Off-Grid Living with Renewable Energy

[IWASGIJOE]

Taxes are bullshit

[MrKhaleghy]

weldone to you all.

[ExploringBeyond]

I'm interested in this concept simply for self-reliability reasons but I couldn't help but laugh when she basically said "a hose works like magic"

[offthegrid25]

When I heard of this concept, living off grid. But it sounds fascinating. Brings me back to the me that existed in the 70s and even into the 80s before solar was scrapped as non-economical by the Reagan administration. . and now I don't even know what living off grid is. I've gotten soft. Probably couldn't even survive living off grid at this point in my life, but I can pare down. Keep up this motivational artilce for the sake of us all!!! Thanks.

[1sick93]

diesel smart cars are not sold in north america?

[Kanoee64]

What is it like to bend her over a chair or the kitchen table?

[141fire]

its probbaly alredy stated but i noticed high voltage power lines close to the house. Isn't that kinda like mooning the police LOL (funny as hell)

[offthegrid25]

When I heard of this concept, living off grid. But it sounds fascinating. Brings me back to the me that existed in the 70s and even into the 80s before solar was scrapped as non-economical by the Reagan administration. . and now I don't even know what living off grid is. I've gotten soft. Probably couldn't even survive living off grid at this point in my life, but I can pare down. Keep up this motivational videos for the sake of us all!!! Thanks.

[nimo4923]

thanks.

[yappertrap]

yah great you have moved into the woods and carried your piles of shit with you.. still parasites...

[alderaforall]

@yappertrap don't be a prick

[AbattoirDream]

carbon doesnt cause global warming.. the sun does.

[rangerbob1967]

I dont care about my carbon footprint. I am sick and tired of the corp. chain around my neck. People a50 years ago had more freedom than we do now.

[Soundgarden8497]

drinking recycled sewage water is the most stupid and tasteless fucking thing to do period.

[alderaforall]

@Soundgarden8497 you do it everyday

[Soundgarden8497]

@alderaforall no that was yo mumma, she drank my sewage boy

[MopDMTBARTL]

HOW??? smoke and mirrors, learning nothing. another distraction

[DoLpH1983]

They should build a biomass boiler like mine. check my channel and website out if you want to build a DIY biomass boiler

[brianfking]

He claims insurance and property taxes are all they pay to maintain there lifestyle?

I could have swore I saw a satellite dish and animals that need fed, not to mention that yuppie cappuccino.....must have gave up food as well...lol

[JesusNonEnviromental]

So, if you have a high paying job that can afford you to pay off a mortgage and have extra income to install solar generators and wind turbines with a payback of 20 years you should live off the grid too Any house can be off the grid, you walk over to your electrical service and turn off the main breaker and Presto, You're offically off grid. Open the windows, get out the candles and have a big yard sale, oh yea you shower in the rain

[yliveable]

Why wouldnt you help the whole world out by telling them how to do it. We all need to learn to start helping each other. Then the domino effect would be someones great idea turns into another.

[sohearen]

The video is all about them and not about the "how to" aspects of living off-grid. I say that they are grid inter-tied (1,500 watt hairy dryer!?...misleading luxury which is not conducive to off-grid living). Give us the business case analysis and return on investment analysis/disclosure and I doubt that you will show us how your experiment makes dollars and sense.

[shakaama]

It annoys me that so many people make silly comments telling how this CAN'T be done or how these people in particular don't know anything, or some other snap judgment.

The fact is, these same people making these comments have done absolutely nothing in this area and are nothing more than naysayers. I would even go out on a limb and say that some of these comments are corporate spies sent to sew seeds of discords to keep people suckling at the government / corporate teet.

[simonkism]

i am disgusted by these slaves

[xanos4225]

Smart Cars are so gay. They should just ride the horses if they are so hardcore.

[averagefamily]

Sounds like she does most of the work around the house......

[waellerbe]

Excellent lifestyle change. I can see that they still have have lives, they simply live their lives in a way that allows for more freedom. This is a dream that I aspire for. Bring it on. :-)

[pgm98387]

I like how they do laundry only if its either sunny or windy.

