When the grid goes dark, most refrigerators warm quickly, and food safety becomes a countdown. New solar-powered ...

Battery backup will keep your off-grid or grid-tied home powered up when the grid goes down. Grid-tied vs. off-grid solar: decide whether a grid-tied solar system with battery backup or an off-grid ...

Off-grid solar systems generate and store power wherever the sun shines, making them a great green update to your home. Today, lots of one-stop-shop companies offer all the equipment, warranties and ...

Becoming responsible for our own water and energy was more than saving on utility bills. Here's what motivated us, what we learned and how we made it happen. Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor ...

The author lives in a 2,000-square-foot solar-powered octagonal home made with post-and-beam logs and straw bale infill walls and insulation. Decades of problem-solving and experimenting have given ...

I've lived off the grid in New Mexico for years. But I've managed to get good internet service through trial and error. Here's how. Eric Mack has been a CNET ...

My husband and I built an off-grid cabin 10 years ago, and haven't looked back since. We've learned a lot through years of experience, but we made some mistakes when we first moved here. We should've ...

Recent reports predict that more than 24 million electric vehicles (EVs) will be on U.S. roads by 2030. As more people purchase EVs, there will naturally be a strong demand for more charging stations ...

When my husband inherited rural land, we moved from the Northeast to live off-grid in West Virginia. Our experience has been challenging: I felt lonely at first, and our home requires a lot of upkeep.

Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and ...