Creating A Simpler Life Off-Grid
Creating A Simpler Life Off-Grid
Building our dreams...
We're Rich & Kathie, a retired couple living off-grid and building our dream of a super energy efficient underground dome home and sustainable homestead in the Adirondacks! Why did we choose an underground house? Why is it not really underground? Will we be able to heat the 1500 square foot house with a tiny little wood stove? How much wood will we use in the winters? What is it like to live off-grid? Is our solar system enough? How can we afford to do all this? It's a work in progress toward creating a simpler, healthier, and happier life, but simple doesn't mean easy! We hope you join us as we experience the adventures of living off-grid in the mountains & problem solve the challenges of building our super energy efficient underground concrete dome and homestead from raw forested land here in the beautiful Adirondack Park :-)
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god that woman commenting contstantly would do my head in.
New subby here! I watched several of you videos to get a gud understanding of the benfits of earth bermed homes, my wife and i are interested in doing a similar home though only berming the rear wall onto the roof here in S.C. Are winter are mild but summers are rough to say the least from june to august we can see 90° + and to 100° on a few weeks! It great the see the difference the earth helps regulate the in door temp! Thanks for sharing!
somebody should have told you to get a soft start
Wish they had that type of cement truck here! Ours were all rear dispensing trucks and due to our steep driveway an eleven yard truck was limited to 7 to 8 yards maximum or it would dump on the road going up. We had a ton of deliveries as a consequence of that. It was 38 trucks just for our foundation. It worked out to be between 280 to 304 yards but our foundation guy messed up and got one delivery too many and actually had 4 more ordered that I canceled. The last truck was erosion protection for our cliff off the driveway where water runs off the edge and erodes it. So that load was not wasted.
Wow! That is a crazy amount of concrete in the slab. How big is your house? At least the leftover wasn't wasted!
I found some numbers to estimate how much water the concrete will give off to your interior as it cures. I figure only the dome and slab count because the retaining wall is outside the building envelope. The guess is 1650 gallons for "typical" concrete. What I couldn't find was a time curve for that. I imagine that a lot of that water was given off in the first year, but some will be contributing to your interior humidity. An interesting building science topic.
Very interesting! Thank you. I really hope that is the cause of at least some of our humidity!
I just look out the window to find out what the weather is Have you ever been in the SOL? Its just copper sheathed
LOL Don't blame you. The joke here is if you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes. One thing we learned, never leave the windows open when you aren't home! And yes, but the copper and the steel frame are extremely heavy.
@@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid When we moved to NC from LINY people said that about the weather, just wait 10 minutes, Winters are good May thru Nov. Are like hell. Are you a complain about the heat wave I believe we already had 15 days in a row in the 90s
Wow! That's a lot of concrete and a lot of weight. You probably could add the weight of the steel, rebar, and wood, as well as the boulders, rocks, and dirt to that total. I wonder how much settling has and/or will happen? It's probably one of the safest houses in the northeast.
It is supposed to be a very safe home and I am sure it is ridiculously heavy. the guy who did the burial joked that he put over 3,000 cubic yards on the dome, 2,000 of which was rocks!
Wow! You are 50 tons heavier than the Statue of Liberty! At least you are safe and cool and hopefully storm safe. I saw this doc. about how tornados are now extending beyond tornado alley. It's getting scary. 🙂🇨🇦👍
We feel very comfy and secure in this house for sure!
Wow. Great information.
Thanks!
Fun video, thanks!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!
That’s a lot of concrete, can you share the finally cost for it $$$$, I’m sure ?
Great question, but it is difficult because there were so many other aspects that went into the cost (excavation, formwork, etc.) that it is almost impossible to separate out just the concrete. I am currently working on a video sharing the cost of the entire dome from beginning to burial :-) Hope to be finished soon.
It would take an act of God to move your house! I climbed the SOL to the very top most part as a kid in the '50s. I don't think you can go that far any more, but I may be wrong. Keep up the good work and enjoy as much of the Summer as you can, because it will be over so quickly.
Thanks! Summer does go fast!
Hey Chief, I live in Florida, 20 years now, but I'm from upstate, Leather stocking region.. Amsterdam to Little Falls Zone, grew up in Tribes Hill. Good video, y'all reminded me of the cold, mud, snow, ice, but it's pretty, reasons why I moved. I do miss it, but now I'm putting one of these up for both my motorcycles and year round riding . .. Pinellas Point, St Pete Florida.. stay warm
Nice! Definitely more year round action down there. Our kids are in ormond beach and Ocala. They love the warm weather but we love winter! Go figure. Good luck with the shelter and enjoy 👍
Thank you...
I love new tools 😁
I inherited one. Game changer! 😊
Bought mine used so you video gave me lots of info
Enjoy!
My suggestion is you consider adding an outdoor shower at your homestead. It would help keep the moisture out of your dome in the summer and you have the privacy to enjoy it.
Yes, thank you! Would definitely help a lot!
it would be nice if the videos were numbered so i can watch in sequence.
