From The Workbench - Alternative + Renewable Energy Blog Valuable information for do-it-yourselfers interested in the latest in alternative + renewable energy

Happy Wednesday, we’re almost there!  If you’ve ever read this blog you know, we ADORE solar power.  Solar powered cars, houses, heck, anything that uses the power of the sun to run makes us happy and its why we at Northern Tool are trying hard to supply all of YOU with solar powered products.  When we find great news about solar power, therefore, it makes our whole week.  It’s only Wednesday, but consider our week made.

Why?  Simple, the world’s LARGEST solar panel manufacturing plant is about to be built.  Granted, it’s being built in Dubai, which is unfortunate as it then requires a great deal of energy to actually transport all of those beautiful solar panels, but nevertheless, it is being built.  The fact that it’s being built means there is quite obviously a demand.  According to reports, “Construction is to start in November, and is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2010. The roughly 93 000 square meter manufacturing plant, Solar Technologies FZE, will be able to produce solar panels of up to 5.7 square meters.”  Yes!

The company behind the operation hopes that a plant of this size will help not only produce more solar panels, but reduce the costs as well, hopefully getting the technology into a great deal more hands, a great deal sooner. The best news of all is, you don’t have to wait to dive head first into solar technology.  Head over to Northern Tool and start doing some solar shopping!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Today my friends, is officially Solar Power’s day!  I love when Wednesday gives me great news, and this, is some of the best.  According to new reports, a concentrated solar company named SolFocus is preparing and prepping what will be, upon completion, the world’s largest concentrated solar deployment in the entire world!

The project, to be built in Spain for EMPE Solar, will be a multi-site installment that will end up costing an enormous $103 million dollars.  Once finished, the site will be a 10 MW, multi-site intstallment that should generate and provide massive amounts of solar energy.  What’s more, this site will be, as mentioned, a concentrated solar site, which basically means that, “SolFocus modules use mirrors and reflective optics to concentrate the sun’s rays 500 times onto a solar cell. As a result, the systems use 1/1000 the amount of photovoltaic material typically used in PV modules.” More power, less material.  Not too bad!

The project will not be finished until an estimated 2010 launch date, but all of us stuck Stateside shouldn’t worry, the same company is planning a very massive California installation sometime in the very near future.  Pretty soon, massive concentrated solar energy farms might be popping up everywhere!  In the meantime, you can still do your part, head over to Northern Tool and start shopping all of our amazing solar energy products!  The more we do, the more we help.  Why not start right now?

Image via Wikipedia

Just yesterday, I talked a great deal about Passive Solar energy and how you could, with very little time, very little money and very little effort, heat your garage a whopping 10+ degrees this winter using nothing but passive solar energy.  All this talk of it, but what IS it?  What it is REALLY?

Thanks to YouTube, and Modern Technology, I found an extremely interesting, and extremely fact-filled video tutorial that explains the in’s, out’s and all around’s of Passive Solar Energy.  I personally had no idea just how intense, how effective, and how, well, FREE passive solar energy is.  Bottom line, if you’re looking for a DIY project that can literally change your life, this might be the place to start before you jump headfirst into solar panels, solar conversion kits and outfitting your home with the help of Northern Tool.

Check out the video, then enjoy your amazing weekend!

Image by westbywest via Flickr

I do not know how Winter treats you wherever you happen to be reading this fine blog, but here, it is BRUTAL.  When I say brutal, I feel as though I should elaborate:  We often will go 10+ days where the temperature never once peaks over 0 degrees for the HIGH; during those cold spans, there are times that with wind chill, the mercury will fall to -40 degrees below zero.  The weird thing is, during those spans the skies are often bright and clear and the sun even peeks out.  Hey, who said it was warm sun?

The question is, this Winter how do you harness the power of that aforementioned sun to turn it into some heat for your house or your garage?!  Turns out it’s not as hard as I personally would have believed, and turns out it is actually a very Do-It-Yourself thing that you can handle!  It’s called passive solar heat, and it’s entirely possible to turn that sun beating down on your cold roof into some heat to keep your garage or workspace a bit warmer during these frosty months.  The plans I found on Planet Green are basically 5 steps and you should head over and check them out, but here’s basically what you’ll need to get started in materials:

“4 lengths of 2 X 4 wood
1-2 sheet(s) of plywood (any thickness)
a lot of soda cans
flat black barbecue grill paint
low energy draw fan
temperature on/off sensor
Sheet of Plexiglas (or equivalent acrylic glass)
electric drill
1″ to 1 1/2″ hole cutter for drill
2″ to 3″ hole cutter
one roll (24″ X 10′) reflective foil “double bubble” insulation
sand (optional)”

Once you have all those, check out the 5 Steps, and get started on making YOUR very own passive solar heating system for your garage, workspace or similar environment.  This design can heat around 500 square feet all the way up to 10 degrees or more, depending on the existing insulation.