( :{ )

[cptnsmelly]

Total noobs. Should be living in a monolithic dome. Seriously though, this is pretty cool.

[knoose]

They need a CORN STOVE!!

They are just amazing. No wood.

[ConstrictorsINC]

a Smart Car along with 4 SUV's Parked in the driveway also!

[lutherarao]

Belive it or not Free energy is real,But the big oil corporations don't want that technology revealed,Go to LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM and get the blueprints for a genuine magnet motor ,The revolution begins!

[Grabowski420]

CHU CHING!!!!!!

[materialclassified]

Hook up an alternator to your stationary bike and do your laundry. Just kidding!

Your video is very informative, thanks!

[MischievousKittie]

when your attached to the city water they do the same thign with our water as they are doing with their gray water. They eliminating the middle man and paying them to do the same exact thing.You can also do rain water collections like many do in new zeland and use that , safely..for home. Even more use river water collection systems for their home usage.

[RobinDropping]

It's only a matter of time , the government will come and confiscate ALL your land because you're not paying your taxes assholes.

[anjkumar1]

I've been working on RE proposals and feel like I keep hitting walls so wanted to see something inspirational to keep me going. This definitely did it! Thanks Bill and Lorraine!! One day when I get a home I will keep you in mind and may even contact you for help (if you don't mind ;)

[chevyloverguy1]

the problem with getting green is its just way too expensive so people say no. If Alternative energy was cheaper the whole world would have changed by now.

[terial2000]

This is crap and not available to the average person. Zerocarbon is a myth we're carbon based lifeforms for spites sake! This nothing but an example of those that can have, have! This is not a good example of anything that great.

[DainEllis]

truly awsome , thanks for sharing ,  id tell the uncle that he can loose his right to visit and take me LOL

[phxvalleygirl]

I like this -- I don't care how much of a "purist" a person is...they are living their lives off the grid and I'm NOT. They made their choice to do what was needed to be debt-free, and I haven't gotten there YET. I applaud them. While I worry that Mr. Kemp's coffee habit may cause him problems down the road....BFD....it's still his perogative to live in the pursuit of happiness as he finds it. Very good!

The Powers That Be (PTB) will never want this to occur - need to take our power back!

[Engineer245]

I guess I say that I am glad you at at least trying. However, while there are many people who would like to live off grid, when the price of what you have build hits them in the face they run for the hills. I wounder if this house is really totally off grid. I don't see much reducion in the carbon footprint either. But again at least you are trying.

[secretsquirrell13]

i was with them until i saw the smart car.

[unseenxxx]

Heh what a bunch of yuppies

[brianwurst1234]

Man I just want 100 acres. I don't even need a mailbox, just 100 acres.

[gaiagale]

thank you for sharing your story

[damnationbegins]

Unfortunately due to government subsidies and major corporations buying patents to block the further development of renewable energy the market forces have not had a chance to work to bring down the prices on alot of solar, geo-thermal, and wind power. It's still much cheaper in the long run from my research to be off the grid, just takes a little more start up money. If you build your own home and you can save over 100,000 dollars easy.

[bigirish08]

I think the fact that they haven't "altered their way of life in any way shape or form" is the very point that they are making. The ability to stop wasting natural resources and continue to enjoy the amenities of on-the-grid living is a reality. I don't think it matters whether you have the ability to purchase it outright or put it together as you go. What matters is that people like this, cash-purchase or do-it-yourself, are having a positive impact on the planet on which we live.

[Warsrogue]

Very nice place, this is more realistic than some of the hippie compounds in mud huts.

[MrEnergyCzar]

I converted my home to a net-zero solared powered home (no oil or gas either)...I made a youtube video showing what my family did...

[rudepenis69]

how do you get in touch with ppl if you want to live off the grid?

