Welcome to our new Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can use this week to help make your life a bit more sustainable!If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group!
This week's project: solar power for cellphones & radios!
While efficiency and battery technology still have a long way to go, solar power is still the most attractive of the many sustainable technologies to many consumers. For most folks solar energy makes good sense - tap the solar energy all around use to reduce dependence on energy from the traditional electrical grid, which is usually produced by coal or nuclear power.
If you're interested in experimenting with solar power, consider this:
- It takes a lot of energy to actually produce a solar panel. If you want to reduce your environmental impacts, consider using a "reclaimed" solar panel for your projects. This can be as small as the panel inside those little garden lights, or as big as decommissioned highway panels. Some tips on finding a decommissioned panel can be found here.
- Solar panels are actually more efficient and will generate more power in colder temperatures. Excessive heat does not mean greater power.
- Any DIY project with electricity will require a bit of technical knowledge (e.g. using a soldering iron) and some safety precautions. Don't be scared to learn something new. Do, however, read all instructions carefully and make sure you are safe!
To make a solar powered cell phone charger, go to:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar_Powered_Cell_Phone_Charger/
To make a solar powered radio, go to:
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Solar-Powered-radio-for-%245/
If you're ready for the big leagues, check out Planet Green's "7 Great Weekend Solar Power Projects." It includes the aforementioned projects AND more complex projects like a solar powered boom box!
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/solar-projects-weekend.html
