Ian Woofenden's Renewable Energy Workshops

I just want to give people a heads up on some excellent DIY renewable energy workshops provided by Ian Woofenden.

These workshops cover practical, standalone systems on solar electric, solar thermal, wind power, small hydro power and energy efficiency.

Ian's workshops are known for a practical and realistic approach to DIY renewable energy -- they are based on Ian's decades of real experience in designing, building and consulting on actual systems and decades of living in an off grid home. Expect to leave one of Ian's workshops with actual hands on knowledge and experience that will get you ready to build a practical system of your own.  Just as important, the workshops will provide you with the knowledge and tools to determine if a renewable energy system is a good choice for your situation.

Ian is also a senior editor and author for Home Power Magazine -- search their archives for his many hands on, practical and honest renewable energy project articles.

Ian's next workshop will be in Costa Rica and will be on Solar Electricity for the Developing World. This is the overview for the up coming workshop:
"Learn about solar electricity for developing world in the developing world! This workshop provides an introduction to stand-alone solar-electric (PV) system design and installation, with a focus on small, rural systems.  The workshop combines classroom sessions with a strong emphasis on real-world projects in the community, along with hands on labs.  You will have the opportunity to understand, design, and install lighting and cell phone-charging systems that can dramatically improve the living conditions of the local people.  This is an experimental program, with real-world focus.  Come and learn the basics of simple stand-alone solar-electric systems for rural people by doing, sharing, and experiencing on projects in the developing world."

You can find out more about this and his past and planned workshops at his website Renewable Reality.

Thanks to Ian for providing these excellent workshops.

Gary

A 35 mpg RV Setup

Mike and Nancy have come up with this unique and very efficient camping arrangement.  They pull a tear drop trailer behind their Honda Insight hybrid.  They achieve an amazing 35 mpg and have full sleeping and cooking facilities — they even have a shower!

Honda Insight and Little Guy teardrop trailer.

The Honda Insight is a standard 2001 with the addition of a custom trailer hitch made by Mike.  A transmission cooler has also been added.

The teardrop trailer is a "Little Guy" that provides a full sized bed for two and a small kitchen accessed via the back hatch on the trailer as is usual for teardrop trailers.  The Little Guy weighs only about 500 lbs.

They have even added a solar heated shower enclosure they can set up to take hot showers.

Shower enclosure with pressure tank water system.

Without the trailer attached, the Insight gets 50+ mpg and with the teardrop trailer attached and going the full speed limit plus it gets 35 mpg -- pretty amazing for a full function RV.

The Little Guy teardrop and added Air Cond and Heating unit.

While Honda does not advise towing with the Insight, Mike says it works well and has not seen any adverse effects.

More here...

Its great to see teardrop trailers becoming popular again.

Gary
June 27, 2016

FlipFlic - An Innovative Energy Saving KickStarter Project

The developers of a new KickStarter project called FlipFlic gave me a heads up about their idea.  I was impressed with their design's simplicity, cleanness, low price and its potential to save energy and increase convenience and decided to pass the idea on here.

FlipFlic is a Smartphone controlled device that automatically opens or closes blinds based on the time of day, or temperature, or light level.

Some of the nice features:

• Easy to install.
• Smartphone controlled.
• Blind open/close can be based on time of day, temperature, or light levels.
• Solar powered.
• Low price.

The FlipFlic compact motor unit replaces the existing wand on the blinds.

It is solar powered, so no batteries to replace or wires to run.

Use your Smartphone to set up the times, temperatures, or light levels
that control the opening and closing of the blinds.

The initial offering works with either horizontal or vertical slat style blinds.  Kseniia tells me that the team has it in their plans to develop version that will also work with cellular shades, which,  I think, offers an even greater potential for energy saving due to the greater insulating value of these blinds.

Link to the KickStarter page with full details...

Our house uses lots cellular shades with side tracks to reduce winter heat loss and reduce summer heat gain.  They work great and have a large energy saving and short payback period.  But, the twice a day ritual of raising and lowering the shades can get to be a hassle.  I'm really looking forward to this device to have more control with less hassle.

More window related energy saving ideas on Build-It-Solar...

Gary