Metateps

It's interesting that regardless of their professed reasons for going off-grid, most off-gridders choose the land that their homes will sit on based on a simple factor: convenience. How close is the nearest Wal-Mart? The nearest hospital? The nearest school or university? People who profess to be off-gridders and yet make their decisions based primarily on such conveniences are, in a sense, still hopelessly attached to the grid.

The other factors off-gridders look for in their search for the perfect building site include:

Good solar access, with south-facing slopes for passive heating and earth sheltering. Part of the land needs to have a good slope angle for backing the shelter into the slope (called "earth sheltering").

Unobstructed access to the wind.

Dry, well-drained land with stable soils, but land with a good water supply.

Favorable climate for year-round comfort and microclimate, along with good topsails conducive to growing food and providing shade and wind protection.

On-site building resources (trees, rocks, sand, clay, etc.).

No (or minimal) legal obstructions to off-grid development.

Good views.

No pollution.

The basic steps in putting your site together consist of finding the site, making a map of it, deciding on a house design and making detailed plans, and, finally, construction (or purchase) of the shelter.

There