
The idea of abandoning busy city life for a more comfortable and natural existence far from everything is one many of us dream of. It’s also a dream we tend to abandon as a result of reluctance to give up creature comforts like reliable power and internet connectivity.
With modern technology, however, it’s possible to enjoy practically all the necessities of a contemporary home, even when disconnected from local infrastructure. It might take a little investment, but there is real potential here for anyone with the adventurous spirit.
It’s Possible Nearly Anywhere – With the Budget
No matter where in the world you live, from the cities of the UK to rural New Zealand, going off the grid with modern tech is a real possibility. If you want to get set up with the most comfortable technology, it just won’t be cheap. Building or retrofitting a home to fit the needs of off-the-grid living means securing a budget, but thanks to modern online systems, this isn’t as difficult as it might seem.
As a potential scenario, consider someone in the UK who wants to move quickly from a city to capitalise on growing property prices to fund a move to the countryside. Leicester is a perfect example, where average house prices have risen almost a quarter over the last year to reach £313,000. Moving from an expensive area like Oadby (averaging £382,000) or Clarendon Park (averaging £313,000) into the cheaper countryside of Woodhouse Eves would let you upgrade your house for a lower cost. This is helped by streamlined sales platforms like We Purchase Any Home in Leicester, which can provide free cash offers within minutes, helping planning by securing exact budgets.
Securing the Essentials
Preparing a home for all the necessities means addressing three major points – power, internet, and food/water. Power can be helped with the simple addition of solar panels and battery backups. Modern solar cells as mentioned by the World Economic Forum, can convert up to around 22% of sunlight into power, far beyond early efforts of around 2%. From here, batteries can be used to store power for when generator conditions are poor.
Internet connectivity for communication and work uses is then manageable with satellite solutions. Services like Starlink and upcoming competitors covered at The Verge can work as long as the sky is clear, even if you’re miles away from fiber or ADSL lines. They won’t be as reliable or fast, but they’re suitable solutions for many uses.
Water can be managed through rain collection (especially if you live in the UK), aided by filtration systems and water tanks. Food can be bought in bulk, stored, and then supplemented by homegrown fruit and vegetables. Invest in a greenhouse and you can grow all year-round, possibly even selling excess at local markets.
The idea of a high-tech future is often seen as people living crammed together with less room to move about. It doesn’t have to be this way, as better technology is just as helpful for helping those of us who would rather take to nature, without all the difficulty that living in nature usually implies. It’s worth serious thought for anyone looking for something new, where you could help setting new trends others follow in the generations to come.