When I designedmy cob house两年前在跳舞兔子生态村,我决定要过没有电的生活。我没有购买太阳能发电系统或风力涡轮机的计划。我打算在家里实现无电生活的飞跃,以比以往任何时候都更简单、更生态的生活。人类已经在没有电的情况下生活了数十万年,那么为什么我不能也这样做呢?即使在今天,阿米什人的群体仍然很强大,继续生活在一个非常有线的世界里,没有电。Here are some of the reasons why to live electricity-free:
1) No Electricity Bill
Living without electricity is really cheap! Solar power systems can cost thousands of dollars. I saved myself a big wad of cash when I decided to go without.
2) You Never Have To Call An Electrician
I never have problems with my electricity, because it’s non-existent (duh). Power systems are very finicky and require lots of maintenance, but I save hours of tedious labor each year because there’s nothing to maintain. And I never have to worry about my power going out!
3) Better Ambiance
你曾在一个完全被蜡烛照亮的房间里待过吗?It’s beautiful and literallyfeelsgood. Artificial overhead lighting is one of the most offensive and ugly ways to brighten up a space. But candles are warm, mellow, and create a sense of intimacy that cannot be reproduced by a light bulb.
4) It’s As Eco-Friendly As You Can Get
Grid power is intensely destructive and responsible for a range of environmental issues, including natural resource exploitation, global climate change, pollution, mountaintop removal, deforestation, and more. Access to electricity has caused our country’s economy to explode over the past 100 years, but at a huge cost and with questionable benefits. Even “green power”, or renewable energy has its own share of environmental impacts, includingthe mining of very rare and precious elements. Ultimately, clean energy is a myth, and creating any kind of electricity, whether it’s with a solar panel or a wind turbine, creates ecological damage on some level. Going without electricity avoids all of that mess!
5) Less exposure Electromagnetic Fields
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are a hazardwith little-known and potentially adverse human health effects. The world is full of stuff slowly killing us so it’s nice to limit exposure to anything that has potential to do even more damage. Who needs to worry about EMFs when you’ve got no buzzing electronics around…?
6) Less Electronic Noise
…And speaking of buzzing electronics, ha! My house is as quiet as the sky is blue. When I walk into my house, there is no ambient buzz of electric equipment and I can bask in the actual silence of my home. Genuine silence is pretty hard to come by, you know.
7) Healthier Circadian Rhythms
人造光真的扰乱了我们的昼夜节律,我们自然的24小时生理周期。Since we can essentially extend the daylight hours with artificial light, our average waking hours have extended, which essentially messes up the natural rhythm of our bodies:
Once humans began to use artificial light to vary the length of the day, the average night’s sleep decreased from about nine hours to about seven, and the amount of sleep began to vary considerably from one night to the next. This irregularity prevents one’s circadian rhythm from settling into a pattern, and creates a state of perpetual semi-jet-lag. Our bodies’ rhythms attempt to appropriately adjust our alertness, blood pressure, and such for particular times of day; but we often do things contrary to this cycle, and therein lies the problem. (Source)
8) Candles Smell Good
关于蜡烛还有一件事,你闻过蜂蜡蜡烛吗?该死,闻起来真香。(别跟我说那些讨厌的人工芳香石蜡蜡烛。Paraffin candles contain carcinogenic compounds thatcan lead to lung cancer, too.) But yea, beeswax candles are where it’s at! They smell absolutely sweet and delicious.
9) Fewer Distractions
With computers, movies, video games, cell phones, and everything else begging for attention, it’s nice to have some relief from all of that to make time for yourself and your loved ones. Fewer electronic distractions leaves more time for reading, meditating, playing board games, and relaxing. You can learn to provide your own entertainment without access to electricity and feel relief from all of the distractions that electronics provide.
10) Actual Ninjas Did It
Ninjas lived without electricity. So did pirates. Even Abe Lincoln, Davy Crockett, Jesus Christ, Cleopatra, and a host of other historical individuals. Join the club and go electric-free!
你可能会认为,在当今世界,生活中没有电是完全不切实际的。你可能是对的。Even I, who live in a house without electricity, am sitting here typing on a computer in an artificially-lit room about why you shouldnotdo just that. (I do have access to power in a community building here at Dancing Rabbit.)
然而,也许更重要的是,拥有一个没有电子和电子的避难所是很有价值的,一个没有那些可以快速消耗我们日常生活的干扰的空间。认识到人类已经在没有电的情况下生活了数百代,并走到这一步,人类不“需要”电来生存,这是至关重要的,可以打开我们的思想,以更少的可能性。电力是一种巨大的特权,但它对生态的影响是巨大的,电力的创造永远不会是真正绿色的。
To learn to live with just a little less electricity can be incredibly empowering. (No pun intended, sorry.)
