Off-the-grid

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For other uses, see Off the grid (disambiguation).
A house using solar panels and rainwater harvesting

Off-the-grid or off-grid is a characteristic of buildings and a lifestyle<ref>Vannini, Phillip; Taggart, Jonathan (2014). Off the Grid: Re-Assembling Domestic Life. Routledge. p. 10. ISBN 978-0415854337.</ref> designed in an independent manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. The term "off-the-grid" traditionally refers to not being connected to the electrical grid, but can also include other utilities like water, gas, and sewer systems, and can scale from residential homes to small communities. Off-the-grid living allows for buildings and people to be self-sufficient, which is advantageous in isolated locations where normal utilities cannot reach and is attractive to those who want to reduce environmental impact and cost of living. Generally, an off-grid building must be able to supply energy and potable water for itself, as well as manage food, waste and wastewater.

Energy

Energy for electrical power and heating can be derived from burning hydrocarbons (e.g. diesel generators, propane heating), or generated on-site with renewable energy sources such as solar (particularly with photovoltaics), wind, or micro hydro.<ref>Bozikovic, Alex (24 April 2017). "An Off-Grid Home That Relies on the Sun and the Wind". www.dwell.com. Dwell Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2022.</ref> Additional forms of energy include biomass, commonly in the form of wood, waste, and alcohol fuels and geothermal energy, which uses differences in the underground temperature to regular indoor air environments in buildings.<ref>Andrew (2012-11-05). "Geothermal Heat Pumps: Letting The Earth Provide". Off The Grid News. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> It is possible to simply eliminate energy shortage with e.g. solar and wind tech such as in Old Order Amish (while used and sanctioned, not all agree)<ref>"Do Amish use solar power?". amishamerica.com. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 2023-04-01.</ref> and Old Order Mennonite communities, and many Amish people still use steam engines.<ref>"Can The Amish Use Solar Power? Changing Rules & Traditions - Discover Solar Power". discoversolarpower.com. 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2023-04-01.</ref>

Electrical power

Grid-connected buildings receive electricity from power plants, which mainly use natural resources such as coal and natural gas as energy to convert into electrical power. 2017's breakdown of world energy sources<ref>Aziz, Ali Saleh; Tajuddin, Mohammad Faridun Naim; Adzman, Mohd Rafi; Azmi, Azralmukmin; Ramli, Makbul A. M. (2019-08-01). "Optimization and sensitivity analysis of standalone hybrid energy systems for rural electrification: A case study of Iraq". Renewable Energy. 138: 775–792. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.004. ISSN 0960-1481. S2CID 116480006.</ref> shows that the globe, mainly dependent on grid power, uses a majority of non-renewables, while popular renewables such as solar PV and wind power are a small portion. When off the grid, such as in Africa where 55% people of do not have access to electricity,<ref>Odou, Oluwarotimi Delano Thierry; Bhandari, Ramchandra; Adamou, Rabani (2020-01-01). "Hybrid off-grid renewable power system for sustainable rural electrification in Benin". Renewable Energy. 145: 1266–1279. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2019.06.032. ISSN 0960-1481.</ref> buildings and homes must take advantage of the renewable energy sources around them, because it is the most abundant and allows for self-sufficiency.

Solar photovoltaics

Solar photovoltaics (PV), which use energy from the sun, are one of the most popular energy solutions for off-grid buildings. PV arrays (solar panels) allow for energy from the sun to be converted into electrical energy. PV is dependent upon solar radiation and ambient temperature. Other components needed in a PV system include charge controllers, inverters, and rapid shutdown controls.<ref>Burdick, Joe; Schmidt, Philip (25 May 2017). "Go Off-Grid with Solar Power - Renewable Energy". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> These systems give off-grid sites the ability to generate energy without grid connection. Every quarter, Bloomberg New Energy Finance evaluates manufacturers on their actual projects over the previous quarter and publish a list of Tier 1 Solar Module (panel) Manufacturers.

