Solar Architecture's topics - tribe.net

land for sale SC Colorado

2007-12-10T21:00:39Z

6 acres in 2 lots on a public greenbelt/ creek in Baca Grants next to Crestone. Can build two houses each with a guest house and have 2 wells. Asking $49,000. Awesome views and access to mountains. Area has lots of Alternative building (local strawbales, adobe, airblock, cordwood, cob, etc) with no codes, just some restrictions. Contact direct if interested.

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Solar Powered Air Conditioning

2007-11-20T01:09:24Z

Has anyone heard of a commercially available, solar powered air conditioning system? I've read about the theory, but have not found any company manufacturing one.

posted in Solar Architecture - 12 replies

how close are we?

2007-11-18T19:03:30Z

How close are we to mimicing
photosynthesis
through biotech materials?

If we're close at all, what are those materials or where is that research happening?

thanks!,
E lizabeth

posted in Solar Architecture - 4 replies

Hi Guys,

2007-11-02T04:29:46Z

Hi Guys,

I have added an Energy Efficiency section to my website- Comments/Suggestions would be great.

Link: http://www.worldofrenewables.com/EnergyEfficiency/index.html

Grant Rowe

World of Renewables
grantrowe@worldofrenewables.com

posted in Solar Architecture - 1 reply

JOBS!

2007-09-03T21:54:33Z

Just posted 20 U.S jobs and 18 uk and europe jobs in the renewable sector.
Also added news feeds for each of the sectors.

Grant

www.worldofrenewables.com/forum.php

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Question of location?

2007-08-29T11:01:38Z

I have been posting Renewable energy jobs in my forum.
I have a question that you guys can help me with.
Would you search for a job primarily for location or Wage rate.
Coming from England everything is rather close so i was wondering in bigger countries if location was the biggest factor.

Grant Rowe
Editor
World of Renewables
www.worldofrenewables.com
grantrowe@worldofrenewables.com

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Inherited solar panel....

2007-04-24T01:03:47Z

Hi, new to the tribe, new to solar.
Question:

When we purchased our old van last year, the guy included a double solar panel and deep cell battery hookup, along with a 300 watt inverter. I'm trying to determine the actual wattage of the panels but there are no marking whatsoever. Can anyone tell me how to determine this?

2 panels, in a black hard folding case, approx. 12 x 20 each in size.

posted in Solar Architecture - 5 replies

free solar panels, australia

2007-04-09T02:27:26Z

g'day (ok excuse that), i'm in south east queensland, and i'm looking for cheap or preferably free solar panels for my parents house. i've been working on my old man about the advantages of solar energy, while he's not totally convinced, (welding, cost), he is open to the concept though. i think i need to nudge him a little. he already runs a couple of panels on two machines, but isn't totally convinced of the reliability. i think, a touch more storage would solve that.

so long story, i am after any connection i can get to cheap or free solar panels or batteries.

thanks in advance.

jody.

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Call For Solar Makers!

2007-02-03T20:37:34Z

We are pleased to announce Bay Area Maker Faire 2007!

Organized by the staff of MAKE and CRAFT magazines, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft an engineering in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers--anyone who is embracing DIY and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience. Last year, we had 20,000 people at Maker Faire.

Maker Faire Bay Area will take place May 19-20, 2007 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. We are also adding Maker Faire Austin for October 20-21, 2007 at the Travis County Fairgrounds. This call is primarily for Maker Faire Bay Area but you can indicate if you are interested in participating in Maker Faire Austin.

We encourage you to join the fun and propose a maker exhibit, performance or workshop. You can submit a proposal through the web using the link described below or you can come show us your work at a Maker Faire "audition" on Saturday, February 24 at TechShop in Menlo Park, CA.

http://www.makerfaire.com

Proposals: We invite proposals for Maker workbench exhibits, workshops, presentations and performances for the Maker Faire. We are interested in proposals from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools.

Maker Workbench: Our standard setup for Makers is a six-foot long workbench. You can use this workbench to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something. Some makers don't need workbenches, typically because they have a large object or they set up outside. Please provide a short description of what you make and what you will bring to Maker Faire. Please link to photographs or videos of what you make. Let us know about any requirements you have, such as electricity, Internet, ventilation, etc.

Interactive Performance: We're seeking performances that will engage and entertain the attendees and enable them to interact in a fun way. The performances may be tied to a stage or roving through the fairgrounds as a kind of street theatre. Performances could be musical or theatrical, but they could also be a collaborative building process. For example, you might work with attendees to put something large together in an hour.

Presentation: These includes audio-visual presentations intended for showing a project (or process) that cannot be brought to the faire, or a special project that requires AV resources. These presentations are limited to 20 minutes. Please describe the topic of your presentation and what kind of media (audio/video) that you will have. As a general rule, PowerPoint presentations are not appropriate for this event unless they are unusually entertaining.