Many thanks to Web Retail Group, provider ofecommerce web designandproduct data feeds,感谢他们对博客马拉松的承诺!
hecketysays
你的观点很有道理,我当然同意电力是有代价的(哈哈!但是,多年前我听到的一件事至今仍令我踌躇:社会历史学家说,直到城市里出现了电灯,尤其是路灯,大城市的警察才开始控制夜间的犯罪行为,使城市更安全。当然,这带来了更多关于城市和其他各种废话的问题,但我认为这是一个有趣的信息。
Which isn’t to say that we live in a city, or depend an having power every minute…
vinoba bhavesays
I love the post, but you misspelled Gandhi.
yigal weinsteinsays
In terms of CO2 emissions it’s debatable and context sensitive which source of light candles or the bulb is more eco-friendly. This guyhttp://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/earth-hour-candles-and-carbon/found the estimate of CO2 produced per candle to be 10 times that of a 40W bulb producing the same number of lumens, 500 roughly. So it appears it is all a matter of quantity vs. quality. There is no doubt in my mind that candle light is far superior to that of bulbs, however to produce an equivalent amount of CO2 or less simply using less lighting, I guess, is the logical solution.
此外,蜡的来源也是一个真正的问题。蜂蜡是一种“碳”中性来源,这非常好。它闻起来也棒极了!我不确定我是否愿意像没有能源一样生活在“远离电网”的环境中,但这样做会给你更多的力量(忽略这个荒谬的双关语)。
kyle yodersays
all great points. i am trying to go without electricity in my rented room for the last week of lent. sort of an extended ‘earth hour.’ tame relative to your commitment, but should still be a nice respite from the nasty distractions and lights you mentioned.
Anthonysays
在我们这个时代,没有电的生活几乎是不可能的。所有东西都没电了。从电脑到火炉,除非我们使用其他能源来驱动我们的设备。但如果我们的电力在某种程度上消失了,我们可以很快适应环境,因为我们必须这样做。我只是无法想象有人会自愿断电。这就像忍者在没有剑的情况下战斗。
Sophek Tounnsays
You should read this guy’s book, Surviving Off Off-Grid, google it. He lived w/o electricity for the most part for 10 years.
hugoagogosays
How did she get her post composed and uploaded?
I s’pose she’s got a wood fire? (that’s good).
ziggysays
hugoagogo: If you read the full article, you’d notice where I described how I do get electricity to use my computer… and I’m a he, too. The she in the photo is my galfriend.
Eric (Knobbly)says
Great post Ziggy-
I think that it would be nice to have both an electronics free sanctuary- like your house- and an electronic one as well- your community building.
我喜欢大风暴后停电时蜡烛和寂静的神奇时光,但我也喜欢当我需要做文书工作时明亮的瞬间光线。
Dougsays
I won’t even consider living without electricity unless/until books and magazines are universally available in large print editions. Reading by candlelight is frustrating and headache-inducing.
Also, please permit me to indulge my pet peeve: Why oh why do so many bloggers write their posts in the form of top ten lists? Couldn’t you have titled it “Why I Live in an Electricity-Free Home” and explained why without that compositional crutch?
Thanks for letting me vent.
Jeff McIntire-Strasburgsays
@Doug–
On your second point… list posts work. Yep, many people find the concept annoying, but we (and many other bloggers) have seen over and over and over again that people like having the promise of 10 (or 5 or 101) points/facts about a topic. It also plays in nicely to how most readers read online… that is, they tend to skim. Lists are imminently skimmable…
Maybe it’s a crutch… but it’s one that people seem to like…
due zingaresays
Your list is an EXCELLENT tool for quitting.
We are in the process of renovating an old cob house in Italy, tahat, being abandoned since 1975, has just elemental electrics: one lightbulb and one plug per room. As we are keeping all the original features (roof is made with bamboo over wood beams, covered with mud and then tiles laid in the fresh mud), we struggle with designing the electrics in the same vein: We need SO MANY more plugs! power tools, fridge, juicer, computer, table and bed lights, etc.
We used a list like yours to quit smoking, and it works great, so, since we try and live more simply, consuming less, we’ll print your list on the wall as we fix the house…one of the reasons will always work at that moment!
ziggysays
Doug: Haha, yea, I agree. I sometimes resent having to “resort” to specific blogging techniques like writing lists. Like Jeff said, it works for many readers, though.
I often find blog writing to be cramped by gimmicks that net traffic and social bookmark links – it seems kinda cheap, in a way, but… again… it works, and sometimes to get your point across, you have to be willing to go with some of those gimmicks.
