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GREEN LIVING

carrj47 - 5-2-2008 at 02:52 PM

I am interested in buying property in Baja Mexico that is eco friendly. I came across El Dorado Ranch in San Felipe that offers solar lots. Does anyone out there know of anything else availabe in Baja?

Roberto - 5-2-2008 at 02:57 PM

Please define eco friendly

BajaWarrior - 5-2-2008 at 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto
Please define eco friendly

The "solar community" is now dubbed as the "generator community" by it's own tenants. Solar takes some maintenence, it doesn't happen by itself, and many systems have failed due to infrequent visits to one's home.

Sure is sweet when everything is working correctly though!

Martyman - 5-2-2008 at 04:07 PM

Carrj;
Quite a few of the nomads have partial or complete solar at their casitas. Buy your own system and set it up. Then again some people are "El Dorado" people.

Don Alley - 5-2-2008 at 05:36 PM

Best first step for a Baja eco home:

Sell your other home and live in Baja full time.

Unless you think you can have the financial and energy-use luxury of flying/driving between two (or more) distant houses and think one is "eco friendly." :biggrin:

I go off whenever I see the word "eco." :lol:

David K - 5-2-2008 at 05:46 PM

To cook food, is it eco friendly to burn propane or natural gas, use electricity (from coal, gas, nuclear or hydro-electric), stay off the grid (and burn wood in a stove like granny did)... which means cutting trees (our renewable resource)... ??? :lol:

None of the above: Since eating meat is bad for the enviroment (cows fart)... you sould eat raw vegetables and raw fish!

Wait... don't fish have feelings?

Hold on, don't we talk to plants... so they must have feelings to!??!
:lol:

bancoduo - 5-2-2008 at 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
To cook food, is it eco friendly to burn propane or natural gas, use electricity (from coal, gas, nuclear or hydro-electric), stay off the grid (and burn wood in a stove like granny did)... which means cutting trees (our renewable resource)... ??? :lol:

Ever consider cannibalism. :cool:

Don Alley - 5-2-2008 at 06:15 PM

Banco, you are in good form today. :lol:

drzura - 5-2-2008 at 10:16 PM

These "eco-friendly" nutz are pretty funny. I agree with David K's post.

Pescador - 5-3-2008 at 05:12 PM

Geez, I had a place at San Lucas Cove that would have been perfect. Solar powered (cause there was no electricity) with limited water usage (cause we had to haul it in barrels) with very small use of fossil fuels in the summer (it was hot enough to fry eggs on the hood of your car), and we ate off of the land (all the fish we caught were eaten). I could have let you have that place for a cool $250,000 and you could have been eco-friendly to your hearts content.

Ken Cooke - 5-3-2008 at 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Since eating meat is bad for the enviroment (cows fart)... you sould eat raw vegetables and raw fish!

Wait... don't fish have feelings? :lol:

I haven't eaten red meat in 18 yrs. I can't stand to pull fish out of the water, either. Call me wierd. But hey, I **do** listen to Trance music, David! LOL

ecco friendly

bonanza bucko - 5-3-2008 at 07:36 PM

If you live in Baja you are happy to just live.....Solar panels now provide the juice to run the lights the fridge and the hair dryer that Herself can't live without. But propane still cooks and runs the water heater for a hot shower. Gasoline generators, perish the thought, still back the sun up when it goes behind a cloud.

We don't live "green" because we don't give a rat's gluteus about "green" and we only wanna live here another day in comfort under the sun...if you wanna make a political statement please go to some place like New Jersey or San Francisco where you'll be met by friends. Down here you just might get hung from a dry and nasty old ocotillo.

"Green"around here means spring time and it only lasts a week. We also think Algore should be buried under a pile of newsprint about "global warming" which is complete BS and which plays well only where people who know nothing of nature spend their stupid lives going to Nordies for lunchypoo in their Bemers.

vandenberg - 5-3-2008 at 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Call me wierd.

O.K. You're weird. :biggrin:

Roberto - 5-3-2008 at 07:54 PM

Another example of someone asking a question and regulars going off the deep end.

Mine was a serious question, which I will rephrase -- please define your goals, without which it will be difficult to provide recommendations.