I understand, I do have playlists numbered in order
Link and it was 20 weeks not 20 months for the top and tilt at fit right hydraulics LOL kzread.info/dash/bejne/fWZ7tbyHh9SrZNo.html
Whoever said building your own home ages you a decade was entirely wrong when it came to you two !!! You both haven't changed a bit !!! 😊
Thanks so much!
You guys are way more frugal than us. We however have used our own tools to save. We used home Depot and our pro account along with my veteran discount and 0% financing to make our dollars stretch. We did the lumber on bid like you guys but back then you could combine it with your veteran discount. We did our windows in 2014 when they had a promotion of free upgrades of low E and gas filled dual pane windows at no additional cost. Same with our doors they were solid core free upgrades for the interior doors and free upgrade to energy star rated for the exterior doors. At one point we were just a bit over $17,000 at 0% and we were sweating getting it paid off in that 24 months. It all worked out though. We went a little more on the refrigerator as it has a ton of features. We got a 10 year Zero deductible warranty through the courtesy of a labor day sale promotion. So we are doing similar but quite different than you guys. Our shipping containers let us buy when there were deals and store them until we could use those materials. We are going to try to upload a video of our tractor upgrades. The single most important upgrade is the front and rear camera with a 10.1" touch screen that will let me maintain the driveway without fear of going off the cliff while turned around but still able to monitor the 3 point attachment and its operation without turning around to do so. I have the front camera working now and it lets me use the quick attach without my wife having to guide me. I mounted it with magnets to the grill guard and I can easily relocate it to the bucket or for forks so I can monitor the work the attachments are doing. Can't wait to get the roof back on as that is where the rear camera is mounted. I saved a ton doing it all myself and yes doing it yourself gives you confidence that it was done right. I pulled the trigger on the radio when it went on sale at Amazon so that was rewarding too.
The metal containers are great! And we can relate to the balance on the card… we did the same thing right to to end of the two years! But I think you also did a lot more diy than us too when it came to the dome structure. One day at a time either way 😊
I hope you did this like 4 or more years ago since a system that has 7200w solar with inverter and 14.3kwh battery only costs $6753 today. Many similar systems for around the same price.
Unfortunately we purchased our system during covid when everything was so expensive!!! However we did also buy life po4 batteries (very safe and can be inside our home) which significantly added to our cost. No regrets, just tough timing on purchase.
I enjoyed this episode it was like a podcast with video footage
Thank you!
So happy like the mugs! Great video -- such wonderful ideas. Totally agree that if you DIY your house, it's more YOURS. You know every nail, every screw, every project that went into it, and you'll have those memories of building your dream always.
The memories are the best and I love the mugs 😊
Time's flying, it's like yesterday you've started the interior 😊. Be aware of rough sawn lumber - it's great, but never use it unless it was left to dry for at least 3 months (or kiln dried, which is expensive). But really 1 year is ideal. Of course make a good pile with spacers between layers and gaps between planks. I keep one extra pile under my solar shed for any small project that comes up. And start a new one way before the old finishes, ideally having at least year old planks and thin beams. It's nearly a must for anyone having a ranch or homestead, if you do DIY stuff there :-)
Yes, that’s definitely an issue with the rough sawn. So far we’re good because it’s all had plenty of time to dry👍
DIY deluxe! Shelley is in the basement as I write, building scaffolding. She's going to replace all the siding on the west wall. We got tired of waiting for a contractor to put us on a schedule. Me? I'm just here to hand her tools and hold up the dumb end of a board.
Shelley is amazing and so are you! Handing tools and helping us just as important though!!!
@@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid She got inspired after watching your video.
@@Ed-hz2um I hope that's a good thing!! LOL
@@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid Absolutely! Look at the $$ I'm saving on contractors.
What a great video! Really, it's just a refresher course in common sense, but a well needed one. We all get caught up in the old expensive i want this and that story. Flexibility is paramount. Sorry to hear that the t-111 isn't holding up. Add that thought to the live and learn file. It's working for now. Maybe replace it someday with some rustic hand split cedar shakes or some foe log cabin siding. You guys have accomplished so much. Such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your journey. Looking forward to your future projects and videos. ✌️
Definitely common sense😁 at least it should be. Thanks so much for always being so supportive!
Good Morning To Both Of You 👌😇👍Truly an OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE VIDEO THAT YOU HAVE MADE ( TEN (10) ways we SAVED MONEY Building our HOME on a BUDGET ) 🧐👍Keep Up Your OUTSTANDING Husband and Wife Team Work Cheers 👍👍😇😇👌👌💪💪🍻🍻
Thanks my friend!!! We appreciate that more than you know
These days you really have to save, thrift, and snatch up free stuff. Buy instead of rent, if feasible. I keep and use all my scraps of wood, metal, snow fencing, etc. Something always comes in handy. T 111. Ick! I don't think it's good for our type of climate. We had it on the front of the house surrounding the living room window. My father cursed it and replaced it with cedar tongue and groove. 🙂👍👍🇨🇦
Yes! Save everything. You’d be amazed at the things we save. Lol the t111 usually is ok here, but that stuff we bought just wasn’t right. The whole garage is still in great shape, different year, sturdier t111
We worked day jobs, with a one hour commute each way, when we built our house. Every minute after work was used at the property, clearing trees and brush, drawing plans, and all those things you needed to do. We love our home so much more because of the time invested than if we had it built turn-key. Your channel brings back memories of the things we had to go through to be here now. Nice job.
