Grow Food Not Lawns

GEOTHERMAL

Wikipedia -
"Geothermal power (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth, and thermos, meaning heat) is power extracted from heat stored in the earth. This geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, and from solar energy absorbed at the surface. It has been used for bathing since Paleolithic  times and for space heating since ancient Roman times, but is now better known for generating electricity. Worldwide, geothermal plants have the capacity to generate about 10 gigawatts of electricity as of 2007, and in practice supply 0.3% of global electricity demand. An additional 28 gigawatts of direct geothermal heating capacity is installed for district heating, space heating, spas, industrial processes, desalination and agricultural applications."

Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent technological advances have dramatically expanded the range and size of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating, opening a potential for widespread exploitation. Geothermal wells release greenhouse gases trapped deep within the earth, but these emissions are much lower per energy unit than those of fossil fuels. As a result, geothermal power has the potential to help mitigate global warming if widely deployed in place of fossil fuels.

The Earth's geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply humanity's energy needs, but only a very small fraction of it may be profitably exploited. Drilling and exploration for deep resources costs tens of millions of dollars, and success is not guaranteed. Forecasts for the future penetration of geothermal power depend on assumptions about technology growth, the price of energy, subsidies, and interest rates"

Questions:

What is a ground source heat pump?

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are electrically powered systems that use the earth’s fairly constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and buildings.

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Ground source heat pumps have closed loops that are be installed horizontally, vertically, or in a pond or lake.

The surrounding land area and  types of soil and rock at the site will help determine the most economical and efficient choice (system type) for the ground loop installation

An antifreeze solution is circulated through plastic pipes buried beneath the ground for closed loop systems. The fluid gathers heat from the earth and circulates it through the system and into the building.

During the summer, the system reverses itself and pulls heat from the structure and places it in the ground. This process creates free hot water in the summer and and produces a considerable savings on hot water in the winter.

Benefits of Planting Trees - Why Planting Trees is Important

Benefits of Planting Trees - Why Planting Trees is Important

"Advantages of planting trees in reducing global warming

1. An average size tree creates sufficient oxygen in one year to provide oxygen for a family of four.

2. Planting trees in the right place around buildings and homes can cut air-conditioning costs up to 50 percent.

3. Planting trees for the environment is good as they are renewable, biodegradable and recyclable.

4. If we plant 20 million trees, the earth will get with 260 million more tons of oxygen.

5. Once acre of trees can remove up to 2.6 tons of Carbon Dioxide each year.

6. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

7. Trees keep in cheek the air and water pollution.

8. Why planting trees is important is evident as they are the natural
habitat of the animals and birds, as well as many endangered species.

9. Planting trees means more wood and paper products which can be easily recycled.

10. A newly planted whole forest, can change tones of atmospheric carbon
into wood and other fibrous tissue, thus reducing global warming.

So, start digging immediately if you have the means to plant a tree.
There are still too few of them to fully offset the changes brought
about by global warming. Automobile traffic, manufacturing and other
human activities are playing havoc with our environment. Reduce global
warming simply by planting trees for the environment."

June, 2014

Introducing the Most Spacious Bounder

Fleetwood’s ever-popular Bounder motorhome is now available with its most spacious floor plan to date, the 34T. With an innovative triple-slide floor plan, the opposing living area slides provide abundant space for relaxing and enjoying the journey ahead.
The Bounder 34T is ideally designed for entertaining with supremely comfortable Flexsteel furniture arranged in an opposing seating layout and a mid-ship Sony 40" LED TV. An optional electric fireplace provides warmth on cool nights, and LED lighting throughout adds to the ambiance inside. Composite tile flooring with cabinet side heat ducting also enhance the style and comfort of the Bounder 34T.
The spaciousness of the Bounder 34T continues into the galley with its ergonomic design and optional residential, French-door-style refrigerator. The private split bathroom with dual sinks features a large one-piece fiberglass shower with an integrated seat.
The 34T is engineered on the reliable power platform chassis with Easy-Store system. Also, the coach comes standard with dual-pane windows for additional UV protection.
The 34T floor plan is the next evolution in the Bounder family and is a perfect companion for every adventure with its abundant space, style and convenience.
» Learn more about the Bounder 34T

lighting Your RV

Lighting Your RigMay 21, 2014 by Cynthia Baum · Leave a Comment

 (originally posted on Good Sam http://blog.goodsamcamping.com/2014/05/rv-lighting/

·

Whether you are looking to replace your light bulbs or upgrade your fixtures to something more decorative and stylish, there is much you can do to take your RV lighting to the next level.

First off, you definitely want to convert to LED replacement bulbs in your RV (if you haven’t already) since they have a much longer life span and reduce power consumption. Basically, LEDs last tens of thousands of hours whereas regular bulbs only last up to two thousand hours. This allows your lights to consume less power and also extends the life of your bulbs, just by simply switching them out with any of these great deals at Camping World’s online store.  The LED replacement bulbs provide brighter lighting which results in improved visibility throughout your RV.