Demonstration Workshop: A demonstration workshop is a show-and-tell session on how to make something. We're looking for makers who can demonstrate (and teach) particular skills, techniques or processes. You should start off by explaining your materials and tools and then step-through a build process, sharing your knowledge and interacting with the audience. Sessions should be under 30 minutes in length and may be repeated on the program. Please describe the subject of your workshop and what kind of setup you need for it.

Application Form: Please go to the following URL and fill it out to apply for participation as a maker. http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2007/proposal/

All proposals will be reviewed and we will notify makers of acceptance via email by March 19, 2007.

NOTE: Presenters whose talks are accepted will receive free registration to Maker Faire. We cannot pay for travel and accommodations. (We do make exceptions under some circumstances.) If you have any questions about participating in Maker Faire, please contact Natalie Villalobos by email: info@makerfaire.com. Please let Natalie know if you plan to come to the audition at TechShop.

Key Points:

* Maker Proposal Due: Midnight (PST): Feb. 27, 2007

* Maker Faire Bay Area Audition: Saturday Feb. 24, 2007

* Notification of Acceptance: March 19, 2006

* Confirmation of Participation: April 2, 2007

* Maker Faire Bay Area: May 19-20, 2007; Saturday 10-6 pm; Sunday 10-5pm.

* Maker Faire Austin: October 20 .. 21, 2007

* Application Form: http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2007/proposal/

Commercial Exhibitors If you are a commercial maker or you work for a company that would like to exhibit at Maker Faire, please contact Sherry Huss sherry@oreilly.com.

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Help***solar power in van

2007-01-02T23:06:23Z

I would like to make my van more self sufficient by adding a solar panel to charge a seperate deep cycle battery to run a small cooler and an inverter to charge my laptop. I have no idea at all what size panel I need and what kind of amps/watts are required to make this happen. I have never used solar power before. I have found solar panels online claiming to be able to do the job for only $150, and even though that sounds great...can I really get away with it that cheaply?

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

posted in Solar Architecture - 3 replies

build roofs with space for solar heat too

2006-11-25T06:48:13Z

its the first step
www.sunearthinc.com

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Yahoo group for green building professionals

2006-09-12T16:54:11Z

To separate our social lives from our professional lives and welcome colleagues not on Tribe, I have started a Yahoo group for us to further ecological building:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/EcologicalBuilding/

Consider joining.

Thanks,
~Rev. ttt

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

How can one clean a trombe wall?

2006-09-11T22:52:14Z

With just a few inches between the glass and the thermal mass, how does one clean the inside of the glass?
Thanks,
~t

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Thermalboard vs Warm Board

2006-08-03T17:08:06Z

Anyone have any experience with these two products?

posted in Solar Architecture - 2 replies

May 6 - DC Petrocollapse Conference - Surviving Peak Oil: Culture Change and Post-Petroleum Sustainable Living!

2006-04-23T07:08:47Z

* The May 6th DC Petrocollapse Conference - www.petrocollapse.org

SURVIVING PEAK OIL: ECONOMIC DOOM OR TRANSFORMATION?
Culture Change and Sustainable Post-Petroleum Living *

~ Sponsored by Culture Change -- culturechange.org ~

You are invited to attend!
All Souls Unitarian Church
16th and Harvard Streets, NW, Washington D.C.
Adams Morgan (Red) or Columbia Heights (Green) Metro Stations
Saturday, May 6, 2006 9 am - 7 pm
Register online now! petrocollapse.org

FEATURING DC PREMIER OF NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM:
"The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil"

The sudden effects of perpetual oil shortage are likely to strike within
the next three years. Are we prepared? Sponsored by Culture Change, the
DC Conference will present the facts behind the hype about Peak Oil,
explore the root factors of our present "oil-addicted" condition,
AND envision the strategies that we need to bypass unhelpful institutional
barriers and achieve post-Peak Oil economic sustainability.

Speakers at the DC Petrocollapse Conference will include the most widely
read peak-oil author, Richard Heinberg. Experts on peak oil, small-scale
agriculture and alternative energy will discuss "petrocollapse," the imminent
failure of the petroleum infrastructure to continue to provide the myriad goods
and services that our consumer economy has grown accustomed to. Multimedia
presentations and multiple films will demonstrate solutions to the audience.

Listen to online interview about DC Petrocollapse Conference!
http://globalpublicmedia .com/interviews/693

DC PETROCOLLAPSE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
*Albert Bates, Global Ecovillage Network; author
*Richard Heinberg Author, The Party's Over and Powerdown
*Jan Lundberg, Oil industry analyst; CultureChange.org
*Diana Leafe Christian, Communities Magazine
*John Darnell, Ph.D Energy advisor
*Faith Morgan & Pat Murphy, Community Solution, Inc.
*Michael Kane, From the Wilderness publications
*Mark Robinowitz, OilEmpire.us; author, Permatopia
*Joel Salatin, Organic Agriculturalist, PolyFaceFarms.com
*Jenna Orkin, Moderator, World Trade Center Environmental Organization

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!

