RMI Outlet
Plug Into New Ideas
How a Small County in California Went Grid Positive
California is known for being a leader in solar energy, but a small county in Northern California has taken things a step further. It has become the first county government in the state to not only zero-out its electric bill with renewable energy, but also to become grid positive.
Solar Empowerment in a Rural Nicaraguan Community
Forty years ago Sabana Grande, a small community in northern Nicaragua, was ravaged by war. Now you will find people sitting under solar-powered lights, eating solar-cooked chicken, and drinking smoothies made by a bicycle-powered blender.
Renewables Power a Rural German Village
A small town in the corner of rural eastern Germany, 40 miles south of Berlin, may be one of the best examples of decentralized self-sufficiency.
A High-Renewables Tomorrow, Today: El Hierro, Canary Islands
Many islands are blessed with large amounts of sun, wind, and water, making renewable energy a promising solution. One small island off the coast of Africa has embraced these resources, most notably through an innovative hybrid hydro-wind system.
Off-Grid Sweat Equity
Prior to moving to Colorado this past summer to work at RMI, I lived in British Columbia, Canada, in a cabin my girlfriend and I built. We started building it three years ago, and did a lot of the work while completing our graduate degrees.
