Living in an off-grid cottage is a dream many people aspire to in the US, given the distance from traditional infrastructure and public utilities. The idea of being self-sufficient while living off the grid has gained immense popularity, and this is only increasing with time as more people step away from the chaos of the urban landscape in bigger cities.
Living sustainably off the grid requires having your own form of power supply so you can be independent from the primary grid. Jackery Solar Generators are a solar-based option that you can set up to run most of the appliances in your off-grid cottage. These solar generators are robust and versatile, making them ideal for you to use indoors and outdoors while building your cottage.
Key Takeaways
This section summarizes some of the key points this guide discusses on how you can build an off-grid cottage:
- An off-grid cottage is a cabin designed to run sustainably without any dependence on public utilities.
- While it is legal to build an off-the-grid cottage, you must comply with your local laws and building codes.
- The quality of the materials and the distance of your property from urban centers will affect your cottage building budget.
- You must use a reliable power supply for your cottage, such as a Jackery Solar Generator for home.
What is an Off-Grid Cottage?
The concept of living “off the grid” has various definitions depending on who you ask, but in the most common sense, it involves being disconnected from public utilities and being self-sufficient. An off-grid cottage is thus a home that’s built completely off the grid with its own power and water supply and even its own rainwater harvesting and garden in several cases.
This reliance on renewable energy sources helps reduce utility bills and ensures a sense of independence, especially if you don’t want to be connected to public utilities and want a fair degree of peace and quiet.
Pros and Cons of Off-Grid Cottage
Living in off-the-grid cottages comes with its fair share of pros and cons which you’ll have to weigh when deciding whether or not this is the right approach for you. This section explores these benefits and drawbacks in greater detail.
Pros of Off-Grid Cottages
Living off the grid in a cottage has several advantages, which are often the driving factors behind people's moves away from urban centers. These advantages are described below.
Sustainable Lifestyle
The advantage of living in an off-grid cottage is that you reduce your dependence on the electric grid and, ultimately, on fossil fuels. Instead, you rely on less damaging renewable sources such as solar and wind energy.
Cost Savings
Many people choose this to live in an off-grid cabin because of the significant drop in utility bills it comes with. This is despite the fact that the initial costs of building and setting up a cottage can be fairly high.
Freedom and Flexibility
Not being connected to or dependent on public water or electricity supplies means you can take charge of all your utilities. This gives you complete control over how you run your home. Living away from urban centers also results in reduced building permissions and guidelines, which offers you immense autonomy and flexibility.
Privacy
Living off the grid offers flexibility and privacy. Most people who choose to live off the grid like the appeal of living away from nosy neighbors and the sound and sight of living near one another.
Cons of Off-Grid Cottages
There are advantages to building an off-the-grid cob cottage, but there are also several disadvantages. This section discusses three key cons that you must consider.
High Initial Costs
The first and most important factor you’ll have to consider when choosing to build an off-grid cottage is the cost. The initial costs are undoubtedly going to be high, considering you’ll have to source all the raw materials, and machinery, and install a plumbing line, sewage system, and a power supply system.
Requires Specialized Skills
Building a cottage from scratch requires specialized skills in building, woodworking, and installing your home's entire water and sewage system.
Isolation
Living off the grid and away from urban centers can make you feel increasingly isolated over time. This isolation can also be a critical challenge when dealing with an emergency, as it can be trickier to get rescue services to your location fast enough.
Maintaining Your Property
Since living off the grid involves being independent, it also comes with the physical demands of maintaining your cottage to ensure it remains pristine over time. This includes maintaining solar panels, pipelines, and other crucial elements.
Is it Legal to Live in an Off-Grid Cottage?
Yes, living in an off-grid cottage is legal, but you must check all your local building codes and requirements before you start forming a plan. For example, if you rely on solar energy, you must ensure you’re in a solar-permitting zone.
You’ll also need to get certain permits to install your septic tank. Another crucial aspect that you must not ignore is homeowner’s insurance. Living in a cottage in a remote place means you’re going to be a lot more susceptible to wildfires and even damage from hurricanes.
