August 2010

Energy

Off-grid generators – am I asking too much?

I want a generator with an engine so simple I could strip the top end down myself, replace the valves, lap them in, all in my lunch hour. Am I asking too much?

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How to have your own spring-water

Thomas Lawrence has his own off-grid place – here is what he learned about securing his own water source.

From the moment I became interested in the self-sufficient life style, always wanted to have a source of water around my house. Now, my dream came true, and I can share with you my easy-to-implement method for managing your own spring.
If you are thinking of  buying your dream property with a creek on it, and using it for all your necessities including some hydro-electric, you might have an unpleasant surprise.
Why you may ask?
There is every chance you will kiss goodbye your privacy.
The laws regarding public access on propriety can be a turn-off if the creek is full of fishes.  Everyone who is in the mood for fishing can use your creek!
Another down and dirty surprise that you may have is even if you own the land, you don’t own the rights to use the water on your land.
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Pay it Back (avoid the double dip)

Workers in the financial sector whose companies reported large writedowns post-2009 should be forced to pay back their bonuses, thereby strengthening liquidity.

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Community

Reunion on Castaway Island

This weekend the Castaways meet again for the first time – back on Taransay, this time without the cameras present.

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Solar Sticker Makes More Power

A special polymer sticker increases power output on solar panels by 10 percent, and can be applied to panels that are already installed.

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People

Justin’s just lovin’ his greens

‘Sexyback’ singer Justin Timberlake this week re-opened his luxury ‘eco-friendly’ golf course in Memphis Tennessee  after investing millions of dollars on an environmental upgrade.

Note that’s ‘eco-friendly’ not ‘zero-impact’ or even ‘low-impact.

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Why won’t they listen to us?

One woman’s attempt to persuade the British government to allow its citizens to live off the grid

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5 books for living off the grid

From survivalist skills to food growing and building – the key texts

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Water

Earth Balls

A low-cost, off-the-grid, dome-like housing option, adapted for living on water.

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Community

Wow, what a rain!

Living in the high desert means having to deal with long periods of dry weather punctuated by periods of mega-rains. We got one of those yesterday. I was not at the skycastle when this occurred, I was at a friend’s house. My drive home was a bit tricky, our roads are dirt, some gravel, some boulders and several places are clay. The clay is the problem, when it gets wet, soaked, it becomes a car eating muck pit. There are several places I have to cross that have lots of clay, one place in particular is a S-curve just before my place, I avoid it when it’s wet. That means going over an even steeper,  higher, rougher road, but it’s worth it to miss the mucky S-curve. As I was going over the alternate path, I noticed a couple of cars that were abandoned on the road, not a pleasant thing to see where I live. That usually means a long, rough walk for the occupants, unless they are lucky enough to find someone else driving though or are close enough to walk to a friend’s house, that usually means at least a half mile or more walking either up or down steep hills. Did I mention that cell phones don’t work out here?

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Post on LandBuddy to win a copy of “Off the Grid” by Nick Rosen

The best three posts published by August 31st will get the book, and be featured on www.off-grid.net thus increasing the visibility of their own entry.

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Community

Interactive map of California’s green economy

Companies in smaller counties, such as Fresno/Tulare (43), Chico (28), Santa Cruz (36) and Truckee (10), are providing innovative solutions and creating jobs

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