Do-It-Yourself

Author

Todd Fink

Best Power, Intl.

If you already live a greener lifestyle by doing some of the simpler things like insulating your home, replacing old appliances with more efficient ones, driving less, and buying locally, then what is the next step? Maybe you can lower your greenhouse gas emissions by installing a solar water heater. Solar water heating is one of the least publicized but most cost-effective renewable energy options. According to Windy Dankoff of Conergy, solar water heaters capture six times more energy than solar electric at a third the cost. This is why solar water heating offers excellent economics.

Resources

Solar water heating system

 

Solar Dealers Directory
www.mnrenewables.org/explore/mnredealers.pdf

Solar Hot Water Heaters
www.eere.energy.gov/de/solar_hotwater.html

Minnesota Energy Info Center
www.commerce.state.mn.us

Solar Water Heating, Ramlow, Bob and Benjamin Nusz., New Society Publishers, 2006.

Best Power International
St. Paul, MN
651-428-8397
www.bestpowersolar.net

Author

Todd Fink

Best Power, Intl.

It's 10 a.m. on a Saturday and I'm cooking an egg on the sidewalk, not in Death Valley but in St. Paul, and in a solar oven. The pace of solar cooking allows me to parent, write and ponder our civilization's future without burning my egg. I am using no natural gas and producing no carbon dioxide in the process. But the sun is not always available and a crispy solar pizza is still a dream.

Resources

Energy Saving Awnings
www.awninginfo.com/pdf/energystudy22007.pdf

Solar Shades
www.gaiam.com

The best books on energy efficiency were either written thirty years ago or thirty seconds ago.

Thermal Shutters and Shades:
Over 100 Schemes for Reducing Heat Loss Through Windows, William A. Shurcliff, Brick House Publishing Co., 1980.

Solar Oven Society
Rugged, durable solar oven option.
3225 E. Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN
612-623-4770
solarovens.org

Pets and small children are perfectly safe around my solar ovens

Author

Ami Voeltz and Susan Leem

The Twin Cities Green Guide/ Utne Reader

Step 1: Create

This may include writing down what you create, via computer, typewriter, feather pen or crayon. Try to make your thoughts and images relatively two-dimensional as this will make them easier to reproduce.

Author

Jim Stumm

--reprinted from Living Free #118

I've been making wine at home for many years. I seem to constantly make small changes in the process in an effort to make it simpler and quicker. The way I do it these days is to use a 64-ounce bottle of grape juice, which is the cheapest generic grape juice I find in the supermarket, to make 3 gallons of wine at a time. Here's the way I do it:

Author

--From www.communitytrees.org

• Choose at least a 5-6' tree grown to nursery standards.
• Select a site with enough room for roots and branches to reach full size. Avoid overhead and underground utilities.
• Prepare a planting area as deep as the root ball and 3-5 times its diameter by loosening the soil. Dig a hole in the middle of the area and set the root ball even with the ground level.
• Use water to settle soil and remove air pockets in planting area.
• Stake the tree to flex with the wind only if tree is unable to stand up to wind.

--Patrick Hamilton After a couple of years in the contemplation stage, my wife and I finally decided to build a small backyard water feature. In May 1999, we ordered pallets of Sahara stones, Holland pavers, and sand, with which we hoped to build a small (56"w' x 64"l x 14"d) pond. Before we began work, a key question was how to power the pond's fountain.

--Alanna Stitches Things You Need:

• A leather needle or very large sewing needle with a large eye and thicker stem than most needles. The good ones are about an inch or so longer than a regular one.
• Embroidery thread or waxed dental floss
• Broken shoes (yeah, this is a fool proof recipe for broken ones with rubber soles, sneakers, sandals, etc. but don't take my word for it with any clunky leather stuff like boots or mary janes or anything, 'cause I've never tried to fix those. Fake leather that isn't too plasticy is okay.)

--Sandi Voeltz, Sandi's Sewing Corner I started making cloth napkins about ten years ago. I like the way they feel, and I like not wasting paper napkins - to save trees. For napkins you could also use: bandanas, fingertip towels or kitchen hand towels. To make napkins from material:

1. Cut squared of desired size (anywhere from 12"-22")
2. Press in double 1/4" hems (fabric folded over 1/4" is a hem) on 2 opposite sides, and sew them with a straight stitch.
3. Press in the remaining 2 sides 1/4" and sew

--Sandi Voeltz Do you need a way to help you organize all of your plastic bags so you can re-use them for shopping, diaper bags or doggie poop bags? Why not make a plastic bag holder. It's simple to make and handy to have. You will need:

• Material/fabric (or you can patch pieces of material, old shirts, or whatever, together)
• One piece 18" x 26-3/4". You can use a sewing machine or sew by hand.
• Material, one piece 5" x 12-1/2" for handle.
• One button
• One piece 3/4" elastic x 10" long.