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Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.

 
Idaho Potato

User ID: 84980742
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01/17/2023 09:23 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Did you check building codes for your area? what state do you live in? most of the stuff you see on YouTube would never be allowed in most towns.
Idaho Potato, it's what's for dinner
Anonymous Coward
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01/17/2023 09:24 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Get an RV with solar. Not only off grid, but mobile.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79058309


Those who survived every Great War had one thing in common

They were mobile and kept moving to stay away from the conflict, that is so critical to survival

If you can do both, small cabin/tent and a RV of some kind it would be best
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 84280561


It's better to move really far away from everything. Places nobody cares about or wants to live. Away from targets in a remote part of the U.S. and somewhere you can defend.
Deplorable Zenobia

User ID: 77763575
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01/17/2023 09:25 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Get an RV with solar. Not only off grid, but mobile.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79058309


Actually, this is Plan B as a back-up. Think Grapes of Wrath scenario. There was a time long ago where the Native tribes moved around areas in accordance to weather, ability to farm/hunt.
And thought struggles against the results, trying to avoid those unpleasant results while keeping on with that way of thinking. That is what I call 'sustained incoherence.' ...David Bohm

“How, O Zenobia, hast thou dared to insult Roman emperors?” ...Aurelian, 44th Emperor of the Roman Empire
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 85121583
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01/17/2023 09:26 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Did you check building codes for your area? what state do you live in? most of the stuff you see on YouTube would never be allowed in most towns.
 Quoting: Idaho Potato


:rere23:

Move somewhere where there are no building codes or county anything. I bought land where none of this BS exist.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 72674074
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01/17/2023 09:28 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Have you planned, built or considered a home on a small plot? Do you know anyone who did? Any architects, builders, trades or keen gardeners who can give us some advice, links to books, plans or fantastic resources?

We are seeking advice and ideas for a sustainable low cost and low cost to run home. We aim to grow a food forest and we want to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible (power, gas, water).

We are just beginning the planning stage. We have 2 acres split by a creek. The creek has been dammed in the property above and we have a small dam which we will rebuild. We will install a 90,000 litre underground tank and we hope to fill it from the dam each year.

We will run the property from solar with 30KWH batteries. We are interested in buying a biogas kit to run hot water, heating, fridge and cooking stoves should we require it.

We will begin our build in 12 months.

Thanks heaps everyone!

5a5a
 Quoting: Mr Zipface


There is no “off grid”anymore.
The Government can find you in minutes and kill you with a drone.
Being out in the open away from the masses makes it even easier to pinpoint you.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 82037596
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01/17/2023 09:29 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Location? Any possibility you can edit your original post to include your location?

It's a wide open question dependent on where you are. When it comes to Prepping, weather is everything. The way you live off grid in Florida is totally different than Idaho.
And no matter where it is, if you build a home on land you own, you are not off grid. You must pay tax on that land.

The closest to true off grid would be a registered address in one of the tax free states, and living in an RV. You'd STILL have to file a tax return if you live above the poverty line or have assets.
There is no total off grid in America.
 Quoting: Feathery



Not true if people understand how to build, materials and tax laws they shouldn't have to pay a cent in taxes, but I'm not going to get into that here. Most people in the USA are truly indoctrinated like yourself or keep telling themselves they have to pay taxes. Even working within the system many people pay zero taxes every year on their land/property and more.



But you are correct about one thing no one is ever totally off the grid, no one.
Anonymous Coward
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01/17/2023 09:30 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
See if you have potential for a geo-thermal well. Also totally get a solar hot water heater for your shower. You will need a small battery system but you could run it off an EV and you could have the car too. My advice.
Idaho Potato

User ID: 84980742
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01/17/2023 09:37 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Did you check building codes for your area? what state do you live in? most of the stuff you see on YouTube would never be allowed in most towns.
 Quoting: Idaho Potato


:rere23:

Move somewhere where there are no building codes or county anything. I bought land where none of this BS exist.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 85121583


You're the fucking retard.
So you buy land in the middle of nowhere, build a glorified tree fort and just hang out waiting for the end of the world while making no money because you live in the middle of nowhere?
I live in the mountains of Idaho and even here you can no longer hide from local municipalities, BLM or the Forest service, good luck living off the grid if you aren't rich to begin with.
Idaho Potato, it's what's for dinner
Anonymous Coward
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01/17/2023 09:41 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
I rented a house in the country on 15 acres that was built by an old man. It was very well designed for thermal regulation of the house.

