How to Live off the Grid in New Mexico

New Mexico prides itself on being “off the grid” friendly and encourages a green living lifestyle. Watching the documentary “Off the Grid on the Mesa” gives a glimpse of this alternative lifestyle, but knowing what unique considerations make it possible can ensure successful off-the-grid living in New Mexico.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Pick New Mexico; land is cheap, sun is plenty and sustainable living is an existing way of life.

2. Convert an existing home to off the grid power in stages. Consider solar or wind power generation, depending on the home’s location and zoning regulations. New Mexico building officials are receptive to off the grid conversions, which are not new in this state.

3. Begin by installing or converting larger appliances like a refrigerator, freezer, or washing machine to propane or solar electricity. Learn about battery installation and maintenance, power inverting, and propane use on a single appliance before building up to an operational power center that runs a complete home.

4. Set up rain and snow collection systems from the home’s gutters and roof for use in washing, watering gardens and other secondary water activities.

5. Buy an existing green home for sale in New Mexico. Northern New Mexico hosts numerous intentionally green communities with existing off the grid housing options.

6. Choose a style of home designed for off-the-grid living such as a straw bale home, an adobe, an underground home or one built from recycled materials like tires or glass.

7. Check out an Earthship, like those found in the intentional community on Highway 64 northwest of Taos. These stylish homes are completely off the grid, built from recycled and natural materials and available for about $300,000 each.

8. Install a gray water handling system to recycle dish, shower and laundry water.

9. Establish an on-site sewage containment system approved by the local building and code inspectors. Composting toilets are a common option with no smell and high degradation efficiencies.

10. Use green landscaping practices when designing or converting a home. Little to no water usage is a goal and use multi-purpose options like fruit trees that provide shade and food or mulched gardens with edible plants and flowers. Use organic and natural growing methods like companion planting.

11. Heat and cool a home using passive solar or thermally controlled systems. Green homes maintain constant indoor temperatures through house structure, location and design.

Tips & Warnings

• Brace yourself for some serious solitude when off-the-grid communities and secluded homes become inaccessible in spring due to washed out and muddy roads.

Resources

• How to Run a Home on Solar Power
• How to Wind Power a Home
• Buy an Existing Green Home
• Subscribe to the Off Grid Newsletter
• Learn About Earthship Architecture

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[Zachrey]

on 8/14/2008 Just FYI, Greater World Community Subdivision is not an intentional community. It is simply a subdivision with an extraordinary set of covenant and restrictions.

That said, it not just anybody who says, "Oh let's liquidate everything we own and buy/build an earthship in the middle of nowhere"! The sense of community at GW is strongest I've ever felt. We know all of our neighbors and, for the most part, we get along GREAT with them. There is a set of core values that many people share at GW that brings us together. Being a long way from town doesn't hurt either. It compels us to work together and solve problems together.

I've never learned so much about medicine, growing food, plumbing, integrated pest management, the weather and the seasons, rainwater catchment, etc.

Please look at www.greaterworld.org for more info.