Off Grid Eco Stay New Zealand

Could your car be part of the grid?

Brendan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:31:27 +0000

One of the biggest challenge with living off the grid is still dealing with the issue of transport. Unless riding a bicycle serves your needs then a combustion engine powered vehicle is pretty much the only choice available today. Being 100% off grid would imply that we could refuel and power our own transport as well. This video from TED has one of the GM executives talking about hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles and also the intriguing idea of using the “idle” power of parked vehicles to feed into the grid! Very interesting!

A smarter power grid?

Brendan — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:18:25 +0000

One of the great things about generating your own power on site is the lower amount wasted of electrical energy as you are not transmitting it miles over the national grid. Some conservative estimates are that greater than 7% of the energy is lost in transmission!

Off Grid systems are not necessarily perfect either, storage of electrical energy in batteries is also inefficient. However if your energy sources closely match your energy use, your storage requirements are reduced and thus the system can be overall more efficient.

Watch the short video on creating a smarter grid…

A power grid 5% more efficient could equate to taking 50 million cars off the road! Wow!

Creating Green Collar Jobs

Brendan — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:49:52 +0000

The opportunity to change the way our countries harness energy is huge.
New Zealand has amazing amounts of renewable resources right on its doorstep.
If the USA can have bold plans to create a new green energy economy there is
no excuse for New Zealand not acting.

We Can Solve It

Where is the urban Eco Accommodation?

Brendan — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:12:02 +0000

Why is it that the majority of “Eco accommodation” seems to be in remote far flung places of the world. Either in a jungle in Costa Rica or a beach on a Pacific island. How come more large hotels are not more environmentally responsible?

It is refreshing to see one of the world’s largest hotel companies announce that it is to participate in the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building program in the USA. Where estimates of cost savings alone of up to 50% I do wonder why more companies are not embracing the renewable energy and sustainability technology that is available now.

What will it take?

Ref: http://www.greenlodgingnews.com/Content.aspx?id=2912

Abundance of Renewable Energy

Brendan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:00:31 +0000

It always amazes me when I have conversations with people who believe Renewable Energy is too expensive or just not viable. New Zealand has so much renewable energy resource I find it almost criminal to not see it being utilised whilst the country relies on fossil fuels. As Dr Louis Arnoux from Indranet points out in his book “Peak oil, climate change & all that jazz”:

“There is no scarcity at all. It is our inefficient infrastructures and
modes of social organisation that create scarcity and high costs.”

There is no lack of energy, only a lake of willingness for people to ask questions and look at the alternatives. What if the solution was shining down on us?

New Zealand Nature Tours

Brendan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:56:38 +0000

New Zealand Nature Tours offers personal and authentic business class tours. It’s the perfect way to explore Nelson, Marlborough & the West Coast regions.

www.NewZealandNatureTours.com

Sustainable Interior Design

Brendan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:45:15 +0000

Check out the “Coolest Shade of Green” newsletter by Dayle Laing for beautiful, sustainable, interior design.

Dayle Laing is a Professional Speaker, Educator and Author who helps people select the ‘coolest shade of green’ for beautiful sustainable interior design that enhances their body, mind & spirit and makes their carbon footprint more beneficial.”

www.DayleLaing.com

How long can we continue consuming?

Brendan — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:21:37 +0000

For a fast-paced, fact filled look at the hidden processes behind the stuff we buy and use, check out the
The Story of Stuff as www.StoryOfStuff.com

Seresin Estate - Bio Dynamic Winery

Brendan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:28:35 +0000

Organically and bio dynamically grown, hand-tended and hand-picked, grapes and olives for extra virgin olive oil. A delightful estate to visit and see how a commercial winery can be environmentally aware and responsible.

Located 20 minutes from Blenheim in the heart of Marlborough.

www.seresin.co.nz

Repowering America - What About Empowering Yourself?

Brendan — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:12:39 +0000

The Repower America Plan, backed by Al Gore and now Barack Obama
is pretty bold. It is great to see such bold plans.

However what can we as individuals do right now? Apart from supporting
organisations promoting large scale change, we can effect a change right
now through our individual choices.

The products we purchase, where & how we travel, or how we modify
our own homes to be more energy efficient or totally self sufficient are all
ways in which we can make a difference.

We are can “vote” for change with every choice and purchase we make.

Why wait for governments?