Quote:
Originally Posted by ckelly78z
I would definitely go with a water collection system that allows water on a metal roof to be channeled through a gutter system into 275 gallon IBC tanks (the ones with the cage around them).
This water could then be treated, and filtered.
As far as waste, composting toilets will alleviate the need for a septic system, and any grey water could be used in a green house, or garden'
Colorado has many full days of sunshine, so solar panels, into a controller, through a series of deep cycle batteries, into an inverter to get 110 volt AC, would be the most efficient, and may still qualify for some government grants.
If you have a supply of firewood, and are building a home, you can do a "cordwood" design where the walls are actually built with split seasoned, firewood, laid horizontally with the cut end showing, surrounded by an inch or two of mortor. (cut to whatever thickness you want the walls to be).
I would also build a rocket mass stove into the design for efficient burning with much thermal mass.
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You don’t own the water coming off your roof in CO so that’s out.
The farther you are from civilization the more reliability becomes dominant. Hail, heavy storms and lightning, extreme low temps are the dream killers for most of the ideas presented here. Only guy I saw made it work well lived on a mountainside above tree line and used the water coming down to charge up a huge bank of batteries. But even then he got tired of the constant maintenance and inability to leave the property lest his batteries freezes up etc. He sold it after a few years.
I would get the best stove out there and a really good pair of chainsaws. Learn the art of candle making. Get a red union suit to wear all winter. Forgo needless high tech where possible and revel in your own ability to survive.