A.       History of Self-Sufficient Structures. xlv

1.       Evolutionary Efforts. xlv

2.     Self-Sufficiency Projects (Energy Emphasis)xlvi

a.       Advanced Houses of the World. xlvi

b.       University/College Projects. xlvi

c.       Government Projects. xlvii

d.       Earthships  xlviii

3.     Self-Sufficiency Projects (Both Food and Energy)xlviii

a.       Autonomous House Book  xlviii

b.    NASA CELSS and Russian Bios-3. xlviii

c.    New Alchemy Institute. xlix

d.       Publications  xlix

e.       Biosphere IIl

f.       Individuals/Retrofits  l

g.       Bioshelters  li

h.    The Earth Home System.. li

B.       Earth Home Project Description and Purpose  li

1.     Earth Home Project Goalli

a.    Goals Described. li

b.    Other Descriptive Titles for this work. lii

c.       Prototype Explained. lv

2.       Explanation of Purpose for Earth Home Projectlvi

a.    Why a Completely Self-Sufficient Home System?. lvi

b.    What Is Unique About This House?. lvii

c.       Qualities Desired for the Earth Home  lvii

1.  Functionallviii

2.  Efficientlviii

3.  Ecologically Balanced. lviii

4.  Need-Oriented. lix

5.  Energy-Independentlix

6.  Food-Independentlxi

7.  Simple. lxi

8.  Durable. lxi

9.  Non-Polluting. lxi

10.  Single Family. lxii

11.  Universallxii

12.  Minimal Existence. lxii

13.  Living System.. lxii

14.  Built in the Image of Nature Itselflxii

C.       Why A Completely Self-Sufficient Home?. lxiii

1.     Unproven Theory.lxiii

2.       Energy/Resources Conservation.lxiv

3.     Economic Reasons.lxiv

4.     Soil Problems Around the World.lxv

a.       Desertification. lxv

b.    Soil Compaction. lxv

c.    Erosion. lxv

d.    Soil Depletion. lxv

e.       Stopping Use of Hydrated Lime  lxvi

f.       Irrigated Land Decrease. lxvi

5.     Increasing the Total Food Supply.lxvii

6.     Slow Down Climate Changes.lxviii

a.       Plants/Animals Reduction. lxviii

b.    Aquifer Depletion. lxviii

c.    Global Warming/Greenhouse Gasses. lxviii

d.       Temperature Rise. lxix

e.    Carbon Dioxide/Ozone  lxxii

f.       Weather-Related changes. lxxii

7.     Slow Down Pollution. lxxii

8.     Increased Human Health.lxxvi

a.       Malnutrition Background. lxxvi

b.    Spread of Old Diseases. lxxvi

c.       "Transporting" Infectious Diseases. lxxvi

d.    New Ailments. lxxvii

e.       Nutrition-Related Health Issues. lxxvii

9.       Moral/Religious Viewpoint.lxxvii

10.          Population Issues.lxxviii

11.      World security.lxxx

12.          Maintain Current Lifestyle.lxxxi

13.          Sustainability Goal.lxxxi

14.      Future Unknowns/Instability  lxxxi

D.          Philosophical/Background Questions.lxxxi

1.     Who Would Benefit?. lxxxi

2.     Single Family vs. Multi-Family Dwelling. lxxxii

3.       Tribal/Extended Family System.. lxxxiii

4.     Why Hasn't Government Tried This Before?. lxxxiii

5.     Why Hasn't Private Business Tried This Before?. lxxxiv

6.     Why Haven't Other People Tried this Before?. lxxxv

7.     Why Aren't Technologists Headed in This Direction?. lxxxv

E.        Mel Moench's Activities/Chronology/Successes. lxxxvi

1.     Early Beginnings/History  lxxxvi

2.     Scope of Research - Prototype Explained. lxxxvi

a.    7,500 Books Read/Scanned.lxxxvi

b.    3,500 Magazines Read/Scanned.lxxxvii

c.    8,000 Phone Calls.lxxxvii

d.    9,000 Letters.lxxxvii

e.    Foreign Contacts.lxxxvii

f.     Thomas Registers/McMaster-Carr.lxxxvii

g.    NASA.lxxxvii

h.       Newspapers.lxxxviii

i.     Visits.lxxxviii

j.       Technical Journals.lxxxviii

k.    Internet.lxxxviii

3.     Laws/Jail Time  lxxxix

4.     Building Codes/Morality  xc

5.       Successful Testing to Date  xc

a.       Electrical Lighting Efficiency.xci