[Edited on 5-4-2008 by Roberto]

Roberto - 5-3-2008 at 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grover
Welcome to Nomads, carrj47.

This is turning into quite the center for information, isn't it? :barf:

And, oh yeah, :barf:

Capt. George - 5-4-2008 at 04:30 AM

My goal is to have my Palm Trees talk back to me...they just stand there blowing in the breeze, very frustrating.

Perhaps the cactus of Abreojos will be more friendly on my return?

Bob and Susan - 5-4-2008 at 07:24 AM

i have to agree with bonanza bucko...
it sure is easier to let "other people" be green for us...

we still have to do some "non green" stuff just to keep Disease away :light:

yesterday was "trash day" but instead of taking the cans to the roadside curb and letting the sanitation department "take care of it"...

we have to transport it to the "new" dump and...
burn it :saint:

[Edited on 5-4-2008 by Bob and Susan]

today4.jpg - 45kB

shari - 5-4-2008 at 07:53 AM

Welcome to Nomads and sorry about the ranting here....baja is a great place to live off the grid...just take your time finding your dream place and make it eco friendly yourself. Wind power and solar combo works really well here...the point is YOU have to make it what you want. Hauling water is good for ya amigos. Plant some agave so you can make your own tequila!

CortezBlue - 5-4-2008 at 07:56 AM

I am not trying to be negative about your ECO approach, BUT, El Dorado calls them solar lots because the will probably never have electricity available now or in the future, trust me , it is not a ECO term from El Dorado.

Barry A. - 5-4-2008 at 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
Welcome to Nomads and sorry about the ranting here....baja is a great place to live off the grid...just take your time finding your dream place and make it eco friendly yourself. Wind power and solar combo works really well here...the point is YOU have to make it what you want. Hauling water is good for ya amigos. Plant some agave so you can make your own tequila!

Shari-------RIGHT ON!!! You have hit the nail squarely on the head, IMO. Being "green" is a personal responsibility, hopefully facilitated by the Gov., whichever Gov. that might be.

I too welcome new NOMADS to the board, and respect there ideas and views (to a point, anyway) :lol:

Barry

HotSchott - 5-4-2008 at 10:28 AM

Quote:

I haven't eaten red meat in 18 yrs. I can't stand to pull fish out of the water, either. Call me wierd. But hey, I **do** listen to Trance music, David! LOL

Quack Quack Quack

Dude, are you serious? You should be travelling to India for a girlfriend if you are giving up all that protein. I always thought Colombians love red meat, white meat, fishy meat...

In your case I guess its four-wheel drive tanned Kielbasa and your over-the-top sense of humor.

C'mon bro lets go albacore fishing this year and you may change your mind. :biggrin:

Ken Cooke - 5-4-2008 at 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HotSchott

Quote:

I haven't eaten red meat in 18 yrs. I can't stand to pull fish out of the water, either. Call me wierd. But hey, I **do** listen to Trance music, David! LOL

Dude, are you serious? You should be travelling to India for a girlfriend if you are giving up all that protein. I always thought Colombians love red meat, white meat, fishy meat...

C'mon bro lets go albacore fishing this year and you may change your mind. :biggrin:

Yes, I'm serious. I tried eating red meat in March '07, and I almost threw up from my stomach going crazy trying to digest the stuff.

My girlfriend understands that I don't eat Red Meat, and its' not an issue. In Colombia, ppl can't afford to eat beef on a normal basis. Mostly vegetables and sauce over white rice is their 'comida tipica' (normal food).

I'm going on a fishing trip next Saturday related to my work, but the stink turns my stomach. :barf:

I'll eat it if it's been canned already.

Barry A. - 5-4-2008 at 11:16 AM

Quote:

I haven't eaten red meat in 18 yrs. I can't stand to pull fish out of the water, either.

Ken-------Neither my son nor I like to pull fish out of the water, either, (they are beautiful, live creatures) but we sure have no problem eating those that we do catch------------We both LOVE to fish, fight the fish, and eat the fish-------it is just the "pulling them out of the water" that bothers us, so we just suck-it-up when landing them, knowing that all before and all after is just great!!

