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After eight years, Kohl Christensen found that living off-grid isn’t as hard as it appears.
"I think in most people’s minds it is a big step or a big hurdle," said Christensen. "I think it is easier than most people realize. It’s just a few lifestyle changes."
The big-wave surfer is sponsored by the clothing company Patagonia and is a partner with Bonterra Solar. He manages his off-grid farm in a remote area on the North Shore of Oahu.
Christensen runs his property with the help of a solar water heater, propane for cooking, solar panels, 16 6-volt batteries and a backup generator.
"Once I built it, the hurdle of going off-grid in my mind was pretty big," Christensen said. "I had never lived without normal electricity. Having lived it now for eight years, I have realized it is actually really easy to do."
Christensen and his wife, Sara, have adjusted to life with less electricity. They don’t use hair dryers much and toast their bread over burners on the gas stove. They can’t leave a light on when they leave the house, or else they may come home to a bank of dead batteries.
"We got a good deal on the property and adapted to what we had to adapt to," Christensen said. "When we built the home we didn’t have access to electricity."
