INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Off-the-grid living requires that you develop energy-independence for your home.  The best option is to retrofit your home with solar panels.  Consult a solar power installation company in your area to get a better idea of how you can connect your home to a solar panel system. Total installation costs of an average solar power system – including solar panels, a battery, a backup generator, and professional installation – averages around $40,000 USD. A backup system can supplement your solar panels, which can come in handy on cloudy days.  If you’re near a river or creek, you could get a micro hydropower turbine installed as a backup system.  Otherwise, you could get a wind turbine installed near your house.  Talk to renewable energy companies in your area about your options and, if you wish, get a backup system installed.  A domestic wind turbine costs around $10,000 USD. Micro hydropower turbines have a wide range of costs.  A small one can cost around $7,000 USD, while a large one (which produces more power) can cost over $55,000 USD. Since you’re using electricity off the grid, it’s important to take steps to ensure you don’t use too much power.  To keep energy costs low, replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.  This simple change can reduce electricity use by 75%.  Additionally, turn lights, TVs, and other appliances off when you’re not using them. Since you won’t be connected to a central water system, you’ll need to use well water.  Getting a well drilled will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of around $7,000 USD. A septic tank is a watertight chamber that collects sewage in the absence of a sewer system.  Having a septic tank installed generally costs around $5,000 USD. The septic tank will need to be emptied by a vacuum truck periodically. A greywater system will treat water used in dishwashing, sinks, showers, and baths so that it can be used again.  While it’s less of a necessity than a septic tank or a well, greywater systems can extend the lifetime of your well by allowing you to use water that has already been pumped up to the surface. Recycled greywater can be used as toilet water or in irrigation.

SUMMARY: Install a solar power system. Have a backup power supply installed. Reduce your energy usage. Drill a well. Get a septic tank installed. Have a greywater system installed.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you have been walking or exercising too much, you can do lighter exercise or more slowly increase your exercise load to avoid soreness. Use the exercises listed in this article even when your ankles are no longer sore to strengthen your foot muscles. If the cause is medical, work out a treatment plan with your doctor. This may mean losing weight, taking medication, or changing your lifestyle. Stretching and warming up can greatly reduce muscle injury and soreness. Ask your trainer or coach for specific warm-ups geared towards your sport. Warm-ups usually consist of light exercises focused on your ankles, not literally warming up your ankle with heat. However, some exercise regimens devised by experts do involve temperature control. Wear comfortable and supportive shoes that do not exceed 1 inch (2.5 cm) in heel height nor irritate your feet. Consider high tops for activities that may strain your ankles. While sitting, have good posture and place your feet flat on the floor. Do not cross your ankles or bend them awkwardly while seated. Sleep with your legs and ankles relaxed in a relatively straight fashion; your ankles should not be bent or stretched. Exercise regularly so that intense periods of exercise do not induce ankle soreness. Consume proper nutrients in your diet to help your bones and muscles stay strong; lack of calcium, vitamins, or other minerals can cause greater muscle stiffness and bone weakness. Do stretching, strengthening, and proprioceptive exercises. Consider getting your ankle taped.

SUMMARY: Create a plan for reducing or treating the cause of your sore ankles now. Warm up before playing sports or exercising. Take other measures throughout your day to ensure strong, healthy ankles.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Avoid baggy clothing or dangling jewelry that could catch in the drill as you lean over it. Wear safety goggles or glasses that cover the sides of your eyes, to protect them from flying debris. A handheld electric drill produces about 90 decibels, which is just enough to cause hearing damage after prolonged exposure. Most cordless drills are quiet enough that hearing protection is not necessary. Impact drills (hammer drills) are the loudest handheld drills, producing over 100 dB. Hearing protection is recommended whenever using them. If the project kicks up a lot of dust, wear breathing protection. A dust mask is only good for short-term comfort. Use a respirator if you drill regularly or for long periods of time, or if the material you are drilling is a known respiratory hazard. Each respirator is rated for certain types of hazards. Make sure the one you use is suited to your project. Using a bit made from the wrong material can cause the bit or the material you're drilling to break. You can use a general-purpose bit on most wood; a masonry bit for stone, brick or concrete; an HSS (high speed steel) bit on most metals; and a carbide or diamond-tipped bit on very hard, brittle surfaces such as porcelain, glass, or glazed tiles. There are many specialized bit designs, so consult the drill manual or bit manufacturer if you're not sure which bit to use. When drilling a hole for a screw, there's an easy way to find the right size bit. Hold the screw up directly behind the bit. The bit should hide the shaft of the screw from view, but the screw threads should still be visible on both sides. . The chuck is the clamp in the "jaws" of the drill. This holds the drill bit in place as it spins. To replace a drill bit, make sure the drill is off (and unplugged if corded), then loosen the chuck by rotating it. Depending on the drill, you may be able to do this by hand, or you may need a chuck key located in a compartment in the top or handle of the drill. Insert the drill bit into the chuck, then tighten again. Make sure the bit is straight and secure, and remove the key before you turn on the drill.  Each chuck has a maximum size. Most drills made for home use in the United States have a chuck of size 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2". The shaft of the drill bit must be smaller than this size (but the tip can be larger).  Run the drill and watch the bit spin in the air. If it wobbles from side to side (or looks like a blurry cone), the bit is bent or not secured correctly. Discard bent bits, since they can easily break during drilling. If you are drilling into a small, loose piece, clamp it down firmly before you drill. Do not hold the piece down with one hand while drilling, as the drill could slip and injure you. If the drill has a cord, never leave it stretched across a pathway when not in use. Never pick up the drill by the cord. If you are drilling in a wet or muddy area, use a cordless drill instead. If you need to plug the drill into an extension cord, check the drill manual for the minimum wire gauge (or go with 16 gauge if you're not sure). Do not chain multiple extension cords together, use indoor extension cords outdoors, or use an adapter to plug a three-prong cord into a two-prong outlet.

SUMMARY:
Wear safe clothing and eye protection. Wear ear protection if drilling regularly. Protect your lungs when necessary. Choose the correct drill bit. Fit the drill bit firmly into the chuck Clamp small pieces together. Handle the cord safely.