25-10 - Flipbook - Page 88
Hephzibah
Ministries
Sustainable Off Grid Homes
What would it be like not having to pay an electricity or water bill every month? More families are finding out every year as they move off the grid and build sustainable homes. On
average, households pay about $1,400 a year in electricity, though it can be much more
depending on your area and how much electricity you use.
What is off-grid living? In short, you don9t rely on any public services like electricity or water.
Instead, you9ll have solar panels or some other type of sustainable energy for electricity,
and a well or nearby lake or river for water. Say goodbye to that electric bill altogether
(and a few other bills as well).
What kind of a home can you live in? Check out these great options for off-grid houses.
Shipping Containers
Shipping containers are an ideal option for those who are looking to reduce their impact on
the environment as much as possible. Not only are you giving a used shipping container a
home, but also it is an easy and inexpensive way to build an off-grid house.
Most shipping containers these days are rated for one trip across the ocean. However, just
because they can9t brave the wind and the waves once more, doesn9t mean they are in
bad shape. They can still withstand a few storms and are perfect for protecting you and
your belongings. Shipping companies looking for the easiest way to get rid of the containers
will often sell them very cheap to enterprising individuals like you!
With most of the structure already-built, shipping container homes are easy and fast to
build. And don9t think you9re stuck with an 8-foot space, you can take off one wall and put
two (or more) shipping containers together to make a bigger space. You can also easily
stack them, creating any floorplan you like.
