Other Solar Technology

Installing solar panels isn’t an option for everyone. Maybe you don’t own your home, maybe your state doesn’t offer a strong rebate program, or maybe your home is completely shaded by old growth redwood trees. No worries! Check out our “Solar and Renewable Energy Policy” section to learn about legislation to support, and learn about other renewable energy sources and smaller scale solar technologies that might work for your situation.

In this section, we cover the latter — small-scale solar technology and gizmos like solar ovens, solar lights, solar pool heaters, solar battery chargers and more. Enjoy!

Top 10 Alternative Uses for Solar Energy Technology

Powering your home with big solar panels is expensive. Despite the long-term benefits, not all of us can fork over the cash for the initial investment. Fortunately, since the sun is such a tantalizing and constant source of energy, innovative minds have made lots of ways to harness sol’s rays. Here’s a top-10 list (and introduction) to other forms of solar power that might fit your budget and your practical needs. For less practical needs, a few are just plain cool.

Solar Ovens: How Solar Ovens Work and How to Make One

Solar ovens are an inexpensive, easy, and fun alternative to conventional cooking. Also known as solar cookers, solar ovens require no electricity and are used around the world by citizens in developed and developing countries alike.

Outdoor Solar Lights

Solar lights look just like regular lights on the outside… but are way cooler on the inside. Each solar light has its own mini solar panel, which transforms sunlight into energy during the day while powering the solar light at night. This makes solar light installation easy, because no wires are needed! All you have to do is stake or cement it into the ground.

News

PhD Student Discovers Method to Produce Solar Cells in Pizza Oven

Solar Power Clothing Makes Charging Electronic Devices Easy

New Technology Could Collect Heat from Pavement and Make Roads a Solar Energy Source

SolCool Solar Air Conditioner Production Ramping Up in China

Nanoantenna Arrays Seen As Possible Cheap Solar Cell Replacement

AquaSystem Enables Mass Commercial Use of Solar Thermal Systems

Aviation Industry Explores Solar Energy and Fuel Cell Powered Airplane

Concentrated Solar Power, Solar Storage Tanks And Molten Salt May Solve Solar Energy Storage

Solar Energy May Power Next Generation of Apple Mobile Devices

Solar Panel Trees ™ in Parking Lots Provide Environmental and Financial Benefits for Shopping Malls

Are you a California homeowner interested in solar? Get a free solar financial analysis from Renewzle and find installers in your area.

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Recent News

  • Renewable Energy Increases Home Values

    BuildingGreen.com features a story on the value that renewable energy can add to a home. Amy Levin, a realtor who completed a LEED platinum registered gut rehab in Washington, DC, had her home appraised at 10% higher value than comparable properties. Interested buyers made offers that exceeded her green investment costs, even [...]

  • Top 10 Renewable Energy Technology Gadgets

    There are a lot of cool gadgets out there, but there’s a fine line between what’s cool and what’s useful. This is a green list of gadgets that are useful, but boast the extra-cool factor of using renewable energy. No batteries required!
    10. The Ship has Landed
    The lightship is a solar-powered LED mounted on suction cups. [...]

  • National Renewable Energy Lab Sets Record for Solar Cell Efficiency

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States has announced that a new device developed by its scientists can convert 40.8 percent of light that hits it into electricity. This bests the previous record of 40.7 percent set by a different organization.
    According to NREL spokesman George Douglas, the new device is both thinner and [...]

  • 1 Block Off the Grid Rolling Out California’s Largest Community Solar Initiative

    San Francisco-based 1 Block Off the Grid (1BOG) announced today that it is teaming up with Real Goods Solar for a 100-home solar campaign in the city. 1 Block Off the Grid is an initiative set on driving renewable energy adoption for residential use through the use of education, private finance, and community purchase programs.
    Essentially, [...]

  • Solar Power Clothing Makes Charging Electronic Devices Easy

    Solar-powered clothing could be the next big trend for environmental enthusiasts. Researchers at North Carolina State University have designed a process called digital textile printing that makes it possible for solar panels to be fitted into jackets and ties.
    The wearable solar panels act much like batteries when energized. With a consistency similar to paper, the [...]

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