Category Archives: off grid

Taking the Plunge

Living more efficiently can definitely be intimidating, so an easy way to incorporate a little more off-grid living into your life is generating your own electricity. There are plenty of options, and although some are costly, they generally begin to benefit you down the road. There are a few things in bear in mind when you get started. For example, wind turbines, well, they might die down if there isn’t any wind, and if there is battery back-up, it might not always be enough. Some circumstances might require more sources of backup to ensure that they can be counted on. Having a backup generator is key, an you can use a gasoline generator to back the batteries. Gasoline generators run about ten percent of the fuel cost to a coal-fired power plant and, of course, you don’t use it nearly as long.

The biggest key here is to do your research. There are plenty of ways to move toward a life that is more off-the-grid, benefiting your wallet and the environment — a win-win situation. If you’re a part of the lifestyle already or just moving into it, the time is definitely now: getting started will bring you closer with our planet, which will be the biggest benefit of all. (Source)

Desert Manufacturing

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/25401444[/vimeo]

Solar-sintering aims to raise questions about the future of manufacturing and triggers dreams of the full utilisation of the production potential of the world’s most efficient energy resource – the sun. Whilst not providing definitive answers, this experiment aims to provide a point of departure for fresh thinking. :Read on:

DIY : Build an Earthship

Cultivated in the 70s, earthships are made of tires, cans, bottles and adobe and are a real option for people in developing nations looking to build a very cheap home that can catch rain water. Check out Dan Richfield’s site as he blogs through the build into October 2011- and if you want to head to Taos, New Mexico, he’s looking for volunteers!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMavGzWfjjI[/youtube]