“For a class project I decided to try making a low cost PV (photovoltaic) tracker. Being able to follow the sun’s path through the sky can raise your solar panel system’s output considerably (30-50%), but the argon filled ones can be a bit pricey, and seem to be a bit unsteady in wind. I looked at […]
“My solar tracking mirror array or “death ray” as it is affectionately referred to by my friends is actually a heliostat. A heliostat is technically any device that tracks the movement of the sun, but most often the term refers to a device that orients a mirror to reflect sunlight continuously onto a specific target. […]
“Solar energy can be used to heat your home in several ways including this easy DIY solution. The idea here is to put solar box window heaters in south facing windows during the winter to supplement your heat needs. The beauty of a solar box window heater is you can make one of these for […]
“With electricity costs rising more and more each year, a lot of people are thinking in investing into solar panels for their home to cut down on the costs and to reduce their carbon footprint. While commercial solar panels are a great idea, they tend to cost quite a bit of money. With that in […]
“I’m going to say it straight off the bat; I’m a greenie. I love my bike above all other modes of transport, our Earth is going to hell in a hand-basket, and it’s the rich and industrialized nations of the world that are doing it to us! My kids, and my kids’ kids future may […]
“Consider ways to increase self reliance and reduce your power bill by using alternative means of powering appliances. The efficiency of most micro-hydro generators ranges from 30–70%. They are viable as small-scale electricity generators that can provide electricity to a building or property. The main requirements are that the micro-hydro system has sufficient water head […]
“This is a nicely done undershot water wheel project that blends in well with its setting. Much of the project was done with parts recycled from various sources. I utilize the power generated from this wheel to subsidize the output from the two 500 Watt solar panel racks as it was available and otherwise a wasted resource. New […]
Solar Powered Refrigerator Freezer – Average power use 30 watts! (740 watts a day) can be run on a single solar panel (and 2 batteries)! Kenmore ‘Freezer Fridge’ has a relatively large freezer (holds full gallon jugs). Great “freezer fridge” for off grid living. Very low power consumption. Only $149.00 from Sears. One of the most efficient […]
“Unconventional energy – Sure, you’ve heard of wind and solar power, biofuels, hydroelectric, tidal and wave power, but Mother Nature provides an endless bounty of alternative energy sources beyond those that we use today. Clean, green energy is all around us in the natural world, and scientists have only begun to answer the question of how […]
I built a solar water heating system. In this video I show you how I built the water heating solar panels. My current system of twenty panels have the capability to collect 500,000 BTU per sunny day. Typically I collect about 300,000 BTU, still that is enough to easily heat our house for a day. […]