No subject


Tue Mar 4 16:45:48 EST 2008


Back
Cover  The Evolution of an Independent Home is a coming of age tale of
independent
living. Jeffrey Fowler went from neophyte to one of the country's
experts on
solar
electric homes. Evolution of an Independent Home tells that story and
more by
Fowler's recounting the creation of his homestead. If Walden Pond
self-sufficiency
with computers and hot showers on demand appeals to you, it is a must
read. -
Marshall Glickman, Publisher and Editor of Green Living magazine.
"We are
taking
energy into our own hands, as we did with computers. Likewise, new
thinking is
required. In this fine book, Jeffrey Fowler displays a rare
combination of
technical
competence, whole-life experience, and the ability to communicate." -
Windy
Dankoff,
Dankoff Solar Products, Inc., Santa Fe, NM.   "This book is Yankee
ingenuity in
its
purest form. Jeffrey Fowler's honest and straightforward depiction of
his
experience
with solar electricity should be an inspiration for readers to start
using solar
electricity now." Joel Davidson - Author of The New Solar Electric
Home.   "I
have
thoroughly enjoyed reading Jeffrey Fowler's personal account of the
building and
powering of his independent home. I recommend this book to even the
readers who
only
dream of energy independence." Ken Cox - President of Trace
Engineering Company,
Inc.   About the Author  Jeffrey Fowler resides in Worthington,
Massachusetts in
a
passive-solar, solar-electric powered home with his family. He
founded,
developed,
and later sold Fowler Solar Electric Inc., a successful business that
supplies
alternative energy components to power remote homes. Fowler wrote
several
successful
how-to books and booklets on solar electricity while working at his
former
business.
He has a B.S. in Biology from Tufts University and Masters Degree in
Environmental
Studies from Antioch New England Graduate School.   Excerpted from The
Evolution
of
an Independent Home; The Story of a Solar Electric Pioneer by Paul
Jeffrey
Fowler.
Copyright 1995. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved  Chapter
26: What
Is
Next: Our current solar electric system consists of a 32-battery,
battery bank,
24
33-watt modules, and eight 48-watt modules. The battery bank is rated
to store
42,000 watt-hours of electrical energy. The sum of all the modules is
rated to
produce 1,200 peak watts. This output is roughly equivalent to the
output of 24
50-peak-watt modules that are sold today. Our 1,200-peak-watt arrays
produce an
average of 2,400 watt-hours per day of usable electrical energy in the
winter
months, and an average of 4300 watt-hours per day of usable electrical
energy in
the
summer months.   For most of the year we use our appliances, never
worrying
about
the solar electric system. It fully charges the batteries on the next
completely
sunny day. We are careful with our electrical use during a span of
four weeks
between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Once every ten years we are
confronted with
a
span of three weeks where we never have a sunny day. We still receive
a small
amount
of output from the modules in cloudy weather. We cut back our use as
the length
of a
no-sun period increases. Our goal is to never discharge the battery
bank below
half
full. Most years, we have a week of poor weather, then a sunny day
that
partially
recharges the battery bank before the next cloudy week. We conserve
only a small
amount during these years.   I have lived with a solar electric system
for
twelve
years. I ran a solar electric business for the majority of those
years. For most
of
the years running the business, I spent most of each day designing
solar
electric
systems and solving unique problems for solar-electric-system owners.
Our system
is
ideal for our needs. Still, I confess that I have trouble leaving well
enough
alone.
On any given day, I follow Lea around telling her my next daydream of
improvements
or future expansion. My rational side stops me from actually expanding
our
system. I
do, however, have many ideas of what we will and will not do in the
future.
Our
current 2600 watt Trace inverter has a large internal battery charger
that is
meant
to be powered by a 120VAC generator. If our need for power increases,
the most
logical addition to our alternative energy system would be a portable
generator
to
charge our battery bank during the worst winter months. We do not
really want to
invest in a generator, listen to its noise, or maintain another
gasoline engine.
However, this would be the next expansion that I would professionally
recommend.
If
our loads increase, what we would really need would be the on-demand,
winter
supplement to our energy production. This could only be provided by a
standby
generator. Our choice for now would be to discharge our battery bank
no lower
than