Wind turbines

Wind energy can be harnessed by wind turbines. Wind turbines components consist of blades that get pushed by wind, gearboxes, controllers, generators, brakes, and a tower.<ref>"The Inside of a Wind Turbine". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> The amount of mechanical power captured from a wind turbine is a factor of the wind speed, air density, blade rotational area, and the aerodynamic power coefficient of the turbine.<ref>Gan, Leong Kit; Echenique Subiabre, Estanislao Juan Pablo (June 2019). "A realistic laboratory development of an isolated wind-battery system". Renewable Energy. 136: 645–656. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2019.01.024. ISSN 0960-1481. S2CID 116028530.</ref>

Micro-hydro

Where water is abundant, hydropower is a promising energy solution. Large scale hydropower involves a dam and reservoir, and small scale micro-hydro can use turbines in rivers with constant levels of water.<ref>"Microhydropower Systems". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-06.</ref><ref>"Energy Systems & Design". microhydropower.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.</ref> The amount of mechanical power generated is a factor of the flow of the stream, turbine size, water density, and power coefficient, similar to wind turbines. The energy from waves and tides can also provide power to coastal areas.<ref>Ramudu, Eshwan (October 2011). "Ocean Wave Energy-Driven Desalination Systems for Off-grid Coastal Communities in Developing Countries". 2011 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference. IEEE. pp. 287–289. doi:10.1109/ghtc.2011.38. ISBN 978-1-61284-634-7. S2CID 19931561.</ref>

Batteries

When renewables produce energy that is not currently needed, the electrical energy is usually directed to charge a battery. This solves intermittency issues caused by the non-constant production of renewables and allows for variations in building loads. Common batteries include the lead-acid battery and lithium-ion battery.<ref>Scheckel, Paul (2 May 2019). "Off-Grid Battery Options". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref>

Hybrid energy systems

In order to protect against intermittency issues and system failures, many off-grid communities create hybrid energy systems. These combine traditional renewables like solar PV, and wind, micro-hydro, batteries or even diesel generators. This can be cheaper and more effective than extending or maintaining grids to isolated communities.<ref>"Solar plus storage better than grid connection for remote households". RenewEconomy. 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. The deployment of 52 stand alone power systems by Western Power has now been completed, enabling it to remove around 230km of overhead powerlines. was able to avoid the costly replacement of around 230 kilometres of overhead powerlines. The stand-alone power systems (SAPS) combined various amounts of solar, battery storage and a back-up diesel generator, all depending on the customer needs and consumption</ref>

Radioisotope thermoelectric generator

Historically remote applications such as lighthouses, weather stations and the likes which draw a small but continuous amount of power were powered by Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) with the needed radioisotopes either extracted from spent nuclear fuel or produced in dedicated facilities. Both the Soviet Union and the United States employed numerous such devices on earth and every deep space probe reaching beyond the orbit of Mars (and even some in the inner solar system) has had an RTG to provide power where solar panels no longer deliver sufficient electricity per unit of mass.

Temperature control

Types of solar-energy passive off-grid cooling systems could be used for cooling houses and/or refrigeration – including some that do not require electrical components and are allowing for chemically-stored on-demand energy. Such may be useful for climate change mitigation and adaptation.<ref>"Sunlight and salt water join forces in electricity-free cooling system". New Atlas. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.</ref><ref>Wang, Wenbin; Shi, Yusuf; Zhang, Chenlin; Li, Renyuan; Wu, Mengchun; Zhuo, Sifei; Aleid, Sara; Wang, Peng (1 September 2021). "Conversion and storage of solar energy for cooling". Energy & Environmental Science. 15: 136–145. doi:10.1039/D1EE01688A. hdl:10754/670903. ISSN 1754-5706. S2CID 239698764.</ref>

Communications

See also: Amateur radio

Meshnets such as B.A.T.M.A.N. could be used to sustain or establish communications without conventional infrastructure.<ref>Hodson, Hal. "When the internet dies, meet the meshnet that survives". New Scientist. Retrieved 24 October 2021.</ref> Moreover, off-grid communications technologies could be used for environmental, security and agricultural monitoring as well as for emergency communications and coordination – such as for work assignation.

