Nature’s Rhythms
Off Grid Living at Shambhala
For our tiny, off-grid cabin in New Zealand, finding the right location to start building was paramount and as someone who feels the cold, maximising sunlight was a top priority.
Over the past year while camped out in our tent, we’ve carefully observed how the sun moves across our property "Shambhala" throughout the seasons and in that time, we’ve learnt a great deal.
Living Off Grid: Self Sufficiency
Living off-grid is a lesson in self-sufficiency and when combined with living in a particularly isolated location, being resourceful is a must have quality.
Being based so far from any suppliers, before we start any significant project we have to figure out exactly what we need. There’s certainly no ducking down to the nearest store when we realise we’ve overlooked some vital piece of equipment.
The Kiwi "No 8 Wire" mentality is a way of life for us and is something that many in our extended family excel in.
A problem solving, adaptable attitude is crucial to our off-grid lifestyle and successfully finding a resolution to a challenge or creating something from next to nothing is immensely empowering.
Energy Generation: The Power of Solar
Since we’ll be totally reliant on solar power, we have to be smart about where our solar panels go. In the Southern Hemisphere, that means the need to face "true north" to get the most consistent and direct sunlight.
It’s also important to make sure there’s minimal shading from any nearby trees or hills as even a little shadow can dampen the system’s efficiency.
New Zealand gets a lot of cloudy and, dare I say it, rainy days so we need every bit of sun that we can get!
The spot we’ve chosen is on a slope with the land dropping away below it and further down, native forest. In time, it’ll be necessary to keep any vigorous growth in check so that the trees don’t end up shading the panels.
We’ve also had to consider the dramatic difference in sunlight hours between summer and winter. Our system needs to be big enough to handle winter’s demands, which is when we have the least amount of sunlight hours.
Our latitude is a little north of Auckland and based on the available records, we’ll have at least 2,100 sunlight hours annually
Passive Solar Heating: Free Winter Warmth
The sun’s not just for power; it’s also our main source of passive heating. Our cabin will be orientated along an east-west axis, with the living area and big windows facing north.
This orientation will let in plenty of free winter sunlight, keeping us warm without having to light our fire.
To keep from overheating in summer, we’ll use eaves to block the high-angle summer sun though this will still let in the much appreciated, low-angle winter sun.
Although making the most of the free winter warmth is a huge priority, from our chosen site, we’ve also been able to make the most of the amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
Natural Daylight: Saving Energy
We’ve designed the cabin to use as much natural daylight as possible. This means we won’t have to turn on artificial lights as often which saves the precious power we’ll be storing in our batteries.
We’re putting large windows on the northern side to get the most light and smaller, well insulated windows on the other sides to prevent heat loss. There’ll be no windows on the south side which faces back to a forested hill.
This clever window placement will help us keep our energy consumption down and it will also meant we can get a smaller, more affordable solar system.
Additional Context
For additional context, this is a one room, timber clad cabin surrounded by forest. It’s located 150 metres above sea level on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.
In Conclusion
Living off-grid is a commitment that goes far beyond simply installing solar panels and building a cabin. It’s about becoming deeply connected to the natural world around us, learning to read the land and understanding the rhythms of the sun.
The process of choosing a site for this cabin, though challenging, is the first and most important step in creating a life of true self-sufficiency and resilience, rooted in the very land that we call home.
For our tiny, off-grid cabin in New Zealand, finding the right location to start building was paramount and as someone who feels the cold, maximising sunlight was a top priority.
Over the past year while camped out in our tent, we’ve carefully observed how the sun moves across our property "Shambhala" throughout the seasons and in that time, we’ve learnt a great deal.