Canada Bans Off-Grid Living

originally posted by: Soloprotocol
Canada isn't banning off the grid living as your title suggests.

Planning regulations simply states new house builds need smoke and carbon monoxide detectors...
I dont see a big problem here...

She can buy battery operated ones or if that doesn't meet the rules and regs she can, as someone has pointed out, stick up either a solar panel or a small wind turbine or run a generator.

When codes are designed as mandatory and they determine how a house can be build and operate thereafter, that sort of regulation put in place creates a clear form of restriction (and as a result a banning) of a way of living.

p.s. The title isn't mine.

a reply to: EternalSolace

Well could you find your own water and electricity and gas?

Or would you just go with out, well you could find water, and call it sustainable?


Another click bait title with the dreaded B word.

Nothing is getting banned, sorry they want new houses with pretty much standard detectors these days.

a reply to: Sremmos80

Absolutely when it comes to water and electricity. But the desire to do so is what I lack. I'm lazy and don't want to put the amount of work into it required to go off the grid. And while I enjoy the perks of electricity and gas, I can absolutely go without those commodities and survive just fine.

It's possible that saying it's been banned is a bit melodramatic. But things just aren't always as black and white as that.

originally posted by: Aliensun

originally posted by: tothetenthpower
a reply to: Telos

If she wants public services, like fire fighter, ambulance, etc.

Then she needs the proper things, pure and simple.

As somebody else, stated, if you want to live off the grid, fend for yourself.

~Tenth

Taxes on the property and other things pay for what you have mentioned. No connection to the issue.

Who determines what is the "proper" way to live your life?

If she lives within range of a city to pay property taxes, then she's not off the grid. It also doesn't absolve her from being a responsible home owner.

Why would she get access to fire fighter services for example if her house is a fire trap?!

Makes no sense.

~Tenth

Years ago there was a story of a German fella who had a place in Calgary . He was off the grid to the point that he would not pay water/sewer taxes ,and the city threatened to cut off his water lol . What can they do ? Really ,what ? A few batteries that you can charge up should give the impression you have power . It may be DC but so what . If the power goes out ,does that mean you have no power ? Is that a crime ? ...

I guess there are degrees of "off the grid". Any property owner still has to pay taxes, but we don't all have to be hooked up to phone, water, electric, sewer, gas, etc., or even have an address. Post office box will do.
As long as you have acreage.
It's still sort of "off grid"
Taxes are much cheaper without water, sewer, garbage pickup, street lights

Or you can live in a shack in the forest and live completely like a hermit, totally off grid.
Until they find you and force you into some civilization.

a reply to: tothetenthpower

Ah, the insanity that is my home province. Yes I know this applies to new houses but my father in law live on the Annapolis Valley's south mountain and he didn't even get power lines through until 20 years ago. He lived just fine. Outhouse. Well. Propane for cooking and refrigeration. He brought his car battery in if he wanted to watch the hockey game on TV. I'm sure there are ways to adhere to the regulations without getting electricity hooked up.

originally posted by: snowspirit
I guess there are degrees of "off the grid". Any property owner still has to pay taxes, but we don't all have to be hooked up to phone, water, electric, sewer, gas, etc., or even have an address. Post office box will do.
As long as you have acreage.
It's still sort of "off grid"
Taxes are much cheaper without water, sewer, garbage pickup, street lights

I, personally, prefer on-grid, net-positive lifestyle for myself. All the benefits of modern times and the added benefit of being an energy producer in the feels, and in the pocket book.

Or you can live in a shack in the forest and live completely like a hermit, totally off grid.
Until they find you and force you into some civilization.

I'm fairly certain that if you are adhering to Canadian environmental laws, the shack is not 'permanent', and you are on crown land...they can't do much other than check in on you from time to time.

a reply to: the2ofusr1

With today's technology there is NO REASON WHY
you can't live "off the grid" but still be able to enjoy
life's comforts!

May I suggest the following:

1,000 gallon Propane Tank ($3500 to install and $2100 to fill up)
for safety/gas expansion reasons you only fill up to 80% of total
physical capacity.

1 Gallon of Propane = 91,600 Btu’s.

and therefore 80% of 1000 gallons = 800 Gallons
= 73,280,000 BTU's (BTU = British Thermal Unit)

In the upper states of Minesota, Wisconsin, Dakotas
it takes about 60 BTU's to heat one square foot per day
based upon a 2000 square foot home.

so for 2000 square foot is 120,000 BTU's per day
or 610 days if you just run the house heater.

If you combine a water heater, standard home heater
and an electrical generator supplying 20,000 watts peak,
(or 14,000 watts under continous load) you're looking at
about 300,000 BTU per day or about 244 days for 2000 square
foot in colder climates.

If you are in a warmer climate or have a smaller place
those length-of-time between propane refills goes
quite a bit upwards.

I suggest these suppliers for Propane/LPG generators:

Generators:

Generac
Cummins
Caterpiller

The key issue is to MAKE SURE your off-grid full-house
generator is PROPERLY RATED for Continuous Duty or
100% Duty Cycle Prime Power supply.

If you're running a house off-grid for the entire year
for 24 hours/day you need to take into account monthly
maintenance and lubrication of components.

The wattage you need for your generator is ALWAYS 70%
of the maximum power supply of the generator you buy.
Therefore a 10,000 WATT generator can safely supply
7000 watts continuous duty if the engine rated for
continous duty. If you want something like
14,000 WATTS CONTINOUS LOAD then a 20 Kilowatt
generator is necessary. On 14 KW you can power
a fridge, a freezer, a convection oven, lights,
a microwave, some power tools and computing
systems all at once!

DO NOT BUY A STANDBY or EMERGENCY BACKUP generator!
YOU MUST BUY one that is TRULY RATED for Continous
Prime Power or 100% Duty Cycle.

You're looking at about $13,000 for a Propane 20 KW
100% duty cycle generator plus installation/transport costs.

Buy Propane tanks here:

Horizontal ASME Domestic Tanks by Trinity Containers:
www.trinitylpg.com...

Quality Steel Corporation:
www.propanetank.com...


Large, national propane dealers who also sell or lease propane
tanks include AmeriGas, FerrellGas and Suburban Propane.

There are many other smaller regional companies,
and FOR YOUR INFO the National Propane Gas Association
provides referrals to propane retailers by zip code.

---

For your household toilet waste disposal needs:

Sun-Mar CCEB-02520 Centrex 3000 Central Composting Toilet System:
www.lowes.ca...

at about $2100

Whole house water filtering system:
Quad 4" x 20" Whole House High Flow Big Blue Filter Set comes with The following Filters:
www.ampac1.com...

about $1100 + 6th month or 1 year filter supply costs

then

you need to look at Satellite Internet if you're really in the boonies
and getting some decent all terrain transport:

I suggest the following ATV:
Argo 8x8 Aphibious ATV (it floats, goes on snow, mud and everything else!)
www.argoutv.com...

This thread makes me wonder about the Amish around here. Are they required to have smoke detectors? My guess is no since zippers are of the Devil.

a reply to: Telos

The Amish seem to have it figured out.
The Gov doesn't say 'boo' to them.