Getting off the grid...

So I'm getting off the grid, or at least trying to. I've become fed up with the US dependence on Oil, Coal, Hydro-electric and anything else that we "need" in this world.

The post says it all. If anyone out there has any ideas or ways to help, let me know!

http://dothappiness.blogspot.com/2010/08/little-help-is-all-i-need....

Thanks!

Tags: Biodiesel, Diesel, E350, Living, SVO, Step, Van, WVO

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on August 26, 2010 at 10:28am

did you get the idea from this guy?: http://www.salon.com/life/pinched/2009/12/06/living_in_a_van
i saw a video/interview with him last year that was pretty interesting which i can't find.
this is another news story, albiet a shorter piece: http://abcnews.go.com/OnCampus/video/living-van-duke-univ-10514940

also, check out trailer living ideas at http://tinyhouseblog.com/
there is also a video of a woman moving her trailer home around to avoid police tickets in one of the videos: http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/a-reclaimed-recycled-passive-s...

also, many diesel engines don't need a kit to run on biodiesel. the only reason for a kit, to my understanding, is for cold-weather climates where the biodiesel needs to warm up to prevent congealed fuel going into the engine. check out: http://thefuelfilm.com/
there's also a local biodiesel co-op in chicago: http://www.chicagobiofuels.org/
i went to thier fair a couple years ago when i owned a car (a diesel) looking into biodiesel.
loyola has a guy who converts veggie oil to fuel, and there's a science teacher somewhere in chicago who converts his school's cafeteria veggie oil to fuel, both with the help of their students.

do it. my goal is to build a house on discarded materials.

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Permalink Reply by Nathaniel D. Buckner on August 26, 2010 at 10:43am

Spot on. I saw this and there was a lightbulb over my head immediately!

Mark Kenseth said:

did you get the idea from this guy?: http://www.salon.com/life/pinched/2009/12/06/living_in_a_van
i saw a video/interview with him last year that was pretty interesting which i can't find.
this is another news story, albiet a shorter piece: http://abcnews.go.com/OnCampus/video/living-van-duke-univ-10514940

also, check out trailer living ideas at http://tinyhouseblog.com/
there is also a video of a woman moving her trailer home around to avoid police tickets in one of the videos: http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/a-reclaimed-recycled-passive-s...

also, many diesel engines don't need a kit to run on biodiesel. the only reason for a kit, to my understanding, is for cold-weather climates where the biodiesel needs to warm up to prevent congealed fuel going into the engine. check out: http://thefuelfilm.com/
there's also a local biodiesel co-op in chicago: http://www.chicagobiofuels.org/
i went to thier fair a couple years ago when i owned a car (a diesel) looking into biodiesel.
loyola has a guy who converts veggie oil to fuel, and there's a science teacher somewhere in chicago who converts his school's cafeteria veggie oil to fuel, both with the help of their students.

do it. my goal is to build a house on discarded materials.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nathaniel D. Buckner on August 27, 2010 at 10:31am

And then I saw this!

http://cheaprvliving.com/Steves_Van_Conversion.html

Nathaniel D. Buckner said:

Spot on. I saw this and there was a lightbulb over my head immediately!

Mark Kenseth said:
did you get the idea from this guy?: http://www.salon.com/life/pinched/2009/12/06/living_in_a_van
i saw a video/interview with him last year that was pretty interesting which i can't find.
this is another news story, albiet a shorter piece: http://abcnews.go.com/OnCampus/video/living-van-duke-univ-10514940

also, check out trailer living ideas at http://tinyhouseblog.com/
there is also a video of a woman moving her trailer home around to avoid police tickets in one of the videos: http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/a-reclaimed-recycled-passive-s...

also, many diesel engines don't need a kit to run on biodiesel. the only reason for a kit, to my understanding, is for cold-weather climates where the biodiesel needs to warm up to prevent congealed fuel going into the engine. check out: http://thefuelfilm.com/
there's also a local biodiesel co-op in chicago: http://www.chicagobiofuels.org/
i went to thier fair a couple years ago when i owned a car (a diesel) looking into biodiesel.
loyola has a guy who converts veggie oil to fuel, and there's a science teacher somewhere in chicago who converts his school's cafeteria veggie oil to fuel, both with the help of their students.

do it. my goal is to build a house on discarded materials.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Glen (FTF) on August 27, 2010 at 11:29am

Wish I had some where to point you when it came to a new van, but I don't at the moment. Good luck on the van-dwelling though. Iv lived an amazing 2 years in a van in and around the Chicago area. That is up until I killed it (oops).

One idea is turning a typical unleaded gas van into a diesel. Obviously it would take some work and money but its possible all the same. all the same, learning to hypermile you can greatly reduce the amount of reliance on fuel by increasing your MPG. small increases make big differences in the long run. I got my old chevy G20 from 16mpg to 19mpg, and that was before I really had a chance to try some more serious gas saving methods.

not sure what ideas you have going on or ur sources, but I have a ton of both. if you are interested send me a message :-) Always great to talk to fellow van dwelling folk.