Also keeping in mind that we live on a "food chain" earth helps to rationalize it, also. :lol:

-----but I know what you mean-----

barry

Sharksbaja - 5-4-2008 at 11:27 AM

"I'll eat it if it's been canned already"

:lol:

Pescador - 5-4-2008 at 02:49 PM

I have not figured out what to use for bait when fishing for canned tuna.

Don Alley - 5-4-2008 at 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
I have not figured out what to use for bait when fishing for canned tuna.

http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/

Bob and Susan - 5-4-2008 at 05:11 PM

"I have not figured out what to use for bait when fishing for canned tuna."

this works the BEST!!! :light:

i've caught LOTS of cans with these :lol:

Ken Cooke - 5-4-2008 at 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
I haven't eaten red meat in 18 yrs. I can't stand to pull fish out of the water, either.

Ken-------Neither my son nor I like to pull fish out of the water, either, (they are beautiful, live creatures) but we sure have no problem eating those that we do catch
barry

My near-drowning out in the ocean several years ago has a lot to do with it. If something is processed, it's no problem. The fish market in Ensenada is one of my favorite stops in Baja, btw. :?:

HotSchott - 5-5-2008 at 06:46 AM

Ken, we have been friends for a lot of years now. If you need some processed fishies all you have to do is ask. I always have extra for an old friend.

Sorry to know about the near drowning and red meat incidents. It's all character building. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger - or some BS.

bonanza bucko - 5-5-2008 at 08:07 AM

Gotta remember, too, that the Mexicans are too busy trying to make a living in Baja to go bonkers over "green."......Example, a standard Gringo will see a wrecked car along side a dirt road and wonder why they don't clean up the wreck.... it's SPARE PARTS! that get pretty desperately needed when your 25 year old truck pulling your panga beaks something vital 20 miles from the nearest human. The Mexicans also tend to Tire Basura....toss trash....just about anywhere they need to be rid of it. They are kinda like the USA was in the 1950s about that. You will never find a working anti smog system on a Mexican Baja truck and you will note that good ole Pemex gas has none of the "eco" crap us Gringos load into our gas to satisfy some lobby of jerks with economic or social agendae the majority are too dumb to notice.

A good example of why "green" doesn't work down here is the way things have to be done with none of the services yer basic Gringo takes for granted and non compis mentis oblivious. For instance, if you have a flat tire in the boonies.....a standard modern tubless tire....how do you seat the bead on it after you have plugged the hole?....you pour just enough (!!) gas into it and toss in a match and the explosion sets the bead and puts about 20 # of pressure in the tire......that little practice would cause the USA or Goofafornia EPA to go nuts! There are many, many examples of why "green" just doesn't work without a high tech and pervasive services infrastructure and a population that can't fend for itself without gummint "help" and meddling.

You are gonna look long, hard and unsuccessfully for a place down here that Algore would not go completely bug freaky over...Good!

Barry A. - 5-5-2008 at 08:48 AM

BBucko said, "You are gonna look long, hard and unsuccessfully for a place down here that Algore would not go completely bug freaky over...Good!"

Not so, Bucko-----------Al Gore lives in a totally mega-energy consuming house that is way off the charts as compared to a "normal" home in the USA. Al makes a "living" off this rhetoric of his----he does not believe any of it tho, apparently.

Barry

bonanza bucko - 5-5-2008 at 09:14 AM

Sorry I said it so you didn't get it...I meant that Alfore would go nuts...hate it!....start drooling and calling up some reporter etc. etc.

bent-rim - 5-5-2008 at 09:20 AM

Kill your self and be be food for the dead eaters to be "eco-friendly"

Barry A. - 5-5-2008 at 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bonanza bucko
Sorry I said it so you didn't get it...I meant that Alfore would go nuts...hate it!....start drooling and calling up some reporter etc. etc.

