Kid's Pizza and 'Smores Solar Cooking Project

"I didn't know the sun could do that" was the surprised reaction from an 8 yr. old Bowling Green Christian Academy student. Third-grader Hannah Schuette and her fellow classmates were given an assignment to make a pizza and s'mores in a classroom made solar oven.

The little solar oven was made by cutting a hole in a pizza box, applying aluminum foil over it and then putting plasic over the top. A piece of black cardboard was set on the inside bottom of the box under the pizza to absorb the heat.

Students brought the pizza/s'mores out in the sun at 12:45 pm and brought the ovens back in at 2pm. Both were cooked to satisfaction and the kids enjoyed eating both. Cooked at less than the speed of a microwave but cooked and enjoyed while not using the electricity to run the microwave.

This was a fun learning project for kids and a gentle way to introduce them to the benefits of using alternative forms of energy.

Read about the Pizza and 'Smores Solar Oven Project here.

Senior Electrical Engineer NEEDED FOR GROWING SOLAR COMPANY!

Reply to: job-409853177@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-08-30, 9:42AM PDT

We are passionate about making a difference in our world! Renewable energy is needed now more than ever. Solar power is poised to make a significant and cost effective contribution. The innovative team and equipment allow us to provide clean, low cost, renewable energy now as well as for the future. Top management team with solid experience in the energy business and in manufacturing thin film amorphous silicon solar panels. Other top-flight professionals are wanted to join the team.

Duties:
This job is to design, set-up, test and qualify the hardware and software implementations for equipment used to convert DC to AC power. The candidate will define development, qualification and manufacturing experiments in conjunction with the suppliers and customers, a hands on attitude is preferred. This will be a DSP controlled power conversion system and relevant experience is required.

Responsibilities:
You will be responsible for defining the hardware, control algorithms, optimizing product yields and costs associated with the inverters. As well as implementing all of the statistical tools and documentation required to replicate the process in multiple locations.

Commensurate with that you will be responsible:

1. Architect, Design and manage implementation of the DSP control systems

2. Define/Perform acceptance tests on inverter assemblies, including life, installation, and transportation. This may involve travel to suppliers and contractors. Travel may include international destinations.

3. Help setup and qualify the above equipment for production and deployment. Work with as primary technical contact for all outside resources needed for producing prototypes and production unit.

4. Perform process experiments on the above equipment to qualify the process or processes for the targeted farm life. Assure safety, efficiency, up time, and cost objectives in development, proto and production environments are defined and met. This position will be responsible for maintaining a gap closure plan and driving actions to closure.

5. Define data requirements for real time monitoring and/or control as well as long term trend and regression analysis. Implement sensor or monitoring systems as required.

6. Assure documentation for all aspects of the assembly and deployment process, enabling replication and operation across multiple lines, sites and shifts. Including: Process Management Plan, Piping & Information Drawings, SPC event action plan, Disaster response & recovery plan, Set up- start up & operations procedures, Environmental Health and Safety inputs.

7. Create and maintain a model for the assembly process which relates key input variables to key output variables.

Qualifications:
The job requires a MS Degree or equivalent in electrical engineering, or a related field and 12+ yrs of related design experience. PHD a plus. DSP and control algorithm development required

Reporting Responsibilities:
You will report to the Director of Manufacturing Engineering.

The company provides a comprehensive benefits package including 15 days PTO, 10 days Paid Holiday, medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with match, competitive salary, casual teamwork environment. For additional information, please contact Stephen Vick at (877) 884-8404 or email your resume for consideration.

Compensation: Salary; $100K+/year opportunity
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Phone calls about this job are ok.
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 409853177

Solar Motorbike

This interesting looking motorbike is covered with solar panels. Covered in 25ft. of solar panels. It's manufactured by Spain's SunRed . In this photo the panels are down for charging when parked. The panels are obviously pulled up when the rider is aboard.

This bike is great for riding in communities or non-busy roads as it only goes about 12 miles on a full charge and 30 miles an hour. I don't think the gang at "Orange County Choppers" has anything to worry about here. Although, it seems "Mikey" does like scooters so this would be something he might consider as soon as they start working seriously on a "working" prototype.

San Bernadino County California Backing Green Energy

According to this L.A. Times article The residents of San Bernadino County Calfornia are being encouraged to go Solar and Wind Powered. The County is waiving it's building permit fees for installing the renewable technologies. Homeowners can now save $200/$250 on permit fees when they install not only Solar and Wind Power energy systems, but also tankless water heaters as well as energy efficient air conditioning systems.