It had a stream and he built a 3 acre pond South of the house. The shore of the pond ended about 25 feet from the house. He build walls for the edges of the pond from the same flatrock that he built half the house with.

In the winter, the Sun angle would drop in the sky and the sunlight would bounce up and hit the house, effectively doubling the radiation heating on the house.

In the summer, the sun angle would be overhead, so no solar bounce from the pond would happen.

The house had large windows on the Southern exposure to collect that sunlight into the house and there was a massive amount of rock to retain the heat. (The walls were flat rock along the front and the windows looked like the windows you see on the old British sailing ships. This also made the house strikingly beautiful). One day I came home and there was a group of artists in front making paintings of the house.)

Inside the windows on the ground floor was the big Wood stove, surrounded by a massive rock hearth.

Lived there 3 years and heated with the wood stove only. They got a real winter there. This was on the West part of NJ in farm country. Nothing but 640 acre farms surrounding this place. He had enough trees to easily heat the house with the trees that needed to be removed anyway (elm trees dying and just general overgrowth).

Part of the rental deal was I had to raise a couple cattle so the property would be taxed as farm land otherwise the NJ taxes would have made the place impossibly expensive to own.

The house also had a huge tree on the Western end that would shade the house in summer when it had leaves, and in the winter, it would drop all the leaves and the Sun would once again hit the house in the evenings.

There was a huge purple martin house on a tall pole by the lake. The martins would eat the bugs from the lake and were fun while I would do a little fishing in the pond. He had stocked it with bass and bluegills. The martins would cartwheel right in front of me only a couple feet away, catching insects. Such beautiful birds.

I raised a dozen or so ducks in the pond, thinking they might chase away the noisy Canadian Geese, but they didn't chase anything. They did however lay their eggs on my front porch most of the time, so I always had more fresh eggs than I could eat.

In the winter when the pond would freeze over, I had to catch the ducks and keep them in a wire pen to protect them from the foxes and coyotes. Otherwise, they could stay away from the foxes when the pond was free of ice.

The amount of wildlife that visited that pond was amazing. So many different kinds of beautiful wild ducks. Tiny little Harlequin ducks, and larger, very ornate wood ducks.

Large hawks would dive into the pond to catch fish, which they would carry to the nearest telephone pole and pick apart up there.

And Blue Herons would wade around the pond and stand still, waiting for a fish to come by. They would catch and swallow some very large bass in one gulp.

A herd of deer would hide from the hunters on the property in the fall, and they would come by twice a day to drink water from the pond and eat the corn that the ducks left for them. The fawns were so nice to watch in the spring, standing on their back hooves and reaching up to eat leaves from the trees.

The cicadas would hatch out in the fall and I tossed a few in the pond to watch the bass hit them. The bass loved those fat cicadas. Then I tossed one to the ducks and they went crazy for the cicadas. The one thing that got them out of the pond. They would organize cicada hunts and pick them off the trees and the 100 year old locust fenceposts.

The driveway was gravel and about 500 feet long, so I did have to buy a big snowblower to clear the driveway snow.

Wonderful place. Like living in Eden.
 Quoting: JustmeTX


This sounds wonderful. Thank you for the detailed description of the house and how the old man used environmental features to warm and cool the house and keep mosquitoes down, it was very well thought out.

Smart to use the cattle to reduce the NJ taxes, they’re insane.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 82037596
United States
01/17/2023 09:41 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
You're the fucking retard.
So you buy land in the middle of nowhere, build a glorified tree fort and just hang out waiting for the end of the world while making no money because you live in the middle of nowhere?
I live in the mountains of Idaho and even here you can no longer hide from local municipalities, BLM or the Forest service, good luck living off the grid if you aren't rich to begin with.
 Quoting: Idaho Potato


Idaho has actually gotten stupid all the way around. I have a good friend that lives there and the property value has gone through the roof. It's sad because Idaho was one of those states that were always balanced in living costs, especially when trying to find or build a small house.


