Innovative News

19November2008

Step 2 for solar panel installation: inverter

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy; Home.

Yesterday we wrote about insolation, an important factor in determining how many full sun hours your roof receives. 

Today we take a look at the components you’ll need to make your solar panels work.  A power inverter is one of these components.  Regardless of whether you’re using solar power for off-grid solutions or connecting to existing AC power an inverter is always necessary.

Power inverters convert DC power into AC power.  The first thing you’ll need to know is the wattage of the inverter.

Inverters are rated in continuous and surge watts.  Continuous watts is the number an inverter can power up continuously.  Surge watts show what maximum power the inverter can support for a short time. 

For an off-grid solution it’s best to examine your monthly energy bill to get the exact electrical loads your home needs.

For on-grid solutions the mid-sized, stationary inverter is most often used.  You can use it with or without battery backup.

Remember that it’s important to choose an inverter with high efficiency, while still satisfying your continuous power need.

18November2008

Step 1 for solar panel installation: insolation

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy; Home.

Getting theoretical information about solar panels’ power efficiency and long-lasting batteries is one part of the equation.  The other side is getting all information you’ll need to take the step from theory to practice.

What are the calculations you’ll have to make to ensure enough power generation through solar panels?

One important factor is the sunlight intensity called insolation.  Insolation is calculated in terms of “full sun” hours.  One full sun hour means one hour of 100% sunshine.

Full sun hours don’t coincide with the hours the sun is above the horizon.  There is a difference between “solar south” and “compass south”. 

Solar south spans the time between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m..  These are the most productive hours of sunlight.  Before and after these hours solar power is produced on a much lower level.

To find out the insolation for your house check out Solar4Power’s Solar Insolation for U.S. Major Cities or at Global Maps of Solar Power.

To calculate the required amount of solar panels you have to determine an average insolation number between summer high and winter low sunlight.

 Finally, remember that the surroundings of your house is another important factor influencing the amount of sunlight reaching your roof.   Shade from trees and other houses can significantly reduce your solar hours.

17November2008

It’s about time for renewable energy

Posted by Cecilia under: Economy; Energy.

It’s no question that high energy prices boost invesment and development of renewable energy.  During the most recent run up in fuel prices discussions about solar and wind energy moved from the drawing board to the board rooms. 

Investor and billionaire T. Boone Pickens launched his own plan to combat high energy prices this year.  He leased hundreds of thousands of acres of land in West Texas to boost the use of wind energy.  The largest planned installation in the US, Pickens put up a portion of his own money in hopes that wind could ease the dependence on foreign oil.

Now that oil prices have returned to earth, Pickens has decided to scale back in his alternative energy plan.  Despite the fact he’s convinced oil prices will rebound to high levels he plans to reduce near term expenditures on his campaign.

It’s unfortunate that we only place importance on alternative energy when we encounter high oil prices.  It’s about time to incorporate renewable energy into daily life,  not only to reduce our dependence on foreign oil but to protect the environment and the earth’s future.

16November2008

Xeriscaping: green gardening

Posted by Cecilia under: Environment; Home.

Xeriscaping means landscaping and gardening without supplemental irrigation.

The amount of water used for traditional gardening is surprisingly high.  The Council of New Mexico calculates that 70% of municipal water used for residential needs, almost half of it is used to maintain landscape and garden.

 Xeriscape gives seven water-saving principles:

1. Planning and design: dividing zones with different water, light and function requirements
2. Soil improvements: after soil testing the appropriate plants can be chosen and loosening the soil improves root development
3. Appropriate use of turf: turf and other native ground cover plants can cool the local environment, reduce erosion and be a play surface for children
4. Low water use plants: the selection of attractive plants for water-wise landscapes is big, there are even xeric plants with extensive root systems for effectively gathering water
5. Efficient irrigation: irrigation is only necessary while the plants’ root systems are developing, also the irrigation system should be planed according to the different water-use zones
6. Mulching: permeable weed barriers are better than plastic mulch because they allow water and air passing to plant root
7. Proper maintenance: the design determine the required maintenance which includes checking the irrigation system, occasional weeding and pest management.

Xeriscaping supports every aspect of a green garden and creates a great place for relaxing hours.

15November2008

Airplanes powered by biofuel

Posted by Cecilia under: Transportation.

Discussion concerning airplanes using less fossil fuels and thereby creating less carbon emissions have been around for quite some time.

The first airplane to be tested with bio-fuel by Air New Zealand is one step in direction of making airplanes more enviro-friendly.

In another recent move, The Solena Group in California have developed renewable jet fuel from municipal waste.

