Renewable energy

Solar thermal collectors

All about solar thermal collectors

Choosing the right solar thermal water heater system. What is a solar thermal collector? A photovoltaic (PV) solar collector converts solar radiation into electricity , but a solar thermal collector is much simpler than that. It refers to a device that collects heat directly from solar radiation. That can be as…

Solar photovoltaic

Using reflectors to increase the yield of solar panels

A study showed that reflectors on solar panels can increase their performance by up to 30%. The continuing drop in cost for home solar power generation has led to a dramatic increase in the rate of installations, for both residential and commercial use. Increasing the yield through reflection could make that an even…

Solar photovoltaic

Lithium-ion solar home batteries

How to choose and properly size a solar home battery system. Home battery systems have recently improved in two substantial ways, and the first big improvement is in the batteries themselves. Lithium-ion batteries on the market today are much more robust and functional than the lead-acid batteries we have relied on…

Solar photovoltaic

Choosing between solar trackers and fixed solar panels mounts

What to consider when choosing between a fixed-angle solar mount or one that tracks the sun all day. What to consider before buying a home solar power system Update your appliances and get your demand down as low as possible. Convert any appliances that you are intending to convert (such as installing heat pumps to…

Solar photovoltaic

Flexible PV 'solar glitter' panels coming soon

Not only are they more durable, they are also pliable, lightweight and easily transportable. Standard solar panels are rigid, relatively heavy and fragile. A new product on the market called Microsystems Enabled Photovoltaics (MEPV) from mPower Technology may change that. The cells in these pliable sheets are made…

Solar thermal collectors

All about solar air heaters - DIY or purchased

Passive solar air heaters are easy to make for competent DIY'ers from downspouts, pop-cans or roofing sheet or there are affordable heaters for sale online & both offer a quick payback - discover more here. How solar air heaters work: Solar air heater diagram © Ecohome The above diagram indicates the basic concept…

Solar thermal collectors

Celsius: the solar heated igloo!

On display at Igloofest in Montreal, the Celsius solar igloo is an artistic demonstration of solar heating. A solar igloo at first sounds counterintuitive, but contrast is at the heart of this design concept created by the L. McComber architectural team for Montreal's Igloofest. The solar igloo known as 'Celsius'…

Solar photovoltaic

The Tesla solar roof: we love the hype, but we'd like to see some actual facts.

The name Tesla inspires visions of fast cars, rocket ships, high speed trains and now home solar roofs. So far they are big on fanfare but short on hard facts. Tesla is a powerful brand that when riding on its track record of electric vehicles needs to do little but step into a market to get glowing accolades. Some…

Renewable energy

Aquion’s saltwater home battery

Aquion Energy's Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI ) saltwater batteries offer a safe, clean, non-hazardous and hassle-free solution to storing your own power. Updated: Aquion as a saltwater battery is no longer available in North America having moved to China after being bought out. But we've heard about a Dutch company who…

Solar photovoltaic

All about solar panels - the different options and how they work

Ever wonder how solar panels actually work? Here is a great explanation of how sun is converted into electricity, and some resources for getting set up with solar panels in Canada. Going solar at home is more straightforward and affordable now than ever before, with areas throughout Canada experiencing a jump in…

Wind power

The Zoetrope: DIY vertical wind turbine design

Are you adventurous and ready to increase your access to sustainable energy? This post is for you. DIY home wind turbine The Zoetrope is a vertical-axis wind turbine made from common materials . Many of the materials can be found at your local hardware store and the rest can purchased online or made at home, for the…