Book Review: Living Off The Grid by David Black

Hey everyone, I decided to write a quickie review of this. I finished the book a few weeks ago and have been wanting to post this so here goes. The book is Living off the grid by David Black.

I was excited about reading this book since I've never really read anything on the subject of off grid lifestyle so I dove right in.

Right off the bat, I found the generalizations distracting. Distracting enough to highlight it (yes, the Kindle app is awesome like that) and write notes on it.

Here are samples:
On Fifth Wheel Trailers - "There's usually a cab-over, containing an entertainment center, a stash of hunting rifles and beer, or a couple of repulsive youngsters making faces and flipping off passing motorists."

(This was a damn kids, get off my lawn segment of the book apparently)


Here's another:
"The majority of RVers are upple-middle-class kids looking for cushy digs in their cosmic conquests."

I continued reading the book
a) because I like to finish what I started
b) because I wanted to give it a chance, the subject matter interests me
c) because I honestly thought it was going to get better

I was partly right in the fact that it had parts that were good and informative. The ideas overall are pretty basic. The only topic that was in depth was the one on electricity / power source. That chapter just went on longer than it needed to be, too advanced for most.

I was expecting more of a practical, DIY for beginners type of book I suppose.

At least I didn't have to pay for it. It was being offered for free for promotional purposes on Amazon for a little while.

So for my first foray on off grid books, I'll have to give this a 2/5 stars. 

I'll keep it as a basic reference guide for now until I find something more suitable to take its place.

Go have a look see if you're still curious about it. If you have any recommendations on self-sufficiency / living off grid type books let me know.

Video: Dan Phillips on creative houses from reclaimed stuff

Just found this video of Dan Phillips via TED. Here's a previous post about the Bone House. He has a company that builds homes using recycled and found materials.

Earth Berm (Hobbit) House

This post was written by contributing writer Noel. Visit his home on the web at http://lekayrnthon.wordpress.com

Simon Dale believes in the concept of living in tandem with nature and the environment at large. So much so in fact, that he, his wife and a few mates that he recruited for heavy lifting from time to time, went ahead and built what is being called the Hobbit House; their unique version of an Earth Berm house.

'The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives us a unique opportunity to live close to nature. Being your own (have a go) architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass produced box designed for maximum profit and convenience of the construction industry. Building from natural materials does away with producers profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.' (from the site)

The tools used were a chainsaw, a hammer and a one inch chisel, as well as good old muscle and human ingenuity. He claims to have little experience with building in general, holding out that anyone can construct this kind of structure. 

Examples of the features of the house are:

 - Solar panels for all their energy needs

 - An air cooled fridge

 - Fixtures and fittings from reclaimed materials

 - Running water from a nearby spring and powered by gravity. 

 - Straw filled walls, covered in lime plaster for ease of building and insulation

 - All the comforts of modern living as well as being close to nature

Below are pictures of Simon and his wife and his two children, as well as a video of him explaining his reasons for choosing to live in this manner. 

 

 

[Source:  http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm]

House of the Future

From Xenian:

This innovative public exhibition showcased sustainable design excellence and environmental innovations in 6 Houses made from clay, concrete, timber, steel, cardboard, and glass and 2 creative responses that showcase sustainable gardens.

Futuristic use of LED lighting as the norm in the timber House of the Future.

Sidenote: I like the incorporation of solar panels on the exterior design but it's a little too transparent for me. I'd feel like I'm living in a fish tank.

The Bone House - made of recycled and found materials.

A self-taught carpenter, Dan Phillips builds homes in Huntsville, TX out of recycled materials including cattle bones.
He started his own construction company back in 1997 by mortgaging his house.
The result? Phoenix Commotion.
His mission? To build affordable homes for low-income families using recycled materials.
He hires unskilled labor for a project and teaches them the necessary and valuable skills to help them with future employment.The only new materials in any of his houses are plumbing, wiring, structural elements.

He's built about 14 homes total. The estimate cost of building the 750 sq. ft. bone house is $26,000