I put a moderately long post in a couple days ago, but it seems to have been eaten... I was going to ask if you couldn't find some way to insulate your house, or at least stop the wind from howling though. Also, I was inspired to do some reading on solar thermal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal). Interesting stuff in there about "roof ponds" and "SODIS." All you have to do to disinfect water is leave it in a PET bottle out in the sun...who knew?