How far would you go?

[Jessiebean]

I used to live in a 4mx4m plywood shack and had a bank of little deep cycle batteries powered by a little solar panel. I could move one into the shack for a wee halogen light but it wasn't very powerful- there was a ghastly fluoro tube under the eaves of the shed which I would read by and cooking was either in a fire or a gas cylinder. The reading kept me "sane" . I know I could survive off the grid but would miss things like the fridge (better than an esky) and of course the 'puter. I used the free internet at the library in town when I was living in the bush. That was when I was young and foolhardy. Now I have children and I don't think I would like having to deal with the issues that would pop up with small kiddies and no power. We do like "earth hour" which when it comes around in March sends us into a frenzy of candle using (have yet to find a candle that suits our eco ideals AND our tight fisted wallets though!)

[Berti]

mmpph!! yesterday I had written a nice post and then the board went legsup again so could not post....

For myself, I think I prefer to stay on grid but try to use as little as possible, which is what I am doing right now too.
I bet my energy bill is lowest in the neighbourhood,(70 euros a month for two people) and thats gas and electricity.
And my trash bins as empty as can be .......
We shower as short as possible (I think my daughter beats me to that).
And yes the reasons for staying on grid are multifold but mainly being that I am on social income (low income), meaning that for having solar panels or anything like that, you would have to have a lot of money.
Definitely would not give up electricity.
But I could easily give up central heating and change that for an burn-it-all stove, swedish type.
If they weren't so frigging expensive and there are no options for making one in here.
TV I can do without, too and maybe WILL when daughter leaves house. Rather watch dvd's.

So the best thing we can do in here, is do what is possible by living in awareness, separate our trash, grow veggies, make stuff ourselves and try to buy as little as needed and go thrifting if possible.

Conclusion is to me that I would go rather far but like to keep the comforts I have now until better options available that suit our smallish wallet.

[Stonehead]

I'd be fine without electricity. Done it before, would do it again. But I'd probably have to do without the OH if I went electricity free. So, how far would I go? As far as the OH is prepared to go. :D

[greenorelse]

Chuckle. As they say, a spouse is someone who’ll stand by you through all the trouble you wouldn’t have had if you’d stayed single.