Healthcare

Drones have been used for off-grid healthcare, especially in the most remote regions of the world. With communications enabled, they deliver test samples, medicine, vaccines, food, water and anti-venoms.<ref>Perry, Sophie. "Drones launch off-grid healthcare in rural Madagascar". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.</ref><ref>Laksham, Karthik Balajee (February 2019). "Unmanned aerial vehicle (drones) in public health: A SWOT analysis". Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 8 (2): 342–346. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_413_18. PMC 6436288. PMID 30984635.</ref>

Waste management

Small-scale waste management techniques in Western Europe, often for specific or standardized waste, were reported to mostly use one of two main strategies: aerobic (with plants) and anaerobic treatment (with biogas production).<ref>Michelet, Arthur (2018). "The Incomplete Guide to off-grid Waste Management". doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.16834.63681. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)</ref>

Water and sanitation

See also: Plumbing

Water is a crucial consideration in the off-grid environment, which must be collected, used, and disposed of efficiently to make use of the environment. There are many ways to supply water for indoor domestic use, which vary based on local access and preference.

Sources

Local water bodies

Nearby streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes are easy access points for fresh water. Oceans can also be considered with proper desalination.

Wells and springs

Further information: Aquifer and Groundwater well

This traditional method involves digging down to where water is present and abundant underground, usually to the water table or to an aquifer, and bringing it up for use, or collecting at springs where underground water comes to the surface.<ref>Vivian, John (June 2000). "Off-Grid Water Systems - Nature and Environment". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> Systems for bringing underground water to buildings include wind and solar driven pumps or hand pumps.<ref>"Off-Grid Water Systems: 8 Viable Solutions to Bring Water to Your Homestead". MorningChores. 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> Well water should be tested on a regular basis and when changes in the water's taste, odor, or appearance occur to ensure its quality.<ref>"How Safe Is Your Well Water? - LHSFNA". www.lhsfna.org. July 2016. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref>

Rain catchments

This system relies on the weather to provide water. Catchment systems are designed based on the water demand of the users and local rainfall characteristics.<ref>Ren, Zhengen; Paevere, Phillip; Chen, Dong (May 2019). "Feasibility of off-grid housing under current and future climates". Applied Energy. 241: 196–211. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.068. ISSN 0306-2619. S2CID 116062204.</ref> Rain water is typically funneled from the roof of a building to water tanks where the water is stored until needed.

Foreign supplies

Another, less self-sufficient method involves bringing large amounts of clean water to the site where it is stored. This system relies on access to clean drinking water elsewhere and transportation to the off-grid site.<ref>"off grid box brings clean water and power to all". designboom | architecture & design magazine. 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref>

Devices

Atmospheric water generators have a large potential for off-the-grid water generation.<ref name="10.1038/s41586-021-03900-w">Lord, Jackson; Thomas, Ashley; Treat, Neil; Forkin, Matthew; Bain, Robert; Dulac, Pierre; Behroozi, Cyrus H.; Mamutov, Tilek; Fongheiser, Jillia; Kobilansky, Nicole; Washburn, Shane; Truesdell, Claudia; Lee, Clare; Schmaelzle, Philipp H. (October 2021). "Global potential for harvesting drinking water from air using solar energy". Nature. 598 (7882): 611–617. Bibcode:2021Natur.598..611L. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03900-w. ISSN 1476-4687. PMC 8550973. PMID 34707305.</ref>

Treatment

Wherever the water does come from, it must be safe to drink and use indoors. For various issues with water quality, different water treatment strategies are available.

