Charles Hays and Penny Powers are dwarfed by their 1100-square-foot sun tracking solar array that cost $90,000.
(MIKE MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
August 08, 2017 – 8:00 PM
KAMLOOPS – After installing the largest sun tracking solar panel in B.C. on their farm in Black Pines just north of Kamloops, Charles Hays and Penny Powers expect to never pay for power again.
If all goes according to plan, the power company will pay them.
Charles Hays and Penny Powers hope their story will inspire others.
(MIKE MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
Money isn’t what drove the pair to install the 1,100-square-foot solar array that stands up to 39 feet tall housing 45-watt solar panels at 285 watts each on their property on Westsyde Road. Hays says they kicked around the idea of an alternative source of energy for a while but because their property backs up against a hillside, wind and solar power didn’t seem like viable options.
“When you look at a different way of doing something, like solar panels, usually the first step is to say ‘great idea, except it won’t work for me and here’s why’,” he says. “But the tipping point happens when you see other people doing it.”
“There’s a mobile home on Westsyde Road that has one of those little RV solar panels on top. Maybe they’re charging their phone with it or maybe they’re running their laptop. You see that and you think to yourself ‘they made that work, I wonder what we could do here in our lives to make this work’.”
Hays hopes their project will inspire others to look into using alternative sources of energy, though this scheme might not be for you — it cost roughly $90,000 to install the unit.
“We are trying to reduce our monthly expenses because if you reduce expenses you save more of what’s coming in without your taxes going up so it’s like a big raise,” she says. “If you have the money to put down immediately to get this, you won’t have hydro bills for the next thirty years.”
Admittedly, says Powers, all financial figures are estimates from B.C. Hydro and Sweet Spot Solar, which installed the array. Their solar system is the first of its kind in the province so they’ll have to wait and see what reality holds.
From day to day, they will either create enough power for themselves — or they may not. Because they are still part of the B.C. Hydro grid they won’t be without power. When they make more than they need, the energy will be fed back into the grid and will be used to power other homes. At the end of the year, B.C. Hydro will simply look at how much energy has been put back into the grid and if it is more than what they have used, they will be paid for it.
What makes this solar array so unique is that is does not sit stationary and let the sun pass by like most solar systems. This one has two motors designed to tilt and rotate to face the sun throughout the day.
“It is just a set of linear actuators that move it a little bit at a time so it can face the sun,” says Michael Mehta, president and CEO of the Sweet Spot Solar Company. “In principle, it is very similar to the way a sunflower tracks the sun.”
Mehta is also confident the array will lead to a profit for Hays and Powers at the end of the year. On one sunny day in July, it took just two hours for the unit to produce enough energy to power the average home in Kamloops.
However, while the savings seem great and the technology is fascinating, there are some downsides to the set up at the farm in Black Pines.
The property will not be immune to power outages as they are still running through the B.C. Hydro grid. There is the possibility to set up a series of batteries to store some of the energy, but Powers laments that it would take an entire room in their house just to store that kind of power.
Due to its size, the towering array is susceptible to strong winds which can blow through the Black Pines area at times. However the array has a built-in safety procedure that will send it into “table-top mode” which makes the panel go completely flat in order to avoid damage.
There will be some maintenance involved as well, according to Mehta, who says the mechanical parts used for the tracking function will probably have to be repaired or replaced every 10-15 years. The panels themselves have a minimum lifespan of 25 years.
The big issue they are dealing with now is the impact of smoke on how much sun reaches the unit. Hays says at its worst they have seen a 40 per cent reduction in energy. However, Mehta says the solution to this issue is built into the solar panels as they are bi-facial which means they absorb sunlight from both sides. This ability to pick up the reflection off background material adds up to 20 per cent to the array’s absorption power.
Now, you may be wondering if it would be worth it to you to set up a tracking solar panel on your property. Mehta admits that with this technology is new and might not be worth it for most home owners. Instead, try a few panels at your home for a more affordable option in the future — he says it’s well worth the investment.
“The huge advantage to the people with solar is they can resell their house at a premium,” says Mehta. “They have done studies in the U.S. that find you get 100 per cent of your investment back in solar. Renovating a bathroom or a kitchen may get you 30 per cent or 40 per cent.”
Whether the installation of the massive solar array will be costly, cost neutral, or a money maker for Hays and Powers is still yet to be seen, but they hope to inspire others to find their own ways of saving — or producing — energy.
The solar array houses 45 solar panels at 285 watts each. It is anchored down by a 12 ft x 12 ft concrete slab buried beneath the ground.
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As we embark on our 20th owner-built home, I reflect back over the progress since purchasing property last year.
We were surprised the property didn’t have power, sewer, or water but discovered it actually had sewer connection just over the back fence. We were somewhat pleased when we received the quote for electricity connection of $5,050. Mind you, that did not include the connection of the power to our meter box.
Having mentioned the meter box, I am flooded with the memory of its incorrect positioning in my unavoidable absence and the challenges that we were faced with as a consequence (see TOB 195 June/July 2016). But who can complain. The end result was that we have revisited the design and now have a better one that is more interesting. And who can forget the bonus sewer connection at the back of the block, which will save us around $10,000 that we would have spent for a septic system.
A place to run courses
When we first went looking for land our primary motivation was to get a low cost piece of land on which we could run the practical part of our owner-builder straw bale building workshops. This was a precursor to being willing to sell the straw bale house in Ladys Pass. To be a straw bale building consultant with nowhere to do courses and nothing to show people was not an option and the solution had to make financial sense.
Consequently, I did an internet search for ‘land under $50,000 Victoria.’ The result was land in Loch Sport, which was too small and, from previous experience, has too many mosquitoes, and land in Inglewood, Victoria. Inglewood is in central Victoria about 35 minutes north of Bendigo with a population of a bit over 1,000. It was established in 1859 and is still a great place to find gold. It has a good supermarket, hospital, permanent doctor, pharmacy and most important, a couple of good old fashioned pubs for great meals. It is also the town where my youngest son, his wife and two of my grandchildren are located. However, the criteria were primarily price and size.