Daxsays
I have a few questions about the non-electric living.
1. how do you refrigerate?
2. what’s the candle bill per month like?
3. i assume you have no phone, right?
thanks for the info. this is a very interesting post.
ziggysays
Hey Dax:
I don’t have a fridge. Currently, I eat in an outdoor kitchen, and we don’t have much in the way of perishables… except garden produce, which gets eaten pretty quickly or preserved for the winter. Milk is the trickiest thing to try to keep cool in the summer… it usually doesn’t work for too long unless I make it into cheese or kefir.
蜡烛比尔?有趣的问题……我没有跟踪我的使用情况,但我可以想象我们在冬天每天燃烧一根或更少的蜡烛……虽然很难说。我们花了2美元买一个蜂蜡蜡烛(每个蜡烛有10多个小时的燃烧时间)。尽管我们很快就会自己制作蜡烛,那会更便宜……(这里的蜡是3.5美元一磅)。
我有电话。这是一个有线电话,当然不需要插座。
Evian001says
Hi. I live in los angeles & by choice have decided to go without electricity. I enjoy it very much. I wanted to answer DAX question. I dont refrigerate or cook. I try to eat greens live fruit & vegstables. ( only buy what will be consumed in a day or three) my candle bill is non existant as of yet. I have a ipod touch and cell phone that i charge @ work ( or in the complex apartment laundry room shhhhhh… Dont tell any1 @ also during the day at work. The people who kno me think im crazy for choosing this lifestyle but im more peaceful person and i find i lead a 95% more active life.
I also like when the author of this post mentioned jesus christ, among others lived without electricity. I might be rambling but this subject hits so close to home for me. I have always been a night person thus i enjoy the dark.
You may be wondering how i bathe. Well i will tell you i dont. I enjoy the oder of my homemade funk fest. Sike! I work @ a gym so i also have access to shower facilitys. Works well for me im in the process of getting candles so i will keep note of my monthy bill and let uall know.
I dont tell too many people how i truly live because most brains are so brainwashed into beliving their life isnt complete unless…. So i dont bother beating a dead horse.
Bottom line. I enjoy it i wake up with the sun & go to bed when it sets (@ least 3 days a week)- its very peaceful. I recokamend every1 reading this to decide for theirself thro that calm inner voice ( free from judgemental negative thought) to look @ all areas of your personal life (not just this electricity non-issue) & see how much is based on keeping up with the jonses.
P.s. I know people with kids cannot live like me. It would be considered abuse. I hv2 parakeets who listen to a battery charged radio and get sunlight during the day.
It can be done question is do you have the courage to do it !
( its ok if dont
Uncle Jeffsays
My nephew’s wife suffers from multiple chemical and environmental sensitivities and is in desperate need to live in an ‘electricity-free’ environment. Does anyone know of a community that is free of electricity, and other EMF related sources of energy?
Below is a link that tells Nicole’s story much better than I ever could. Yes, I know there’s a fund raising request connected to this link, but that’s not why I’m sharing the link. I’m sharing it so you can read about the devastation electricity has had upon one couple’s life.
http://secreteye.org/nicole/fundraise.html
http://planetthrive.com/2009/11/nicole/
Purely Basicsays
Cutting living expenses and improving the health of the home is always desirable.
美国人在没有电的情况下生活了一百多年,他们并没有因此而变得更糟。许多人至今仍在这样做。
As for crime; it skyrocketed after the cities were lit. Much easier to do a crime when you can see.
It seems there is quite alot of fear in people about not having this paid product of electricity. Some people work almost a full day a week just to pay for the electricity to light thier house a few hours at night, wash a pile of clothes once every few weeks, keep 50 gallons of water warm, refridgerate food so it spoils slower (it still spoils), and keep water frozen. There may be a few other household activities that are involved but that’s the gist of it.
我视力不太好,在烛光下看书很愉快。光线足够明亮,可以清楚地看到页面,但又足够柔和,不会让我的眼睛疲劳。
Adamsays
Doug, you read the ten list. I must be more simple minded to have done so without hipocracy but o.k. And if your opposed write a flowing blog on “Why electricity is in my home” and see who reads it.
katesays
I saw an article I think was in respose to yours. It was a title was “Top 10 Reasons To Have Electricity” it was on discountelectricity.com here is the url to the article.
http://www.discountelectricity.com/333/top-10-reasons-to-have-electricity/
I hope you don’t think this is spam I know that my email gets a lot of people.
thomas bsays
Ziggy:
As my wife and I are located here in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. North Central Arkansas, to be more precise, we are just now discovering the many advantages of removing ourselves from the manufactured power sources, as well. However, I simply wanted to take this time to applaud you with your current living conditions. As we are discovering for ourselves that the removal process of one’s self from today’s power grids is, quite frankly, a journey and not an overnight transition. With regards to your candle producing efforts in the near future, I might suggest you try the Olive Oil Lanterns you can create yourself. We make ours as often as necessary, and the olive oil is a natural renewable source for lantern lighting without any disruptions to nature in any form.
