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More Australian Homes Choosing to Live Off-the-Grid

Have you ever wanted to go “off the grid”? Living off the grid means a life that is independent of local utilities, homes that are completely autonomous from municipal services such as power and water.

In Australia, almost half a million homes live off the grid when it comes to supplying their own water. These are normally those who live in remote areas of Australia, on rural farmland or in highlands, which are simply far from any reciprocal water supply managed by local water authorities.

Living Off the Grid in remote Australian

Some people choose to move to remote areas of Australia to be entirely self-sufficient and supply for all their own water usage needs. Reasons could be a desire to live a more simple lifestyle, taking pride in being self-sufficient or perhaps just wanting to get out in nature and being more environmentally aware.

One such person is Victoria Waghorn purchased 400 hectares in the NSW Southern Highlands with a group of like-minded friends wanting to escape society’s obsession with money. Over the year others joined her, and today her land is the home of a large off-the-grid community. This group produces their own vegetables, catch their own rainwater using water tanks, raise chickens and all work towards their goal of becoming fully self-sustainable.

Obviously not everyone can go off the grid, the prospect is no doubt a scary thought to many, but exciting to others. Consider that in remote areas there are many disadvantages such as being far away from schools, hospitals and other services, even other people. Nonetheless, a simple lifestyle has much appeal, especially to those dissatisfied with the ever increasing business of city living.

Living Off the Grid in Urban Areas

Living off-the-grid is not impossible in urban or built-up areas, but it does come with certain challenges. In many cities, you can disconnect from the power and water grids, but then you would still need to be connected to stormwater and sewage systems for health, flooding and environmental reasons.

Some local councils do require you to be connected to the reticulated water system, even if you don’t intend to use it. So, it is always a good idea to check with the local authorities and look into the planning scheme for your location.

Nevertheless, becoming water and power-independent is possible, and Michael Mobbs (below) in Sydney is a shining example of someone who has achieved this going completely off-grid and lives a sustainable life.  After practicing environmental law for 19 years, he realised that the more laws there are for protecting the environment, the more harmed and polluted it becomes. So Michael and his wife transformed their home in the middle of Sydney into an off-the-grid experiment 20 years ago and are producing their own power through solar panels, collecting their water in rainwater tanks and are using their own septic system. Their website, Sustainable House, helps encourage others to do the same.

Michael Mobbs - Living off the Grid

Off-the-grid living is a real choice that more and more Australians are choosing and love. It is a question of lifestyle that brings a sense of liberation and freedom. There is also the sense of environmental satisfaction because you are making a change for the environment, no matter how small it may seem to you.

If you are interested in taking a step towards supplying your own home water needs, then Clark Tanks can help you with a range of water storage options with above ground and underground water tanks. Contact us today.

 

Download – More Australian Homes Choosing to Live Off-the-Grid