Off-Grid Living Guide: Shelter, Power & Heat

When the electricity goes out, so do many of the systems we take for granted: heating, refrigeration, communication and sometimes water. Off-Grid Living is a practical guide to keeping a household running without the grid, whether that is for a week-long outage or as a longer-term lifestyle choice.

An off-grid living guide that starts with the basics

The introduction goes straight to what matters in a power outage: which services stop working, what to do immediately, and a set of tips for living without electricity, from learning to shut off gas and water valves to setting up a bucket toilet, backup heat and alternative cooking. Chapter 1 then covers communication, hygiene and health when you are living off-grid.

Shelter, compost and power

Chapter 2 is about constructing your shelter. It covers choosing the right place to build, using passive solar energy, underground shelter options, when temporary shelters make more sense, creating a greener home, building a home bunker and setting up an affordable survival cache.

Chapter 3 describes eleven composting methods, including open air, hot and cold composting, bokashi, tumblers, vermicomposting and EMO composting, so you can turn waste into soil for your garden. Chapter 4 compares standby generators, battery packs and natural energy sources, with tips for using electricity efficiently in an off-grid home.

Heating, cooling and community

Staying comfortable is a safety issue. The heating chapter looks at wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, kerosene and propane heaters, rocket mass heaters, whole-house generators, solar thermal and geothermal heating, plus how to stay warm through a winter power outage. It also covers passive cooling for hot climates. The book closes with the human side: building connections beyond the grid, mental and emotional well-being, and thriving as part of a community.

Fuel-burning heaters and generators can produce carbon monoxide, so always follow manufacturer instructions, run generators outdoors away from windows and install CO alarms.

What's inside

What stops working in a power outage and the immediate steps to take
Tips for living without electricity, including a bucket toilet system and shutting off gas and water valves
Communication, hygiene and health best practices off the grid
Choosing a shelter site and using passive solar energy
Underground and temporary shelters, a home bunker and a low-cost survival cache
11 composting methods: hot, cold, bokashi, tumbler, vermicomposting, EMO and more
Off-grid power: standby generators, battery packs and natural energy sources
Tips for setting up an off-grid home for efficient electricity use
Heating options from wood stoves and rocket mass heaters to solar thermal and geothermal
How to survive a winter power outage and stay warm, plus passive cooling for warm climates
Community, connection and mental well-being when living off-grid

Who it's for

Homeowners preparing for extended power outages
Homesteaders planning a move toward energy independence
Preppers designing a shelter, cabin or bunker
Gardeners who want to master composting

Frequently asked questions

Is this about solar panels?

Solar is one option discussed among several. The power chapter compares standby generators, battery packs and natural energy sources, and the heating chapter includes solar thermal. The main focus, though, is living well without conventional electricity: heat, sanitation, hygiene, shelter and daily routines when the grid is not available.

Does it include shelter-building information?

Yes. Chapter 2 covers choosing a location, passive solar design, underground shelters, temporary shelters, building a home bunker and setting up a survival cache. Check local building codes, permits and soil conditions, and consult qualified professionals before any major construction or excavation project.

How does it handle heating safety?

The book compares wood, kerosene, propane, rocket mass, solar and geothermal heating and explains how to stay warm during a winter outage. Any fuel-burning appliance carries carbon monoxide and fire risks, so follow manufacturer instructions, ventilate properly and keep working smoke and CO alarms in your home.