakes and rivers may dot the topo map of your region. However, consider these facts. Though 70% of the Earth surface is water only 2.5% is fresh water (as opposed to salt

As I mentioned before, the world has been using more than it created especially in the US. The only reason why we Americans can live like we do is because we use resources of other countries. If everyone in the world were to live like the average American, then we would need around 5 Earths to provide for everyone. One way to reduce our footprint would be to use less. Of course, everyone hears that we should reduce, recycle, and reuse, but how many people actually do that. One great example of a place where everything used is completely renewable and eco-friendly is the Govardhan Eco-Village in India. This village, while not possible everywhere, sets the tone for sustainable living. For sustainability they utilize various techniques like organic farming, water conservation, soil biotechnology, and waste management. This village has attracted much attention and has won many awards including the International Green World Award and International Zero Waste Award. Using this as a model, I believe that with serious reform, we can improve our cities and homes to leave a smaller footprint and to become more