b.    Super Water-Efficient Toilet.xci

c.    Water Efficiency-Handwashing.xci

d.    Water-Efficient Showerxci

e.    Utility Cube  xci

f.     Spin-off Technologies  xcii

6.     The Reasons for Developing Earth Home II Prototype. xciii

a.       Thermosiphon Testing. xciii

b.    Airflow options.xciii

c.    Ground Contact.xciii

d.       Lighting.xciii

e.    Flax.xciii

f.       Construction.xciv

g.    Roof.xciv

h.       Rainwater.xciv

i.       Western Sun.xciv

j.     Cool Tubes.xciv

k.       Atmospheres.xciv

l.       Underfloor heating option.xcv

m.          Handicap/Elderly.xcv

n.       Overhead Water Option.xcv

F.        EH Tabs/Methodology of Textxcv

1.     System Approach. xcv

2.     Writing Style/Humorxcv

3.     Scanning the Entire Text Quickly. xcvi

4.       Modifications to Basic Design. xcvi

a.    Tab 1-Solar/Wind Ratio  xcvi

b.    Tab 2-Tropical Plant/Tree Species. xcvii

c.    Tab 3-Reduced Rainfallxcvii

d.    Tab 4-Increased Earth Temperatures  xcvii

e.    Tab 4-Decreased Earth Temperatures  xcvii

1.  Frost Depth. xcvii

2.  Night Coolers for Refrigeration. xcvii

f.     Tab 5-Heating/Cooling Load Ratio  xcvii

g.    Tab 6-Wet Environments  xcvii

h.    Tab 7-Underfloor Insulation/Heatxcvii

i.     Tab 8-Hemisphere/Orientation. xcvii

j.     Tab 9-Underfloor Insulation/Heatxcvii

k.    Roof Coloration Scheme. xcvii

I.       ENERGY/POWER OVERVIEW   1

A.          Renewable Energy Background. 1

1.     Non-Repeatable Sources of Energy. 1

2.       Repeatable Sources of Energy. 2

3.     Energy "Technologies"  2

a.       Mechanical2

b.       Electrical2

c.    Heat2

d.       Common Energy Conversions. 3

B.       Solar Energy  4

1.     Solar Heating-Active. 4

a.    Flat Plate/Hydronic  4

b.       Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)5

1.  Dish Systems. 5

2.  Parabolic Troughs. 5

3.  Power Towers. 5

4.  Concentrating Photovoltaic. 5

5.  Non-Tracking Concentrating Collectors. 6

c.    Hybrids. 6

2.     Solar Heat Storage (see Thermal Mass Section)6

a.    Air6

b.    Water6

c.    Rock. 7

3.     Passive Solar/Transparent Insulation. 7

4.       Photovoltaic(PV)7

a.       Background  7

b.    Flat Panels. 9

c.    Bifacial9

d.    Hybrids. 9

C.       Wind Energy  10

1.     Wind Power Through History. 10

2.     Windmill Background. 10

a.       Windmill Types. 10

b.       Windmill--Make or Buy  12

3.     Wind-Generated Electricity-History. 12

4.     Wind Generator Basics. 13

5.     Wind Tower Terminology. 14

6.     Wind-Powered Air Compressors. 14

D.       Gaseous Fuels  15

1.       Methane/Biogas. 15

2.       Propane/Natural Gas. 15

3.     Hydrogen. 16

a.       Hydrogen Production. 16

b.       Hydrogen Storage. 17

1.  Hydrogen Storage Challenges. 17

2.  Future Hydrogen Storage Technology. 17

3.  Future Earth Home Hydrogen Storage. 17

c.       Hydrogen Uses. 18

1.  Hydrogen Burning. 18

2.  Future Hydrogen Developments. 18

4.     Use of Gaseous Fuel18

a.    Fuel Cells  18

b.    Future Fuel Cell Technologies  21

c.       Combined Heat and Power (CHP)22

E.          Wood/Solid Fuel (see Heating Section)22

1.     History. 22

2.     CO₂ Issues. 22

F.        Alcohol23

1.     History of Alcohol23

a.       Background  23

b.    Fuel Alcohol History. 23

2.     Alcohol Production. 23

a.    Basic Process Chart23

b.    Sugar, Starch, or Cellulose (Carbohydrates)25

c.    Enzyme Sources. 27

d.    Yeast Discussion/Sources. 27

e.       Recipes/Commercial-Scale Fuel Production Techniques. 28

f.     Alcohol Yields. 29

g.    Alcohol Production From Food Wastes. 29

h.       Distillation  29

i.     Large-scale Alcohol Plants. 31

j.     Small-scale Alcohol Plants. 31

k.    Vinegar Production (see Diet-Vinegar Section)31

