3297 living off the grid

For loads more information about renewable energy take a look at [url]http://www.reuk.co.uk[/url] - it covers biodiesel, solar water heating, wind turbines, water recycling and conservation, electricity conservation etc.

Biodiesel will not save you money unless you evade the taxation of fuels, but it is certainly better for the environment assuming you recycle used veggie oil, or use waste organic materials.
There is a crop called Jatropha ([url]http://www.reuk.co.uk/What-is-Jatropha.htm[/url]) which does well in arid conditions, in poor soil, and on the side of mountains etc. It adds nutrients to the soil, so if you have some acres of poor soil you can make oil from which you can make biodiesel, and your soil will improve over a few years to such a degree that you may be able to grow other crops. It should grow well in Italy.

Collecting rainwater in an underground tank ([url]http://www.reuk.co.uk/Collect-Rainwater.htm[/url]) is a fantastic way to save money, and it can pay itself off within 5-10 years if you do it yourself, and it will save you having to have a composting toilet. If you intend to grow water loving crops then a tank full of lovely acidic rainwater is just the ticket for a bumper crop.

Hi

Very useful info...I had though it must make sense to have an underground tank to collect all the rainwater that falls in Abruzzo over winter!Surely there must be some silly rules preventing this? I'm also thinking about a reed bed system for greywater.The composting loo is more to save having to sort out the 'wastes' as they can safetly be used on the garden.

Biodiesel is cheaper.A neighbouring farm is now selling it at 75p a litre instead of the almost £1 per liter in the local garage.you could easily make it at home if you had a small work shop /garage.Many home produced Biodiesel is much 'cleaner' than the commercial stuff.indeed it sounds just like a scheme that will appeal greatly to the average Italian who I believe are supposed to resent paying taxes!!Good on them!Anyway even if it didnt cost less to me personally it costs a lot less to the earth in general which is where I'm coming from!

Becky

[LEFT]A friend of mine has just converted his 4x4 to run on 50% chip fat and surprisingly it runs a lot quieter than a normal diesel! :eek:
The only problem is that you tend to end up hungry for fish and chips when you get to the end of the drive![/LEFT]

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Oh dear...... this means that I must add Typhiod and Legionaire's to the Botulism that I will contract thro eating preserved funghi! See food thread.

I was not refering to those safety rules that as you say are needed but other more archaic local regulations relating to water ownership and diverting your neighbour's supply! Your points about quality are important.

And Dave I would be very surprised if your friends are using pure oil in their car as you need to mix the oil with other stuff then 'wash' it before its safe to put in an engine you will see this if you check out the web site I mention at the start of the thread!It does seem though if you do it all properly it is a very safe and cheap feul.....VAT man who is going to tell him!!Its a disgrace that extra vat is put on environmentally friendly fuel !Lets hope that the ECC can get their act together and introduce some legislation so that Biodiesel is much cheaper .It does make me wonder..we have a cheap fuel that can be produced on our doorstep and is not harming the environment.So why isnt it sold in every petrol station across Europe!!!

Desparingly

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

[QUOTE=manopello]...introduce some legislation so that Biodiesel is much cheaper .It does make me wonder..we have a cheap fuel that can be produced on our doorstep and is not harming the environment.So why isnt it sold in every petrol station across Europe!!![/QUOTE]

Basically because there is not enough 'bio' in the world (and petrol stations make money by selling petroleum diesel for the oil companies that usually own them).

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Did you see[I] its not easy being green[/I] this week?...they were making Biodiesel.
I agree thats theres not enough Biodiesel in the world but there's certainly enough fat thanks to the addiction to MacDonalds.

If some guy can turn this into fuel with some old plastic containers and piping in a barn in Cornwall then surely on an industrial scale?....it aint rocket science!we need to start thinking outside the box.

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

[QUOTE=manopello]I agree thats theres not enough Biodiesel in the world but there's certainly enough fat thanks to the addiction to MacDonalds.

If some guy can turn this into fuel with some old plastic containers and piping in a barn in Cornwall then surely on an industrial scale?....it aint rocket science!we need to start thinking outside the box.[/QUOTE]

The fat used by MacDonalds could, should, and is being recycled in USA and Canada etc, but the fat they use originates from vegetable crops.
If all the farm land in the world was dedicated to growing crops just to make vegetable oils to be converted into biodiesel, there would be enough to only cover 20% of our current crude oil usage ([url]http://www.reuk.co.uk/Can-Biodiesel-Replace-Crude-Oil.htm)[/url].

The amount of oil MacDonalds use is infinitessimally small when compared to the billions of barrels of crude oil used in the world.

We too are looking at eco friendly renovations in Italy, compost toilets, solar panels, wind turbines,etc any other utility free and environmental saving ideas.
We are also in Abruzzo so do keep us posted on progress.
Kind Regards
Michelle:)

Koeeoaddi there ....It sure is comforting to hear people talking about sustainables.I am looking for an Italian company who is capable of installing a solar powered hot water system with a solid fuel booster stove connected for the winter months.If any of you guys has any info please let me know.

p.s.count me in on the alternative forum

regards Gerard

I'm entirely happy with the idea of "living off the grid"....except one of the problems of electricity distribution in Italy is that there is no grid...all radial :)

living off the radial then ?
sun worshippers have done it for years

yes, count me in also. I will look forward to reading real life experiences in Italy about solar and other alternatives on this forum.
Sarah

Hi

A friend of mine from work use to buy his vegetable oil from Morrisons to run his old diesel car on...

[quote=manopello][FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=3]And Dave I would be very surprised if your friends are using pure oil in their car as you need to mix the oil with other stuff then 'wash' it before its safe to put in an engine you will see this if you check out the web site I mention at the start of the thread!It does seem though if you do it all properly it is a very safe and cheap feul.....VAT man who is going to tell him!!Its a disgrace that extra vat is put on environmentally friendly fuel ![/SIZE][/FONT][/quote] Hmm I guess that is why I wrote 50% and not 100% !! :D :D

This is an American based website that has some useful info on alternative energy/heating sources that you might find informative:

[url]http://www.otherpower.com/[/url]

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Hi Sano

Brill link and I just could not resist the...wait for it HAMSTER POWERED LIGHT!

This is little Skippy doing his bit for global warming!

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Does anyone have experience of legally putting in wind tubine conected to the electricity grid? We are restoring a largish house and will install solar water panels and a solar photovoltic 1.5Kw supply connected to the grid but I haven't found any info on small wind turbines. John Salt

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]
John follow the link from Sano.As well as useful info on Hamster power it also has much to say about Wind Turbines.

Our place isnt really suitable for a wind turbine as its in amongst trees but we are using Solar panels.I 've read up a bit about wind power and some American users have been dissapointed with it so I think much research needs to be done before buying a kit.

I remember a thread a while back where it was said that Italy had the 'wrong sort of wind' and that's why you don't see any big turbine sites?Sounds like someone from Network Rail was involved doesnt it!!

Good luck with your project.

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

I remember as a kid back in the 60's near Rome seeing small windmills on the roof ridges of isolated farmhouses. They can't have generated very much, enough for a bulb or two.

If you want to minimise your investment initially you could get one of those off- the-shelf models used by yachts and see how that performs. If the wind in your location isn't enough I would guess the machines, being a known quantity, would have a reasonable resale value.