Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Vacation Off-the-grid in Pendleton Co., West Virginia

Cowger Guest House 

& Rustic Camping Area


The Cowger Guesthouse (near Ft. Seybert, WV) is a beautiful log cabin dating from the early 1800's.  It sits amongst 1,000 acres of woods and is just a stones throw from the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac.  For whitewater enthusiasts, this is the last dwelling before you enter the Milam gorge (see whitewater boating pics here).

The owners, Larry and Sandra, remodeled the cabin in 2007.  It is comfortable and remote - almost a mile from a paved road with no cell phone reception or internet.  Electricity is supplied by a solar PV system installed by PIMBY.  The solar powers lights, the refrigerator, well pump, and other small appliances.  You can read more about the cabin and its rental terms at VacationHomeRentals.com or by clicking the link here.



Thursday, May 1, 2014

Welcoming Spring with a Bergey XL.1 Install in Highland County, VA

Really this project should have wrapped up in late October of 2013, but delays on the part of the tower manufacturer had us wearing neoprene boots and brrrrr suits as we finished the install just in time for the 2014 Highland Maple Festival

This Bergey wind turbine replaces an ARE110 that was damaged several summers ago in the Derecho wind and rain events that moved through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia.  Keith (who took this photo) and his wife Polly live off the grid in Highland County, VA.  The Bergey XL.1 is smaller than the ARE110, but it seems to be doing a good job of maintaining battery voltage through the night time when the solar sleeps and the radiant heat runs.