There was an 8000m2 block for around $45,000 near a light industrial area, a 2000m2 for $70,000 or a 1000m2 for $35,000. We put in an offer of $33,000 on the last block, which was accepted.
Position, position…
The only issue, which was a big one, was its orientation. It is only 20 metres wide and faces north-west. In order to control heat input and get some passive solar benefit in the design, we had to design a house that is twisted on the property. This option consumes a lot of land, which was complicated by our need for wide eaves for a straw bale house. Regulations stipulate that living area windows must have a minimum of 1000mm of clear sky from the boundary, which meant that we had to be set in from the side boundary a minimum of 1900mm to allow for the 900mm eaves. We also needed truck access to the backyard to take deliveries of bales etc. for workshops, further restricting our build space.
We finally settled on the concept of building a U shaped house with a central courtyard as this would enable us to get passive solar benefit in the master bedroom and living area. Not a huge amount, but enough to make a difference. It also provided us with a outdoor private area, which is important to us as we have lived on country properties for the past 12 years.
Energy rating
I had our energy assessors check to see what difference this adjusted orientation would make on stage one of the construction, as opposed to building parallel to the front boundary. We were surprised that the energy rating actually went up from 5.4 stars to 6.3 stars even though there is only one window that faces north.
As we are building in central Victoria, the energy rating is primarily directed toward the energy required for winter heating. However, we get some really nasty weather in summer with temperatures reaching high 30s and even mid 40s. Consequently the design criteria also included resistance to summer heat. The central courtyard faces due west, however it has a deep verandah to protect smallish windows from the afternoon heat from the west, and the windows facing east are limited.
One of the big concerns for restricting heat input in summer is to avoid doors that open directly into the house from the north, as it is the north wind that brings high temperatures to the area. I have therefore included a good size entry on the northern end of the house with the external door facing east, which will dramatically reduce the impact of those hot northerly winds.
Airflow manipulation
The cooler summer breezes often come from the south-east, so we have included casement windows on the south-eastern boundary to funnel those cool breezes through the house. The benefit of correctly hinged casement windows is that they tend to trap the breeze and funnel it into the house rather than simply working with straight airflow. When you are trying to get cool air into your home it is best to open the windward windows fully but close the windows on the opposite side of the house to 50%, as this creates a vacuum resulting in greater airflow.
As this is a residential block I expect that airflow will be a bit of a challenge as we have boundary fences which will restrict it. I have also incorporated a flat ceiling in part of the house in order to accommodate ducting for an air circulation pump to force the early morning cool air through the house if the temperature in the house is higher than the temperature outside. Our previous straw bale house in Ladys Pass had the same issue, which was overcome using an evaporative cooler as an air circulation pump. The cooling function of the unit was hardly ever used, and would not have been missed, so I am planning on simply fitting an air pump this time.
The master bedroom window faces north onto the central courtyard, however the window is not within the shadow of the verandah roof so we will get good passive solar benefit in winter. It also means that we have a private outlook, and with Molly, our big guard dog, we are assured of security! (Molly is a miniature Maltese Shiatsu)
As this is house number 20 for us personally, it was difficult to find something a bit different to do, so we eventually settled on a curved roof with a curved ceiling. This will be achieved by building box trusses on site. It is a very cost effective method of roof construction and I am looking forward to trying it out, as I have never done it before.
With all the design, engineering and building permit issues behind us it is now time to get to work and build it. I am going to take my time and enjoy the process as I suspect this will be the last home that I build, although many people scoff at this idea, thinking that I am either crazy for building so many or that I am addicted to the process. Personally I am not sure, but I am going to enjoy this project as if it is my last.
Brian Hodge is the director of Anvill Straw Bale Building Consultants. He has nearly 40 years experience in the building trade, and now consults predominantly on straw bale construction. Brian is the author of ‘Building your straw bale home’ and will be blogging about his build. Anvill Straw Bale Building Consultants: Whether you are building a mansion or to a strict budget, we are here to help. www.straw-bale-houses.com
Want to make rent and utility bills a thing of the past? We’ve rounded up seven off-grid homes that could be the answer to making your dreams a reality. Stylish and self-sufficient, these eco-friendly dwellings promise freedom from the grid. Many are even set atop wheels to let you move with your home to almost anywhere you desire. Keep reading to see seven charming homes that offer homeowners the chance to live off the grid and rent-free.
Powered by solar energy and made from recycled materials, the WOHNWAGON is a beautiful mobile and modern home with a housing footprint so small it fits within the size of a standard parking lot. This larch-clad caravan was designed for homeowners who wish to travel the world and enjoy comfortable off-grid living thanks to energy-efficient features including a green roof, triple-glazed windows, graywater recycling, solar panels, highly efficient insulation and more. Developed for mass production, the WOHNWAGON starts at 40,000 Euros and can be individually customized.
For those who want a little off-grid place of their own with more of a futuristic edge, look no farther than the EcoCapsule. Now available for pre-orders, the tiny egg-shaped home that went viral in 2015 has been displayed around the world wowing visitors with its ability to produce all of its energy onsite with rooftop solar panels and a low-noise wind turbine that feed into a 10kWh battery. Developed by Nice Architects, the mobile home can be moved or dropped in place with a crane or helicopter, giving owners the freedom to live almost anywhere they please.
South Africa-based architect Clara da Cruz Almeida collaborated with local design firm Dokter+Misses to create POD-Idladla, an adorable flat-pack home with off-grid capabilities. Targeted at young adults, the tiny solar-powered was conceived as a customizable eco-friendly home at an affordable price. The modular design can also be expanded upon with additional pods to make multi-unit configurations that house up to 12 people.
If homes inspired by fantasy and fairytale are more your style, you’ll love Moon Dragon. Tiny house builder Abel Zimmerman Zyl of Zyl Vardos designed and built this tiny timber off-grid home that looks like it’d be right at home in Middle-Earth. Outfitted with a solar kit for off-grid living, the beautifully detailed mobile home boasts masterful craftsmanship as well as impressive an impressive suite of features, from a five-burner Range cooker with two ovens to a loft bedroom large enough for a queen-sized bed.