Register online via PayPal at petrocollapse.org /register.html

Scholarships, work exchange arrangements, and "sliding scale"
options are available for students, activists, and others!
Send us an email with the details of your situation, and/or
what time or energy you may have for volunteer activity
for the conference. Send to conferences@culturechange.org

Registration cost of $100 will pay for lunch
AND attendance at a special noontime press
conference. "Sliding scale" options ($10 - $99)
are also available.

Please contact the registration coordinator -- Ethan Genauer --
if you have any problems registering, or for more details,
by email at : ethan@culturechange.org

For more information, see petrocollapse.org and
the DC Petrocollapse press release below

*********

MEDIA ALERT -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DC Culture Change Conference: May 6, 2006
All Souls Church, Unitarian 16th & Harvard, Washington, D.C

A conference on the effects of peak oil and the growing global energy
crisis will take place in Washington, DC on May 6th at the All Souls
Church, Unitarian from 9 A.M. to 7 P.M. Speakers include popular
peak-oil author Richard Heinberg.

Conference organizer and speaker Jan Lundberg is a former oil industry
analyst who ran the market research firm Lundberg Survey. Lundberg,
who quit serving the oil industry so he could put his knowledge to use to
protect the environment, says "M. King Hubbert, who developed the
theory of peak oil, observed that we do not have an energy crisis but
rather a culture crisis. This fits with the theme of the Washington DC
Culture Change Conference that there is no technofix for our energy
dilemma. Society will have to bring about a closer level of community and
rediscover what local economics are about."

The May 6th Petrocollapse Conference will feature Richard Heinberg,
the most-read peak oil author (The Party's Over, and Powerdown).
Films and music will be also offered as part of a varied program to
stimulate discussion and action by attendees. Heinberg and Lundberg
and others will perform music including oil-satire songs. Films will include
premiers of "Our Synthetic Sea" (plastics pollution in oceans) and
"The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil."

Lundberg says the Culture Change Conference asks, "What we can do in
advance of the social upheaval and chaos that may produce a 'national
New Orleans,' to prepare or mitigate? What will the future look like during
and after a transition to non-petroleum living?"

For more information, see petrocollapse.org

Contact Conference Coordinator - Ethan@CultureChange.org

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Solar Powered Biodiesel Pump!

2006-03-29T02:17:48Z

This won't save the world, but it's nice to see that some people are going a bit farther than they need to, giving visibility to cleaner ways of getting things done and certainly inspiring others to go ahead with their projects. Jorah Roussopoulos and his girlfriend/business partner, Andi Rubalcaba, own Mountain Feed and Farm Supply, a shop that sells biodiesel, among other things. "This is a fuel for everyone, not just the hippies," he says. But what's special about his biodiesel set up is that it's powered by the sun: He "restored a red, 1939 gas pump with new measuring equipment, solar panel, hand-painted sign and 1,000-gallon fuel tub that looks like a giant whiskey barrel [...] assembled it all himself, he said, for between $5,000 and $6,000 [...] his fuel is straight from soybeans. But he soon wants to tap nearby restaurants and county farmers, too." A small thing for sure, but the day when everybody starts doing small things like that we'll be better off.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/solarpowered_bi.php

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/June/07/local/stories/02local.htm

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Solar panels from your printer?

2005-12-09T21:48:03Z

Yes it's true, check it out here. Basically, using a modified color printer, and printing four layers on the same sheet of paper, you can make a solar panel.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/11/university_of_c.php

posted in Solar Architecture - 1 reply

photovoltiac

2005-10-23T18:49:55Z

Please help--I'm not un-intelligent but what info I can find on what I need, and what I need to purchase--how much I need, etc. to build a solar electrical system for my small home (or if U-all know a better way of saying NO to the electric co. tell me.) Of course the sales people will sell me more than I can pay for. Can I build my own system--Where can I find good- clear and easy to follow instructions. I a popular mechanics kind of person.

posted in Solar Architecture - 2 replies

Phoenix Solar Tour - Oct. 22 (Sat.) 2005

2005-10-19T17:14:54Z

http://www.azsolarcenter.com/arizona/tours/2005/
click "Phoenix" to go to that section

http://www.azsolarcenter.com/arizona/tours/2005/#phoenix

Phoenix/Valley of the Sun Metropolitan Area

Tour Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tour Description:
A variety of buildings and sites from north Scottsdale to Chandler, including the APS STAR Center, the Fuller paper-crete demonstration construction, an artist's Green remodel and the solar/hydrogen house among others.