A simple RV lighting upgrade can be done with new lighting fixtures throughout your RV. Check out Camping World’s latest sale for gorgeous wall sconces, globes, pin-up lights and more. One of my favorites is the Satin Nickel Swing-Arm Sconce, which is stylish and practical at the same time (as you can see to the right). Also, the LED Reading Lamp w/bulb for more than $10 off, which conveniently features a swivel head adjustment plus 155 lumen output.

For some fun outdoor RV lighting ideas, check out the amazing LED Solar Rope lights, which are currently $5 off at Camping World’s online store. These are extremely cost effective since LED lights last for over 100,000 hour and they also harness energy from the sun, staying illuminated for up to 12 hours at a time. The icing on the cake is they have an automatic on/off capability via the built in light sensor AND they cost less than $15 for 50!

With a few tweaks, some new LED lights, and a new fixture or two, your RV will be ready for your summer campouts. Your next trip will not only be well-lit, but your bulbs will see you through for years to come!

Micro House byTumbleweed

Measuring in at a massive 102 square feet, the cozy Weebee house by Tumbleweed will easily qualify as the smallest house on your block. Amenities include a desk, fireplace, bathroom, kitchen, and loft upstairs.

Living Large in a Micro House

RV'rs Chrismas Stocking

....saw this on a friend's Facebook page - gotta get one!

PORTABLE ELECTRIC GENERATOR SAFETY

PORTABLE ELECTRIC GENERATOR SAFETY
Reprinted from the California Consumer Energy Center 

According to the the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the misuse of the portable power sources killed at least five people and sickened dozens more after Hurricane Katrina.

The Associated Press reported on October 13, 2005, that many people relied on portable generators after the hurricane knocked out most of the power in the Gulf Region. And that was deadly for those who did not use their generator properly.

AP said, "The five deaths were among fifty-one cases of carbon monoxide poisoning reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama after the hurricane, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All of these cases involved the misuse of portable generators, except for one that involved a gasoline-powered pressure washer. Four deaths occurred in one Louisiana house where a generator was used. The fifth death occurred in a Louisiana house where a generator was used in an attached garage."

All of these portable generator-related deaths could have been prevented.

Here are some basics regarding portable generators. But the first thing to do is Read the Instruction Booklet or Manual that came with the generator. If the manual is lost or missing, contact the generator's manufacturer.

Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage.
A portable generator is an internal combustion engine that exhausts a deadly gas called carbon monoxide or CO. CO is odorless and colorless, and you can be overcome if the generator is indoors.

Be sure to place the generator outside where exhaust fumes will not enter into enclosed spaces. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home. The generator should be protected from direct exposure to rain and snow.

Don't connect your generator directly to your home's wiring.
Connecting a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly. A generator that is directly connected to your home's wiring can 'backfeed' into the power lines connected to your home.

Utility transformers can then increase this lower electrical voltage to thousands of volts. That's more than enough to kill a utility lineman making outage repairs many miles away. You could also cause expensive damage to utility equipment and your generator.

If you wish to hard-wire a generator to your home, it should be installed by a licensed electrician with an approved cut-off switch that will automatically disconnect the home from the power grid when the generator is being used. Please check with your local utility company before installing a hard-wired generator.

Don't plug a portable generator into an electrical outlet in your home or garage.
If a generator is plugged into your home's electrical circuits, it can still 'back-feed' power into the utility company lines, which can injure or kill utility workers fixing on the downed power lines.

The correct way to use a generator is to connect a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated power cord to the generator. Appliances can then be connected to the power cord.

Make sure that the outdoor-rated power cord has a sufficient wire gauge to handle the electrical load.

Don't overload the generator.
All generators have a power rating. they should be used only when necessary and only to power a limited number of appliances or equipment.

The total wattage used by the appliances should be less than the output rating of the generator. If you put too many appliances on the generator, it could seriously damage the appliances and electronics. Overloading the generator could also cause fires in the power cord.

Make sure your generator is properly grounded to avoid electrical shocks.
Check the generator owner's manual for correct grounding information.

Do not store gasoline for the generator indoors.
Gasoline should be stored in approved, non-glass safety containers.

Don't store gasoline in a garage if there's a water heater or other fuel-burning appliance in the garage. Vapor from gasoline is heavier than air and can travel invisible along the floor. It could be ignited by a pilot light or other source of flame, such as an electric spark.

Extinguish all flames or cigarettes when handling gasoline or the generator.

Shut off the generator before refueling. Turn off all equipment powered by the generator before shutting it down.

Always have a fully charged, approved fire extinguisher located near the generator.

Read and adhere to the manufacturer's directions for safe operation.
Read the owner's manual before you operate the generator. If you've lost the manual, contact the manufacturer for another copy. You can often download the manual from a manufacturer's Web site. Keep the owner's manual with the generator in a zip-lock bag to keep it dry.

Final Tips
Many generator parts are hot enough to burn you during operation. Stay away from the muffler and other hot areas.

Keep children away from portable electric generators at all times.

Good Article about Surge Protectors

RV Electrical Safety: Surge Strips  by; Mike Sokol 

This series of articles is provided as a helpful educational assist in your RV travels, and is not intended to have you circumvent an electrician. The author and the HOW-TO Sound Workshops will not be held liable or responsible for any injury resulting from reader error or misuse of the information contained in these articles. If you feel you have a dangerous electrical condition in your RV or at a campground, make sure to contact a qualified, licensed electrician. 

