Underground cities and shops
 

hey there, thank you for the link but in the future can you give a little description of what the link is so people know before they click it?

The right direction
 

I've looked at cave, bermed and underground homes as recently as this weekend. There's something about being in a 45 to 65 degrees range with a minimal amount of heating required. However, even underground homes and cities are vulnerable to seismic activity, an increased risk in the era of hydrofracking.

There are some bills that would give some of us who are already working toward efficiency and a lowered carbon foot print some hope. I grateful to see a consideration of energy efficiency as part of a home's value and as a factor in calculating a mortgage cap:

New Senate Bills Would Give Homeowners Credit for Energy Efficiency, Streamline Renewable Energy Siting

SustainableBusiness.com News

Two bills introduced in the Senate would support energy efficiency and renewable energy. One would make a home's energy costs part of the mortgage approval process and the other bill would streamline permits for siting renewable energy projects on public lands.

Homes Rewarded for Greater Energy Efficiency

Even though most people know they could save money if they made their home more energy efficient, the majority of people still aren't willing to pay the upfront costs. But what if your home got a higher (or lower) appraised value based on its efficiency? Residential energy efficiency would become a key part of the home buying and selling process in a bill introduced by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), The Sensible Accounting to Value Energy (SAVE) Act (S.1737).

The SAVE Act would change current banking rules to include energy efficiency upgrades as part of the appraisal process that determines a home's value. A home that uses 30% less energy than the average would add over $10,000 to its appraised value, the Alliance to Save Energy estimates. This incentive would spur energy efficiency upgrades to existing and new homes, saving homeowners an estimated $1.1 billion in energy costs by 2020, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Institute for Market Transformation.

Federal mortgage agencies (which account for 90% of loans)would be required to include energy efficiency in their calculation of mortgage caps, the size of the mortgage an applicant can qualify for. Since their utility bills would be lower in an efficient home, a buyer could qualify for a higher cap.

In evaluating whether applicants can afford to carry a mortgage (debt-to-income ratio), they would have to include energy costs in addtion to the usual criteria (principal, interest, property taxes and insurance).

Streamlined Permits for Renewable Energy on Public Lands

The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, sponsored by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jim Risch (R-ID) would create a clear, straightforward development process that treats renewable energy similar to traditional sources of energy development like oil and gas. It would eliminate the red tape of acquiring permits, which takes about two years for solar and wind companies, and make it easier for companies to plan for the long term. The bill also ensures that funds generated by energy development benefits states, counties and various conservation efforts through royalty payments.

"A broad domestic energy supply is critical for America to grow its economy," says Risch. "This plan helps accomplish that by putting renewable energies under a similar framework as conventional energy sources. It also requires royalty payments that will benefit the counties and states where the projects occur."

The Act is supported by a broad array of organizations, including Taxpayers for Common Sense, the National Association of Counties, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/i...splay/id/23140

Absolutely right. The energy audit is important, and people might be able to save their homes or rentals if they are made more energy efficient.

I'm grateful to hear that there's some movement to recognize and appraise a property's value based on its energy use and efficiency.

I'll never forget moving to Rochester NY and renting a cute off season house on the lake. Being a florida girl I had no idea what heat cost were. It blew my mind and my budget. I actually had to break the lease or freeze.

My electric bills here are easily 300.00 a month and in winter higher. But I also operate the dog boarding business and I really work at keeping my electric bill down. I honestly don't know how some families manage.

Its a great idea tho to call the power companies and find out what programs are available to you even if you rent.

On the park cabins- for anyone interested, (I shared the link above) these range from 20K up to 60K but they include appliances. The interesting thing is the financing because you can lease buy one with several different options including deferred payments to help you get well, septic and power in.

For me, a business owner, it leasing with a 1.00 at the end is very affordable because I can write it off. I'm not sure for the typical homeowner but its still very affordable and from what I'm told pretty easy to get financing.

Some people use them completely off grid because they are self contained meaning they have a sewer holding tank (ewwww not me) and have a honey truck come out and empty them. They use a water catch system and operate off solar power.

bump

now that the holidays are over I am hoping we can inspire others to become proactive in change. I am going to attempt to start a local group in my area of people interested in health and organics. Maybe start a large garden, buy bulk, rent a large kitchen to prepare meals ahead together. Save money, save time, get healthy.

My search for finding people to live on the farm has not been easy. I had a few good prospects that changed their mind last minute. So I'm still plugging forward focusing on money making efforts to keep building. I'd love to find someone who was handy and could build things. That would make this so much easier. :)

I wanted to share this. Its such a powerful video for me:

http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/helena-on-tedx

Small businesses locally producing and purchasing basic needs help create healthier communities. Farmers markets and small businesses revitalize the economy sucked dry by globalization. Let's become more aware of how our resources and energies can be efficiently used to increase healthy connections to the natural world.

