And in the beginning...

 ... there was an idea. The idea to build a modern, comfortable, family home - off grid, in Finland. It took many years developing this idea into something that was realistically possible. Technological advancements have recently reached the point where it is, and in a cost effective way.

This blog aims to gather all the lessons learned, the technology choices, the decisions, in one place. I've detailed some of these aspects in various discussion groups and forums all over the Internet. Time to bring them all together in a consistent manner.

Here I will not just focus on one aspect of off-grid living such as solar power. It will start from the ground up (literally) with foundations, building materials, insulation, design of the house and sustainability. It will cover heating systems, water systems, sauna, energy, waste water treatment, and much more. 

Because of the environment, some of these aspects will be specific to northern conditions (cold, dark winters coupled with mild summers) but many of these are none the less applicable to other locations. Some of the challenges are however quite unique, and dare I say, often considered an insurmountable barrier to off grid living in the north - let alone in any semblance of comfort. Hopefully I will able to demonstrate that it is indeed feasible to be off grid in the north, with little to no sacrifices.



Comments

  1. GullsterJanuary 2, 2022 at 3:33 PM

    very nice!
    I'm especially interested in how you find enough power from the sun in the winter. Here at 45N, the sun is pretty low these days but at least the steep pitch helps with the snow accumulation.
    Keep up the good work!

    45North (from DIYSolar)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GullsterJanuary 2, 2022 at 3:39 PM

      I should add that I actually live in a Canadian city with reliable power (we call it "hydro" here) so my interest comes more from curiosity rather than a real, practical requirement.
      Nevertheless, I will enjoy following what you're doing.

      Delete
    2. Up North and Off GridJanuary 2, 2022 at 4:59 PM

      Thank you for your comment! In winter I have to rely on additional sources of power since there isn't enough sun no matter how many panels I put. In my case, I top up my batteries with a generator that can run on locally produced Canola oil, or recycled cooking oil.

      Delete

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