An
overall focus on
health and well-being, both personal and environmental, makes a huge
impact on behavior and, consequently, energy usage. Our lifestyle is
moving steadily towards one where the only generated electrical energy
needed would be for Internet modem, phone, and computer use, recharging
batteries for walkie
talkies, a low energy fridge (using a chest freezer with an adapter
plug to make it run at a far lower voltage as a fridge), back-up lights,
and the odd power tool when needed for projects. We plan to utilize a
600 watt solar generator to handle these needs.
Use
of light will be changed drastically, basing our working day around
daylight timings. For the limited amount of lighting needed at night/in
the dark, solar lights
will be utilized using
the sun's energy during the day to charge them for the night.
Eventually, once bee keeping is
established and we start having a supply of beeswax, we will make our
own candles, providing a preferable, alternative, and natural source of
light. Kitchen appliances will be replaced by a hand-crank blender, a
hand operated basalt grinding stone for flour and dry grains (will last
for generations, maintenance free), and a hand crank stainless steel
beater. Cast iron pans and Dutch ovens, stainless steel pots, plates,
bowls, cups, utensils and cutlery will all last for generations.
Water
cooling will be managed by burying 55 gallon steel drums 3/4 deep into
the earth with a steel hand pump Showers are by hung 5 gallon steel
buckets of heated water, with holes punched into the bottom and a lid to
stop the flow when finished. Hot water will be either by a simple
homemade solar heater or heated in pipes running under a compost heap.
Laundry will be done manually, with a washboard and steel tub, soap nuts
or homemade castille soap.
Cooking
will be done on a rocket stove, in a cob oven, and underground in
charcoal pits - minimal fuel required, long cooking times, no electrical
or gas energy requirements.Heating of the house can be from the rocket
stove, as cob can store the heat well.Cob house, storage, animal pens
all mean no cooling and minimal heating with small amount of wood from
trees grown on
property. They also need nothing more than human energy to build
Transportation mode will be dependent on distance. For local travel transportation will be walking, cycling, or horse (either ridden or with a carriage), with a pick-up truck (V6 for better fuel economy but still the ability to tow and haul) for longer distances and when picking large things up. We are a family that enjoys walking and cycling, so they are viable forms of transportation for us. Walking will be fine for distances of up to 5 miles each way. Cycling for distances reaching further afield, and horse and carriage up to 50 miles. Of course, we need to travel smart - get as much done in a trip as possible and prevent unnecessary trips back and forth or retracing our route due to disorganized planning.
