Solar-Powered Homes
If you're new here, you might want to subscribe to subscribe to email updates or subscribe to this blog in a reader. Thanks for visiting!There are many ways of benefiting from nature’s resources and from clean energy as a home owner. In fact, proper design of a home needs to take many factors into account if one is to create energy-efficient living quarters.
Home owner who wish to be energy-efficient need to consider using passive solar heating, photovoltaic modules, and solar water heating. This involves more than just adding a few solar panels to one’s roof or yard. In fact, in order to create an energy-efficient home, one needs to look at both design and materials used, as well as to incorporate sustainable energy sources into the building structure.
With the above in mind, the Department of Energy sponsors the Solar Decathlon, which is a student design competition, aimed at creating energy efficient homes.
Here you can see one of the contest entries, the Auburn University house, which is based on a traditional southern design called “The Dogtrot.” A central tiled breezeway captures natural cooling breezes in the summer, and divides the house into two warm and compact living areas in winter.
Also reminiscent of older southern homes, a metal clad roof is included, with deep overhangs to shade the interior from the harsh summer sun. The roof is covered with solar panels which provide electricity for the home.
Tags: department of energy, electricity, energy, energy efficient, energy efficient homes, photovoltaic, solar, solar heating, solar panel, solar panels, solar water heating, sustainable, Sustainable EnergyRelated posts:
Solar Power & Day After Thanksgiving Sales
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!
Over the next few days, in the US at least, there will be some great opportunities to save on Christmas Shopping. Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) is the traditional day for offline shopping. But online the saving time period extends for a few more days until “Cyber Monday.”
Solar chargers and solar-powered devices make great and unique Christmas presents. Just about anybody has some kind of electronic portable device which could be powered by the sun.
Here are a few coupons and deals which will be active over the next few days:
Altrec
(Carries Solar Chargers and Equipment as well as a variety of other outdoor gear):
Stay Home & Shop Coupon -20% off. Coupon Code: STAYHOME
Free Ground Shipping on $25 and over
Merrell Footwear Holiday Coupon - 20% off. Coupon Code: MERR12QWE
Amazon’s Black Friday
Amazon will have a series of holiday deals on all kinds of stuff. I can’t say whether it will be solar power or not, because Amazon chooses to be unpredictable! Their “Gold Box” will feature hourly deals from midnight till 11 pm PST. For information visit Black Friday 2008 on Amazon
eBay’s After Thanksgiving Sales
eBay’s $1 Holiday Doorbusters Find all kinds of things on eBay for only a dollar. Until December 8, 2008.
