Q: What does “living off the grid” mean to you?

Josh: In a nutshell, it’s a lifestyle change. Anyone could do it, but it takes more thought—you have to think about your energy consumption all the time. The first thing I do when I come home at night is check on the batteries to see how much power we have left. Because we are so aware of the amount of energy we are consuming, we have to make decisions on a daily basis about where to conserve.

Verna: You can do anything living “off the grid” that you can do on the grid, it just requires forethought. Things like hair dryers require a lot of power, so that’s something I’ve reduced. I could use it, and I have, but when you see just how much energy using a hair dryer for 5 minutes takes, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

Q: Are there visible signs of an “off the grid” life in or around your home?

Josh: The house faces south on top of a hill (for maximum exposure to the sunlight), and it’s very open inside so that the heat from our wood burning stove can travel (walls block heat). There are some walls—the bathroom certainly has walls! We have a lot of plants to increase air quality, and there’s a closet in the basement for the batteries that are all wired together. But we have most of the same stuff everyone else has. We are not suffering; we have a 27-inch LCD screen TV and a full basement.

Verna: The house looks like part of the landscape, and Josh used antique wood and tools to build the house, so other than the solar panels and more contemporary open inside, it really does look like an 1830s farm house.

Q: What was the most difficult adjustment you’ve had to make?

Verna: When my family and friends visit, I want them to be comfortable even though we can’t always have a TV on or throw some popcorn in the microwave. We’d run out of power if they did that, so there’s a balance to strike. I must admit, though, that I do miss microwave popcorn.

Josh: For me, it’s the batteries. They need to be monitored daily, which can be time consuming, and every four to five months I need to put on goggles and rubber gloves—the batteries are full of hydrochloric acid—and check their water level and clean them. The other thing that isn’t always easy is limiting shower time. Since it takes water to shower, and water takes energy to pump, there are no half-hour showers! I have my routine down to 3 minutes. Other than that, well, we don’t have a toaster—toasters use a ton of energy—so sometimes I miss having toast. We can make it over the gas stove, but it’s just not the same.

Q: What was the easiest part of being off the grid?

Josh: Our power never goes off. During the big ice storm of 1996, the neighbors were without water and heat and had to move into temporary shelter. We didn’t even blink. We may need to think about our power usage, but we always have it.

Verna: It’s nice aesthetically; when you are coming up to the house, your view isn’t cluttered with poles and electric wires. You just see the trees.

Q: Have your costs increased or decreased since going off the grid?

Josh: The initial investment in solar panels was around $9,000, and every 10 years the batteries get replaced. But, other than that...well, I am not familiar with current electric rates, but I’m pretty sure we’re saving money if you amortize the original investment over all the years here. Also, since this is not a traditional house set up, the property is assessed at a tax rate that is 30 percent lower than a traditional one.

Q: What have you learned from living this way?

Verna: Living this way increases your overall awareness about your own actions, and transfers into other areas of life. Visiting family, on vacation, and on business trips I am aware of the resources that I’m using in a way that I wasn’t before. I will admit that on business trips, I sometimes take advantage of being able to take a longer shower, and being able to blow dry my hair!

Q: Anything you would do differently if you had it all to do over again—advice for those who are considering going off the grid fully or partially?

Josh: I would advise people to buy as big of a solar system as they can afford from the start. Figure out your household’s energy needs, then add on 25 percent. You’ll be glad you did!

Photo: Joshua Cline