The Human-Powered Home
Description
A complete guide to modern pedaled-powered, treadled, and hand-cranked devices for the home.
What if I could harness this energy? An unusual question for anyone putting in a long stint on a treadmill perhaps, and yet human power is a very old, practical and empowering alternative to fossil fuels. Replacing motors with muscles can be considered a political act -- an act of self-sufficiency that gains you independence.
The Human-Powered Home is a one-of-a-kind compendium of human-powered devices gathered from a unique collection of experts. Enthusiasts point to the advantages of human power:
- Portable and available on-demand
- Close connection to the process or product offers more control
- Improved health and fitness
- The satisfaction of being able to make do with what is available
This book discusses the science and history of human power and examines the common elements of human-powered devices. It offers plans for making specific devices, grouped by area of use, and features dozens of individuals who share technical details and photos of their inventions.
For those who want to apply their own ingenuity, or for those who have never heard of human-powered machines, this book is a fine reference. For those who are beginning to understand the importance of a life of reduced dependency on fossil fuels, this book could be a catalyst for change.
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Person
Tamara Dean is a technical and environmental writer who lives in Wisconsin, where she and her partner David human-power their grain mill, blender, coffee grinder, and assorted electrical gadgets.
Content
Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction A Note on the Plans
Chapter 1: The Evolution of Human-Powered Devices Early Human Power The Industrial Revolution Compulsory Human Power The Bicycle and Its Impact Human Power in Appropriate Technology Generating Electricity David Sowerwine's Village-Scale Human Power Plants Raj Pandian's Electricity-Generating Seesaw
Chapter 2: Putting Human Power to Work Terms and Measures Human Power Generation Human Power Potential How Do Humans Compare? Ray Browning: Improving Health Through Human Power Pedal-Powered Concerts Elements and Principles of Human-Powered Devices Maya Pedal's Bicimáquinas Scrounging For Parts Bart Orlando Working Bikes Cooperative Summary: Making Your Own Human-Powered Devices
Chapter 3: Human-Powered Devices for the Kitchen Plan for Making a Pedal-Powered Blender Frederick Breeden and Just Soap Plan for Converting a Hand-Cranked Grain Mill to Pedal Power Commercially Available Plans and Devices For the Kitchen ChocoSol's Pedal-Powered Cacao Grinder Woody Roy Parker's Juicycle
Chapter 4: Human-Powered Devices for Lawn and Garden Plan for Making a Bike-Frame Cultivator Treadle Pump Designed for Haitian Growers Plan for Making a Treadle-Powered Water Pump Commercially Available Plans and Devices For Lawn and Garden Pedal-Powered Snowplows
Chapter 5: Human-Powered Devices for Housework Anne Kusilek's Treadle Sewing Business Plan for Converting an Electric Sewing Machine to Treadle Power Plan for Making a Pedal-Powered Washing Machine Commercially Available Plans and Devices for Housework Alex Gadsden's Cyclean
Chapter 6: Human Powered Devices for Recreation and Emergency Preparedness Plan for Making a Pedal-Powered Electrical Generator David Butcher's Pedal-Powered Prime Mover Plan for Making a Pedal-Powered Tool Sharpener Commercially Available Plans and Devices For Recreation and Emergency Preparedness Jason Moore's Pedal-Powered Laptop Desk Eric Hollenbeck and Blue Ox Millworks
Appendix: Further Resources Notes Index About the Author
