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TogglePlanning and Designing Your Off-Grid Home

Building your off-grid dream lifestyle can seem daunting but having the knowledge and preparation before you start will make the transition easier. These are our top tips of where to start if you are considering going off-grid.
We are here to help with tips and tricks from people that have built their own off-grid homes from start to finish and if you are just starting your off-grid journey there are a few things you will need to consider when planning your new home.
Choosing the Right Location
This might seem simple but it can be one of the hardest decisions to make when planning your new lifestyle because you cannot simply change your mind once you have started building a permanent structure without starting again right from the beginning. If you just want to start building before you have the exact location sorted out, you might want to think about building a tiny home on wheels so it can be relocated easily if needed.
When choosing where to set up your off-grid adventure, consider the climate and natural resources that are available. Will you have sustainable sources of building materials and renewable energy? Is there access to water? Is the topography of the land suitable for building or is it in a flood plane or steep terrain?
What are the zoning laws and building codes for off-grid living? They can vary widely from state to state and proper research is critical. Do you need a solar permit?
Cost. Everyone has a different budget starting out so it is important to really plan for your expenses as much as possible. Many of us are trying to get out of the rat race and steadily increasing cost of living so start out with a very limited budget and have to continue working during our journey, you will need to consider whether you are in a location that allows you to commute or maybe you can work remotely online. Land will obviously be one of the most expensive purchases and if you can afford to buy the land in the place you want to live, you can always start out small and cheap to begin when it comes to a dwelling and upgrade to something bigger later.
Close proximity to other people is something that a lot of off-gridders consider to be a negative. A lot of people want to move as far away from civilisation as possible but it is sometimes important to remember you may need to have access to things like grocery stores and emergency services. Finding a community of like-minded people in the area has been a big help for me. We can share food and resources and barter between each other and even get together for working bees when someone is building something new.
Consider the Type of Dwelling You Want to Build
Does your location provide the natural resources available to use as building materials? Are the trees suitable to build a log cabin? Can the earth be used to build Adobe bricks or a Cob house? Do you have access to recycled material such as old tyres and bottles that can be used in an Earthship? It might be worth investing in a few different information resources to get different perspectives and building techniques such as a guide to earthbag building.
What climate considerations do you need to make for your dwelling? Do you need extra insulation or air flow for your home to comfortable in the climate you are living?
There are so many different building methods available these days and we try to cover as many as we can here but there are always new and interesting designs coming out. If your home is going to take a lot of time to build maybe consider having a temporary home while it is being built. You can easily build a small shed or yurt or even just pull up in an old airstream and you are ready to go and can take the time to design and build the home of your dreams. If you are in a hurry to build a home, there are also a range of pre-made house kits available on the market that just require assembly.
My suggestion would be to connect with other people in your area and see if there are any homes in your area you can visit to get a better idea of what the finished home would be like to live in. You can even find off grid homes for rent on Air BnB now and seeing a finished product in person can really help with design ideas to make sure your new home is designed to suit your lifestyle.
Designing for Energy Efficiency
Make sure to utilize passive solar design for heating and cooling, this will make a huge difference to the level of comfort. Will the windows be facing the right direction to get the morning winter sun but not the full summer sun? Can you build an earthship into the side of a hill to keep the temperature more consistent?
Incorporate insulation and weatherproofing techniques into your plans. You don’t want to get into the middle of winter and find out your home doesn’t keep the water and cold out.
Plan for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro. Does your home need to be built in a certain location on the property to allow renewable energy to be generated from direct sunlight or running water? If you build your home in the middle of a dense forest it might require a lot of cable to find a location for solar panels to charge. Is there a clearing you can use instead?
Choosing high-efficiency lighting and appliances will also help to reduce the amount of power required. If you can keep your requirements to a minimum, especially at the start, it will be easier to build up a good energy setup over time and keep the starting costs a lot lower.
Water Collection and Management
Is there a source of water on the property that can be easily used? Do you have a stream or a lake that you are permitted to take water from? Do you need to have a groundwater well installed? Again, consider the best place for this and plan the location of your dwelling accordingly. Will you have a rainwater harvesting system? This should be planned and considered in the design of your building from the beginning. Will the roof of your home be used to collect water and do you need to install a gutter system?
Depending on the source of your water, you should explore water purification and filtration options. Most water sources will require some form of filtration system so you don’t get sick from drinking the water. You might want to install this for the entire water system or just for the kitchen and then have a separate greywater system for your irrigation and non-potable needs.
Land Use and Permaculture
Can you design your landscape to support permaculture or homesteading practices? Does the environment support food production and is there anything you can do to improve it? Maybe you need to install some raised garden beds if the ground is not suitable.
Planning for biodiversity and native planting will not only give you a better variety but also helps to enhance the ecosystem. Plan before you plant to make sure you will not be introducing any flora that is considered a weed and will cause damage or spread uncontrollably.
If you are planning to raise animals for food, does the landscape support it? If the terrain is too steep for cattle, maybe consider sheep or goats instead. Chickens are one of my favourites because I really enjoy their company but you will need to make sure they are protected from predators.
Transport and Access
A lot of more affordable properties will often not have any roads or pathways yet. Consider access to the property by road, including during adverse weather. Consider different options for sustainable transport. Do you generate enough power to have an electric vehicle and is there one available that will be suitable? Maybe you could ride horses while on the property rather than travelling by truck all the time? Maybe the only way to access your building site is by 4 wheeler ATV and you might need to think about how you are going to transport building materials to site.

Connectivity and Communication
Many people make the decision to live off-grid to be away from everyone else but sometimes it is necessary to have some form of communication. You might need to call the hardware store to place an order, stay connected to family or even just have a way to reach out in case there is an emergency. Have you considered options for off-grid phone communication? Maybe you are in a location that has some cellphone service or you might want to consider emergency devices like satellite phones or messaging systems.
Are you working remotely and need to have an internet connection? Luckily there are many different options available and technology has advanced so we have the option of living remote but still having the option of communicating with the outside world thanks to services like starlink.
Whatever goals you have for going off grid, it is a good idea to sit down and spend some time planning. On the other hand, I am also a big fan of just getting out there and winging it! Life is for living and once you have a dream you just need to start moving towards it. But it does make the move a whole lot less scary when you remove some of the unknowns and can reduce the initial shock if you know what you are getting yourself in for.
Going off-grid is not for everyone but you can always shape it to fit your lifestyle.