Thanks again for sharing
thomas b
Toby Championsays
Thomas, making olive oil lamps at Dancing Rabbit would probably be unlikely to work as you can’t grow olives in Missouri, as far as I know, and people there tend to – as I understand it – like to use resources that could at least theoretically be sourced within the bioregion. There are plenty of beehives in the area though.
Karensays
Are you managing your own bees for wax collection? Have you had any problems with colony collapse disorder?
Lee Bonessays
I do like the list of reasons given for living without electricity in one’s own home. I’d like to live that way myself. What about food storage? I’d enjoy learning how people that live without electricity store food. I’m aware of root cellars, and also salt meat, or smoked meat.
Laurasays
Where were yourmy whole life? I’ve dreamed of living a life without electricity. I love the medieval and renaissance times more then this day in age. At night, I light candles instead of using lights. That’s as far as I’ve gotten, you see. My fiance is getting a degree in networking and uses his computer everyday, he also loves video games. I enjoy them too, I just prefer to read, play cards, or just sit and relax by candlelight.
Katiesays
What about an ice box for food storage? Like they used to have back in the day. Just a thought. I couldn’t live without my fresh dairy.
georgesays
how did you write the article and you answer if you dont have electricity and of course internet?
Pamsays
Do u go some where else to use the internet and how about food that needs to be cooled like milk and everything else. I would luv to go w/no elect…..cuz in this state( AZ) it is very expensive!!
Jeff McIntire-Strasburgsays
I doubt Ziggy’s checking this right now, so I’ll tell you what I know. He and his partner April are a part of a cooperative at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage that has its own kitchen. They do have access to electricity in the village – they just don’t have it in their home.
mmamaof4says
So what do you use instead of a fridge and freezer? That would be my main concern. Also, how do you get water…and do you take COLD baths? how? just wondering since I’d love to do this myself!
forestsylvansays
See my post and also it is not too hard to build simple solar water heater.
Cheers,
Forestsylvan
forestsylvansays
Hi folks,
I hear a lot of concern regarding food storage, here are a few things I did to keep food :
我已经生活了至少9年,没有任何电力,我埋了一个食品级的鼓,用稻草作为根窖,我保存了卷心菜,土豆,胡萝卜南瓜,大蒜洋葱等整个冬天,我住在一个帆布帐篷和一个小木屋用手工工具建造。我把桶埋在毡房的长凳下(毡房在地上),有盖,用作室内的根窖,这样我就可以每周从桶根窖里补充一次。在蒙大拿州,冬天的温度是零下42度,通常是0到30度。这在夏天也很适用,因为地面温度平均在50度左右。我们也把很多食物做成罐头和晒干。
I then moved to property that had a small stream from a spring and I built a small footbridge, using handtools with logs and some salvaged planks. From the top I could lift off a lid on bridge and access buckets submerged in the water, keep food very cool for summer. A friend had a straw bale cooler built into his house wall on north side of house, that keeps food cool. My point is there are many ways depending on circumstance to keep food cool, refrigeration is a new technology for human kind . wrap food in paper or dry straw avoid plastic which makes food sweat and mold.
I cut firewood with handsaws for a couple of years, very satisfying.
I found a bee keeper and bought his ugly wax ( wax that is not a consistant color that americans are so picky about, (I did the same thing with farmers with fine but “ugly” potatoes, carrots etc) the ugly wax burns great and works for salves boot polish etc at a much lower cost just a darker color. Candle making works great on cold nights when the dipping drys quicker Just a large tin can heated on woodstove , really good when 0 degrees out, go outside and dip away!
一个金属制成的枫糖浆桶,在木火炉上用勺子加热水,有淋浴/浴缸。即使是零下的气温,我也会站在屋外的板条甲板上,在小屋或蒙古包里烧上火,回家时舒服些,然后进城去。你真的感觉不到冷。或者有一个洗澡盆站在里面,把它放在小屋或蒙古包里。另一个很棒的方法是用板条地板和海绵沐浴后冲洗桑拿浴室!是的,我们有一个传统,就是在河上的冰面上挖一个洞,我住在蒙大拿州的一个地方,早上在河里快速地游个泳,5到12岁的孩子们都很喜欢,他们会弄好自己的发型,当冰结冰的时候笑着说,看,我是长袜子皮皮,那些冬天没有儿童病。比咖啡因好!Then a quick run to the blazing wood stove laughing all the way!
