[JJ]

Austin-American Staesman ran an article on the front page yesterday about a guy who believes that the oil is running out and has built a villa that is completely off the grid, self-sustaining electric, water and sewage. For when the grid crashes. Now I (and 700,00 other people) know where to go when the lights go out....it's a shame the article kind of had a "fringe" note and didn't address the severity of the problem....

[dinopello]

Here's a link to the article, I think.

[joeltrout]

"But with the house far from finished, he already faces a property tax bill of at least $7,000 a year for his 1.1 acres. "That's the one thing about sustainability I haven't figured out yet — the property taxes."

Ouch! That is why it pays to live rural and to classify your property as farm or ranch.

joeltrout

[pup55]

I'm surprised the county or city has not shut him down for a variety of code infractions.

Also, the neighbors in some places have the right to complain if his design is sufficiently different that it "detracts from the character of the neighborhood" as defined by they nazis that populate the archetectural review committee.

[PrairieMule]

Anyone who thinks the answer lies in a 2800 sq ft house might be unclear on the concept.

Maybe half of it is the greenhouse or maybe "My bunker is bigger and better than your bunker".