Normally the home modification "review process" can last a year but they're shaving off months off that and only taking a few weeks to ok the installations.

No doubt part of this "seeing the green light" is motivated by the county being sued by "The Center for Biological Diversity".

Let's see more local governments across America follow this policy of helping people to help themselves by reducing or eliminating permit fees!

Charge Up Your Cell On The Links

Like to mix business and golf? Ever have your cell battery die on the links? Your misery is over. A company located in Holland has come to your rescue.

Welcome to the "Soldius Solar Golf Bags". With these bags you have a solar panel that will charge up your small personal electronics including a cell phone battery. The prices for these bags range form $299 to $799. The $799 bag is made of genuine leather.

The bags come with a mini-usb cable and 2 interchangeable "Ipod" adaptors.


The company also sells Solar Powered battery chargers, you have to check their site for compatibility with your items.

These golf bags would make great "Corporate Gifts" also. Golf can be exasperating enough, being able to charge up your cell and lie about how well you did today on the greens is very convenient.

Sunny Quote by Satchel Paige

"Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines." - Satchel Paige

Largest Solar Plant on Earth Receives Millions!

Nevada is home to the largest Solar Energy Plant in the world "Nevada Solar One". Nevada Solar One has just received mega-financing from Wells Fargo to the tune of $266 Million bucks!

"Nevada Solar One" is a Solar Thermal Power Plant located close to Las Vegas. It's owned by Acciona Energy and produces "Peak Power" so this is a great model for other states to emulate. The solar radiation is fantastic in this area of Nevada.

As reported by CNN Money this project Wells Fargo is backing will help stabilize electricity costs for Las Vegas and other Nevada residents. The cost of their electicity has risen more than 50% in 7 years.

"Vast opportunity exists to help our customers and our nation take advantage of clean, renewable energy," said Barry Neal, Wells Fargo's director of Environmental Finance. "Our goal is to seize the right opportunities by drawing from our breadth of financing capabilities to deliver solutions that benefit our customers, our communities, our shareholders and our environment."

Wells Fargo is going in the right direction here, let's see the other biggies get on board the Solar Train.

Here's a You Tube Video of Nevada Solar One's reprentatives explaining how it works.

Solar Powered Sensors to Monitor Safety of Bridges

After the Minneapolis bridge collapse a lot of cities are refocusing their attention on how safe their bridges are. Weatherization, shoddy construction techniques, poor design, etc. all these can add up to bridges becoming unsafe for the public to use. Now more than ever proper monitoring of bridge structure is vital.

This article from Forbes.com features a company that produces wireless sensors MicroStrain, Inc. . The company's owner Steve Arms says they have a wireless Solar Powered sensor that could possibly help detect strain, vibration and seismic ativity in bridges. The problem with regular sensors is that the traditional batteries wear out and often the sensors are placed in dangerous-to-get-to locations on the bridge.

Microstrain's sun powered sensors use 6x9 photovoltaic panels to charge up the batteries and power the "modules" that record the important data for the bridge. The cost for some cities might be prohibitive as the price ranges from $10k to $30k dollars per bridge.

It's always traditional with Solar that until people get serious and motivated to buy and utilize it, the cost of Solar technologies and products are often just too expensive. Decision makers have to step up to the plate and invest in a resource that will in the long run benefit them financially and environmentally.

Solar Cooking

I use solar cookers. I've cooked a roast, made compote to pour over desserts, baked potatoes, etc.. A staple of Solar Cooking is using black colored pots, as you know, black soaks up available heat.

In fact this is an absolutely great time of the year to do Solar Cooking. Just the idea of keeping your kitchen a little cooler and still enjoying dishes usually cooked in the traditional oven.

Here's a site that sells a couple of Solar Cooking Kits. This site helps impoverished people by educating them how safely cook using solar kits and how to pasteurize water.

These particular kits are a little over $40.

http://www.solarcookers.org/

Renewable Energy Company Seeks Manufacturer Rep in Chicago

Reply to: job-392487250@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-08-08, 5:24PM CDT

Publicly-traded Renewable Energy Company seeks aggressive Independent manufacturer representative to represent innovative Solar Pre-Wire Kit to Residential and Commercial Builders in local market. Be the first in your territory to represent the Solar Synapse. This program is perfect for the entrepreneurial minded person looking to get into explosive growth market with best in class product. More information and reseller opportunity at http://www.SolarSynapse.com or contact company at email listed.