The other benifits mentioned in the article are spot on too! I used to be able to feel when I went in an electric building, and the sleep pattern is much better with no electric.
I could see a solar wind powered small meeting/library/computer/phone building and the “home” be cozy and electric free.
Before my electric free years I lived in a tipi with one 12 volt dc solar panel for a couple of lights and a radio (dc low amp power is less damaging to humans). i still used the bucket buried under the carpet for food storage.This could be a way to ease into electric free living or still make a big change in life by having a few modern things. I suggest don’t get too hung up on being a purist just move towards your goals, small change helps the planet too and you will get more confident as time goes on!
Some of these years I lived without a car or truck and had a bicycle and for a time a mule. I still relied on vehicle use from time to time with friends but I made sure to not only pay my share of gas $ but would give $ for vehicle maintenance. If we could pool vehicles more that would be a great help for our home planet.
I was fortunate to have “live” water and I carried water from spring/river to home. If you have a well check out simple pump,:http://www.simplepump.com/
it will replace my old cast iron 100 year old technology when I move to my land with well. I think for the simple life 5 to 10 gallons of water a day for personel
use.
Currently and ironically I am paying a lot to live in modern house with electric to save money to pay off land to live simple once again…..
我知道我有点夸夸其谈了,但如果没有别的,这对我的精神有帮助,因为我知道其他人也有和我一样的梦想和愿景!
Best wishes to all,
Forestsylvan
Jeff McIntire-Strasburgsays
Rant away – thanks so much for the thorough overview of your lifestyle!
forestsylvansays
Jeff,
You are very welcome! This was a quick post, before I head off a little late to my employment, and as I said has lifted my spirits and helps keep my eyes on the prize! The simple life really is simple once it is going. I have a desire to “own” my land (Which I don’t entirely agree with, but I thought I would give it another try as opposed to squatting on land)so I am paying some dues up front to achieve that and then comes more time to enjoy and contemplate life. above all keep it fun.
Cheerio
the randullo familysays
hello
在过去的五年里,我们家选择了不用电的生活。我再也不会回去了。我们爱它。这是真正的生活。我现在用的电脑在图书馆,我用的越来越少。我们自己种很多食物,用手摇泵抽水,冬天用自己的树枝和枯树给家里取暖,冬天用蜡烛,其他时候很少用蜡烛。我们成为了音乐家、舞蹈家、园丁和建筑工人。我希望所有人都能这样生活,只有社区中心可能会使用一些电力。尝试两年,你会永远变得漂亮。我们有一个简单的非电气美丽的家。 we do not need power to make less crime. People are good, very few crime problems that with increased truth, care and responsibility we can change. TO A NEW AND SAFE WORLD!!
Jeff McIntire-Strasburgsays
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us!
M Salsays
Wonderful to read! I have recently begun a similar journey but I live in the city of Las Vegas. I have been without power for about 3 weeks now and I am looking into alternative energy sources for small necessary devices to keep up with the city life, only in a more simple way=) I luckily have the sunlight to light my entire house all day except the bathroom and garage which I am looking into getting a skylight above and a window installed. I will be converting my auto garage into manual/locking garage. I am currently using an ice chest to keep necessary things cold(milk, cream, fruit, some spreads), I go the the laundromat once a week to do a load, I use a solar powered yard lamps at night to provide as a large flashlight in the house when needed(I put them outside when I leave in the morning and they are ready when I return) or candles depending on what I’m doing and I recharge my phone and computer as I am at a cafe/school/driving in the car, etc.. This really makes me appreciate the time I spend on them and use them sparingly, I have gas and water, I still use my gas stove to cook and I have a gas water heater. I am looking into possibly getting an old fashioned ice box and possibly a manual washing machine if I have any luck. I am also saving all of my seeds from my organic veggies/fruits and have began to grow my own all organic garden. I really enjoy the silence as well, I do spend a large part of my day out of the house but when I am there I read, clean, play piano, spend time gardening and playing with my dogs. I am wondering how I will do as the summer heat creeps up, all I know is I do not want to hook up with Nevada Power Company again. Any tips for this type of lifestyle would be great! I give props to all of you who refuse to allow monopolies and society hold you back from living the simpler and cleaner lifestyle you desire to live!=)
Jeff McIntire-Strasburgsays
That’s really impressive, M – I lived in Vegas for most of the 90s, so I understand what kind of undertaking this is (especially in the Summer). Best of luck!