---------and I did not express myself very well either. What I meant to say is that Al Gore talks the talk, but DOES NOT walk the walk--------his personal home is NOT eco-friendly, and in fact his home burns more energy than a dozen normal homes, or so it is reported. He would be right at home in non-green home in Baja.

barry

Bob and Susan - 5-5-2008 at 10:56 AM

the gore house

Untitled.jpg - 46kB

MY HOUSE!

bancoduo - 5-5-2008 at 11:12 AM

Barry A. - 5-5-2008 at 11:14 AM

Banco-----I don't see no solar panel-----what gives??

turtleandtoad - 5-5-2008 at 11:15 AM

Hey Bob and Susan,

How come all your recent posts are coming through doubled?

You trying to pad your post count? :?:

[Edited on 5-5-2008 by turtleandtoad]

Barry A. - 5-5-2008 at 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by turtleandtoad
Hey Bob and Susan,

How come all your recent posts are coming through doubled?

You trying to pad your post count? :?:

[Edited on 5-5-2008 by turtleandtoad]

No double-postings on my screen for B&S-------T&T you looking at two screens?? or do you see double like I do after catatact surgery? :lol:

Roberto - 5-5-2008 at 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
What I meant to say is that Al Gore talks the talk, but DOES NOT walk the walk--------his personal home is NOT eco-friendly, and in fact his home burns more energy than a dozen normal homes, or so it is reported.

I beg to differ. He buys carbon credits, thus makes up for all other sins. :rolleyes:

turtleandtoad - 5-5-2008 at 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.

Quote:

Originally posted by turtleandtoad
Hey Bob and Susan,

How come all your recent posts are coming through doubled?

You trying to pad your post count? :?:

[Edited on 5-5-2008 by turtleandtoad]

No double-postings on my screen for B&S-------T&T you looking at two screens?? or do you see double like I do after catatact surgery? :lol:

Oh, they're gone now. Either I mixed up my meds again, or someone removed the double posts.

Barry A. - 5-5-2008 at 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto

Quote:

I beg to differ. He buys carbon credits, thus makes up for all other sins. :rolleyes:

"Carbon Credits"???????????? Wow, that makes a HUGE difference!!!!!! What a guy!!! :lol:

Pescador - 5-5-2008 at 06:18 PM

Bucko, here is a web-site you are gonna love. Warning if you buy the clap-trap and the Al Gore trash and are a real fan of Michael Big Mouth Moore, you may not want to read this one.

http://www.middlebury.net/op-ed/global-warming-01.html

Capt. George - 5-6-2008 at 03:56 AM

you mean a politician lied? Good Lord, what is this world coming to? I'm stunned.

carrj47 - 5-9-2008 at 02:58 PM

I am aware of all the thing we do, as humans, that is not "eco-friendly." But I think as individuals we should try to be more "eco-friendly" so our next generation of friends and family would be able to enjoy the same luxuries as we do.

drzura - 5-9-2008 at 04:14 PM

I have to fart. I wonder how much carbon that will produce? Opps.... My farts produce methane. I better stop eating refried beans. .... :lol:

[Edited on 5-9-2008 by drzura]

[Edited on 5-9-2008 by drzura]

Capt. George - 5-10-2008 at 05:08 AM

wow I can smell it from here..

there goes the eco-system....man control your sphincter!!!

jodiego - 5-10-2008 at 07:23 AM

Global warming, global cooling, global BS. If it makes people think about the things they are doing in their daily lives that affect all of us and getting them to even consider making some changes, then I'm all for it.

Capt. George - 5-10-2008 at 11:06 AM

yeah, would be better if we can chip in and get a muffler for drzura's ass!

teadust - 5-13-2008 at 12:06 AM

There's a couple companies now who have distributorships in Baja for their solar-powered air conditioning systems, one that's sort of a central home system and one that powers mini-splits and celing fans, with battery backups. I've always thought that would be a great way to 1) cut down on the electric bill while 2) bringing some "green" technology into the home.

Bob and Susan - 5-13-2008 at 06:02 AM

better check one out BEFORE you buy!!!!

teadust - 5-13-2008 at 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
better check one out BEFORE you buy!!!!

Actually, I have; was so intrigued by it I've spoken at length to people at one of the companies, two of their distributors in the U.S., and to a couple of their customers. From that, I would likely get one if I built my own place in Mexico.