There are some states where off-grid living is more popular than others because the laws and regulations are more friendly. States like New Mexico, Oregon, and North Carolina have several well-known off-grid communities. Some of the states where off-grid living is most popular include:
- California
- Colorado
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Hawaii
Essentials for Off-Grid Cottage
You’ll need to consider several essential aspects when you build your off-grid cottage. From power, water, food, and waste management, the list spans several key considerations you must include as part of your plan from the beginning.
This section explains each of these essentials in detail.
Power
The first step most people take when going off the grid is disconnecting from the main power grid, which will likely be yours. This means you’ll have to find an alternative to the traditional grid to ensure you have enough capacity to comfortably run all your lights, appliances, and other electronic devices in your home. A few options you can consider include:
- Solar Energy:Solar panels are the most popular way of getting energy off the grid. The setup typically involves solar panels, an inverter or a portable power station, and/or generator batteries.
- Wind Energy:Harnessing the wind is another option, such as setting up a wind turbine on your property. However, remember that a wind turbine is typically costlier than a solar energy system and requires more space.
- Microhydro Electricity:If you have some form of running water on your property, you can even consider using it to generate energy for your off-grid cottage.
Given that solar energy is the most popular option, you can consider using a Jackery Solar Generator that combines foldable solar panels with a portable power bank that you can carry anywhere you go.
Water
You’ll have to account for freshwater, gray water, and black water when setting up the water supply for your home. The freshwater tank contains all the water you use for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. The gray water tank holds wastewater that comes out of the kitchen and the shower, whereas the black water tank holds waste coming out of the toilet.
Food
If you want to be entirely self-sufficient, you’ll have to consider creating a garden to grow your food on your property. This will also help you if you don’t have any grocery stores or urban centers in close proximity. You can also rear livestock or other animals to ensure a steady supply of dairy and meat-related produce.
Location
You’ll have to consider various aspects when choosing a location where you will build your cottage. For instance, the ideal location could be a decent distance from an urban center. Still, ensure easy access to it should you ever need any supplies or emergency services or have to bug in your car with car living essentials.
You’ll also have to check your area's land laws, building codes, and regulations before you start building your cottage.
Waste
Managing the waste produced from your cottage will be another critical aspect that you’ll have to give a lot of thought to. A septic system will be non-negotiable since you’ll have running water in your cottage.
Jackery Solar Generator for Off-Grid Cottage
Jackery has been known as one of the best and most renowned manufacturers of solar generators, solar panels, and portable power stations for years. The Jackery Solar Generators combine the Jackery Portable Power Stations and the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.
When placed under direct sunlight, solar panels absorb solar energy from the sun’s rays, converting it into a DC current. This current is then passed through the pure sine wave inverter in the portable power station to convert it into AC electricity.
Solar generators are also the ideal option for those living in an off-grid cottage, as they offer ample capacity to run their appliances without relying on the electric grid to meet their energy demands.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is an expandable solar generator with enough capacity to run most of the appliances in your cabin and recharge your devices. The solar panels on this model are foldable, and the portable power station can easily be wheeled. This allows you to keep it in place or take it with you if you’re ever going outdoors.
The solar generator can be charged via solar charging or even using a wall charger which makes it incredibly versatile and ideal in a range of different situations.
Appliances Running Time:
- Electric Kettle (850W) = 2H
- Outdoor Electric Grill (1700W) = 1H
- Coffee Maker (550W) = 3.1H
- Portable Air Conditioner (1150W) = 1.5H
- Smartphone (29W) = 59.8H
Customer Review:
“Working on a small build that still does not have power. This generator has been a great addition to my tools and has the power to run miter saws, table saws, and paint sprayers, all the while charging batteries for my power tools. Solar panels are easy to install and keep us in power all day long.” — Redge.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh)
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (4kWh) is another expandable solar generator that offers much more capacity than the previous model and can thus easily run most of your cottage’s appliances. It has a long-lasting battery and is safe and quiet to store as an indoor generator, as it doesn’t emit harmful emissions. Like the previous model, it can be charged via solar charging and a wall adapter, and the whole setup is also portable, so you can carry it with you if you need to bug out during an emergency.
