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Diggers for Dreamers
A new off-grid house designed by top UK architect Bill Dunster hopes to set new standards for Britain’s eco homes.…
July 1, 2008
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A new off-grid house designed by top UK architect Bill Dunster hopes to set new standards for Britain’s eco homes.…
Off-grid has been covering the Dervaes family’s eco lifestyle in Pasadena for years. Now the family is becoming famous – they are California’s leading off-grid ambassadors.…
Eco homes of interest as second homes and also to internet connected home/office workers…
Are they talking about me??? How about you? I don’t know if I agree with everything they say, but the bigger truth is evident, being more self sufficient, being ready to face the possible tomorrows by getting prepared today.
https://green.yahoo.com/news/ap/20080524/
ap_on_re_us/environmental_survivalists.html
A group aims to create a series of floating island states to pioneer 21st century social systems. And they have the money to carry out their goal.…
As Melbourne power grid collapses, Australians are learning the benefits of self-sufficiency…
Before seeing the movie of Michael Reynolds’ fight to be able to build his Earthships in New Mexico I wasn’t to sure what to think of his ideas. “Garbage Warrior” wasn’t to high on my must see list either. So I figured I would wait for it to hit TV before watching it. It is on the Sundance Channel this month and I caught it during their THE GREEN programming on Tuesday nights.
Earthships have been written about before in our “Earthships -Another Recycling Frontier” post back in February. It was an interesting concept but it didn’t make me wish for one. I was actually put off by the idea, but I wasn’t going to write it off until I gave it some more research. So when I saw the movie was coming on I decided now was the time to finish up that research I had promised to do. I have to say that watching this documentary was definitely worth it.
It not only made me wonder should I think about one for myself and family but think about what it would actually mean if we constructed like Mr. Reynolds wants too. Use what you find around you not being used, namely trash. Then make it into something not only functional but beautiful too. No need for gas, electric or water to be hooked up to your home. Design, build and live in communities together. Living in a home that is not only designed to be in harmony with it’s environment but to provide for you anything you need to survive. He fought for his ideas and even lost his architect license over it. Because of him the people of New Mexico have the chance to build new concepts in home design, instead of hoping it will work on paper. They can put their ideas of how to make their “Earthships” more efficient, comfortable and use different materials to see what works and what doesn’t.
The journey he took to make that happen is a great inspration to those of us who have run up against that wall that doesn’t see that change is good, and neccessary. I still think the “Earthship” just wouldn’t work for me and my family but I can’t help but envy those whom it does work for. So take the time to watch his documentary or even pick up a book of his and see if his unique way of looking at things can’t inspire you too!…
Why its hard to get permission for an off-grid home in the UK, and what to do about it.…
Starting in March 2008 those of us who wish to remodel, rehab, or gut either part or our entire existing homes now have a program and guidelines to help us make them as green as possible. New construction has the LEED program to help guide and find products needed to make them green. Now the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation have developed the REGREEN program and guidelines.
REGREEN is a collection of resources and tools that are designed to help make your home remodeling project turn your home green. These guidelines are for residential home renovation that can be as simple as replacing an appliance, like a dishwasher, to redoing the bathroom, to remodeling your entire interior living space. The major elements of any project in remodeling are addressed. These include such things as the actual home site, water efficiency, material/resources, energy, atmosphere, and the quality of your indoor environment. These guidelines seek to integrate building systems and proven technologies into green strategies and case studies for homeowners, builders and design professionals. These guidelines are for even u do-it-yourself types. Though knowing them is also great if you are seeking professional help in either the design or building part of your project. Since this then enables you to have a reference to how what you want and to make sure it;s what is planned or done.
REGREEN has organized it’s guidelines by the 10 most common remodeling project types and are divided into three distinct areas. These areas are:
To get the guidelines or lean more you can visit REGREEN at www.regreenprogram.org…
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Good stuff–thanks for sharing. I emailed the article to friends and family.
BTW, I don’t think you’re an environmental survivalist. I think you’re smart, and you’re doing what your heart tells you to do.
May 25, 2008 3:10 PM
Thanks lornkanaga, I found the article interesting, people do stuff for different reasons, I do think about if/when the SHTF, I hope it never does, though we (collectively) cannot keep going like this, something has to give!
Wretha
May 25, 2008 5:37 PM