Going Off the Grid

Going “off the grid” is defined as living in a self-sufficient manner without relying on some or any public utilities to provide water, electricity or heat. The three main reasons why a person might desire to go off-grid are:

1. To reduce the negative impact they have on the environment and reduce use of non-renewable energy sources;
2. To save money in the long term with reduced or non-existent utility bills; and
3. To disconnect from a political system they do not care to participate in or be complicit with.

The quickest and simplest way to go off the grid is to buy a house that has already been developed as or converted to an off-grid property and we’ve found a couple worth looking at.

Keeping It Simple in Taos, NM

Fifteen miles west of arty-farty and sensationally scenic Taos, NM is the entirely off the grid community of Tres Orejas where the nearest power pole is 4 miles away and where a metal sculptor recently listed his 1,000 square foot off-grid house for $125,000.

Although completely off the grid and environmentally sensitive, Tres Orejas is not like living on the moon since a satellite dish for TV and high speed internet and cell phone service provide hi-tech links to the outside world.

For more information contact James Vienup at (505) 259-6413.