Alternate Energy Systems I Have Known
Cariboo Blades is solar powered family and business
that runs off the grid. http://www.caribooblades.com
1 ½ hour into the bush Scott and Aki have a family and run a solar power business making exquisite carving tools and knifes. Their tools are made from top quality industrial steel that is reclaimed from local saw mills. The shop and home All band saw, grinders, sanders, table saw and computers are all run by the sun. These guys have a tiny greenhouse gas footprint.
that runs off the grid. http://www.caribooblades.com
1 ½ hour into the bush Scott and Aki have a family and run a solar power business making exquisite carving tools and knifes. Their tools are made from top quality industrial steel that is reclaimed from local saw mills. The shop and home All band saw, grinders, sanders, table saw and computers are all run by the sun. These guys have a tiny greenhouse gas footprint.
Scott uses 3, 80 watt solar panels on their house and 3 on the blacksmith shop. Each building cost about $350 for solar panels.
All his solar system supplies: controller and inverter, are picked up at the local canadian Tire about $450.
This wood fired hot water is beautiful in it’s pure simplicity. The hot water tank sits on a stool and the water circulates Thermal softening. Also acting like a thermal mass, it stores heat for awhile keeping the room warm after the fire is out.
Scott simply drilled 2 holes in the back of the wood stove and ran 1’ black iron pipe in and back out of the fire box.
It took 6 90° and a bit of steel pipe. Cost about $25 plus the tank and stool.
Scott simply drilled 2 holes in the back of the wood stove and ran 1’ black iron pipe in and back out of the fire box.
It took 6 90° and a bit of steel pipe. Cost about $25 plus the tank and stool.
Solar Heated Domestic Hot Water
Used to say freefulleforever.com
Solar Hot Water Panel and Tank about $800. The text on the tank did say free fuel forever.com
Instillation is simple, the optimum angle is the same as the latitude and the direction is due south.
A very simple controller unit is not absolutely necessary but is very good for several reasons.
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This is a close up of the quality Stainless Steel tank with 4” of rigid insulation! (Most hot water heaters have only about ½” of saggy fiberglass insulation.) A regular hot water tank heater element ($30) is installed as a last resort if solar or wood aren’t in use.
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Old Solar Panels of a Pasley Island Solar Electric System
We used the chop saw and table saw all day and still had lots of power for lights in the evening.
6 Big deep cycle batteries. A old simple system that keeps on trucken.