Think non-profit organization, make your farm a church of some kind zero taxes, hold services with friends once in awhile. And you are tax-exempt when buying many goods.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 85121630
United States
01/17/2023 09:55 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Have you planned, built or considered a home on a small plot? Do you know anyone who did? Any architects, builders, trades or keen gardeners who can give us some advice, links to books, plans or fantastic resources?

We are seeking advice and ideas for a sustainable low cost and low cost to run home. We aim to grow a food forest and we want to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible (power, gas, water).

We are just beginning the planning stage. We have 2 acres split by a creek. The creek has been dammed in the property above and we have a small dam which we will rebuild. We will install a 90,000 litre underground tank and we hope to fill it from the dam each year.

We will run the property from solar with 30KWH batteries. We are interested in buying a biogas kit to run hot water, heating, fridge and cooking stoves should we require it.

We will begin our build in 12 months.

Thanks heaps everyone!

5a5a
 Quoting: Mr Zipface

Get 1 or more shipping containers with extended height. Spread liberal layer of roofing tar or driveway sealer on bottom or bottoms up 6" all the way around. Set in sand leveled with good drainage. If more than 1 connect with bolts nuts plate washers with 3/8" Styrofoam sandwiched. Fill around and in edges with spray foam. Run all wiring with clips to walls and ceilings. Run all plumbing in floor. Build false floor over plumbing (reason for extended height containers) have insulation packed all around plumbing and drains with proper access hatches. Line walls and ceiling with 2 or 3 inch Styrofoam foil lined flame resistant insulation. Cut in outlets switched lights etc. Encapsulate foam with sheetrock shipman pine paneling whatever you like or budget for. Use 2x4s for room partitions. Remember heat cool ducting etc. Place minimum 2 doors for escape in case fire etc. Minimum windows if any due to energy loss. Small airlock at doors helps too. Even if just a porch with storm door. For outside completely tar outside. Wrap sticky tar with the fold out or roll out 3/8" Styrofoam then housewrap. Can use poly as well. Side with what you like siding stucko clay whatever budget allows. Use roll out rubber or old conveyor belting on roof. Can use trusses and shingles or steel in high snow areas. If use rubber cover any seams with hot melt or paintable membrane. Finish interior to your liking.
Idaho Potato

User ID: 84980742
United States
01/17/2023 10:08 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
You're the fucking retard.
So you buy land in the middle of nowhere, build a glorified tree fort and just hang out waiting for the end of the world while making no money because you live in the middle of nowhere?
I live in the mountains of Idaho and even here you can no longer hide from local municipalities, BLM or the Forest service, good luck living off the grid if you aren't rich to begin with.
 Quoting: Idaho Potato


Idaho has actually gotten stupid all the way around. I have a good friend that lives there and the property value has gone through the roof. It's sad because Idaho was one of those states that were always balanced in living costs, especially when trying to find or build a small house.


Think non-profit organization, make your farm a church of some kind zero taxes, hold services with friends once in awhile. And you are tax-exempt when buying many goods.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 82037596


My friend did that exact thing only with a Kid's Camp, no permits or license to do so, the BLM shut him down because he built a house over a property line, now the BLM, local building dept. and Forest service are requesting financials for the last ten years, permits and pile of documentation that will sink his Non profit.
You can't hide from the government anymore here.
Idaho Potato, it's what's for dinner
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 85121571
United States
01/17/2023 10:10 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Have you planned, built or considered a home on a small plot? Do you know anyone who did? Any architects, builders, trades or keen gardeners who can give us some advice, links to books, plans or fantastic resources?

We are seeking advice and ideas for a sustainable low cost and low cost to run home. We aim to grow a food forest and we want to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible (power, gas, water).

We are just beginning the planning stage. We have 2 acres split by a creek. The creek has been dammed in the property above and we have a small dam which we will rebuild. We will install a 90,000 litre underground tank and we hope to fill it from the dam each year.

We will run the property from solar with 30KWH batteries. We are interested in buying a biogas kit to run hot water, heating, fridge and cooking stoves should we require it.

We will begin our build in 12 months.

Thanks heaps everyone!

5a5a
 Quoting: Mr Zipface


I have about 16GB of survivalist info that I would be willing to share. It has many folders and the info is sorted pretty well. I know for certain it has cabin plans, solar plans, hydro plans, biogas plans, and loads and loads of gardening information.

