The Race to Build the Most Efficient Solar Home | Nightly Business Report | Planet Forward | PBS
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2011
For more information visit:
http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/features/special/environment_planet_forward/
and
http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/features/special/archives/environment_planet_forward/building_solar_homes_110721/
PBS Airdate: Thursday, July 21, 2011
Peek inside a solar house by Middlebury College team for competition in Solar Decathlon, sponsored by the U.S. Dept of Energy. Their design idea for solar AC has market promise and has been filed for patent.
SUSIE GHARIB: Creating cost-effective, energy efficient homes. It`s a tall order, especially when you up the ante and say those houses have to be attractive. Well, college students will compete to build them this fall. Tonight, we continue our series, “Planet Forward,” it`s a partnership with The George Washington University Social Media Project, using your ideas to power our future.
Frank Sesno takes us behind the scenes on the race to build the best solar home.
FRANK SESNO, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT CORRESPONDENT: When you hear the term “decathlon,” you probably think of this.
SESNO: But every two years, teams with different sorts of decathletes from all around the world gather in Washington, D.C. Meet the team from Middlebury College in Vermont. They`ve been submitting videos to “Planet Forward” in the run-up to the Solar Decathlon this September.
The U.S. Department of Energy sponsors the contest, 20 college teams have to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just raised the last section of the south wall.
SESNO: The house, a super-efficient 1,000 square feet, reminiscent of a New England farmhouse, it`s insulated with spray-blown cellulose which is composed of 80 percent recycled materials.
RICHARD KING, CREATOR & DIRECTOR, SOLAR DECATHLON: It`s actually an architect`s and engineer`s dream to start with a clean sheet of paper, and use that creativity and ingenuity to come up with a house of the future, you know, an energy efficient house that is powered entirely by the Sun.
SENSON: Richard King is the creator and director of the Solar Decathlon.
R. KING: It`s not just a paper design competition, if you know what I mean. They actually have to build it, bring it to the National Mall in Washington, and demonstrate that it works. You not only need the engineers and architects to design the core of the house, but interior decoration, the lighting, the furniture, the cabinetry. Also, they need to communicate, and they also need to raise the money for it. So it`s like a small business.
SESNO: Serious business for the University of Maryland College Park. Now competing in their fourth Solar Decathlon, they`ve named this year`s house “Watershed.”
AMY GARDNER, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: So, normal Solar Decathlon houses are all required to do everything powered by the Sun, but our house has an extra measure, our house also cares for the way that we handle water.
One of the innovations that grew out of the 2007 effort was what we call the “liquid desiccant waterfall.” The water is actually a working fluid, and runs in a closed waterfall in the house, when air is drawn over the flow, it draws humidity out of the air.
We had had hundreds and hundreds of indications of interest from small businesses and from homeowners thinking, this is something I need in my home. And so the team that researched and designed that device filed for patent to try to develop a marketable prototype from those lessons learned.
SESNO: There`s the hope that a green energy breakthrough could come from one of these houses.
R. KING: What`s good for America is to grow our green businesses and industries. If I owned a business, I would want to hire these students to give me a jump on the competition and to make my business grow.
SESNO: This year`s Solar Decathlon features large universities and small colleges. Middlebury`s approach capitalizes on efficient design and materials, and, of course, the Sun, from south-facing windows to the very latest in solar panels, enough to completely power a family of four in 21st Century style.
I`m Frank Sesno, with “Planet Forward.”
Duration : 0:3:41
Solar Energy | الطاقة الشمسية
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2011
What Lebanon’s government doesn’t realize is how important it is for the country to switch to Solar energy and become part of “saving the world” club. Hopefully, it won’t be the case for too long.
Duration : 0:6:33
Impact Battery Meets Solar Power Demand for Outdoors Enthusiasts
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2011
Impact Battery meets the solar power needs of folks who enjoy the outdoors. The company supplies solar batteries and chargers for RVs, ATVs, motorcycles and marine applications.Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) July 29, 2011 Darren Somerville, founder of Impact Battery, announces the company is meeting demand for the solar power needs of most outdoors enthusiasts. The company sells a large line of solar …
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Your Home: Solar Power
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2011
In this episode of Your Home, Ryan Peterson talks about the benefits and growing popularity of solar power on the residential level.
