Personal Power Plant For more than 20 years, one of the largest
sources of energy in the United States has been efficiencysecond
only to oil. As president, Jimmy Carter made efficiency a
cornerstone of a commonsense energy policy, and he continues to
walk the talk with the nonprofit organization Habitat for
Humanity. This year, in conjunction with the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Habitat will build 20 affordable "zero net-energy
homes" in Tennessee that produce as much juice as they use. The
houses use biomass turbines, solar electric systems, and
insulation panels that are part of the building structure.
Because they can be built at little or no extra cost, the
average Joe can have a dream home that doesnt drag on the earths
resources or his wallet. For those with a larger budget,
homebuilder John Wesley Miller is providing slightly more
luxurious accommodations in Tucson, Arizona, which can be hot as
blazes in the summer. His urban subdivision (with homes
beginning in the $200,000 range) already boasts ho