If you're interested, let me know. We can find a way to connect.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 85081243
United States
01/17/2023 10:19 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
One thing to be very aware of in rural spaces is making sure of very tight security! How will you protect your place when you're there, but more importantly, how will you protect it when you're away, even if it's relatively local. Police/sheriff are not nearby, and neither are friendly neighbors. Even if they are, they're not spending their lives surveilling your property.

Plan to protect your stuff. Dogs help if they're territorial and loud, but not everyone wants dogs. They are an effort to train and keep.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 85081243
United States
01/17/2023 10:24 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Have you planned, built or considered a home on a small plot? Do you know anyone who did? Any architects, builders, trades or keen gardeners who can give us some advice, links to books, plans or fantastic resources?

We are seeking advice and ideas for a sustainable low cost and low cost to run home. We aim to grow a food forest and we want to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible (power, gas, water).

We are just beginning the planning stage. We have 2 acres split by a creek. The creek has been dammed in the property above and we have a small dam which we will rebuild. We will install a 90,000 litre underground tank and we hope to fill it from the dam each year.

We will run the property from solar with 30KWH batteries. We are interested in buying a biogas kit to run hot water, heating, fridge and cooking stoves should we require it.

We will begin our build in 12 months.

Thanks heaps everyone!

5a5a
 Quoting: Mr Zipface


I have about 16GB of survivalist info that I would be willing to share. It has many folders and the info is sorted pretty well. I know for certain it has cabin plans, solar plans, hydro plans, biogas plans, and loads and loads of gardening information.

If you're interested, let me know. We can find a way to connect.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 85121571


I think we'd all find that helpful. Is there a way you can post it on a download site?

Thanks.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 85121571
United States
01/17/2023 10:26 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
I think we'd all find that helpful. Is there a way you can post it on a download site?

Thanks.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 85081243


I'll grant access to my cloud drive and post the link. I've bookmarked this thread, so I'll come back to it.

Gotta run right now (job duties calling)
Weisshaupt

User ID: 38628171
United States
01/17/2023 10:31 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
SIPS panels are heavily insulating - I used them for my battery house in the mountains and keeping it cool is harder than keeping it warm ( the inverters put off plenty of heat)
Pretty easy to self assemble as well . Down side is you need to know where all of the windows and electrical and plumbing needs to be before you build. Cost is about what stick built will be because labor is so much less.

Use Insulated Concrete forms where you need concrete walls.

Others are using Hemp-Crete or hay bails or old tires. ( none are a great idea , but they do work)

Burying your home in a hill and/or using a heat pump to augment heat is very beneficial if you can manage it. Combine this with a passive solar design. You can augment this with plexiglass boxes filled with aluminum cans painted black with vents top and bottom.

Also lay geo thermal runs for your greenhouse to help control temperatures in there ( Attaching the solar battery room by vents to the greenhouse is also not a bad idea and allows you to push some heat into it in winter. Batteries still need to be vented outside. There is no such thing as Good battery technology. I Don't like the lithium because of the electronics needed to control them and the potential for thermal runaway . I have HUP SOlar One batteries, and I am very happy with them - they can be discharged to 80% in a pinch, but you may find they are more economical than a lithum tech, and they will last about as long.

.. For an inverters I would look at the new Sol ark 15K - it has a 200 amp pass through so no critical load panel - this way you can take power from the gird if you want, or just have a good renewable source ( big solar array - and a small hydro if you have any running water with enough fall. Make sure your garden is below and in a location where you can water directly from the dam without a pump.)
I would avoid wind - you need very strong very constant winds for that to pay off. Certainly do a wind survey for a year at your desired install location before doing anything. ANd then if you do buy - get a quality bladed turbine like people use on boats ( wind-x) the vertical generators look cool but develop all sorts of problems..)

You want a wood stove. I have the Woodstock Progress. Its been great so far, and this has a cook top.

Make sure you build your root cellar close to the kitchen.. via a trap door in the pantry if it can be managed - it must be separate and thermally isolated from the house you are heating..

I like choices.. so also put in a large propane tank and keep it topped off. Put in a propane stove and furnace. Run the furnace ducts such that the largest air return is as close to the wood stove as they will let you get it by code. This way you can turn on the fan only and distribute the heat more evenly.

