The idea here is to illustrate that the Ruck family can live comfortably without need of municipal electricty from the local power company. We will "hook up" so the possible emergency need can be accomodated but the way the world is going, it could be that the Ruck home will be the only one in NYC that is lit up at various points in the future.
Two custom vertical axis wind mills will also be mounted on east and west ends of the
steel frame structure. These units have proven to need minimal maintenance as compared to propellar blade type units. Their design is spherical so as to provide more energy from less wind. This is due to the spherical shape allowing a longer leverage arm to take energy from the wind. EXHIBIT I
Cat walks for maintenance will be designed in to the structure.
Electricity will be delivered from both sun and wind to a centrally located POWER ORGANIZING MODULE (POM) on the roof which will also house batteries for storage of the electricity. This unit has been evolving over twenty years and is using the latest technology for organization and monitoring of electrical energy. It is here where the line grid power will also be delivered so the batteries can be charged by line grid if necessary. EXHIBITS I & J This system does not require duplication with line grid power. It simply allows line grid power to charge the batteries just like the sun or the wind and the owner continues using the same system. Batteries are only charged by line grid when necessary. This will be monitored and based on past performance of Earthship homes, we believe that line grid power will seldom if ever be used. This can illustrate relief for
an already over taxed and vulnerable NYC electricity source and infrstructure.
LED lighting (both AC and DC) will be in use throughout the home to minumize energy used for lighting. There will be much daylight in the home which will also miumize energy used for lighting. Pumps for water use and grey water toilet flushing and refrigeration will all be DC so the inverter in the POM can be only needed for appliaces and entertainment. This allows the home to be functional even if the inverter were to malfunction. This system has proven to be the most reliable provision of electricity in Earthship housing for approximately forty years.
