Homesteading
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sustainablility
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Energy |
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The energy choices we make have far-reaching environmental and economic implications. On the supply-side, there are choices as to various energy souces available. On the demand-side, there are choices as to how energy-efficient we choose to be.
For those living far from municipal power and gas lines (aka "the grid"), home power production may be a necessity. For homesteaders and others wishing to have more control over vital resources, and to do so more sustainably, renewable energy sources have obvious appeal. The main drawback to installing an alternative energy system is the relatively high up front cost, when compared to paying monthly bills. It is possible, of course, to be off the grid and live well without thousands of dollars of equipment. Read on!
The sources of energy addressed on pages in this section are: solar, wind, micro-hydro, biomass, and fossil fuels.
General Energy Resources
- Consumer Guide to Renewable Energy for Your Home or Business
- From the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Office of Power Technologies, this site provides an overview of renewable energy options for domestic use today.
- Home Power: The Hands-On Journal of Home-Made Power
- All home-made power, all the time. Many archived articles are available online, in PDF format. With an intended audience of end users of renewable energy equipment, Home Power's articles can often be simultaneously folksy and technical.
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- The Rocky Mountain Institute, headed by resource analysts Amory & Hunter Lovins, works to promote more efficient use of natural resources. Their energy pages offer comparisons of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, as well as links to a wide range of technical reports on all aspects of energy use and policy.
General Energy Efficiency Resources
- Home Energy Magazine: Do-It-Yourself
- The consumer section of Home Energy contains practical information on how anyone can retrofit their home to be more energy efficient, from installing compact flourescent lightbulbs to caulking and insulating.
- Home Improvement Toolbox
- From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's energy-efficient products promoters. This interactive site provides numerous ways to reduce energy use through remodeling and repair.
Supplies
- Real Goods
- The world's largest retailer of renewable energy products, the Real Goods staff know the technology they sell. Real Goods also sponsors outreach and educational efforts, including the Solar Living Institute, which they founded.
