Solar living, sustainable living, living off the grid...Getting off the grid "...Looking to wean yourself off the grid? The savings -- to you and the planet -- can be astronomical.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Solar Composting Advanced Toilet

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Solar Composting Advanced Toilet
"...The Solar Composting Advanced Toilet is designed to recycle human excrement and urine into a relatively dry and deodorized compost which can be safely and easily applied to the immediately surrounding landscape.
The S.C.A.T. is a self-contained freestanding structure using inexpensive convenient organic materials such as peat moss or sawdust to promote effective composting. ..."
Reference: www.solartoilet.com

Thermal Mass Refrigerator

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Thermal Mass Refrigerator,
"...Some Earthships feature ‘Thermal Mass Refrigerators’ that do exactly that. They are lined inside with a layer of alcohol which holds the temperature better than if it were just lined with insulation. The plans are featured in “Earthship Volume III: Evolution Beyond Economics” by Michael Reynolds...."
Reference: thegreenv.com

Living off the grid, in style

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Living off the grid, in style
"...'This home can be on this planet for a family of four and they can survive no matter what happens to the economy, or the resources, or anything,' says architect Mike Reynolds, founder of Earthship Biotecture, a company that specialises in designing and building the 'off the grid homes'.

'That's carbon zero,' he adds...."
Reference: bigpondnews.com

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Solar buying group now offers online estimate tool

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Solar buying group now offers online estimate tool
"...One Block Off the Grid, the solar group purchasing company, has developed an online estimate tool that you can use to see whether your roof is appropriate for a solar project as well as how much it might cost you...."
Reference: zdnet.com

Thursday, December 24, 2009

U.S. Army Wilderness Survival (FM 21-76)

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U.S. Army Wilderness Survival (FM 21-76)
"...As a soldier, you can be sent to any area of the world. It may be in a temperate, tropical, arctic, or subarctic region. You expect to have all your personal equipment and your unit members with you wherever you go. However, there is no guarantee it will be so. You could find yourself alone in a remote area—possibly enemy territory—with little or no personal gear. This manual provides information and describes basic techniques that will enable you to survive and return alive should you find yourself in such a situation...."
Reference: www.scribd.com

Surviving An Ice Storm OFF the GRID

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Surviving An Ice Storm OFF the GRID
"...For you city slickers that might not know what to do; should you be suddenly kicked off the grid for a week or two this is where to start. First, to save all the frozen and cold items in your freezer and fridge during an ice storm, if you aren’t rich enough to have a generator; ..."
Reference: www.gather.com

Monday, November 2, 2009

Seven ways to drop off the grid

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Seven ways to drop off the grid
"...Live off-grid, unplugged from the system with solar panels and rainwater harvesting. There are thousands of people living without mains power, water or sewerage, all over the UK and the US, in isolated cottages, behind hedgerows..."
Reference: www.off-grid.net

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

where can i buy a smart meter

Tendril Shows Off Smart Meter Solution at Google-GE Panel Discussion
where can i buy a smart meter
"...As other bloggers had pointed out last week, smart metering is still not perfect. Tendril's devices still don't have the ability to tell you how much power your individual appliances are consuming. For now, you can figure out how much your fridge, TV, dryer and other devices are costing you..."
Reference: www.usnews.com

What is a smart meter?

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What is a smart meter?
"...A smart meter is an advanced meter (usually an electrical meter) that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional meter; and optionally, but generally, communicates that information via some network back to the local utility for monitoring and billing purposes (telemetering)...."
Reference: en.wikipedia.org

Saturday, October 24, 2009

solar-powered ham radio

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Surfin': Getting Off The Grid
"...I would like to generate enough electricity (one way or another) to run the ham shack and everything else in the house and sever our umbilical cord to Connecticut Light & Power...."
Reference: www.arrl.org

Poll: Could you live off the grid?

