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143 Climate 11 LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPLORE EXTRAS What do you think ‘off-grid’ refers to? What clues can you find in the photo? Read the first paragraph of the article below to check. Which verbs collocate with these nouns to describe what an ‘off-gridder’ does? electricity  own water  own waste disposal Now read all of the article. 1 Find nouns and adjectives which describe ‘off-gridders’ and their lifestyle. Examples: noticeable glee, smug, … 2 Which ones show the ‘off-gridders’ in a positive light? Which in a negative light? a REaDIng 26 b c 27 Unplugging from the grid “I haven’t paid an electricity bill since 1970,” says Richard Perez with noticeable glee. He can afford to be smug. He lives ‘off-grid’ – unconnected to the power grid and the water, gas and sewerage supplies that most of us rely on. He generates his own electricity, sources his own water and manages his own waste disposal – and prefers it that way. “There are times when the grid blacks out,” he says. “I like the security of having my own electricity company.” Perez is not alone. Once the preserve of mavericks, hippies and survivalists, there are now approximately 250,000 off-grid households in the US, a figure that Perez says has been increasing by a third every year for the past decade. For people who live off-grid, self-sufficiency means guilt-free energy consumption and peace of mind. “It feels brilliant to use clean, free energy that’s not from fossil fuels,” says Suzanne Galant, a writer who lives off-grid in rural Wales. “And if something goes wrong, we can fix it ourselves.” Now even urbanites are seeing the appeal of generating some if not all of their own power needs. So is energy freedom an eco-pipe-dream or the ultimate good life? Well, there’s only one way to find out: begin to explore the possibilities of solar, wind or hydro- power. But unless you live on a sunny, south-facing hillside with access to a nearby river or stream, that might prove prohibitively expensive! There is no doubt that being off-grid has its problems, and it is not always the cheapest way to get your energy. Even so, pioneers like Perez have proved that it can be done, and without giving up a 21st-century lifestyle: “I’ve got five computers, two laser scanners, two fridge- freezers, a microwave, a convection oven, vacuum cleaners – you name it,” says Perez. “There’s an external beam antenna on the roof for the phone and a satellite dish for an internet connection. I’ve got 70 kWh in batteries that could last me five days. I have too much electricity.” Too much electricity and no more bills. That’s got to be worth aiming for. Discuss these questions. 1   How do you think ‘off-gridders’ would be viewed in Austria: as pioneers or dreamers? 2   How would you describe Perez’s tone at the start and the end of the article? Do you see a contradiction in living ‘off-grid’ but having a 21st-century lifestyle? 3   Why do you think it is becoming more popular? Do you think ‘off-grid’ living could become popular in Austria? Why? /Why not? 4   Think about three different regions of the world. How easy would ‘off-grid’ living be in each of them? Give reasons. sPEaKIng 28 Across cultures: Living ‘off-grid’ Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv