SOLAR PROJECTS OF THE WEEK

SOLAR PROJECTS OF THE WEEK

There are hundreds of new building proposals and designs being pitched every day a few of them have captured my eye.  These projects employ solar technology in ways I think our readers might find interesting and motivating.  

 

(1)  WDC SOLAR ANACOSTIA HIGH

We have to include a couple projects every month that we are working on, right?  Well this project is good enough that no one could accuse me of nepotism.  The Anacostia Senior High project is one of many we plan to dive into in the DC area.  This is a project type that down right makes sense.  There is no better application to introduce solar power to than a public school.  Here are just some of the reasons.  For starters the roof space is more than ample to produce large solar gains and usually are void of obstacles such as large trees and other tall buildings.  The other great thing about solar on a public high schools are long term investment in the future of our education facilities.  I think the high school that i attended in Minneapolis has  been around for over 70 years and my grade school for over 100 years.  Long term investments are usually the best application for large PV systems.  The more energy you use the better the investment in a PV system and when you add longevity its a slam dunk.  

The system you are looking at above is our latest study done for solar application on Anacostia Senior High.  The total system is roughly 415,000 kW or nearly 1/2 a megawatt.  It should be noted, however, that this system is very conservative in scope and just a starting point.  one could probably upon further analysis squeeze another 100,000 kW out of the system.  but until you hit your feet to the roof top it is usually best to remain conservative on your estimate. 

The reason I like this project so much is it seems to be such a untapped resource.  I keep looking at the project and thinking someone else has probably already done this, right?  but to my surprise the resource remains untapped and I think it could be a real gusher!

Just think of how much public school roof top is out there!  Just think about how many tax dollars can be saved!

(2)  7 Great Weekend Solar Power Projects by PLANETGREEN.COM

Looking for a fun project to take on this weekend? Looking to improve your skills with solar? We have some suggestions to accomplish both of these to-do items, ranging from quick, cheap and easy to rather involved but still pretty cheap and easy.

1. Solar powered cell phone charger

 

Jeffrey Coolidge/Getty Images

You don't have to buy a special solar charger in order to take advantage of the suns rays to keep your cell phone running. You can make your own with just a few simple components. This is the perfect project to start out tinkering with solar power.

2. Solar powered radio

If you have $5 and a desire to dip into solar power tinkering, this is a great place to start. You can learn how to hook up a small solar cell to a portable radio for use in emergencies.

Gotwind.org

3. Solar powered boom box

If you're looking for a slightly bigger project (and have a little more to spend), try making a solar powered boom box. You can put it together on Saturday and show it off to your friends at Sunday's picnic or beach gathering.

Jesse Ingham

4. Solar powered stove

What's summer without a BBQ, or at least something hot off a grill? With a few basic components like an umbrella, some tin foil and a manual drill (those materials piqued your interest, didn't they!), you can have a backyard BBQ going in no time—or at least making some hot food. As long as the sun is out anyway.

Kevin Porter/Solar Cookers International

5. Solar box cooker

If you want to put together a solar cooker but want to look slightly less crazy when using it, try making a solar box cooker. It's perfect for making homemade pizzas and other delicious treats. You very likely have all the materials stashed away in the garage or closet, so your solar box cooker could end up being a completely free, completely cool weekend project.

Jon Bohmer, FT Climate Change Challenge

6. Solar power generator

Are you beyond tinkering with smaller solar projects and want to really generate some electricity with it? Then we have a project for you! You can build a solar power generator for about $300. How much you can generate depends on the efficiency rating of the solar panel you use, but it'll be enough to charge up a few batteries on a sunny day, at the least.

Tom Brakefield/Getty Images

7. Solar roof panels

Beyond even building a solar power generator, and ready to hit the roof? No problem—you can install some this weekend using materials from eBay. You can find and buy damaged solar cells on eBay, refurbish them, and turn them into rooftop panels that generate supplemental electricity for your home. You can build a panel for as little as $100. It'll take a few of them to be able to generate enough electricity worth using in your home, but you could turn it into a great multi-weekend project.

Ryan McVay/Getty Images

We also have instructions for how to mount solar panels on your roof for after you've finished up your homemade panels.