For hot water you can use a DYI solar collector to preheat the water and then send it to a tankless propane heater.

Biogas is nice but its not going to produce much. Some. Just not a lot. Probably not enough to run a household.

When growing anything you will need animals. Animals are where the fertilizer comes from . With two acres you are looking at chickens and rabbits and guniea pigs. Maybe a goat or two. You can also do aquaponics with Tilapia. ( I agree with another poster that 2 acres isn't enough- but I wouldn't discourage you - if 2 acres is all you got - make it work to the best you can- rent or lease land from neighbors is there is an opportunity to do so)

You will have to do careful planning to make sure the well is far enough from the septic and neither interfere with the live water. ( I am not sure what you large storage tank is for - I am hoping you don't intend to use it for drinking water.. you will find that difficult. Standing water likes to grow crap.. A well is far better and if you have live water the water table shouldn't be too far down)

Figure out where ALL of your structures and fencing will be before you build and run water and electric lines to those locations. You need to think about having
1)shop/garage for equipment storage ( tractor, bush hog,seeder , sprayer etc)
2)hay shelter for storing what hay you buy or collect.
3) Barn or lean to for dealing with sick animals/ giving animals shelter
4) Hoophouse or greenhouse ( depending on how long your growing season is - also good for aquaponics)
5) Solar array - They operate better on the ground where you can clean them and they stay cooler.

Last Edited by Weisshaupt on 01/17/2023 05:16 PM
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 80888970
United States
01/17/2023 10:32 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
In our state it is illegal to build a dam or even a large pond on a creek. We wanted to do it and were told the DNR flies over the state looking for these kind of obstructions and forces homeowners to take them down if they see it.

Make sure you are far away from government oversight if you plan on this kind of project. The government is the destroyer of dreams in our area.
Weisshaupt

User ID: 38628171
United States
01/17/2023 10:34 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Have you planned, built or considered a home on a small plot? Do you know anyone who did? Any architects, builders, trades or keen gardeners who can give us some advice, links to books, plans or fantastic resources?

We are seeking advice and ideas for a sustainable low cost and low cost to run home. We aim to grow a food forest and we want to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible (power, gas, water).

We are just beginning the planning stage. We have 2 acres split by a creek. The creek has been dammed in the property above and we have a small dam which we will rebuild. We will install a 90,000 litre underground tank and we hope to fill it from the dam each year.

We will run the property from solar with 30KWH batteries. We are interested in buying a biogas kit to run hot water, heating, fridge and cooking stoves should we require it.

We will begin our build in 12 months.

Thanks heaps everyone!

5a5a
 Quoting: Mr Zipface


There is no “off grid”anymore.
The Government can find you in minutes and kill you with a drone.
Being out in the open away from the masses makes it even easier to pinpoint you.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 72674074



Yeah, like they are going to spend $9000 and hour killing me, and the 9 million other people just like me. Sorry, we rural preppers will be just fine, but tell yourself any story you like.
Idaho Potato

User ID: 84980742
United States
01/17/2023 10:36 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
In our state it is illegal to build a dam or even a large pond on a creek. We wanted to do it and were told the DNR flies over the state looking for these kind of obstructions and forces homeowners to take them down if they see it.

Make sure you are far away from government oversight if you plan on this kind of project. The government is the destroyer of dreams in our area.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 80888970


They monitor activity by Satellite, they know exactly what you're doing.
Idaho Potato, it's what's for dinner
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 80923576
United States
01/17/2023 10:49 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Get an RV with solar. Not only off grid, but mobile.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79058309


Bad advice, the very first thing will be roadblocks on every road by gangs of looters, warlords and government

Don't depend on high tech gimmicks, or devices that require proprietary or expensive disposable parts replacement you need to secure water and shelter with the least maintenance required. What you need will be dependent on your site.
Design functional zones in dwelling so you can expand or contract depending on need.
Also design in simple methods to easily and rapidly access or store water and fuels easily even under severe conditions.
Overbuild to retain heat and structural integrity, but also design in humidity control features that don't require significant power use, eg. Use buried ground loops to cool and dehumidify incoming house air even if you have to button up your dwelling because you don't want excess humidity issues in your living space
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 84554067
Canada
01/17/2023 10:54 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
I live off the grid. I have 48000 Hectares in Northern Ontario, several hundred acres of mixed fields, grains and normal vegies and fruits (also a greenhouse with stuff that only grows in warmer climates), and a mixed bag of farm animals.... Started working on this in 1995.
Wood gas gennies and water wheel for power.

