I have to say that I like your style.

Yeah the lithium batteries last but there is alot more complexity to them than just 'plug and play'. I do think they are pretty great but it just is not the direction that I want to go with things because I like 'simplicity'.

As for the Tesla stuff I am honestly just not a fan because I think much of it is overpriced and although I must commend the marketing strategy used...it is after all a marketing strategy much more than a 'push' for sustainability but that is all philisophical opinion on my part and I am not narrow minded enough to hold other folk's choices against them.

I am famiilar with what you call an Earth Battery now that you describe it and I actually have plans for doing something similar with buried pipe.

There is some confusion over the difference between Peltier modules and TEG modules. The first is for heating and cooling but the second is strictly for generating electricity. There is a lot of crap TEG modules on the market but there are also some really nice ones that produce good voltages. The technology is definitly promising for passive electric generation but it is still evolving.

I looked through your feed but could not locate the article on energy scavengers that you mentioned. I did read an article last night about MIT doing some experiments with it but I could not find anything else online.

The way you are doing your insulation sounds like a good method just be careful not to create a double vapor barrier in the process.

That black walnut must be what a hundred feet tall or more? That tree is going to make some beautiful cabinets. It is a really pretty wood. I like that kind of tree alot but it sure is hard to grow things near it due to the juglone. 

As for that shop. Yeah it is a brilliant method for creating space and for what you get in the end 'per dollar' it is well worth it.

I am really looking forward to seeing your progress as you move forward.