Yes, working and building is so difficult, but an hours commute???? You all had to be constantly exhausted!! Great memories to look back on though😊I’m sure it was very worthwhile
Love your build story, proud of your thrift ness. My kind of shopper 😊
Thank you!!! I love the challenge of being frugal but it’s getting harder and harder!
You do have a beautiful home 🥰.
Thank you so much!
🎉 Firsties 🎉
Although it does concern me that a firmware update completely changed the usage of this inverter. But I still want to point out that inrush current is different from what. you measured. The clamp meter you have doesn’t do inrush current. You would have to buy the AstroAI Inrush Digital Clamp Meter Multimeter 1000A or another branch that specifically say it can do inrush. Thanks for the video, more research to do as this was one of two inverters I was considering. FYI, I also noticed the imbalance between L1 and L2 and this has caused Sol Arc to shutdown with some. Some have fixed this with an auto transformer and that might fix your issues as well.
the flag has blue Not! purple😉
Thanks for a quality "real life" video. I'm considering a tent shed and this is helpful. I'm fortunate that I already have two very heavy duty 8'x22' tarps and think I will cover the roof right away to hopefully avoid the UV damage to the original cover.
Glad it was helpful!
Just another thought. What is the lenth and awg of the extension cord being used to power the chop saw? Looks a little on the thin side which would add to your current load.
I'm glad you were able to touch on the 2 120 volt legs. Something else to keep in mind is the power factor induction motors do not have a perfect power factor. Sounds like the firmware update caused it to trip out due to significant imbalance between the two legs of 120. About a year ago I was reconfiguring my breaker panel to balance all my 120 volt circuits. So I would not burn up the front windings on my generator. I managed to get it down to 20% over. No more can be done without a rewiring of the house. For everyone who is building a house also plan out your high amp 120v loads to balance across the 2 120v legs.
your high temperature is our night time summer temperature here in Australia. 97 is a lovely day here in central QUEENSLAND
Hello central Queensland!! Oh my gosh!! This type of house would be great over there with temperatures like that. What’s a daytime temp?
Hi guys it's all coming together 👍
Thank you!
Split phase is the problem. You need an inverter that is truly built for split phase.
Keep Your OUTSTANDING Husband and Wife Team Work Cheers 👍👍🧐🧐👌👌💪💪😇😇🍻🍻
Thank you!
Nice video! Ordered same one on Amazon Seems nice for the money but during assembly I have found that the tarp cover that goes over the top is short and does not completely pull over the front and the back only one side or the other. I've been trying see if it's the way I assembled but I keep thinking I have the wrong topper for a smaller size. The frame only assembles one way and clicks together easily I messaged Vevor and the told me from my pics I need to pull it tighter over the edges lol. That's the problem is I can't because there's not enough m material to do soo. Hope to find resolution is already assembled and would be too much hassle to return so I'll probably have to go to Hardware store and buy another tarp to cover it. Anyone have any feed back on this? Thanks 👍 😊
Hmm, we had ours positioned wrong the first time but it didn’t need any stretching. Great little shelter though. Hope you get it figured out.
Love your videos!! I witnessed that heat first hand and an truly impressed how stable and comfortable it is inside your dome....great choice! Keep the videos coming, very inspirational.
Thanks so much Bob!
So i haven't read all the comments but. Rich pls do yourself a favour, and put a valve up stairs with some sort of tee to be able to drain that line that runs in that wall during the winter months ($30 dollar well spent). Next thing are you still operating your ERV? If you are what are the settings you have it at. You could be bring in some of that humid air inside
Yes, definitely planning to put a valve in before winter. And yes, we’re using erv but only when we know we won’t bring in the humidity. Learning the tricks😊👍
So if you add a ballvalve upstairs to that water line you could drain that line for the winter. I am sure you isolated it some how to install it so no need to point that out, It's who I am. Retired with time on my hands.
Lol, no worries. We appreciate the input! And yes, it’s in the plans to add a valve before winter.
Those are carpenter ant scouts, i tried for a while keeping them at bay but they eventually will get in and make a nest in your walls
Well I must say that is one way to wash a car's floor mats. With all that family visiting especially the strength of the youth I thought you would have gotten the dome finished :) Also why didnt you put a frost free bib on ? It doesnt look like a frost free bib at least not the style we have here
We wish they were here to help but they all live so far away. And We’re planning on adding a valve before winter for draining.