Business Daily Living off-grid in Portugal
Jan 1, 2024
Former BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead moved to Portugal to build and run a hotel in an area without power or water supply. He explores the challenges of living off-grid, interviews his neighbors, and discusses the influx of foreigners in the region. The podcast also includes a tour of a distillery and covers topics such as water, power, waste management, and the reasons behind off-grid living.
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Journey to Off-Grid Living
- Alastair Leithead and his wife moved off-grid to the Alentejo region during COVID and bought a house with basic utilities.
- They initially underestimated off-grid challenges but embraced the lifestyle and are building an off-grid hotel.
Learning Solar Energy Efficiency
- Daniel, an American neighbor, uses solar panels that produce more energy than he consumes and is learning to optimize energy use.
- He installed a heat pump to efficiently heat his home with minimal energy cost during winter.
Madronia Spirit Distillery
- Medronia George runs a traditional madronia distillery, producing spirit from wild strawberry tree fruit.
- He uses solar power and a well for water, adapting to off-grid living while maintaining local traditions.