Roberto - 5-13-2008 at 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by teadust
Actually, I have; was so intrigued by it I've spoken at length to people at one of the companies, two of their distributors in the U.S., and to a couple of their customers. From that, I would likely get one if I built my own place in Mexico.

Coud you post a reference to this unit(s)? I'm curious -- without massive numbers of panels, or a very small house, or an A/C unit that uses a fraction of the power of other ones, the math just isn't there. But maybe, this is something new.

Bob and Susan - 5-13-2008 at 12:02 PM

teadust...did you actually go into a house that had a unit working?

if not you NEED to!!! :light:

Bob and Susan - 5-13-2008 at 12:09 PM

here is a link i looked at recently
http://www.solcool.net/

it almost summer here :lol:

Roberto - 5-13-2008 at 04:46 PM

Saw that link, and I find it troubling:

1. The numbers (technical specs) are incomplete. By this I mean that they don't provide the data required to verify their claims. For example they provide "average" consumptions -- usually average = bogus
2. They don't provide comparisons to standard industry benchmarks -- i.e. SEER.

Bob, you have personal experience with these units? "Knowing" your thoroughness in building your place, I would guess you would have looked at this kind of thing seriously. The availability of A/C in the summer could be a significant boost to your bottom line.

What I DO know is this. I have a trailer (32') just north of Puertecitos, on the beach. In the summer, I can keep it comfortable during the night with a 12,000 BTU unit, but ONLY at night. That takes about 2400 watts. The unit is recent (< 5 years from its release)

teadust - 5-13-2008 at 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
here is a link i looked at recently
http://www.solcool.net/

it almost summer here :lol:

SolCool is the company I've talked to; they've expanded into Mexico and I've reached out to their distributor in La Paz; next time I'm down I hope to see some in action. :yes:

More about SolCool in Baja

bajalou - 5-13-2008 at 06:51 PM

Looking at the website leaves me wondering - did they kill all the snakes in Nevada?

Solar powered AC in Conception Bay

Pompano - 5-13-2008 at 07:11 PM

We have been Green since 1973....or at least 'off-the-grid.'

I recently had a 3 ton mini-split AC system installed at my home in Baja Sur. A 20KW genset runs it properly. My solar panel array, 4500 inverter, and battery bank will not.

My solar electric system will, however, power a window air-conditioner for the master bedroom. The unit is a small GE unit I bought at Lowes SD, on sale for around $300. I forget the BTU's...5-6000?.. but it cools down the bedroom and bath nicely...about 400 sq. ft. I have noted the power use on the Trace inverter readout at normal times and it takes 4 amps to run. Cools the bedroom to 70 degrees quickly..and makes it very hard to go back out into the heat outside. When the sun boils the bay....its' time for ..The Cool Room.

Now...if that new solar system written about in this thread will operate my mini-splits without costing a mint..count me in. Any facts available on how much power is required?

Somehow I doubt it, but it sure would be nice. :yes:

Quotes that make you feel like you're a genius.

Pompano - 5-13-2008 at 07:51 PM

"It isn't the pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

__Al Gore, Vice President

I just could NOT resist that one......Pompano.

- 0 0 algore.bmp - 33kB

teadust - 5-15-2008 at 01:38 PM

Quote:

Now...if that new solar system written about in this thread will operate my mini-splits without costing a mint..count me in. Any facts available on how much power is required?

Somehow I doubt it, but it sure would be nice. :yes:

No idea if their systems work with various brands of mini splits or just with the ones they come with; the Baja distributor has the Millennia SolCool unit installed in their offices "...with 730 watts of solar panels on the roof and 4 220 amp hour batteries and the unit operates all day." Looks like he's in La Paz so if you need more info, give 'em a ring.

Discovered there's another company, GreenCore Technologies, who has a solar-powered air conditioning system being sold in Baja. Distributorship is through Common Sense Energy. No idea where they're located in Baja or what the specs are on their gear; the press release is here.

Per the press release, Greencore states they are "...the world's only producer of a patented air conditioner powered by solar energy" which is questionable, as SolCool has functioning systems already being sold in Baja, but eh, marketing speak I guess. :rolleyes: