MakeHeat

Best Solar LED Lawn And Garden Lights

Since LEDs are an efficient light source and draw far less power than traditional bulbs, they are perfect for off-the-grid applications where solar cells charge a battery that powers the lamp. Large-scale applications of this concept include LED road lane markers, but smaller-scale projects like lighting your lawn or garden are perfect uses for them as well.

Keep in mind that most solar LED lights simply won’t be as blazingly bright as a wired halogen lamp, but they can be an efficient and convenient way to illuminate your outdoor spaces – especially in areas where you want to avoid the hassle or expense of wiring.

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Great idea, and they’ve solved the problem of calcium and other mineral buildup by adding a water filter.  Now if I can figure out a way to connect one to my window unit…

Cool-N-Save: Instantly save up to 30% on your Air Conditioning costs!.

Great hopes for this technology, here’s to hoping that it comes to fruition and not a research piece that gets shelved.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6228923n&tag=api

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/maggieshiels/2010/02/valley_buzz_energy_nirvana_twe.html

Heard this on Andy McCaskey’s SDRNews podcast.  Glad to see it trickling down to the home market.  Cabots has both granulated (like blown insulation) as well as blanket available, while Aspen Aerogels has just blankets(spaceloft).  For new home construction, you should also see thermablock.com: this company makes a stick-on insulation for the structural parts of a home (the 2×4′s or 2×6′s) that’s supposed to increase the total R value by about 40%.

Superinsulating Aerogels Arrive on Home Insulation Market At Last | Popular Science.

Like the idea of the design, the accordion approach could prove useful, especially to the DIY’er.  Personally, I’d go sideways with the accordion, allowing convection to help, rather than hinder the flow of the hot air.  I priced out heating an 800 sq. ft. area: at $3900 for their unit (would need three), with the caveat that it probably won’t work in my area (I’m in their “blue” area), I’ll either have to move, or pass on purchasing it, even with a 30% discount.

Online Quote Form – Solar Air Heater Manufacturer and Supplier – USSolarHeating.com.

Good site for those who want extra insulation in the attic for heating and cooling savings.  At a (current) price of $199 for 1500 square feet, it’s one of the better radiant barriers we’ve found.  Installation tips, too.

Radiant Barrier Foil Insulation Do-It-Yourself Radiant Barrier Tips

Amazon has a similar product, but the cost is $129 for 1,000 sq. ft. PREMIUM Radiant Barrier (1000 sf)

Yes, you can do one room at a time, though you won’t be running your flatscreen from it.  Think about the rooms that always have the lights left on, then start scheming!

Solar Panels – One Room at a Time.

Seems they’re into everything from solar water heaters, AC, PV, and more. Corn Glycol?  Okay, why not!  Better for the environment, and it’s not using our dwindling petroleum reserves.  NOTE: Annoying walk-on overlay unless you click the X.

Solar Water Heaters | Solar Air Conditioning | PV Solar Panels | Solar Heating | Solar Thermal.

I’ve been ranting about this every time I see vast expanses of land dedicated to solar panels, right next to cars baking on the tarmac in the full sun.  Thanks, EnvisionSolar! Go to the bottom of the page for several views of Kyocera Solar Grove.

http://envisionsolar.com/project-portfolio/parksolar/

“… There is a direct correlation between the size of the home and its potential to be truly net-zero — the larger the home, the more energy it takes to run. The houses at South Farm are between 1,500 and 2,200 square feet of heated space. Although it is possible to go as high as 3,000 square feet and get close to net-zero, the amount of energy generation equipment needed may start to become prohibitively expensive. …”

Net Zero Homes

The power within: Rutland Herald Online.