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Hi Jim,

Yes, there is a type of pump that does just what you’re describing, in fact there’s more than one. It sounds too good to be true, but you really can use water power to pump water.

Since you specifically ask about a gravity pump, it sounds like you’re describing the High-Lifter water pump. The company’s Web site has all the details about how this type of pump works, including diagrams. We don’t have a lot of information on how well the pump works, but it does come with a one-year warranty. The pump retails for about $900, and one on-line source is Advanced Energy Solutions. You can check it out on their Web site here.

Another pump that moves water to a higher elevation using only water power is the hydraulic ram pump. We’re much more familiar with this type of pump, but I think it’s also worth mentioning because it’s a bit cheaper, and there are lots of plans out there showing how to build your own.

Readers ask us about the ram pump pretty frequently, and we have a couple of good articles explaining the concept in our archive. Check out our 1973 article The Hydraulic Ram Pump for an overview, and Mother’s Hydraulic Ram Pump from 1979 for instructions on how to build your own. If you opt to buy a ram pump rather than building one you can expect to pay about $400 to $600 dollars depending on the size of the pump. One source is Lehman’s, which sells ram pumps and a good selection of other non-electric tools.

Carol,

Warnings have been heard for years that the use of kernel corn as a heating fuel would not be viable without fuel and crop subsidies. It has also been criticized on the basis that burning food is dubious on moral and environmental sustainability grounds. The steady rise in the price of oil and gas, which most knowledgeable commentators say is the result of resource depletion combined with rising global demand, is likely to mean that corn and all other crops will become more costly. Even if…

It's appealing to look at a tall building or house and think about putting a turbine on top of it. This would eliminate the cost of the tower and reduce wiring costs. Unfortunately it's not that easy for two reasons.

The first relates to the quality of the wind. By putting a turbine on a building, the turbine will be higher and should get stronger winds, but quality wind is essential if a wind turbine is to produce power. Houses, much like trees, cliffs, and other wind turbines, create turbulence…

Good question. Yes, there are currently federal incentives for installing renewable energy. Specifically, there’s a tax credit for installing residential solar energy systems, including solar-electric and solar water heating systems. These incentives don’t expire until the end of 2008. However, I think many people are not aware that the tax credits for solar are still available because a number of other federal energy incentives expired at the end of 2007. (Read more details about the incentives…

Windows and solar hot-air collectors are about equal in collection capability. I think the choice boils down to which works best for your situation. To me, these are the pros and cons.

Window Pros:

• Collect heat and provide daylight.

• Views.

• Nice bright interior.

• With good thermal …

Usually when people say they are living “off the grid” they mean that, very simply, their home doesn’t get its electricity from the power lines. Instead, they’re living without electricity, or generating their own. However, the term is sometimes used to mean something broader. “Living off the grid” can imply that you’re self-sufficient in other ways, too: For example, you may be getting your water from a well, and heating your home with a woodstove. Being completely off grid would make you compl…

There are several different ways you can purchase green electricity, but in general, options depend on where you live.

The simplest way to buy green power is directly from your current utility. Many utilities already offer green pricing options — the Department of Energy has a good list.

Other locations offer green marketing options. In this case, you choose your own utility, so you can pick one that provides power from sustainable sources.

If neither of these options are available where you live, …

Yes, it looks like there are quite a few wind turbine dealers in Michigan, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one near you.

In general, when you’re looking for information about renewable energy, your state energy office can be a very helpful resource. In this case, the Michigan state energy office has exactly the information you’re looking for. Here’s a link to their pdf brochure of solar and wind power equipment suppliers in Michigan.

Another way to find local wind turbine retailers is to go …

Yes, if you’re thinking about purchasing a renewable energy system, it’s definitely a good idea to find out about state and local incentives you may qualify for. A good place to start is the Department of Energy’s list of state specific resources. Here’s their information specifically for Texas.

One of the many helpful resources you’ll find on these state pages is contact information for your state energy office. Here’s some specific information on renewable energy incentives from the Texas State…

My wind mentor Tupac Diaz always said a wind turbine isn't a toy, it's a baby. He was teaching me to take care of our turbines, making sure everything was working all right because once the baby goes up, it has to face harsh weather. 

A wind turbine can live for 20 to 30 years. Depending on the manufacturer, it will require maintenance once or twice a year throughout its lifetime but it’s a good idea to inspect it in the fall and spring. On good machines, this one or two day a year will be the on…