Lovers of travel and modern, minimalist house designs will feel right at home in KODA, a tiny prefabricated home created by Estonian design collective Kodasema. Designed with off-grid capabilities, KODA can be assembled on a variety of surfaces without the need for foundations or disassembled and prepped for relocation in as little as four hours. Fronted with large quadruple-glazed windows, the light-filled modular house can also be expanded with multiple units.
Designed as an escape from city life, the Ark Shelter was created to reconnect people with nature. The self-sufficient modular cabin is prefabricated from durable timber and placed on site atop raised, mobile foundations. Wind turbines, solar power, and rainwater collection allow the home to go off-grid.
Dutch design agency Walden Studio teamed up with carpenter Dimka Wentzel to design a tiny home that’s big on luxury and freedom. Equipped with all the systems needed for off-grid living, the contemporary mobile home is filled with natural light and natural materials like the cork floors and birch plywood paneling. The 17-square-meter home also contains plenty of multifunctional furniture to maximize its small footprint.
Energy systems have been transformed by regulation and the progress of technology. Global awareness of climate change will only accelerate this trend, increasing the rate of growth of alternatives to fossil fuels the world over.
Renewables are playing an expanding role in the global energy transition and will continue to reshape electricity markets. With low marginal cost and priority feed-in to grid systems, renewables can squeeze conventional generators out of the market and drive severe short-term price swings.
The effect remains marginal but, as soon as the share of renewable energy in the power mix reaches critical mass, it can bring serious disruption. This is already the case in some European countries, such as Germany and the UK, and will impact coal generation in the US from 2020 and gas generation in Europe beyond 2025.
Global supply growth for renewables is the fastest in the energy mix, reaching an average of 7% per year between 2015 and 2035 for wind and 11% for solar. These positive figures cannot hide the fact that their rapid increase is from a relatively low base, but renewables have often surprised to the upside in recent years – a trend which could continue.
Global growth differs by location due to different climate conditions and the ability of technologies to suit the needs of local populations. In geographically-advantaged countries, the share of renewables in the power mix grows exponentially. India, for example, has ambitious solar targets and we expect an increase from 3% of total power generating capacity in 2015 to more than 35% in 2035.
Meanwhile, wind power remains the prerogative of developed and mature markets (with the exception of China). As fossil fuels and nuclear use slowly decline in Western Europe, we expect wind to become the largest source of electricity by 2030 at around 21%.
Asia will also see renewables develop steadily, driven by a will to cut CO2 emissions in the mature markets of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, or as a result of a steep increase in power demand in the case of South East Asia.
In China, despite slower power demand growth, solar and wind will develop at a fast pace, reaching 7% and 18% of total electricity output respectively. We also forecast nuclear output to expand here more than tenfold between 2015 and 2035 – a stark contrast to many other countries, where nuclear remains unpopular.
With technology continually improving, renewables are no longer simply regarded as the expensive green option but are now considered serious competition. It’s clear that renewable energy is in a strong position to force the market to reshape.
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It’s the concern that any individual making use of alternative energy certainly asks at some time …
Just what are the most effective batteries for an off-grid power system?
As a result of the dropping costs of renewable resource systems, an increasing number of individuals are wanting to make use of alternate power sources as a method to:
Conserve loan
End up being much more power independent
And damage their dependence on the large energy firms Solar cell Bank With Refurbished BatteriesHowever, setting up a renewable energy system, most of the times, needs you making a significant initial investment that you won’t get back for numerous years.
Among the biggest costs associated with alternative energy systems is the batteries in the battery financial institution.
So choosing the appropriate batteries for your off-grid system is crucial (and also maintaining the batteries alive as long as feasible is likewise critically crucial)!
You Don’t Need to Get New Overpriced Batteries
Prior to we tell you exactly what 3 batteries we recommend for your different energy system’s battery bank …
It is essential to first note that you do not have to acquire the 3 batteries we advise brand-new.
Instead, you could make use of the EZ Battery Refurbishing program to:
Get old or used batteries absolutely free (or economical).
Refurbish them back to “like-new” condition.
After that utilize those replaced (like-new) batteries in your alternate power system’s battery bank INSTEAD of purchasing new costly batteries.
Doing this will save you a significant quantity of loan when constructing a battery bank and also it aids make alternative power obtainable to those with a tighter budget!
But that still leaves the inquiries …
What are the very best batteries to make use of in your solar power, wind power, or other different power system?
In this post we’ll attempt to respond to that concern in a really basic and also straightforward manner.
Here’s exactly what we’ll discuss:.
Lead Acid-Batteries VS. Other Battery Technologies in a battery financial institution.
Deep Cycle vs. Shallow Cycle Batteries in a battery bank.
Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries (FLA) VS Secured Lead-Acid Batteries (SHANTY TOWN) in a battery bank.
And also finally, which 3 Batteries we recommend for your residential off-grid power system (based on the criteria we go over in this article).
Lead Acid-Batteries vs. Various other Battery Technologies.
A number of the batteries that are made use of in renewable energy systems were originally developed for other purposes. The most popular instance of this is the lead acid battery which has dominated the industry for a very long time.
Deep cycle lead-acid batteries have actually verified to be one of the very best (as well as most economical) battery types for alternate power system battery banks for these reasons:.
They have the ability to endure frequent discharging,.
They’re less costly compared to other kinds of batteries,.
They have much more tough resilience,.
They supply a lot more regular performance compared to various other batteries.
The fact that they are widely generated additionally means that they are fairly very easy to replace if a battery in your battery financial institution needs changing.
It ought to be noted however, that since late, lithium ion batteries for household alternate power systems, like Tesla’s Powerwall, have actually been gaining ground– yet the first financial investment right into lithium ion batteries is still much more than the initial financial investment into lead-acid batteries.
The Powerwall may ultimately transform this however right now deep cycle lead-acid batteries are the least expensive as well as most sensible option for a home battery financial institution.
Deep Cycle vs. Shallow Cycle (Cars and truck) Batteries.
