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Off-Grid.net

Off-grid brings you news, knowledge, discussion, and classifieds from the off-grid world. What seems like a tiny niche is growing in popularity as people seek a life outside of the city. Off-gridders must find ways to produce their own energy, food, water, shelter, and other necessities. Connect with people who live off the beaten path or begin the search for your own property on this site.

Build It Solar

Dedicated to do-it-yourself renewable energy projects, Build It Solar provides hundreds of ideas and plans for any kind of home energy endeavor. New to renewable energy? Start with the "Half Plan" that uses a variety of energy saving projects to cut your energy usage in half. New to solar? Look for the do-it-yourself site survey to understand your property's solar potential. Not limited to solar, Build It Solar also includes tons of projects for wind power and biofuels.

Earth2Tech

Energy self reliance is a big topic for environmental, political, and individual reasons. Earth2Tech posts news about technological developments that can affect us on personal and societal levels. Stay on top of the news about electric cars, the smart grid, the bloom box fuel cell, solar power applications, and LED lightbulbs.

Wisebread

Wisebread is well-known for its advice on real personal finance. It's a community of bloggers who write about frugal living, lifehacks, careers, and other financial wisdom. Being smart with your money isn't supposed to inhibit you: rather, Wisebread's advice helps people worry less about money, allowing you to focus on the really important things in life. They also feature an active forum where you can ask questions and interact with other people who are trying to live within their means.

Instructables

Do you want to know how to build a vertical garden? How about your own solar panel array? Maybe you're looking for ways to reuse a linen closet full of old pillowcases. Instructables is a community based site that allows anyone to post a how-to project complete with photos and instructions. The result: a lifetime's supply of projects that can help you save money, recycle, or simply satisfy your appetite for making stuff.

Survival Spot

Disasters are a reality that shouldn't be ignored. That's the reason Survival Spot was created - to share information about a variety of survival and preparedness topics. Topics cover many aspects of survival, including gardening, food storage, health, and self defense. Also read about getting by in the wilderness and reviews of essential gadgets and gear. Like any other type of self reliance, preparedness is something to get into gradually and this blog can give you ideas on where to start.

Self-Reliance-Exchange

Written by a group of self reliant people, Self Reliance Exchange is quickly building an enormous database that covers a huge range of categories on self reliant practices and philosophies. Anyone interested in self reliance will find something useful to take away from this blog - recipes from scratch, emergency preparedness, and personal finance are great categories to start looking into here.

Simple Self Reliance

This writer explores the concept of self reliance and how self reliance fits in this modern society. How far can you realistically go down the path of self reliance? How can you stay on track with your priorities? He also writes on the grandaddy of self reliance, Henry David Thoreau. We can't wait to see how this blog unfolds!

American Preppers Network

For information and news from the world of emergency preparation, American Preppers Network is a great resource. Learn about food storage, what to expect during a natural disaster, and about other survival techniques. You can also connect with other preppers in your region and all over the world in the forum and through the numerous links to other prepping blogs on the web.

Wind

Wind power is an effective form of alternative energy. It is used in many European countries on both land and sea to supplement other forms of electricity. Wind power is proliferating across the United States as well. Also new minimalist technology is allowing Americans to install their own turbines. However, the picture of wind power isn't perfect. Wind power's many disadvantages and advantages require an in-depth understanding of how this technology works.

Wind power is most successful as a public utility. Wind farms are proliferating all over the world. In the United States you can see them when you travel through the Midwest and on the Pacific Coast.

Individuals can also benefit from wind power, but it's not necessarily the best form of alternative energy for many homeowners. Wind power best serves you if you live in a windy, rural area. Many of the resources in this category include documents on wind power potential by region, resources for buying wind turbines, and do it yourself wind power projects.

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Latest Additions

Why Solar Panels Are Typically a Better Option than Wind Turbines - Sunpluggers
This article explains why wind power isn’t for everyone. Wind power is a compelling renewable energy option and DIY wind projects seem to be easier and more effective than DIY solar power projects. Unfortunately, most residential areas are not suitable locations for an effective wind turbine. An area with no wind obstruction is quite rare in a typical neighborhood, and there might be regulations against hoisting a 30-foot turbine up into the air where you live. For most people, solar panels provide a more consistent source of energy.
Creating New Ways to Finance Alternative Power Projects - CBS4denver.com
Both individuals and communities who want to switch to wind power or solar power may have the space, get wind and sun, but don't have the money to develop a project. Many communities are finding ways to finance these projects; one school district in Ohio commissioned NexGen, a Boulder, CO corporation, to build and maintain two 100-kilowatt wind turbines on their property. The school district then buys the power from NexGen. This finance model is a good one for non profit organizations who want to use solar or wind power.
Wisconsin Family Files Wind Farm Complaint - Portage Daily Register
A family in LeRoy, WI filed a complaint against Invenergy, a company that built a wind farm near their home. The family claims that their physical and mental health suffered by the turbines. While they eventually moved, the house couldn't be sold, so they finally filed for bankruptcy. While the company claims that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that giant turbines affect people's health, it is something to look into.
Grid-Connected Offshore Wind Turbines Could Meet Global Electricity Needs - USA Today
The biggest drawback of wind power is that sometimes... it's not windy. A study conducted by the University of Delaware shows that offshore wind turbines connected by a grid solves the problem of intermittent energy output. While no wind turbines currently operate in the Atlantic Ocean, they have been proposed. Supplementing our power needs with this type of power would be a great way to produce clean and efficient energy.
Inhabitat: Solar Compressed Air System Solves the Energy Storage Conundrum
Storing electricity has always been a problem for users of renewable energy. By using solar power to propel heated compressed air through a turbine, Southwest Solar attempts to solve this problem.
Calfinder: 8 Revolutionary Wind Energy Concepts
Revolutionary ways to incorporate wind power are being built into many modern skyscrapers and houses. Check them out on this interesting site.
Alternative Energy News: WindCube Generates Electricity in Moderate Wind
Among the newly developed turbines is the WindCube, produced by Green Energy Technologies. It concentrates and amplifies wind using a specially shaped covering operating according to Bernoulli's Principle, enabling the turbine to utilize lower wind speeds.
Alton Moore's Wind Power: Information on Home-Built Turbines
This writer provides in-depth information on his own experiences and findings with home-built wind turbines and includes helpful diagrams and photographs.
Matter Network: Go Fly a Kite
This contraption harvests the energy generated by the rapid unspooling of a kite. The inventors plan a demo by the end of 2010.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The NREL provides statistics, maps, averages, and other information related to different types of alternative energy use and potential across the United States.
The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Residents Protest Wind Farm
The Marylanders who voiced concern over a proposed wind farm in October 2009 reveal the drawbacks of wind farms. Turbines can constitute a wildlife hazard and a legitimate annoyance to property owners.
Vimeo: Maker Workshop - Windpower Generator How To
This wind powered generator is made from an old exercise treadmill and some PVC pipe. The great thing about the project is how it explains in simple terms the technology involved in turning wind into free electricity.
DA Solar Homepage
This company provides information on all types of alternative energy - geothermal and wind, with a special emphasis on solar. Its articles and videos are often presented in conjunction with solar power products available for purchase.
House Energy Homepage
House Energy is an excellent resource for introductory information for residential energy saving topics. It specializes in defining all the new and different appliances, methods, as well as renovation and home construction.
Natural Health Wizards: Steve's Wind Turbine and How He Made It
See how Steve built his wind turbine on his off-grid homestead in Maui. The supplies cost $200 and Steve writes that this turbine provides just as much energy as his solar panels.
 
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