The world is constantly evolving, and it’s not always for the best. Being self-sufficient within the home is like being in survival mode and it means you are always one step ahead with preparedness than the majority of people. The supermarket, the water supplier and the power grid, are you prepared if they all went down tomorrow? Self-sufficient living is a more organic and enriched way of living and it means you don’t have to depend on anyone but yourself.

As well as independence, self-sufficiency also means a save on household costs like electricity and water. It helps makes a difference to the environment and increases your chances of survival in times of crisis.

Going self-sufficient within the home can seem overwhelming because it’s the minority that currently takes this survival step of independence. Here are some solutions that you can do to help you on the road to a totally self-sufficient life and self-sustained home.

Energy sources

Solar power is an affordable energy source and available for most homeowners. As long as your home has the correct conditions for catching the right amount of sunlight, you can power your whole home on solar power entirely.

Rooftop panels or standalone panels are the two ways to capture the sun’s rays for solar powered energy. Rooftop panels are located on the roof of your house and are available depending on the amount of shade and sunlight your home receives.

Standalone panels can be used if rooftop panels are not suitable for your house. They can be stationary or fitted with a solar tracker that follows the movement of the sun. This makes the panels absorb maximum power.

There is also the option to power your home through wind turbines which can offer sufficient energy to power an average sized home. However, generating power this way is a lot pricier than solar panels. If you like the idea but you’re not ready to invest in a professionally installed wind turbine just yet; you can create your own self-built wind turbine that will help you take that first step towards self-sufficiency.

Related reading: How To Live Without Electricity

Water systems

Having a self-sufficient water system is a great way to have independent living and also save the planet at the same time. With a huge drought currently occurring in Africa, water is valuable. There are two main ways of a self-sustained water system. Re-using rain water or installing a water storage tank.

Re-using rainwater can be done by drilling a well. You could have the well of the pump powered by solar or wind energy in order to complete your totally self-sufficient water systems. If drilling a well isn’t an option, you could always have free standing barrels that collect rainwater. This water is not safe for drinking, but it can be used for watering the lawn or washing the car.

Rainwater harvesting through a water storage tank is a great way for water supply independence. Rainwater is collected within the water tank and then channeled into a pump for water pressure and a filter for portability.

After the water has been used once for uses like showers and cleaning, it’s recycled and used three more times for things like flushing toilets and funneled outdoors for watering of plants. It is an extremely eco-friendly and totally self-sufficient system.

Heat sources

You can create heat self-sufficiency through wood-burning stoves. They are easy to regulate the temperature through using more or less wood. Many wood-burning stove models can also be left safely overnight to burn and keep the house warm in colder months. The only resource necessary to keep the stove going is a constant pile of wood.

Light resources

Having a skylight, green roof or breezeway in your home tackles the problem of a light source as well as a heat source. These intelligent infrastructures use the sun and nature to heat, cool and lighten your house. It totally replaces the need for electric lighting.

Food supplies

The best way to becoming totally self-sufficient with obtaining your own food is to grow your own fruits and vegetables and keep your own livestock. There is even urban livestock farming for agriculture in the cities. You can raise chickens, goats and other animals on rooftops and in backyards for their eggs and milk.

A last word about becoming self-sufficient

Putting in a little effort into making your home self-efficient and by developing a life that is totally self-sustaining will bring amazing advantages. The investment you make into having a home that is only dependent on nature and yourself means that you are totally independent, prepared for disaster and it will save you money in the long run.

Self-sufficiency is a skill that once learned will last a lifetime and prepare you for any kind of situation. It puts you in at an advantage because many people do not have these important skills and are not equipped for total independence or to successfully re-build from scratch without depending on someone.

Other Useful Resources:

The vital self-sufficiency lessons our great grand-fathers left us

Learn How To Survive any Medical Crisis

Learn how to Safeguard your Home against Looters

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