Coastal Dreaming

Straw Bale construction workshop coming to Nicaragua in April!  Slide show of a workshop from Sept 2010:

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National Geographic Article:
In two small villages on Nicaragua’s Mosquito Coast, a project to improve electricity service had a remarkable side benefit—household energy use actually dropped nearly 30 percent. When efficient compact-fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs were added to the mix, energy savings surpassed 40 percent.
The effort cut costs and brought longer hours of daily electricity service [...]

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Check out this picture of a 16 mill wind farm 1 mile south on the Pan American heading towards Costa Rica at the San Juan Del Sur turn off.  Many people think they are an eye sore - I find them actually very ascetic.  This wind farm has a nice background as well!

The key [...]

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Part of our Off the Grid Development Series

2009 seems to be there year of DIY or at least a broader renewed interest.  Probably driven in part to the current economic situation combined with a new look for many consumers about what they are really spending their disposable income on.  That being said if you are [...]

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Part of our Off the Grid Development Series.

The AQUS greywater recycling system, which debuted in 2006 at a water industry trade show is the creation of a startup called WaterSaver Technologies.  The device captures water from the sink, filters and disinfects it to be re-used for toilet flushing.  It was named one of the top [...]

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Part of our Off the Grid Development Series

It is becoming clear with growth and development that water is no longer something we can take for granted, and not just any water but most importantly - fresh water.  Take a look at this innovative device called the WaterMill from Element Four based in Kelowna, British Columbia [...]

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Part of our Off the Grid Development Series.

Solar panels on roof tops have gotten much nicer to look at that traditional roof top solar systems. Take solar shingles, of where there are a number of vendors out there. Here is a product from OKSolar - Photovoltaic Shingles. The shingles assume the patter [...]

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Part of our Off the Grid Development Series.

Above is a picture of the SolarPedalflo. No electricity required, No engine required. Solar is the primary power with human power as the secondary option. This is a patented product by MWI (Moving Water Industries) Corporation in Florida.
SolarPedalflo is capable of producing 12,000 liters of [...]

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Property development in central America is not easy. Infrastructure if often the most expensive component of a new development. Roads, drainage, water, waste, electricity etc. The structures themselves are often relatively cheap by comparison.
Developments are increasingly turning to green, off-the-grid technology to support the building of new developments. In addition to [...]

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