ASES’ Northern California Chapter, NorCal Solar has just published the 9th edition of their Solar Energy Resource Guide. This great publication is full of information on going solar including articles on how to get your project financed, how to tell how well you system is performing, finding a contractor and much more. There’s even a glossary of terms and a comprehensive resource section. While it’s somewhat California-centric, there’s oodles of information in here for everyone. Visit NorCal’s website to find out more about this exciting publication, then visit ASES’ chapter page to find an ASES Chapter near you.

PS: you can also purchase a poster of this beautiful cover art from Mazzarello Media, www.mazzarellomedia.com.

Richard is a life member of both the American Solar Energy Society and the Illinois Solar Energy Association. Three groups of about 20 girls each visited his house for a tour of his 5 kW solar system and a chance to work on five hands-on projects that Richard had assembled for them. The activities included demonstrating the effects of shadows on solar cells, monitoring energy production/consumption and calculating the time to charge a Chevy Volt. All had a great time and Richard classified the event as a great success.

Happy-Bird-Solar-Sipper. Winter water for back-yard birds.

OK, I admit it, I’m a bird geek. I’m one of those “silly” people who get up early every Saturday morning, year-round, no matter what the weather, to meet up with other like-minded people to look for birds. With binoculars slung around our necks, bird guides in our pockets and identification apps ready on our phones, we head into the wilderness, or the city park, or sometimes even a cemetery, to see what we can find.

Enjoying birds doesn’t have to require a lot of time or energy. If you like birds but prefer to watch them from the comfort of your home, you can install a bird feeder, a bird house or a bird bath then relax on your porch or in front of your picture window to watch the show. And best of all, you can get feeders, baths and houses that are all SOLAR POWERED!

What could be nicer than a bird bath with water circulation powered by solar cells, or a bird house with a solar powered night-light or maybe a bird feeder that doubles as a solar-powered garden light in the evening? There are even passive-solar drinking stations that provides winter water for birds. It’s a double play…your feathered friends get well-being provided by your generosity while you enjoy watching them as they eat, bathe and raise a family, and it’s all solar-powered!

And if your attend an ASES-sponsored Solar Home Tour next October, you may even get to see a solar feeder or water station. Click here to find out about the ASES National Solar Tour.

In 2008, Dr. John Patten decided to explore whether a Southwest Windpower Skystream 3.7 wind turbine would generate enough electricity to supply a plug-in hybrid vehicle’s needs.

Dr. Patten is a professor at Western Michigan University, who had installed a Skystream 3.7 at Western Michigan University’s Engineering College in the summer of 2007.  At that location, on its 45 foot tall tower, the turbine generates between 1200 kWh and 1500 kWh annually.

Dr. Patten had his Toyota Prius modified to implement a Hymotion A123 Ion Battery Pack, which has a capacity of 5 kWh, has a driving range of 20-25 miles on electricity, and maximum charge time of 5.5 hours.

Dr. Patten with his plug-in hybrid

During the year-long study from December 2008 through December 2009, monthly turbine output was monitored and overlaid with the electricity needs of the plug-in hybrid vehicle to determine if the output from the turbine was enough to provide for the car’s appetite.  Battery temperature and the length of trips were also monitored.  The aggregate output of the Skystream 3.7 during the study was 1442 kWh. The electricity needs of the plug-in hybrid Prius during that timeframe was 1352 kWh.

Interestingly, at times when the ambient temperature was higher, there was less wind generated electricity. However, the warmer temperatures enabled the car to travel much greater distances in electric mode, while the colder temperatures reduced the battery efficiency, but tended to result in greater wind generation.  Research has continued through the winter of 2012, where testing on the performance impacts of pre-heating the battery has taken place.  Table1 below shows the results of cold weather performance coupled with different pre-heating temperatures of the battery.

Professor Patten is an ASES member and participant in the Small Wind Division. To join an ASES Division, you first need to be an ASES Professional-level member. Click here to join and then add up to nine (9) divisions of your choice.

Learn more about this study.  To receive the full Wind newsletter, an annual subscription to Solar Today and many other benefits, Join ASES today.

Schematic drawing of plans for Denver's new Sustainability-Park

CRES (the Colorado Renewable Energy Society) has formed partnerships with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) and Urban Farmers Collaborative to develop a 2.5 acre site in east Denver, into a cutting-edge sustainability park.

What’s a sustainability park? In this case, it’s a showcase of many different renewable energy and sustainability technologies. From solar panels to wind mills, landscaping materials to urban gardening, green building techniques to alternative transportation, this park will be a demonstration mecca.

The park itself will have solar-powered street lights, electric-car charging stations, a shared bicycle station and sustainable rain-water handling. In addition, there will be a community garden, demonstration sites for many different solar technologies, an amphitheater for education and and entertainment and much more.

CRES is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society and offers a tour of the park as part of their “Showcase Colorado” at the ASES annual conference, WREF2012.  The tour will be 1:30 to 5 pm on Tuesday May 15. For more information, contact CRES.

2011 student entry from the Odyssey Academy - photo courtesy of Doug Shoemaker

St. Paul, Minnesota is the place to be on May 19, 2012 to witness teams made up of adults as well as Junior and Senior high school students in the annual Minnesota Renewable Energy Society Solar Boat Regatta. Held at the Beach House at Lake Phalen in St. Paul, this annual event gives kids and others the opportunity to get creative in a fun and educational way.

Imagine designing and building a solar-powered boat then putting it through it’s paces in speed, slalom and endurance races. This year’s regatta has three classes: student, adult and experimental/exhibition, that will compete in races as well as website design and creative design categories.

Participating teams demonstrate knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math while learning about solar electricity, wiring, motors, fluid dynamics and boat design and construction.

Check out this fun event and volunteer if you’re in the area and have some time to devote to a great cause!