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Favorite Green Energy Related ResourcesIntroduction:
Unlike the Materials page, which focuses on actual products, this page lists links to more information. Here's a wide variety of favorite resouces and sites. While many are only listed here, some of these are also listed on other pages, but posted them here as a convenience. Batteries and Electricity
FreeSunPower.com - A great site with many useful pages, including:
Learn About Wiring Solar Panels And Batteries - "There are three types of wiring configurations that are relatively easy to learn. Once mastered, the job of wiring batteries or solar modules becomes easy as pie.":
Battery
Power for Your Residential Solar Electric System - Guide from the
US gov. Solar Electricity Basics - "The three most common types of solar-electric systems are grid-intertied, grid-intertied with battery backup, and off-grid (stand-alone). Each has distinct applications and component needs."
DIY LinksInstructables for the Do It Yourselfer - Instructables has a bunch of "how to's" for all sorts of topics. If you like it, upgrade to the paid version, it's cheap and is well worth it.
Here's my favorite Instructables categories: BuildItSolar - Great site with links to more than 500 DIY projects, including solar, wind, for kids, frugal projects, cookers and dryers, Low Impact Woodland Home - While the plans aren't really complete, a great example of how someone can build a great looking home for about $4000. Project: YATC - Yet Another Temperature Controller - This is an open-source termperature controller you can make yourself, buy a kit or buy assembled. It will convert an inexpensive chest freezer into a refrigerator "Using the efficient design of chest freezers and running them at warmer temperatures (35F) can reduce electrical utilties by up to 10x. This is a must have for people living off-grid. No need to spend $2,000 on a energy star upright fridge which consumes 10x the energy of a $200 chest freezer + controller enhancement." Build a Solar Dish Holder - These directions are for the Solar Sizzler solar cooker, but many of the techniques can be used for many parabolic dish stands. Building your own generator (on the cheap) - using a lawn mower engine and a GM car alternator with built in voltage regulator. Ultra-simple Electric Generator - Very simple and more of a science project or hobby experience. Pedal Powered Generator - If you're going to work out, may as well make some "juice" at the same time. Also, a good idea in an emergency to charge batteries, etc. How to Make Your Own Biodiesel Fuel - Anybody can make biodiesel. It's easy, you can make it in your kitchen -- and it's better fuel than the petro-diesel the oil companies sell you. Another Method for making Biodiesel Fuel - Backyard Biodiesel - Another method for making biodiesel yourself. Good, step-by-step directions. How to Install a Wood Burning Stove - Five essentials to getting the most out of your woodpile - Wood-Fired Cob Bread-Baking Oven - Picture tutorial of how to make a cob (earthen) oven for baking. Making and Using a Solar Cooker - We have quite a few designs and resources for making a solar cooker, but this site also tells how to use one. How to Make a Great Looking Rain Barrel - A rain barrel doesn't have to be ugly. Here's a simple DIY guide to not only make a rain barrel, but to "camouflage" the barrel with good-looking vines. Note: Only buy "food qualtiy" barrels. How to Make Stabilized Adobe Bricks - How to Build a Pueblo Indian Mud House - While you may not want a home, if you live in the SW USA, maybe a mud dog house as a fun project for the family? How to Make a Homemade Mosquito Trap - Plastic 2-liter bottle trap will work for wasps and horseflies too, just change the bait formula. (recipe on site) How to Build a Duplicator - With some basic modifications, this simple device may let you really enhance our own assembly line.