Filtration

Further information: Water filter

A physical barrier allows water to pass through and blocks impurities in the water and, if the filter is fine enough, can filter out biological contaminants.<ref>"Best Ways to Purify Water When Camping". thesmartsurvivalist.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.</ref>

Chemical treatment

In order to disinfect water, such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and ozone are introduced which kill microorganisms.<ref>"Water Treatment | Public Water Systems | Drinking Water | Healthy Water | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref>

Ultraviolet light (UV)

A UV system uses bulbs that emit ultraviolet light into filtered water to kill all types of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa.<ref>"Ultraviolet disinfection of drinking water". ww2.health.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref>

Electrochemically activated solutions

A less typical approach, this involves applying a current to water that has a small salt solution added to disinfect biological contaminants.<ref>Clayton, Gillian E.; Thorn, Robin M.S.; Reynolds, Darren M. (August 2019). "Development of a novel off-grid drinking water production system integrating electrochemically activated solutions and ultrafiltration membranes" (PDF). Journal of Water Process Engineering. 30: 100480. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2017.08.018. ISSN 2214-7144. S2CID 102536171.</ref> Combined with filtration, this is a means to provide safe drinking water.

Desalination

Some groundwater may have high salinity levels<ref>"Cleaning water without the grid". Main. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> and can be non-potable, which is fixed through distillation. Coastal communities may benefit by getting water from the ocean through the use of desalination plants that remove salt.

Water softening

The presence of certain minerals in water creates hard water which can clog pipes over time, interfere with soap and detergents, and can leave scum on glasses and dishes. Water softening systems introduce sodium and potassium ions which make the hard minerals precipitate.<ref>"Hardness in Drinking Water" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2011.</ref>

Usage and sanitation

For off-grid buildings, efficient use of water is needed to prevent water supplies from running out. While this is ultimately habit-dependent, measures involve low-flow fixtures for faucets, shower heads, and toilets which decreases the flow rate of faucets or the volume of water per flush to reduce total water used. Water can be eliminated in toilets through the uses of a composting toilet.<ref>"All About Off Grid Wastewater: Options, Septic, Code, and Advice". Accidental Hippies. 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2019-12-09.</ref> Automatic leak detectors and tap closures can reduce amounts of wasted water. Greywater recycling can further save on water by reusing water from faucets, showers, dishwashers, and clothes washers. This is done through storing and treating the greywater, which can then be reused as a non-potable water source.

If an off-grid home is not connected to a sewer system, a wastewater system must also be included. On-site wastewater management is usually done through storage and leaching. This involves storing greywater and blackwater in a septic tank or aeration tank to be treated, which is connected to a leaching field that slowly allows the water to percolate out into the ground. While more and expensive waste water treatment options are also available, this is a common reliable means to dispose of waste water without polluting the environment.

Environmental impact and sustainability

Because off-grid buildings and communities mainly rely on upon renewable energy, off-grid living is generally good for the environment with little negative impact. Hybrid energy systems also provide communities with a sustainable way to live without the dependence and cost of being connected to public infrastructure which can be unreliable in developing countries. Generally, isolated concerns of environmental impacts are the use diesel generators, which produce greenhouse gases, batteries, which use many resources to make and can be hazardous, and pollution in natural environments from solid waste and wastewater. It is prudent to note that, while the concerns below address negative environmental impacts, going off-grid as a whole is a viable option to help reduce impacts on the environment when replacing grid-connected buildings that contribute global warming and climate change.

Diesel generator concerns in Canadian off-grid communities

Canada has about 175 aboriginal and northern off-grid communities, defined as "a community that is neither connected to the North American electrical grid nor to the piped natural gas network; it is permanent or long-term (5 years or more), and the settlements have at least 10 permanent buildings."<ref name="DevelopmentCanada">"Off-Grid Communities". Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-11-08. </ref> Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada lists the following environmental concerns for these off-grid communities:

  • Burning large amounts of diesel produces substantial greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes to climate change which negatively affects communities.
  • Fuel must be transported long distances by airplane, truck or barge, leading to a greater risk of fuel spills.
  • The transportation of fuel by trucks on winter roads impacts the environment negatively through high greenhouse gas emissions from the vehicles.
  • Fuel spills may take place while the fuel is being transported and stored, posing environmental risks.
  • Fuel tank leaks contaminate soil and groundwater.
  • Generators can be noisy and disruptive, especially in quiet, remote communities.
  • Emissions from diesel generators could contribute to health problems in community members.<ref name="DevelopmentCanada" />

