Off-grid living in the Low Country (Charleston: HOA, house, unemployment rate)

[emilybh]

Are there people living off grid here in the Low Country? Are HOAs anal about letting homeowners put in an artesian well or a rainwater collection tank and install solar panels on their roofs or would they allow it? Does Charleston allow it? Does anyone know?

What with the higher cost of food; higher utility costs (with SCE&G and Charleston Water trying to get rediculous rate increases) and the green movement, I would think there would be a big demand to be as off-grid as possible. I've been reading a lot lately about how the bailouts and quantitative easing added to the unemployment rates are bound to effect our standard of living Could You Survive Total Economic Collapse? as well as how economic collapses have affected other countries such as Argentina for example. If things ever get that bad here, nobody will want to have to be dependent on town water, electric and sewer.

In general, it can't hurt to be as self sufficient as possible and have changed my wish list for prospective homes to hopefully locate some that ideally have septic systems and well water where I could add solar panels.

[OleTomCat]

Septic and well will require you to look outside of the modern sub divisions. My 30 yo house has city water and sewer. What you will need to look for is something outside of the city limits with acreage.

[fqtravlr]

And to answer the HOA part. most will have restrictions as to what can be attached to the exterior of the house and what can be placed in the yard. You will find wording addressing additions to the roof such as solar panels or placing a windmill in the yard. HOA's are designed to help owners retain property value, not be green. As Tom says, you will need to be out of the City to be off the Grid.

[rexdp10]

The reason SCE&G rates are going up so much is that they are building a new Nuclear Unit...PLUS there is no such thing as de-regulation...i wish there was!