Understanding how to completely get off the grid efficiently and quickly can be very important these days. This is especially so because the world is gradually depleting its stocks of non-renewable fossil fuels. They're becoming more expensive each year and they're eventually going to run out. That's why learning a bit about creating renewable energy should take some priority.
A good way to start getting off a local power company grid is to consider creating energy from the power of the wind, for one. Usually, such power generation is accomplished by means of a windmill and its turbine, which is turned by the motion of a windmill's blades. These blades are turned by the wind, simply put, and the turbine creates the electricity.
Of course, this electricity has to be converted into usable power in a home, but that's easily accomplished. What's really nice about having such a system is that it's fairly simple to build, and many basic windmills and their electricity conversion equipment can be had for around $100. Putting it all together also makes for a good do-it-yourself project.
Another efficient way to wean a home off of a power company grid is through the use of solar panels. They are slightly more expensive in terms of upfront costs but they pay for themselves in reduced energy expenditures, of course. They all make use of the latest in photovoltaic cell technologies, with today's cells being very much more efficient than in days past.
Most of the best home systems capture and make very efficient use of the renewable energy that's created by the systems. They're also usually mated to a battery system that acts as a backup for days when the system itself isn't creating enough power. Normally, excess power created by the system is stored in these batteries and then called upon for use later.
Once people gain an understanding of how to completely get off the grid efficiently and quickly, they soon realize that the only things that are usually required in order to do so are solar panels and windmills. They also make for a very "green" system that can help people and societies break the addiction to fossil fuels as well as to local power company electrical grids, happily enough.