permaculture

["Robert Waldrop" <rmwj@soonernet.com>]

New passive solar construction isn't an option now
for me or for many other people.
So we are working, slowly but surely, on the
permaculturing of our dwelling.  Here
is the list of "best practices" we have compiled,
some of these projects are actually in progress.

So here are some of the "best practice" retrofit
ideas I have seen
discussed here and elsewhere.

(1) Super-insulation, typically R-45-50 in the
walls and R-75 in the
attic (or so).  I think the best resource to use
for this is
cellulose.  It has a lower embodied energy than
fiberglass.  In
existing construction, the way to get this much
insulation in walls
is to build a new interior frame all the way
around the exterior
walls of your house.  Pack that with cellulose,
cover with whatever,
and voila, superinsulated walls.  You lose a
little space, 10-12
inches around the exterior walls, which also has
the benefit of
reducing the area to be heated or cooled.

(2) Passive solar adaptations -- e.g. adding sun
spaces on south
walls, solar batteries, greenhouses, solar
chimneys, trombe walls,
etc.

(3) Ceiling fans and a low powere whole house fan
(as a substitute
for conventional air conditioning).  In dry areas,
swamp coolers.

(4) Grey water recovery and re-use system.

(5) Solar clothes dryer (a/k/a The Clothesline.)

(6) Removing high energy/wasteful appliances such
as dishwashers,
garbage disposals and compacters, and clothes
dryers.

(7) Replacing incandescent lighting with compact
florescent lighting.

(8) Window and door quilts.

(9) Window shades in the summer.

(10) Planting deciduous trees and other vegetation
and placing
associated structures (trellises, vines, large
shrubs, etc.)
appropriately so that your sunny exposures are
shaded in the summer,
but open to sunlightin the winter.

(11) Green roofs (or very shady roofs).

(12) Rainwater harvesting and distribution system.

(13) Drip irrigation for gardens (fed with
harvested rainwater and
grey water).

(14) Super-insulated room in the interior as a
"cold weather
shelter".

(15) Wood burning stoves for cooking and heating.

(16) Outdoor kitchen for summer use, including a
brick oven and a
solar oven.

(17) Edible landscaping (permaculture zones 1 and
2).

(18) Solar hot water heating.

(19) Solar air heating

(20) Solar chargers for small batteries (like the
$15 Crane Co.
model).

(21) Underground food storage area -- for storage
of
vegetables, home processed foods, and aging
saurkraut, kimchee,
pickles, wine, beer, vinegar. Also functions as a
tornado shelter
and bomb shelter.

(22) Exterior shutters for windows (instead of or
in addition to
window shades.

(23) Double or triple paned windows and/or "storm
windows".  If you
put your house in super-insulation mode, you will
have 10-12 inch
thick walls.  Install a second window on the
interior.  And a window
quilt.

(24) Regular attention to caulking and
weatherstripping.

(25) Ventilate the attic.

Does anyone have suggestions for additions to this
list?

Robert Waldrop, OKC
www.bettertimesinfo.org