ISU Grads Searching for New, Energy Efficient Lifestyles for Documentary
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: February 6, 2013
NORMAL - A pair of Illinois State graduates are on a quest for a new way of living.
In a world constantly
debating natural energy and limited resources, Rae Lawrence and Kelsey Sharp
are searching for a new way to live.
"We wanted to
learn how to provide for our own needs and use more smart renewable energy
sources to just be smarter about the way we live on this earth, so we can
continue to live on it," said Sharp.
So they're traveling
the world to find and learn from people who use renewable energy to satisfy
their basic needs. They've visited New Mexico, North Carolina, New York and
Virginia. They've traveled more than 3,000 miles and barely spent a dime via
fundraising and dumpster diving.
Most importantly,
they're shooting a documentary to share with the world.
"I'm a big advent
of recycling and curb side shopping but when we started traveling, I started
seeing it taken to a whole new level," said Sharp.
They've encountered a
school bus which was transformed into a home and runs on vegetable oil. In New
Mexico, they helped build an "earth ship," a fully functioning house made out
of recycled materials. It self heats and recycles rain water.
"It takes the water and
fully recycles rain water and fully recycles it. You're taking water that
recycles then to shower water which is then drained down and recycled to your
plants and then from there used as your toilet water," said Lawrence.
They're searching for
people from all climates and incomes. They want people to know that this way of
life is possible for anyone. And it's time to stop wasting what we have.
Kelsey and Rae say they
plan to distribute the documentary for free when it's done. They hope to raise
enough money to go to Seattle and Canada in April.
The pair is raising
money online. If you'd like to help them fund raise, look up their project on www.gofundme.com/JustBe.
