On his blog, the Archdruid Report, John Michael Greer has a provocative essay, “Seeking the Gaianomicon” that includes a link to a collection of 1970s/80s era appropriate technology handouts. The 190 page pdf Greer mentions (accessible at http://www.culturalconservers.org/apptech.php) includes information and how-to advice on insulation, storm windows, solar water heaters, super-insulated homes, simple photovoltaic systems and more.Greer is asking that readers spread the word about this resource. He also suggests starting your own library of appropriate technology classics. Both are great ideas.
Our blog, in fact, was largely inspired by just this type of literature in the form of a book by Sim Van der Ryn The Integral Urban House: Self Reliant Living in the City
If any of you know of more appropriate tech books, blogs or resources worth looking at, please leave a comment.
And thanks to the Homegrown Evolution reader who noticed our oddball interest in both appropriate tech and western esotericism and turned us on to the Archdruid.
If it was me, you’re quite welcome!
A primary source that seems to have charted the course for both appropriate tech and Permaculture is Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful, which I’m grateful to Greer for recommending to me.
My library will eventually include Warmth Disperses and Time Passes, which is about thermodynamics rather than appropriate tech, but is a great history/popular science book, and has shaped my understanding of thermodynamics viz. my work as an engineer.
Thanks so much for the link to this article. Such a great idea! I recommended the work of AERO http://aeromt.org/
Alternative Energy Resources Organization.
They have been around since the 1970s and have many, many publications. Here is a link to a history of the organization:
http://www.aeromt.org/kufm_wood_10_09.php
I remember well their New Western Energy Show (from the late 1970s).
Here’s a SIP patent from… 1917!
http://www.google.com/patents?id=faFGAAAAEBAJ
We knew but forgot and need to recover and apply this knowledge.
I read ‘Small is Beautiful’ as a 15 year old in Bombay – it had a major influence in changing the direction of my life. Here is a great resource for practical ideas along the lines that Schumacher indicated:
http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/categories.php