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Poll: Could you live off the grid?
"...pay about $30 a month for electricity, getting the rest from solar. They spend about $50 on groceries, growing much of their food. Could you live this way?..."
Reference: www.baltimoresun.com

Thursday, October 22, 2009

BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home

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BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home
"...Designed to be completely self-sufficient, the BeauSoleil Home will generate more energy than it consumes, collect its own water using a cistern, and capture natural breezes and sunshine to reduce the amount of energy it consumes. Operable shutters serve dual functions by providing shade and hurricane protection for windows. In addition to sustainability, the project will also include reflections of the schools’ native culture - a rich heritage that TEAM BeauSoleil is proud to share with the world...."
Reference: www.beausoleilhome.org

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Do It Yourself Solar Energy

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Do It Yourself Solar Energy
"...you can build your own Solar Panels, saving $10,000’s off of retail price.

...almost anyone can do this, even if they have no solar experience.

...there is a step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to build your own solar panel system. ..."
Reference: www.greendiyenergy.com

Monday, October 19, 2009

Phone and data off the grid

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Phone and data off the grid
"...This is where the Explorer 500 and Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) data service comes in. ..."
Reference: www.computerworld.com

Friday, October 9, 2009

Solar-hydrogen house combines new, old

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Solar-hydrogen house combines new, old
"...It may look like an out-of-place throwback, but the $575,000 Off-Grid, Zero Emissions Building — OGZEB — has a futuristic purpose...."
Reference: www.msnbc.msn.com

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A poet who has lived "off the grid" continues a line-up in line with nature at Sunken Garden Poetry and Music Festival

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A poet who has lived "off the grid" continues a line-up in line with nature at Sunken Garden Poetry and Music Festival
"...Baron Wormser served as Poet Laureate of Maine from 2000?2005. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, he moved to Maine with his wife Janet in 1970. For 25 years he worked as a librarian, and for nearly as long, he lived with his family in an off-the-grid house on 48 acres. His memoir, The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid (University Press of New England, 2006)..."
Reference: www.connecticutplus.com
Sunken Garden Poetry and Music Festival

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Saft Introduces VHT Ni-MH Battery Modules For Off-Grid PV

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Saft Introduces VHT Ni-MH Battery Modules For Off-Grid PV
"...Saft, a Paris-based designer and manufacturer of high-tech industrial batteries, now offers a range of nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeable battery modules specifically designed to meet the needs of off-grid photovoltaic and wind energy systems...."
Reference: www.solarindustrymag.com

Saturday, May 9, 2009

JOHN BOGERT: Daughter re-launches a life 'off the grid'

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JOHN BOGERT: Daughter re-launches a life 'off the grid'
"... In this case an adjustment period that involves vegetable planting and live chickens, things that the new roommate claims will "take us off the grid." In truth, I have lived "off the grid" and wouldn't suffer through that much work again if you paid me. ..."
Reference: www.dailybreeze.com

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Smart-grid hackers could cause blackouts

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Smart-grid hackers could cause blackouts
"...Deployments of smart grids should be slowed until security vulnerabilities are addressed, according to some cybersecurity experts, citing tests showing that a hacker can cause a major blackout after breaking into a smart-grid system. ..."
Reference: news.cnet.com

Monday, March 9, 2009

Tax Credit Boosts Home Wind Turbine Market

Tax Credit Boosts Home Wind Turbine Market
"...Auch’s Skystream 3.7 wind turbine knocks 40 percent to 50 percent off his monthly electric bill, a benefit he’s developing into a business opportunity as eastern South Dakota’s new Southwest Windpower dealer...."
Reference: www.chiefengineer.org

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Portsmouth poised to make the most of wind-swept location

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Portsmouth poised to make the most of wind-swept location
"...And town officials will hear the sweet sound of money in the till as the long-awaited wind turbine begins making money for the town, providing 3-million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, meeting about three-quarters of the town’s needs. ..."
Reference: www.projo.com

Energy-independent home

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Roy man's idea: Energy-independent home
"...Silva's idea of a self-sustaining house features ultra-efficient solar panels and a number of small windmills on the home's roof. The windmills send energy down to two fly wheels beneath the house that takes the wind energy and sends it to a motor that powers the home. His home concept was recently selected to be one of three finalists for the X Prize Foundation's "What's your crazy green idea?" cash award of $25,000...."
Reference:www.standard.net

Monday, February 23, 2009

Olympics 2016 could be 100% green powered

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Olympics 2016 could be 100% green powered
"...The green energy promise includes electricity generated using wind power, solar power, waste incineration, and other energy sources that do not rely on nuclear or fossil fuel. The main stadium’s roof would be covered with solar panels generating enough electricity to power 1,000 households...."
Reference: www.fairhome.co.uk

