Up North and Off Grid

If there is one thing I regret, it's not building the sauna first before starting the house.

One of the main requirements of the house was that it should be able to be left on its own in all seasons in case we would not be around.

In this last picture, Jupiter can be seen in the middle.

I've held off on writing this entry since I was afraid it might get too technical, and become either too long or just boring and useless with lack of detail.

Over the course of writing this blog, I've made several upgrades and expansions to the systems in place.

This winter in Finland was (still is at the time of writing this) the coldest in 20 years.

Over the years since I started planning this project and discussing it with others (both online and offline) I've had a myriad of questions pop up.

After my previous entries on water, heating and power, I think it's time to go back to the house and reflect on some of the details involved in the building process.

This entry took me longer to write than I hoped.

In a cold climate, effective and efficient heating systems are paramount.

In part one I analyzed the electricity requirements, so now let's start putting this in terms of components, and what it all costs.

When someone mentions off-grid, one of the first things that come to mind is not being connected to the electricity grid so it deserves some extra attention.

In many countries the foundation of a house is a matter of pouring a slab of concrete on grade, or putting up some pillars, and calling it a day.

Before I began writing this text, I asked for some feedback on the previous posts.

After having compiled a wish-list and a set of goals, the next step in the adventure is trying to find the right plot of land to build on.

The first general step towards building any kind of off-grid place anywhere, is to set out the goals you want to achieve, and formulate why you want to achieve them, and the difficulties and challenges you anticipate in how to achieve them.

... there was an idea.