University of California, Irvine researchers were just trying to create better nanowires as a substitute for normal rechargeable batteries when they accidentally developed a rechargeable battery that could last up to 400 years. Nanowires are fragile and tend to give up after several charges but Nanowires are also good conductors because they contain a lot […]
A hydraulic ram pump is a pressure pump primarily used to pump water in remote areas where a power source such as electricity or fuel is limited or unavailable. A ram pump operates solely on the flow and weight of water, in other words it’s a water powered water pump. When set up ram pumps are […]
Are you looking for a way to generate lots of hot water off the grid? Check out this video on how to build a thermosiphon without spending a ton of money. A thermosiphon is a method of passive heat exchange, based on natural convection, which circulates a fluid without the necessity of a mechanical pump. Thermosiphoning is used for […]
It’s the question that anyone using alternative energy inevitably asks at some point. What are the best batteries for an off-grid energy system? Because of the falling prices of renewable energy systems, more and more people are looking to use alternative energy sources as a way to: Save money Become more energy independent And break their dependence […]
Build your own DIY solar dehydrator! This project was built using 1 piece of plywood, 10 food grade screens plus a bunch of salvaged materials that were then formed into a solar dehydrator on wheels. When the summer harvest is providing, Jasper Snow Rosen and John Muirhead have been thinking ahead to preserving goods for […]
What do you get with sunshine and an old plastic bottle filled with water and chlorine? Thanks to Alfred Moser and a group of MIT students, you get a 55-watt solar bulb that refracts sunlight! It’s powerful enough to light up a home but more than that it’s environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and easy to make. […]
It looks like a micro-car. It rides like an electric-assist bike. The ELF (“electric, light, fun”) is a solar car-bike hybrid that will keep you out of the rain, or from breaking a sweat, and perhaps convince you to jettison your car for all those trips around town (and to get into shape while you’re […]
Using solar energy to generate heat is something that’s common and widespread among those who live an off-the-grid lifestyle. But what about using solar power to cool your room? Is that even possible? It actually is and it costs less than you can imagine, as you can make a solar air cooler form only $15. […]
Luckily for off-gridders, homesteaders or preppers, if your grid ever goes down, you can generate your own electricity. In this seven part video series, you’ll learn how to create your own solar back-up system to use when your grid collapses. The first part of the series examines your needs with regards to the size and […]
IBM Research and Swiss solar technology company Airlight Energy have released an amazing 10 meter high solar structure that resembles a sunflower, capable of producing electricity and water. The High Concentration PhotoVoltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system concentrates the sun’s energy by up to 2,000 times, converting 80 percent of it into usable energy. The machines generate up to […]