Living Off Grid – The Pros and Cons

More and more people are considering moving away from modern mains connected utilities in the pursuit of an off grid life.

Off Grid doesn't need to mean living primitively - many people live in perfectly normal households but with off grid sources of power. Regardless of how off grid life would look for you, there are a number of reasons for and against living this way. As a couple who have been living completely off grid, we will look at some of the benefits and negatives in this article.

The Positives…

Let's start with money!

Probably one of the first things that springs to mind for most people when they think of not having electricity (or water) provided by a utility company, is how much money you will save from not having a bill each month. Now, of course this depends on your alternative choice of electricity supply, but if you can run all the electrical appliances that you need for free from renewable sources, then this amounts to some serious money savings. If you decide to use a generator, then you would have the cost of fuel for this to consider.

Freedom

Without the pressure of bills to pay each month, you have more freedom to spend your money (and time, depending on how you look at it) as you want! You are less dependent on the system and responsible for generating your own power, water, heating etc.

A sustainable way of living

Living off grid means you know exactly where your energy is coming from. If this is from renewable sources, for example solar, wind or hydro power, then this of course has an environmental benefit as well. Not only are you more connected with nature, but you can also rest assured knowing that you aren't contributing to the climate crisis.

Learn new skills

It depends on how exactly you decide to go about off grid living, but making this change gives you the opportunity to learn new skills. Being responsible for your own power and water means you inevitably have a better understanding of how these systems work and you learn more about them. When setting things up or fixing any problems that may arise, you are more likely to do this yourself. Once again, increasing your independence from mains systems, and equipping yourself with some valuable life skills. There are so many resources out there to learn about off grid systems and once you realise that you can ‘do it yourself’, you won't want to go back.

Health

Living off grid can also bring about a number of health benefits. It often means a more simple life, without the modern day stresses of monthly bills to pay. It can help you slow down and can also mean living a life more connected to nature, which can have huge benefits for both your physical and mental health.

 The drawbacks…

Money

Although money is one of the main reasons FOR living off the grid, it can also be a barrier for some people. Depending on the off-grid systems you choose to set up, an off grid power system can often mean a larger initial investment. As with everything, there are a range of systems available at a variety of different price points. It can be difficult to get started and to find a system that both suits your budget and the way you want to live.

Sacrifices

If you have an off-grid system that provides a limited or unreliable amount of energy, this may mean having to sacrifice on some modern comforts. You may not be able to afford a system that can power all the appliances that you're used to, so you may have to allow for a little give and take.

Likewise, living off grid can often mean that you are dependent on nature. For example, if your water well runs dry during a very hot summer then you may be faced with water shortage problems, or if your solar panels don't receive enough sun then you may have a shortage of power. It is important to be aware of this and ask yourself if this is something you are prepared to live with.

Lack of knowledge

One other possible drawback to off grid life is the potential lack of knowledge of off-grid systems and how they work. If you can't set up or problem solve a power/water system by yourself, then this could lead to increased costs and difficulties if things go wrong. However, we strongly believe that you can learn to do anything if you want to enough.

So, living off grid brings about wonderful benefits if you want to live a more sustainable and freeing life; however, like everything, it does have a few drawbacks or things that you would like to carefully consider before making the move.