One more idea getting attention is nuclear-powered passenger aircraft.   There is currently research into this area at Cranfield University in Great Britain.

What is the main problem with sustainable airplanes?  In all cases, discussion of airplanes flying without fossil fuel hinges on concerns about the passengers.

Who wants to sit a few yards from a nuclear reactor in a non-stop flight from London to Australia?  People worry more about their safety than about CO2 issues.

However, the world’s first commercial flight powered partly by bio-fuel was completed in February 2008 by a Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet flying from London to Amsterdam.

One thing is clear, at some point we have to have a viable alternative, and forward thinkers are taking steps in the right direction.

14November2008

Fully recyclable bike

Posted by Cecilia under: Transportation.

It’s no joke, somebody has invented the first fully recyclable bike.  Phil Bridge, a student of industrial design at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK created a bicycle made primarily of cardboard.  The price of the bike is a meager £15.

Recycling aspect aside, the bike does come with one big disadvantage: the life expectancy is only six months.  Despite industrial-strength, rainproof cardboard, it is still, after all - cardboard. 

On the other side there are some interesting advantages.  The first, of course is the low price.   Secondly the bike is not only recyclable, it is made of recycled materials.   When you’ve worn out the bike’s cardboard frame the mechanical parts can be reused.  And finally, because it’s frugal appearance,  the bike is virtually theft-proof.  Who knows, a compassionate thief may actually add something to your bike.

This invention could be the beginning of a new generation of green vehicles.  How long will it be until we see the recyclable car?

13November2008

BioBeer

Posted by Cecilia under: Home.

Students at the Rice University in Houston, TX created a beer which they call BioBeer. 

BioBeer has three genes spliced into the yeast which produces a chemical present naturally in red wine.  This chemical, called resveratrol protects against diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases.

The students created BioBeer as a project for the International Genetically Engineered Machine (IGEM) competition.  But they don’t want this project to end with iGEM

The team still needs FDA approval because the ingredients will be classified as a genetically modified organism.  But they don’t plan on giving up anytime soon.

After more testing and refining they believe they could be granted a patent for their life-extending beer.

12November2008

Mini nuclear power plants

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy.

When we think of nuclear power plants we picture large expensive plants only available to the largest of cities, where land and policy allows them.

The Hyperion Power Generation company in Santa Fe, NM has set out to change the way we look at nuclear power.   They’ve designed something they call the Hyperion Power Module.  It’s a mini nuclear power plant smaller than a garden shed and capable of powering 20,000 homes.

The Hyperion Power Module was invented by the famed Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.  Thanks to this innovative new technology, nuclear power can be deployed in places that previously would not have been possible.

The module itself is designed to be buried far underground.  It has no moving parts, and is delivered factory sealed.  Even if it were to be opened the small amount of fuel would cool immediately.  According to Hyperion the module’s waste can be used for fuel recycling.

Hyperion plans to set up three factories to start mass production within five years.  One Hyperion Power Module will cost about $25 million.  That means a cost of about $2,500 per home for a community with 10,000 households.

11November2008

Recycling means taking that little tiny extra step

Posted by Cecilia under: Environment.

Even when a city offers a recycling program for commercial and residential use it still needs “that little tiny extra step” from the citizens themselves.

Having a curbside residential recycling pickup program like Santa Fe, NM is one first step.  The other is participation of the citizens, a factor which is not as easy to gauge.

A successful recycling program requires full information from the governmental side about how and what is allowed as recycling waste.  At the same time it requires the interest and effort of the residential side to be informed and to use the offered program.

Richard Pitman, a Santa Fe High School teacher, took this “tiny little step” by raising awareness of recycling at his High School.

He essentially started his own recycling program.  Now the school works with the city to provide recycling on a weekly basis.  His efforts also helped the students to learn about all aspects of recycling.

10November2008

One of the smallest solar cells

Posted by Cecilia under: Energy.

 The smallest solar array, consisting of 20 solar cells, is smaller than a dime.  How is this possible?

The answer lies in the material. 

Traditional solar cells are made of silicon.  Researchers at the University of South Florida found an organic polymer which has the same electrical properties as silicon. The advantage of this organic material is that it can be dissolved and sprayed onto materials such as uniforms or cars.

An experiment with this tiny solar cell proved that it is able to power devices.  An immediate use of the cells is powering microscopic sensors for detecting dangerous chemicals.

Experiments with the polymer are continuing.  The next step will be to increase the voltage.  According to the researchers the next generation of solar arrays, made of organic polymer, will be available by the end of this year.