tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23706585.post2063025393932865860..comments2023-10-14T03:55:02.028-07:00Comments on Mandyland: A few quick thingsMandyfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12758792191021561729noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23706585.post-45161669213044319472008-04-11T00:36:00.000-07:002008-04-11T00:36:00.000-07:00The goal seems to vary depending on who you talk t...The goal seems to vary depending on who you talk to and when you talk to them. Most residents would like to see a lot more being done with the 364 1/2 days of full sun. Paolo doesn't like the looks of solar panels, but has designed in minimal wind power in his linear city concept. The big sticking point for any of it is money. Renewable costs a lot up front and Arcosanti just doesn't have enough of it to put a serious dent in its grid usage.<BR/><BR/>My wife and I lived off grid for seven years prior to moving to Arcosanti. The equipment was expensive, required constant tinkering, and in the end we probably had a larger environmental footprint than if we had just used the grid. Of course, that was northern Michigan; Arizona would be easier, but still not easy.<BR/><BR/>Take care, and I hope you have the opportunity to spend some time there. It gets you thinking about how to do things differently in your own life.Richttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09357023273495828964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23706585.post-34416275603875276602008-04-10T06:15:00.000-07:002008-04-10T06:15:00.000-07:00Hi Ric,Thanks for the info. I was aware that Arco ...Hi Ric,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the info. I was aware that Arco isn't off the grid yet, at all....but isn't the ultimate goal to be?<BR/><BR/>I would love to do the workshops but unfortunately the money gods are not on my side currently. Perhaps in the future.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by the blog!Mandyfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12758792191021561729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23706585.post-36534685491034993332008-04-10T01:49:00.000-07:002008-04-10T01:49:00.000-07:00As a former Arcosanti resident and tour guide, I g...As a former Arcosanti resident and tour guide, I got a chuckle over your "nervous tour guide." Many people are attracted by the pay, but don't fully appreciate what it means to stand in front of a group of people in a very unstructured situation.<BR/><BR/>Also, in spite of what you may have been told, Arcosanti is not off grid. There is some very limited use of solar power (mostly the low-voltage lights along the site's sidewalks and staircases), but the vast majority of its electricity is grid power. No more than 10% is solar or wind. The small population at this point in the project also means that there is little to no meaningful on-site commerce for residents. The nearest place to buy food, clothes, etc. is 30 miles away. We greatly reduced our energy usage by leaving Arcosanti and moving into Prescott.<BR/><BR/>Still, if the place interests you, I would highly recommend the full workshop if you have the five weeks. If not that, even the one-week seminar week is very worthwhile. The full workshop is required to become a resident in any case, and you don't have to decide until the end of the workshop. It is an experience that I would recommend to anyone interested in making a meaningful reduction in their environmental footprint.Richttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09357023273495828964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23706585.post-53679308164632732732008-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:002008-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:00And I miss you!And I miss you!Big Gay Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283349254502226587noreply@blogger.com