The environmental impacts of the systems used in off-grid buildings must also be considered due to embodied energy, embodied carbon, choice and source of materials, which can contribute to world issues such as climate change, air, water, and soil pollution, resource depletion and more.<ref>Aberilla, Jhud Mikhail; Gallego-Schmid, Alejandro; Stamford, Laurence; Azapagic, Adisa (January 2020). "Design and environmental sustainability assessment of small-scale off-grid energy systems for remote rural communities". Applied Energy. 258: 114004. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114004. ISSN 0306-2619.</ref>

Sustainable communities

The concept of a sustainable off-grid community must take into consideration the basic needs of all who live in the community. To become truly self-sufficient, the community would need to provide all of its own electrical power, food, shelter and water. Using renewable energy, an on-site water source, sustainable agriculture and vertical farming techniques is paramount in taking a community off the grid. A recent concept design by Eric Wichman shows a multi-family community, which combines all of these technologies into one self-sufficient neighborhood. To grow the community you simply add neighborhoods using the same model as the first. A self-sustained community reduces its impact on the environment by controlling its waste and carbon footprint.

Economic consideration

In situations where grid parity has been reached, it becomes cheaper to generate one's own electricity rather than purchasing it from the grid. This depends on equipment costs, the availability of renewable energy sources, and the cost of a grid connection. For example, in certain remote areas a grid connection would be prohibitively expensive, resulting in grid parity being reached immediately.

It is often done to residential buildings only occasionally occupied, such as vacation cabins, to avoid high initial costs of traditional utility connections. Other people choose to live in houses where the cost of outside utilities is prohibitive, or such a distance away as to be impractical. In his book How to live off-grid Nick Rosen lists seven reasons for going off-grid. The top two are saving money, and reducing the carbon footprint. Others include survivalists, preparing for the collapse of the oil economy and bringing life back to the countryside.<ref name="Penguin">Rosen, Nick (2010). Off the Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence. Penguin. ISBN 978-0143117384.</ref>

Off-grid power for marginalized communities

Reliable centralized electricity systems have provided supply constancy which has bolstered societies and their economies.<ref name=":0">Bouffard, François; Kirschen, Daniel S. (2008). "Centralised and distributed electricity systems". Energy Policy. 36 (12): 4504–4508. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.09.060.</ref> Electricity provides opportunities for improved productivity, learning, and hygienic end-uses in the home, such as cooking without the use of polluting biomass fuel sources, yet as of 2016, 20 percent of people world wide lived without it.<ref name=":1">Campbell, Ben; Cloke, Jon; Brown, Ed (2016). "Communities of energy: Communities of energy". Economic Anthropology. 3 (1): 133–144. doi:10.1002/sea2.12050.</ref> Bridging the gap from the current under-provision of grid electricity to universal access has been projected to require US$17 trillion and 30 years even on a rigorous timetable.<ref name=":2">Guruswamy, Lakshman (2015-08-20). Guruswamy, Lakshman (ed.). International Energy and Poverty. doi:10.4324/9781315762203. ISBN 9781315762203.</ref> Researchers have argued that a lack of centralized energy infrastructure can result in low resilience to damage to productivity and property from changing climates and severe weather.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Alstone, Peter; Gershenson, Dimitry; Kammen, Daniel M. (2015). "Decentralized energy systems for clean electricity access". Nature Climate Change. 5 (4): 305–314. Bibcode:2015NatCC...5..305A. doi:10.1038/nclimate2512. ISSN 1758-678X. S2CID 15777867.</ref> In addition, the advantages of central power generation and distribution are receding in the face of climatic degradation due to fossil fuel powered generation, vulnerabilities to extreme weather events and electronic manipulation, and increasingly complex design and regulatory processes.<ref name=":0" />