Back when the renewable energy sector was still getting vapor, people that wished to go totally off the grid would frequently need to improvisate and also use car batteries. However, auto batteries were never ever developed for this function as well as shouldn’t be continually drained pipes and also reenergized (which is exactly what they should carry out in a photovoltaic panel or wind generator system).
Cars and truck batteries are intended to be utilized only for beginning as well as ignition. If you have a look inside one, you will see that they have a lot of thin plates.
These plates have a large overall surface that could promote a large number of chemical reactions. When you start your auto, these responses generate the abrupt ruptured of power that is required for ignition.
Deep cycle batteries on the various other hand, have thick lead plates that do not provide much area for chain reactions. Though they produce less current, they are made to do so for a lot longer time period.
Basically, automobile batteries are “shallow cycle” batteries that will promptly burn out when utilized as storage space for eco-friendly power.
Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries (FLA) VS Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries (SHANTY TOWN).
Prior to informing you what three batteries are best for different power system’s battery banks, it must be explained why flooded lead-acid batteries (FLA’s) are better for renewable energy compared to secured lead-acid batteries (SLA’s).
One of the reasons that some individuals favour SLA’s is since they call for little upkeep. Unlike FLA’s that should be checked frequently for water level, SLA’s that are utilized correctly could be laid off.
Nonetheless, secured lead-acid batteries have 2 huge imperfections: they are delicate as well as break rapidly. So if you’re intending on using your solar panel or wind power system each day, this will ultimately position an issue.
So, right here are the groups of swamped lead-acid batteries that are best for an off-the-grid power system:.
The 3 Best Batteries.
So since we know we desire a lead acid battery, that’s flooded (FLA), and has deep cycle buildings … below are our 3 favorite batteries for an off-grid system’s battery bank:.
1) Golf Cart Batteries.
Golf Cart BatteriesGolf cart batteries are one of the most widely produced batteries on this listing.
They additionally function fantastic in an alternate power system application. So it’s not a surprise that they are among the most frequently made use of batteries in battery financial institutions for renewable resource systems.
Although the 5 to six year life span of golf cart batteries could seem reasonably brief, golf cart batteries greater than offset their shortage in this field by being very sturdy and also low-cost (you could also use these 7 ideas to extend the life of golf cart batteries).
Additionally, golf cart batteries can also be located virtually anywhere, making them a great option for battery financial institutions.
If you actually wish to build a premium quality yet economical battery bank among the best choices is to:.
Get old or “dead” batteries from golf courses or golf cart look for cost-free … or economical (just call them and also ask if you can have their old batteries probably lying around as well as littering their shop).
Then refurbish those batteries to like-new condition with the EZ Battery Reconditioning program.
Make use of those replaced batteries in your battery financial institution.
2) Industrial or Forklift Batteries.
Forklift BatteriesA battery financial institution that uses one or more commercial batteries follows the other philosophy of a golf cart battery bank. As opposed to depending on numerous strings of smaller batteries, you make use of a few or even one battery to keep all of your power.
Due to the fact that these batteries aren’t generally produced to typical dimensions, you will certainly need to have one made that is perfect for your requirements.
Or you could try to find an old industrial or forklift battery that’s the correct size for your system as well as use that.
Like golf cart batteries, there are often ways to get cost-free or cheap forklift batteries.
One means is to phone or go to industrial firms as well as see if they have old or “dead” forklift batteries. Deal to dispose of it for them or pay them a bit. If they concur, you can then replace the battery as well as utilize it rather purchasing a new expensive commercial battery.
However if you prefer to get a brand-new custom made battery instead, you ought to expect to pay quite a bit. However fortunately is these types of batteries are typically constructed to last 15 to Twenty Years.
Other thing to consider are:.
These bigger batteries will certainly be heavier and also more difficult to move.
There may be innovations in battery innovation that might make the battery obsolete in years to come.
However if you don’t mind making a significant financial investment upfront (anywhere from $2,000 to $10,00) as well as are alright with spending time maintaining your batteries in leading problem, then industrial batteries might be best for you.
3) L16 Batteries.
L16 batteries for SolarIf you want batteries that have a little extra capability compared to golf cart batteries however do not wish to invest in industrial batteries, L16 batteries are a great middle ground.
These swamped lead-acid batteries were originally made for supermarket flooring scrubbers.
The good thing with these batteries is that they last a bit longer than golf cart batteries– concerning six to eight years. However, they are frequently two times as heavy and also the 6-volt models can be twice as costly.
Final thought.
Different houses will certainly have various power need as well as will require battery banks that are sized accordingly.
If you construct a battery financial institution utilizing any one of the 3 batteries mentioned above, you should have the ability to create a battery bank that is just right for your requirements.
There are some amazing new advancements in the battery globe for alternate power. These new items should be getting in the marketplace over the next pair years, like the lithium ion Tesla Powerwall. But currently, our three preferred batteries for domestic off-grid, alternative energy systems are golf cart batteries, L16 batteries, and industrial batteries.
And also if you’re interested in saving loan on your battery bank, you can use the EZ Battery Reconditioning program to find out how to:.
Aging or “dead” golf cart batteries, L16 batteries, or industrial batteries for free or economical.
Recondition them back to 100% of their working problem.
Use those “like-new” batteries instead of purchasing new pricey batteries to conserve a great deal of money!
Good luck with your battery bank! And Pleased Battery Reconditioning!
A straw bale house is an eco-friendly building you will fall in love with. Light, sustainable, resistant and featuring a rustic flavor, the construction has gained admirers on the market lately. The building method uses bales of straw – usually wheat, rice, rye and oats straw – as structural elements, building insulation, or both. As a result, the costs involved are not extremely high. Moreover, the straw bale house is also very viable. If you plan to do so, here are a list of advantages and disadvantages. The benefits: high insulation, easy availability, costs. The flaws: the building is susceptible to rot and you will not obtain insurance coverage easily. However, remember that these constructions bring the natural roots to present. As a result, you will pamper your senses in tranquility and equilibrium. And you will feel a strong connection with the exterior. Besides good looks, you will also discover inspiring designs for bathrooms, bedrooms and living rooms in the gallery below. Explore it and let us know if you enjoyed these homes!
