Country Places, Inc.

Going 'Off-the-Grid' is the term referencing living in a home autonomous from one or more municipal utilities.  For an array of reasons, current and future landowners are researching how to become more self-sufficient in their dwelling needs.  Whether the motivation is due to lack of access to services, saving money or attempting to lower the environmental impact of living, exploring alternative options for power, water, waste and other amenities is part of planning to live off-grid.

Establishing a stand-alone power system on the property with renewable energy sources such as geothermal, solar and wind is one goal.  Use of LED lighting has changed this industry by providing a lengthy service life and high energy efficiency.  Everything from large, fairly-complex whole-house systems to self-charging solar and green tech gadgets become part of this process.  Alternate ways to store and cook food also have to be considered.

Another major factor in off-grid living requires locating and securing on-site or third-party water resources.  Using any streams or lakes on the parcel is perfect, yet drilling wells and harvesting rainwater will be utilized to serve some landowners.  Others will pay for water to be delivered by vendors from nearby towns.  All waste from personal bath and beauty use, including laundry, has to be considered and properly dealt with and handled according to local restrictions.  Some off-grid options include septic tanks for blackwater, drainage areas for greywater and composing toilets or piles.

While some want to use their off-grid homestead to 'get away' from the rest of the world, others want to enjoy the solitude but must stay connected via cell phone and Internet for family or work purposes.  There are options for these amenities and access is greater than ever for adequate smartphone reception and remote broadband offerings by several providers.

The idea of this lifestyle has been popularized in the mainstream most recently by celebrities like Ed Begley, Jr., who starred in an HGTV series -- Living with Ed -- about living off-the grid, and Daryl Hannah, who constructed an off-grid home in Colorado.  It is estimated that over 250,000 families are living off-grid in he United States and the numbers continue to skyrocket.  The rapid growth of green-related jobs is another indicator that this style of living is on the forefront of the modern American Dream.