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Catch Some Rays: Even
in the Soggy Willamette Valley, Solar Power Generates Interest. Otto, B. 22 June
2006. The Oregonian, “Home & Garden.” (Newspaper article)
Astoria, Oregon gets more sunshine than the sunniest
part of Germany, the world leader in solar energy. Inland from Astoria,
the Willamette Valley receives as much solar energy annually as the U.S.
average, while the eastern and southern parts of Oregon receive as much,
if not more, than Florida. Arnold Zenger, Portland resident, has been
harvesting sun power for the last decade and this short article shows
off his solar electric photovoltaic panels and two hot water solar
panels along with solar fans. Zenger, at the time of this printing,
powered over a third of his home in electricity and generated more hot
water than the household could consume. Look for this great photo of
Zenger’s house and panel setup.
Cheap solar panels, solar cells, blemished solar
panels, solar energy investing, along with information on what to look
for when buying used solar products makes this website well worth the
look. The site also boasts over 7,000 environmental links.
Two options for solar water heaters are passive
systems (pumpless) and active systems (with pumps) and this site
discusses both. Helpful tips from this website enable you to determine
the type, size, placement, and materials necessary for the system you
choose. Solar water heating systems are ideally placed in south facing
windows or greenhouses and use little or no extra energy than sun power
to operate. These systems work best in locations that receive
significant direct sunlight. Because the materials are inexpensive and
the devices relatively simple, this is something you might want to
consider installing in your home.
My Solar-Electric
House & Car. Jensen, M. 2006. Home Power. 113:16-20. (Magazine article)
www.homepower.com
The author’s family, Portland residents, have
installed a Photovoltaic (PV) system in their house and rigged it to
produce power not only for the house but also for the family car. The
use of the PV system fit into energy budgeting measures recommended by
the state so it was connected to Portland General Electric’s (PGE)
regional power grid. At the end of the first year, PGE owed Jensen
$88.00 and by the end of the second year, the sum was $200.00. Since PGE
is under no obligation to actually PAY this money, they extended the
benefits of their local power source to their electric vehicle. The
decision proved to be a good one. At the end of the first year they had
driven 12,000 miles powered entirely on their electricity, the average
price per mile was $0.03 and they still had a zero bill with the power
company.
The article includes technical specifications and
schematics for the PV system and car hook up. Archived issues of Home
Power are available online for $5.00 while the whole magazine is
available online for $5.95.
Easier Solar Power.
Livingston, D. and S. Hollis. Summer 2006. Mother Earth News.
215A:122-126. (Magazine article)
Many individuals that use solar panels are still
attached to the power company’s electrical grid. In scenarios discussed
in this article, a homeowner generates power, sends it to the utility’s
system, and during off-peak load periods, draws it back for use. This
article is an easy to read guide to grid-tied solar systems whether
upgrading an existing system or purchasing a new solar electrical system
outright. You will need to know if net metering exists in your area and
if so, the power company can trade electricity with you.
Options are explored for the types of solar panels to
purchase along with other helpful tips on photovoltaic orientation,
backup power and eliminating the need for expensive batteries. Cost
effective methods are suggested, along with methods for calculating your
system’s “payback”.
Northwest Solar Co-op
Thrives. 2004. Sustainable Industries Journal. 21:3. (Magazine article)
Want to belong to a solar co-op? Homeowners can now
join up with an Oregon and Washington based co-op that pays individuals
$200 a year to produce energy and pass it directly to the Bonneville
Environment Foundation. Together, members share current and cutting edge
information in an industry that is rapidly growing. As a group, the
individual houses generate a surplus of 1 megawatt of energy per year,
which founder Doug Boleyn envisions as encouraging growth for the solar
industry.
Get A Jump On Summer
With Solar Pool Heating. Marken, C. June/July 2006. Home Power.
113:30-34. (Magazine article)
This article takes an in-depth look at a specific
focus—heating a home swimming pool using solar power. Marken details
different types of solar pool-heating systems, pricing, efficiency,
installation, and geographic practicality. If you have an outdoor heated
pool or just have a pool you want to heat without consuming more
electricity, this is a very valuable article.
The Sun’s Within Reach. Van Fleet, T. September 11, 2007. The Portland
Tribune.
Andrew Koyaanisqatsi of Solar Energy Solutions has
been installing solar solutions since 1987 in the Portland area. He
finds the biggest challenge is getting the word out that it works and
that the incentives are great; a solid investment that will continue to
increase as energy prices rise. We read that his company even sells a
do-it-yourself package for a solar heating system including all the
necessary parts. Seems he’s willing to tailor his services for just
about any solar need you may have. Andrew’s mission is simply to move
more folks into a sustainable future. Bravo!
The Real Goods Solar
Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies
and Sustainable Living. 1996. Schaeffer, J. and Pratt, D. and Real Goods
Staff (eds.). Chelsea Green Publishing Company. White River Junction,
Vermont. pp. 632. (Book)
Updated almost yearly, this broad-based overview of
energy options ranges from solar, thermal, greywater, microhydro,
landscape lights, to bird fountains and more and can be a
one-stop-shopping energy solution. There is a lot of information out in
their book and Real Goods does retail the information and the products
they prescribe, making them a good source for lots of creative
solutions. One solution that we liked in particular was the Harris Hydro
Turbine, a small and simple hand-made PVC gadget that only requires one
ripple in a stream to power up a family’s need for electricity. Simple
and functional, the turbine may not be geared for a homestead-style
scale but the Real Goods folks do a good job of explaining the context
that surrounds using this source of power. Their catalogue also offers
blended energy overviews if you are interested. Check them out. | |
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