Location: Chicago
Compensation: Full Commission
Telecommuting is ok.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 392487250

Brando Universal Solar Charger

The USB "Brando" company website is offering a new Solar Powered Battery Charger. It powers up portables using a usb interface whose charging at a voltage of (4.5).

This charger can be powered by the sun or an ac charger. You receive 7 "charging" heads, usb cable, ac adaptor and user manual. Cost on the site is $69.

Here's a review of this charger at: http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=980 This reviewer gives it 2 and 1/2 points out of 5.

You can purchase it at the Brando site: http://usb.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00304

Renewable Energy Quote

"By increasing our use of ethanol, solar power, and other renewable energy sources, while developing cleaner technologies to use our domestic fossil fuels, such as clean coal, we can strengthen our national security, improve our air quality, and contribute to a better environment." - Dan Lipinski

Flexible Bendable Batteries

Scientists have invented a "Paper" battery! It's a piece of paper embedded with nanotubes and an electrolyte.

"The carbon nanotubes form the electrodes, the paper is the separator and the electrolyte allows the current to flow."

There are naturally all types of potential applications for this new technology. Mentioned by researchers is the potential to create large sheets of these batteries, for example in the form of a car door. You can imagine the possibilities for electrical cars using batteries in this form. But scientists warn that "carbon nanotubes" are very expensive so at present it's not really commercially viable for consumers.

Story Link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070813/ap_on_sc/paper_power

Oh? The Sole Mio PC Mouse?

Oh Sole Mio! If you want to use this product you're going to have to really like computing by the nearest window or developing new "mouse habits. "

It's a Solar Powered PC Mouse by "Syn-Energy " in the Netherlands. Sounds great until you learn from the company that you must sit by a window to do your computing. Perhaps not continuously but, this little pc rodent is still in the testing stage. It's not convenient for a lot of us to do computing by a window, particularly if you work in an office cubicle. If it's simply a case of charging it for an hour a day on a windowsill then some people will be able to develop that habit and some won't. Some people can't afford laptops and their desktop is not located by a window that would provide enough light to charge up the mouse continuously.

Company directive:

"Environmental benefit The point of departure for the Sole Mio’s design is use by an office worker with access to outside light, augmented by artificial light. Being able to operate the PV computer mouse independently of the usual USB computer power source is dependent on a number of factors. These include the willingness of the user to adapt his behaviour to favourable light conditions by regularly charging the unit with daylight from the window, and the computer usage pattern."

On the upside, if you Do use your pc/laptop near a window-Hey throw away your batteries and welcome to oh Sole Mio's World!

Charge Up Your Portables The Easy Way

This is a "Voltaic Solar Bag". What this does is charge most of your small electronic devices but unfortunately it doesn't charge laptops. Bring this Mobile Power Generator along to charge up you pda, camera, cell phone, mp3, etc.

It works by plugging a standard car charger into the bag. Voltaic also provides several optional and standard adaptors for those who don't have a car charger. The ion battery pack stores the extra energy so you'll aways have some juice left when you need it. Comes with an AC and Car Charger! Great for campers, hikers, those who travel a lot for business and pleasure.

Also available from "Voltaic" are Daypacks, Backpacks and Converters for all your portables. Prices range from $199 to $249 making on-the-go charging easy and affordable. Solar Panels, Accessories and Adaptors are also available from Voltaic's site:

http://www.voltaicsystems.com/index.shtml

New "Alternative Energy" Bill Passes the House

HR3221 passed. HR3221 is officially : the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act. In short this bill will provide money for alternative energy investments and incentives. The technologies supported will be Biofuels, Ocean Geothermic power, Solar, Wind and Carbon Capture.

"Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President Rhone Resch said, "Today's vote gives the American people exactly what they are asking for - substantial new production of clean, domestic renewable energy.

“We estimate that, with the solar incentive provisions in the tax title, solar power will provide 50 percent of all new electricity in the U.S. within eight years. The growth of solar energy markets will create tens of thousands of new high-tech jobs throughout the United States, while helping to conserve natural gas and saving American taxpayers billions in energy costs.”

The opponents say it'll cost tax payer's money and higher energy costs. As a result, President Bush will veto this bill in it's final form. Isn't it sad that we have waited so long to get serious about researching and producing viable options for renewable energy. The technology for these "alternative" energy sources, if you want to call heat from the sun "alternative", could've been refined long ago. In the 1700's they were using solar ovens-get a clue venture capitalists!

