Off the Grid

Waste water
Disposal Options:
*Grey
*Black Water
*Trash:
Reduction
Recyling
Disposal

Building materials:
Location of
Options to build with
R value and its relevance to your climate
Are haybales or cob appropriate building materials for dome structure?
How do I get approval from my local authority to build my structure?

Domes:
What are the popular options?
What exsist currently?
What are the limitations?
What types of floorplans are available?
Why should I choose a Dome over conventional stick and gypsum construction?
Will building my dome partially underground help me to conserve energy for heating or cooling my dome?
What are the effects of building my dome in a hillside and covering it with permaculture?

HVAC:
What are the non-traditional, traditional and new revisions in technology that are available?
If my dome faces South for heating in the winter how do I cool for the summer?
How do I maintain a green approach to heating and cooling my home?
Are non-traditional building materials more susceptible to mold and bacteria infestations and how do environmental controls affect my overall health?

Off-grid:
What are the challenges I may face in deciding to go off of sewer, fresh water and electrical infrastructures.
I want to build in the wildnerness what challenges will I face?
How do I build green and how do I determine the difference between immediate impact and long term effects of my project?
What can I expect if i decide to go totally off grid?
*What appliances and changes to my lifestyle should I plan for?
What is an on-demand water heater, and what are my options?
What is humanure and is it dangerous?
What is an incenerating toilet?
What is energy co-generation?
What if i want to live in an area that requires that I have a septic system but I want to pursue other options?
I want to live a sustainable lifestyle, but I dont understand what it all entails can you explain it to me?
What is the difference between solar, wind and geothermal energy systems and which is most appropriate for my site?

Misc:
What is a planned eco-community?
How many people are living in domes currently?
Is their a dome nearby me that I can look at?
How much more expensive is it to build a dome than purchase a traditional house?
I'm not an architect, who is qualified to draft plans for my dream dome?
I'm not eco-conscious currently but I want to build my dome as such, is it affordable and feasible for me?


Ok this and many more questions that I haven't yet thought of are things I'm working for as content for this tribe. I have alot of information researched already.... the basis of my own questions but I havent filled in all the gaps just yet. I've found personally its alot easier to form the questions, but researching the information to a satisfactory level is a little bit more of a challenge.

I am certainly open to anyone answering any of these questions or even asking some other questions that I havent thought of yet. I promise you folks that as I get enough information to write an article. That I will. I have pretty much listed the topics in the order of the amount of information that I have available to answer questions. I'm going to start with waste disposal since it is the #1 topic that people ask me questions about. But I do promise that over the course of time I will gradually answer all of these questions as well as comment on the data that other people bring forward as it happens.

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much here, but I'm heavily involved in biodiesel and diesel technology as well and I have been overwhelmed lately with volumes of information and fresh data as it is coming on with regards to Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel and the impact of it as well as tracking data as it gets colder on mid-west biodiesel production. This is a pivotal year for developments and I'm trying to stay on top of all the information as it becomes available. Too many pursuits, too little time. Please dont be offended this tribe is just as important to me as the others, but their have been some major developments recently and unfortunatly although I have these articles I want to write for here, I've been really focusing on absorbing, understanding and challenging the developments as they happen.

Hang in their with me foiks. I've got some really neat stuff to discuss in the coming days. But I definetly want to keep the floor open to other folks who want to discuss ANY of the aforementioned topics or even new stuff I didnt mention. We dont have to take them in order.

So until then namaste and go in peace.

So where are the articles I promised????.... I know I know it's been almost 2 years since I've posted this. I'm still doing this research. Allot, allot, allot, allot of information to process. The best way for me to put it all together is to work on some plans for my dome. Which sounds easier than it is, because I'm prototyping several design and floor layout models to decide which is best for me in both terms of the way I use the space as well as the other considerations mentioned in this posting.

i gotta say their is just so many unconventional, practical and highly efficient ways of doing things available. And the sad thing is these thoughts I'm having about efficiency and reducing waste are already widely in use in many places in Europe.

Anyways I'm super busy right now, but I wanted to drop a note here on this tribe to let you folks know I'm still working on producing these articles, this on top of running my business and my regular research load. I love it, gotta run....