- 3 days ago
Living Off the Grid in the City PDF book
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fY4aaKpWzUX4W5rTyeI1U7oeBOcSviEp/view?usp=sharing
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc6nd-_C6bkiKnMxLBg7DfgK
https://rumble.com/c/c-5079280
https://www.bitchute.com/channel/1yG6vacOmMN7
Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir
Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/
For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable regulatory code for all installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction. For international electrical installations follow the codes of your region’s electrical authority.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fY4aaKpWzUX4W5rTyeI1U7oeBOcSviEp/view?usp=sharing
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc6nd-_C6bkiKnMxLBg7DfgK
https://rumble.com/c/c-5079280
https://www.bitchute.com/channel/1yG6vacOmMN7
Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir
Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/
For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable regulatory code for all installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction. For international electrical installations follow the codes of your region’s electrical authority.
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TechTranscript
00:00Hello, today is the 15th of December, 2025. This is Hector Vladimir.
00:05Today I'd like to record on a topic called the barriers to living off the grid.
00:11And this was supposed to be an entire book, or part of a book.
00:16But I will go ahead and condense it here in this recording, since I don't believe there's enough material.
00:22There's not enough material in this topic for a section of a book, let alone a whole book.
00:26So, I will be recording this episode, perhaps of Living Off The Grid, the podcast.
00:34So, to begin, the barriers for living off the grid.
00:38They are many, there are at least several major ones that I would like to discuss today.
00:44And the first one that comes to mind is cost.
00:47Many people are not well off enough economically, financially, to afford getting off the grid.
00:53Meaning, getting disconnected from their utility and providing their own electricity, their own food, water, and telecommunications.
01:04So, cost, I will tackle that first.
01:07Again, the economy varies with the years, with the decades, the area where you live, with the economy of your local area.
01:16Most people are very much dependent on the local economy.
01:20Less so now than before, of course, with not only globalization, but also the gig economy.
01:27Where people are more often being employed and contracted by companies that are either nationwide, international companies, multinational companies.
01:36So, more and more people are not depending on the local economy.
01:39But many, many do, I would believe, in a certain given location, area, city, town.
01:44I would think most people depend on its local economy.
01:47So, the businesses, corporations, manufacturing plants, power plants, any kind of large business in the area that employs a lot of people.
01:56They very much control and influence, at the very least, the economy of that local area.
02:01So, if that local area has one major employee and that major employee happens to go bankrupt or leave the area,
02:08that local economy is going to be impacted significantly.
02:12And the population is going to also be impacted.
02:17So, with that in mind, many people could be impacted economically, financially,
02:22to the point where they cannot afford their utilities, let alone affording to disconnect and provide all of their own services and products that they need,
02:32that they get, usually from their utilities.
02:34And when I talk utilities, when I say that, I mean the provided services that are usually provided by either public services or private services,
02:44such as, again, water, food, electricity, telecommunications.
02:47And there could be a few more, such as gas in some areas, natural gas or other type of gas is provided for energy in some areas as a utility,
02:58and perhaps other services, health care, perhaps housing.
03:02So, what I advocate in the Living of the Great Lifestyle, if you have followed that at all,
03:08is very much the detachment, the disconnection of all of those major services from external, what I call external entities.
03:17Or the grid.
03:19Why?
03:19Many reasons.
03:20Main among them is the abuse, both economically and socially, that those entities exert on people.
03:28And also, in major part, the economic disadvantage of being connected to those services.
03:34As you may, if you are a working adult here, especially in the Americas and the U.S.,
03:39the cost of energy has risen to abusive levels, as has the cost of other types of services, such as food, health care.
03:49Health care, especially, is abusive.
03:51And housing and even water, basic services, such as water, life-giving resources, such as food and water, are abusively costly.
04:01So, the cost is a major factor.
04:04Not everyone has the funds to purchase and maintain equipment to provide utility services.
04:11So, that is a major barrier.
04:13So, if you are one of those people that have difficulty even planning to disconnect from the grid because of your finances,
04:21that needs to be sorted or dealt with first.
04:24Of course, there are many ways to get out of debt and to improve your financial situation, to improve your economy.
04:33Of course, the first step is to be efficient.
04:36Be as efficient as possible with your economy, with your finances.
04:40Meaning, do whatever you do or get whatever you get for the least amount of money as possible.
04:47And if you do have an income, which I hope most people in an economy do,
04:52then try to maintain that income as long as possible and to even increase the amount of income that you do receive.
05:02I mean, it is natural for you to increase the amount of income as your experience and as skill level increases.
05:09That is only expected.
05:11And even without that, your situation, your economic situation should improve with time,
05:16which is very, very difficult to believe that someone would not increase their income level as time goes on,
05:23especially in a modern economy.
05:25So, financial barriers are real and they are significant.
05:30So, maintaining and increasing your income are ways to combat the financial barriers for getting off the grid.
05:37Also, you may want to know that living off the grid or even planning and preparing for it
05:43should increase your technical knowledge, technical skill, also your skill and knowledge in many areas,
05:52such as electricity, electronics, hydraulics, even chemistry and economics, also finances.
06:00Also, it should increase your knowledge in management, in resource management, especially also in technical skills,
06:09such as, let's say, writing, planning for stuff, perhaps warehousing, organizing, which is part of warehousing,
06:17sorting things, make sure things are shelved correctly and inventoried correctly and efficiently.
06:24Those are all skills that you may use to produce income, to increase your income or to maintain your income.
06:33Also, those planning or wanting to live off the grid also will look for training and education.
06:38Opportunities in those and advance in those will surely improve your income-producing ability,
06:46your ability to maintain income and to increase your income.
06:49But let's say you live in an area with a very limited economy or very limited economic opportunities,
06:55financial growth is very stagnant.
06:58What to do in that situation?
07:00There are a few things also that you can do.
07:03Ask for help, not only for help from your local, state or federal government,
07:08in the form of food aid or even financial aid because of your situation.
