DAVID KRUSCHKES'S LIVE-IN SOLAR GREENHOUSE

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[1] Two to four cords of wood, burned in a 50%-efficient heater, or

[2] 192 gallons of No. 1 fuel oil, burned in an 80%efficient heater, or

[3] 253 gallons of L.P. (liquid petroleum) gas, conbusted with 85% efficiency, or

[4] 23,300 cubic feet of natural gas, combusted with 90% efficiency, or

[5] 6,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity!

In cold, hard cash, our savings would be equal to: $69 for fuel oil, at 36¢ per gallon . . . $76 for LP gas, at 3U per gallon . . . $140 in the case of natural gas, at 0.64 per cubic foot . . . or a whopping $202 for electricity, based on 3.2¢ per kilowatt-hour.

Along with the savings in heating fuel, of course, we also realize an economy in the kitchen, thanks to a year-round vegetable crop. And, in addition to providing food, our plants supply a welcome bit of indoor color during snowy weather . . . while increasing the moisture content of the air (making an expensive humidifier unnecessary).

In case you're wondering—and I don't blame you—our present greenhouse cost $6,000 to build (materials and labor). The land it sits on is worth $3,000 . . . we draw our water from a $2,000 well and pump . . . and our septic system cost another $2,000. So, as you can see, the all-up cost of our little venture comes to $13,000.

Was it worth it? Well, at the very least I think our project is significant, because—like the experiments of Steve Baer and Day Chahroudi-it demonstrates that there are things people can do NOW to lessen their dependence on oil conglomerates, sheiks, and so-called "energy policies".

The answers to our energy problems are blowin' in the wind and burnin' in the sky. All we have to do, I'm convinced, is "bring 'em on home".

Want plans for a live-in greenhome . . . or an add-on solar greenhouse? David Kruschke says you can get both for $5.00 by writing to him at Rt. 2, Box 34-A, Wild Rose, Wis. 54984.—MOTHER.

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