1. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Alternative Energy
Feel the power!
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

2. What we will be talking about
Solar – electric
Solar – direct
Wind – Electric
Wind – other
Water
Biomass
What we will be talking about
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

3. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Reduce your carbon footprint
Take back the ability to produce your own energy
Learn stuff
Get an appreciation for the energy you consume
Make yourself and family more resilient
It’s interesting and fun
Save money (Maybe)
Why bother?
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

4. Solar Electricity Production
Photovoltaics – produce DC when light falls on them (light not heat)
Generally wired for 12 or 24 volts
High technology
20% efficient at best
Performance degrades 0.5%/year
Use output direct or through
and inverter
Static or tracker
Daytime only
Solar Electricity Production
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

5. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Back to the Grid via inverter
Direct into batteries
12 volt; 6 volt; 2 volt
Power lights, appliances, almost anything DC or through inverter for AC
House supply is AC; 240v; 50 hz
Car supply is DC; 12v
DC – you can wire yourself, safe
What to do with it!
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

6. Using the suns’ heat directly
Active or passive
Heat water (evacuated tube; flat panel; garden hose)
Cook food (oven; parabolic reflector; flat reflector)
Dry produce (direct; indirect)
Heat air (sun lizard)
Passive solar
Using the suns’ heat directly
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

7. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Wind generators – becoming smaller & cheaper
Can be home made
12 volt – 32 volt
Need to be mounted high up (council)
Turbulence a problem
24 hour production
Engineered mounting
Usually horizontal shaft
Wind Power - Electric
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

8. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Pump water
Grind flour
Compress air
Similar problems to electricity production
Can be vertical shaft
Sacrifice speed for torque
Wind others
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

9. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Direct to grind grain – overshot undershot wheel
Turbine for electricity production
Pelton wheel can be home made
Fitted to water pipes
Water
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

10. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Plant material, vegetation
Twigs
Logs
Straw
Dried bean plants
Faggots
Converted by
Pyrolysis
Fermentation
Specific type of heater/cookers
Cob oven
Rocket stove
Slow combustion
Biomass
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

11. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

12. Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

13. For more details check our website
Sustainable Living in the Suburbs
For more details check our website