[thecampustv]

you can find us on facebook under earthship.florida; we're well connected in that world

[proverb311031]

go green to save money and be free from rising energy cost of the future. The electricity companies waste 60% to 70% of what they transmit down their bad transmittion lines

[carnage6ar]

i understand the technology is there and everybody has been turned off to it the majority of ur bills in a house besides the moregage is utilities = less money in your pocket some people have great jobs and cant keep up on bills cause the have so many

[dwaynec995]

paying insurance and property taxes is not living off the grid!! LOL.

[dropbear22]

can you explain to us all how you would avoid that?

[DrLsw]

@dwaynec995 i can see not paying insurance. but how you cant not pay property tax..

[DrLsw]

@dwaynec995 you cant avoid paying property tax. without loosing you house or goin to jail. somethin like that

[CamerOneiric]

Not true, you just have to be hidden well.

[xeikai]

Well, that sounds like a nice little accomplishment they have achieved. I dont quite think that life is for me though. They may be off the power grid but they have internet and a phone most likely. And i think the investment to start such a project would require quite a bit more money than most people have. I commend them though. Good job

[dirtTdude]

this is living off grid and it's great to see what's possible but its not self sufficient living, to be self sufficient you need a large family or a small group of people and a great deal of effort.

[johnny102marvin]

TRUE - To be self sufficient you have to have a garden, chickens, water well, root cellar, barn, farm animals, and so on....this requires a division of labor between many people and a lot of time.

[unintentionalatheist]

not if your a vegetarian

[johnny102marvin]

True....vegetarians would have a difficult time living in a world that has been turned upside down by a world wide catastrophe because food would be scarce, and you have to be willing to eat squirrels, doves, fish, frogs, honey bees, grasshoppers. If it moves, consider it as a source of protein.

[regnarBO]

hardware and software design, working on your books.

of course you can develop this type of life style lol

Oh well good job on the house design.

[RCEbooks]

These comments are amazing: Written by cave dwellers who can't spell and ignorant as hell!

[johnny102marvin]

Cave dwellers will survive and city dwellers will die during a world wide catastrophe such as SOLAR MAXIMUM, Nuclear War, global panendemic, or other huge environmental changes.

[Drolkin]

Id kill myself due to boredom if I were these whities.

[noxvet]

I'll tell you where to start. I stopped bathing, and haven't bathed in 2 years or so. I've taken a shower maybe once every few months, like people used to in the old days. I do the occasional sponge bath, or go into a bathroom and throw sodium laureth under my arms, if I feel I might offend someone with my stink. Then again I think people putting all that ax and oderant on themeslves, flowers, musk, all that shit, I think that shit stinks...and it personally offends me, so fuck em.

[elplatanero145]

yo u must stink bro we aint in that much water neseity bro chiilll out nd take a bath i smell uu from here lmfao!!!!!!!!!!!!! :/

[hanadorii]

You said it perfectly.. "Many people want to live this dream they just don't know where to start" -- 100% true!! Where do I start?? :'(

[CPLBSS88]

start with the basics.

[TheWallie2k]

@hanadorii same here

[RonaldKovacs]

I am doing much the same in Northern Ontario. Note, the lady briefly mentions they have a generator. It is hard to get away from one. As far as the drinking water, this is how a septic system works. You can be sure the water is further purified with a filter system before they consume it. I seriously doube they collect waste water in a container and process it directly.

[Ironboots123]

Amazing.

Those who are jealous of other people's money should move to North Korea. Oh, I get it, you just want socialism. Sorry. The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. Hey Madhippymun and duddevil, when was the last time a poor person offered you a job? Wake up and smell the coffee.

[madhippymum]

yes it pisses me off that if you have money going off grid is SOOOO easy - but that is the failinf of this system - but no way does that detract from the efforts they are making - like ALL of us there is probably areas we could poke fun at or criticise - yeah coffee is not sustainable blah blah - we all have to start somewhere - again though it really PISSES me off that it takes money to do this when many of us poorer folk would dearly love to do it

[duddevil]

these yuppies had a boatload of CASH and bought everything brand new they dont know how to take care of anything and have not altered their way of life in anyway shape or form. these people just happen to have lot of cash and buy thir enviorment.

