6-inch exterior walls – allows for heavier, more efficient insulation.

Triple-pane windows – provides greater resistance to condensation; superior comfort and insulation values; peace and quiet by blocking outside noise; low-e coatings for reflection of harmful UV rays and heat; argon or krypton gas fill in insulated spacers. All of which provide greater energy savings with the added bonus of increased comfort.

50,000 gallon rainwater cistern – This system will collect and filter all the rainwater off every building on the ranch. The water will be filtered as it enters the tank. The water will be used to flush all the toilets on the ranch (the avg toilet uses 40,000 gallons a year). This will save the use of fresh well water and stop the lowering of the fresh water table. This water will also be used for landscaping, as well as the garden, and greenhouse.

Solar hot water heaters – The heat will be collected from the roofs and pumped to a 2000 gallon insulted storage water tank in the basement where the 2000 gallons will be heated. A small conventionally powered heater will provide backup. The system will not only provide all the hot water for the shelter but it will also provide radiant heat throughout the entire building. This will cut our heating and hot water bills down to about 25% or less of what it would take to do it the conventional way.

Wind Generator – Wind is the easiest way to produce electricity mainly because it comes out in useable AC ( like you use in your house) and you don't have to convert it from DC ( like your car ). Therefore there is no loss of current. However, you do have to have wind. The biggest problem is nobody has figured out how to store the electric AC power. So we have the other part of the puzzle to complete our electric needs.

Electric solar panels – As we talked about above, these panels produce DC power (like your car). We then must run the electric through a converter (called an inverter) to use this power on the ranch. That's the bad part. You do lose some of the electricity in the process. However, you can store the unused electricity in what they call a battery bank (large batteries) until you need the power - like at night when there isn't any sun shining to produce power. That's the good part.

Large Compost Pile – This compost pile will convert all the kitchen waste as well as all the waste produced on the ranch, like the barns, grass clippings forest waste, just to mention a few. This compost will be used for the garden and orchards as well as all the landscaping and the greenhouse to provide the soil with natural nutrients it needs to be the most productive it can be …and all natural.