“Home Remodel for off grid home power system continued. Boiler reconfigured with water recirculation pump, heat exchanger improved, boiler power now at 60kW or 200k BTU/Hr. Wood chip feed fully automated with manual flame power control (chip delivery speed). Keeping home warm with night T in 20’s (F). Heats home in ~2 hours, good for 24. Next goal, 2000 Gal hot reservoir and home on thermostat.”
Mechanical
The Eco-Home Design Guide
Christopher Day is a veteran of the world of architecture in Britain. In his new book, The Eco-Home Design Guide: Principles and practice for new-build and retrofit, he has condensed his considerable experience of both designing and hands-on building into a set of guiding principles for how to go about your own ecological building project.
The book is well organized into primary divisions that deal with the major issues that confront anyone who undertakes such a journey. These what, where, how and when issues are each examined in turn, so that by the time you complete the book, you should have a good understanding of all of the issues that need to be addressed. Each chapter is summarized at the end with a listing of the key points covered and a chart of the main choices that need to be made. With this approach, you can quickly thumb through the book to review the basic information presented.
“Revolutionary” EV Battery Begins Production
A new battery technology by Solid Power sounds like a major challenger to Tesla’s battery system. This will interest off gridders and others with alternative energy systems. The following article by CleanTechnica claims these solid-state batteries have 2-3x more energy than Tesla’s lithium ion batteries, as well as having a number of other key advantages. It will be interesting to see which battery system wins out.
Tesla Powerwall – A Battery Powered Home
“Powerwall is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. It also fortifies your home against power outages by providing a backup electricity supply. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup.”
Super Solar Cells
Today’s blog post is actually two stories in one. First, we’ll look at cutting edge solar cells, and then we’ll look at how improved, lower cost solar is ushering in a new age of electric transportation and home energy systems.
“Australian scientists from the University of NSW have set a new world record for the efficiency of commercially-viable solar cells.
Turn $20 Into $3,500 With a Do it Yourself, Solar Water Distiller!
I found some very good ideas for a DIY solar water distiller on the video linked below. The problem is the bulk of the video turned into a long political rant and so I’m not posting the video here. Instead, I’ll summarize the key ideas: 1. You can get glass topped patio coffee tables for free or very cheap on Craig’s List (and at yard sales). The glass is used on top of the distiller, and the table serves as a base.