07:14Perhaps you have very low income, no employment is available in your area.
07:18You can get temporary or even longer-term aid from public or governmental sources.
07:25There are many ways to apply and qualify.
07:28Also, there are organizations, charities, there are non-profit organizations that either help you apply for aid
07:36or provide aid themselves for people that qualify, for people that are in financial or economic hardship, etc.
07:44If you are disabled and just cannot work or can only work in a very limited fashion, very limited way,
07:52then there is also a lot of help, either public, from the government and from your local area,
07:58whether it be private or public.
08:01So look for those.
08:02If you are in need of funds or services, help paying for services,
08:08if you are an older individual, perhaps retired, there is aid for energy, for energy connection,
08:14for even food and other services such as basic services such as water, even for rent, etc.
08:23So look for those.
08:24There are many, especially here in the United States.
08:27And perhaps in your area, your nation, those aid programs may be available.
08:32Another solution for the problems with the economy of an area, the financial opportunities of an area,
08:41if they are very limited to non-existent, another option is just to move out of that area,
08:47move from that area to an area with better economic opportunities,
08:52better employment opportunities, or better opportunities for other economic financial endeavors
08:57such as business, such as contracting, etc.
09:00Finally, I do not recommend a few solutions that some people may have for financial distress,
09:08financial limited opportunities, economic limitations that may exist in your area.
09:14I do not recommend playing the lottery as a hope, as a wish of getting out of financial despair,
09:21financial limitations.
09:23That's just too remote of a possibility to even be considered as viable.
09:27You will likely spend more money than you will ever gain.
09:31It is best to invest money in other things such as perhaps selling items,
09:37perhaps selling things at the local flea markets, for example, selling things in yard sales,
09:44even selling things on the streets in a safe area of your town as a street vendor, etc.
09:51Those are, I believe, better investments.
09:54Even though they may be very difficult to gain any funds from,
09:59I believe they still are magnitudes superior than wasting your money on the very elusive lotteries
10:06and games that many area states provide for people.
10:11And those are, in many cases, addictive, or they are indeed addictive to many individuals.
10:17So I would recommend to highly stay away from those.
10:21Also, I do not recommend begging for money, asking for money, panhandling as they call it,
10:27loitering the streets, asking for money, begging people for money.
10:30It's just unsafe, for one.
10:33And also, it is not a productive way, I don't think, to gain any funds.
10:40Yes, people do get a little change here and there from some people,
10:44but it is by no means an efficient use of your time.
10:48You very well can make a lot more money working for the lowest, most petty job you can ever find.
10:55If you're disabled, you can find employment doing the things that you can do a lot
11:00and make a lot more money and with a lot less risk and distress and exposure
11:07than if you were to just beg for money out there.
11:10If you are a person that is engaging in this, what I believe, very fruitless and just unnecessary exercise,
11:19I highly recommend to look for other ways
11:22because I just don't believe it is productive for the price that you will be paying.
11:27Again, exposure, you're going to be risking life and limb out there with vehicles, with traffic,
11:33with other people, especially with law enforcement.
11:36You are putting yourself at risk, especially if you are a person of a certain persuasion
11:40that is a lot more targeted out there on the streets from law enforcement especially,
11:46but also other people and the traffic as well.
11:49The traffic is a major, major factor.
11:52Being close to vehicles, bypassing vehicles,
11:54which most people on the streets, on the roads, outside are in vehicles.
11:58They are moving about in heavy, fast moving, with very limited visibility in vehicles.
12:04So you have to consider that risk and how it is not at all, I believe, not at all worth the risk.
12:11The next major barrier that I like to tackle for going off the grid, disconnecting from the utility grid
12:19is knowledge, awareness.
12:22It is your education level, training, whatever you want to call it.
12:26Basically, know-how of not only the systems that will provide you with the utility services
12:33that you will be disconnecting from,
12:35but also the awareness that will give you the drive, the awareness and knowledge of the reasons
12:42that will give you the willpower, the instigation, the fire that will drive your sacrifices,
12:50which are going to be difficult and many.
12:53Your discomforts, your problems will be many,
12:56and you will need a lot of determination to solve those problems,
13:02move forward and tackle, deal with the problems that you will be encountering.
13:07You need to have reasons, you need to have rationales,
13:10something to make what you're doing logical and rational.
13:15And also you need the skill level, knowledge, training, education to be able to deal with the problems,
13:22solve problems, tackle problems, and manage the problems that will arise.
13:28You will also need knowledge to develop techniques, methods, develop technologies,
13:33use technologies, come up with ideas on how to use technologies,
13:38how to arrange systems, how to install them, manage them, maintain them, use them, share them.
13:43You need knowledge for that as well.
13:45So your reasoning, your rationales are many.
13:49Again, the freedom, the financial freedom that you will be gaining,
13:54the physical freedom, the social freedom you will be gaining are reasons that could drive you to get off the grid.
14:00Also, the environment, I believe it's a prime driver, or at least it should be,
14:06the global warming crisis that we're in the middle of.
14:10According to many experts, most experts,
14:13the overwhelming amount of climate scientists agree that we are in nothing short of a crisis,
14:20worldwide crisis with temperatures rising seemingly every year,
14:24and the average temperatures of sea and air rising,
14:29and it is believed to be caused by human actions, human decisions, basically human pollution.
14:36So this knowledge, if you see the evidence, if you ever investigate the evidence that is very much available out there
14:44in different websites that are incredibly credible with people that have dedicated their lives to the subjects
14:51that they are warning us about, to science, to many branches of science, many branches of studies,
14:59these people, which are thousands upon thousands of very knowledgeable, highly trained and educated and experienced people
15:07with very little political leanings, very little agendas, very little biases,
15:13because they are trained in science, which counteracts biases.
15:18This is something that many people don't know.
15:21The scientific method has built-in safeties or fail-safes to basically combat biases,
15:28counteract, counterbalance problems with biases,
15:32whether they would be political, social, racial, you name it.
