How many people are living off the grid in the UK?
In 2010 Off-Grid.net estimated there were 100,000 living off the grid in the UK. We think it has increased since then to 200,000, mainly due to the increase in mobile off-grid living – in vans, boats cars and buses. But also due to a growth in the number of off-grid communities and the increasing size of each of those off-grid communities.
Types of off-gridder
There are many reasons for living off-grid – the most common is wanting to live an ecological life – reducing your carbon footprint- – but there are also survivalists and preppers who think they are protecting themselves against the coming social collapse. Then there are those who live this way because they have no choice – they are living off-grid to save money. Even if that is not the primary motive you are likely to save money when you cut out Utility bills and remembering that off-grid properties are likely to be cheaper to buy or rent than connected properties. The environment will supply you with energy, heat, water, and food.
UK Off-Grid Living, Living Off the Grid in the UK – Which is the Correct Phrase & What does it all mean?
In the UK we tend to say “off-grid”. In the USA they prefer to say “off the grid” except when talking about technical energy infrastructure arrangements.
You should expect and be able to handle problems such as a dud battery, a broken wind turbine, or a week without sun or wind. You may not be the one responsible for the maintenance of your new off-grid home and surroundings, but you should make sure your suppliers are local since that way you have the best chance they will return to fix issues in a timely manner.
Benefits to UK Off-Grid Living
These are the advantages of living off the grid, both in the UK and elsewhere:
- Save Money
- Eliminate endless advertising and commercial messages
- Reduce pollution and stress
- More time for friends
- Letting nature into your life
- Taking charge of your own life – becoming more self-reliant
- Increasing the resilience of society as a whole through your own self-sufficiency
You can live comfortably and well off the grid in the UK, but you will have to deal with planning restrictions and prejudice against the lifestyle from those who think it is just for the homeless and travelers.
First steps to Off-Grid Living
Finding the ideal land for UK off-grid living
This may not be the first or most important thing when planning to live off the grid – that depends on whether you are living a mobile off-grid life, or opting for a fixed location. You need to find land that is both affordable and suitable for off-grid living and that might well be in Wales or Scotland rather than England. If you are able to afford land with an existing off-grid residential unit then England tends to have better year-round weather. But Welsh laws on eco-living are more tolerant of off-grid lifestyles and Scotland crofting laws are also advantageous.
- Orientation – is there good sunlight and some level of wind protection? either from trees or a valley.
- Avoid north-facing land – to maximise solar gain.
- Arable land: Fertile soil permitting you to grow food, plant trees, and raise livestock.
- Water source: No problem if you don’t have water, as the UK has plenty of rain at the time of writing.
- Woodland: valuable asset, both as a source of fuel source and material for building.
- Freshwater is crucial for survival, so prefer a location near a stream, river, or well, and remember to purify the water if needed.
Planning Permission
If you plan to live off the grid lifestyle in a static caravan or a yurt, then you still have to worry about planning permission. But, if you’re planning to live in an existing permanent home, then you would not need to apply for Planning Permission.
When you want to make a big change to your building
When you want to change the use of the building
For more about UK planning permission and to learn how to apply for it, please visit the Planning Permission website.
Power Source
Living off the grid does not mean you have to live in the dark. Off-grid living does not mean going back to the stone age. You can still generate power, charge your laptop and cellphone, cook on a wood stove, plug in a washing machine on sunny days, and use some other devices.
Some use wind (wind turbines). Others use water power (hydroelectric power, which can be very inexpensive) to generate electricity. The most common source to generate power and electricity is by using solar panels.
Water
Most houses in the UK can gather enough water for cooking, washing, and general living, but drinking water is another matter. Non-drinking water sources can come from rainwater or a borehole with a powerful deep pump (buy it from Amazon). Companies that dig a borehole can be expensive. You can dig your own borehole, and the equipment necessary can then be used to run a profitable side-hustle. Here is one example of the borehole-digging kit from Amazon: GOWE 100m Water Well Detection Equipment Borehole Drilling Machine Well Cameras Inspection Sensor Size:1/4″; Horizontal Resolution:700TVL; Signal System: PAL
Heating
The most important thing to remember about off-grid heating is not to allow the house to become cold. Super-high quality insulation is expensive but will save you a huge amount of time and money in the long run. And stop your feet from getting cold. Remember to insulate all walls, floors, and ceilings, but use a special vapour barrier so the damp from the air inside your house has a way of escaping once it is heated.
Food
Some people believe that if you truly want to live off the grid, then you must grow your own food. You can grow vegetables, fruits, grains, raise livestock for the purposes of dairy products and meat, build a coop, and more.
If you’re a complete newbie in the farming area, try “The Encyclopedia of Country Living: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself” which will teach you some of the necessary skills and help you towards the essential knowledge. This book tells you how to grow all sorts of food, how to store it, how to forage, keep bees, tend to livestock, and much more.
Drainage and Waste Disposal
Sometimes, this subject is neglected and overlooked, yet you must have a plan for the disposal of waste. Improper disposal not only damages the land, nature, and the environment but can also lead to fines.
- Composting toilet: Many off-gridders install composting toilets. They are waterless, compact in their size, and do not smell (completely odorless).
- Soakaway: This is a simple hole that you dig in the ground. It is filled with coarse stone and rubble, which allows the surface water to percolate back into the ground. The hole should be 1 meter deep (give or take).
Conclusion
How much does it cost to start living off the grid?
There is the initial investment (land, house, various equipment, septic system, power system) and the daily costs (household items, maintenance, Internet, healthcare, taxes, and so forth). But don’t let these costs deter you from achieving your dream!