Exposed beams
It goes without saying that rustic elements fit into a straw bale house. The home above features large rooms with high ceilings – two elements that allow you to decorate with altitude. As you can easily notice, oversized vases, tall sculptures and a generous chandelier integrate amazingly here. Also, a tall fireplace, in one of the corners warms the interior. But, the most striking ‘ingredient’ in this composition is the ceiling. The beams give strength, while also an infusion of spontaneity to the room.
The Arch Living Room
The elegant arch is the first thing you notice in a room that has it. Appreciated for its support in architecture, it is now reconsidered as a decorative add-on. The living room above features tall arches that give the space a very elevated look. Their raw simplicity goes beautifully with the furniture and the decorations. Made of poorly finished wood, the items create a natural environment where the inhabitants feel free and relaxed.
The warmth of the chalet
I believe every escape has its own essences and innards. The ones delivered by a mountain chalet are freedom, naturalness, coziness and relief. This living room connected to rustic flavors brings exactly the same. Just imagine cuddling in your beloved arms in this sofa, by the window. Its position offers you the possibility to admire the landscape in the same time. I like the way geometry animates the interior. The cabinet features traditional prints, the carpet similar motifs and the tapestry of the armchairs a complementary pattern.
A domestic crib featuring a lovely bench, three niches and a vintage stove.It reminds me of vernacular interiors.
Reading by the window? Yes, absolutely! A bunch of pillows and a blanket make the seating wonderful!
White extravaganza
A straw bale house can also feature clean white interiors. It is not necessary to turn everything in clay and wood. Paint the room with white or creamy ivory and you will experience a luminous environment all the time. I love the fluidity of the room above, and the diaphanous curtains that add elegance to the room. Also, the items of furniture integrate very well in this décor. Add some sparks of blue and you will have the marine freshness in your crib.
A hammock in your living room? Why not!
I have never imagined that a bunch of spots under the sofa can produce such a beautiful effect!
The simplicity of this bedroom is absolutely overwhelming.
Explore a collection of bedrooms with natural looks
The feeling I am looking for in my sleeping room is that of a sweet escape. You have to relax, but also to experience the comfy touch of pampering. Featuring light colors, large beds and interesting light effects, the examples in this gallery contain inspiring tricks. Have a look and relax a little!
Influenced by the sea, this bedroom features white and blue in a fresh mix.
How to design your bathroom in a straw bale house?
Featuring curved walls, the bathrooms invite you in a domestic sanctuary. Soft corners, elegant niches, sculptures, vintage frames and lighting spots are the ingredients we should rely on. White is the common option, but look how beautiful they are painted in blue! Also, cane decorations or small items of furniture work fine in these decors.
Storing smartly saves time and energy. Put some baskets and boxes under the sink and you will access all you need in a second.
An organic design following the curves of dunes and paired with white soft stones. As you can see, the composition is complete — the cohesion you feel when different elements blend with each other.
S’no joke–Japan and Sweden are already saving their winter snow to cool buildings when the weather heats up, and a new study looks at the possibilities of doing the same in Canada.
In Stockholm, more than 35 million cubic feet of snow is cleared every winter, and dumped. In 2009, Sweden’s Sundsvall Hospital switched to snow for summer cooling. The technology is simple: You store the snow in an insulated pit and then, when needed, you pump the chilled meltwater out into a system of pipes. Just like pumping hot water through a building to heat it, you can use chilled water to cool it.
The advantages are many. It’s quiet, it’s more reliable, and it doesn’t require refrigeration units to cool the air. Now researchers at the University of British Columbia think Canada could do the same. “Snow is not a waste, but a resource,” study co-author Kasun Hewage told Popular Science.
The team’s report, published in the Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy journal, explores the different methods of snow cooling, and compares them to regular air conditioning. In Canada, residential buildings account for 17% of total energy usage, and 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, and this is growing thanks to increased use of air conditioning.
“Snow storage is an ancient, simple, and low-cost technique and it is feasible in countries like Canada, which has high-energy demands for both cooling and heating during a year,” says the report. Its oldest recorded use was in 1833, where buckets of ice were hung in a South Carolina hospital to cool the building. Eventually, machines were invented to do the cooling instead. Why? Storage. Snow storage took up too much precious space, and nobody cared about cutting energy use a century ago.
Previous studies have focused on regular snow storage versus air conditioning. This one looks at alternative methods of snow storage. Canada is especially good for this because almost everywhere goes below freezing in the winter, so anyone can harvest and store their own snow and ice. There are four traditional methods of storage: Indoors, and outside either on, in, or under the ground. The study added higher-tech options: Regular, loose storage; watertight storage (which minimizes contaminants and the need for later processing); and high-density storage (HSS), where the snow is compacted.
The results were surprising. Whereas air conditioning units are the worst in terms of environmental impact, conventional storage (just collecting the loose snow and insulating it) was also fairly damaging, partly because it needs a lot of space, and partly because of the materials used to do it. So too was watertight storage. The best overall method, then, is HSS, where the required space and materials are at a minimum over its lifecycle.
The conclusion is that snow is a good alternative to regular air-con, as long as your climate supports its use. And even if the environmental impacts were equal, snow is just more pleasant, without noise, hot exhaust, or drying of the indoor air. Best of all, you can even fashion a DIY version, if you are willing to dig a pit, and to hang buckets of ice around the place in summer, that is.
If you are a regular reader, you already know we are in the middle of building a straw bale insulated home. I often meet people who assume I am therefore some sort of straw bale evangelist. This always strikes me as odd because I can’t really understand why I would want to push my building choices on someone else. As an adult, I feel perfectly able to consider the options and weigh which ones fit our desires and needs. Therefore, I feel most adults are likewise capable of the same.
So, if you have to ask why you would build a straw bale home, please don’t build one! If you think straw bale homes mean rodents, rotting straw, fire or other similar disasters, please insulate with something that you are comfortable with. Rest assured that we don’t care and certainly won’t judge your choice harshly!