15:37Science has ways, especially during peer review process,
15:41to counter any biases that the scientists may have.
15:44So these people, these experts, these specialists offer their studies,
15:49and it has been heavily reviewed by other people with many different backgrounds.
15:54And when these studies are approved, they are not only presented by that one scientist,
15:59they are presented by a very diverse and varied group, in many cases, large groups of scientists.
16:05So they are extremely credible, these studies,
16:09and they overwhelmingly present to us and demonstrate that human actions,
16:15human activities, are to blame for global warming.
16:20And living off the grid is among one of the most, if not the most powerful way,
16:26powerful and significant way, to reduce that human, harmful human activity,
16:31which is basically producing carbon, producing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases, pollutants,
16:38that basically warm the atmosphere, and subsequently warm the seas,
16:44which the seas are a sink for temperature, for heat, a heat sink, as are the major forests.
16:52And of course, we're cutting down very large parts of forests,
16:56and also we are polluting waterways, water bodies,
17:00we are polluting the air, therefore the seas.
17:03And by living off the grid, and the many methods and ways that I recommend,
17:08and many other people recommend as well,
17:10those are either reduced, those polluting activities are either reduced,
17:15or in many cases, completely stopped, completely omitted, or eradicated.
17:20And that is, should be a huge, immense, tremendous driver, or reason,
17:26for people to want to be off the grid.
17:28So with that knowledge, and for that you have to read,
17:30you have to watch documentaries, you have to listen to people talk about it,
17:36especially experts, you have to look for that evidence,
17:40look for the studies, SR-15 is one of those such studies,
17:45the IPCC SR-15 study, look for that on the internet,
17:49it is freely available, a copy of it,
17:52and basically it is the scientific study,
17:54a very popular one among the many,
17:56that basically proves that human activities are to blame for the climate change that we've seen,
18:03and it does predict dire effects, dire consequences.
18:07If we do not act, we do not decarbonize,
18:11or roll back our polluting activities worldwide,
18:14and I see no better action, or step,
18:17that is more significant than reducing or stopping those activities,
18:21which are, by and large, the recommendations of the living off the grid lifestyle.
18:27Also, technical, scientific, and other types of knowledge
18:32is highly recommended and useful when living off the grid.
18:37That, of course, is going to need training, education,
18:39it's going to need time from you,
18:41it's going to need dedication,
18:42it's going to need commitment,
18:43it's going to need you to commit your resources,
18:47time resources, energy resources,
18:50your attention to those.
18:52Yes, it is a long-term process
18:54that could take months, years, even decades.
18:59It is a process that pretty much never completes, never ends.
19:02The learning process is a process
19:05that humans pretty much never stop doing.
19:08It may be more, of course, developed in a certain period of your life,
19:15perhaps during your younger years, childhood, young adulthood.
19:19You may develop it to a higher level or degree
19:22with higher education, advanced training, advanced technical training, etc.
19:27But it is something that is highly advantageous
19:30for anyone wanting to get off the grid for many, many reasons.
19:34Technical reasons are varied and diverse,
19:37many of them.
19:38You will need to learn how things work,
19:41how water flows, how electricity flows,
19:44how heat and energy and gases flow.
19:48You will need to learn about weather conditions,
19:51the climate.
19:52You will need to learn about home dynamics,
19:55meaning how things in the home work,
19:58whether it be lighting, ventilation, air conditioning,
20:02whether it be for cooling or heating.
20:04You can learn about the agriculture of food,
20:09the farming of food and animals,
20:11many, many different areas.
20:13You can learn all those areas little by little
20:16and become a jack of all trades,
20:18become a person that is knowledgeable in several fields.
20:22You can also become also a specialist in one main field
20:26and perhaps not as specialized in others.
20:29It is up to you.
20:30It is up to your situation,
20:32your capability,
20:33your opportunities you may encounter,
20:36depending on your situation,
20:37your economic, physical situation,
20:40your health, etc.,
20:41your age.
20:42All those are factors
20:43that may determine what areas
20:45you may educate yourself
20:47and train yourself in.
20:48But electricity, again,
20:50computers, mechanics,
20:52architecture, engineering,
20:54are things that are extremely useful
20:56for many of the tasks of living off the grid.
21:00So knowledge and training in those
21:01is absolutely vital.
21:03And it is, or they are,
21:05things that many of us can pursue,
21:08whether on our own,
21:09whether in classroom,
21:11formal training,
21:12universities,
21:14technical schools, etc.,
21:16or tutoring.
21:17Others may choose to self-learn
21:19through the mail,
21:22through books,
21:23through videos,
21:25through audio,
21:26through many, many,
21:27through a combination of mediums
21:30or modes.
21:31And again,
21:32the possibilities are many
21:33for education and training.
21:35And of course,
21:36as I said,
21:37you need to have the rationale,
21:39the drive,
21:39to complete those training
21:41and education.
21:43Another way to combat
21:44the barrier of knowledge
21:45and know-how
21:47and education
21:47is by trial and error.
21:49You may try things,
21:51things that you may have
21:52a basic understanding of,
21:53and just by trial and error
21:54advance your knowledge,
21:56your understanding
21:57about the system,
21:59the concept,
22:00the technology,
22:01the situation,
22:02the method.
22:03You may develop your knowledge
22:04to a very high degree,
22:06in fact,
22:06using trial and error.
22:08Of course,
22:09you need to be very careful
22:10when learning by experience
22:12or trial and error
22:13because many systems
22:16may carry some risk.
