Unable to bring mains gas or electricity onto your site? Nigel Griffiths reveals the main options to power your home

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It’s rare to find a viable plot or existing house that’s completely off-grid, in that it has access to neither gas nor electricity. However, many self-builders and renovators will have had to do without one or the other. Some even aim to go completely fossil fuel-free and create a home that’s powered entirely by renewables.

If your plot or project can’t be cost-effectively connected to one or both of the mains supplies, but you’re still keen to forge ahead, the most important strategy will be to minimise your demand for energy in the first place.

Space heating is normally the building service that uses the most energy, so begin by designing to reduce or even eliminate the need for it. If you build to Passivhaus principles (see www.self-build.co.uk/passivhaus), for instance, in some cases it is possible to do without space heating completely until the outside temperature drops below zero. That’s because the warmth from solar gain, occupation, cooking and lighting is sufficient to maintain the internal temperature within acceptable comfort levels.

The same idea applies to electricity. By designing in plenty of natural light, the need for artificial sources can be greatly reduced. This is very important in the circulation areas of dwellings, such as corridors and stairwells, as well as in living spaces. By building in areas to dry clothes, selecting the most efficient white goods and using LED lighting throughout, electricity demand can be minimal.

What to do if there’s no power

If your site is truly off-grid, and you have no connection to mains electricity, there are several approaches that you can take. You could choose to run your home solely on renewables; on fossil-fuel based generators; or a combination of both. Here’s a closer look at the options: