How do you live off-grid? - BBC News

The UK government proposes reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050, under a new plan to tackle climate change.

The BBC's Michael Cowan went to meet a family who live self sufficiently in rural Wales, providing a glimpse of the kind of changes we may all need to make.

[MrHowardMoon]

We could all live a more eco-friendly and off-grid lifestyle, but I don't think the government would be too happy if 90% of the population stopped paying for water, gas, electric LOL

[loveanyways]

They are living their best lives..God bless them..

[marcin]

This is proof that its possible to have free energy for everybody in the world.

[prolificlife]

Definitely a lifestyle to consider with the way the world keeps going

[gort]

years ago i would have thought of these people as crazed. Now I see them as smart. May they live long happy peaceful lives, away from this bastardization of life we experience

[MrSammyboi]

Did you ask them to pay for a TV license?

[petermounsey]

Off-grid living is often shown as hippy, earth loving and uncomfortable. We have lived, like thousands of others, off-grid in Spain for many years. It's a 5 bed villa with swimming pool, air conditioning, dishwasher and all the mod-cons. True, we get more sun so electricity is abundant and water can't be wasted but it's all free and environmentally sound. Total bills are €120 per year council tax for which, we get the same services as you would in the UK.

[Itstheoaks]

This is what you do when you're tired of everyones shit

[goldfingaable]

Good for them.. Look at the state of London..

[arghjayem]

I think the approach in Wales is good in some ways, especially if you want to live as far off grid as this family are doing, but it is also limiting. It only presents two ideas really, either you live like everyone else does pay your electricity and energy bills along with your mortgage/rent, pay council tax and have have your rubbish collected…..or you go totally off grid on agricultural land providing you can work than land enough to make £6000 a year. Where’s the inbetween?

Why can’t I build a small house that has minimal enough electricity needs that solar panels can provide enough power, but still has mains water connected BUT no sewage so I treat my own sewage whilst still having a regular job without having to seek my earning off the land I live on rather being forced to live in a Barrett Homes style house where no consideration whatsoever is taken for the environment or energy requirements save for the bare minimum required by local planning rules.

[rushrush]

I bet jehovah witnesses still finds them without much effort

[primus]

They won’t notice the zombie apocalypse for a while...

[nathanw]

this used to be how everyone lived it’s crazy how lost we’ve become

[freesaxon]

First you throw away your TV.
Then the begging letters fro t.v licencing.
When the BBC come around to see what you are You tell them to get lost

[vickiecook]

We lived off grid for 10years.want to do it again

[thesmallfarmerlife]

This should be all over the UK there is no reason why not. People want to live in many different ways and people should have access to the countryside not just for second home rich families. My channel has proved people want to live like this and its not hard to make £500 per month

[jamesw]

Don't even think its the planning thats a barrier for most people, its the cost of land in this country that makes it unattainable for most

[nimakhaleghy]

I love you all.
I am an Iranian, English, Spanish and I love you. Love you, I respect what you have achieved.

[jasondevon]

In England, our councils only care about big land owners with hundreds of acres. If you only own a couple of acres, they won't let you do anything, unless you bribe them (which does happen).

[steamgeezer]

The good life springs to mind, lol.
I admire this lot, still have a TV though. I do not own one and people think that's wierd but I have a very fulfilling life without all that crap.
Hats off to us all