Appliances Running Time:
- Electric Kettle (850W) = 4.0H
- Outdoor Electric Grill (1700W) = 2.0H
- Coffee Maker (550W) = 6.3H
- Portable Air Conditioner (1150W) = 3.0H
- Smartphone (29W) = 119.7H
Customer Review:
“My 2000 plus was delivered in pristine condition. This will take care of my family during power outages. It's portable enough that we can take it with us if we move or buy an RV or cabin. All charged and ready. I like that it's expandable.” - Dennis.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a large-capacity solar generator with plenty of capacity to run even some of the heaviest appliances in your off-grid cottage. It comes with ultra-fast charging via solar charging and a wall charger. It has a portable design with a pull rod with double wheels.
It’s also cold-friendly, which makes it ideal for your cottage if you’re building it in a colder region where temperatures fall quite a bit. What’s more, you can also use a transfer switch to turn this into a whole home backup system.
Appliances Running Time:
- Electric Kettle (850W) = 3.0H
- Outdoor Electric Grill (1700W) = 1.5H
- Coffee Maker (550W) = 4.6H
- Portable Air Conditioner (1150W) = 2.2H
- Smartphone (29W) = 88.6H
Customer Review:
“I recently purchased the Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro AND couldn’t be happier! This made-in-America generator is world-class, easy to use, and works like a charm! This product is a must for emergency preparedness.” - CalNevBob.
How to Build an Off-Grid Cottage
Once you embark on this project, there are several steps to building the perfect off-grid cottage. In this section, you’ll be shown every major step of the process so you understand what you’ll need to consider.
Find the Right Piece of Land
The location of the piece of land you choose will greatly dictate your choice of materials and the budget. Colder regions, for example, will require a lot more wood and insulation to keep your cottage warm.
You’ll also have to account for transporting all the raw materials for the construction to your property. When making your decision, you should also check the building code requirements and the cost of the land itself, as these can affect your overall budget and planning.
Decide on a Budget for Your Cottage
When you decide on a budget for your build, you’ll have to consider the skills you already have, as these will dictate how much you’ll have to outsource. You’ll also have to consider your land's resources and the materials you intend to build the cottage with.
Some of the key aspects that you must keep in mind when deciding on a budget include:
- Whether you’ll require new lumber or recycled lumber or if you can source the wood from your plot of land.
- What tools and machinery will you need for the whole project, and how many of these do you already own?
- How many of your power tools require a constant source of power, and how do you plan on supplying it? A Jackery Solar Generator can be a good option as you can use it indoors and outdoors without the noise and harmful emissions that a traditional gasoline generator would produce.
- How many public utilities are you disconnecting from, and how much will it cost you to supplement these on your own?
- How many people will stay in the cottage? This will dictate how much capacity you need for your power source to generate.
Source all the Building Materials
The next step of the process is to source all the materials you’ll need to construct the cottage, including the timber, glue, screws and nails, and every other element needed. You will have to balance the quality and price of the raw materials you source.
You’ll also have to consider the different sizes of planks needed for different parts of the cottage. For instance, while the frame itself will need thicker and sturdier planks, those you choose for your flooring can be thinner but wider in comparison.
Plan Your Power Source
You’ll also have to choose a means of supplying electricity to your entire cottage from its lights, appliances, and the water and plumbing system. You can choose between solar energy, wind energy, and hydro energy depending on your location, the size of your plot of land, and how much you’re willing to spend.
Set up Your Water Supply and Septic System
You’ll then have to carry out all the plumbing for your cottage, connecting all the rooms with water outlets to the freshwater, gray, and black water tanks. You’ll have to do this with the septic system while adhering to all the building codes in your area.