half full during a winter low-sun stretch, and to then rent a
generator for a
day to
recharge our large battery bank to full.   We plan to replace our
Trace 2600
watt
inverter with the new Trace 4000 watt inverter in the next few months.
The size
of
our current inverter is adequate. We will upgrade to the 4000 watt
inverter for
two
reasons. This new inverter produces a true sine wave. Many appliances
will run
more
efficiently. We will eliminate electrical interference noise in
problem
appliances
and radio frequency interference on our AM radio reception and our
telephones.
The
second reason we want the new Trace inverter is because this inverter
has a much
improved, and much larger, battery charger. If we ever need to rent a
generator,
we
will have better and quicker capabilities for recharging the battery
bank.
This
summer as I considered a wind machine installation similar to the
Cooks', I
realize
I have been dreaming of larger alternative energy systems that would
power
larger
loads. On a small scale this is analogous to a utility company
planning to build
another power plant for customers whom they will have to convince to
expand
their
use. If the power company would listen, I would advise them to urge
their
customers
to conserve and avoid building that next power plant. On my small
scale, I must
also
follow the same advice. In the future, I hope to harness my desire to
design an
expanded alternative energy system and direct it toward refining my
conservation
without changing my standard of living.   Our life here on Bashan Hill
is
different
from the normal American life. When the power is out in the town, we
have
electricity. When the winter is severe and cold, we are warm and our
heating
bill is
unaffected. We are aware of the stresses and the inconsistencies of
modern life.
We
try to make decisions that avoid some of these pitfalls and give us a
more
rewarding
life. Buddhists profess that suffering is a result of expectations and
wanting.
Their solution for a life of contentment is the cessation of
suffering. They
believe
we should see the world as a glass half full, not as a glass half
empty. New
Englanders remind us that the grass is not really greener on the other
side of
the
fence.   Lea and I, and Terry too, are content here on Bashan Hill. We
enjoy
making
our own power and growing much of our own food. Our other children,
Bethy, Kurt,
and
Jarod, who live primarily with their father in a large house, on an
income many
times greater than ours, sometimes ask in their adolescent confusion,
"Are you
and
Mom poor?" I answer them, "We are rich. We have everything we could
possibly
want."
Customer Comments  : A reader from Central Vermont , January 14, 1999
Year
2000
worriers should read this book  This fun book taught me how to think
in terms of
independent living. One of the best on my shelf.   A reader from
Newton,
Massachusetts , November 24, 1998  An extremely clear and well written
book  As
a
Biologist, I have been looking for a book that would give a clear and
concise
introduction to solar energy and photovoltaics. Paul Fowler's book
does just
that.
It is written for the person who has an interest in solar power, but
who does
not
have the technical background to immediately delve into more detailed
texts.
It's
story format is engaging, yet also very informative. I highly
recommend this
book.
dougl at dri.edu from Reno, Nevada , September 30, 1998   An interesting
autobiography
AND technically informative  This is much more than a "how to" book.
Nonetheless, it
contains ample basic and detailed information on energy efficiency and
construction
of a solar-powered house. It is a must read for those who are thinking
about
living
"off the grid". It is also a fascinating personal history. Fowler has
used his
innate abilities and creativity to forge an independent lifestyle. The
evolution
of
his wonderful home goes hand in hand with the growth of his family.
It's an
inspiring story for anyone seeking to redirect his or her life away
from some of
the
more toxic aspects of our culture. And though he's passed away,
Fowler's little
dog
Rollo will always live in my heart.   twhalen at phs.org from
Albuquerque, NM ,
September 22, 1998  Enjoyable, humorous, informative AND inspiring!  A
very
readable
story of Jeff Fowler's 20+ year development of his independent
homestead in the
Berkshire Hills of Mass. This is a homegrown story of a hometown boy
grown into
solar pioneer and returning to a simpler way of life. His embrace of
hometown
friendship and simple life-style has been an inspiring wake up call to
me. In
the
past 4 years, I have lived in three regions of the US (Northeast,
Florida and
Southwest) and have found the technical aspects of the book readily
adaptable to
each of these regions - a book for all seasons. I encourage you to
read and
learn
and enjoy.

