February 1, 2006

everything is everything

random goodness:

Ultra Low-Cost Construction - this guy is experimenting with DIY, low-cost, modular construction using inflatable forms to make hexagonal dome-shaped buildings, kinda like paper mache.

GotWind.org - DIY wind power - using bicycle generators (designed to run your bike lamp on pedal power) to make simple micro wind generators.

The Stirling engine - engine designed in the 19th century that runs off a temperature difference between two places (like geothermal heating/cooling/power). Even the heat from your hand can power one. Seems like treehuggers love the Stirling engine, but I haven’t seen one put to use in a really practical way. Maybe if you lived off the grid in a cold climate, you could build a big Stirling engine into the wall of your house, and use the temperature difference between inside and outside to generate electricity. You would just have to ensure that you had an excess of heat in your house, since some would be lost to the engine.

You Grow Girl - a great site about gardening - and it seems like many contributors are based in Canada and northern US, so their tips are relevant to my local climate.


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posted: 8:16 am

 

4 Responses to “everything is everything”

  1. sandra
    February 3rd, 2006 | 9:46 pm

    Heya, I’m commenting on your blog like I said I would and I know it will work just fine.

  2. Keith
    February 6th, 2006 | 10:47 am

    Hi sandra,

    Seems like it’s working!

    Thanks for commenting!

  3. Dan
    February 20th, 2006 | 12:21 pm

    Dean Kamen has the stirling engine working and is working on a noble cause for it’s first use. He plans on using them to provide power and clean water to the 1.6 billion people that need it.

    http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/16/technology/business2_futureboy0216/

  4. Keith
    February 25th, 2006 | 9:18 am

    Very cool. I’d buy one of those machines myself if it was only $1000-2000. It’s a great off-the-grid solution, especially in places like Vancouver that don’t get enough solar.

    It’s interesting how there was a surge of creativity in the 19th century around motors and power, which was stymied by the oil boom (why investigate renewable energy when you have such a plentiful source coming out of the ground?). Now we are re-investigating bio-diesel, ethanol and Stirling engines - these are all very old technologies. Seems to be the way with so much of sustainable living - a big part of it is relearning old ways.