Surprisingly, I can get like 20 free books and articles on solar energy from my NOOK.
It's time to start downloading.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
On Saturday I went to Significant Elements. I was looking for storm windows that will be used as the panels of my Solar collector. Significant Elements has a very large collection of storm windows of all different styles, sizes, colors, and qualities, so it took me about an hour to find the storm windows I wanted. It was a very lucky find. There were three of the same exact storm window. The length of all three put together came very close to the maximum length available along the wall of my mudroom (the room the solar panel is going on). The height was just under the height of the existing space between the mudroom windows and the ground. This means the panels should fit perfectly along the wall and under the existing mudroom windows.
The only problem with the panels was that they were very expensive. Luckily the manager of Significant Elements was awesome, though. She let me have them for $12 each instead of the original $23 if I agreed to give her a picture of my solar panel when it is finished. She can use that for advertising.
The only problem with the panels was that they were very expensive. Luckily the manager of Significant Elements was awesome, though. She let me have them for $12 each instead of the original $23 if I agreed to give her a picture of my solar panel when it is finished. She can use that for advertising.
This is a sketch of the back of my mudroom.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Two Week Plan
For the next two weeks I will be conducting research. This will be in the form of reading books, online articles, and visiting local organizations that deal with solar energy. I have a long list of online periodicals and websites that I can easily access. I will also visit the Public Library and Mann Library at Cornell.
Some local businesses that I plan to check out include Renovus and Significant Elements. Significant Elements sells materials that can be used to build the panel for the solar panel. Renovus actually builds and installs solar panels onto their clients' homes or businesses. Here would be a great place to ask for advice about my project. I also know that Eco Village has added a whole new array of solar panels, and I may go up there to ask a few questions. My project isn't to just build a solar panel but to learn as much as I can about solar energy and how to make it usable in a regular home.
For the next two weeks I will be conducting research. This will be in the form of reading books, online articles, and visiting local organizations that deal with solar energy. I have a long list of online periodicals and websites that I can easily access. I will also visit the Public Library and Mann Library at Cornell.
Some local businesses that I plan to check out include Renovus and Significant Elements. Significant Elements sells materials that can be used to build the panel for the solar panel. Renovus actually builds and installs solar panels onto their clients' homes or businesses. Here would be a great place to ask for advice about my project. I also know that Eco Village has added a whole new array of solar panels, and I may go up there to ask a few questions. My project isn't to just build a solar panel but to learn as much as I can about solar energy and how to make it usable in a regular home.
Dear Reader,
My interest in solar energy is driven by my fear of ruining our planet. Our environment cannot be sustainable as along as the world remains dependent on fossil fuels. Many different alternative energy sources are being considered as substitutes for fossil fuels. Examples include wind energy, nuclear energy, hydraulic energy, and solar energy. Solar seems to be the most efficient and the most promising for future generations. It is a reliable, renewable, and can be used for long-periods of time without maintenance. A major deterrent in investing in solar energy is its price. As solar energy becomes more and more developed and more popular, the price will decline. It is already in the process of declining.
My goal is to successfully build and install a solar panel onto the side of my mudroom. My solar panel is going to be an air mode collector. In an air mode collector solar panel the sunlight is not stored as energy. Heat is absorbed by the panel and the hot air is then circulated into the building. Along with building this solar panel I will be doing a fair amount research on the topic as well. Fortunately, there are many websites and organizations that are dedicated completely to solar energy so research will not be too difficult. I know that if my solar panel fails. I will still have learned a lot from all the research I will have done.
My interest in solar energy is driven by my fear of ruining our planet. Our environment cannot be sustainable as along as the world remains dependent on fossil fuels. Many different alternative energy sources are being considered as substitutes for fossil fuels. Examples include wind energy, nuclear energy, hydraulic energy, and solar energy. Solar seems to be the most efficient and the most promising for future generations. It is a reliable, renewable, and can be used for long-periods of time without maintenance. A major deterrent in investing in solar energy is its price. As solar energy becomes more and more developed and more popular, the price will decline. It is already in the process of declining.
My goal is to successfully build and install a solar panel onto the side of my mudroom. My solar panel is going to be an air mode collector. In an air mode collector solar panel the sunlight is not stored as energy. Heat is absorbed by the panel and the hot air is then circulated into the building. Along with building this solar panel I will be doing a fair amount research on the topic as well. Fortunately, there are many websites and organizations that are dedicated completely to solar energy so research will not be too difficult. I know that if my solar panel fails. I will still have learned a lot from all the research I will have done.
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