Operations 2013 Brief: Difference between revisions
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==Built Environment== | ==Built Environment== | ||
We currently have a 4000 sf workshop and a 3000 sf living unit for 10 people, | We currently have a 4000 sf workshop and a 3000 sf living unit (HabLab) for 10 people. The workshop features 20 kW of inverter power at 240V, 10kW of inverter power at 120V, a welder generator (8kW), and a PTO generator (20kW). These have been built using our Compressed Earth Brick (CEB) press. We also have 2 natural buildings in 'livable' condition with a stove in each. Further, we have a 6 year old greenhouse and 5 year old original workshop, "Old Workshop". | ||
==Utilities== | ==Utilities== | ||
We are an off-grid facility. We have a 1000W solar panel system with a 1000AH battery in the Old Workshop. We have a 500AH, 72V battery bank powering the main workshop. We power the main workshop with a 2kW Honda gasoline generator. | |||
We have 2 shallow wells, one a 4" diameter well at 20' depth and another 42" wide bore well at 35 deep. The latter was dug in 2012 and has a storage capacity of about 1000 gallons reserve and a recharge rate of about 1-2 gallons/minute. We also have rooftop catchment from the greenhouse, about 800 gallons in interconnected 55 gallon drums. | |||
Our current grid connection includes municipal water and 2 fast internet lines (4M each). | |||
==Agriculture== | ==Agriculture== | ||
==Roads | |||
We have a 300 tree orchard and 27 acres of space total. We have a dozen or so chickens, and 4 grafted walnuts in our treeline. There is no production agriculture occurring today. | |||
==Roads== | |||
We have a gravel road going to the house and workshop, and our frontage on the south side is a gravel road. | |||
=Infrastructure Needs= | =Infrastructure Needs= | ||
==Site Cleanup== | ==Site Cleanup== | ||
Since the site began in 2006, it has been under construction. Since we have stabilized our main working infasturcture - house and workshop - we are in need of a 7-year 'spring cleaning.' | |||
==Staff Housing Plans== | ==Staff Housing Plans== | ||
We are planning to build 4 staff housing studios - away from the working/living area for privacy. | |||
==Utility Improvements== | ==Utility Improvements== | ||
===Grid=== | ===Grid=== | ||
We are currently considering an underground electrical grid connection to address off-grid power instabilities. While we found that we can run 4 welders to complete machine builds successfully in 1 day with our off-grid capacity, careful power management is required to do this. | |||
===Biogas=== | ===Biogas=== | ||
We are considering a biogas electric system fueled by grass clippings as our first step to off-grid industrial-scale power. This is proven technology, and we have access to expertise to help us deploy this on the 1 kW continuous scale. | |||
==Improvements to Existing Structures== | ==Improvements to Existing Structures== | ||
The 300 | |||
===Workshop=== | ===Workshop=== | ||
===Living Units=== | ===Living Units=== | ||
Revision as of 21:17, 11 February 2013
Infrastructure
Built Environment
We currently have a 4000 sf workshop and a 3000 sf living unit (HabLab) for 10 people. The workshop features 20 kW of inverter power at 240V, 10kW of inverter power at 120V, a welder generator (8kW), and a PTO generator (20kW). These have been built using our Compressed Earth Brick (CEB) press. We also have 2 natural buildings in 'livable' condition with a stove in each. Further, we have a 6 year old greenhouse and 5 year old original workshop, "Old Workshop".
Utilities
We are an off-grid facility. We have a 1000W solar panel system with a 1000AH battery in the Old Workshop. We have a 500AH, 72V battery bank powering the main workshop. We power the main workshop with a 2kW Honda gasoline generator.
We have 2 shallow wells, one a 4" diameter well at 20' depth and another 42" wide bore well at 35 deep. The latter was dug in 2012 and has a storage capacity of about 1000 gallons reserve and a recharge rate of about 1-2 gallons/minute. We also have rooftop catchment from the greenhouse, about 800 gallons in interconnected 55 gallon drums.
Our current grid connection includes municipal water and 2 fast internet lines (4M each).
Agriculture
We have a 300 tree orchard and 27 acres of space total. We have a dozen or so chickens, and 4 grafted walnuts in our treeline. There is no production agriculture occurring today.
Roads
We have a gravel road going to the house and workshop, and our frontage on the south side is a gravel road.
Infrastructure Needs
Site Cleanup
Since the site began in 2006, it has been under construction. Since we have stabilized our main working infasturcture - house and workshop - we are in need of a 7-year 'spring cleaning.'
Staff Housing Plans
We are planning to build 4 staff housing studios - away from the working/living area for privacy.
Utility Improvements
Grid
We are currently considering an underground electrical grid connection to address off-grid power instabilities. While we found that we can run 4 welders to complete machine builds successfully in 1 day with our off-grid capacity, careful power management is required to do this.
Biogas
We are considering a biogas electric system fueled by grass clippings as our first step to off-grid industrial-scale power. This is proven technology, and we have access to expertise to help us deploy this on the 1 kW continuous scale.
Improvements to Existing Structures
The 300