Those of you who’ve been contemplating a do-it-yourself solar heating project may just be unsure on where to start, or just can’t find a good set of instructions, or maybe you’re intimidated by a price tag in the hundreds of dollars, even for a DIY project. Well, two ingenious gentlemen from Springfield, Missouri just may be your solar-knights in shining armor. As detailed in Mother Earth News, Don R. and George Waterman managed to construct a solar heating system for their 30′ x 40′ shop for a measly thirty dollars. That’s right, thirty dollars.

With just some plastic sheeting, salvaged lumber, and scrap parts from an old gas furnace, the two men built the system in just a few weeks. Using the south-facing wall of the shop, and battling temperatures that often fall to near-zero degrees, their simply-designed heating system can provide nearly all the heat necessary to work comfortably in the shop, even on the coldest of days. …continue reading A Solar Heating System for $30!

In an effort to save energy and save money, one community in Alberta, Canada has banded together to harness heat from the sun to provide heat for their homes. In chilly Alberta, where temperatures often drop well below zero, residents of The Drake Landing Solar Community have turned their small, 52-member town into a solar thermal plant. The ambitious move provides up to 90% of the town’s heating needs, even in the dead of winter.

Power for the Neighborhood

This groundbreaking, intricately planned project represents compelling evidence as to the power and potential of solar energy, even in harsh climates. Drake Landing’s solar energy is collected via a heat storage fluid, which runs through solar panels attached to each and every roof, and garage, in the community. The fluid is then transferred to a neighborhood energy center before being sent into the ground where the heat is stored beneath an insulated layer …continue reading Community Teams up for Solar

It used to be that propane, natural gas, and diesel were all cheaper methods for heating your home than electricity. However, fuel prices are rapidly rising, and electrical prices aren’t far behind. This leaves many of us pondering what is the best way to cut energy costs. Wind turbines are an intriguing possibility that deserve taking a closer look at.

Wind turbines are used to capture the power produced by the wind and to convert it into usable energy in the form of electricity. By installing a wind turbine, you can potentially reduce your electricity bill by 50-90% each month. …continue reading Wind Turbines for the Home