22:17In fact,
22:18a lot of them do,
22:19especially those
22:20dealing with electricity,
22:22dealing with heat,
22:23dealing with sources of fire,
22:25sources of very extreme
22:27levels of energy,
22:29whether it be mechanical,
22:31high levels of energy,
22:32mechanical energy,
22:33again,
22:33heat,
22:34energy,
22:35air or pressure,
22:36energy,
22:37spring-loaded energy,
22:39mechanical devices
22:40carry some risk
22:41of hurting you,
22:43whether it be
22:43with pinch points,
22:44whether it be
22:45by moving parts,
22:47maybe they are
22:48quite heavy,
22:49maybe they have
22:50sharp edges,
22:51and you need to be
22:52very careful with those,
22:54need to be very careful
22:55with those,
22:56have a lot of care,
22:57use your senses,
23:00and use your judgment,
23:02and attempt to prevent
23:04any kind of
23:05mishap,
23:05accident,
23:06any kind of
23:07dangerous situation
23:08before it even happens,
23:10and also
23:11wear protective equipment,
23:13protective gear,
23:14protective clothing,
23:16protective eyewear,
23:17hat protection,
23:19like helmets,
23:20hard hats,
23:20etc.
23:21Gloves for your hands
23:22especially,
23:23extremely important,
23:25make sure that you
23:25wear the correct
23:26type of glove,
23:27if you're dealing
23:28with sharp objects,
23:29cut resistant gloves,
23:30if you're dealing
23:31with hot objects,
23:32heat resistant gloves,
23:34if you're dealing
23:34with chemicals,
23:35make sure you have
23:36chemical resistant gloves,
23:38again,
23:39face shields,
23:40eye protection,
23:41hearing protection
23:42from loud situations,
23:44environments,
23:45protect your body
23:47and body parts
23:48at all times
23:49whenever there are
23:50dangerous equipment
23:52and situations,
23:53and most of all,
23:55avoid dangerous equipment
23:56and situations
23:57whenever it is possible,
24:00and make sure
24:01that you look for ways
24:02to avoid those
24:03really whenever
24:04it is possible,
24:05not whenever
24:06it's inconvenient,
24:07not whenever
24:08it's easier,
24:10whenever possible,
24:11avoid dangerous situations.
24:13For example,
24:13if you have to
24:14get up on a ladder
24:15and work on something
24:16from a ladder,
24:17think about the possibility
24:18of bringing the item
24:20down to ground level
24:21and working on it
24:22at ground level.
24:23It is many times
24:24possible,
24:25but many people
24:25admit it
24:26because it is easier
24:27in their mind,
24:28quicker,
24:29less inconvenient
24:30for them to just
24:31get on a ladder
24:32and work from the ladder.
24:33And this is many times
24:35an unnecessarily dangerous situation.
24:39Barriers such as knowledge
24:40could be sorted out
24:41by seeking training,
24:43educating yourself.
24:44One way or another,
24:45there are many free options,
24:46many low-cost options,
24:47and there are also
24:48medium-to-high-cost options.
24:49You may choose a few of them.
24:51You may choose one of them.
24:52You may choose all of them.
24:53You may be able to pay
24:54for your training
24:55and education.
24:56There is a variety
24:58of methods out there.
25:00Again,
25:00conventional school,
25:01technical schools,
25:02training sessions,
25:03training tutorials,
25:05like they call them,
25:06labs,
25:06or whenever they are
25:08just short training sessions,
25:09they may happen
25:10in your neighborhood.
25:11There is a facility here
25:13that does training.
25:14Formally,
25:15I think it is
25:16kind of like school
25:16or college style.
25:18It is open to veterans
25:20that are seeking retraining
25:22and training in jobs.
25:24And they are not free,
25:25but they are affordable.
25:26And there are many options
25:27for payments,
25:29many of which
25:29are completely covered
25:31by either the government
25:32through the military
25:34or veterans' aid
25:35or other organizations.
25:37I've heard of many cases
25:39where people get fully trained
25:40in trades
25:41that are quite lucrative
25:43in that facility,
25:44and they have changed
25:45people's lives like that.
25:46So there are many options.
25:47Again,
25:48you just have to look for them,
25:49apply.
25:50Again,
25:50there are many options
25:51to fund them,
25:52to pay for them.
25:53And again,
25:53many organizations
25:54that will pay for them
25:55for you.
25:56If you apply,
25:57if you qualify,
25:58of course,
25:58you may, again,
25:59be able to pay
26:00for it yourself.
26:01They do make it easy
26:02a lot of times
26:02to make payments.
26:04They have low payment plans.
26:05I did go to a school,
26:06correspondence school,
26:07and the payments
26:09are quite affordable
26:10and low.
26:10We usually get it paid
26:11over about a year,
26:12two years maybe.
26:13$1,500, $1,600,
26:14$1,800 course.
26:16You may be able
26:17to complete.
26:17I have completed
26:18two of them
26:19from that same school
26:20in that fashion
26:21and that way.
26:21It is a very good possibility
26:23that you can get trained
26:24that way.
26:25Another major barrier
26:27to getting off the grid,
26:28getting disconnected
26:29from your utilities
26:30is your environments.
26:32By your environments,
26:34I mean your community,
26:37your social environments,
26:39your family,
26:40your city government,
26:41state government,
26:42federal government,
26:44community government,
26:45even your neighbors,
26:47people around you.
26:48It could be all barriers.
26:50It could be against
26:52not all,
26:52but a lot of them,
26:54many of them,
26:54some of them
26:55could be against
26:56your plans,
26:58your actions
26:59with disconnecting
27:00from the grid.
27:01They may see it
27:02as harmful,
27:03as unusual,
27:05something undesired.
27:07They could see it
27:08as something
27:08that is just not
27:09welcome,
27:10not welcoming,
27:11not friendly,
27:12not common enough
27:14for them.
27:14They might see it
27:15as weird,
27:16as again uncommon
27:17and unusual
27:19to where they could
27:20just naturally reject it.
27:22Maybe they have
27:23no reason to reject it,
27:25but they still do.
27:25No recognizable reason,
27:27they just naturally
27:28reject it.
27:29And they may have
27:30their own reasons,
27:32their own biases,
27:33their own discriminatory
27:34mentalities about it.
27:36They may just be
27:37rejectful to change,
27:38period.