Decentralized, off-grid energy systems can constitute a sustainable interim alternative to extending national grids to rural customers.<ref name=":3" /> Those using limited off-grid power as a stepping stool to eventual grid access can accumulate energy efficient knowledge, behavior, and products that confer added resiliency while grid networks increase in reliability<ref name=":3" /> and carbon neutrality. However, providing off-grid electricity to rural users without also including training and education about its use and applications can result in under-utilization.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Feron, Sarah (2016-12-19). "Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review". Sustainability. 8 (12): 1326. doi:10.3390/su8121326. ISSN 2071-1050.</ref> To counteract this possibility, off-grid systems should reflect the cultural structures, values, and mores of host communities.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Sovacool, Benjamin K.; D'Agostino, Anthony L.; Jain Bambawale, Malavika (2011). "The socio-technical barriers to Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Papua New Guinea: " Choosing pigs, prostitutes, and poker chips over panels "". Energy Policy. 39 (3): 1532–1542. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.12.027.</ref>

Off-grid electrical systems can power individual residences or a community linked in a shared arrangement known as a micro-grid. In addition, they may be powered by renewable energy sources or by conventional fossil fuels. In Kenya, Mpeketoni township began a community-based, diesel-powered micro-grid project (the Mpeketoni Electricity Project [MEP]) in 1994 with an outlay of approximately US$40,000, and eventually grew to serve 105 residences and 116 commercial, educational, government, and healthcare buildings.<ref name=":4">Kirubi, Charles; Jacobson, Arne; Kammen, Daniel M.; Mills, Andrew (2009). "Community-Based Electric Micro-Grids Can Contribute to Rural Development: Evidence from Kenya". World Development. 37 (7): 1208–1221. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.11.005.</ref> The MEP demonstrated unanticipated supply and demand effects when artisans using tools powered by MEP electricity increased their productivity enough to cause depreciation of their wares, necessitating lowering of their prices; however, higher volumes of sales eventually offset these losses.<ref name=":4" /> MEP electricity facilitated cold storage of agricultural products, in addition to well pumping, which allowed students who previously spent several hours per day fetching water to spend that time studying in the evening by electric light.<ref name=":4" /> Electricity provided by the MEP also expanded teaching hours and sanitation at local schools through electric lighting and pumped water.<ref name=":4" /> The MEP off-grid project had numerous direct and indirect benefits for community members, and because the MEP emphasized promotion of the uses for electricity and the community had the ability to pay nominal rates for its use, the project achieved 94 percent cost recovery in its first ten years of operation.<ref name=":4" />

Relation to alternatives

Off-the-grid generation may sometimes inhibit efforts to develop permanent infrastructure – such as in the case of devices for water generation and permanent piped water supply networks.<ref name="10.1038/s41586-021-03900-w"/> Furthermore, grids may often be substantially more efficient and effective or necessary – such as in the case of smart grids and super grids for sustainable energy – and hence may often only be useful on large scales for autonomous community development of alternatives, as fallback, for disaster response, for other humanitarian aid during temporary relocation, and for initial support of long-term infrastructure development.

Land labs as off-grid educational environments

Land labs provide an outdoor classroom environment for students to learn about off-grid technology and methods. Within a land lab, students can learn about permaculture, photovoltaics, rainwater catchment, animal husbandry, composting, market gardening, biochar systems, methane digesters, rocket mass heaters, horticulture, ecology, and countless other off-grid concepts.

Public schools, charter schools, private schools and homeschools can all benefit from using a land lab environment to teach students about sustainability, independence, and ecological systems.

See also

Gallery

  • Wiring diagram for a hybrid wind/PV system

    Wiring diagram for a hybrid wind/PV system

  • Incomplete DIY Wind generator system

    Incomplete DIY Wind generator system

  • A PV-solar system

    A PV-solar system

  • Schematic of an active solar heating system

    Schematic of an active solar heating system

  • A HVAC heat pump system

    A HVAC heat pump system

  • Treatment ponds can be used for purifying water

    Treatment ponds can be used for purifying water

  • Heat and cold storage may be combined with heat pumps for use in the domestic greenhouse or to heat the house itself

    Heat and cold storage may be combined with heat pumps for use in the domestic greenhouse or to heat the house itself

References

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External links

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