Anyone living off grid? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: for sale, houses, buy)

[KMSFLA]

Originally Posted by Takeo

...This is strictly illegal here but I live in the boonies.

Why is that illegal?

[-W1LL]

I have done some research in my area, I found for around 15 dollars you just need a food carriers permit it is for food and food waste that is all it is not hazardous so there should be no problems.

[Takeo]

Originally Posted by KMSFLA

Why is that illegal?

Oh Hai !

It is illegal because I am evading taxes on the electricity I consume. If you want your own power plant here, you have to pay taxes on it and not a little bit. It is also illegal because all waste MUST be processed by an appropriate waste processing plant. I also run filtered frying oil in my diesel truck, which is HIGHLY illegal here because evading even more taxes.

I once wrote a letter to the minister of the interior suggesting that a tax be levvied on bovine manure produced by politicians, I suggested that that might bring enough money to balance the country's economy.
I wonder why I never got an answer.

Kthxbai.

Takeo.

[Classic Satch]

Originally Posted by Takeo

Oh Hai !

It is illegal because I am evading taxes on the electricity I consume. If you want your own power plant here, you have to pay taxes on it and not a little bit. It is also illegal because all waste MUST be processed by an appropriate waste processing plant. I also run filtered frying oil in my diesel truck, which is HIGHLY illegal here because evading even more taxes.

I once wrote a letter to the minister of the interior suggesting that a tax be levvied on bovine manure produced by politicians, I suggested that that might bring enough money to balance the country's economy.
I wonder why I never got an answer.

Kthxbai.

Takeo.

That is priceless!

[boonelsewhere]

megensmom, can you go into a bit of detail how you manage utility usage to run your household.
we are building a house less than 10 miles to Ellsworth ME, we may have to live off grid for a while, but it seem to be quite expensive.
how do you do it. i like the idea of generator that run 10 hours from 1 gallon of gas.

Originally Posted by megensmom

We live off the grid with 3 kids and 126 miles from Fairbanks. We don't really do without but we do things differently and we are careful about our usage. Such as TV isn't left on all day,lights are turned off if aren't using them,etc. We have a Honda generator an EU2000i and I reccommend this line to everyone. We get 10+hours run time from 1 gallon of gas and it is a clean running gen. so you can use it with a computer,etc.
I would be happy to share how we do it if you would like. Now I'm not a brain when it comes to Alt. energy but I did do some reading and I have been living a few months in the area where off-grid living is a way of life and have gotten some good tips.

[megensmom]

We are a family of 5 so depending on how many people you have there your usage will be different but this is what we have and do. We have a generator(as mentioned),we have a 2400 watt Xantex inverter(24volts) that we use with 6 golf cart batteries(will be adding more as we hope to have 10 batteries). We use CFL lights,12v water pump(we use a deep cycle battery for the pump),currently we are using a Coleman brand hot water on demand unit which has a hand held thing for showers it cost $200 but it was worth every penny. We will be getting a propane hot water on demand unit before long. Our range is a basic propane unit with nothing electric. We have a regular coffee pot and toaster but we shopped around for the lowest watts we could get these items both use lots of watts but they aren't operated for extended periods of time so I wasn't to worried about them. We have a small chest deep freeze it doesn't take many watts either like 300 so not to bad. We are also going to get a propane fridge($1000) for a 10cubic ft model a little expensive but they are pretty efficent. We do use a cooler for drinks but we keep it in the shade and so ice will last us several days but once the weather cools we will just leave the drinks sitting on the porch.
We don't have a washing machine but will be getting one shortly because the place here will be closing once it gets into winter. Basically we have a normal household and we don't do without anything. Just make sure that you get an inverter and battery bank that is big enough for your needs. Also watch out for ghost power items like battery chargers,DVD players,etc items that you turn off but they don't completely shut down. Those items we unplug.

The main thing I can say is get an inverter and battery bank big enough for your demands and think about items you need and then look to see if you can find items that use smaller watts than what you may have now.

[boonelsewhere]

thanks, your set up look like might work for us. our kids are grown up that should make it easier for us. i assumed you use generator to charges bateries.
have you gone through Alaska winter yet. Maine winter would not be at bad as Alaska, but it is our most concern (20 yrs in Thailand, 30 yrs in Florida).
since we live close to town we can use laudrymat to wash cloth. our basic need is fridge, some way to get water from well, electric for computer and light for reading at night. same way to use indoor plumbing, flush toilet, and shower.

Originally Posted by megensmom

We are a family of 5 so depending on how many people you have there your usage will be different but this is what we have and do. We have a generator(as mentioned),we have a 2400 watt Xantex inverter(24volts) that we use with 6 golf cart batteries(will be adding more as we hope to have 10 batteries). We use CFL lights,12v water pump(we use a deep cycle battery for the pump),currently we are using a Coleman brand hot water on demand unit which has a hand held thing for showers it cost $200 but it was worth every penny. We will be getting a propane hot water on demand unit before long. Our range is a basic propane unit with nothing electric. We have a regular coffee pot and toaster but we shopped around for the lowest watts we could get these items both use lots of watts but they aren't operated for extended periods of time so I wasn't to worried about them. We have a small chest deep freeze it doesn't take many watts either like 300 so not to bad. We are also going to get a propane fridge($1000) for a 10cubic ft model a little expensive but they are pretty efficent. We do use a cooler for drinks but we keep it in the shade and so ice will last us several days but once the weather cools we will just leave the drinks sitting on the porch.
We don't have a washing machine but will be getting one shortly because the place here will be closing once it gets into winter. Basically we have a normal household and we don't do without anything. Just make sure that you get an inverter and battery bank that is big enough for your needs. Also watch out for ghost power items like battery chargers,DVD players,etc items that you turn off but they don't completely shut down. Those items we unplug.

The main thing I can say is get an inverter and battery bank big enough for your demands and think about items you need and then look to see if you can find items that use smaller watts than what you may have now.

[megensmom]

Instead of a flush toilet we are looking into a self composting one because we can't get a septic tank here where we are. It is an expenisve item but it is cheaper than it would've cost in the lower 48 to have a septic installed.

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by megensmom

Instead of a flush toilet we are looking into a self composting one because we can't get a septic tank here where we are. It is an expenisve item but it is cheaper than it would've cost in the lower 48 to have a septic installed.

Is the land bad to where you can't install a septic? If not, then look up DEC rules and such. You can become self certified to install your own system and then hire the back hoe work and rock etc, Surely you know a miner or two with an excavator or hoe that could help out.

Just an idea.

[SuValley]

There are all sorts of options for septic systems these days, I have sold a number of our lightweight fiberglass tanks for Bush install. Several have even been helicoptered into the site They can also be brought in by snowmachine or river boat.