Solar and Green Energy ResourcesGreenPowerScience - From Dan and Denise Rojas. A terrific site specializing in plenty of DIY videos, projects and advice. A wide variety of Concentrating Solar Collectors - Just browsing this page in a great way to brainstorm your own designs Localized Energy Estimater - Solar and Wind calculator based on area code. How to Build a Solar Powered Evap Cooler - A cool DIY project, complete with a plan and directions. Renewable Energy Resource Data Center - Get Solar Maps and GIS Data Solar Noon - This is an important concept when using solar power and sun tracking equipment. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon - The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has plenty of great resources to help you
Home Power Magazine - Terrific online magazine with a good assortment
of DIY, reviews and info. The paid membership is a great value. Energy Planet - A visual and interactive web directory of information resources about renewable energy technology. Parabolic calculator program - Freeware program helps you design solar collector or wifi projects using parabolic reflectors. Reflective Materials Report - Study done on various reflective materials for use in solr ovens, based on cost, durability and reflectiveness. Google Search for ultra high-efficiency silicon solar cells - Type of solar cells used with solar concentrators, such as parabolic mirrors and fresnel lenses
Green Energy Incentives and OpportunitiesEERE State Incentives & Partnerships Database of State Incentives, Grants and Rebates Federal Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency
Solar Training and CertificatesYour local power company, and renewable energy associations may also have info available. Be sure to check with them also. Boots On The Roof - solar installer training and workshops HeatSpring Learning Institute - solar and geothermal installer training, certification and workshops NPCP-IBEW - solar installer training NECA Chapters - solar/electric installer training Solar Living Institute - solar training, certification and workshops Solar Energy International - solar training, certification and workshops Rich Hessler Solar Sales Training - Includes the entire sales process and tech info. Windpoweringamerica.gov - Wind Energy Educational Programs
U.S. Government Renewable Energy-Efficiency Programs & Resources"Here you will find news about advances in renewable energy and energy efficiency in your state and links to Web sites published by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) that have specific information for your state. " AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY
Habitat for Humanity ReStoresReStores need to be on the list of any serious scalvager. Check out the ReStore nearest you:
Recycling LinksList of Electronics Recyclers by State - Earth911 - Recycling Centers Search Engine
Help and ForumsGreen Collar Economy - Ask the experts - Hacked Gadgets Forum - A good place to talk about hacking and alternative uses for things.
GlobalSpecs forum - A great place to find tech help you may need while
creating your next invention. The forum is hard to navigate, so I listed
some of the forum's categies below, each taking you to a specific topid: Electronics Lab Forum - Discussion, help and answers for electronics. Energetic Forum - Discussion on various alternative energy, renewable energy, & free energy technologies.
Survival LinksAnimated Index of Scouting Knots - This site has a bunch of knots that "tie themselves" through the use of animation. This particular page focuses on knots scouts use, but the site has other categories of knots also, all animated. How to Make a Hoko Knife - "a simple and practical stone bladed tool. The original Hoko knife was found at an archaeological site in western Washington near the Hoko River where a native village was snuffed out by a landslide about 2700 years ago, well before any contact with Europeans. Among the artifacts found there was a very simple knife consisting of a very small, sharp stone flake hafted in a split cedar handle which was tied together with spruce root." California Knapping - Knapping is the art of making blades and axes from stone, a tremendous survival skill. Amazon "wind up radios" - In a dissaster, you shouldn't depend on batteries.
Misc. ResourcesAfrican Clay Pot Refrigerator - A low-tech solution to using evaporation to keep food cool. Can you devolope something using this basic concept to cool your home? Maybe if you have well water, you can even recycle your water back to your well...
Termite Power - Did you know giant termite mounds in Africa maintain a constant temperature of about 72 degrees F? And they do it all by thermal dynamics of ventilation. This is a billion dollar idea if someone can reproduce how the termites do it:
Mid-rise building in Zimbabwe uses "termite theory" to save tons of energy (and MONEY). Hippo Rollers - Great idea that combines a wheelbarrow with water barrels to help african women transport drinking water. Low Impact Cob "Hobbit House" - Here's a very cool home and a great example of how homes can be built for less money and using more nature friendly materials, and still be good looking. Green-Plastics.net - Site dedicated to bioplastics. eHow Guide to Weird DIY Projects - Collection of unique video "how to" guides for projects like how to make a squirt gun alarm clock, how to make a trip wire alarm, how to make a metal detector, how to make a solar charging bag, how to make a fog machine with a household iron and many more. Boy's Life Collection of Weird Science Eperiments - Popular Science Experiements - Another collection of videos showing off-the-wall projects. Science Toy Maker - " teacher-created site for people who like to roll up their sleeves and make science toys and projects. You won't find slick, well-designed web pages here--more like the digital equivalent of a messy workshop." Bizarre Stuff You Can Make In your Kitchen - An interesting site dedicated to easy and "unique" science projects Alternatives to cellular communications in emergencies - "There are at least five communications systems that more or less meet these criteria. Some have big drawbacks, others minor ones. In making your choice, you should examine your own needs and match them with the appropriate system. " Vertical Farms: A Sustainable Approach to Urban Agriculture - "A collection of infographics, research material and spontaneous thoughts on my current industrial design graduate thesis project" The Flying Scrooge: Ornithopter of Household Items - A DIY for creating a small homemade ornithopter...Think of this ornithopter as a paper airplane that flaps its wings. How to Make a Hoola Hoop - I plan on using this for something else when I get a chance, and added it here so I don't forget.
Top Renewable Energy Links:
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