Backyard Fuel Cell

Going through the March 2007 issue of Wired Magazine I came across an article about Stephen Friend of Washington state who lives on an off-the-grid island in Puget Sound. Friend created a system that charges a home-made fuel cell via solar panels. With a price tag of $50,000 it's a bit out of most people's budgets, but I like how it shows that solar power can be a viable option even in the notoriously cloudy Pacific Northwest.

You can find the full article with a more detailed description on the Wired Magazine website. Also, check out FuelCellStore.com which is where Stephen got his parts for his home-baked power generator. My hope is that with the kind of exposure he'll get from the Wired Magazine article, someone will figure out a way to commercialize the product for significantly less money and make it a more viable option for people.

Solar/Wind-powered Clothes Dryer

Sometimes we don't see what is right in front of us. Doing chores around the house this weeked included doing a few loads of laundry. Rather than use an energy-intensive electric or gas clothes dryer, I've gotten into the habit of using a good old-fashioned solar- and wind-powered clothes dryer for 90%+ of my laundry - the clothes line. It occurred to me while hanging a load of laundy, that this simple device is in essence a solar and wind powered clothes dryer. Rather than focusing on high-tech energy alternative energy choices, maybe we need to look at some low-tech options as well. The good old-fashioned clothes line seems a perfect example.

Clothes dryers are one of the biggest energy users in the typical home, second behind the refrigerator. Estimated yearly operating costs for dryers vary widely, but a range of $50 - $100 is probably typical for most American households. Ok, maybe that's not that significant a cost for most people, but if you're looking for small ways to trim your energy footprint, consider the trusty old clothes line.

Choosing a Home-sized Wind Generator

So, maybe you're intrigued with the idea of a home-sized wind generator. Although it's probably a larger home-improvement project than many of us would want to tackle, if you have the inclination (and space), here's some more information. Wisonsin's Focus on Energy website has a nice 17 page guide, "Choosing a Home-sized Wind Generator." Although it's a few years old it should serve as a good primer on the subject, covering background, sizing constraints, rated outputs, manufacturers and models, etc.

The Home Power Magazine website has a more recent guide that I think illustrates and explains the concepts a bit better.

Integrated Wind Power

Two twin skyscrapers in Bahrain have become the first building-integrated wind power, according to TreeHugger.com. Three 29-meter turbines are supported on bridges spanning the two buildings. The wind turbines are expected to generate approximately 11 - 15% of the buildings' power needs.
Now, granted this is a huge commercial application of alternative energy, but in my mind it exemplifies how, with a little forethought and planning, we can incorporate our power generation needs into our buildings and houses.
For people living in relatively windy locations, residential wind turbines might be worth checking out. The American Wind Energy Association has a web page with questions and answers about what you need to know to purchase a residential wind turbine. In the next few blog entries I'll add some additional information and links about residential wind power.

Make Your Own Biofuel

Tired of relying on big oil companies to make your fuel? Want to make your own biofuel? Check out the BioPro 150 Biodiesel processor from SSI Energy. Accorinding to their website, you "simply add vegetable oil (new or used), methanol, and small amounts of sulfuric acid and lye, and start the automated process. In about 60 hours you will have 40 gallons of clean, smooth-running biodiesel." The $5,000 price is a bit steep for most people, but you gotta love the idea of being able to bypass the oil industry and brew your own.

Solar Powered Air Conditioning

Spring is here and warmer temperatures won't be far behind. Perfect timing to start thinking about how to stay cool during the upcoming spring and summer. If you're in the market for a new air conditioner, check out this solar powered air conditioner from SolCool. The Millenia version available in April will be able to run off of a set of solar panels, batteries or regular electrical outlet.

Home Energy Ideas

Looking to do some remodeling this spring and summer? The Building Energy 07 Conference just wrapped up this week and there were some pretty cool home alternative energy products on display.

Wind energy is one option that many homeowners and small business might not consider. When most people think of wind energy they probably think of large wind farms. But, several start-ups are taking advantage of the potential of distributed consumer-based energy and developing small-scall wind turbines that fit on the top of buildings.

Check out some of these cool home energy products displayed at the conference:

Wind turbine from Pfister Energy

Hot-air solar panel

Evacuated-tube solar collectors, which are used to heat water

Mid-size wind turbine