Climate Change Impacts
On the United States
The most comprehensive, authoritative report on Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States was released on Tuesday June 16th, 2009.
Climate Change Impacts
HOME - film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth’s climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.
HOME
VAWT- Ready for Testing
We have finished our first Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT). However, we still have concerns about our gearing system. Once we have some test results, we'll be sure to post them here.
DIY VAWT
Honeywell WT600 Home Wind Turbine
Honeywell has redesigned the home wind turbine, placing the generator around the outside edge of the blades. Read more..
Honeywell WT6000
New Project - VAWT
We have started to build our first Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT). Follow along, as we document our experience.
DIY VAWT
DIY Solar Pool Heaters
Warm weather and we start to think about the pool. Save on heating bills my making your own solar pool heater.
Natural Mosquito Repellent
With the arm weather, mosquitoes have also arrived. Don't let them spoil your outside fun. You can make your own natural mosquito repellents, just remember - they don't last as long as DEET based repellents, so reapply often.
Natural Mosquito Repellent
Energy Saving Tips
Energy saving tips for your heating, cooling, water, fridge, etc...
Energy Saving Tips
How to Compost
Warm weather has arrived or almost arrived and my composter is hard at work making new soil for this year's garden. Learn how to setup your own compost bin.
How to Compost
DIY Rain Barrels
We setup our rain barrels in 5 minutes this week. Flip them over and connect to the downspout. If you don't have rain barrels yet, we have some simple instructions to show you how to make one or two or four.
DIY Rain Barrels
DIY Wind Turbine
GreenTerraFirma is looking for people in the New York area, who have built a diy wind turbine. Please use the feedback form to send us your contact info. Thanks. Feedback Form
DIY Solar PV Panels
We take a look at building your own solar PV panels. It's a very nice project - requires soldering skills and a bit of woodworking and you learn lots.
DIY Home Solar Panels
Wind Turbine Furling
You worked hard building your DIY wind turbine and now you look forward to days when the wind blows hard. The power output increases as a CUBE of the increase in wind velocity - a 3 fold increase in wind speed means a 9 fold increase in power output.
Problem is, your DIY wind turbine won't survive very many of those "extreme" wind days. You need a way to protect your wind turbine from high wind damage, while allowing it to still produce power at the top end of it's output curve. You need to FURL your wind turbine in high winds.
Wind Turbine Furling
Build an Axial Flux Alternator for Wind Turbines
DIY Wind Turbines are very popular and usually very quick and simple to build. The permanent magnet D.C. motor has a lot to do, with making this process EASY. However, good D.C. motors (Ametek 30), that produce a workable voltage and current, at low revolutions per minute (rpm) are becoming hard to find. Ebay is loaded will people selling motors for wind turbine projects, that simply WILL NOT WORK at the rpms that a homemade wind turbine can produce.
A homemade axial flux alternator could be your best alternative. While the process to make your own, may seem complex, why not give it a once through. Some of the plans on the internet, show you how to make top of the line jigs and tools, which can be reused many times. If you only want to make one or two alternators, the steps can be simplified.
Homemade Axial Flux Alternator
DC Wind Turbine Motors on eBay - BEWARE
DIY Wind Turbines have become very popular items in the past year. We have DIY plans forboth horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) on this site. And yes, in the beginning we recommended people take a look on eBay for used DC Motors to use in their DIY Wind Turbines.
Unfortunately, as the demand for DC Motors has increased, so has the supply “of inappropriate” motors.
DIY Solar Ovens
2 sets of plans for DIY Solar Ovens - one very portable, one insulated for use in cooler areas - both for under $10.
Box Solar Oven
Windshield Shade Solar Oven
DIY Home Air Pressure Test
7 easy steps to perform your own air pressure test - find and fix those air leaks. Not only reduce your cost to heat & cool your home, but feel more comfortable without the drafts. See more here: DIY Home Air Pressure Test
Cheap & Easy Solar Projects
7 inexpensive, easy solar projects - from easy landscaping to diy solar heating: Easy Solar Projects
11 Money Saving Tips for Tough Times
All 11 of these tips cost NOTHING to implement - start saving today: 11 Money Saving Tips
Greening The Grid
Al Gore wants the electrical grid to be 100% Renewable within 10 years. What are the options?
Renewable options include:
Water - hydro electric dams, tidal current, ocean waves
Wind - farms of wind turbines
Biomass - natural gas from composing manure and other waste products
Solar - photovoltaic, thermal
In part 1, we look further at Solar Thermal Electrical Production.
DIY Wind Turbines
As the price of electricity rises, so does the interest in making your own windmill or wind turbine. We have designs and links for the do it yourself builder for both:
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT)
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT
The HAWT we have built ourselves. The VAWT will be our next project.
How to Cool Yourself Without Air Conditioning
Here's a great article full of ideas on how to keep cool without air conditioning. Lots of suggestions such as:
- Wet your wrists and other pulse points with cold water
- Keep the air flowing. Turn on the ceiling fan or box fan in the room
- Get wet! Take a cool shower
Full article here: Cool Yourself
Electric Plug-in Vehicles
Electric plug-in vehicles are available today, that can travel over 100 kms (60 miles) before a recharge, with top speeds exceeding 100 km/h (60 mph). Even greater ranges and speeds are on the horizon.
Read more on Electric Plug-in Vehicles.
How much CO2 does Electric Vehicle produce vs Gasoline Power Vehicle?
Pounds CO2 per kwh of Electrical Production - Listed State by State and Provinces
Just how much Power is in the Wind, for producing electricity? - Wind Turbines
There's just a little bit of math involved, but you can easily figure out how much power a small wind turbine can produce, given the length of the blades and the wind speed. With this information, you'll know if you should listen to that Salesman, or walk away.
How Much Power is in the Wind
Step by step instructions with parts list and tools list. Makes a great science project.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - starting with reduce. Lower your carbon footprint by carefully considering each purchase. Is this a “want” or a “need”. Can I get it in good used condition from someplace else? Does it have minimal packaging.
- Operate your large electrical appliances in off-hours. If you use a dryer, run it in off-peak hours. (using a clothes line is even better)
- Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater.
- Make your own household cleaners. It’s easy and quick. See http://greenterrafirma.com/cleaners.html for recipes.
- Shorten your shower times and take fewer baths. (if you buy a low flow shower head you can greatly reduce your hot water usage and keep those longer showers).
See the full 16+ items here. |