***************************************************

The Solar Electric House : Energy for the Environmentally-Responsive,
Energy-Independent Home
by Steven J. Strong, William G. Scheller (Contributor) Our Price:
$17.56 You
Save:
$4.39 (20%) Usually ships in 2-3 days Paperback - (January 1994) 288
pages
Customer Comments : Bob Hammond (b.hammond at asu.edu) from Tempe,
Arizona ,
January
30, 1999  ...the most comprehensive solar electric book available
Steven
Strong's
book "The Solar Electric House" is the most comprehensive book
available
regarding
the application of solar-generated electricity (photovoltaics). The
book is well
organized, well written, and easy to understand.   Although this book
was first
printed in 1987, it is amazingly current today (1999). I have been
using this
book
since 1987 when I build my stand-alone PV-powered home in Prescott
Arizona, and
referred to Mr. Strong's book on a regular basis during design and
construction
of
the solar-electric system. I still use this book today -- as the
primary
textbook in
two classes that I teach at Arizona State University: "Introduction to
Solar
Energy
and Photovoltaics" and "Photovoltaic System Design".   wlord at bu.edu
from Cape
Porpoise, Maine , January 25, 1999  A necessary companion for those
building a
solar
house  I have long wanted to be able to harvest the sun's energy for
heat and
electricity, but I was in doubt about whether the technology was
dependable or
affordable. Steven Strong's book erased my concerns. While the science
of
converting
the sun's rays to electricity eludes me still, I found Steven's
down-to-earth
examples reassuring - so much so that we engaged him to design our
solar home in
Maine. This book will help us all envision a new Millenium with less
pollution
and
more independence.

***************************************************

The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook : The Complete Guide to
Renewable Energy
Techologies and Sustainable Living (9th Ed)
by John Schaeffer (Editor), Doug Pratt (Editor), Real Good Staff
(Editor),
Douglas
R. Pratt Our Price: $24.00 You Save: $6.00 (20%) Usually ships in 2-3
days
Paperback
- (July 1996) 670 pages
Reviews  Amazon.com  It is arguably a form of cultural insanity that
industrial
civilizations constantly bathed by free and clean energy from the sky
(the sun
and
the wind) continue to depend upon dirty and limited chemical fuels
that poison
the
people, their foods, and the land upon which they depend.   Happily,
this
comprehensive sourcebook provides those of you with foresight a way
out of this
madness; it includes products ranging from simple energy-saving
devices such as
compact fluorescent lights to home-scale energy-harvesting systems
that utilize
the
sun, wind, and water to make electricity for people living
"off-the-grid."
Chapters
focus on Independent Living, Land, Shelter, Harvesting Energy,
Managing Energy
Systems, Heating and Cooling, Water, Energy Conservation, the Nontoxic
Home,
Home
and Market Gardening, Mobility and Electric Vehicles, and Livelihood
and
Learning.
Committed to selling only products that promote environmental
responsibility at
an
honest value, The Real Goods Trading Company is one of the
fastest-growing
companies
in America. Many of the products listed in another of our favorites,
the
Millennium
Whole Earth Catalog, can be purchased by mail from Real Goods.   Whole
Earth
Review
The Sourcebook remains the best introduction to energy-efficient
technology for
common folks.
Customer Comments : Mark Stevens (genesis1 at adnc.com) from San Diego,
CA ,
September
21, 1998  An Outstanding Starter and Reference  I found this book to
be a very
informative and well researched compendium of information for those
who wish to
learn more about independent living. This book is an excellent mixture
of common
sense advice (based on real world experience), technical information
and a
practical
guide to a myriad of products. It may not be everything I wanted to
know about a
new
subject but it comes as close to delivering that as any book I have
ever read.
Good
job!   windsun at windsun.com from Phoenix, AZ USA , September 7, 1997
An
excellent
book in general, but watch out for the agenda..  I found some chapters
to be
excellent, others less so. The less technical chapters especially
seemed to be a
lot
of "feel good" inspiration without a lot of practical value unless you
live in a
place with good rain, moderate climate, running streams, and no
neighbors. Lotsa
luck. The technical chapters on solar and energy savings were much
better, and
make
up about 75% of the book. Well worth the money, but some of the
editorial
comment
reminds of the sixties.
Lawrence F. London, Jr.  Venaura Farm
intergarden.com  InterGarden
metalab.unc.edu/intergarden InterGarden
metalab.unc.edu/permaculture PermaSphere
metalab.unc.edu/intergarden/orgfarm AGINFO
lflondon at mindspring.com  london at metalab.unc.edu



More information about the Market-farming mailing list