Revelations in off-grid living have come to light.
Most of us dream of the day when we can wave a not-so-fond farewell to the national grid and live in a house that is entirely self-sustaining. But the challenge to develop and begin living a disconnected life can often be a stretch too far for some. At least a few of us are making the change.
How would you feel about a completely self-sustaining home?
How off-grid living has developed over the past few decades
Off-grid living has come from a niche experiment for the more braver of us into a modern, deliberate, technology-driven lifestyle.
Since 2009, the efficiency of solar panels has drastically increased while the cost of relying on the Sun to power our lives has plummeted. The cost of using solar power has dropped by an astonishing 80% over the past two decades. In that time, the batteries used for solar energy have changed too.
At first, we used traditional lead-acid batteries; nowadays, we have replaced them with new Lithium-ion batteries that last far longer.
And through the network of satellites in the Earth’s orbit, internet connectivity has reached even the most remote areas of the planet, making living an off-grid lifestyle that much easier for those who choose to do so.
Energy generation has evolved along with our society over the last few decades
The recent military action taken by the United States in the Middle East has raised the alarm bells for the global oil industry.
Nations like Japan have deployed their strategic petroleum reserves to alleviate the worries of not having enough black gold to power their industries. But that is just one side of the energy coin.
Developing new types of energy generation methods can be a challenge for even the most pragmatic of us, but it needs to be done.
Some have opted to design new solar power systems that mimic the features of nature, bringing a sense of Mother Nature to our streets and homes. Working hand-in-hand with our planet can save millions of lives in the long run.
But one TikToker has proven that we need not rely on the national grid in any shape or form in modern-day society and that we can live completely disconnected.
The question that @arianna_danielson has raised is: how can our homes run without any connection to the national grid?
Earthships are the path towards a more circular and disconnected life
@arianna_danielson, or Ari D, as she likes to be known, has been showing the world of TikTok how to live a completely disconnected life.
She lives in what has come to be known as an Earthship. This is a home that not only does not rely on the national grid for power, but also uses intricate rainwater collection systems to get the water needed for her home.
We know that solar power is an effective and remarkably cheap way to power our homes, but this online influencer has taken it to the next level.
@arianna_danielson We also have fireplaces to supplement heat at night and cloudy days if needed 😉 #earthship #plants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsoftiktok #earthshiptiktok
An Earthship to power our off-grid dreams for the future
Her Earthsip home is designed to soak up as much natural heat during the day and store it in batteries for nighttime or when the weather is not cooperating. She also uses the age-old fireplace in her home to bring the temperatures to a warm and toasty level.
The influencer also uses plants to improve the air quality in her home, as well as providing a more natural aesthetic.
Earthships use a circular system of recycling waste and water to live the only real off-grid lifestyle. And as the solar power industry evolves, you can imagine that she will be making some improvements to her Earthship in the near future.
Would you live in a home completely disconnected from the grid?