27:39Anything different
27:40from what they believe
27:41is the norm,
27:42what they consider normal.
27:44Any departure from it,
27:45they may just reject.
27:47And to begin with,
27:49your closest people,
27:51the closest people to you,
27:52maybe the ones
27:53that provide
27:54the first level
27:56barrier of resistance.
27:58Of course,
27:59they are the closest.
27:59They are going to be
28:01likely the ones
28:01that you will notice most
28:02or first or both.
28:04Loved ones,
28:05family members,
28:06spouses,
28:07partners,
28:08or just people
28:09that live with
28:10or close to you.
28:11should be the ones
28:12that you first
28:14notice their rejection.
28:15If they do offer rejection,
28:16not all of them will.
28:17Of course,
28:18many people are on board
28:19with your off-grid efforts,
28:22endeavors,
28:24especially if they
28:24are aware
28:25of the reasoning
28:26behind them,
28:27of the causes
28:28of climate change,
28:30for example.
28:31If they are aware
28:32of the need
28:33for your actions,
28:35your energy-saving actions,
28:37your conservation efforts,
28:38or your efforts
28:40to get away
28:40from carbon-intensive
28:42lifestyles
28:43or habits,
28:44such as using
28:45gasoline,
28:46such as using
28:47energy from
28:48coal-powered plants.
28:50If they are aware
28:50of that,
28:51of course,
28:52their attitudes
28:53may be a lot different,
28:54maybe even welcoming
28:55to your actions
28:56to get off the grid.
28:57But that may not
28:58be the case.
28:59In many cases,
28:59I would say most,
29:00people just don't have
29:01the awareness,
29:02education,
29:03training,
29:03experience
29:04to accept
29:05your steps
29:06to live off
29:07the grid,
29:08your actions,
29:09your decisions.
29:10So they,
29:11in many cases,
29:12will be resistant
29:13and outright
29:14rejectful
29:15in many occasions.
29:17So be prepared
29:18for that.
29:18Solution for that
29:19would be,
29:20of course,
29:20awareness,
29:21sharing the awareness
29:22with them,
29:23telling them about
29:24the problems,
29:25issues,
29:26directing them
29:26to the evidence,
29:27to the studies,
29:29to the documentaries,
29:30to the books,
29:30to the videos,
29:31to the audio,
29:32whatever it may be
29:33that it may be
29:34the best way
29:35for them to be
29:36educated,
29:36trained,
29:37made aware of
29:38these things.
29:39That may improve
29:40or even reverse
29:41their attitude
29:42against living
29:43off the grid
29:44and its lifestyle.
29:46They may even
29:46come on board
29:47and help you
29:48and be themselves
29:49advocates
29:49for your actions.
29:52They may join you
29:53in your efforts,
29:54help you out even,
29:55or they may not.
29:56They may remain
29:57with a negative attitude,
29:58negative or rejectful
30:00attitude toward
30:01your efforts.
30:02They may see
30:03where you're coming
30:04from,
30:04they may see
30:05more or less
30:05what you're doing
30:07and your reasoning,
30:08but they may not
30:09be completely on board,
30:10they may not
30:11completely understand,
30:12or they may not
30:13simply believe
30:14all of it
30:15or perhaps any
30:16of the reasoning
30:17behind your actions.
30:19So you must be
30:20ready for this
30:20and perhaps
30:21face the challenge.
30:23Perhaps this
30:24may change your mind,
30:25may change your
30:26attitude,
30:27may change your
30:28level of
30:29the actions you take
30:31may limit how far
30:32you take your
30:33actions,
30:34or it may not.
30:36It may be the case
30:37that you just
30:39change your environment.
30:40Perhaps if you live
30:42in a shared home
30:43with people that
30:44basically don't
30:45want anything to do
30:46with living off the grid,
30:47you may move
30:48out of that home,
30:49you may change
30:50the situation
30:52where you basically
30:53do your thing,
30:55do your changes,
30:56whether other people
30:58approve of it or not.
30:59There are many ways
31:00to deal with that,
31:01including, again,
31:02just changing your
31:03environment completely
31:04or leaving your
31:05environment and
31:05starting somewhere else.
31:07That is a very
31:08viable option
31:08in many cases.
31:10So it is up to you,
31:11up to each individual
31:12to make that decision,
31:13make adjustments,
31:14if any,
31:14or just abandon
31:16your efforts.
31:17That is also
31:18another possibility,
31:19just abandon
31:19your efforts,
31:20let others do
31:21the work because
31:22you're just unable
31:23or unwilling to
31:25change your environment,
31:25which is also okay.
31:27Not everyone can do
31:28the many things
31:29recommended for
31:30an off-grid lifestyle.
31:33Another barrier
31:34that may affect
31:36very heavily
31:37your efforts
31:38to live off the grid
31:39is your local
31:40leadership,
31:41local governments.
31:42Your local governments
31:43usually in many
31:45areas of the world,
31:46especially industrialized
31:47areas,
31:48they're organized
31:49into towns and cities
31:50with local leaders,
31:52mayors,
31:53governors,
31:54et cetera.
31:54the local authorities,
31:57the authority
31:58having jurisdiction,
31:59your public utility
32:01management entity,
32:03whatever they call
32:04themselves,
32:05public utilities,
32:06usually ran by
32:08your district
32:09or municipality,
32:11usually a town,
32:12city,
32:12et cetera.
32:14So again,
32:14your city,
32:15your town,
32:15your county,
32:17in many areas
32:17here in the U.S.
32:18especially,
32:19are organized
32:20with government
32:20and with authority.
32:22that government
32:23usually has authority
32:24over the rules
32:25and regulations
32:25of your town,
32:26many of which
32:27apply to residences,
32:30people that live
32:31in that town,
32:32most of which,
32:32if not all.
32:33And you have to abide
32:34by those rules
32:36and regulations.
32:37Some of those rules
32:37and regulations
32:38are often,
32:40well,
32:40they all are
32:41interpreted.
