Cob Alternative Energy in the PNW

[andy gladish]

Hi, Brian,
My sister has been using wind and sun for electricity for fifteen years or
so, within sight of Bellingham. They say that if they had put the solar
panels in first, they never would have gotten to try wind, since they never
would have needed it. Of course, they use a backup generator pretty
frequently in the winter.
The thing to look for in a piece of land around here (also see "Pattern
Language" for a discussion of this) is more southern exposure than you would
ever think neccesary. If you haven't lived here, you can't imagine how low
the sun is in the winter, and how much open ground it takes to get
significant light that time of year.
A good thing about the area is that there's a lot of interest in alternative
building here. Not lots, but some cob homes- more in the way of straw
bale...
Andy Gladish
Guemes Is., WA

Brian Jewett wrote:

> Since quite a few folks on this list seem to be from the Pacific North
> West...



> My question is if there is any successful use of solar or other
> alternative energy sources in the area short of cutting up the trees and
> burning them?
>
> Brian