Image via Wikipedia

Hello and Happy Monday!  October is almost over, meaning two things:  1) You probably won’t have to mow your lawn again for quite some time, and B) You probably WILL have to mow your lawn just to pick up the thousands of leaves left by the trees shaking free of them.  Both are probably true, but in order to get to the beauty of number 1, you’ll have to deal with the annoyance of the leaves.  Lucky for us, I found a potential solution!

I just found something pretty amazing, a new Solar-Powered Robot from Husqvarna that can actually do the grunt work FOR you.  Now, this may come as a big surprise, but the fact is, the new solar-powered beast will actually do a lot more than just help save You some sweat.  According to the EPA, a traditional, gas-powered lawnmower “produces as much air pollution as 43 new cars each being driven 12,000 miles.” WOW.  Now, there are lawnmowers that run on biodiesel, electricity, or even nothing at all that require you to do the work, but this is entirely different.  On a single charge, the new18 volt, 4 amp Auto Mower 230 can mow up to 3/4 of an acre all on its own.  It relies on little collision sensors to avoid your lawn furniture, pets, walls, fences and whatever else might be in the way.  Sweet.

Before you’re ready to roll you simply place tiny wire perimeters around your lawn and then the mower does the rest.  The COOLEST feature, however, I read about in an article…when the mower is almost out of juice, it finds its charging station, charges itself, and then finishes the job once it is full.  Unreal.

So, if you’re in the market, if you’ve got leaves and grass that need cutting, why not invest in a New kind of technology that can actually help the earth while it helps you?  Seems like a no-brainer to me!

Well, we made it, it’s finally Friday, and we’re finally at the tail end of this awesome Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide from Northern Tool.  Today is a short one, with just a little bit of information to help You on your quest to harnessing the sun’s power to power Your life.  Sounds great, yes?

So today, just a brief little chart that should help you get an idea of exactly how much power you’re going to need, to power your life using the sun.   Here is that little chart from Northern Tool that should give you a pretty good idea of just how many watts you’re going to need to drag out of that glowing yellow orb in the sky.

At any rate, with all of the information you know have at your disposal, you should be more than ready to not just dip your toes into the Solar Energy pool, but dive right in and push about 10 other people in with you!

Ok solar friends, so you know what it is, you know how it works, and you’re ready to install your OWN solar energy solutions.  There are really two ways to go about it, and which you choose is entirely up to you and should be based on your own personal expertise when it comes to general contracting, electricity and the likes.  If you DO want to do-it-yourself, you can, but if you’re not confident and competant in your ability, general contractors can be hired, or specialists can be found to do it all for you.  Your pocketbook, and your Bob Villa-esque ego are all that stand in the way.

Whatever the case may be, Northern Tool’s Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide does have some pretty handy and helpful tips for when it does come to installation.  So, if you’re doing it yourself, heed this advice…if you’re hiring out, print out this little list and bring it to them, the more we all know, the better we’ll be.

“Solar Power Installation Tips

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-time contractor, you can always use helpful tips when installing a solar equipment energy system.

* For maximum effectiveness, always place solar panels where they will be in direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours a day.
* If placing on a rooftop, keep the pitch of your roof in mind when installing solar panels. Angling the panels to maximize exposure to the sun will also maximize the energy collected by the solar panels.
* Consider installing solar panels at the same time your home is being roofed. This will make finding rafters and making repairs easier if you do both jobs simultaneously.
* Even if you feel confident about installing your solar power system, consider bringing in an expert to assist you. Experienced professionals can help you maximize the effectiveness of your solar energy system.
* Investigate government incentive and rebate packages available. These can range from product rebates to energy refunds to low interest loans. For more information, consult the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (http://www.dsireusa.org/)”

Simple right?!  Head over to Northern Tool, stock up and start making the phone calls you need to get your solar energy dreams officially converted to reality.  The time is now to start saving some money, and start saving the Earth!

Happy Wednesday folks, it’s officially hump day and we’re almost there, almost to the weekend.  Hang in there.  Yesterday, we went over Part 1 of the Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide, and today we’re back to hit you with Part 2.  Today, we are going to cover the big kahuna:  How do you generate your OWN solar power??

When it comes to solar energy, the biggest hurdle everyone faces is the transition from thinking about it, to actually making it a reality, and most of time, it is because people panic when they realize it’s not quite as simple as just laying a few panels on the roof.  I’m here to do two things:  First, quell your fears, and second, explain just what it Does take to generate your own solar energy.

“How Do I Generate My Own Solar Power?

Harnessing the sun’s energy for your own use begins with putting together the right components for your needs. If you’re ready to “go solar” consider starting with a few basic solar power components. You’ll want to add to your system as your needs grow and as you experience the benefits of solar energy.

