Hey Guys,

I would love to hear from everyone / anyone who has evaluated and then installed various sustainable heating, cooling and power creation products etc.

Please let me know what you thought before using / installing the product and then your thoughts after using that product. Did they or did they not perform as expected? Did they out perform your expectations?What were some pleasant and not so pleasant surprises?

I am planning on the following:

• Solar Hot Water
• Solar Electricity
  
• Passive Solar Heating
• Radiant Floor Heating
• Rocket Stove Mass Heater
• Graywater system
• Compost / Sawdust toilet (possibly though wife is pushing for flushing toilets :()

Thank you much guys in advance for all your feedback. Any and all is helpful. Please feel free to mention any green / sustainable products that worked or didn't work for you in addition to the ones listed above.

You mention the products you are using to make your mechanical systems more energy efficient, but how are you going to build your home to make it more energy efficient?

In my own house I have two 10x12 glass overhead doors facing south for passive solar gain, it works well on sunny winter days. Yesterday it was a high of 14 F and raised the temp from 64 to 68 in the 3200 sf house. I am not sure what the doors lose at night, but I am going to install SIP sliding doors on the exterior to close at night.

If you collected rainwater, then you (and your wife) could have real flush toilets.

At my place, outside it reached a high of 14 F and 70 inside from the passive solar. This will be the first winter, so we will see how it goes.