GrokEnergy http://grokenergy.com Renewable Energy News & Information posterous.com Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:15:17 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965780 http://grokenergy.com/20965780

NASA’s OMEGA - Offshore Membrane Enclosure for Growing Algae http://j5h.us/14

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:08:32 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965781 http://grokenergy.com/20965781

Former BP Exec Cynthia Warner Left Big Oil for Big Algae - And She’s Not Alone http://j5h.us/z

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:18:19 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965782 http://grokenergy.com/20965782

RT @JaymiHeimbuch: Study says: Video Conferencing Can Save $19 Billion, 5.5 Million Tons of CO2 http://bit.ly/avk2LW

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:28:37 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965783 http://grokenergy.com/20965783

Connecticut Gov Signs Biodiesel Heating Oil Mandate http://j5h.us/t

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:18:47 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965784 http://grokenergy.com/20965784

RT @CanarsieBK: What BP Should Have Said http://bit.ly/9UMkxR via @Good

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Mon, 10 May 2010 10:10:27 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965785 http://grokenergy.com/20965785

RT @EcoInteractive: No end in sight to spill as BP costs mount http://bit.ly/cBtOIC

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Mon, 03 May 2010 07:22:26 -0700 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965787 http://grokenergy.com/20965787

The promise of decentralization, localization and scale-free self-sufficiency http://bit.ly/d5nn7G

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:05:18 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965789 http://grokenergy.com/20965789

RT @JustinKownacki: If the existence of snow disproves global warming, then the existence of Twinkies disproves global hunger.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:05:18 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965788 http://grokenergy.com/20965788

Getting caught up on The Homemade Heat Pump Manifesto http://is.gd/9G96B Good stuff!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:48:52 -0800 16 GW of Renewable Energy to be Created in US by Stimulus Bill http://grokenergy.com/16-gw-of-renewable-energy-to-be-created-in-us-0 http://grokenergy.com/16-gw-of-renewable-energy-to-be-created-in-us-0 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/16-gw-renewable-energy-stimulus-bill.php

energybuzzambassador:

“When all spent - we will have added 16,000 MW (that’s 16 Gigawatts!) of clean energy to the grid.” Which is a pretty solid chunk—as she notes, it’s enough to take 4-5 MILLION HOMES permanently off the grid.”

This is fantastic„ 26.6 BILLION is going straight into Renewable Generation

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:45:04 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965791 http://grokenergy.com/20965791

Great article on using cover crops in Mother Earth News: http://is.gd/5vm9I

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:39:56 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965792 http://grokenergy.com/20965792

RT @CarbonPig: 5 Environmental Crises You Should Care About that Aren’t Global Warming http://ow.ly/Nz2n

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:06:33 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965793 http://grokenergy.com/20965793

NASA Uses Algae to Turn Sewage Into Fuel http://is.gd/5qnpG

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:48:38 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965795 http://grokenergy.com/20965795

RT @RickM: Why can’t we have phonebooks distributed only to those who request phonebooks? Stop the waste. http://post.ly/FCHe

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:28:15 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965796 http://grokenergy.com/20965796

Solar panels for the rest of us http://is.gd/5otLe

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:57:30 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965797 http://grokenergy.com/20965797

Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency http://is.gd/5n5Xr Some expire in 2010, others in 2016.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:35:12 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965798 http://grokenergy.com/20965798

Federal tax credits for various energy-efficiency goods don’t apply to rental property. How short-sighted.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:48:30 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965801 http://grokenergy.com/20965801

Did a preliminary cost projection for taking our well pump off the grid. About $4000 at current retail prices. Ouch. Bargain hunting time.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:48:30 -0800 Untitled http://grokenergy.com/20965799 http://grokenergy.com/20965799

Wet/dry shop vacs are magical. Mine is really helping the basement project along.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:29:49 -0800 A Basement Experiment http://grokenergy.com/a-basement-experiment http://grokenergy.com/a-basement-experiment

The basement in our house leaks when it rains.  It’s a significant problem that results in water covering about 1/3 of the floor.  We eventually want to use part of the basement as living space, so this is something that’ll have to be resolved – the sooner, the better.

I’ve been doing a lot of research into basement water management.  One conclusion I’ve come to is that water entering the basement (at least of the volume we’re seeing) doesn’t really do any harm.  It’s more an inconvenience than anything.

One interesting product I’ve come across is this: DryTrak. It forms a channel around the perimeter of a basement to lead water to a sump pump.  We don’t have a sump pump (yet), but we do have a basement drain that works just fine.

Our basement is level on two sides, with the other two sides gently sloping toward the drain.  I’m going to try a low-buck alternative to DryTrak – I’m going to take pressure-treated 1x2s to form a perimeter channel about 3” wide, adhered to the floor with construction adhesive. We’ve already bought the materials we’ll need at a cost of about $45. Assuming it’ll be water tight (this is an experiment, right?) the slope on the basement floor should be sufficient to promote good gravity drainage.

This is what we’re starting with:

Media_httpfarm5static_oinaz

This is one corner of the basement.  It’s pretty dirty from all the past water leakage, and you can see where I’ve started to clean it a little.  I need to clean the concrete in order to get a good bond from the construction cement. On the far left edge of the picture you can see the corner of the outside basement door – this is where the channel will start.  There’s a great utility sink in the basement that I’ll hookup a hose and sprayer to.  I’ve already found with the little cleaning I’ve done is that a good rinse is required to get the concrete properly clean.

Ok. I’m going to go dive in now. Wish me luck.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/747504/2010-08-02_15.43.24.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1gEWC0RVmdb Jeff Harbert jeffharbert Jeff Harbert