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HP103 contents 14 intro to hydropower Dan New Head and flow make the turbine go—a beginner’s guide to the pieces, parts, and variables of home-scale hydroelectric systems. 22 adobe brick by brick Quentin Wilson The basics of making bricks and building with adobe—an energy- efficient, earth-friendly, and traditional building technique. 30 solar folk Ed Witkin Legendary folksinger Pete Seeger has been an outspoken advocate for environmental causes. He walks his talk with a solar-electric system and an electric vehicle. 42 oil alternative Lizzy Scully Made from vegetable oil, biodiesel burns cleaner than petroleum diesel and can be used in any diesel engine—a fuel of the future, here now. 46 grid-tie efficiency John A. Bloom John was an early adopter of MPPT grid-tied inverters. His testing tracked, and influenced, the progress of this technology. 8 home power 103 / october & november 2004 Regulars On the Cover Folk music hero Pete Seeger 10 From Us to You shows off the solar-electric array HP crew at his homestead overlooking the Vote solar! Hudson River in New York. Photo by Ed Witkin 104 What the Heck? Joe Schwartz Combiner box. 106 Code Corner John Wiles 54 masonry heat System grounding. Kate Mink 110 Independent A centuries-old Scandinavian design pairs small fires with thermal Power Providers mass to provide comfortable, long-lasting, and efficient heating. Don Loweburg RE installers’ insurance. 60 troubleshooting SDHW Chuck Marken 114 Power Politics Michael Welch Abandoned solar domestic hot water (SDHW) systems could Nuclear waste in court. function again with some simple troubleshooting. 118 Word Power Ian Woofenden 68 system monitoring Free energy. Horst Wend Renewable energy system monitoring can itemize, quantify, and 120 Home & Heart display both your system’s performance and your energy use habits. Kathleen Jarschke-Schultze Catch the wave. 72 first wind Leslie Morán 122 Media Review The Thomas family realizes a long-standing dream by installing a Linda Pinkham grid-tied wind generator on their farm in Lassen County, California. Solar Energy International’s online courses. 82 efficient washers Linda Pinkham & Joe Schwartz 134 Ozonal Notes Richard Perez Two new clothes washers and an old clunker are tested and compared. Expansion happens. 88 solar chili 80 Subscription Form Tom Burbridge Mobile solar-electricity powers a competition chili kitchen. 124 Letters 130 RE Happenings 94 green financing Allan Sindelar & Phil Campbell-Graves 136 Q&A Getting a loan for renewable energy systems or off-grid homes has been a challenge in the past. These tips will improve your chances. 138 Readers’ Marketplace 102 PV on your electric vehicle? 140 Installers Directory Mike Brown & Shari Prange The realities of powering an electric vehicle with solar. 144 Advertisers Index www.homepower.com 9 from us to you HP staff Publisher Richard Perez Publisher & Business Manager Karen Perez CEO & Technical Editor Joe Schwartz Advertising Manager Connie Said Marketing Director Scott Russell Customer Service & Circulation Shannon Ryan Nat Lieske Managing Editor Linda Pinkham Energize Senior Editor Ian Woofenden Submissions Editor Michael Welch Associate Editor Claire Anderson Art Director Benjamin Root Chief Information Your Vote Officer Rick Germany Solar Thermal Editor Chuck Marken Solar Thermal Every day we vote with our wallets, whether we’re buying PV Technical Reviewers Ken Olson systems or SUVs. When we vote in political elections, we’re voting Smitty Schmitt on where our tax dollars go, as well as how we are represented. Green Building Editors Rachel Ware Laurie Stone Although we don’t recommend basing your vote on any single Johnny Weiss issue, energy policy is an important factor to consider. Think Transportation about energy’s sweeping impact on social, economic, security, Editors Shari Prange environmental, and geopolitical concerns. Then make yourself a Mike Brown promise to learn each candidate’s stance on renewable energy, and Regular Columnists Kathleen Jarschke-Schultze get out there and vote! Don Loweburg Richard Perez Michael Welch Not sure who your elected officials are? That’s not unusual since John Wiles most of us have a dozen or more representatives on the state and Ian Woofenden national levels alone—a lot to keep track of. Get in touch with your local election office or pay a visit to www.vote-smart.org for a rundown of who’s representing you. HP access Home Power Inc. PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520 USA The people who win this season’s elections will have a very direct 800-707-6585 or 541-512-0201 effect on how quickly renewable energy is adopted in the United Fax: 541-512-0343 States and elsewhere. With that in mind, the stakes seem high. Let’s [email protected] vote our renewable energy values. [email protected] Subscriptions,