Learn to barter, especially with Amish and Quakers, they are truly the only ones that can teach you how to be self sufficient off grid.

Many books out there not many on mixed bag of subjects, but for emergency start, Off Grid Living & Encyclopedia of country living.

There are way to many subjects to broach and learn to be self sufficient, best I can describe it is become an Amish farmer.

Sure the off grid stuff can start you up, but in the long term you need to learn a whole new way of living and sustaining yourself.

Power is the least of your worries, but a start. wood gas gennies work well if cleaned and maintained regularly.

Stay away from solar if possible. They can help but they are not sustainable. It takes more power to make a panel than the panel returns from usage over 20 years.

Using starlink for net access, it's great.

2 acres is not enough, that's simply setting up an emergency outpost, not fully sustainable in the long run.

Good Luck in your endeavors.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 84554067


I should of mentioned that I have a 2 story Log house, all materials we're from the land, nothing bought. my best investment was and still is my 1995 wood-mizer portable sawmill. The best investment ever.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 34379757
United States
01/17/2023 10:56 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
You can get solar for an RV. You can also get Amish built sheds and insulate them. On Amazon, you can get kits for things like greenhouses, carports, garages, sheds, and sturdy gazebos. These all are nice for a small home. You can get a Japanese toilet that has a handwashing sink on the back or go for a composting one or a camper one.

I've seen little off grid places with shallow wells. You hand bore them using a post digger and an extension. If you want a food forest, beware of asian earthworms and be prepared to raise either quail or rabbits to build the bacteria back if they are already decimating your soil.

You may want to speed up your build, chief. You might not have time to get it together in a year.
Anonymous Coward
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01/17/2023 11:02 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Have you planned, built or considered a home on a small plot? Do you know anyone who did? Any architects, builders, trades or keen gardeners who can give us some advice, links to books, plans or fantastic resources?

We are seeking advice and ideas for a sustainable low cost and low cost to run home. We aim to grow a food forest and we want to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible (power, gas, water).

We are just beginning the planning stage. We have 2 acres split by a creek. The creek has been dammed in the property above and we have a small dam which we will rebuild. We will install a 90,000 litre underground tank and we hope to fill it from the dam each year.

We will run the property from solar with 30KWH batteries. We are interested in buying a biogas kit to run hot water, heating, fridge and cooking stoves should we require it.

We will begin our build in 12 months.

Thanks heaps everyone!

5a5a
 Quoting: Mr Zipface


Surprised no one has mentioned Earthships. They have been perfecting off grid systems for decades.
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01/17/2023 11:06 AM

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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
First point is your water system.

You don't want to use surface water, that's going to be subject to contamination and will require treatment.

Best is a spring and next best is a well. If you do those correctly, minimal treatment will be required. (annual bleaching, if that)

I would do 2 10,000 gallon concrete water tanks.

As for the home build, I would go with super insulated ICF (concrete). You want fire proof with no eaves to let fire into your attic, stucco on the outside, etc. R-50 insulation on the ceiling and at least R-35 on the walls. You will require minimal heating and cooling.

As for heat, if you have a woodlot, you can use wood to heat with either a woodstove inside the home or a wood fired boiler outside. The best one I know of is the GARN, out of Minnesota.

Your neighbor upstream has a dam...be sure to build above the high water mark for if that dam fails. Give yourself some leeway.

Get a propane tank. I wouldn't do biogas, I would look at hydrogen, the generators are getting reasonable. Keep in mind you will need to reject all appliances using the H2 and storage can be costly, too. I'd start with propane.
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01/17/2023 11:07 AM

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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
Off-grid is not that difficult. The primary factor is water.

