Off-GRID
Electric:
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We have planning approval for a 4KW solar array to generate electricity for the site. Considerable effort will be needed to ensure energy consumption is kept to the bare minimum, allowing this small array to power the needs all year around. A battery bank will store excess energy during the day for consumption at night.
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We would like to explore alternative methods of generating electricity but wind turbines would look out of place in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the site does not have enough flow or head to provide hydro-power.
If the above solar design proves insufficient to provide the energy needs, we will have to consider expanding the system or reluctantly connecting to the grid.
waste:
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A reed bed system will treat grey waste water. I never really considered how crazy it was purifying water through an intensive process, only to use it flushing away waste, which in turn has to be treated for safe disposal - madness! It will be quite a transition but we have to find a better, more environmentally friendly process. Reed beds not only treat waste, they also provide habitat and natural corridors for wildlife, increasing bio-diversity.
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Composting toilets will deal with the black waste. This will require us to overcome inhibitions of handling waste product, whilst changing our perception of treating effluent as waste and instead considering how it can be seen as a valuable asset.
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water:
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Although there are springs close to and the pools are spring fed, the source might not be reliable enough to provide year-round supply.
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We could consider water harvesting for the site, perhaps using the roof of the facility building for collection. We shall have to research the legislation for using and treating harvested water in the UK.
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Alternatively we could consider a bore hole, but the cost might be prohibitive. The added benefit of the bore hole would be ensuring an extra source of water to support the fishery, essentially providing water security.
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The water table is high, so perhaps a shallow well could be another option.
Worst case we might have to consider connecting to the water supply. There are lot's of options for water, but deciding the best route is proving difficult. Helpful comments and advice would be appreciated!
heating:
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The living accommodation, although designed to be constructed from highly insulative materials, will be fitted with wood stoves and connected to water storage tanks providing hot water, hopefully supplemented via solar heating panels that we intend to build ourselves.
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The intention is for the fuel to come from the site itself long term, produced from a short rotational coppice grown on site, then allowed to season.
notes:
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We will not be completely off the grid, but we will endeavour to do as much as we can to be self-sufficient.
We will be producing a series of videos on YouTube showing the construction and progress of our off-grid infrastructure. Subscribe for updates & follow on social media.