Frustrated with expensive power bills, Mr Baird decided to take matters into his own hands and installed solar panels on the roof of his Mornington home.
"I was totally sick of power bills and I'm concerned that in the future New Zealand will be in danger of running out of electricity, so I decided to take the step and get off the grid," Mr Baird said.
Working on a tight budget of just $2000, Mr Baird was able to install enough Powertech monocrystalline solar panels to generate 200W per hour, which is stored in a bank of batteries.
This gives him enough power to run lights, a television, a stereo or a computer.
"Unfortunately, my system doesn't generate enough power to run things that make heat or cold - so I have no stove, no electric heater and no hot water," he said.
However, he has solved these issues by using gas for cooking and some heating, and a log fire with a wet-back for water-heating.
"It isn't as flexible as having full electricity and there have been a few winter days when I haven't had enough power, but it's a good feeling to be independent," Mr Baird said.
"When I buy gas or wood, I know exactly how much it is and I pay upfront. There are no surprises."
He has a petrol-powered generator for emergencies, but otherwise copes well with the amount of electricity his panels generate.
"I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, but it works quite well for me. I do miss the heater in the winter though."
People who planned to try using solar power at home should probably install a much larger system to maintain more home comforts, Mr Baird said.
In his quest to live a sustainable lifestyle, Mr Baird grows vegetables, makes home brew, uses a chip-oil and diesel fuel blend in his vehicle, and works on inventions.
His latest project is to devise a solar-heated shower.
