Life Style Change

When I decided to buy an EV, it was primarily based on reducing my carbon footprint. I ran the numbers and found that the more expensive EV, plus cheap and free electricity would cost less than a comparable gasoline car plus gas, plus oil changes in just over 3 years. 

When I got my EV, I immediately began saving money on fuel. Then came the rebates. I took the rebates and tax savings and bought an EV charger, more efficient appliances, LED light bulbs, and an induction stove.

Even though my electricity went up from having an EV, I started saving money on electricity because of the efficiency upgrades. Then my wife got her EV.

With all these savings, I took my pond pump off the house electricity and bought a DC pump and powered it with a 135watt solar panel, saving me 400kwh/month.

Seeing the simplicity and carbon reduction, I took the plunge and got solar for my house.

Sufficed to say, buying an EV started a process that snowballed into a money saving (and carbon saving) life style change for myself, wife, and two kids that will eventually change the world for the better.

Lawn to Garden

Converting our front lawn to a lava rock garden with tan decomposed granite walking paths, punctuated with waterwise plants in pots.

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Spring Cleaning

The Vernal Equinox is here and my kids are reusing free chairs. Paint always helps.

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Wall Mounted Savings with Jars

Used shelf with spare chain holding mason jars for loose change.

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Vegetable Garden with Succulent Accents

I finally cleaned out the raised garden and we planted artichokes and cucumbers. Succulents guard the corners and a row along the front, all with red lava rock.

Reused Pallet for Planter

Found a used pallet, wanted to reuse it so:

- Moved the slats to one side
- Made a 4" channel on the top.
- Inserted recycled corn weed block
- Planted zone 9 drought resistant succulents.

I need to replace about 5 bad slats plus 6 more for two shelves on the back, so one and a half pallets would make one planter, depending on the quality of the wood.

Moar Solar

Satellite image of our solar before our neighbors got solar too.

Crib Pot Rack

The ends of an old crib make for a great Pot Rack

Place hooks at ends.

Find ceiling joists, without a stud finder you may make a few extra holes. Attach rack with chains.

Level with eye hook tensioners.

Attach other ends and level.

Attach other crib ends to bottom of first end for a split level look.

Hooks evenly spaced.

Plenty of room for extras, maybe a hanging plant...

Table to Wine Rack

I had one leaf of a hard wood table left over after I moved all the legs onto the other leaf making a half circle foyer table.

We had wine bottles with deteriorating corks sitting around, so here goes a wine rack.

Solar Evaporative Cooler

It's getting hot again, time for some recycled tinkering.

1. Source an old ice chest

2. Cut holes for some DC fans

3. Wire up the fans to a solar panel.

4. Optionally install a switch for control.

5. Use a glue gun around the holes of the wires.

6. Now simply drop ice into the cooler, or reuse containers with frozen water.

Recycled Bench becomes Gate

For this project I started with a used bench that was falling apart. I thought it could still be useful, and I needed a gate. The gate features tall chest high angled handles made from the tall ends from the bench, tapered at the bottom to match the bottom gate rail.

Solar Powered Pond Waterfall

Start with a nice sized pond and add:

- One DC pump (750 gph)
- One 28 amp 24 volt charge controller
- One garden accessory 12 volt battery
- One 135 watt Kyocera 24 volt solar panel (greater than 40 watt substitute)
- A pinch of blood
- Lots of sweat

Bake at 90° for three hours.

Enjoy