Tag: introductions

  • Passive solar energy use

    Passive solar technology is simply a set of techniques for using sunlight for useful energy without the use of any active mechanical systems.  These methods convert sunlight into usable heat (passive solar heating — hot water, warm air, and heat stored in thermal mass), cause air-movement for ventilation, and store heat for future use.  Passive […]

  • History of Solar Energy Usage

    We often think that modern societies were the first to use solar energy. Not true! Early cave dwellers preferred caves that had openings facing southeasterly that allowed the morning sun to warm them up without overheating in the warm months.  Native Americans in the Southwest oriented their pueblo dwellings.  So the low winter sun would […]

  • What is solar energy

    Solar energy is a term that refers to the direct use of sunlight to produce heat or electric power.  The sun’s energy is plentiful, but it is thinly distributed over a large area. It must be collected and concentrated in order to produce usable power. The amount of solar radiation per unit of flat area […]

  • Appliances for off-grid living

    Living off the grid doesn’t mean you have to live like in the 15th century, doing everything with your own hands. Much of typical house work is done today by some appliances. If you want to live off-grid, you probably don’t want to get rid of those appliances. So what should you do? If you’re […]

  • Produce, save, store!

    If you want power your off-grid home by yourself, you need to look at this idea on three levels: producing the energy in any source, reducing the energy use, storing it for future when supply exceeds demand. There are only two ways to deal with this problem with one simple solution. But none of them […]