Last Updated on July 29, 2024 by Alice Benny
As someone who has been transitioning over the years to self-sufficient living, I’ve spent countless hours researching and exploring the world of homesteading. Through this journey, I’ve learned a ton and overall become more prepared and less worried about the what ifs. When considering life insurance for your homesteading lifestyle, it’s essential to understand the coverage options available.
Here I’m going to talk about principles of sustainable homesteading, the transition to renewable energy sources, and insurance considerations.
Let’s first talk about what living off the grid is all about. The meaning of living off the grid is misinterpreted by many as a life full of hardships and going without.
This is not at all what living off the grid means; it is quite the opposite. Living off the grid does not have to mean cutting yourself off from the rest of the world and living a life of a caveman searching for meat.
It does not mean that you will have to stop using modern appliances that make life easier for you. All that it means is that through various techniques and technology you and your family can now create and sustain your sources of energy using nature’s power.
In addition to installing solar and a rainwater cistern, I also compost, grow many vegetables and some fruits, and raise chickens and livestock humanely. This didn’t happen overnight though.
Just like anybody else, you will still be a citizen of the United States and entitled to your rights to claim a homesteader’s life insurance. Living an off the grid lifestyle can foster a deeper connection with nature and promote environmental sustainability.
Living Off the Grid Defined
Living off the grid means disconnecting from external power sources such as electricity, water, sewage, gas, and heating. There are now a lot of ways you can be self-sufficient in all of the above-mentioned energy sources.
Many homeowners live off the grid by providing their source of electricity but depend on the public provision of water and sewage.
Many tend to develop their water and sewage systems but depend on public electricity provisions. The main purpose of living off the grid is to rid yourself of various utility bills. Many find it increasingly difficult to pay for their utility bills and homesteader’s life insurance premiums every month.
Now, you can reduce additional expenses and prioritize saving for important things like your child’s college tuition and your homesteader’s life insurance.
You can become self-sustained by harnessing nature’s power in the form of sunlight and powerful winds.
Residential Solar System
Through the installation of a good solar panel system, you can easily store a lot of energy coming from the sun in the form of sunlight. Through an intricate system, the sunlight is stored in the panels and is then broken down to provide an alternating current which in turn will power your house for a longer period.
This way you may grow a bit more self-conscious about saving energy and conserving energy, ultimately leading to a balanced way of life.
Another way you can become self-reliant in harnessing energy is through the wind. You can get powerful wind turbines installed which are propelled by the force of the wind. The power that the turbines create is then transformed into energy and then electricity.
You can either install one or both of the systems to get more energy. For example in winters when the sun does not shine for longer periods, your solar panels will catch the sunlight as much as they can during the day.
Wind Energy For Your Home
And upon nightfall when winds are generally blowing in the winter, your turbine system would allow you to store wind energy to be used for creating electricity.
Generating surplus energy through renewable sources can potentially create an additional income stream by selling the excess to utility companies.
This also ensures that the energy you have created in excess is not wasted. You can even use that energy to pay off your homesteader’s life insurance premiums by using the money you get by selling the energy to power companies.
If you are considering living off the grid you must also get backup generators and batteries which can store excess energy in case when you need it. There are times when the sun doesn’t shine for longer periods and in these situations, your backup generators kick in using the excess energy to power your house.
Homesteader’s Life Insurance
Numerous households have shifted to off-grid living, generating their own food and energy sources. As they do this, various life and health insurance companies bring out different homesteaders’ life insurance coverage options for such households.
To save the greatly depleting fossil fuels, many households are reverting to creating and consuming their energy.
They recycle, reuse and make sure everything they do results in positive results for both the environment and themselves in the short and long run.
Certain insurance providers may offer incentives or discounts for households that generate their own power and rely less on public utilities.
Some give up to 5% concession on premiums if homeowners install solar panel systems and geothermal pumps to power their homes.
Living Off the Grid Does Not Mean That You Live Without Any Power
Cyril Greenya, Donegal’s chief underwriter, states, “We do not insure houses lacking heat or water.”
If they have wood fireplaces or coal stoves, that’s not something we want to insure. Now you’re talking about a fire hazard. But geothermal and solar are different. They’re safe.”
To qualify for specific insurance coverage, some providers may require professional installation of renewable energy systems, such as solar panels or geothermal pumps, to mitigate potential risks.
Insurers discourage inexperienced individuals from improper insulation and installations that can damage homes and systems.