[aztextpress]

While your point is valid in many cases, Bill and Lorraine built their own house themselves for significantly less than you would pay in a subdivision. The difference is they made the environment their priority. I publish BiIls books and also live off the grid, and I make much less than the median North American income. It's just priorities. My priority is energy independence and getting my house to be Zero-carbon. You can do it, you just have to make it your priority as the Kemp's did.

[piglett2195]

i would rather live in the ditch & sleep in a cardboard box than live in a subdivision.

why would you want to live in a place where everyone but you decides what you can & can't do?

[S0u11ess]

@aztextpress

his point isn't valid in any respect. if everyone with enough "CASH" invested in renewable energy as these people did the planet would be much better off.

[concujak]

@aztextpress

I don't want to turn this into a Political debate, but I just want to point out that "Carbon" isn't a pollutant.

[killerclown1740]

@concujak I agree all the carbon on the planet has always been here

[tmomof6]

@duddevil, "they don't know how to take care of anything," Are you saying that because their animals are dying or because they have an income that allows for luxuries you can't afford? Money isn't the issue here. Living green doesn't mean going homeless or living in a shoe box on the street. No one "just HAPPENS to have a lot of cash", you have to EARN money. Whats important here's they spent EARNED income on efficient power systems, if 'yuppies' can be comfortable off the grid you can too.

[gbilios]

@duddevil cant be done because the power companies don't want you to do it..if you do they want a profit out of it..building a home needs land permit..

[AUX999]

@duddevil

It is not necessary to alter your life just to live off the grid if you have the money to put out. You could buy all the mini-hydro, geo-thermal and solar panels you need to live a quite comfortable and no changes to your life except you no longer pay monthly bills except prop taxes. If you raise/grow your food, that might alter your way of life. This idea that living off the grid has to be grueling and tough and you have to be rough it is ridiculous.

[ergo151]

@duddevil What a grump!

[batteryphil]

@duddevil Well it doesn't matter if they have a boat load of cash or know anything. You don't have to be poor or an electrical engineer to want to do this. If more "YUPPIES" did this then the market would boom and it would become more affordable for poor geniuses like us.

[utubeworms]

@duddevil What does it matter how much money they may have? The important thing is that they ARE doing it and learning from it!

[0HippyHunter0]

@duddevil And that matters? Who cares if they had money? Who cares if they bought it new? Heres a thought for you: if no one bought new products then there would be nothing for others to buy used. So, all those "yuppies" make life for poorer people possible.

[Regisphilben]

@duddevil Hey, whats wrong with making money for yourself and spending it well. Money is just a tool. Obviously they did something productive to earn their livings/things.

[Avatar2050]

If these people knew anything about anything they would know to stop drinking coffee...

[HobbyistX]

Wait, coffee is a non-renewable resource? *suicides*

Seriously, whats so bad and environmentally unsound about coffee? They grow it on hillsides, which is good right? Erosion resistance, oxygen production... sounds good to me!

Do you find fault with the fact that it's served hot? Cocoa, Tea, and intravenous plasma are all served hot too.. are those bad? All heating applications can be relatively simply be converted to solar.

Coffee and tea rule, and btfu if you disagree!

[Avatar2050]

coffee contains programming, is highly addictive and kills all good and bad bacteria in your stomach... it is acid forming and constitutes bad health..

but something tell me u are addicted and will carry on sipping those nasty cappuccinos...

[regnarBO]

cappuccinos taste good!

[hagbard72]

where is the useful information?

[theVirus7]

its funny that these pple are so worried about this, but yet every room they enter has either a light on already or a computer running and they are off the grid yes, but not in the ways that pple think..they're still yuppies drinking cappacino and doing software design.

