DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeowner: 25 Ways to Build a Self-Reliant Lifestyle (41 page)
Authors: Betsy Matheson
Tags: #Non-Fiction
17 Hoist the panels
into position. Carefully follow safety regulations and use scaffolding, ladders, ropes, and lots of helpers to hoist the panels onto the roof. Wear fall-arresting gear and take care not to allow the plenum ductwork to be damaged. Connect the inlet and outlet ducts on the panel(s) to the openings on the roof (inset). Position the panels so the inlet and outlet openings match perfectly, and attach with a duct collar and silicon caulk.
18 Connect the panels
to the Unistrut with 3/8" threaded rod attached at the top and bottom of the panel on the outside. Cut threaded rod to size, then attach to the Unistrut with Unistrut nuts. Attach the top clip to the top of the rod and the front face of the panel. Tighten the assembly to compress the panel down to the Unistrut for a tight hold. Seal the panel connections with 1" foam gasket tape around each end of the panels where they connect. Place a bead of silicon caulk on top of the gasket tape and then attach 3"-wide flashing over the two panels at the joint. Attach flashing to the panel with galvanized sheet metal screws with rubber gasket heads.
19 Hook up the interior ductwork,
including dampers and a blower fan. The manner in which this is done will vary tremendously depending on your house structure and how you plan to integrate the supplementary heat. You will definitely want to work with a professional HVAC contractor (preferably one with experience with solar) for this part of the job.
Metric Equivalent
Converting Measurements
Converting Temperatures
Convert degrees Fahrenheit (F) to degrees Celsius (C) by following this simple formula: Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature reading. Then mulitply that number by 5/9. For example, 77°F - 32 = 45. 45 × 5/9 = 25°C.
To convert degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit, multiply the Celsius temperature reading by 9/5, then add 32. For example, 25°C × 9/5 = 45. 45 + 32 = 77°F.
AEE Solar
800-777-6609
www.aeesolar.com
Applied Energy Innovations
612-532-0384
www.appliedenergyinnovations.org
Pages 141
and
149
Atkinson Electronics
800-261-3602
atkinsonelectronics.com
The Barefoot Beekeeper
www.biobees.com
Page 126
Earthtronics and Honeywell
866-6-EARTH-0
www.earthtronics.com/honeywell.aspx
Envirosink
888-663-4950
www.envirosink.com
Page 19
Flotender
800-906-0604
www.flotender.com
Unistrat Metal Framing
800-521-7730
www.unistrat.us
Page 143
Wind Powering America
www.windpoweringamerica.gov
Molly Joy Matheson Gruen
Peace Photography
p. 96 (pigs and goats)
Shutterstock, pp. 35, 41 both, 54, 55, 78, 79, 84, 85, 90, 92, 102, 117 right, 124
iStockphoto, p. 82
A
B
Beekeeping,
124
–126
building a top-bar
beehive,
127
–129
Boosting your garden’s yield, building a cold frame,
48
–53
building a greenhouse,
58
–67
where to site,
60
–61
building a hoophouse,
68
–77
where to site,
70
C
process,
83
installing a gray water recovery sink,
20
–21
rain barrels,
14
making a rain barrel,
15
–17
Container gardening,
38
–47
building planter boxes,
43
–45
Composting,
6
managed composting,
23
variables,
24
–25
what to compost, what not to compost,
31
D
electric food dryer,
90
solar food dryer,
87
building a,
88
–89
on trays,
86
pasteurization and storage,
91
using your oven,
90
F
Food preservation,
78
–91
choosing the best method,
80
Freezing your produce,
81
L
P
starting and transplanting seedlings,
55
–57
R
Raised garden beds,
32
–37
bed positions,
33
companion planting,
34
–35
how to build,
36
–37
soil,
35
watering,
35
Raising animals,
102
–113
alpacas,
107
building a post and board fence,
110
–111
building a Virginia rail fence,
112
–113
goats,
106
pigs,
106
sheep,
107
Raising chickens,
103
building a chicken coop,
8
how to store produce in a cellar,
94
setting up in a basement,
96
–99
setting up a root cellar shelf,
100
–101
S
Self-sufficient lifestyle,
6
–8
building a solar panel,
6
grid-connected and off-the-grid systems,133–134
Solar heat,
148
–156
for hot water and heating,
139
Solar panels,
149
–150
anatomy of a,
150
building a solar hot air panel,
151
–135
products,
134
–135
Solar security light circuit,
140
–147
installing an off-the-grid solar lighting system,
143
–144