Wood stove.. propane back-up for heat and cooking, barbecue, fire pit, out-house or composting toilet, solar batteries or

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300, 293Wh Backup Lithium Battery, 110V/300W Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, Solar Generator (Solar Panel Not Included) for Outdoors Camping Travel Hunting Blackout
[link to www.amazon.com (secure)]

Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station, 1002Wh Capacity with 3 x 1000W AC Outlets, Solar Generator (Solar Panel Not Included) for Home Backup, Emergency, Outdoor Camping
[link to www.amazon.com (secure)]

Water filtration system

*Joolca Hottap shower review video:

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

*Essential Tools for a Remote Cabin Build video:

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]
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01/17/2023 11:08 AM

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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]
Off grid tiny cabin gets harbor freight solar panel kit installation and I wire 12 /110 volt system
In this video I wire an off grid cabin . I show you how to wire 12 volt switches, lights, and usb outlets. I Install a harbor freight solar panel kit . I also build my own switch covers from some beautiful maple. and top it off with some nice warm outdoor porch lighting
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.
Winston Churchill

Daily Updates
Thread: ASS IS IN THE WRINGER - Rolling Updates from 11/16/20 to present (Page 235)
Anonymous Coward
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01/17/2023 11:08 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
We just built a 600 sq ft solar powered cabin.. We finished it in two years working part time.. the exterior was apx $12,000 finished.. the interior was apx $12,000 using mid grade fixtures.. of course this doesn't include labor except the $200 I paid to have a technician charge the new heat pump..


The solar system was 30X Trina 300W Panels we purchased used for $50 ea mounted in the pasture.. so that was $1500 and 6X EG Rack mount batteries 48V 100AMP hours @$1500 ea apx $10,000.. This gives us 3X 25Amp AC outlets 75 AMPS total.. We can add additional 25Amp modules as needed for apx $750 per additional growatt solar control.. The solar system all said was under apx $15,000.. The house will run for 2 days on batteries only "without" conserving power..

The sewage treatment plant 600 gallons was apx $4000 installed and the well 110' deep with solar pump was apx $4000 installed.. Electrical utilities (entergy) for backup was free with monthly service.. They installed a transformer and 4 poles to reach the property..


The we put on a couple 12X12 exterior decks that we're $1500 each.. The house only has 2 doors, one of those is French that doubles as a window.. and 2 regular fire egress windows.. Since it's solar we wanted to limit the numbers of holes we cut into the exterior of the house to keep energy efficiency..


We built in Louisiana on a 5 acre parcel we paid under $12,000.. the property taxes on a 600sq ft property with 5 acres is $121 per year.. I paid 20 years in advance.. so i'll only see a bill if taxes increase.. the taxes have actually been going down if you can believe that?



I think I covered most of the major stuff..
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01/17/2023 11:12 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
1. More space means more costs, more energy to sustain, more maintenance needs.
2. It should be sufficiently sized to accomplish work and entertainment (eating, reading, sewing, etc.) while inside during bad weather.
3. Space should flex to needs. The more walls you have the more space you waste. A hinged bed and table can be very abundantly sized while still preserving floorspace for other activities.
4. A covered porch takes just a bit more materials to your build, but uses no additional power, requires little additional maintenance but makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE.
5. Build according to the land and the sun as it is, not how you want it to be.
6. Plan on covered outside storage for anything you don't need to store inside or use every day.


Its really a matter of expectations.
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01/17/2023 11:16 AM
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Re: Seeking your advice on building a low cost house that is off grid and sustainable. Solar, passive heating, cellar etc.
You can get solar for an RV. You can also get Amish built sheds and insulate them. On Amazon, you can get kits for things like greenhouses, carports, garages, sheds, and sturdy gazebos. These all are nice for a small home. You can get a Japanese toilet that has a handwashing sink on the back or go for a composting one or a camper one.

I've seen little off grid places with shallow wells. You hand bore them using a post digger and an extension. If you want a food forest, beware of asian earthworms and be prepared to raise either quail or rabbits to build the bacteria back if they are already decimating your soil.

You may want to speed up your build, chief. You might not have time to get it together in a year.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 34379757


I have 5 neighbors living next door in one of the Amish Sheds. 12x56.
First thing they did wrong was to put it on nothing but gravel.
You can put a skirt on something like this, in order to seal it against the ground, so cold air can't blow under and suck the heat out.
Next thing they did was to put a drain pipe from toilet to septic, so they had to undermine their gravel perch at the bathroom area.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD WITHOUT A FOUNDATION, PLACE IT UP ON 6X6X16 TIMBERS, PLACED ON CINDERBLOCKS, SO YOU HAVE ACCESS.





GLP