* Solar Panels – Your source for electricity and to charge batteries to power your car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, boat, personal watercraft, RV, home or appliances. Sold individually or in solar power kits, begin by determining the number of panels you’ll need based on your intended use.
* Charge Controller — If the sunlight is too bright for too long, the voltage produced by the solar panels has the potential to damage the batteries. As such, a charge controller is required to regulate the charge, thus preventing overcharging and ultimately increasing battery life and performance.
* Power Inverter — The power inverter serves a dual purpose, either converting the low voltage DC to the 120 volts AC needed to run appliances, or charging your batteries if connected to a utility grid or an AC Generator. Unless you plan on using battery power exclusively, you’ll need a power inverter.
* Batteries — Your batteries store the solar energy for a consistent power supply over time, even when the sun isn’t shining. Deep-cycle or marine batteries are recommended as they are designed to be charged and discharged repeatedly.

Many appliances are now available as solar-operated products. These solar products allow you the benefit of use when there isn’t a conventional power supply handy or available, (i.e. camping, power outages, etc.) but also work to save you money by utilizing the sun’s light as their main source of energy. A few solar-operated product examples include:

* Solar Air Collectors — These solar powered devices work like space heaters and can be used as a supplemental heating system when the sun is shining.
* Solar Powered Lights — Gathering and storing the sun’s energy during daylight hours, some solar powered lights turn on automatically after dark and work well for added security and safety illumination outdoors.
* Solar Auto Air Purifier — Works to absorb harmful gas, smoke and other particulates while efficiently operating on solar power.”

Tomorrow, we’re going to cover the basics of how to install these babies, and some helpful installation tips.  By Friday, you’ll be ready, knowledgable, and set to get started on Your trek to energy independence.

Welcome back!  Hopefully Labor Day gave you all the rest, relaxation and energy boost you all needed.  Now that we’re back, I think it’s officially time that we devote some time on this blog to a new feature over at Northern Tool…amazingly helpful Buyer’s Guides that will help YOU dive head first into alternative energy.  The fact is, renewable energy is here, it is now, and it can be a reality for anyone.  Getting there is simpler than you’d believe, and this handy Buyer’s Guide will help you do just that.

So, lets start at the beginning, and break down the Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide for you.  Part 1 will cover the basics of not only the benefits of Solar Energy, but also how it works.  At any time, feel free to head over to Northern Tool, check up on the official Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide, and start buying some products to convert your home!

“The Basics: How Does Solar Energy Work?

Every minute of every day, enough of the sun’s energy reaches the earth to meet the world’s energy demand for an entire year. Using photovoltaic technology through solar panels, solar energy is created by converting the heat and light that comes from the sun into electrical energy.

Each solar panel is made up of many solar cells containing both a positive and a negative layer. Much like a battery, these layers generate an electric field. As the sun’s energy is absorbed by the cells, electrons are created and then travel toward the bottom of the panel and exit through a connecting wire. This flow of electrons produces electricity, which can be used in the same way as electricity generated by other non-renewable energy sources.

The Benefits of Solar Energy

If you’re looking for more affordable, eco-friendly energy alternatives, you can’t beat the benefits of solar energy:

1. Economical — Now more than ever, consumers are feeling the pinch when it comes to the cost of energy for heating their homes, powering their vehicles and generating electricity. But, by investing in the right equipment, many are seeing that solar energy is by far one of the most economical, reasonably-priced energy solutions available. Low equipment maintenance over the long run makes it an especially good buy.
2. Renewable — Because the supply of the sun’s light is free, unrestricted and renewable, solar energy users are never affected by shortages (other than nightfall), skyrocketing prices, or production limitations. What’s more, technological advancements enable solar equipment to consistently operate even on cloudy days.
3. Environmentally friendly — One of the most eco-friendly energy alternatives, solar energy production does not directly emit fumes, create greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, or yield noise pollution.
4. Convenient Power Source — Whether it’s used for back up to a permanent energy source or to provide power in remote areas, solar power offers all the convenience and dependability of standard energy resources, without the financial or environmental costs.”

There you go!  Part 1 of the Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide!  I can’t stress enough how amazing, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly this is.  Head over right now and check out all of Northern Tool’s Solar Solutions.  Ranging from individual panels, to entire kits that provide all you need to get started, we have it all to get YOU up and running in the exciting world of Alternative Energy.

It is almost the weekend my good friends, and for that, you should be rejoicing!  Another reason to rejoice, is when you find news about alternative energy products, projects, or ideas that gain worldwide notariety.  How about the breaking of an unofficial world record using only solar energy?  Yeah, awesome.

Here’s the jist of what happened:  “A new but unofficial world record for the longest continuous unmanned flight has been set up by British-built spy plane. The aircraft, which was powered by solar panels and a rechargeable battery at night, remained in air for approximately 82 hours and 37 minutes (three and a half days).”

82 hours and 37 minutes using nothing but solar powered energy!  Amazing!  What is even more impressive, and more amazing, to me, is the fact that the designers and engineers behind the plane believe that in the near future, a plane capable of staying in the air for “weeks or months” will be entirely possible, and available.

Now, to just tweak this idea and somehow put it to use on arguably the largest fuel consumers on the planet, major airlines.  Wouldn’t that be something, having every commercial flight across the world powered by the sun.  Ahh, one can dream.