- Joined
- Jun 2, 2007
- Messages
- 610
Considering the direction a lot of the threads in here seem to go, there must be an interest in living in a truly 'detached' home. Doesn't matter if it's a dream you know you'll never fulfill, or if you're doing right now. All thoughts and opinions are most welcome.
First off, where I'm coming from: I'm a boatbuilder by trade and the technology requirements are almost identical to what's required here. At 38, I've finally figured out what I really want to do when I grow up and the wheels are in motion. I'm going back to school and Mrs Lefty and I are looking for the right chunk of dirt...
Electricity: I gotta say, it's pretty costly initially, but that's really all you pay if you buy good stuff to start with. The trick is to combine technologies as much as possible; using wind, solar, AND hydro to charge up the battery banks. Equally important to producing power is reducing consumption. The introduction of LED pucklights is really exciting in this regard, especially since they can be incorporated in so many different ways.
I'm not sure how much to expound on this, which means I should shut up about it now or this will be REALLY long !
I don't think it's in Les Stroud's off-the-grid video (the inspiration for this thread), but one great "OTG" idea I heard about (especially for teaching values to kids) is using an exercise bike to power luxury items like a tv or Xbox.
With the price of inverters coming down so much over the last few years, it's becoming more of an option that people can consider. The next big boost is going to come when efficient PV(solar) cells are made inexpensively. Once that happens, they'll be easily embedded into sheet roofing and a house will have the square footage to be electrically self sufficient. If you feel that the car companies are thwarting alternate fuel technologies, you might have an argument here against utility companies !
Heat/hot water: I built a swimming pool heating system for my parents' pool that made the pool way too warm (90+ degF) during the summer and extended their season quite a bit. I'd like to take credit for it, but it was just some basic physics and the rest was a no-brainer. It used under-utilized roof space and a LONG loop of 3/4" ABS. A little more to it , but that was really the engine. I couldn't imagine what it would have cost in natural gas, but this setup cost about 40 bucks a season for the (hydro) electricity to run the sump pump.
I see no reason why this system couldn't be incorporated into a radiant floor...even if it's just to provide a base level of heat which makes a cord of firewood last longer.
Food and Cooking It: Obviously, this puts us into the 'meat' of the discussion, the real evidence of self-sufficiency, growing and raising one's own food. Gardening, cellaring, raising livestock, hunting, and of course home brewing ! - let's hear your thoughts (especially HD on that last one, lol!).
Personally, this is where I need the most practice. Besides the usual research channels, I look to members of my own family (cattle ranchers) and even Dick Proenneke for methods and inspiration here...
Still need to work on the internet connectivity thing though !
First off, where I'm coming from: I'm a boatbuilder by trade and the technology requirements are almost identical to what's required here. At 38, I've finally figured out what I really want to do when I grow up and the wheels are in motion. I'm going back to school and Mrs Lefty and I are looking for the right chunk of dirt...
Electricity: I gotta say, it's pretty costly initially, but that's really all you pay if you buy good stuff to start with. The trick is to combine technologies as much as possible; using wind, solar, AND hydro to charge up the battery banks. Equally important to producing power is reducing consumption. The introduction of LED pucklights is really exciting in this regard, especially since they can be incorporated in so many different ways.
I'm not sure how much to expound on this, which means I should shut up about it now or this will be REALLY long !
I don't think it's in Les Stroud's off-the-grid video (the inspiration for this thread), but one great "OTG" idea I heard about (especially for teaching values to kids) is using an exercise bike to power luxury items like a tv or Xbox.
With the price of inverters coming down so much over the last few years, it's becoming more of an option that people can consider. The next big boost is going to come when efficient PV(solar) cells are made inexpensively. Once that happens, they'll be easily embedded into sheet roofing and a house will have the square footage to be electrically self sufficient. If you feel that the car companies are thwarting alternate fuel technologies, you might have an argument here against utility companies !
Heat/hot water: I built a swimming pool heating system for my parents' pool that made the pool way too warm (90+ degF) during the summer and extended their season quite a bit. I'd like to take credit for it, but it was just some basic physics and the rest was a no-brainer. It used under-utilized roof space and a LONG loop of 3/4" ABS. A little more to it , but that was really the engine. I couldn't imagine what it would have cost in natural gas, but this setup cost about 40 bucks a season for the (hydro) electricity to run the sump pump.
I see no reason why this system couldn't be incorporated into a radiant floor...even if it's just to provide a base level of heat which makes a cord of firewood last longer.
Food and Cooking It: Obviously, this puts us into the 'meat' of the discussion, the real evidence of self-sufficiency, growing and raising one's own food. Gardening, cellaring, raising livestock, hunting, and of course home brewing ! - let's hear your thoughts (especially HD on that last one, lol!).
Personally, this is where I need the most practice. Besides the usual research channels, I look to members of my own family (cattle ranchers) and even Dick Proenneke for methods and inspiration here...
Still need to work on the internet connectivity thing though !
I'm not sure how much power you need, I know that the average good sized power boat needs a 20Kw genset, but you are running some pretty hungry A/C units with that.