That said, if you *are* interested in straw bale, let’s consider why you might do it:
Chemicals – some people are extremely sensitive to chemicals that are often used in common building materials. Think of the glues in plywood or OSB. Those are often harmful whether you are sensitive or not. Think of some of the flame retardants used in things like insulation. If you choose the right bales, you can be assured that at least those aren’t introducing more chemical outgassing into your dwelling.
Insulation – straw bales provide an insulation value of somewhere between R40 and R50, depending on the bales and installation. This would be an expensive level to reach with typical pink fiberglass insulation.
Difficulty – straw bales are relatively easy to install, leading to a good opportunity to do it yourself. Keep in mind that it is very labor intensive though, so if you don’t have help or lots of time, it could end up being the wrong choice.
Fire – straw bales properly installed in a coating of plaster have been shown to be extremely fire resistant. In fact, in lab testing, it was found to be far superior to standard wood frame construction.
Rodents/Pests – straw bales turn out to be relatively pest resistant, owing to two details of a typical installation. First, both sides are covered in wire and plaster, making a solid surface (actually 1+ inches of rock in the case of lime plaster) that prevents entry of any rodents. Second, the bales are installed very, very tightly. This leads to very little space within the wall for a rodent to even move about. In fact, the stud cavities in traditional wood-frame construction leaves much more open space for a rodent.
Embodied energy – this isn’t something that you often hear discussed, but consider the energy used in creating the pink fiberglass insulation in a typical wall. Quite a bit of energy is required to make, package, and transport such a product. Compare that to straw that is typically locally sourced and is grown using solar energy. There is the energy used for planting, harvesting, etc, but it is still much lower than the typical insulation product at a building center.
Mildew/mold/rot/etc – mold is a topic that often comes up with straw building discussions. Yes, if the wall cavity is continually kept damp, mold will be present. However, this isn’t unique to straw building by any means. Consider what moisture in a normal wood-framed wall does. It isn’t pleasant either. So, yes, mold is absolutely an issue, but that is true of any building form. Just be sure to consider flashing, overhangs, and plaster types and thicknesses. All these things work together to prevent mold/moisture issues.
Big Bad Wolf – this just has to be addressed because it is almost always the first response when people hear about a straw bale project. Apparently the three little pigs story has really ruined straw’s image as a building material! There are numerous techniques for building straw buildings, so all can’t be covered here. Instead, let’s address the form we have chosen for our project. First, the actual support comes from good old wood. We use a form of post and beam framing, which provides larger openings than standard stud framing to stuff the straw into. So, even without the straw, the building is structurally sound. Second, the bales are pressure fit into the walls, making them quite secure. Third, the bales are then covered with welded wire, tying everything together and providing good sheer strength. At this point, there really is no great worry of “blowing the house down”. Finally, three coats of plaster are applied inside and out. We have chosen lime plaster, so the end result is over 1 inch of limestone coating over the bales. Suddenly, wood framing and vinyl siding is sounding rather inadequate.
All that said, straw bale building is no panacea. It has drawbacks just like any other system:
Space – The walls take a lot of space as a typical bale is 18″ wide. That level of insulation takes space! Keep that in mind when designing rooms.
Labor – Straw bales take a lot of labor to handle. They are bulky and need to be stacked and stacked again during the process. Installing them means notching and re-tying. Plastering is hard work and usually 3 coats are required.
Mess – Straw bales are messy to work with. When they are handled, they leave a big mess. When they are notched and re-tied, they leave a bigger mess still.
Unusual – Straw bale construction is not very common, so finding skilled labor to help is unlikely. There is plenty of education available online and in books and videos, but it requires time to learn. Please do consume such material though as there are a few mistakes that can be made that could turn a project bad.
So, don’t look to me to push straw bale building on you. You need to choose what fits your needs. If you choose conventional wood framing and are content with that, wonderful! If you want something more unusual, great. Look at all the options — straw, cord wood, cob, etc. Above all, have fun and build something beautiful that makes you happy! Happy building!
Manawatu homeowners off the grid after designing alternative solar energy system
Murray Wilson/ Fairfax NZ
Norbert Reiser built his own alternative solar energy system and installed it to power his house.
A Feilding homeowner has not paid a power bill in six years after building his very own alternative solar energy system.
Norbert and Renate Reiser have been self-sufficient since 2010, with the $15,000 system converting sunlight into power and servicing all their household appliances.
They also grow vegetables, fruit, chickens and sheep for food.
Norbert Reiser
Norbert Reiser’s home-built controller system.
The couple moved from Bavaria in Germany in 2001 and it took Norbert eight years to reconfigure his home’s power circuit.
The poor summer and abundance of liquid sunshine hasn’t hindered the couple’s lifestyle where they carry on with showers and use appliances as per usual.
Murray Wilson/ Fairfax NZ
The $15,000 system converts sunlight into power and servicing all household appliances.
“It was one of my main reasons to come to New Zealand. Not only is it a lovely place, but I could live my dream to be self-sufficient with my own electric energy,” he said.
“The rising power consumption from a rising Kiwi population creates a lot of stress to our hydro generators and water resources.
“The price of petrol and energy will never go down any more, so being self-sufficient helps. From my perspective, this is the same price, on investment, than you would get on the grid.”
The unit converts energy from sunlight into electricity, which is then stored in two batteries under the house.
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In winter, a wetback heats the hot water cylinder so power can be preserved. Water is circulated through pipes and is heated using heat from the fire.
Norbert Reiser, an industrial electrician by trade, said the couple cooked on a gas stove, with only the fridge and freezer running fulltime.
In case of an emergency, they have a back-up generator. In six years they’ve only had to use it three times.
“It’s for if the weather is really bad – if we have maybe five, six days of constant rain,” he said.
Resier intended to build a garage where he could install more solar panels. The aim was to rely less on two storage batteries.
“I can prove that it is possible to build a self-sufficient house off the grid,” he said.
“I built my own controller circuits and got the main parts from the electronic shops, like inverters, power meters for inlet and outlet.
“It is like being the conductor of an orchestra – all these components then get alternated to my specific needs.”
