Living in perfect harmony with nature, refusing to participate in our current 'human standard' of reckless environmental poisoning and leaving the rest of the heathens behind is certainly appealing at times, however, it is not a viable option for most of the civilized world. To reduce your negative environmental impact to zero or even approach it- is quite unrealistic. Living off-grid for most of us is a choice based on our beliefs, our sense of responsibility and our desire to be self-sustaining. It is not without benefits. Production of your own power combined with self-reliance in water heating, food production, waste management, etc... eliminates your reliance on a system in which you have no control, input or authority.
With regard to electricity, living off-grid does not simply translate to 'plugging in to something else', it involves significant lifestyle changes. For example: the inefficient, high demand appliances you may rely on for day to day operations are out of the picture. 4500 watt hot water heater? Full size washer and dryer your folks gave you for your wedding? Massive electric oven (yes, the one they told you was more energy conscious than the older model it replaced)? Let's not forget that 5 ton air conditioner set at 68 degrees 5 months of the year. Consider them retired. There are concessions to be made, most of which are simple to contend with and after a short time, there's no feeling of concession at all. The average American household uses between 750 KwH and 850 KwH of electricity per month according to the US Department of Energy. Take a look at your electric bill. Where do you stand? Simple tasks such as changing all of the lighting in your house to affordable and effective compact fluorescent bulbs or reducing the number of times you open the refrigerator door in a day or even setting your air conditioner a few degrees higher will make a noticeable impact on your utility bill.
Let's say you have built an energy-conscious, new home. It employs a passive solar design, is sized to fit your needs with regard to space (1200 sqft instead of 2400), is well insulated and properly oriented to take advantage of natural heating and cooling tendencies in the environment. Let's say you've avoided wasteful appliances and are using solar batch collectors for heating, and water heating. Your electricity needs are in the neighborhood of 250 KwH per month. Now we're optimized for solar electric off-grid living!
You don't have to say goodbye to all of the conveniences you've become accustomed to. In fact, you don't have to say goodbye to any of them, only modify your needs and methods by which you are convenienced. This is the information age, and if you're reading this document, odds are you have internet access. Satellite internet (65w when active) is available nearly worldwide. Wireless phones have increased range and reliability in recent years. Modern composting systems incorporate flush toilets that use only 1 pint of water per use. Flat panel televisions use a fraction of the electricity of their older, tube based predecessors.
In the planning stages of an off-grid home, costs are nearly offset on a 1:1 ratio when taking alternative routes to design your residence and it's typical needs. Alternatives to a septic system are less expensive. The size of the home itself is typically smaller and more observant of space usage when compared to a 'standard' home. Implementation of a moderate solar array is on par with connection to the utility grid in many cases- without an easement through your property. Orientation for passive solar benefits only improves the home's performance without added cost. Taking advantage of natural features such as proximity to a spring or use of naturally occurring berms or hillsides is a cost-free benefit as well.
There is a measure of isolation involved in living completely off the grid. If you can trade the power lines, traffic and congestion of city life for an easier pace, privacy and the natural beauty found in rural settings, you'll likely find the trade-offs to be well worth the effort.
It's not for everyone, but it certainly is viable for those who desire it.
