We haven't posted anything about building lately...because, well, we haven't been working outdoors much these sub-freezing days. (And there was that wedding in Mexico to blissfully distract us.) But we've still made progress, spending time reading and calculating and dreaming—and shopping. We've made a boatload of decisions: from lighting and heating to our wall paint and our composting toilet.
Some of our picks:
The Kimberly Wood Stove. This sleek, stainless "gasifier" wood stove burns efficiently and cleanly, with less than half the emissions allowed by the EPA. It could heat a space six times the size of our tiny house, and one load of wood can burn up to 8 hours. So, as long as it works as advertised, we should be toasty all winter next year. Not to mention, we can do a little cooking atop it and, if we opt to buy a thermoelectric generator, we can produce a little power to boot.
Origo 6000 Oven/Stove. Electric stoves are energy hogs; using one would tax our solar/battery system (still in the planning stage). While some "tiny housers" opt for propane cooking, we're trying to steer clear of fossil fuels associated with fracking. The Origo runs on clean-burning, non-pressurized, denatured alcohol. We were lucky enough to see a couple in use at the Tiny House Conference we attended last April. Our two-burner stove and oven is designed for boats—but it's also a great choice for off-the-grid tiny houses. It may take us an extra minute to boil a pot of water, but we think it will be a well-spent minute.
BioLite Basecamp. No more propane grills for us. This wood-burning grill makes good use of the sticks that fall to the ground all around our tiny house. A built-in thermoelectric generator charges the internal fan that improves combustion and enables a cleaner burn. Plus, it generates enough extra energy to power its built-in light and charge a phone.
Ecovita Privy Kit. We're building our own composting toilet. Not the most glamorous of subjects—but quite essential. The short story is that keeping Number One separate from Number Two makes things easier and neater. This privy kit will work in combo with a plastic gas can, plastic bucket, coco fiber and a wood base we're working on. Enough said...
Some of our picks:
The Kimberly Wood Stove. This sleek, stainless "gasifier" wood stove burns efficiently and cleanly, with less than half the emissions allowed by the EPA. It could heat a space six times the size of our tiny house, and one load of wood can burn up to 8 hours. So, as long as it works as advertised, we should be toasty all winter next year. Not to mention, we can do a little cooking atop it and, if we opt to buy a thermoelectric generator, we can produce a little power to boot.
Origo 6000 Oven/Stove. Electric stoves are energy hogs; using one would tax our solar/battery system (still in the planning stage). While some "tiny housers" opt for propane cooking, we're trying to steer clear of fossil fuels associated with fracking. The Origo runs on clean-burning, non-pressurized, denatured alcohol. We were lucky enough to see a couple in use at the Tiny House Conference we attended last April. Our two-burner stove and oven is designed for boats—but it's also a great choice for off-the-grid tiny houses. It may take us an extra minute to boil a pot of water, but we think it will be a well-spent minute.
BioLite Basecamp. No more propane grills for us. This wood-burning grill makes good use of the sticks that fall to the ground all around our tiny house. A built-in thermoelectric generator charges the internal fan that improves combustion and enables a cleaner burn. Plus, it generates enough extra energy to power its built-in light and charge a phone.
Ecovita Privy Kit. We're building our own composting toilet. Not the most glamorous of subjects—but quite essential. The short story is that keeping Number One separate from Number Two makes things easier and neater. This privy kit will work in combo with a plastic gas can, plastic bucket, coco fiber and a wood base we're working on. Enough said...