Living off solar energy required people to be on their toes and thinking all the time with an understanding of how to use energy wisely, he said.
In a simple word, renewable energy comes from natural cycles and systems, turning the ever-present energy around us into functional forms. Renewable (alternative) energy is mostly cleaner than energy from nonrenewable options such as natural gas, petroleum, and coal. But right now in the U. S. over many of these of our energy still comes from nonrenewable resources.
Such as the name says, green energy can be refilled continuously. Its sources include radiant energy like sun, thermal energy like geothermal, chemical processes like biomass, gravitational energy like hydropower, and motion energy like wind.
A few of the key sources of power include:
Solar
Solar electricity is able to one day solve much of the energy needs, but that day is still very remote. Still, solar technology has become more efficient and cost-effective every year, and it is the fastest-growing kind of renewable energy.
Wind
Wind power is one of the greenest technologies, and also one of the most abounding and cost-competitive energy resources, rendering it a viable option to the non-renewable powers that harm our health and threaten the environment. Yet wind power is unreliable as a frequent source of electricity, impacts great tracts of land, and it is unavailable where wind is intermittent.
Hydro
Harnessing the kinetic power of moving normal water to generate electricity is the major source of renewable power in the USA and worldwide. Hydropower can be a sustainable and nonpolluting power source that can help decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and minimize the threat of global warming, but is limited to areas with large and regular drinking water supplies.
Bio-fuels
Ethanol is the product of crops full of sugar or starch, while biodiesel is the product of crops with high essential oil content. Both are natural carbon fuel, and both provide practical powers which may have not yet reached their full probable. Scientists continue refining food stocks to obtain higher efficiencies.
Geothermal
Heat from the earth, or geothermal energy, is cost effective, reliable, and clean, but is mostly limited to areas near tectonic plate limits. Some progress has recently been made recently in broadening the range of geothermal resources, but geothermal electric power remains a limited solution to our energy needs.
Ocean
Another form of kinetic power technology, the ocean’s frequent motion by way of dunes, tides, and currents is an effective and clean energy resource. Like other hydro power, though, its geographic range is limited.
Renewable Energy and Environment/Climate Change –
There is general arrangement among the world’s major economies that it is essential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50% by 2050. And with energy-related Carbon Dioxide accounting for 61 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions today, the energy sector must be at the heart of change.
Europe is committed to a 30 percent reduction by the year 2020 and a 60 to 80 percent decline by 2050, under stipulation that additional developing nations also obligate. To accomplish the things, it will require a huge sum of USD 22 trillion in global energy investments over the next 25 to 30 years.
This wind farm has turbines that are 640 feet tall with 262 foot long blades built by Dong Energy. These turbines are bigger than some skyscrapers (Image via MHI Vestas)
The world’s largest wind farm is now up and running in the UK. The 32 huge turbines built by Danish company Dong Energy are housed in Liverpool Bay. The turbines boast a greater height than some skyscrapers standing at 640 feet tall and equipped with 262-foot long blades, which can produce eight megawatts of power. This is actually the first time 8MW turbines have been used for commercial purposes. Their power is supposed to be so great the company claims a single revolution of the blade can power one house for 29 hours.
The 32 new turbines are an extension of the Burbo Bank wind farm that was built over a decade ago. This latest addition makes Britain a world leader in wind farm technology. Because of subsidies, friendly regulation, and their maritime past, the UK have installed more offshore wind power than any other country in the world. This latest addition along with their existing structures give them the capacity of 5.3 GW, that’s enough electricity to power 4.3 million homes. And it doesn’t stop here; there are eight more projects in the works.
But to keep receiving support for the tech from the government, the industry has to keep cutting costs. This in part is why Dong Energy opted to build such large turbines. You would think the cost to maintain these things would be high considering how big they are. Believe it or not, these large turbines are cheaper to build and maintain since each tower and blade needs a foundation. In the end, it’s cheaper than maintaining lots of small turbines. The company hopes this leads to offshore wind power that’s bigger, better, and cheaper than before.
These wind turbines greatly benefit the UK, but they’ve still come under fire for not having enough parts made in Britain. Dong Energy doesn’t exactly help matters; they don’t reveal what how much of the Burbo Bank extension is UK built. Fortunately, half of the blades are made at MHI Vesta’s Isle of Wight factory. On the other hand, these farms create new jobs and offer residents a long term career.
Still, you can’t argue with results, and the UK seems pretty pleased overall. There are more wind turbine projects scheduled for the future; these will also use 8MW turbines. It seems the UK is set on keeping its reputation as a world leader in windfarm technology. They’re certainly ahead of the US, which recently installed its first offshore wind farm.
The tiny mobile home measures approximately 18 feet long and 9 feet wide and it was constructed with a cedar exterior using vertical tongue-and-groove siding and long walls. It features a living room / office space; a kitchen with a fridge, double sink and a four-burner stove; a bathroom with shower and compost toilet; a sleeping loft with a queen-sized mattress and storage space.
The solar panels installed on the roof generate enough clean energy to keep the house powered throughout the day. These are connected to maintenance-free deep cycle AGM batteries and a MidNite Solar charge controller and Xantrex inverter that keep the system running throughout the night.
During its five-month journey across the country, The Tiny Solar House has visited Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The owner is planning to go on a tour of the East Coast this fall, followed by a tour of the West Coast in the winter and a trip to the Northwest in the spring.
Alternative Energy – Reasons To Consider Solar Power
The waste products generated by the manufacture of non-renewable energy that most of us use today is now known to be very harmful to the environment. Emissions of carbon-based pollution and nuclear waste, to name just two, are extremely toxic to ourselves and our planet. This message seems to have finally hit the target for governments and ordinary people too. And the demand for alternative energy sources such as solar energy is increasing.
The other reason for this movement towards the use of other energy sources is that the fossil fuels used to produce energy we use today is also declining, and what remains becomes more difficult and more expensive to source. We all saw what happened with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year. If you want to know more about the damage to the environment of other human beings, I suggest you get a Coy award-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” and is prepared to be more than a little worried.
