Renew News

Reware has a trio of nice-looking bags that have thin-film solar panels built right into them. I have not seen the product with my own eyes, or tested it in any way, but they look really cool. Check it out for yourself:

Reware solar bags

Check out the Power Pockets while you’re there, and they have some nice t-shirts as well.

This is the accessory that I have been dreaming about ever since we bought our Toyota Prius: integrated solar panels. Of course, isn’t this always the way it works? Now that I’ve found the product I’ve been hoping for, it is temporaily unavailable. I have emailed Solatec, and I will post any further info I get from them.

Solatec Roof Top Solar Panels of the Toyota Prius

Well, they did it. In East Amwell NJ Michael Strizki has managed to get himself a home that is completely powered by solar and hydrogen power. Apparently he’s not living a monk’s life either… he has a hot tub AND a wide screen TV. I hope he uses them both at once.

Since the house is a prototype it was CRAZY expensive to build, but apparently any future homes like it will be much cheaper since they have now figured it all out.

Read the full story here.

Read the back story here.

The idea of solar power holds spectacular promise. The Sun is, after all, the Sun. However, for most people, or corporations, the startup costs of installing a solar power system outweigh the financial return. It will take years to recoup the cost of putting up solar panels. However, if incentives are available to help consumers pay for initial startup, from a financial point of view, it starts to make more sense.

General Motors recently installed a large solar array at one of its warehouses in Cucamonga, California with financial backing from a variety of sources through an organization called Developing Energy Efficient Roof Systems. (DEERS) A more detailed description can be read at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/business/21solar.html
(Free with registration)

While this is an example of a huge corporation taking on huge contributions from relatively wealthy donors, there are options out there for the rest of us. Both Federal and State programs exist that will help homeowners pay for installing renewable energy systems in their homes. A handy resource describing these programs state by state can be found at:

http://www.dsireusa.org/

Also, many utilities allow for “net metering.” This allows energy produced by a home to flow back into the energy grid thus turning your home into a miniature power station. This has the effect of having your power meter “run backward” and lowers your electricity bill.

So, if you are considering investing in a renewable energy system for your home, the Powers That Be of our Dear Nation are prepared to help you defray at least some of the costs.

Read part one here if you haven’t already seen it.

I put the new larger motor that I got at American Science and Surplus into my solar fan. Unfortunately even though the guy tested it for me in the store, the juice that my solar panels were giving it just wasn’t enough to spin it as fast as I need. Oh well, it was only 60 cents. So I went back into my very small parts pile and got out another smaller motor from AS&S that is not quite as powerful as I want, but it is better than what I was using, and it will do until I can find the perfect motor. I just wanted to get my solar fan running since we are quickly running out of days hot enough to need it.

Alright, so I got the second-choice motor in there, tested it BEFORE I soldered it in place, things seemed to be good. So I soldered the wires, put the panels into the sun shining in through my window, reached for the on switch, and the sun went behind a cloud. That was 2 hours ago. It has been raining ever since. AAARRG! I only needed 10 more seconds of sun to test the wiring. Ten seconds! Stupid solar.

I’m pretty sure that it’s all set up properly, but I don’t want to assemble everything until I’m sure. Tomorrow may be our last hot, sunny day here in Indiana for the year, and I have a big day of being parked outside planned so I may just have to assemble the thing and see how it goes.

I still need to find a 1-2V 200mA motor with high rpms. If anyone has an angle for me I’d sure appreciate a heads up. Thanks.

I have been working on this project FOREVER! Well… at least it seems that way. I have always been the kind of person who REALLY hates being hot, and for years I have wished there was a better way than just a window shade to keep your car from getting so hot when it is parked out in the sun in the summer. BEHOLD THE SOLAR CAR FAN!

I actually did come up with this idea all by myself, but of course once I started talking about it my friends showed me an infomercial for a solar fan that already existed. For about a second I was disappointed that someone beat me to the punch, but then I remembered that I had already decided that I wasn’t going to pursue a patent on this idea anyway, so what did I care? Besides, mine was going to be better! (more…)

Who WOULDN’T want to have a solar panel attached to their body?

This is so cool! Here’s a little info on the technology, and here’s some info on the products.

Check out this incredible juggling video that features solar panels.

Vova Galchenko and Mark Bakalor’s video

I’ve been seeing more and more solar panels on construction and municipal equippment lately. From solar powered flashing lights in school zones, to solar call boxes and message signs on the highway, renewable energy is popping up all over and making life better by providing power in remote areas.

(more…)

This is pretty old news (in fact, two years old today) but it’s so awesome that I wanted to post it for anyone else who might’ve missed it.

A bunch of engineers at MIT made a solar cell out of spinach. For real. They looked to nature for inspiration, and realized that since plants are so good at using the Sun’s energy, maybe it could be harnessed in a more directly useful way for us. Two years ago when the article was written this technology was a long way from being commercial, and I suspect it still is, but keep your eyes peeled.

BEHOLD the Spinach Solar Cell! The article is from Science News, one of my favorite science magazines.