subject: Know More About Communities Off The Grid [print this page] Have you ever wondered what does "off the grid" means? Off the grid is a kind of lifestyle which communities have sufficiently lived without having to rely on public utilities such as electrical power grid, water supply, sewer, natural gas, and the like. Communities off the grid produce their own electricity and are nearly self-sufficient. They generate electrical power on-site with the use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind or geothermal. Like the case of the community in Three Rivers in Oregon. They are among the Americans who have chosen to breakaway and live among communities off the grid. Most of the people from Three Rivers can use electricity with the help of solar panels built on top of their roofs or any set structures that are situated to efficiently capture light from the sun. Another way of accessing power is through the use of electricity generated by windmills or wind turbines.
Water is definitely one of the most important resources for an off grid home. For communities off the grid, water sources on site include a well, stream or a lake. Also, it can include pumps or filtration, depending on the water source. In addition to that, rainwater is also harvested to serve as a water source. A well could be communities off the grid"s first choice of source of water where they can just call in a well contractor or just build it on their own. In the United States there are more than 17 million homes that get their water supply in their private wells. The whole well idea is easy "" pump draws out the water from a hole which was dug earlier or drilled deep into the ground. It is important to use only licensed well driller. The wells need to be installed properly because if it is not, the possibility of harmful contaminants could leak into your well is high. The deeper the well, the cleaner the water you are going to get.
Rainwater harvesting system with a cistern would be the easiest option for the off grid communities water supply. Basically a cistern serves as a tank which holds the collected rain water. From the rain gutter the water is directed to the cistern and then sent back into your home right when you want it. Communities off the grid also lay away from the sewer line through installing a septic tank system. This system is mainly a large tank which collects and releases wastewater. When new wastewater flows in it pushes old wastewater out of perforated pipes and releases the water into a drain field. With the help of the soil it keeps harmful bacteria underneath the earth until it is fully absorbed as nutrients. Going off the grid is not complete without turning away from lined gas. Communities off the grid managed to do their cooking with propane stove or a mud wood stove. Basically mud wood stoves only require sand, clay, and straw which again goes very organic and natural.
Food is essential whether you are living off the grid or not. Foods for the communities off the grid are mostly organic and grown, hunted and cultivated by themselves. Food production is done hand in hand by everyone in the community and each one of them takes part in maintaining the houses and the land. Living "off the grid" is definitely a well-liked choice for those people who aim to lessen their carbon footprints and emphasize their independence and steer clear away from relying on fossil fuels. Less reliance on fossil fuels leads to reducing global consumption which helps prolong the oil reserves.
It also cuts down electricity bills because of generating electricity on our own with the use of solar and wind energy and most importantly there would be no harmful residues. Being part of the off the grid community is an act of being selfless to the environment; we do not just take everything we can and leave our resources depleted. It is a lifestyle which is environmentally friendly and very cost-effective which gets rid of the constraints of being tied to utility demands. Communities Off the grid living are cheaper and greener, because it will bring various benefits or advantage not only to the human kind but also to the ecosystem or surroundings as well.