3.     Using Alcohol31

a.    Using Alcohol in Engines. 31

1.  Moisture in Alcohol31

2.  Data-Btu/Orifice Size. 32

3.  Back-up Generator/Small Engine Fuel32

4.  Other Alcohol Converted Engines/Brazil32

b.    Burning Alcohol for Heat33

1.  High Temperature Refrigeration Fuel33

2.  Cooking Fuel33

c.    Using Alcohol for Vinegar Production. 33

G.          Alternative Power Options. 34

1.     Stirling Engines. 34

2.       Thermoelectric/Thermovoltaic  34

3.       Geothermal (see Thermal Mass Section)35

4.     Steam Engines (see Electrical Power-Generator Options section)35

H.       Earth Home Energy Choices  35

1.     Qualities of Energy Sources-Discussion. 35

a.       Temperature Discussion. 35

1.  Useful Temperatures of EH Functions. 35

2.  High Temperatures More Useful36

b.    Easily Stored. 36

c.    Easily Transformed/Minimize Efficiency Losses. 36

d.       "Quality" of Energy-High or Low.. 36

e.       Hours/Day Available. 36

f.       Alcohol/Vinegar Production. 37

2.     Cooling (Space)37

3.     Heating (Space)37

4.     Lighting (Electricity)38

5.       Refrigeration/Freezing. 38

6.     Domestic Hot Water Heating (DHW)39

a.       Background  39

b.    Primary Domestic Water39

c.       Dehydrator39

d.    Clothes Dryer40

e.       Distillation Unit40

f.       Greenhouse Soil Heating. 40

7.     Cooking. 41

8.     Back-up Generator/Small Engine Fuel41

9.     Aerobic Digester/Fish Tank Aeration. 41

10.          Exercise-Generated Energy  41

I.     Future Energy Technology. 42

1.     Home-Sized Power Plant/Water Heater Combinations. 42

2.     Computer-Controlled Combustion Draft/Scrubber42

3.       Microturbines  43

4.     Gas-Driven Heat Pumps. 43

II.          THERMAL MASS/THERMAL "BATTERIES" OVERVIEW   44

A.       Earth Temperature Data/Background  44

1.     Earth as Source of Heat Background. 44

2.       Movement of Heat/Thermal Conductivity/Temperature. 44

a.       Moisture Influences on Heat Transfer Rates  45

b.       Controlling/Adjusting Moisture. 45

3.       Temperature Under the Surface of the Earth  45

a.       Temperatures on the Surface. 45

b.       Temperatures 4-30 feet Deep. 45

c.       Groundwater Temperatures  46

d.       Groundcover Influences. 48

B.       Natural Thermal Storage Mediums. 48

1.     Water Storage Overview.. 48

a.       Density/Temperature Background. 48

b.    Water Storage Technologies  48

c.    Heat Movement/Temperature Swings. 48

d.    Water Storage Applications. 48

2.     Soil Storage Overview.. 48

a.       Density/Temperature Background. 48

b.    Soil Storage Technologies  48

c.    Heat Movement/Temperature Swings. 48

d.    Soil Storage Applications. 48

3.     Rock Storage Overview.. 49

a.       Density/Temperature Background. 49

b.    Rock Storage Techniques (Solar)49

4.       Combination Storage Methods. 49

a.       Qualities of Each Method. 49

b.       Testing/Future. 49

C.       Other Thermal Storage Mediums. 50

1.     Phase Change Materials (PCM)50

a.       PCM/Eutectic Salts Overview.. 50

b.       Density/Temperature Advantages. 50

2.     Heated Paraffin. 50

3.     Salt Hydrates (see Phase-Change Materials (PCM) Section)50

D.       Future Thermal Storage Methods. 51

1.     High Density Desiccants. 51

2.     Other Research. 51

E.        Higher and Lower Temperature Thermal Mass Techniques. 51

1.       Stove/Furnace High Temperature Storage. 51

a.    Off-Peak Electricity Example. 51

b.    High Mass Masonry Stoves (see Heating System/Masonry Stoves Section)52

c.    High Mass Chimney (see Heating System/Draft/Chimney Section)52

2.       Cold/Refrigeration Storage (See Refrigeration Options-Nite Cooler Tab Section)52

F.        Low-Tech Heat Extraction Techniques.