Alexander's Horse, Thank you...:)

[Kuciwalker]

There's only one way of doing that.

[Velociryx]

care to....be a little more specific?

-=Vel=-

[Kuciwalker]

Of being completely independent of energy.

[Velociryx]

Ahhh, well, the goal is not to become independent OF energy...that would require getting offline and living in a WigWam, which I'm not interested in doing.

Instead, I want to become independent from "the grid" and the oil companies....thus, drafting a plan to see just how much independence I can muster.

So far, it seems like it's going to be a pretty daunting challenge...

-=Vel=-

[Velociryx]

Lupo is too small and underpowered for my needs...haven't seen a picture of the Golf yet, but....I like reviews it gets....and, I found some intriguing info....pasting it here for reference later:

Biodiesel differs from regular vegetable oil (commonly referred to as straight vegetable oil or "SVO") only in that it is chemically modified using a mixture of lye and methanol to make it more suitable for running in cold climates and to meet strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751) so to insure proper performance. SVO can power the Golf, but it will clog the fuel system at low temperatures because SVO congeals very easily if it has not been modified into biodiesel. You can however purchase a vegetable oil kit for the Golf, which allows you to run SVO when the engine is warm, and regular diesel or biodiesel when it's cold. The system adds a second fuel tank with a switch and fuel warmer, at a cost of about $800.

-=Vel=-

[alva]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_Golf

Take a look at the German version too (more pictures).

[Velociryx]

Outstanding....she's a cute lil' car, but it's the "lil'" part that has me worried.

I'll have to test drive one to see...I'm just afraid that it'll be hard to cram my 6'6" frame into one of those cars!



-=Vel=-

[chequita guevara]

Hippie.

[Velociryx]

nahhh...can't be. I don't have enough hair...

-=Vel=-

[alva]

Originally posted by Velociryx
Outstanding....she's a cute lil' car, but it's the "lil'" part that has me worried.

I'll have to test drive one to see...I'm just afraid that it'll be hard to cram my 6'6" frame into one of those cars!



-=Vel=-

Get a convertable???

Can't have it all I'm affraid. That said, Clarkson (car pundit) liked it alot (the 5 series) and he's a big man too.

[Velociryx]

GREAT tips thus far....I've found three then, that seem like contenders and big enough to fit into comfortably.

Golf
Jetta
Peugeot (which set some rather impressive records for mpg in Aussie land, from what I read).

No trucks that even come close to the MPG of the three above, sadly...

-=Vel=-

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Velociryx
Have you thought about energy self-sufficiency for your home?

More than thought about it, I am actively researching it!

My plan is to become *completely* energy independent, and I'm in the process of mapping out the strategy that will get me there right now....

-=Vel=-

You can do it.

I wish I had that link to the "Smart house" that was built in LA, it was completely self contained I believe except for the drinking water.

[mrmitchell]

Re: Alexander's Horse, Thank you...

Originally posted by Velociryx
My theory is that I can do that WITHOUT being all weird and living in a wigwam....I don't want that. I want to keep as many of the modern luxuries as I possibly can....just....self sufficiently.

-=Vel=-

You got a problem with Indians?

Seriously...you can even be water independent - collect rainwater in buckets, dig a well for groundwater, and use your own process to purify it....

Have you thought about trash independent? If you reused and recycled you could probalby cut yourself down to a tiny cube's worth of trash a week (let's say a computer game box). But that still has to have somewhere to go.

What about sewage independent?

Food independent? Raising your own cows, growing your own corn?

Oh, and I don't mean to set you down the path of total nutdom, but it would probably be a good idea to have something to defend yourself with--once Hurricane The Whole US is FCKED makes landfall and you're the last person in your city to have food, people will go after you.

[Lancer]

My wife and I just bought a rice field in the Phils. Rice is planted by hand. They plow the fields behind oxen type animals, harvest and clean it by hand. There is a milling process that I don't know about.


I made a video for my brother on how to kill and prepare a goat and pig. I just took video of the family in the Phils doing what they do... Here in the US my brother raises goats and wanted to know how to prepare them. He is somewhat energy independant. Anyway Vel, if you want a copy of the vid I'll make you one and send it to you.

[Winston]

I've been wondering, was it really scorpion poison that made you so I'll, or was it just a bit of literary license?