Rural domestic energy self-sufficiency: a cooperative student research project

Journal Article · · Eng., Cornell Q.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7227128

Wyatt, A; Masin, L

A student-organized case study of reliance on renewable energy resources and small-scale technology used a 127-acre site in New York State. The land contained 52 acres of fields and 75 acres of woodland. Five steps were followed for each of two scenarios for a non-farming family of five: (1) a preliminary audit of energy consumption, both direct and indirect (as in processed foods); (2) a list of needs and conservation steps; (3) a list of options for on-site renewable resources; (4) an evaluation of these options relating the family's heating and food needs with economics, time, and labor involved; and (5) a household strategy incorporating these options with considerations of environmental effects, lifestyle, and economics. The project developed familiarity with the plant and animal life, climate, and soil characteristics in order to select the options most compatible with good farm and woodlot management. A solar hot water system was constructed and information gathered on other alternative sources. The two scenarios followed applied to a family willing to spend moderate sums of money but little time or labor and a family changing its lifestyle to include home-built equipment and organic gardening. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7227128
• Journal Information: Eng., Cornell Q.; (United States), Journal Name: Eng., Cornell Q.; (United States) Vol. 11:3; ISSN ECQUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290400 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
298000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURE
BEHAVIOR
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD PROCESSING
HEATING
MANAGEMENT
POWER
PROCESSING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RURAL AREAS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOCIOLOGY
SOLAR ENERGY
SPACE HEATING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WIND POWER