Off-the-grid
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- This page refers to the ecological construction method. For the Stargate SG-1 episode of the same name, see Off the Grid (Stargate SG-1)
Primary infrastructure considerations for off the grid construction:
- Fresh water source
- Energy source
- Waste disposal
Contents
Fresh Water Considerations
A conservative estimate of the water needs of a family of four is 150 to 300 gallons per day. The water capacity required depends on the following factors:
- Everday Needs: drinking, cooking, bathing, toilets and appliances such as dishwashers and automatic washing machines.
- Seasonal Uses: watering of a lawn or garden, car washing, swimming pools and hot tubs.
- Specialized Uses: animal watering, crop irrigation and water treatment devices that require backwashing.
- Fire Protection
- Heating and Cooling: some geothermal power systems utilized water at below ground temperatures for cooling and heating needs.
Fresh Water Sources
- Well water is drawn from below the surface of the earth by means of a pump through a water well.
- Rainwater harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater primarily for non-potable uses but can also be utitilzed to collect and store potable water.
- Desalination refers to any of several processes that remove the excess salt and other minerals from water in order to obtain fresh water. This method is generally utilized only in coastal areas with access to an ocean or sea.
Alternative Energy Sources
- Solar Power describes a number of methods of harnessing energy from the light of the Sun.
- Wind Power is the kinetic energy of wind, or the extraction of this energy by wind turbines.
- Geothermal Power is electricity generated by utilizing naturally occurring geological heat sources.
- Wave Energy can be harnessed in much the same way as Wind Power by having a turbine respond to movement of water, usually large sea waves.
Waste Disposal
- Septic system consists of a buried concrete septic tank, that holds the solid waste from a home's plumbing waste drains, and a septic drain field, that distributes the waste water to the ground where it disperses through the soil or evaporates.
- A Composting Toilet uses biological processes to deal with the disposal and processing of human excrement into organic compost material.
Links to other Resources
- Alernative energy uses around the globe: [link]
- [Affordable small photovoltaic sets for Africa]
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