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April 2010

The Simpsons go off the grid (just)

The SImpsons have gone off the grid because of high electricity prices – but they did it wrong

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Dugout Dick RIP

Dugout Dick dies in his Idaho cave at 94 – an iconic figure from another age

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Community

DIY washing machine and homemade laundry soap

What do you get when you combine a 5 gallon bucket and a toilet plunger? An off-grid washing machine. Well, maybe not a machine in the traditional sense, unless you consider my hands the motor. This is something I have been wanting to make for quite some time now. The other day while I was in town, I saw a toilet plunger on the shelf and put it in my cart. I also picked up 3 bottles of Mrs Stewart’s bluing, I’ll explain more about that in a bit.

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Community

Off-grid play is global hit

Success of smash hit play Jersualem has focused minds on off-grid themes in a way no other medium could. now it transfers from London to Broadway

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New Canadian eco-village

Canadian village boosts its population by offering free lots to those willing to live off the grid

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Green Party attack central power

The UK Green manifesto promises major redistribution of income and less reliance on centralised power.

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Big energy firms dominate UK Labour party

Big Energy firms avoid grilling for price gouging during cold winter

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Energy

Green home loans

SAN FRANCISCO — Locals will use home loans to finance green improvements now San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a new financing program, Green Finance SF.

The
program (slogan: saving you money, energy and water) will finance projects between $5,000 and $50,000 such as installing low-flow toilets, solar water heaters, solar electric panels and double-paned windows. Homeowners will pay back the costs through property taxes.
The initiative is financed via Federal stimulus funding and is one of many similar moves in towns across America.
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Energy

60% of energy lost in the power grid

UK academic says the UK loses 60% of power in generation and distribution

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Net zero solar home – video

Here is an example of how to make the best use of the home you have – however un-eco it was to start with.
Pete Vigs has slashed his family’s energy use by converting to a net-zero solar powered home that uses no oil or gas.
His 4 part video (click keep reading to see it) shows all the changes he’s made, three years into a 10 year peak oil preparedness plan. To his surprise, his life is now better while using much less energy and having less impact on the environment.

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Energy

Oil to peak in 2011 – official

When considering Peak Oil, the US Department of Energy usually stands among the most optimistic sources regarding the depletion of world oil reserves. Now its senior forecaster has come to accept that “Liquid fuel” production will peak next year and from then on decline slowly, with occasional increases, but still on a long term downward trend. And the US army scenario planners agree. They are now basing most of their scenario planning on just such an eventuality.
Glen Sweetnam, who is supervising the DoE’s next annual International energy outlook, is the most prominent official analyst on energy inside the Obama administration.
He says it may still be that some unforeseen source of oil suddenly emerges between now and next year, but admits that the source of that oil is currently “unidentified”

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Community

FP&L block attempt to secede from the grid

COCOA BEACH — Florida Power & Light has along history of anti-community, anti-environment behavior. Now Cocoa Beach officials say FPL has not responded to their request for information needed to make a decision on whether to sever ties with the power company and start providing their own electricity services to city residents.

With the city’s 30-year franchise agreement with FPL expiring next year, the city commissioners must decide whether to sign another long-term contract or to buy the company’s lines and equipment fromFPL and provide the service as a municipal electric utility.

City attorney Skip Fowler told commissioners that FPL has not provided answers to questions needed to help them decide how to proceed. A lawsuit may be the next option, he said.

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