This article was prompted by an RVtravel.com reader who wrote asking if it made sense to spend $300 on a surge protector for her RV.

How cool is this Houseboat/trailer ?

sleeps 4-5 
toilet, 
shower,
refrigerator 
stove 
generator
air conditioning

It's both a houseboat and a camper with  a 75 HP engine.  
The boat by itself is 28′ long and 8′ 6″ in wide.  
With the trailer it’s 31′ long. 
Fresh water tank is 65 gallons, black water 33, and grey water 44.  It holds 47 gallons of gas and weighs about 8,000 pounds with the trailer.

It even has an outdoor grill in front of the cockpit. 

Recommended for Hurricane, Blizzard, Earthquake and Tornado Preparedness.

1  Backpack
1  Weather Band Radio
1  Mini Flashlight
1  Eight Hour Light stick
1  Emergency Stove & Fuel
1 Box of Waterproof/Windproof Matches

Weather Protection

•     2  Solar Blankets
•     2  Emergency Rain Ponchos
•     1  Tube Tent
•     5   Emergency Candles

Food and Water

•      2  3600 Calorie Food Bars
•    12  Water Pouches
•    50 Water Purification Tablets
•     1   8 Litre foldable water container

1  Multi-tool Knife
1  Five in one Survival Whistle
1  50 ft Rope
1  Pair of Work Gloves
2  N95 Masks
1  43 pc First Aid Kit

Hygiene Kit

•     2 Toothbrushes
•     1 Toothpaste
•     1 comb
•     1 washcloth
•    1 tissue
•    6 Wet naps
•    1 Roll Toilet Paper

1  Waterproof Notebook
2  Carpenter Pencils
1  Ax  
1  Sierra Saw
1  Roll of Duct Tape
1  Package of Nylon Ties
1  Waterproof Pouch
1  Safety Goggles
1  Emergency Preparedness Guide 

  A New Blog from:  LIVE OFF GRID   

 Follow us on          LiveOffGrid.Net                                   

jonathan fine photos

DEDICATED TO SHARING RESOURCES, IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WHO WANT TO LIVE AND WORK EITHER PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY
OFF THE GRID

For people who support Renewable Energy. For everyone who has made a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint.  And, most of all; for everyone who wants to leave something better on earth for our children.

Off-the-grid                                                     
From Wikipedia

"The term off-the-grid (OTG) or off-grid refers to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities."



"Off-the-grid homes are autonomous —they do not rely on municipal water supply, sewer, natural gas, electrical power grid or similar utility services. A true "off the grid" or "off-grid" house is able to operate completely independently of all traditional public utility services. The idea has been recently popularized by certain celebrities including Ed Begley Jr. who stars in Living With Ed television show on the Home & Garden Television network. Actress Darryl Hannah also promotes "off-grid" living and constructed her home in Colorado according to those principles."

So, what does this mean for you?

Living off the grid  without reliance on public utilities for things like electricity and water is becoming increasingly more popular.  If Daryl Hannah, Ed Begley and Jesse Ventura are doing it, then maybe it's something we all might consider. 

Living off the grid means different thing to different people, and there are many different reasons for people to make this choice. For some it's an ethical choice to unplug from conventional energy sources. For others, it might be that they've found the perfect spot on earth and it's an easy choice to live in this liberated lifestyle. 

Your first decision is; where you will Live Off-Grid?  Will you stay where you are in your existing home, or will you move?  If you stay in your home, you can install solar panels, dig a well, install a windmill, use energy efficient appliances, and simply conserve all your energy usage.

If you move, other considerations are; employment - will you continue to work? The commute is important and will determine just how far off the beaten path you can afford to be.  Secondly, you'll want to know that wherever you are, you have access to good medical care. Research into local economic stability, local politics, houses of worship and food & water availability should be high on your list.

For sure, it's a new and liberating lifestyle, but it will take major adjustments and a real commitment in time and resources to make it work for you. You need to have a passion for this venture and be able to keep your vision and overcome obstacles you can't foresee. 

If you're pretty sure you want to take this step, you'll need to learn a lot about alternative energy and energy conservation. Living off the grid means every dollar's worth of energy conservation typically saves three to five dollars in equipment costs to generate energy.

You'll have to be more involved with your energy system, and how you use the electricity you create.  The electricity you produce must be greater than the electricity you consume. Living off grid is not necessarily easy. it's relatively simple to understand the energy needs of big energy consumers like: Air conditioners, Refrigerators, Heating systems, TVs and Kitchen Appliances. 

But there are also power tools, hair dryers, Computers, coffee makers, washing machines and dryers - It's a long list, you probably never thought much about. In addition, there are many convenience appliances you'll also have to decide you want to live with or without. When you add up all the usage you'll discover that you will indeed probably be making additional lifestyle changes you might not have considered.

There are almost a quarter of a million people unplugged from the grid. It's a new concept, but quickly gaining acceptance and drawing more interest as the price of energy continues to be a major part of every family, or business's expenses.