32:42Some of them
32:42are written poorly
32:43and they are open
32:44to interpretation.
32:45could be interpreted
32:47in several ways
32:48or there could be
32:49a little room
32:50for interpretation,
32:51a lot of room
32:52in many cases.
32:53And depending
32:54on the government,
32:55the governor,
32:56the mayor,
32:57or the judges,
32:58however the people
32:59in charge interpret
33:00those laws
33:01and regulations
33:02is how they usually
33:04want you
33:05or expect you
33:05to behave,
33:07live,
33:07abide by,
33:08obey,
33:09whatever they want
33:10to call it.
33:10So those regulations,
33:12the ones that affect
33:13you the most
33:13are the ones
33:14that are for construction.
33:16Sometimes they're called
33:17construction codes
33:19but also rules
33:21and regulations
33:21with the way you live,
33:24the way you use water,
33:25for example,
33:25the way you park
33:27your vehicle,
33:28the way you use
33:29your driveway
33:30or the surrounding areas
33:32around your home,
33:33the way your home looks
33:34even is dictated
33:35by some of these regulations.
33:38The conditions
33:38that you keep your home in
33:40or that the people
33:41in your home live,
33:42how they live
33:43are also regulated.
33:45For example,
33:46having running water
33:47available,
33:47having sometimes
33:49energy and electricity
33:50available
33:50is a requirement
33:51in many areas.
33:52What you do
33:53is also mandated
33:54and dictated
33:55by many regulations
33:56in your municipality
33:57such as
33:58whether or not
33:59you could collect
34:01and harvest rainwater,
34:03whether or not
34:03you could have
34:04farm animals,
34:05whether or not
34:06you can grow
34:06foods and plants
34:08in your land area
34:09if you have a land area,
34:11whether or not
34:11you can hang
34:12your clothes
34:13outside or not,
34:14whether or not
34:14you can install
34:16certain equipment
34:16such as
34:17wind generators
34:18or wind turbines
34:20or even
34:21solar panels,
34:23what color
34:23your home
34:24could be painted,
34:25what color
34:25your roof
34:26may be
34:27or what angle
34:28can your roof
34:29pitch be.
34:30I mean,
34:30many of these
34:31things are
34:32controlled,
34:33regulated,
34:34ruled by your
34:35what they call
34:35authority having jurisdiction.
34:37So you have to
34:38be familiar with that
34:39in the area
34:39where you live.
34:40Of course,
34:40some areas have
34:41a lot more rules
34:42than others.
34:43Downtown Chicago
34:43is going to have
34:44a lot more stricter
34:46and a lot more rules
34:48and regulations
34:49than if you lived
34:50in the backwoods
34:51of Tennessee.
34:53It's a huge difference.
34:54So you have to
34:54know your area
34:55and know the
34:56covenants of your
34:57community.
34:58There may be covenants,
34:59there may be rules
35:00dictated even by your,
35:02if you have one,
35:03homeowners association.
35:05So you have to
35:05watch for that.
35:06If you're going to
35:07move into an area,
35:08make sure that you
35:09know what authority,
35:11if any,
35:12has jurisdiction,
35:13what body or entity
35:15may dictate to you
35:17how you may live,
35:18what you may have,
35:19how you may conduct
35:20business,
35:21what business may
35:21you conduct,
35:22et cetera.
35:23So that is a huge
35:24barrier for living
35:25off the grid.
35:26Many communities,
35:27many municipalities
35:28don't accept people
35:29that, for example,
35:30collect rainwater,
35:32don't want you to have
35:33any kind of rainwater
35:34collecting system,
35:35tanks,
35:36collectors laid out
35:38on your roof,
35:39your yard,
35:39the side of your
35:40house,
35:40et cetera.
35:41Again,
35:41some communities
35:42don't want to see
35:43solar panels or
35:44wind turbines or
35:45animals or fruit
35:47trees being grown
35:49on your front yard,
35:50backyard,
35:51side yard,
35:51et cetera.
35:52And those,
35:53of course,
35:53are not conducive
35:54environments for
35:56living off the grid.
35:56So you have to decide
35:58whether you want to
35:59live in that area
36:00or not.
36:01If you really want
36:02to have all those
36:02things or some of
36:03those things,
36:04then you may not
36:05want to live in that
36:06area and look for
36:07friendlier,
36:08more welcoming areas
36:09with less or no
36:10regulations on those.
36:11If you have to,
36:12for some reason,
36:13live in that area
36:14for whatever reasons,
36:16whether it's family,
36:17health reasons,
36:18situations with
36:19friends,
36:20family,
36:20children,
36:21et cetera,
36:21then you have to be
36:22a lot more crafty,
36:23a lot more creative
36:25in conducting that
36:27type of lifestyle,
36:28having systems
36:29that are inconspicuous,
36:32systems that are
36:32undetectable or a lot
36:34less detectable.
36:36And you may have to
36:37go around a few of
36:39those or all of those
36:40regulations.
36:41And there are many
36:41ways,
36:42which I would describe
36:44in another chat.
36:47So just to continue
36:48with my conversation
36:50about the strategies
36:51to combat the barriers
36:53from your city
36:54government,
36:55AHJ,
36:56authority having
36:56jurisdiction,
36:57your municipality
36:58authorities,
36:59et cetera.
37:00First,
37:00you may want to keep
37:01everything as legal
37:02as possible,
37:03everything within
37:04regulation.
37:05You may want to keep
37:06your actions,
37:07your constructions,
37:08your purchases
37:09within the requirements
37:11of each municipality,
37:13AHJ,
37:14or any other authority.
37:15For that,
37:16you have to read,
37:17you have to become aware
37:18of what those regulations are.
37:20A lot of cities,
37:20a lot of municipalities
37:21go by the National
37:23Fire Protection Association's
37:25publications,
37:25such as the
37:26National Electrical Code
37:27and others,
37:28so especially
37:29electrical installations.