Tour Maps: Maps and guide information can be picked up at the APS STAR Center in Tempe (1500 E. University Drive) and the Orange Table restaurant adjacent to the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.

Cost: Free, self guided

For More Information: contact: Daniel Peter Aiello, Arizona Solar Energy Association - j2envarch@aol.com or (602) 952-8192

Hosts/Sponsors: The Rio Salado Chapter of the Arizona Solar Energy Association (State chapter of the American Solar Energy Society), the Arizona Solar Center, with sponsorship of the City of Scottsdale Green Building Program.

(says "tour maps will be posted here in the near future" - but i havent seen any yet as of 10-15-05)

posted in Solar Architecture - 1 reply

Scottsdale - Space Heating and Cooling - Passive and Active Renewable Energy Systems (free lecture)

2005-10-15T21:28:33Z

Next "Living with the Sun" lecture - Thurs. July 21, 2005 (free)

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding/Lectures/04-05/SolarLecture050205.pdf

This month's topic is:

"Technologies: Space Heating and Cooling -
Passive and Active Renewable Energy Systems for Gaining Comfort."

The free lecture takes place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, July 21
at the Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale

For more information, contact the Arizona Solar Center/ASEA
http://www.azsolarcenter.com

or the city of Scottsdale Green Building program
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding/

The Green Building Program in the city of Scottsdale encourages a whole-systems approach through design and building techniques to minimize environmental impact and reduce the energy consumption of buildings while contributing to the health of its occupants.

posted in Solar Architecture - 2 replies

Solar water heater

2005-06-24T15:50:10Z

I want to build an outside shower. i have a small junkyard of stuff to play with, and it excites me to save energy using recycled material.

i am thinking of using a old tire, with black tubing coiled up inside, enough for 5 gallons of water, put the tire up on my roof with glass sealing the top to keep heat in, with a silicone sealing agent for the glass/tire.

i get 12 hours of sun daily, 300 days a year.

what do you think?

posted in Solar Architecture - 3 replies

Speaking of SOLAR

2005-06-23T00:31:31Z

G'day all,

Speaking of SOLAR, anyone see the new Feb/March 05 issue of homepower magazine? It includes 10 pitfalls to avoid with solar.

http://homepower.com/

Does anyone have the article that came out recently about how Japan & countries in Europe have decided to go even further with their Solar Technologies for gov't & public usage? I had one & lost it. It mentioned tha solar power is the thing to invest in.

ta

posted in Solar Architecture - 3 replies

Geo Exchange

2005-05-08T18:41:25Z

I have a client who is looking into using Geo Exchange vs. Solar panels to heat his radiant floor. Has anyone used this system in their projects or have any experience with it?

posted in Solar Architecture - 1 reply

Bringing a Little Sunshine into our Lives

2005-04-18T19:55:46Z

Bringing a Little Sunshine into Our Lives

With hybrid cars making waves in the auto industry, hybrid solar lighting might be the next big splash - combining the benefits of sunlight with the consistency of traditional electric lighting.

Hybrid solar lighting (HSL) is different than traditional solar power, which converts sunlight into electricity. HSL captures sunlight and channels it directly into a room, using optical fibers.

During times of little or no sunlight, HSL light fixtures use electricity to provide a constant amount of illumination. If used in a top-floor of a building, HSL can deliver 50 percent of collected sunlight as indoor lighting. This is far more efficient than photovoltaic cells, which convert about 15 percent of sunlight into electricity and then have to change this electricity back into light. Since light bulbs lose a lot of energy in the form of heat, the end-result is only about 2 percent of the sunlight gets used.

posted in Solar Architecture - 6 replies

Ecopalooza Green Living Expos

2005-04-11T06:33:36Z

Hey,

Check out
http://ecopalooza.tribe.net/
http://www.ecopalooza.com

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

solar thermal

2005-03-23T20:45:49Z

60 members and not too many posts! thank you mo for starting this tribe. for all of you solar enthusiasts out there please keep solar waterheating in mind- check out www.sunearthinc.com :)

posted in Solar Architecture - 0 replies

Anyone installed wood flooring over radiant?

2005-03-01T13:43:54Z

I have a client who wishes to install a wood floor over radiant flooring in his second floor apartment. Lightweight gyp-crete is not an option for him. Anyone have any experience with this...do's and don'ts?

posted in Solar Architecture - 3 replies

Commercial Installation

2005-01-29T02:13:15Z

I am currently working on a commercial project, the owner will be installing a 4.2 kW system on the roof. He's also looking into solar heating a radiant floor system. Anyone have any information...experience......what works-what doesn't?
thanks
Mo

posted in Solar Architecture - 12 replies