How to Go Off the Grid: This is What You Need to Do to Your Home

In the home, we’re using a lot more power, and it’s hitting us in the wallet and purse. Houses typically have a TV or computer screen in nearly every room, and then we’re using and recharging smart appliances and devices. This trend has caused many people to change things up and go for an off-the-grid lifestyle.

If you’re like many people, you’re trying to figure out how to go off the grid. Below are five steps you need to take if you’re going to become independent.

1. Cut Your Power Usage

Most people don’t realize how much power they use during the day. As mentioned earlier, we keep adding more technology to our homes every year. Each device you add consumes more power. Every new appliance is smarter than its predecessor. For example, your fridge will have a digital screen, and it probably connects to the internet and a smartphone app.

Every couple of minutes, we’re interrupted by notifications from our phones trying to get our attention, and all this activity uses power, but we don’t want to do without it.

If you want an off the grid home, you need to be power efficient. Take an inventory of all the devices in your home. Did you know the ‘standby’ feature uses power? Your device is still on and therefore, it is using power so you can turn it off.

Check how many TVs and computer screens you have on standby right now – and switch off. Your goal is not only to stop power-hungry tech burning through your cash but to replace off tech and appliances that are more power-hungry than their updated versions. For example, older clothes dryer take longer to dry clothes and use more power.

2. Weather-Proof Your Home

Heating and cooling make up much of the power bill for many people. It’s not as bad if you’re in a moderate climate. However, things can get out of hand if you live in an area with extreme heat or cold.

If your house isn’t weather-proofed, with airtight windows ideally double or triple glazed and insulation in the roof, walls and floor your energy usage is going to get out of hand during hot and cold months, figure out the quick fixes you can do to control your home’s climate without using power.

3. Set Up Water Collection

You won’t have access to public utilities if you’re entirely off-grid. If you don’t have any well water on your property, then you’re going to have a rough time staying hydrated during the day.

The good news is that you can use your roofs to collect rainwater on your property. Send your water into a barrel for storage. From there, you can sanitize it and use it for everyday activities.

4. Figure Out Your Power Consumption

After you cut your energy usage, you need to find off-grid power solutions. For most people, this is solar power. Reports show that solar now powers off-grid electricity for 420 million people.

Your power usage will help you determine how many solar panels you need to power your home. You’ll need to figure out how much sunlight you’ll get throughout the day and how much power each solar panel will provide.

5. Have a Backup Plan

All the planning in the world isn’t going to save you when the unexpected happens. You never know when nature will take its course. If you don’t prepare, you’re not going to have power when you need it the most.

An excellent first step is to find a generator or a back-up battery. These devices will provide you with power when your power generators aren’t functioning. They will hold you over until you can get things fixed.

Now You Know How to Go Off the Grid

You spend most of your life working to pay for your lifestyle. Now that you know how to go off the grid, you have what you need to cut down on those bills. There is a lot more to learn if you decide to go off-grid, so keep learning to learn how to make the transition.

If you’re looking for home improvement projects that will reduce your bills, our blog can help. Head there to discover our latest home improvement projects.