April 28, 2025
Getting Off The Grid
What Does It Mean to Be “Off The Grid”?
Getting “off the grid” is an eco-friendly approach to daily living where you are not reliant on any utilities or services that connect to a centralized grid, such as electricity, sewage, heat, and water. This lifestyle has seen a surge in interest over the last several years and has historically seen increased popularity in times of social or economic crisis.
There are different levels of off the grid living. It’s not all-or-nothing. Maybe one of these may sound suitable for you and your family:
100% Off the Grid: Exactly what it sounds like. Being 100% off grid means you are fully self-sustained – no public utilities or services for you! You collect rainwater, compost all of your waste, grow your own food, and generate your own power.
Partially Off the Grid: This is when you disconnect from some utilities, while keeping others.
Grid-Connected with Off the Grid Capabilities: You are on the grid completely, but you are prepared to operate independently1.
Energy Independence
One thing that all of these off-gridders have in common is the need for an independent energy source. The most reliable independent energy source is a generator. Though generators can run on a variety of types of fuel, the one option that is off-grid and does not degrade is propane.
Even if you aren’t interested in becoming an off-gridder, being able to keep your home warm, the lights on, hot water running, and meals cooking when there is an outage is something worth being prepared for.
The Ice Storm of 2008
In December 2008, New England saw one of the most devastating winter storms since the Blizzard of 1978. What made the aftermath of this storm most shocking was the ice. The weight of it took down countless trees and powerlines, and damaged 780 utility poles and over 1,000 transformers across New Hampshire. This resulted in over 400,000 homes being without power, heat, or hot water. Many of these homes were not able to get their power back on for nearly 2 weeks2.
Home Generators For Off The Grid Power Generation
The slow response to this storm caused a surge in home generator sales, as many homeowners become wary of the state’s ability to quickly bring the grid back up in emergency situations.
This storm taught us that extended power outages are not just a problem for those in rural communities. It can affect homes regardless of location or population density. Whether you’re interested in going off-grid or not, keeping off-grid capabilities at your home can make the difference between keeping your family safe, and leaving them in the cold.
If you are interested in learning more about home generators for off the grid power, our sales team is here to help. Let us know about your needs, and we can match you up to the right generator for you and your family. Call us at 603-898-7986 or email at info@palmergas.com.
Sources
- Ukpanah, Inemesit. “Living off the Grid: Is It Right for You?” Co.Uk, 8 July 2024, www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/living-off-the-grid.
- WMUR-TV. YouTube, YouTube, 2019, www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wmur%2Bice%2Bstorm%2B2008.
- Hoenig, Matt. “16 Years Ago, One of the Worst Ice Storms in History Hit New Hampshire.” WMUR, WMUR, 11 Dec. 2024, www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-ice-storm-2008/63159447.