When sourcing running water for your cottage, you can choose from well water or lake water, depending on what’s more accessible. However, if you plan on sourcing your water from a lake, you should check if you need any permits to do this to avoid any legal trouble down the line.
Final Touches
Once your frame, running water, plumbing, and electrical systems are all set up and you’ve designed the interiors, you can go ahead and give your cottage the final touches it needs. This could be in terms of decor, design, furnishings, and a host of other elements.
How to Live in an Off-Grid Cottage
When you live off the grid, chances are you’ll be moving away from an urban center that offers work and community-building opportunities. You’ll have to find a way of earning money unless your work is done remotely. This section lists a few tips on living in an off-grid cottage.
- Exchange Work:Exchange work can be a great idea for someone who wants to get a taste of living off the grid before investing in it themselves. It allows you to offer your skills in exchange for accommodation, giving you a good idea of your life when you eventually live off the grid.
- Join an Off-Grid Community:Joining an off-grid community can also be a great way to live off the grid while socializing with like-minded individuals. In an emergency, the main benefit is accessing shared resources and having each other’s support.
- Choose a Reliable Power Supply Option:Once you’ve disconnected from the electric grid, you must set up a reliable power supply option in your cottage to make your life comfortable. A Jackery Solar Generator can be a practical and versatile option to consider.
- Keep Emergency Supplies Handy:If you're living off the grid in a remote location, you must be prepared with a bug-out plan for any emergency, such as a wildfire, hurricane, and so on. You must also keep an emergency kit with adequate food, water, medicines, tools, etc. handy.
- Grow Your Own Food:One of the best ways to be self-sufficient is to grow your food on your land. This will reduce your dependence on commuting to urban centers and is much more sustainable.
- Practice Rainwater Harvesting:Rainwater harvesting is one of the best ways to recycle water on your property and reduce your dependence on well or lake water. You can use this water in your garden or wash your dishes.
Off-Grid Cottage FAQs
What size of solar generator do I need for my off-grid cottage?
The right size of the solar generator you need for your off-grid cottage will depend on how many appliances, such as a coffee machine or a portable air conditioner, you need to run. For example, if you’re using the Jackery Solar Generator 200 Plus Kit (4kWh) to run your portable air conditioner (1150W) and a coffee machine (550W), here’s how you can calculate the working hours:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ Operating Wattage of the Appliance = 4085.6Wh × 0.85 ÷ 1700W = 2H
Note: The 0.85 is the power conversion factor multiplied by the battery capacity to account for power loss when charging the appliances.
How much does it cost to build an off-grid cabin?
An off-grid cabin or cottage can cost between $10,000 and $150,000, depending on its size, the materials used, and the cost of the raw materials and their transportation.
How many solar panels to run a house off-grid?
To run a house off the grid, you would need anywhere between 10 and 15 solar panels, but this would require a lot of space, which can be challenging. Jackery Solar Generator is much more compact, can charge 99% of your home appliances safely, and does not involve installation costs.
Is living off-grid worth it?
Living off the grid has several pros, such as lower or eliminated utility bills, a reduced environmental footprint, and a greater sense of independence. These benefits make it worth it for many.
Do you have to pay tax if you live off the grid?
Yes, you will have to pay property taxes, utilities, and the cost of your cottage’s maintenance when you live off the grid, but you will save money in terms of reduced dependence on public utilities and a simpler lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
Off-grid cottages offer many benefits that have lured people to the idea in recent years. Reduced or negated utility bills, the freedom and independence of living independently, and the reduced environmental impact are just a few. These are some of the main reasons why thousands leave big urban centers and live off the grid in a cottage or a cabin.
This guide has discussed some of the key essentials you’ll need to build your off-grid cottage, along with its pros and cons. One of the most important things you must consider is a reliable power backup option for your cottage. Jackery Solar Generators are the ideal and safest option, as they’re versatile enough to use outdoors. At the same time, you build your cottage or indoors as a permanent power supply source.
Are you planning on building yourself an off-grid cottage? What power source are you considering using? Let us know in the comments below!
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