Good points BPH! Food for thought.

thanks, I just moved to the countryside and I want to learn how to live off grid

These are good points, and I like the idea of working toward weaning yourself off electricity. But it is also useful to point out that new battery technology (e.g., what Bluetti and others use in their "solar generator" systems) have pretty amazing lifespans. For instance, the AC200Max is rated at something like 3500+ charge/discharge cycles to 80% depth of discharge. Get a couple of those (or the smaller/cheaper units they sell that use the same technology) and, say, two separate portable solar panels capable of recharging them, and you should be good for decades of power generation. Combined with lower usage, as you advocate, especially if you live in a sunny locale like I do, and this is I think a good solution. Would like to hear your thoughts.