Written By Nate. On Sep 07. In Books

This is the third and last post in a series discussing a new book, Off the Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy with the author, Lori Ryker.  Two people have already registered for the book giveaway in previous posts.  To gain another entry into the contest:

1)  Read the following Q&A topics with Lori Ryker

2)  Leave a comment below outlining how you would like to incorporate the use of alternative energy in your house.

3)  For a bonus entry, subscribe to my RSS Feed and leave a comment telling me you’ve done so

4)  For another bonus entry, follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this contest with the following:  “I just entered the Off the Grid book giveaway at http://www.greenpreferred.com” Leave me a comment telling me your Twitter name and that you’re now following and have Tweeted about the contest.

One winner will be chosen on Friday and will get their very own copy of the book in the mail.  You must contact me within 72 hours before another winner will be drawn.  Make sure to subscribe to my RSS Feed so you’ll be in the loop if you win.  Good luck!

The following is a continued Q&A with author Lori Ryker.  If you missed the first half, check it out here.

Q: You share stories about some of the homeowners or developers who have had to battle government decisions on just how environmentally friendly their home can be.  In particular, you shared a story about one homeowner not being allowed to install composting toilets.  What do you think needs to happen so more and more off the grid features can be built into new homes?

A: What needs to happen is more simply stated than applied. There needs to be a change in the mindset of municipalities. Change occurs through education. California has taken great first steps in initiating changes to codes in materials and water use. For instance, when California re-considered the use of strawbale construction they produced a book that became a definitive resource that other entities could use as backing to create change in their own towns and states.

Q: You point out these homes give their occupants an experiential benefit to their passive designs.  Describe what that “experiential benefit” is all about and why people should experience it.

A: Some of this “experiential benefit” relates to the question 2. The simple act of opening a window to let the outside air in creates an undeniable link between where we are and how we are. A breeze coming into a home in the morning not only reminds us of the fact that there are particular qualities outside, it allows us to experience and  be a part of the place as we experience the air, rather than separate from the place as we are when the windows are closed and we are employing mechanical systems. Passive design requires us to maintain a specific rhythm of living in a particular environment. For instance in a more temperate climate windows may stay open all day during most seasons. Historically, in hotter climates, windows were typically opened late at night or early in the morning to allow the cool air into the house for the day, and then the widows were closed and curtains drawn for the majority of the day to retain the cool air, rather than continuing to allow the air in as it warmed through the day.

Passive heating not only warms a house through solar heat, we are reminded of the change of seasons as the earth shifts on its axis to allow the sun to come into the house. This change not only warms a house, but changes quality of light in the house. The experiential benefit is that we are reminded that we are living and breathing and that there is great beauty in the world if we choose to experience it – through quite simple means.

Q: What inspired you to put this book together?

A: I believe that we must change the way we are living, not only for ourselves, but for the world. We must all take responsibility if we want change, through all means we are capable. Trained as an architect, this book is a natural link between my concerns for the health of the planet and designing.

Q: Are these design features difficult for architects to implement or is it something that could become relatively mainstream?

A: I think these designs are already mainstream. What is not mainstream is their affordability – due to the costs of energy systems. We must find more comprehensive ways to move our population away from non-renewable energy and into what we commonly refer to as “alternative.” A big change, which is not generally reflected in these homes, is that we must learn to live with less in terms of size. We continue to build homes that are more than we truly need, and it costs money (and wastes resources) to heat, cool and energize them.

Q: Do you ever think we’ll see the day where a majority of homes are built to off the grid or passive standards?

A: I think that we must see such change if we are to continue living on the planet with the positive conditions and qualities that we currently identify with the planet.If we do not, the planet as we know it will no longer support us.  I believe that passive strategies would be a strong first step because such strategies decrease our need and reliance on energy. With passive standards in place, I believe most of us would live in homes with integrated infrastructure that is tied to clean, renewable energy instead of non-renewable sources. Additional “off the grid” systems would be employed relative to the environment in which we live. For instance, collecting water on individual rooftops.