Living off-grid

The suggestions of off-grid life

Author
Marco Nardini
Visual Curator
Xueyun Chen
English Translation
Rebecca Verrascina
Spanish Translation
Chiara Conti

Have you ever thought about that? The healthiest choice you can make is to be independent. Get rid of the grid and pursue your goals, while respecting others and also the environment. Living off-grid allows a good level of independence. A good level of independence can open up new possibilities. In addition, freeing yourself allows you to adapt more easily to changes, preventing new needs. Living off-grid and being independent certainly has a cost, but having an independent agenda can be useful for you and for everyone taking care of the places where your reality is realized. Where we are, where our place is, the place to which we belong and to which we feel linked, the community with which we identify.

Constantly evolving

Today, the dependance on networks is growing. Energy networks and information networks, which make the territories increasingly guarded, controlled and confined. Where boundaries become blurred, the off-grid life asserts itself. It’s more than just a technical achievement. A radical departure from the constraints of modern society is a symbol of liberation that offers individuals and communities an independent lifestyle and the freedom to carve out their own existence. Even in the remotest corners of the earth.

The challenge of living off-grid

The off-grid lifestyle is a testament to human ingenuity and commitment to environmental protection. But while the pioneers of independence from networks chart their own path, they encounter a million challenges by disentangling themselves from the complexities of sustainable living, regulations and the hypocrisy of being according to pre-established canons. Yet it is precisely through the obstacles that the true essence of offline life is revealed, a trip of resistance, innovation and freedom in search of a wild independence.

In the heart of remoteness

Among unspoilt landscapes and wild views, lovers of off-grid life find a refreshment. The unbridled splendor of nature is a sanctuary for the soul. The echoes of civilization fade into primitive vastness. For those who seek freedom, distance is not an obstacle, it becomes a path towards liberation. It is an opportunity to get out of the confines of the city, to get rid of the burdens of modernity and to rediscover the simplicity of existence in the solitude of nature in a freedom that knows no boundaries.

Off-grid city

Getting rid of the network is also possible for those who live in the city. The movement of off-grid living is not just a trend limited to unspoilt places. It is rather a change in the way we conceive architecture by changing the relationship with society and the link with the environment. In a way it’s a rebellion against the status quo. A social change and a challenge to consumerism as it promotes a deeper community connection through self-reliance. By embracing off-grid principles individuals can reclaim their autonomy and reduce dependence on centralized systems. Also (and above all) in the city. By exploiting renewable energy, conserving water, using sustainable materials, reducing the ecological footprint and demonstrating, at the same time, that it is possible to live in harmony with nature. Coexisting with our environment rather than exploiting it, wherever we are, thus inaugurating a greener and more sustainable future.

Una persona che tiene in mano un modello della terra
Picture of Porapak Apichodilok – A person holding a model of the earth

The data speak for themselves.

Not to be overlooked is the aspect of savings that can be achieved with this type of construction. The construction cost can be around 1500-2000 euros per square meter, for a medium-level construction, with all the off-grid features. In the face of almost total zero energy and management costs, off-grid homes are equipped with modern systems for the production of clean energy and protected by highly insulating building envelopes. They also use technological systems capable of collecting and reusing rainwater and treating wastewater, making them non-polluting. The homes are designed with ecological materials and low environmental impact. This is the case of the community consisting of 67 off-grid houses in Mallorytown, Ontario built by a well-known Canadian housing company (CABN).

Zero impact

In this case, the homes are designed to guarantee the best comfort conditions, with a minimum energy requirement, in the various conditions of seasonal temperature and humidity to achieve a zero-impact building. To achieve this goal, highly insulating windows and heat recovery systems (mixing indoor and outdoor air) are used to reduce heating and cooling consumption. Very important is the reduction of water consumption (hot and cold) and high-performance thermo-hygrometric insulation. The photovoltaic panels complete the equipment, which ensure the production of off-grid energy throughout the year.

An indissoluble bond

The off-grid movement is a dynamic force, driven by fundamental principles deeply rooted in sustainability andself-reliance. This lifestyle promotes the use of renewable energy sources and the appropriate management of water resources. Freeing individuals from the chains of conventional service networks. But there is more. It also claims to build with intentionality by prioritizing longevity and reducing construction waste while prioritizing an indissoluble link to the natural world.

Personal sovereignty

Echoing Henry David Thoreau ‘s call to live deliberately and in communion with nature, we make a simple life experiment by supporting individual autonomy and self-sufficiency in the midst of nature’s solitude. Let us free ourselves from the net (and nets) and following our conscience even if it means disobeying unjust laws. Affirming personal sovereignty and freedom from social constraints. We live in harmony and seek to cultivate a deeper connection with the world free to explore innovative and sustainable solutions that blend seamlessly with the environment.

To learn more : 50 years off-grid: architect-maker paradise amid NorCal redwoods

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