[nichaaron]

its not really "processed"

I live in the country we have septic the septic hold the solids and the water is leached out into the ground,it then gets filtered thru rock and goes into the water table its no different than any other water,all water is recycled like that

[superpunchy71]

He said they harvest their own water, flush it down the toilet and then end up drinking it after it gets "processed". I'd love to hear how they "process" their toilet water to the point where it is drinkable after they've crapped in it.

[aztextpress]

I think Bill's referring to the fact that they live in the country and have a septic system. In a system like this, the water waste leaves the house and enters a septic tank, where the solids settle out. Then the liquids leave the tank and go to a weeping tile bed where they drain through gravel and then sand. Eventually after this water have been filtered by the sand, this would make it's way back to the water table where it could potentially be pumped back into the house.

[PghGingerKid]

@aztextpress yeah, city slickers and wasteful people who claim to have self sufficient values have no idea about how septic systems work. They will defend the system until they are scratching a clawing for everything they enjoy now, until its all gone. If they would change now, they can keep what they got, but you cant convince them of that cause they are all drinking their own kool-aid that they claim we are drinking.

[piglett2195]

i am not drinking any water that i have already flushed the toilet with.

[ukumafaces]

do you realize you're already doing that? city water is the exact thing you're talking about.

[piglett2195]

no where i live the water comes from a huge pond way up in the hills.

so i am drinking rain water & probably water from underground springs that also feed the pond

[piglett2195]

no they have a holding pond & in warm weather they have a very large area that they spray the water on . the water goes into the ground & it is obsorbed by trees & plants.I'm sure at some point it works it way back into the local water table. but it is NOT pumped back into the pond which is our source of drinking water.

I live in the lakes region of NH

there is water everywhere

[luvu2luvme]

srry ,your mistaken,your water is recycled,not alot of people understand that but its how it works,yes some of the water comes from resiviors but not all of it, an average household of 4 people can use upto 200litres + per day Flushing,drinking,bathing/show­ering,etc, etc.

[piglett2195]

I am not saying that water isn't recycled in many places but in the town where i live the water goes to the treatment plant & once processed it goes to the spray area which is a 200 acer piece of land

I have been there & seen the entire process i know that this is not the way it's done in a big city but it works in the small town that i live in just fine

[wushujia]

@superpunchy71 just like it's done in Space. NASA does the same thing.

[TheSenior53]

@superpunchy71 ya dude,and they process their toilet water for drinkin,but d fukn ass outside gets his water dumped and refilled by "MAGIC",tink id prefer 2 dump my toilet water on d land for fertilising benifits and process d yuppy donkeys drinkin water for i dono flushin d toilet mayb,

[johnmonk66]

@superpunchy71 Where does your water come from? Rivers, lakes, all which birds and animals piss and shit in. How do you drink it?

[0HippyHunter0]

@superpunchy71 where do you think your water comes from?

[06sharpeb]

welldone eco fighters!!!!!!!

lol

[JimmyRiotNY]

Intelligent, informative, & sweet!

[DobermansRock]

Tell me how, and how much.

[KIDGLOCK2]

What are you going to do about Zombies ??

[CatesBoy3]

Maybe they have an armory that was cut from the video because it doesn't have to do with energy? That, or that's what the donkey is for.

[MtnTracker]

I too am off the grid, I built my own house and have pure solar power, satellite internet and a 510ft well. I chose to go with a septic system to save on the costs and now, this year, I'll be adding a breakfast nook and porch/deck to my place.

I've read the comments about it taking this or that but it's my opinion, it only takes setting realistic goals and meeting those goals.

Congratulations!

[cromespyder]

how much did the well cost you?

[ParapaDrifter]

I'd like to see a compaany that specializes in getting people off the grid!

[PvtSchlock]

No, you need money. Land, biulding materials, etc, thats called fixed capitol. You exchange liquid capitol, that is money( gold, silver, fed. reserve notes, zulaks- whatever your society uses for money) for fixed capitol. There is no more homesteading in america, so, you no longer have the option of mingling your labor with the land . Further the government claims a % of your labor (ie tax), in effect claims ownership. So doberman is right. This is beyond the common wage slave.

