Off-Grid 101 Archives - Page 45 of 61 - Living Off the Grid: Free Yourself

Energy

Branson’s New Toy

Richard Branson�s got himself another island to do with as he pleases. Branson wants his latest purchase to serve as an eco-friendly example to the rest of the resorts out there. Conventional cars will be banned although there may be small electric buggies to ferry visitors around. Homes will be built Balinese-style from sustainable materials. Branson is already installing wind and wave turbines and solar panels on Necker, which is used as a hideaway by celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Annie Lennox.…

March 21, 2007 No Comments

Community

650 Festivals and Camps – 2007 Calendar

This is a huge lists of Festivals taking place this year around the world – from little local events to major international ones – please add your festival to our listing. Make 2007 the year of the Festival!…

March 17, 2007 1 Comment

Community

You heard it here first

Off-Grid scoop that Britain’s Prince William will marry and get off-grid is confirmed. Soon the media will be all over his engagement present – an off-grid mansion.…

March 10, 2007 No Comments

Land

High-tech sustainable house

A house being built at Florida State University incorporates hydrogen, solar and fuel cell technology and is set to be wholly off-grid. …

March 9, 2007 No Comments

Off-Grid 101

Ssstay connected

Imagine the scene � you�ve finally gone off-grid, your cosy hut is nestled somewhere rural and beautiful, and you feel really cut off from everything, in a good way. But you can still have a phone, right? �Wireless Local Loop� (WLL) systems provide radio interconnection between telephone central office equipment and customer homes and businesses. These systems are particularly popular in developing countries where telephone service can be provided without installing thousands of yards of wire. We reccomend a sophisticated upgrade ofd WLL called Spread Spectrum (SS) signalling.…

February 23, 2007 1 Comment

Land

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

Amazingly, given his oil industry links, George W. Bush�s Texas ranch boasts a range of eco-features including geothermal heating and cooling, that would make Leonardo di Caprio proud. The passive-solar house is positioned to absorb winter sunlight, warming the interior walkways and walls. Full description of all eco-features and analysis of why the oilman bothers.…

February 18, 2007 8 Comments

Land

I Want One of Those

You can take it anywhere

Competing teams around the world are working on mobile off-grid pods that can be plonked down anywhere to become comfortable living quarters.

A Canadian design firm created a cabin that’s packed into a 6-metre container but transforms into a high-tech, environmentally friendly home, fully equipped for living.The cabin has a composting toilet, and two large holding tanks for water. The filtration system consists of UV light to kill bacteria and micro filters to pull out sediment. As of now, the tanks are filled upon deployment of the exhibit, but plans are to add an awning to catch rainwater for the tanks, revealed co-designer Robert Studer.

“It’s amazing how in 480 square feet, you can actually live in something that’s self-contained and filled with smart stuff,” says Lisa Snider, who …

February 15, 2007 2 Comments