Going Off Grid / small holder route in France

[Viv]

This is an area that really appeals to me, and though living in France already I am not in a position yet to start realising this aim. BUT I know that alternative energy sources are discussed from time to time, is there any possibility that the Forum could allow a designated category for either or both themes?

[Btuckey]

I’m really with you on this one viva!  We are building a new house on the other side of our village and it will have geothermal heating.  Building from new is good for this, as it is easy to lay the pipes and the special 'cement' screed especially on the upper floors.  We have plenty of sun and wind (!) and with fossil fuel prices going through the roof for the foreseeable future, we would be mad not to consider alternative energy.

There are lots of good websites and if you haven't discovered it already, Home Power Magazine http://www.homepower.com/ is highly recommended.  Lots of adverts but a subscription for downloading is very reasonable.

Brian 11500

[chris pp]

Viva and admin!!!   What a great idea, the two topics really could do with a section of their own.

Please consider it,  Chris

 

[Viv]

Brian

Did you have to have a specially designed house for your heating?

Are there many pitfalls with that kind of heating? eg in the horrible event of anything going wrong , how do you access the pipes underground?

Where we are, wind turbines would be ideal but I've read differing accounts as to the size that is needed to cope with a dwelling.

Still very much finding my way around this subject, which is why I hope that admin will dedicate some space for the novices and the experts to come together.

[Btuckey]

Hi viva,

No, it is a standard new build.  In France, as you probably know, new houses are constructed with the floors being cast reinforced concrete ‘slabs’.  The heating engineers then lay an insulating mat and the poly pipes. These are encased in a covering of ‘Chape Liquide’ (sort of cement paste that sets hard).  The pipes outside are laid about 1.5m below ground level.  I have heard of people putting underfloor heating in traditional houses with joist and floorboard construction.  Don’t know how good it is though…

If the pipes outside burst they can be repaired.  Inside is a different matter!  However, the technology is well established and we have a long warranty period on the installation.

To calculate your energy system work backwards as follows:

1)  Energy consumption

2)  Inverter(s) size

3)  Battery bank specification (Voltage, Amp/Hours & depth of discharge/cycling etc.)

4)  Size of primary power source (Solar panels (wattage, size and number of panels)/Wind turbine (size and height above ground level))

When I get some more time, I will try to post some more alternative energy links.  For a starter you might find this site useful:   http://www.tecsol.fr/   For sizing examples look at the various house installations at the bottom of the page: http://www.tecsol.fr/spv/default.htm  i.e. Installation Photovoltaïque de la maison Hellot 09).

 

Brian 11500

[bigjimbishop]

I would love to see an alternative energy section or and ecological energy section

Maybe with a title page for links catagorized by technologies and applications. ie separate home power/efficiency from vehicle power/efficiency

I find www.freeenergynews.com a great resource for all alternative technologies and news on the latest developments from the crackpots to the corporations.

Also http://www.econologie.com/

If you are interested in vehicle efficiency then check out the Pantone GEET engine, sounds crazy but it's a system that vapourizes water and fuel at high temperatures.

It works on Diesel and petrol engines and runs about 60% water.

I've actually seen it working in a Renault 25 with fitted stainless exhaust

You can build it yourself with reasonable DIY welding skills or buy it at

http://www.soleol.net/voiture.htm

I intend to convert my Xantia when I can afford a decent MIG welder but for now I'm running 80% on Colza Oil from LIDL 0.79Euro litre.

You can buy colza in bulk, 800litres for 65 HT but the only saving is on LIDL plastic bottles which I recycle but it's not an ideal scenario.

Hurrah for France where we can use whichever cleaner fuel we want!

Apparently there is a European law that states it is not legal to bring proceedings against an individual who chooses to use a fuel which has less ecological impact than the regular commercially available fuels.

This is being tested by a few Brits who use chip oil. Good luck to them!

http://www.oliomobile.org/forum/ Veg oil fuel forum

jim

[Viv]

Thanks

Will add those to my favourites, you can never have too much information!

I hadn't heard about that EU ruling, could spell big trouble for the UK, non?