Currently, some insurance companies may have limitations or exclusions regarding coverage for households powered by wind energy systems.
‘Going Green’ Insurance Coverage
Over the years there have been a lot of homesteader’s life insurance companies that have provided customers with substantial discounts for owning ‘Green’ environmentally friendly homes.
According to reports made on these insurance companies it was discovered that in 2009, 22 homesteader’s life insurance companies provided 39 services and products to promote the construction of environmentally friendly buildings.
These companies also promote the renovation of older buildings using environmentally friendly techniques.
Since the report came out it has been discovered that there are now even more companies providing homesteader’s life insurance for households ‘going green.
Michael Barry, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute was recorded as stating;
“Alternative energy coverage is a niche business, but as more homes are being built that are so-called eco-friendly, and as more homeowners take an interest in them and as more builders build them, you will see more insurers cater to this audience.”
Many Insurance Companies Do Not Quote Lower for Off-the-Grid Homes
Unfortunately, some of the most reputable insurance companies in the United States do not indulge in offering lower quotes for homesteaders’ life insurance for households living off the grid.
Je McCollum, a representative of State Farm was reported stating;
“We have no problem insuring homes that are off the grid, we’ve been around more than 80 years, so we were insuring homes that were off the grid before there was a grid.”
It is not always necessary to get additional coverage for your solar panels and geothermal pumps since your general insurance policy covers all of this. You will only have to make sure that your policy precisely defines the cost of replacing it would cover repairs to your home.
Many speculate that with the rising popularity of homesteaders in the country, more insurance companies will start providing coverage for homeowners using alternative energy.
According to reports, a significant number of families have embraced off-grid living in both urban and suburban areas.
Some of the Benefits
Mentioned below are some of the benefits of Living of the Grid with modern Homesteaders Life Insurance:
Sustainability
You can grow your food and energy to power up your house without any outside influence. This will allow you to save hundreds of dollars in utility bills which you can put to better use.
A sustained food supply means that you will be able to consume healthy and non-GMO-based foods. Plus you can even sell some of your fresh organic produce for twice the price.
Going Green
Self-sustainability will allow you to become more environmentally entwined and you will stop wasting resources and energy. Turning off excess lights, turning off running water when shaving or brushing your teeth, etc. are all things that you will need to do to save energy and the environment.
Utility Independence
The feeling you get when you do not have to pay for your utility month after month and knowing that you can grow your food and supply your energy is out of this world. This free and independent feeling is a reward unlike any other in this day and age. You will not have to depend on anybody.
Water Source
Install a rainwater cistern and have a readily-available supply of water to water plants and livestock. In emergencies, you can also purify it to use for cooking, drinking, and bathing.
Adopting Green Practices for Cost Savings
Choosing and implementing environmentally friendly practices may lead to significant cost savings over time. The initial investment in going green (such as changing to renewable energy sources) can be substantial. However, the long-term financial benefits usually become evident. By reducing reliance on traditional utilities and fossil fuels, individuals can enjoy lower expenses and a more sustainable lifestyle.
Considerations for Off-the-Grid Households
There are several advantages of living off the grid but it takes a bit of time and money to set up the entire process. Here are some things to consider when deciding to go all green.
You are your own power company:
When you pay for your utility bills you are also agreeing to pay a percentage amount on the salaries of all those who are employed by the power companies, the workers, the maintenance people, etc.
When you are off the grid you will have to spend a lot of time making sure that everything is in check along with setting the entire system up.
Regular Investment is required: To go entirely off the grid it is required that you invest a lot of money in backup generators for the house along with batteries that can store the energy that you produce.
Based on the qualities of the batteries you may have to buy a new one every 5 to 15 years.
Plus generators require gas and tools you will have to buy a lot of that daily to keep the generators running in case of a power outage.
All in all, it is better to apply for your homesteader’s life insurance policy when you go out to get insurance coverage for your off-the-grid house.
Increasing Popularity of Homesteading
Homesteading has become increasingly popular and if the trend continues like this there will be more homesteaders and life insurance companies serving alternative energy-backed homes with more services and products.
If you are fed up with paying utility bills every month by working two to three jobs then it is better to switch to a more self-sufficient, satisfying, and rewarding way of life.
A homesteader’s life insurance policies may be flexible depending on the needs of the one who has applied for the policy. The death benefit is subjected to a decrease or increases at any time depending on the policy owner. Plus you can even decrease and increase your insurance premium which is another benefit of having homesteaders’ life insurance coverage.
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