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Sun has come up on solar power, Utah homeowner says
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2011
Sun has come up on solar power, Utah homeowner says By Tom Harvey The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jul 30, 2011 09:04PM MDT Five years ago when Bob Frey and his family moved into a bigger home in the Olympus Cove area, he looked into buying a solar power system in order to reduce the use of carbon-based energy and do his part to ease the area’s chronic air pollution. Back then, the return on his …
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An introduction to how solar power works
Posted by admin on Jul 31, 2011
Solar power isn’t new. It was developed in the late 1800s. If you’re considering buying a solar power system but you’re confused about the choices, you may find the following background information useful.
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DIY Solar Panel with mirror HIGH AMPS video TEST 2 HEAT TEST,, FREE ENERGY
Posted by admin on Jul 30, 2011
http://www.solarcells101.com This is a test with the mirror,in the Heat over one hour,the solar panel was hot
But still but out like normal, the volts drop is normal on all solar panels i have tested with or with out a mirror mono or poly
I test solar panels and solar cells allmost every day,, trying new things
check out my website www.solarcells101.com
I have a Free DIY SOLAR PANEL INFO AND HELP ON MY WEBSITE
Duration : 0:2:55
Make Solar Panel And Make Wind Turbine
Posted by admin on Jul 30, 2011
Visit : http://tinyurl.com/special-solarpanel
Instructions to make solar panel and wind turbine at home. Use this earth4energy guide to make a power producing solar panels and reduce your electricity bill
Try Now!
http://tinyurl.com/special-solarpanel
Thank you for watching
Duration : 0:2:25
DIY: A Solar Powered Toy Train
Posted by admin on Jul 29, 2011
DIY: A Solar Powered Toy Train:
had some bottles, made a solar train out of them.
each SB is 1.4 volts and the 3rd one is for amplification of both.
let me know if you had any questions, my email address is on my channel,
here are my other projects:
http://www.youtube.com/SAMIMYS
Tip: for the solar board and motor, search the keyword (Elekit) on google.if you want to make
one by yourself.
Duration : 0:2:39
Solar Panel – Try Building Your Own Solar Panel
Posted by admin on Jul 29, 2011
http://www.SolarEnergyGuide.net – Solar Panel – Try Building Your Own Solar Panel
With resources for energy quickly declining, climates changing around the world, more people are looking at renewable energies for reducing their carbon footprint. Even the most environmentally responsible person cannot always purchase alternative energy resources for the home due to the costs. The costs for a professionally installed solar energy system can be in the thousands, so many practical people are researching the resources available to build their own solar energy systems.
It’s possible to build your own panel, but these panels may be small and not produce the watts needed to power more than a single lamp for only a couple minutes. The best way to use the power of the sun, when the costs for a professional are more than you can afford, would be with a solar kit. A do-it-yourself solar panel kit comes with everything you need to build your solar panel in your living room, although the garage might be a better choice.
Actually, do-it-yourself solar panel kits are easy to find. Companies like GE produce these kits, the solar panel kits are affordable and give a faster return on your investment over having a professionally installed solar energy system. The instructions for the kits are easy to follow, and it does not take long to have your solar kit up and running.
If you want to build your own solar panel there are lots books and guides available to help you put one together. If you get the whole family involved in building it, every one will learn how a solar power system works and exactly how the components are put together. Also, when you build the solar kit on your own you give yourself the knowledge to expand your system in the future if wish to do so without having to rely on hiring a professional.
Make your own homemade solar panel and gain the education of learning how these systems work and in the process save money while helping the environment.
Discover how you can build your own solar power system at Home Made Energy. Josh Stevens is an energy savings enthusiast interested in solar power.
Solar Panel – Try Building Your Own Solar Panel
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Duration : 0:7:20