Monday, February 9, 2009

Solar flair

Is Lanai's new solar farm part of the solution or just bright shining PR?
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Solar flair
"...The initiative's aim is to have 70 percent of Hawaii's energy come from renewable sources by 2030. Moreover, of 1,100 megawatts (MW) of identified renewables to be integrated in the Hawaii Electric Company (HECO) grid, more than 700 MW are to be implemented within five years...."
Reference: www.mauitime.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

Off the Grid in Hawaii

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Off the Grid in Hawaii
"...I'm sure there are some property owners in the Royal Gardens who would LOVE to sell you some real estate. Unfortunately, most of it got covered by the lava flow twenty some years ago. There are scattered houses standing -- yes they are off the grid and yes you would have to hike to them because there is no other way to get there except by helicopter...."
Reference: www.city-data.com/forum/hawaii/

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Cape Wind Can Start Leading the Way for Offshore Wind Power

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Cape Wind Can Start Leading the Way for Offshore Wind Power
"...homeowners and vacationers in Nantucket Sound will be saying the same thing in a few years. Last week, the Cape Wind project cleared its last environmental review. There is one more step before Cape Wind can start construction and begin repowering thousands of homes on Cape Cod with clean energy...."
Reference:http://www.capewind.org/

Monday, January 26, 2009

Ultralife Achieves Key Technology Milestone: A Hydrogen Fuel-cell Battery Charger with Rechargeable Fuel Supply—Just Add Water

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Ultralife Achieves Key Technology Milestone: A Hydrogen Fuel-cell Battery Charger with Rechargeable Fuel Supply—Just Add Water
"...MRC-201 fuel-cell charger runs on cartridges that contain sodium borohydride which, when mixed with water, generate hydrogen which, when consumed by the fuel cell, generates electricity. The cartridges, once expended, can be reconstituted, in effect creating a renewable fuel resource...."
Reference: www.ultralifebatteries.com

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual

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Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual
"...comprehensive manual on the design and installation of PV systems. Written by Solar Energy International. Used worldwide as the textbook in PV Design & Installation Workshops...."
Reference: www.renewableenergyworld.com

Friday, January 23, 2009

Solar Bus - The Massive Environmentally-Friendly Vehicle

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Solar Bus - The Massive Environmentally-Friendly Vehicle
"...Mr. Beckwith snatched up a 1982 Crown school bus, tore out the upholstery, poured some vegetable oil and biodiesel fuel in it, latched on some solar panels, and painted it..."
Reference: www.bootsontheroof.com

Off the grid: 10 places to totally unplug

Do you get the shakes if you can’t see your BlackBerry? This is for you ...
Off the grid: 10 places to totally unplug
"...from a wireless-free zone on a Mexican beach to a solar-powered lodge in Africa to a tree house on Vancouver Island —..."
Reference: www.msnbc.msn.com

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Have you read the off-the-grid produced manifesto of Ted Kaczynski?

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Industrial Society and Its Future
by Theodore Kaczynski

"...The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in "advanced" countries, but they have destabilized society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World to physical suffering as well) and have inflicted severe damage on the natural world...."
Reference: en.wikisource.org

The simple life: Vietnam vet hopes to build an off-the-grid farming community in Hillsboro

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The simple life: Vietnam vet hopes to build an off-the-grid farming community in Hillsboro
"...he is putting out a call for people interested in joining him on his horse-powered off-the-grid farm, for people interested in supporting the farm through relationships with the urban poor; not for people who feel things are sound in this country, but for people who — as one of Smith’s favorite quotes, which comes from a Richard Austin book, “Reclaiming America, Restoring Nature to Culture,” says — “will ease the pain of others by sharing.”..."
Reference: www.lacrossetribune.com

Monday, January 5, 2009

Solar-power industry remains hot in California

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Solar-power industry remains hot in California
"...The amount of electricity generated in the state by solar energy soared in 2008, and applications for rebates under the state's Million Solar Roofs program reached record levels in the last five months of the year. ..."
Reference: www.mercurynews.com