Therefore, it is that solar energy entering the equation as a serious response to the aforementioned problems. The sun’s rays are certainly a source that is obtained in large quantities and is constantly renewed and clean, green and eco-friendly!
There are some excellent reasons exactly why solar power alternative is an exceptional choice. For starters, you’ll see some real savings in your month of monthly electricity bill (in fact you can reach a point where you avoid the use of an energy company that is) In addition, you may also see an increase in your property value when you come to sell it. Think about the extra things you can repair that were not in your budget, for us we were able to get that air conditioning repair we desperately needed, we had stopped using it all together since it had become so inefficient.
There are a variety of ways you can use solar energy sources, you can use a very small system as an auxiliary power source ie water heating, or perhaps the power of a solar oven to cook your food, or It can be used to provide lighting for your house or yard. Or what about the air conditioning system, which depends on the network, which may at any time of the blackout summer or winter? Sure, you could go all the way and install a system that will power everything in your house.
Very few people now, who intend to build or have built new homes, choose solar energy systems over conventional energy. One reason for this has to do with the low costs of replacement and maintenance associated with the installation of this form of energy. The other reason is, of course, not having to count or pay for an electric power company. Some states also offer tax incentives and other financial aid, grants, etc., to those who choose to install alternative energy in their homes.
To sustain the growth profile of alternative energy systems like solar power, experts have stressed the need for the deployment of effective and quality energy storage systems like batteries.
In an interview with the Founder and Executive Director of Greenicles Solar, Lanre Okanlawon, he said there is a gradual shift from the previously cynical and doubtful stance evident of about three years ago, to a more receptive and positive outlook, stating that public perception is changing.
Okanlawon said: “In 12 months, the Solar Nigeria programme alone installed solar electricity for 170,000 homes across Nigeria. This and many other successful projects carried out by solar power installation companies have positively impacted the market and reduced reliance on the unstable power from PHCN.”
He added that apart from achieving power independence, many customers confirm there has been money savings and elimination of noise from generators by going solar.
However, he said there is an area of concern that seems to be causing dissatisfaction among a small but vocal number of customers. “Because solar panels generate electricity only when exposed to sunlight, they are heavily reliant on an energy storage medium to store the power generated during the day for use at night. This is where batteries become very essential for solar power applications,” he said.
He recalled that there had been much development in battery energy storage for solar power applications globally. Batteries have been found to ease the deployment of solar to both the most advanced societies and the most remote parts of the world.
According to him, a typical solar power system consists of solar panels, a charge controller, inverter, circuit breakers and a bank of batteries. On average, the batteries make up, at least, 40 per cent of the total material cost of a typical solar power system in Nigeria, that is, an off-grid or hybrid solar electricity system.
“This is quite understandable due to its significant role of storing power and providing power backup at night or on cloudy days,” he added. He explained that due to lack of technical know-how some installers fall short of taking the necessary steps to determine the suitable battery storage capacities needed by their customers. Failure to do this, results in poor performance and total energy discharge, which ultimately lead to shortened battery life.
According to him, in 2016, battery energy storage systems installed by Greenicles Solar across Nigeria stored more than 30 megawatt-hours of electricity.
Speaking on the issue of substandard and counterfeit batteries in the market, Okanlawon advised that batteries should only be purchased from reputable dealers and distributors, especially those who provide product warranty.
He added, “Obvious fake identification markers on batteries are misspellings, faded colours on the labels and badly constructed battery casings. Also, he said spurious claims about battery capacity and number of cycles are recognizable give-aways that they are fake. Blurred manufacturers’ logos are also quite common in the underworld markets of batteries for solar power applications.”
The business sector worldwide for solar panels off is asserted to a record in the first 50% in 2016, following a strong interest and positive provisions in the US Moreover, China . Exceeded only by China, the United States is the largest manufacturer worldwide of greenhouse gases, with the largest source of emissions of the age of electricity.
America is changing its course and the energy of the sun US industry is the engine of the route based on the new street; a path to flawless energy future. 13 US companies that grow just joined the business climate legislation, reports in any case, of $ 140 billion in the failure of the incredible carbon speculation and more than 1,600 megawatts of new renewable energy including solar . Americans are balancing the goals to reduce expenses and stay away from the sun carbon emissions. Normally, we are attracted by the sun. A lot of people who enjoy daylight and affection to bathe in the sun and suddenly all applied using the sun to produce energy. Oriented tubing utility scale Sun also reached extraordinary levels. As demonstrated by the research of the national survey, people tend to be sure of renewable energy and storage of general energy insofar as these ideas are unique.
Industry based on sunlight has included 100,000 new jobs in the last decade. Similarly, the economy is strengthened by the massive flood openings for paid work by a selection on the institutional basis of the energy of sunlight focused more on solar energy part is exchanged. Many sun-based energy companies should be taken twice in companies and institutions over the next two years sunshine table base. Sun oriented modules costs fell by about 100 times in the previous 30 years.
Overhead costs per customer down that companies are developing. Meal expenses based on sunlight fell by 80% since 2008. Sun oriented energy will be a top choice reliable than non-renewable energy which damages the earth and our future. Sun should return to face major source of global electricity by 2050. Overall, the sector-based panels sun activity attracted waiting to become worldwide last 2017. We are now in the “Future Power” and we must move forward and adapt to make our world a better place to live.
You can give your air conditioner a well-deserved break and lower your energy bills by considering other ways to keep the heat of summer from sweating your brow. The U.S. Department of Energy says alternatives such as energy-efficient windows and doors, shading and natural ventilation can help cool your home with less energy use.
Window coverings
During summer, keep window coverings closed in the daytime to block the sun’s heat. Consider window awnings or roll-down shades for the outside of the home that can be operated by remote control. Choose manufactured shades or blinds that are labeled blackout, or have reflective backing.
Fans
A good way to help your air conditioner is to run ceiling fans at the same time. They will circulate the cool air, allowing you to turn down the air conditioner. Installed on the ceiling between the attic and living space, a whole house fan can meet your home cooling needs by pulling in air from open windows and exhausting it through the attic and roof.
Conserve loan
