2005-06-08

Posted at 17:00 UT by Tamara

About the Producer: Tamara Lynn Scott

I have been living off the grid for the past 20 years, originally in a Hud Awarded Custom designed 2 bedroom, 2 bath home, complete with greenhouse on the south facing front side of the home for solar heat gain during the day, which was then stored in 3 feet of rock storage under the home for heat release through the night, and conversely, to gain the cool temperature of the rock from the night, to help cool the home during the day, utilizing reverse blowers.

Solar Photovoltaic panels on the roof provided all the electricity requirements for the home.

Solar Water Panels below the home allowed hot water to passively rise throughout the day into storage hot water tanks, which then could gravity feed into the home showers and bath, no motors or pumps were required.

Water was provided by a 500 foot deep well on the property which was mandatory to obtain building permits, and which provides water for drinking and back-up, but rainwater collection systems were later installed to fill a 5000 gallon tank on the property, which could then gravity feed to the gardens, as well as provide shower, toilet and filtered water systems.

Utility bills for external power, propane, which was utilized as a back up water heating source, and for cooking and refrigeration, cost only $20.oo per year.

Much of the cooking was achieved via built in fire racks and bake ovens incorporated into the fireplace, with all the wood being provided on the property.

An ardent recycler and artist who utilizes materials currently being discarded through renovation projects elsewhere in the community, original tile mosaics, marble mosaics, creative usages of cabinet material scraps, and lumber mill wood shavings, have demonstrated usefulness throughout the property and are incorporated into several small outstructures on the property.

Having lost the above main home to fire several years ago, is now allowing for the Art Institute of San Francisco Architecture Department to utilize this site as a teaching tool to train new Architects, and those interested in " Green" design, to begin a process of developing new blueprints which will incorporate the latest technological advances, green building materials, and thinking, into a buildable design that the public will be able to gain from, and recreate in their own locals.

DVD Broadcast copies of each segment, completely slated and ready for submission to any Public Access Cable Station across the country are being made available to all who wish to see these programs aired in their own communities on a no cost for airing basis, and all are encouraged to bring these segments into their own communities.