Small solar ideas for distributed energy solutions from Michigan Technological University.
“Tiny houses don’t have much room on their tiny roofs, and that’s a problem when it comes to finding space for solar panels, let alone a combined solar power system that can generate both electricity and heat. However, help is on the way in the form of a new compact photovoltaic thermal energy system under development at Michigan Technological University, and it could help make off-grid solar power more cost-effective for larger buildings, too.”
via MTU Researcher Develops Low Cost Integrated PVT System.
Here’s another great treehouse from the Monday Morning Treehouse series on This Tiny House. It’s the treehouse of Don Botsford in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Don actually has two treehouses on his 20-acre property which he bought back in 1975 and turned into a nature preserve.
The State of Michigan is helping people buy and renovate abandoned homes. As you might already know Detroit is one of the hardest hit cities in this economic tsunami. To help breathe life back into the local economy the government is providing many incentives to buyers who want to move in, fix up, and live in these hard hit communities.