Off the Grid in Vermont
The December issue of Popular Mechanics magazine features an article entitled “Living Unplugged - One family’s valiant quest to kick the oil habit–and how you can (try to) do it, too“.
Penned by Ben Hewitt, who along with his wife, Penny, have been living the unplugged dream in northern Vermont for the past eight years, who are going to be taking part in a series of experiments with alt energy systems in conjuction with Popular Mechanics over the next six months. Their experiences will be documented in the magazine and in a blog that Ben is maintaining on the PM web site.
This introductory article in the December issue introduces us to the Hewitts and talks about how their off the grid lifes have evolved over the last eight years. Presently their household is getting by annually with four to five cords of wood for heat, about 600 gal. of propane for cooking and heating water and electricity is supplied by a 1.14 kW solar panel array, which is then supplemented by a 5800 watt gas-powered generator.
Some of the initial projects will include the installation of more solar panels as well as plans to put in two solar hot water collectors to pre-heat their water and help reduce the amount of propane needed in their propane-fired hot water heater.
Here’s the link to the web version of the article from the magazine and then here’s the link to Ben’s blog which they’re calling PM’s Energy Family Blog.
Thanks to Jaimie for the heads up!
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POSTED IN: Green Lifestyles, Living the Dream, News, Solar
2 opinions for Off the Grid in Vermont
Hollis
Nov 19, 2005 at 11:59 am
Thanks for the heads up re this article. Going off the grid and, for the lack of a better word, aggressive sustainability are goals of mine. It used to work; it should work again. Energy independence for the individual may be the most important issue of the day. The government and “big energy” are doing nothing to clean things up or make prices go down. So, the market should decided, good capitalists as we are supposed to be. Go of the grid: solar, wind-power, wood, any and all. keep up the good fight in Vermont.
Kevin Humphrey
Nov 19, 2005 at 1:54 pm
Your welcome, Hollis.
I couldn’t agree more regarding how government and the energy boys are in complete opposition to what we and this planet need. It’s up to us as individuals to take up some self-sufficiency.
Thanks for stopping by.
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