"Off the Grid" (Energy sufficiency in Southern Vermont)

This "Russian Stove" fireplace is the centerpiece of this energy efficient ('off the grid') Southern Vermont home.

Designed by my uncle, this stove can heat most of the house, burning only a couple 3 to 4 inch split logs twice a day.

Key features of the design are an airtight combustion chamber (which draws air directly from the outside), and the huge mass of stone, which stores and slowly releases the heat from the morning and evening 'burn'.

The photo also demonstrates an alternative use of the stove as an indoor climbing wall :-)

Note: For more information about energy efficient living you can write Paul at myerspe@starband.net.

The most interesting photo tagged "Solar Power" on Flickr (29-Nov-2006)

Additional Notes (3-Dec-2006)

Electricity generation
2 turbine windmills
2 kinds of solar panels (rigid and amorphous/strips)

Heating/Water
Russian stove (closed chamber wood stove, thermal mass heating system)
solar water heating panels
gas powered radiant heating in the floor.

Low Energy Lighting & Appliances
Because of careful selection of lighting and appliances, the house is able to run within its energy budget almost all of the time.

After 2 years of running completely off-grid (with backup gasoline generator), installed electrical hookup, mostly used to feed excess capacity back into the grid.

More Notes:
There are 2 ways to decrease home energy use.
1. Reduce power consumption.
2. Install a renewable energy system

The first can be as simple as replacing high usage incandescent bulbs with new compact flourescent bulbs and lighting fixtures. Around here, you can buy these products at a discount thru programs sponsored by the electric company (NStar).

Another good idea is replacing old appliances with newer energy efficient models.

There is a lot of information about energy saving here :
www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/

If you are interested in solar energy or other sustainable energy generation technologies, I suggest taking a look at www.homepower.com/ a magazine dedicated to "home-scale renewable energy and sustainable living".

This site has an overview article on Renewable Energy which is relatively short and clear. www.homepower.com/files/featured/HP116_pp46-50_Casale.pdf

File: DSC_5923_ACR

Taken on: November 25, 2006

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Camera: Nikon D70s, f/5.0, 1/60 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 220 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D70s
Lens:	18.0-70.0 mm f/3.5-4.5
Aperture:	f/5.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	220
Exposure Bias:	+1 EV
Flash:	Auto, Fired, Return detected
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Contrast:	High
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 Windows
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