Category: Renewable Energy

Rebuilding and Improving a Rocket Mass Heater

The rocket mass heater in Skyhouse at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage was in need of some repairs and improvements. It was at least 15 years old and had always had some issues with efficiency in heating the space it was supposed to. Mark Mazziotti, of nearby Red Earth Farms, was hired to do a total rebuild of the stove because of his experience in building rocket stoves and mass heaters. I happened to find out he was doing the rebuild and asked him if he would help me make a video about the project. It’s a little longer than some of my usual videos, but it’s interesting to hear the thought and planning Mark put into the rebuild.

Mark wants me to add that he miscalculated his estimate of his experience in natural building. It’s more like 15, not 20 years of experience he has.

How I Keep My Tiny House Cool (With Almost No AC) In the Heat of Summer

It gets pretty hot in Missouri during the summertime. And living entirely off renewable energy it doesn’t have to be a challenge to stay comfortable on those 90°F+ dog days. There are simple things you can do to minimize your use of air conditioning–one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Nature has provided us with many options to keep ourselves cool. We just have to make the connections and implement the systems.

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Rocket Man Kyle Demos Amazing Rocket Stove Flat Cooking Surface

Kyle of the Dancing Rabbit Critters gives us a tour of the “cooking appliances” in their community outdoor kitchen. They cook without fossil fuel using waste wood and solar energy to make their meals.

Check out the Critter blog for more:
http://www.crittercollective.net/

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Outdoor Kitchen Redefines Simple Living, Saves Money

Continuing the tour of the Critter Kitchen at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, Kyle talks about the design features of their outdoor kitchen. The Critters wanted their kitchen to be affordable, upcycle materials, and eliminate the need for fossil fuel. They thought a lot about how they wanted to build it to serve not only these purposes, but to create a space where community could thrive.

Check out the Critter blog:
http://www.crittercollective.net/

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Couple Retrofits Their Truck To Run On Wood!

At Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, villagers are always trying out new ways to reduce their impact on the planet. Two of my neighbors, Rae and Aaron, wanted to go on a road trip around the country to help with activism around stopping the use of fossil fuel. It seemed a bit hypocritical to be road tripping on gasoline though, so they built a system from scratch that would allow them to drive on a renewable resource–waste wood. They learned to weld and use a plasma torch, and they built almost everything from waste metal and materials. It’s not a simple system, but they were up for the challenge.