Buzz
Whether you love living without relying on the power grid or know that you'll be facing power outages in the near future, learning to live without electricity is essential. Though it’s hard to imagine life without the electrical devices that play a crucial role today, humans have lived this way since the beginning of time. With determination, a positive attitude, and a bit of ingenuity, you can manage, whether for a day or a lifetime.
Steps
Leave the Comforts of Modern Life
Part One: Lighting and Heating
Invest in an alternative energy source.Install a wind turbine.
Plan your lighting system.
Reinforce your home for the winter season.
Consider installing a central heating system. If you don’t have a fireplace or wood stove, think about building one, especially if you live in a cold climate. To heat other rooms in the house, you can create ventilation shafts that lead to them.
Part Two: Cooking
Think about how you'll cook your meals.
Grow a garden.
Dry some herbs.
Raise livestock.goat
Learn how to properly preserve food.
Part Three: Additional Essential Tasks
Create organic compost. Composting is a highly valuable task, particularly when you don't want to pay for city waste collection services. Organic compost is a nutrient-dense fertilizer that's quite easy to make.
Make your own fertilizer. This is especially easy if you raise livestock. You'll be well compensated when you use the homemade organic fertilizer in your garden.
Focus on one product that you can make for selling or trading. Think about what skills you have – are you good at sewing, cooking, carving, building, etc.? Identify the materials needed to produce items in bulk. Also, consider what products you can create using what you already have. Are you raising sheep? Learn how to knit wool or make cheese from sheep's milk.
Wash clothes by hand. This task may seem daunting at first, but the more you do it, the more you get used to it. Just scrub the clothes against a washboard, rinse with water, and hang them up to dry.
- A tip for softening fabric is to rinse the clothes with 1-2 cups of vinegar before hanging them. Vinegar will prevent the clothes from becoming stiff when dry.
Dealing with power outages
Part One: Preparing for a Power Outage
Prepare an emergency supply kit. In addition to water and non-perishable food, there are other essential items every household should have in their emergency kit. These items include: flashlights, spare batteries, multi-tools (like a pocket knife), a can opener, enough medication for 7 days, hygiene products, cash, a portable radio, and a survival blanket.
- Make copies of important documents, including medical information, passports, proof of address, and birth certificates. It's also advisable to keep a map of the area and a list of emergency contacts.
Prepare a first aid kit. During a power outage, you can't predict what might happen (or who may need medical attention). Therefore, it's essential to have a first aid kit ready at home. You can either buy a pre-made kit or gather the necessary supplies yourself. Check out our articles to learn more about the items you should include in your first aid kit.
Store water somewhere in your home.Here.
Stock up on non-perishable food items.
Stay in touch with family members. If you experience a power outage or find yourself in an emergency situation, be sure to call your family before your phone battery runs out (as you won't be able to charge it).
Prepare entertainment options. Since you won’t be able to watch TV, use a computer, or rely on other electronic devices, you will need to find something else to keep you entertained. However, don't forget not to waste your backup battery by using the flashlight for reading at night. If you have oil lamps or candles, place them on the table so everyone can gather around, read books, play games, or chat.
Part Two: Lighting and Heating
Find alternative light sources. These include flashlights, lanterns, and candles. Store the flashlight in a place where you can quickly find it in the dark. Candles are great fuel as they provide long-lasting light without using battery power. Lanterns are especially useful for moving around in the dark. Use oil lamps to light the kitchen when cooking.
Decide how you will stay warm. If you have a fireplace, you should stock up on firewood. Close off rooms that aren’t in use so the limited heat you have will spread throughout the house. You might also consider investing in an oil heater. This type of heater will warm the house, but make sure it’s placed near a vent to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
Use your car to charge electronic devices. If you can go outside to access your car, you can charge the essential electronics (such as a phone to contact family members and a rechargeable flashlight). You can charge electronic devices using the car's cigarette lighter (which is connected to the car's battery).
Part Three: Cooking
Keep perishable foods cold in the fridge. The best way to do this is by purchasing dry ice, wrapping it in newspaper, and placing it in the fridge. Be sure to find where to buy dry ice today so you know where to go in an emergency.
- Only open the fridge and freezer when absolutely necessary. You can also drape a thick blanket over the fridge and freezer to help retain the cold inside, but remember not to cover the ventilation slots of the fridge or freezer.
Cook perishable foods first. Before eating non-perishable foods, you should cook any perishables still in the fridge. Only eat the food in the fridge on the first day of a power outage, as most foods stored in the fridge should not be eaten after being above 4.5 ºC for more than 2 hours.
- Foods that don't fall under this rule include hard cheeses, processed cheeses, fresh vegetables and fruits, butter/margarine, and bread.
Cook with a gas stove. If you're fortunate enough to have a gas stove during a power outage, cooking will be a breeze. You simply need to light the stove manually, and everything else will work as usual. However, if you only have an electric stove, check out other cooking methods below.
- Never use a gas stove or gas oven to heat the house. These appliances are not designed for heating and pose a dangerous risk of increasing carbon monoxide levels inside the house.
Use a portable propane or butane camping stove, or a barbecue grill. If you can’t use an electric stove but have a camping gas stove, now is the time to dust it off and use it. These stoves essentially work like regular gas stoves. Charcoal grills are also useful during a power outage, but remember never to use them indoors, as they can cause dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
Be ready to start a fire if necessary. If you have a fireplace, light a fire in it. If not, you may need to build a fire pit in your backyard. If you live in an area prone to power outages and don't have a fireplace, you might want to consider designating a spot in your backyard to make a fire pit.
Go out to eat when possible. If you can leave your house, consider dining out. You may feel a bit claustrophobic being stuck indoors, so it’s a good idea to get out for a meal during the day.
Tips
- Don’t panic if the power goes out unexpectedly. Stay calm and take your time to find your flashlight.
