Is it possible to live off "the grid"?

Answer 1

Yes, people do so. But what you really need to ask yourself is can I live off the grid. It would be quite hard for a person used to todays luxuries to give up TV, telephones, internet, grocery stores, air conditioning, and of course indoor plumbing.

Answer 2

Yes I've had some friends who have done it. Solar, wind, generators and batteries etc can provide what you need if you have the right property location. Here in AZ solar is great in other areas wind is better. You also need an inverter to change the ACDC current. For TV and phone Sattellite would be best, that's what most off the grid people do. The built a whole village off the grid up near the Hoover dam area. If you generate more than you need and are on the grid for that purpose you can sell what you produce to the energy company. I believe this year you can claim a tax credit for going alternative house. In some areas of the country people also have their own oil wells or natural gas wells on their property and use those for all their power. In upstate NY there are houses like that where the mineral rights go with the house, a great deal ! All of these are expensive to go into and take years to make back, its like deprecation, so its not something to go into lightly.

Answer 3

Of course. What do you suppose people did before there was a grid? I'm on the grid for electricity, but I could do without it. I can cook with my wood stove (and I live in forest covered hills). I have kerosene lamps and hand-crank LED lights. I have a solar oven that I haven't had to use yet. I grow some of my own food, and I'm working toward growing it all. My water comes from rain into a network of rainbarrels and cisterns. It can be done.

Answer 4

I know several people who do. Some of them have to work in town in businesses that are on the grid but others really are off it altogether. Some people up here don't have any choice in the matter. Don't forget about the Amish either. I don't think it would be possible in an urban setting but if you have a little room, of course you can.

Answer 5

"How to Become Invisable" by JJ Luna
You'll find this book in the finance or investment section of Barns&Noble. I have a friend who has read it, applied it, dissapeared off the grid...and recommended it. I am not sure if this is what you mean by living off the grid.. but i thought it might be. ^_~

Answer 6

If you're a hobo...perhaps. Although you're still squatting on the grid.
Check Rousseau's Social Contract in the search engines for explanation on how far the grid reaches and how it's unlikely to live off it

Answer 7

www.backwoodshome.com. We will be building our off grid home in 2008. We got a lot of great ideas and resources from this magazine. We will be using a combination of solar and hydrothermal energy to power our home and commercial greenhouses.

Answer 8

mostly, but if you are in the us, you will still have a ss#. If you can avoid working, and live in the middle of alaska and dont have an address or a phone then it is possible.

Answer 9

Yes, it is very possible. All you have to do is carry no identification, travel by bus, pay for everything in cash and never, ever tell anyone your real name.

Answer 10

for now... if you wanted to you still could .... after 2008 and "Real ID" i doubt you will be able to ... soon after that im sure every transaction and movement you make will be recorded by a requirement to scan ur card for almost everything.