Chip StokesWhen getting directions to his house, his friend asked me if I had four-wheel drive because Chip "lives way out there," she said. It was true Chip Stokes lives off Alder Brook Rd. in beautiful Ripton, Vermont more than seven miles into the woods.
Originally from Arlington Vermont, Chip after graduating from college, left the rural life and went straight to the bright lights of New York City. He lived in the Big Apple for 17 years where he was a member of the New York Stock Exchange and worked on Wall Street. He decided to move back to Vermont in 1983 because he wanted a "lifestyle change." Becoming more interested in studying the history of Thomas Jefferson, Chip desired a place where he could read write and study Jeffersonian ideas in solitude. Chip definitely did just that and now he is a historian, chairman of the Ripton Jefferson Legacy foundation and lives in an off the grid home that he rebuilt in the middle of one of the most beautiful sights of Vermont.
Chip decided that economically it would be a smart choice to live off the grid because it would have cost him $50,000 to just get telephone power lines near his home. Thus his only choice was to live on gas and photovoltaic energy.
During 1983 Vermont gave a tax relief to those willing to live this type of lifestyle. Although it has now expired, this was also another reason for choosing to live off the energy grid.
The Home
Chip worked with the original structure of the house and used recycled materials, such as an old barn for floor boards and cedar shake for the roof. The house is south-west facing on a slight hill capturing most of the intense rays of the sun through sixteen solar panels on the west facing side of the house. These solar panels are directly linked to 48 volt batteries located in his "battery shed". There is also a propane generator he calls "the Genny", which is for back just in case there is a crash. He usually runs the Genny 5-10 hours a week. Chip also has two beautiful ponds in his front yard, one man made and the other natural which is supplied from a natural spring running near his house. He has a 300 gallon storage unit from this supply which is pumped into pressure pipes and then released into his shower, sink, ect.
Chip's home was comfortably warm, (we visited on the first snow fall!). He also heats his house with a wood stove which is in the central, or "great room" of the home.
Chip's Philosophy behind his choice:
"To live this way takes a serious re-prioritization, starting with education."
Although Chip would not coin himself an "environmentalist", he certainly does "environmentally friendly" actions. He said that he was ready to live in a place of solitude but it requires a lot to be literally disconnected from the community. He has no telephone, has to sometimes ski to his home, and his nearest neighbor is at least four miles away. Thus one of his main concerns is coming home to a burnt house and nobody ever knowing that it ever happened.
Chip said that starting this type of lifestyle begins with changing one's habits. He beleives that one has to be AWARE of how much energy he/she is using during the day which is different than in the city where everything you do expends energy. For example, he reads only during the day with the light of his big beautiful windows in his library. His fridge also doesn't defrost which he said is waste of energy. Although there are some sacrifices to make, Chip lives a very comfortable life. He has all the appliances, televisions, lights, and heat one needs to be comfortable, yet he has changed his "needs" and habits to fit an off the grid system. His main lifestyle difference is just being more aware on a daily basis and getting used to his OWN system.