Off Grid Living - You Can Do it Too

Solar Powered Generator

verted using the principles of off grid living, no matter where in the world they are. There is a steadily rising interest in the use of alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro electric power generation as a means to reduce dependence on fossil fuel burning power plants. Technology has advanced and costs have been reduced at the same time. With the many kits, resources and guides available today, living off the grid can even be accomplished by do-it-yourselfers. Those that have moved to off grid living are today resting easy in the knowledge that their bill are getting less even as global energy costs are rising.

Some people are still convinced that they would need to give up their electrical appliances and gadgets to live off the grid. This couldn't be further from the truth. All that living off the grid entails is learning how to control your energy usage. There are a few very simple things that can be done to save electricity such as turning off lights in rooms that are not in use. Use appliance that don't use power when turned off, like microwave oven and stove clocks. Computers, printers and some chargers continue to leech power and add to your bills when they are off or in standby mode - see those little indicator lights?. Your luxuries don't need to be sacrificed when your are trying off grid living, you just need to learn how to be smarter when using them.

Off-Grid Living Book Set

The increasing popularity of off grid living has brought about the production of high efficiency, modular and movable homes to cater for the demand. These one or two person mobile homes are similar in layout to conventional mobile homes and use passive solar design together with solar panels and natural gas to provide for living off the grid wherever they are located.

If you would like to learn more about off grid living but are not sure about where to start or if you would like to see some practical examples in action, you could use the Internet for your research. There are a great number of guides and resources available as well as a lot of people willing to share their own success stories about off grid living. Probably the best part of off grid living is when there is a blackout in your neighborhood and you don't need to break out the candles. You too can experience the freedom of off grid living regardless of where you live as this lifestyle is within easy reach of anyone.

The author is an electrical engineer with a keen interest in alternative energy sources and DIY.
Visit FreePower4Ever.com to find out more and to get some links to his favorite guides for building your own solar panels and windmills to enable you live off the grid.