37:31Not only that,
37:31but also other kinds
37:33of installations,
37:33such as HVAC,
37:35heating,
37:35ventilation,
37:36air,
37:36and cooling installations,
37:37gas installations,
37:38whether it's propane gas
37:40or natural gas,
37:41any kind of piping,
37:43tubing for that,
37:44any kind of tank
37:45that you may be installing.
37:46Those have strict
37:47requirements for the
37:48most parts
37:49in most larger,
37:50medium to larger
37:51size municipalities,
37:52probably not as much
37:53in smaller ones,
37:54but do become aware
37:56of those somehow.
37:57Look at tutorials,
37:58videos,
37:59look at books,
38:00again,
38:00publications,
38:01websites.
38:02There's a repertoire
38:03of places and information
38:04that you can visit,
38:05that you can review,
38:07read,
38:07become familiar,
38:08and even become
38:09quite knowledgeable
38:10in those.
38:11Also,
38:11construction codes
38:12from municipalities,
38:14cities,
38:14states,
38:15government,
38:15AHJs.
38:16Make sure that you
38:17become familiar with those
38:18and also you follow those
38:20as much as possible.
38:21When that is not a possibility,
38:23when the laws and regulations
38:24are specifically built
38:26for you not to have
38:28your due freedom,
38:30constitutional freedom,
38:31human rights,
38:32when those violate those,
38:33then you have to get
38:34a bit crafty.
38:35You have to basically
38:36go around,
38:37interpret those
38:38to your advantage.
38:39Many times they have
38:40gray areas,
38:41many times they are
38:42open to interpretation,
38:44so you can interpret them
38:45reasonably
38:46in a manner that
38:47you can still
38:48be off the grid,
38:50be off the utilities,
38:51be off the abusively
38:52high-cost services.
38:55You may do that.
38:55You may need help
38:56from someone
38:57that knows about
38:58those laws and regulations,
39:00probably a lawyer,
39:01probably you need
39:02to become quite familiar,
39:04even quite knowledgeable,
39:05even an expert
39:06in those,
39:06so you can do that,
39:08stretch those laws
39:09and regulations,
39:10become creative
39:11and work around them.
39:14Highly do not recommend
39:15violating them.
39:16Before you do that,
39:17I would highly recommend
39:18you look for a better place.
39:19You can live
39:20off the grid,
39:21be off the grid,
39:22disconnected from the utility
39:23and not be fined,
39:25not be cited
39:26by the authorities.
39:28And remember that
39:29neighbors,
39:30friends,
39:30and even family
39:31are the first line
39:32of basically snitching,
39:34basically telling on you,
39:35calling the authorities on you.
39:37So the first step
39:38to avoid any attention
39:39from the AHJ
39:40or any other authority
39:42is basically prevent
39:43any kind of knowledge
39:45from those people
39:46that you may think
39:46may alert such authorities.
39:49Again,
39:50not necessarily
39:51because you're doing
39:51something legal,
39:52but also because
39:54maybe doing things
39:55that are quite uncommon,
39:56quite a departure
39:57from what is believed
39:59to be normal.
40:00So there is a balance
40:01to keep with that,
40:03with your actions,
40:04with the equipment you buy,
40:06the structures you build.
40:07Of course,
40:07you have to keep it reasonable.
40:09Don't put a very high mast
40:11with antennas
40:12and wind turbines
40:13in your neighborhood
40:14calling all kinds
40:15of attention to you.
40:16Try to keep any kind
40:17of solar energy equipment
40:19out of plain view
40:20when possible.
40:22Those are becoming
40:22a lot more accepted now
40:24in many neighborhoods.
40:25Some are still resistant
40:26to having those,
40:27especially on the visible side
40:29of the street
40:30for homes,
40:31whatever it may be,
40:32especially in communities
40:34where there exists
40:36a HOA,
40:37Homeowners Association.
40:39Be aware of that
40:40and try to avoid HOAs.
40:43That's the first recommendation.
40:44If you cannot avoid those
40:45for whatever reason,
40:46then you have to be
40:47a lot more inconspicuous.
40:49You have to be a lot more
40:50crafty and ingenious
40:51and creative
40:52with your installations,
40:53equipment,
40:54actions, etc.
40:55A lot of municipalities
40:56don't allow
40:57a lot of equipment,
40:58a lot of situations
40:59and actions
41:00and constructions
41:02such as farm work,
41:04farm equipment,
41:05farm animals,
41:06any kind of crop,
41:08any kind of agricultural
41:09activity going on.
41:10And especially in mid-sized
41:12to larger cities,
41:14some municipalities
41:15don't allow,
41:16for example,
41:17chickens or roosters
41:18and perhaps other kinds
41:19of animals,
41:20larger animals,
41:21pigs, sheep,
41:22goats, horses,
41:23cows, and cattle.
41:25So you have to
41:25look at where you live,
41:27consider where you live,
41:28and act accordingly
41:29as much as possible.
41:30That's the primary way
41:32how you combat
41:32that barrier
41:33from your AHJ,
41:35city government,
41:36municipality, etc.
41:37to solution barriers
41:39from friends and family
41:40and neighbors.
41:41Again, be inconspicuous.
41:43Don't call too much
41:43attention to yourself
41:44as much as you can.
41:45Try to educate them.
41:47Try to train them.
41:47Try to persuade them.
41:49Try to enlighten them
41:50and train them.
41:52Basically educate them
41:52in the reasons why
41:54you are doing
41:54the things you're doing.
41:55They may not know
41:56why you're doing things.
41:58So give them
41:58a good set of reasons
41:59and don't do it
42:00just one time.
42:01Do it a lot of times.
42:02Preach that to them.
42:03Basically evangelize them
42:05as much as you can.
42:06They will try
42:06to avoid you
42:07if you do this
42:08repeatedly.
42:09So if they try
42:10to avoid you
42:11then that's exactly
42:12what you want.
