According to a new study, Iowa is the state to be if you want to live "off the grid!"

Before we dive in, we should probably know what exactly does it means to live off the grid. 24/7 Wall Street writes:

"According to the Cambridge Dictionary, those who live off the grid do not need to rely on public utilities, such as electricity and water, as they draw from sources on their own land – solar energy being probably the best example."

One of the most popular reasons that people live off the grid is because of unpredictable weather, which we definitely have a lot of here in Iowa (how about yesterday's January tornado?). The article says that "tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes can black out electric and internet grids for weeks at a time." Iowa is part of a series of states known as "Tornado Alley," plus we've had some pretty nasty floods. The rest of the top five states for living off the grid are Texas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma.

Back in 2020, the equipment rental site BigRentz posted a study all about off-grid living. It reported that only around 250,000 Americans live off the grid, compared to around 1.7 billion people across the globe. Some of the benefits include self-sufficiency, energy conservation, and connection with nature.

Last year, wikiHow posted an article outlining different tips and strategies for living off the grid. For example, first you'll need to buy land with access to natural resources, like water and trees. Then, you'll need to buy, build, or convert a home that's suitable for off-grid living. That means installing a solar power system, securing a backup power supply, drilling a well for fresh water, and creating some sort of septic system. You'll also need to be well-versed in hunting, fishing, growing, and preserving your own food. BigRentz estimates that it'll cost you around $90,660 to fully live off the grid. It's definitely a lot of work!

To check out the list of the best and worst states for living off the grid, check out the full article from 24/7 Wall Street HERE.

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