Is the idea of moving away from the city to live off the gridone which you've been thinking about? A lot of us have entertained the idea at some point or another, at least idly. It used to be that living off the grid was something that only survivalists or those who just happened to live in extremely isolated areas did. However, it's something that a lot of people are now thinking about; often when looking at their ever-increasing electric bills! If you're interested in living off the grid and have some property in a remote location, then you'll want to make sure you're prepared to make this big change in your lifestyle.

If you'd like to purchase property specifically for the purpose of living off the grid and you need to build a home there, you're going to have to decide what type of energy source to use to power your home.

If you want to use solar energy, then the important thing is that your property will get enough direct sunlight to generate the power you need. You'll get the best results from your solar power system by installing it to face south. Before you install this system, you'll also want to know how much power you'll need to generate to supply your home with electricity and provide hot water.

Supposing that your property is located in a region where steady winds are the norm, then you might want to consider using some wind turbines in conjunction with your solar power system. Between the two you should be able to generate enough electricity to supply your home.

If you're headed off to live off the grid in a remote area, you're also going to have to find a means of supporting yourself. You may have to develop some new skills or get reacquainted with older ones you haven't used in a while.

For instance, if you grew up farming and have a knack for it, you could start an organic farm. This is a means of supporting yourself which fits well with living off the grid. Your home and your livelihood would both be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

You might be an artist that is planning to do their artwork and sell it. This is a great off the grid profession to do. Maybe you are a painter and can use the spaces around you for inspiration for your paintings. Being a writer can also be done off the grid and with today's cell phones you can still easily stay in touch with the rest of the world without using too much power. Just be sure you have cell surface where you are going to live.

So does living off the grid appeal to you? Just remember that you will have to use conservation methods too along with the solar and/or wind energy to make it successfully. You cannot be an energy hog and live off the grid too.