PV systems can be very simple. This is about as simple and low cost as it gets. (That’s why I like it.)
“A full description of a low cost solar powered 12 volt LED lighting system at a back-country cabin.”
cabin
$100 Cabin made of Black Locust and an Old Billboard for the Roof
“See an example of a cabin made from black locust wood and an old billboard that is around 300 sq. ft. and costs right around $100 to make. This cabin will be a great three season home or can be insulated later with straw bales to make a comfortable place to live. All resources sourced locally for minimal gas use to get them. The main cost is in the Black Locust ‘slabwood’ from a local mill (waste, or offcuts of wood) at $75 in total for three $25 truck loads, and ~$25 in high quality #2 square driven PGP screws (2.5″ mainly, and some 1.25″ for roof battons and side wall batton fastening.)”
Ski Cabin Photos
Ski cabin photos just for fun.
Reed College Ski Cabin
Built in 1949, the cabin was managed initially by members of the Outing Club, who were responsible for generating revenue to help defray the cost of building the cabin. During this era students, faculty, and staff were considered cabin members and could obtain the necessary cabin key for free. A community member could bring one guest at a time for a whopping two-dollar fee, and alumni and family members could make special arrangements with the Outing Club Board to stay at the cabin for a dollar. You may remember that candy bars cost about five cents at the time … [they’ve probably gone up a little since then].
Keith Thompson: Totally Off the Grid
You might want to visit the original source at YouTube (fun way to blow an hour) and check out some of the comments. Skeeter (Keith Thompson) has become somewhat of an Internet sensation and so I couldn’t resist posting a few sample comments out of hundreds:
– “We are used to a high level of material comfort in our lives. I want that, I just don’t want to pay for it for the rest of my life.”
Spot on.
Kent’s Earthbag Cabin
“Now that the walls are all covered with adobe, I can probably work on the roof this winter when we have decent weather. You can’t do adobe work if it’s too cold, but we typically have lots of nice enough days in the winter for working on a roof. The next posting will be when significant framing is done for the roof.”