Among the more than 200 buildings that you can visit as part of the annual Green Buildings Open House on October 4th are many off-the-grid houses. Here are profiles of two of those homes and the people who live in them.
Vermont Home Harnesses Wind
In pristine northern Vermont, tucked in the woods, David and Mary Lahar have lived off the electricity grid since moving to their new home in Strafford in 1984. As David reports, concern for the environment and interest in alternative energy technologies were the underlying forces behind their home-building decision. The Lahars obtain between 75 and 80 percent of their electricity from wind, with the rest coming from solar panels. They use wood for heating and use propane for instantaneous hot water, as a back-up heating source, and for cooking. The Lahars keep their electric needs modest, but recently David has considered putting up a larger wind turbine to provide for his family’s growing needs.
When choosing a lot for the 1,700-foot timber-constructed home, wind was a primary consideration. The Lahars conducted wind tests for a month before they made a final decision. An average of 8 mile per hour (mph) winds are enough to get the turbine paddles moving, and the site they finally chose for their wind turbine on Mount Mansfield has regular 10 mph winds. They constructed a 100-foot platform to raise the windmill above the tree line in an attempt to further capture the wind and installed a Sencenbaugh 1.2 kilowatt wind turbine with 13-foot blades.
In addition to wind energy, the Lahars own four photovoltaic panels, use energy-efficient appliances and lighting, employ passive solar heating, and use a horizontal access washer. Their home is super-insulated with at least 6" of insulation all around. They burn approximately three cords of wood a year; a modest amount for a 1,700 square-foot home. The energy provided by the wind and sun is able to provide electricity for a small garage and shop as well as the house.
David feels that wind is an under-used resource. He cites Lowell Mountain and East Mountain in Vermont as two potential wind farm sites. He favors greater subsidies for sustainable energy use, because, he argues, this would lessen our dependence on nuclear energy, fossil fuels, and other non-renewable resources, all of whose social costs are significantly higher than the price paid for the commodity.
Farm and Education Center in Massachusetts Promotes Sustainability
Ricky Baruc and Deb Habib first met 20 years ago at the New Alchemy Institute on Cape Cod. Inspired by their learning experience at the Institute, Ricky and Deb went on separately to pursue their goals. When they rejoined years later, they realized that they had similar visions. They decided to seek out some land together and begin an organic farm and environmental education center.
They started building Seeds of Solidarity in 1997 on 30 acres in Orange, Massachusetts. Deb and Ricky are proud of having created one of the few places where one can witness both sustainable agriculture and alternative energy use. Ricky runs a for-profit organic farm with two apprentices while Deb teaches local youths and adults about cultivation methods and the benefits of using sustainable energy.
Deb and Ricky live in an off-grid, super-insulated stucco home, from which Deb runs the education program. The entry to the home houses 20 batteries, an inverter for converting DC to AC power, and informational materials. The home has 9 inches of insulation and typically consumes about one cord of wood annually for heat. Behind their home is a similarly designed cabin, also off the grid. Six AstroPower solar panels provide the electricity for the main house and a few panels out back provide power for the cabin. There is a biodiesel generator for backup power, but they haven’t had to use it since they purchased it three years ago.
Ricky, Deb, and their son Levi do not deny themselves modern conveniences. They work on the computer, listen to music, and play videos. When asked if they were forced to make sacrifices to create their off-grid lifestyle, Deb replies that it is not a sacrifice so much as being conscious of one’s impact.
Along with running volunteer programs for local teens, farming, and educating, Seeds of Solidarity also heavily promotes biodiesel fuels. Ricky and Deb run their 1997 Ford F350, 1980 Mercedes, and 15-passenger Sol Patrol van on biodiesel.
Ricky and Deb believe that one of the key components to changing people’s use habits is through education. Because they live in a somewhat secluded area, the Sol Patrol van has become one of their main promotional tools. This biodiesel van also runs on Fryalator grease, which must be heated to 160° before being converted to biodiesel. Restaurants are more then happy to dispose of Frylator grease, which means free fuel. In addition, Evergreen Solar photovoltaic panels sit atop the van. Seeds of Solidarity takes this van on the road, using solar energy to cook food from their garden at festivals.
Essentially, they are showing people that it is possible to travel, cook food, and grow crops without immense impacts on the environment.
Seeds of Solidarity also co-runs the Garlic and Arts Festival, a local event in late-September, now entering its third year. The event drew 3,500 people last year and generated only one bag of trash. The rest of the utensils, plates, and other items needed for the festival were either biodegradable or recyclable. In addition, all power needed for music amplification was provided by solar panels. Ricky and Deb feel this festival is a great way to get families and friends together while at the same time educating people about sustainable energy options.
For more information about Seeds of Solidarity, visit their website at www.seedsofsolidarity.org.
John Baskin is a graduate student at Antioch New England and was a summer intern at NESEA.
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