A curated collection of free tools, calculators, books, and trusted external resources to help you plan and build your off-grid life. All links open in a new tab.
Solar Calculators & Tools
- PVWatts Calculator (NREL) — Free tool from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Enter your address and system specs to estimate actual solar production. The most accurate free solar calculator available.
- Solar Panel Calculator (SolarReviews) — Estimates how many solar panels you need based on your electricity usage and location.
- Global Solar Atlas — World Bank tool showing solar irradiance and power potential for any location on Earth. Essential for off-grid planning anywhere in the world.
Water Resources
- EPA: Private Well Water Safety — US Environmental Protection Agency guide to testing and maintaining private well water. Includes a well water testing guide and local resources by state.
- CDC: Well Water Safety — Centers for Disease Control guide to keeping well water safe, including testing schedules and common contaminants.
- Texas A&M Rainwater Harvesting — Comprehensive academic resource on rainwater collection systems, sizing calculators, and quality guidelines.
Emergency Preparedness
- Ready.gov (FEMA) — US government’s official emergency preparedness portal. Checklists, planning guides, and disaster-specific advice for every scenario.
- Red Cross: Emergency Preparedness — Practical guides from the American Red Cross, including supply checklists, family communication plans, and local resource finders.
Gardening & Food Preservation
- National Center for Home Food Preservation (UGA) — The authoritative science-based resource for safe home canning, freezing, drying, fermenting, and pickling. Run by the University of Georgia Extension.
- Utah State Extension: Preserve the Harvest — Excellent guides on food preservation with tested recipes and safety guidelines.
- Old Farmer’s Almanac — Planting Calendar — Enter your zip code to get a personalized planting schedule for your area based on frost dates.
Legal Resources: Off-Grid Laws
- OffGridSage: Off-Grid Laws by State — Our own state-by-state guide to rainwater collection laws, composting toilet legality, solar property rights, and utility disconnection rules.
- DSIRE — Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency — Complete database of solar incentives, tax credits, rebates, and net metering policies for every US state. Essential before purchasing any solar equipment.
Books We Recommend
- The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour — The classic guide. Covers growing food, raising animals, and traditional skills in beautiful detail. A must-have reference.
- Solar Electricity Handbook by Michael Boxwell — Updated yearly. The most practical and readable guide to designing and installing residential solar systems. Doesn’t require an engineering degree.
- Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook by Peggy Layton — Practical, no-nonsense guide to building a real food storage system that your family will actually eat.
- The Market Gardener by Jean-Martin Fortier — For those serious about growing significant amounts of food on a small plot. Evidence-based and practical.
Official Government Resources
- US Department of Energy — Solar Energy
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — Soil maps, water resources, and conservation programs by state
- Extension.org — Land-grant university extension network with localized agricultural and food safety resources for every US county
Know a resource we should add? Let us know.