An off-grid lifestyle hack is gaining traction on TikTok – and it's all about turning kitchen grease into a powerful energy source.
In a video posted by Tucker (@janklabs), two men with white paint buckets collect gallons of used fryer oil. What looks like messy waste to most people is treated as a valuable resource. The material is collected in restaurants and processed into biofuel powerful enough to perform tasks that would normally require dirtier energy sources.
“We will eventually convert this waste oil into biodiesel, which we use to heat our homes and run our heavy machinery,” said the inventor, showing how powerful this new technology really is.
@janklabs Jon and I spent the afternoon collecting used frying oil from our restaurant jobs. At some point we will convert this waste oil into biodiesel, which we will use to heat our homes and run our heavy machinery #diy #offgrid #biodiesel ♬ Original sound – Tucker
The post has attracted attention for its mix of ingenuity and practicality. Instead of letting fat go to waste, the TikToker is channeling it into off-grid living, cutting costs while increasing self-reliance.
Energy security can mean the difference between staying warm in a snowstorm or losing access to vital energy. For families with unreliable supplies, biofuel could help them achieve energy independence.
Off-grid hacks like this use fewer external resources, reducing the environmental footprint of daily life. Similar solutions, such as home biodigesters, have shown how small innovations can lead to real resilience.
For everyday consumers, the lesson isn't necessarily to start collecting fat. It's about thinking differently about where energy comes from and how it is used.
People who invest in energy independence – whether through creative fuel solutions or technologies like solar panels – often save thousands of dollars while avoiding utility disruptions.
Installing solar panels, for example, is the ultimate energy hack for your home because it can reduce your energy costs to almost $0. EnergySage offers a free service that makes it easy to compare quotes from verified local installers and save up to $10,000 on solar installations.
For those who can't afford the upfront investment, leasing can be a smart option. Palmetto's LightReach program installs panels with no down payment and allows users to lock in low energy rates.
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TikTok commenters had a mix of advice, jokes, and stories of their own.
One pointed out: “We need to invest in a pump that can extract oil this way.”
Another cracked: “NO MY RETIREMENT FAT!!!!”
Others agreed with their own experiences, such as one commenter who said: “My mate and I used to do this in his '90s diesel Hilux… definitely works well and doesn't really need any rework.”
The mix of humor and admiration shows why the video resonates: It's a reminder that sometimes the dirtiest waste can produce the cleanest solutions.
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