[DobermansRock]

I wish I was rich too. So I can do this....

[libbieyoung1]

I am inspired. I have never heard of treating your own water! How is that done. I have a composting toilet, so it doesnt sound as nasty to me.

[SpiderMan1307]

How much is the average property tax??? I want to buy land in a few years and I dont know how much to expect. Any help?

[journeyo]

Thanks for the inspiration and glimpse into such a desirable life! Congratulations on all you've accomplished.

[ak47boer]

Congrats on achieving indepdence and freedon, It is my dream to purchase a secluded piece of land and live off grid.

[cattotti]

While a lot of people may say yuck about them recycling water you have to realise that the tap water in London Enland has been through the population on average 7 times by the time you drink it. I would love to live like these people my sister has almost achieved it because she has the same animals and feels its better for the kids. Yes I think its the only way to go

[salvinorinman]

Thank you for sharing such an important part of your life with us youtubers! I am very happy to see these technologies in use, and it is neat that you have actually attained a normal existence with alternative power! Can you comment on the level of energy your system produces? Well Thanks again!

[Jonthemighty2003]

More tech, less bull about your monotony.

[HTCSWEOD]

Thank YOU for posting this! I'd like to add that there is a program for solar called Citizen-Renu YOU can switch to solar FREE. Also, free range chickens are inexpensive live stock and can provide superior nutrition through their eggs. The DVD Regarding Chickens shows you how. The program, Living With Ed... look it up, has continuing links and updates for those wanting to live green! Too bad that exercise equipment wasn't hooked up to an energy system :} Nice Job!

[ericsliz1]

Ironic to see the monster transmission lines in the background. Very nice home!

[kevbro321]

nice one mate but look a bit like to much cash,

[149hogan]

What a great video for the everyday person interested in the daily living off-grid. The website and podcasts are also great. Thank you and your wife for the inspiration to help preserve our world.

Peter Atlanta,GA USA

[aztextpress]

Thank you Peter for your kind words. If the water challenges in Atlanta are at all climate change related, I don't think the message can come soon enough. We appreciate you taking the time to comment!

[jasonellison34]

proud your canadian

[borghese1]

Great video. I'm planning on going off grid as well - eventually. Looking for land along the Rideau River.

[Maxxarcade]

Sure everything is cheap to use, but it looks like it cost millions to build. Try living on your own power when you make typical wages :-)

Still very cool stuff though. Always a dream of mine to get away from utility bills.

[piglett2195]

I just don't see what the problem is

electricty is cheep . I live alone & except in the summer when the A/C is on i only use between 150 & 300kw per month

so i am only paying between $15 & $30 per month.

[Levesque999]

Cool

[avadoor]

This gives me hope. Thank you for changing your lifestyles and looking after our planet. I don't understand the water system. It sounded like you said it takes two weeks to purify what you "flush." What happens to the biological waste (urine and feces)?

[doricebaty]

Great video!

[utubepunk]

Very cool. Do you guys have a vegetable garden? Any advice for the city folks like myself?

[aztextpress]

We have a very large organic vegetable garden, and last summer put together a two hour DVD that is a great introduction to turning your backyard into a "produce section." You can get more information on our website.

Aztext Press

[utubepunk]

Oh sweet. I'll check it out. If you haven't already, can you post a trailer on YouTube? Thank you.

[willdernessone]

oh ... this IS my dream !! no doubt!! they hit the nail on the head ... i wish i knew where/how to start - i'd start today!!

[aztextpress]

Thanks for your comment. Our website has a primer on off-grid living to get you started. aztext dot com.

Aztext Press

[willdernessone]

Oh thank you so much! I'm going there now. This is something I definitely want to work toward this year!!

[greenmountainsolar]

it takes some work, but i also power my home with wind and sunshine. check out my page. greenmountainsolar dot com.

chris

[ihateyotube11]

nice video, thanks.

[noahsark1962]

I don't do things like everyone else either.This is very interesting.:)