42:13In many cases,
42:13most cases
42:14when you're trying
42:15to have them
42:15not snoop on you,
42:17have them not
42:17spy on you,
42:18have them not
42:19bring up concerns
42:20that they have
42:21no concern bringing up
42:22and you never know.
42:23You may convince them.
42:25You may educate them
42:26on your actions,
42:28the necessity
42:28of your actions
42:29and also
42:30in the technologies
42:31and methods
42:32for living off the grid.
42:34They may come on board
42:35even and become
42:36an off-grider
42:37themselves.
42:38You never know.
42:39There may be
42:39only a few people
42:40that understand
42:41and come to your side
42:43and may join you
42:44in your efforts
42:44but you never know
42:45who and when
42:46may have some understanding,
42:48may have an open mind,
42:49may even join you
42:50in your efforts again.
42:51Some, of course,
42:52will utterly reject,
42:54will not understand,
42:55will never believe
42:56in the stuff
42:57that you're doing
42:58and the efforts
42:59to live off the grid
43:00and the reasons.
43:01So you leave
43:02those people alone,
43:03you leave
43:04those people be
43:05and don't harass them.
43:07Of course,
43:08if they approach you,
43:08ask you questions,
43:09you answer them
43:10and it is,
43:11most of the time,
43:12it will be them
43:12that initiate
43:13the rejection,
43:14meaning the avoidance of you.
43:16So you don't need
43:17to do a whole lot
43:18for them to start
43:19avoiding you.
43:20So that's one
43:21or a few ways
43:21how you solve
43:22the issues,
43:23barriers
43:24to living off the grid
43:25to disconnecting
43:25from abusive utilities
43:27by friends and family
43:28and authorities
43:29having jurisdiction,
43:30DHJs.
43:33Other barriers
43:34that I'd like to discuss
43:36to getting disconnected
43:37from abusive utilities,
43:39costly utility,
43:40the grid,
43:41as I call it,
43:41or living off the grid.
43:43Other barriers
43:44to that
43:44that I can think of
43:45include
43:46the lack of freedom,
43:47lack of rights,
43:48and this applies
43:49mainly to areas
43:50that are quite restrictive,
43:52nations,
43:53cities,
43:54some regions
43:55that are quite restrictive
43:56because of
43:57their history,
43:58their culture,
43:59political makeup,
44:00political turmoil
44:02that may be going on,
44:03social and political
44:04instability
44:05that may be going on,
44:06there may be conflict,
44:07there may be war,
44:08there may be
44:09major disagreements,
44:11major disruptions
44:12in public life
44:13and social life
44:13and that may cause
44:15lack of options,
44:16lack of freedom,
44:17lack of rights
44:18or abuses of rights
44:20and you may not
44:21be able to do
44:22many things
44:23including
44:24disconnecting
44:24from utilities,
44:25disconnecting the grid,
44:26growing your own food,
44:27harvesting
44:28your own water,
44:29you may not be able
44:30to produce
44:31your own energy,
44:32you may be looked at
44:33as something
44:34that is harmful
44:35for the community,
44:36etc.
44:37You may be forced
44:37to do certain things,
44:39to live a certain way,
44:40you may be considered
44:41unusual,
44:42you may be considered
44:43harmful,
44:43even heretic
44:44in some areas,
44:45may be considered
44:46against a major
44:47or dominant religion
44:49of the area.
44:50There are many,
44:51many things,
44:52many situations,
44:53many predicaments
44:53may dictate
44:55your lack of freedom
44:56or how little freedom
44:57you may have.
44:58So that is a major barrier
44:59to many people
45:00around the world
45:01and the solutions
45:02to that of course
45:03apart from being able
45:05to move away
45:06from such areas
45:07just to do
45:08what you can.
45:09It could be
45:10something small,
45:11it could be
45:11something so inconspicuous
45:13that people
45:13hardly notice.
45:15It could be
45:15something done
45:17in such limited way
45:18that it causes
45:19no real concern
45:20from other people.
45:22You may live
45:23with very little
45:23rights and freedom
45:25and still have
45:26a small battery
45:27and a small solar panel
45:29and a small inverter
45:31that you can leave
45:32connected with your
45:33cell phone,
45:34for example,
45:35your tablet,
45:36your modem
45:36and router
45:37and a few lights.
45:38That may be
45:39all the electricity
45:40that you need
45:41to charge those items.
45:42A small 12-volt battery
45:44can do for that
45:45and a small,
45:46perhaps,
45:461,000-watt inverter
45:48and the battery
45:50have to be about
45:51100 amp hours maybe.
45:53And it could be
45:53a lead-acid flooded battery.
45:55It could be
45:56a gel-type lead-acid.
45:57It could be
45:58a much smaller
45:59and lighter
45:59lithium-ion
46:00or lithium-phosphate
46:02battery.
46:03Again,
46:03the options are many.
46:04There are many panels
46:05that have no frame
46:06that are flexible
46:07and a lot lighter
46:08and smaller.
46:08That could be
46:09100 watts in power,
46:11which is quite enough
46:12to pay 12-volt,
46:13100 amp-hour battery
46:14charged
46:15if you live
46:15in a sunny area.
46:16So just act accordingly.
46:18Of course,
46:19I would recommend
46:19highly to obey
46:20the laws
46:21and regulations
46:21and petition
46:23as much as you can
46:24for those repressive
46:25and depressive laws
46:27to change
46:27as much as you can
46:28without putting yourself
46:29at risk.
46:30That would be my
46:31recommendation
46:32for those types
46:33of situations.
46:34And I will leave it at that.
46:35That's the main barriers
46:36that I can think of.
46:37There may be a few more
46:38that are not as large
46:40and as strong as those.
46:41So if you think of any,
46:42let me know.
46:43Thank you very much
46:43for listening
46:44or watching.
46:45Have a great day.
46:46This is Héctor Vladimir.
46:47Today is December
46:48of the 16th, 2025.
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