December 4, 2015

Cara Delavigne eats a burger -- beef is one of the most carbon intensive foods
Off-Grid 101

Cutting your Carbon Footprint

Suppose you believe that man-made Carbon emissions are bad for the planet. What do you do about it? Some eminent experts say that individuals can do little or nothing to reduce global pollution and its all down to governments and giant corporations.

Others say that you have to start somewhere, and if the corporations and busybody Governments won’t act, we the people can shame them.

Our view is somewhere in between – its sensible to reduce consumption especially for those of us in Western society who have been over-consuming for decades.

Here is a handy guide to what you can do. It happens to overlap neatly with many of the things people do when they live off-grid – in order to save both money and resources.

Fly less:

Flights account for an eighth of all transport carbon emissions. Trains and phone/web calls are less intensive alternatives.

Drive less and better:

Use fuel-efficient modern cars, share and drive in a higher gear. Public transport is better and walking best of all — including for health.

Eat less meat:

The shift from animal to plant-based protein reduces energy required to produce food, reduces methane emissions from livestock — and is healthier.

Waste less food:

A third of food globally is wasted, or 1.3bn tonnes a year. Freeze food nearing expiry, don’t cook too much and use leftovers.

Keep clothes longer:

Wash clothes less often and at lower temperatures to extend their life; sell or donate them when no longer wanted.

Buy fewer things: Electrical goods use energy, but products also have a significant “embodied” carbon impact from their manufacture and transport. Cut down, buy longer-lasting products and resell or donate after use.

Recycle more: Throwing out means the need for replacement production; and waste in landfills produces methane emissions. Rinse, separate and recycle.

Use less water:

Shower for a shorter time, wash up in a bowl not with a running tap, use economy settings in washing machines, steam cook.

Use less heat: Save money and waste by setting thermostats at 18-21C and turned off when out; use insulation; install solar panels.

Use less power: Use LED bulbs; turn off lights and standby on devices when not in use; don’t heat more water in a kettle than needed; limit air-conditioning.

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Printable Solar Cells
Community

Printable Solar Cells

Printable Solar CellsThe Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium in Australia has started to showcase solar cells made with a 3D printer.

According to Fiona Scholes, senior examination researcher at CSIRO they print them onto plastic in much the same way they print their plastic banknotes. She also said that joining their solar oriented boards is as straightforward as associating a battery. It’s exceptionally cheap. The path in which it looks and works is very distinctive to ordinary silicon housetop solar based.

She even said that they might want to enhance the effectiveness of solar boards; they have to create sun powered inks to produce more vitality from daylight. She confirmed that they are certain they can push the innovation further in the years to come.

The gathering, comprising of researchers from the CSIRO, the University of Melbourne and Monash University have been taking a shot at the innovation for more than seven years and have made sense of an approach to inexpensively print the boards onto plastic, including advanced cells and tablets, empowering self charging gadgets. They are likewise ready to print straightforwardly on to dividers and windows utilizing a hazy sun powered film and case that they can line a high rise with boards, making it absolutely electrically independent.

However, the mass production and distribution of printed solar cells is not without its obstacles. While the panels are inexpensive to produce, an industrial printer requires a substantial capital investment to acquire. The printed panels can be vulnerable to moisture and may lead to lead contamination if broken. Companies such as Kyung-In Synthetic are testing new coatings for the cells to alleviate these problems. A cooperative system in which community members contribute resources and maintain democratic management of the venture may ensure sufficient start-up capital as well as the establishment of a strong local distribution network. Despite the challenges, printed solar cells are a powerful anti-poverty tool and represent a major step towards a 100 percent renewable energy economy.

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Rob Greenfield
Community

How Rob Greenfield lives off-grid in the City

Today I talked to tiny home YouTube sensation Rob Greenfield for his tips on how to go off the grid. Greenfield by name and Greenfield by nature!

Amazingly in his ritzy part of San Diego the neighbours living in $1m homes LOVE the fact he has found a near-free way to join them. Rob advertised around the city and was inundated with offers to set up a shed in backyards all over town.

In between talking about composting his homemade toilet, his rain catcher and life in a tiny home in the back of someone’s yard in San Diego, Rob also gave very valuable tips on how anyone can go off the grid in the City.

Thousands, nay millions, should be doing it..

Vlogger Rob Greenfield is an American adventurer, environmental activist and entrepreneur. He has made it his life’s purpose to inspire others to work for a healthy earth, often with attention-grabbing tactics. He’s a writer, speaker, world traveler,and plain-speaking Homeboy.

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