Green Build Co

As the demand for sustainable housing in Australia increases, a growing number of people are turning to off-grid living.

The grid is the central provision of utilities such as water, electricity and waste disposal that many of us take for granted. In most cases our homes are already ‘plugged in’ and we simply pick our suppliers and pay our bills. But by going off the grid and meeting these needs ourselves we can live self-sufficiently, ending our reliance on essential services that are often sourced or provided unsustainably while also reducing our monthly bills.

The four central components [1] of off the grid homes are their ability to generate electricity, collect rainwater (or access an alternative fresh water source), treat and deal with waste, and minimise their demand for these provisions through increased efficiency, these elements help make a sustainable house.

Many people choose off-grid living in order to reduce their impact on the environment. Some are enticed by the long-term savings that an off grid house can offer at a time when residential real estate prices are rising across Australia [2]. Others who live in remote rural areas find it to be the only viable option, given the prohibitive cost of connecting to the grid in the first place. People often ask ‘is it illegal to live off the grid in Australia?‘ this is a misconception.

Consequently there are more off the grid homes in Australia than you might think.