At the same time at the end of the month, millions of American go to their mailboxes to receive dozen of utility bills: power, water, gas and telephone bills which all conspire to take your hard-to-earn money out of your hand. For most people, paying utility bills is a torturous and frustrating task. If there are any way or method to escape the fear of the presence of utility bills every month? The answer is "Yes". By offering your own self sustainable energy, by living "off-the-grid", you and other thousand American can reduce their carbon footprint, assert their independence and avoid the continuous demand on fossil fuels.
"The grid" is another name for the power grid – the linked system that delivers electricity to the masses. A typical house is normally connected to power, natural gas, water and telephone lines. Therefore, being off the grid means to shutting these public utilities in order to create your own energy. Some people choose to be partially off the grid by supplying their own electricity and ditching their phone line while still relying on the supply of city water and sewage. Meanwhile other choose to be totally completely independent by digging wells or using a cistern system to collect water to supply their own water source. A septic tank takes care of the sewage and, just like that, no more water bill either.
It is nearly impossible to account exactly the number of how many people in American living off the grid but in 2006, Home Power magazine estimated that more than 180,000 homes were supplying their own power. Another 27,000 homes use solar and wind energy to offset their grid-connected life. For most, it's a good way to be environmentally friendly. For others, it's a relief not to rely on overworked utility companies to meet their needs.
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