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My Designs ~ Green Living ~ Alternative Energy

Alternative Energy DIY Some might think alternative energy is all roofs full of solar panels and huge wind generators. We will probably see a lot more of that in the coming years but there are things we can do ourselves that do not take big utility companies or require large construction projects. I have six solar panels that I use to generate electricity to power fans. One blows heat in from a glassed in porch in the winter time. Another one is a more complicated arrangement involving a solar heat collector that is mounted on the back porch roof. It has its own pathway to pull air out of the house, heat it up, and then blow it back into the house. I will probably detail that setup sometime in the near future on this site. The point is, I built all this stuff myself. It works. I have not replaced my woodstove for heat and I never intended to. My goal is to shave some of my heating requirements off of those months like March April October and November. So I have links on this page to websites that sell components, tools, and systems. If you click on one of the links and buy something I will receive a small commission. So help out the site and use the links for your needs. I don't think we can have alternative energy without another big ingredient which is conservation. There is so much energy to be saved in our homes and lifestyles we can really reduce our drain on our planet's resources and our wallets. What you build might not look like a magazine spread but we need to get used to that. We are not in this to look good but rather to actually have an effect on our lives and the environment. Another thing I will write on sometimes is recycling of building materials. Most of the building projects I have undertaken on our house have used lumber, bricks, and stone recycled from barns, sheds, and houses. I just recently removed a large bunch of old clapboard siding from an old house a few miles away from here to put on an addition to our house. It was a lot of work and I don't have very much of it put up yet but I am glad I did it. Most old houses around here get either burnt down or bulldozed away. Same with old barns. I was lucky to get what I got.

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