When you live off-grid, you have a special feeling of independence. For those of us looking to lower our carbon footprint or to have control over our own electricity, it is a lifestyle worth embracing. We began our journey with the construction of our home in California. We had purchased an avocado farm on the side of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The views and land are amazing, but access to city power and water was limited. We had to get creative in order to build a home that would facilitate our needs and take care of our family.