Story Link:
http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=34743

If Sunbeams Were Weapons of War...

"I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun's energy.... If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago." - Sir George Porter, quoted in The Observer, 26 August 1973

Santa Clara University Team-Ready for the "Solar Decathlon"!

The next "Solar Decathlon" will be held later this year in October. The team representing Santa Clara University has faith and confidence in their ability to build the best Solar Powered Home and win the decathlon.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy is sponsoring 20 teams from around the world to build the best and most efficient home that will run soley on energy from the sun.

The Santa Clara U. team is building a home that will depend on solar energy to provide enough power to take a hot shower, wash dishes, run a tv/video, refrigerator/freezer, computer and have enough juice left to charge an electric vehicle! It will take 48 batteries to store the day's sunny energy and return the energy to the home at night.

Rules require that the home must be visually appealing and not look like a laboratory.

It's only a one bedroom home and just 600 sq. ft. but can be made from existing materials and be built for only $250K. Because it doesn't need to be hooked up to an electric grid the house can be put virtually anywhere! Viva La Solar Power!

Story Link:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/11/BAIVRGK9D.DTL

Solar Jobs: Solar Electric System, Sales

I'll be posting job listings for the Solar Power industry here. There are plenty of people who would love to be in an industry where you're still able to get in on the bottom floor-Solar is the present and the future!

Solar Job Listing:

Reply to: hr@calsolareng.com
Date: 2007-07-27, 1:21PM PDT

Solar Electric Sales

California Solar Engineering is one of the premier solar electric integrator/installers in Southern California. We are seeking highly-motivated, reliable team members for residential and commercial solar electric system sales. The right individual can realize a six-figure income. This job requires a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends. We are located in the City of Los Angeles and service all of Southern California.

Candidates should have:
• Excellent presentation skills.
• A BS/BA degree and a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• A demonstrated ability to convey technical, aesthetic, environmental and financial information in a compelling manner.

This job requires the mastery of the following skills and responsibilities:
• Qualifying sales leads
• Sizing solar electric systems based on customer requirements
• Calculating the energy production of proposed systems
• Calculating rebates, energy bill savings, final pricing and ROI
• Communicating a compelling value proposition leading to system sales

Applicant must have a valid CA driver’s license, a clean driving record and be able to pass a background check. Please send resume and cover letter indicating availability and three references via email to hr@calsolareng.com or fax to (323)258-8885. No phone inquiries and no recruiters, please.

Compensation: Commission
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 383443749

Citizen Eco-Drive Solar Powered Watch

Here's a nice example of the retail market getting with the program. This is a Citizen Eco-Drive Calibre Watch that is Solar Powered. It's waterproof, has an alarm and never needs a "battery". After the initial charging which is simply done by exposing it to either natural (the sun) or artificial light (flourescent) it gets recharged by just wearing it during daylight hours.

The light source hits the crystal and the dial. Under the dial there is a solar cell that converts the light to the solar battery. Even if you kept it in a drawer for years it would still work as the solar battery is already charged up!

The Calibre models are priced in the $300 and up range but other Eco-Drive models can be bought for under $200 online.

Home Solar Energy System Cost Calculator

Here's a nifty little tool for estimating the cost of installing and running a solar and or energy-saving system for your home:

http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewables/estimator/index.html

A New "Solar Community"

This is a brand new "Solar" community comprised of 45 homes located Vacaville California. They have the "SunPower SunTiles system" installed on each home.

Many homeowner associations buck at the idea of adding solar panels in any form to their existing community homes. Their "I don't want to deal with it" attitude regarding allowing homeowners to add new solar systems is arrogant and lazy.

Thumbs up to the visionary home-builders who understand that solar power is the present and the future. We're going to be seeing many more of these ready-made solar communities in the coming years.

It's Just The Beginning...

Of "Solar Power Buzz". My name is Pat and I'm your host for this particular sunny blog. My aim is to make the subject of Solar Power fun, useful and challenging. I've been interested in Solar Energy since I was a kid and continue to be a big fan of everything solar.

All types of informative and fun bits of info will appear regularly on this blog showcase. I don't work in the solar power industry but I like to promote the practical and fun use of solar to anyone who'll listen. Among other info-inventions, vehicles, videos, photos, products and interviews will populate this web log.

Since I'm a big fan of quotes, jokes, and photos- a lot of them will be added to this sunny happy mix.

Stay Tuned to the Solar Power Buzz.....