On another note I have been visualizing and thinking about ways I an turn the farm into a small community of like minds. I have no doubt that not only could it be a wonderful place to live, a true sustainable queer commune but can also be profitable. I am still a lone trying to do this but hoping the right people step forward.

"Sucked dry" is right. One of my students recently showed me a text called The Atlas of the Real World: Mapping the Way We Live. It's fascinating and recommended, especially if you want to know truly how quickly we are running through the earth's "resources."

The first page I turned to in it revealed the rate of aquifer recharge throughout the world, the best being Costa Rica at 76% or there about and the worst being Bahrain at 0%. In other words, for every gallon of ground water (the source of most drinking water) Costa Rica uses, 3/4 of that gallon is replaced through rain water recharging an aquifer (subterranean or ground water). In Bahrain, nothing is recharged or replaced.

And what does the Atlas identify as the average rate of aquifer recharge in the United States? Try 16%. So imagine taking a dollar out of your savings account and putting 16 cents in to replace it. Eventually, and probably sooner than later, you have nothing.

Industrial agriculture is having a tremendous effect on the drawn down of aquifers, and almost no one is talking about this. Local farms and biodynamic, sustainable and permaculture systems that use rain cachment systems are the way to go.

http://cache0.bookdepository.com/ass...0500288535.jpg

Here is what needs to happen for that to take place...

the same movement you see with Occupy, people coming together not sitting around but gathering in fields, planting and working crops. 1000's of people taking control and working with local farmers. That is as proactive as it gets.

This is really a great article, looks like an awesome book:

Could there ever be an alternative stock exchange dedicated to slow, small and local? Could a million American families get their food from CSAs? What if you had to invest 50 percent of your assets within 50 miles of where you live? Such questions — at the heart of “Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money” — represent the first steps on our path to a new economy.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/natur...#ixzz1hJGXUF6N


I had a few people come out who were interested in partnering with me on growing something and building a sustainable farm. One very qualified person decided that being a vegetarian they could not live somewhere that raised hens for meat or even ate eggs. Although I don't eat meat everyday, I still do and I don't want to limit myself from raising meat for for myself and especially one day my dogs. The quality of all dog foods really scares me.

The second person stayed for 2 days, helped out but was more interested in sitting around talking, hanging out and picking my brain. I don't mind company but I'm really busy and need people that are ok with being on their own.

another great article

How to Save a Million Dollars With a Sustainable Lifestyle

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/healt...#ixzz1hMVk504A

perhaps we can share some of these tips? I have been helping Mia's mother with a budget. She's always broke and I buy a large part of their food, cook it to insure they eat mostly organic and safe. As we lay things out you can clearly see how things add up

Folks and All; Although the unseasonably warm weather has been breaking records all over, now is the time to prepare for the cold snap. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read your own gas and electric meters if you rent or own a house.. Just today, I received an unestimated electric bill that was estimated wrong by the company. I know they never came here, because my meter is inside. So how could I get two unestimated electric bills in a row for the exact same amount? Also your cars... Folks, Try to check the antifreeze or the cold could blow out plugs and that will cost you some serious money.

wow we just have so many forums that all have the same concerns.

http://www.filmsforaction.org/Watch/...zed_Economies/

You have to watch this film. I had not heard of this concept before but it has inspired me! I have all kinds of shit going through my head. If one community can do this then why can all of them?

If you;re into restoring local economy you must see this.

and just as a quick update we have two people out on the farm now helping to take this farm project to the next level. Within the next few weeks we'll plan, rent a tractor and start preparing the pastures for growing. We will develop a plan to create food and more living space.

If we build it they will come. lol

Our goal is to become a fully sustainable queer commune/community on 30 acres.

Stay tune.

anyone that is in the general area that would like to come out and help on the weekends let me know. There will be hard work but also some good food and company. You'll need to bring a tent tho. There is some work now but most of the land works starts in April. If its chilly at night there is some electric we can run for heating blankets and such. We hope to build an area for everyone to hang out soon as well as a bathroom and hot showers.
If you have skills, great! If you don't, don't worry. Just bring a good attitude and strong back!

BTW we are talking about documenting this as a documentary and helpful guide.

Sachita and Folks; The Garden of Findhorn has really grown since I read the book "The Garden of Findhorn" back in the seventies. Three people were spiritually guided to turn a garbage dump into a garden where they grew forty pound cabbages, and other huge plants and veggies guided by the Nature Spirits there. They lived in old trailers, and it was amazing and miraculous how they were provided with everything they needed. Wow.. It amazes me to read how they have expanded and have some eco community building information on their site to give ideas to others. www.findhorn.org

Thats very cool! Thanks!

Morgan has arrived from CA to help on the farm. Big things coming!