stromautarkes Haus

15:59 Mar 2, 2018 

Third, in response to: "The trend is energy independence, off-grid is a technical option."

Then you may have to write to the Utah Solar Association, although they address your concerns about the use of "off grid" in the 1st paragraph here:
http://solarpowerutah.com/living-off-the-grid/

While "autark" would usually be understood as something akin to UPS (uninterruptible power supply), "off grid" doesn't have to mean that you will actually be cut off from the grid. It's more about decentralized solutions.

Darin and I suggested "off the power grid" to make it clear. Here, from a marketing association:
"This partnership has resulted in Limoneira being 50 percent off the power grid and on a trajectory to be completely energy independent within five years."

Or here, since I'm not believed that this is "trendy":
"The costs associated with connecting to local utilities is probably why living off the grid is becoming such an attractive option for so many Americans today. [...] When you're off the grid, you essentially become your own utility, producing power as and when you need it."
http://www.verengosolar.com/blog/living-off-grid

As said below, times change.

Best

15:48 Mar 2, 2018 

The second point is much more problematic in my view. Martina had already posted this question:
https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german_to_english/energy_power_ge...

That's where your answer would have been a perfect fit.

In this particular context, your suggestion may be OK, but "stromautark" isn't "energieautark." Cf
"Es ist zu 99 Prozent stromautark, nutzt zu 100 Prozent regenerative Energien und funktioniert auch im Inselbetrieb."
https://www.enbausa.de/daemmung/aktuelles/artikel/wohnerei-k...

You're forgetting about thermal energy. The building linked to above is heated by a CHP unit (a KWK system in German).

An even better example:
"Das Burgenland möchte bis 2013 stromautark und langfristig energieautark werden."
http://www.tobgld.at/uploads/tx_mddownloadbox/Energiestrateg...

What are you going to do now? Use "energy independent" for both and confuse the reader?

15:41 Mar 2, 2018 

...as said before, I don't care about the points--I haven't even entered an answer--but I do use the glossary from time to time. Some asker feedback would have been appreciated.

A couple of points:

First, in response to "technically remain on the grid and even feed any excess..."

Yes, that is called the FIT scheme in the UK and the FIT program in California:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/fit
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/RPS_Feed-In_Tariff

But this isn't the main issue here; the word "autark" should have pointed you to grid-independent supply. The example I linked to when agreeing with Ramey was the one Martina is most likely referring to:
http://www.okofen-e.com/de/stromautark/

Right there, it says: "Zusätzlich lädt die Photovoltaikanlage ihre Stromproduktion, die nicht benötigt wird, in den Stromspeicher."

The whole point of this building is that you don't need the grid. From my link below:
"...und damit theoretisch nicht mehr auf Stromleitungen angewiesen wäre..."

With a caveat, of course:
"Dass Häuser zwar am Stromnetz angeschlossen bleiben, sich aber zu einem Großteil selbst mit Energie versorgen, daran führe aber kein Weg vorbei..."

19:39 Feb 27, 2018 

One final argument against off-grid: An energy independent home could technically remain on the grid and even feed any excess "off-grid" production of electricity back into the grid for credit or profit. I would still always assume that an "off-grid home" entails a measure of seclusion or distance from supply, while an energy independent home could very well be an off-grid home out in the boondocks, it could also just as well be a smart home in the middle of a city.

16:08 Feb 23, 2018 

Other uses:

NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/dining/raw-water-unfilter...

Australian solar company
https://apricus.com.au/how-to-be-off-the-grid-with-water/

U.S. supplier
http://www.gocamsolar.com/living-off-grid-texas/

Cf
http://inthecityoffthegrid.org
http://www.diynetwork.com/shows/building-off-the-grid/buildi...
https://en.bywiki.com/wiki/Off-the-grid
https://www.opic.gov/blog/power-africa/why-small-and-grid-po...

The question remains how "off (the) grid" this is supposed to be, but that would probably start a philosophical debate.

Best

PS
In German:
https://www.photovoltaik.eu/article-712227-30021/13-tipps-zu...

16:04 Feb 23, 2018 

There's nothing wrong with "off-grid":
https://www.primalsurvivor.net/off-grid-homes/
https://www.homepower.com/articles/solar-electricity/design-...
https://inhabitat.com/7-charming-off-grid-homes-for-a-rent-f...
https://www.realestate.com.au/lifestyle/off-grid-house-costs...
https://www.openlistings.com/s/solar-power-off-grid
http://www.backwoodssolar.com/off-grid-home

Many more where those came from.

Cf
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/off-the-...
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/off-grid

HuffPost:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/adnan-z-amin/offgrid-renewabl...

Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/suparnadutt/2017/09/15/how-off-...

Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/aug/24...

US.gov:
https://energy.gov/energysaver/grid-or-stand-alone-renewable...

It no longer means what it used to before the advent of renewables in the 1990s.

Best

12:17 Feb 23, 2018 

Used to describe "cord cutters" discontinuing television cable and land-line telephone services, but the text also mentions the use of "IoT apps" (internet of things) and having the home produce all of the energy it uses. Where I come from, if you go off the grid, you're hiding from the authorities. In the marketing materials I've seen energy independent households is the most common term used. "Off the grid" would still appeal to a certain limited clientele.

11:55 Feb 23, 2018 

Though I would say "I am going off-grid" when I fire the power company, I am not sure about "off-grid home". My first thought on this would be: top of the mountain couldn't get power if you wanted to. And none of the other utilities either. - Just a thought -