Alternative Power Video

Find out how a family of 7 built a 5,000 square foot house themselves. They had no prior framing, building, electrical, plumbing or heating experience - yet they built the house for under $60,000!

Greater still...see how they make their own electricity, pump their water, and heat the house for less than $65 per
winter. You will be inspired to see how this family accomplishes all this and more.

Their buildings include the 5,000 square foot house PLUS a 2,500 square foot wood shop. Everything runs on their own electricity - free from the electric company and power grid. They use all of the same appliances that everyone else has...and more. You have to see this video for yourself!


http://www.alternativepowervideo.com

http://www.womensgroup.org

http://www.cheniere.org

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• trailer
• documentary
• energy
• pollution
• nature
• self
• reliance
• freedom

[arch37]

@eranshaer Get a motorhome an forget housing in Amerimuck Leave and go out not even knowing where you are going Learn how to trust God each step of the way! I've been doing this abroad in europe for five years successfully, but you'll have to learn how to run all the essentials of a home on wheels with solar etc. to even run your motor home, so be sure to buy one that has everything all built in already & study before you buy what you'll really need so you don't have to install it later! --e

[RainArborNox]

LOL!! Exactly! To build within the code laws you would have to be wired and plumbed. They can't make you use the Power company or water company to receive your power and water. You just have to have the hardware in place for the inspectors. Then when you do sell or move on, all the new owner has to do is hook it up :) btw I love conversing with you , your obviously an intelligent person .

[martiwf0]

The trick is to build it conventionally with AC and properly wired to the grid. Then add the solar panels, power inverters, etc... Just leave the windows open and don't run the AC or any of the other modern conveniences. To save money on power, most of us just turn everything off.

[martiwf0]

It is a lovely home for sure. My point is, the American family lives in the same home for an average of 12 years these days before selling and moving on. Not everyone has cash to purchase a home. A non conventional home like this one would not qualify for FHA or VA financing. I doubt few mortgage companies would consider it either. If I were to build something like it, I would have to accept the fact that it will be the last home I'd ever own because I couldn't sell it if I wanted to.

[RainArborNox]

ok, AC is big for you, but not everyone requires it. An open window,or a ceiling fan are adequate for those of us who have learned to acclimate our bodies . Stone or concrete flooring helps also. Refrigeration is a must in most homes but some find they don't need it. All in all this way of life isn't for everyone ,but when families like mearbhrach's make it work and show the world it can be done people take notice. New inventions are being made everyday like the bloom box. I love being off grid!

[martiwf0]

I am an electrical engineer and have a lot of experience determining power loads for homes. It is not likely this home would have the modern comforts of AC because the demand for power would be far too much for what appears to be available. I would think there is barely enough to work the lights and fridge. My grandparents had something similar when they had no power at all and used coal oil to light their home. Perhaps this home is not in a hot humid place and AC is not needed.

[RainArborNox]

@martiwf0 $2400.00 And they last 3-5 years. My electric bill was 200.00 a month in a800 sq ft 2 bedroom home 6 years ago....This is a 5000 sq ft home.

[RainArborNox]

@martiwf0 Did he say he received a loan? I must have missed that part. If I had to pick between insuring a house ( properly wired according to codes)that had small amounts of electricity running through it and a house with the copious amount of electricity we have in the standard home.I think the safer bet would be the first one. I myself live in Mississippi and have no AC . My body has adjusted . 32 x 75$(just a number off the top of my head, some are cheaper) is how much ?

[martiwf0]

No bank would loan money to a potential buyer because the utilities are non-conventional. And I cannot even guess how diffucult it would be to get home-owner's insurance. There is no inverter out there powerful enough to provide the current for a 10-ton AC if this place was in a hot climate area. Lastly, you have to replace your batteries every 3 years. That would be thousands of dollars and would just about bring you even with what you think you saved on normal power consumption.

[lnlwholsale]

Hello, I'd like to start off by saying, "WOW" building your own house without any prior experience is great. I have adopted the same way of thinking as you, and I'd like to get any info I possibly can that will help me along the way. Is there anyway that you can share some the info that you have attained, ie. how you started the build, materials needed, manuals & recommended books, etc. If you could help me out, it would be more than appreciated. Thank You