Posts Tagged ‘solar energy’
Solar panels to power the entire earth
Efforts in favor of clean energy they are still cautious and discreet, but still draws a future where oil, coal and natural gas become less necessary.
A timely article by TreeHugger announced that manufacturers of solar photovoltaic cells increased their production by 51% in 2009. And while the growth was even higher in 2008, the fact that in recent months have produced more than 10,700 megawatts of solar cells worldwide indicates a foothold in the right direction. A production of these characteristics can power about 5 million homes and today the sun’s energy to reach 100 countries.
Even better news is that renewables are not only a matter of individuals and households, companies also began to soak up sun, and now Walmart, supermarkets and chain stores, announces it will install solar panels between 20 and 30 stores in California and Arizona.
Walmart has hired the firm SolarCity for designing, installing and maintaining solar energy systems that cater to their huge business in 20-30% of the total energy need. Rather than buy the panels, the energy service contract WalMart, as if it were a utility.
For experts it is crucial that the chain has decided to use the services of a leading solar energy, which speaks of his efforts are not just about image but also the safety and long-term commitment to energy revolution.
And while a solar panel no longer a technology somewhat inaccessible to most citizens of the world, energy-saving alternatives begin to be at hand. What are yours.
Restaurants that use solar energy
Located in Chile’s Elqui Valley, north of Santiago, Villaseca Solar gathers a group of families with the help of the University and a section of the national government have managed to reverse the situation: whereas previously they had to fight for firewood and being able to cook with solar cookers the development of the site now forms a renowned restaurant offering international dishes produced from renewable energy sources.
The history of the Solar Villaseca is so interesting and attractive as the productions they do it: Before this initiative, the place was an area of ??extreme poverty. Through aid programs, families were able to get some solar cookers for heating water. Excited about this new possibility, the people they came to go further: this renewable energy source could cook up to create the only restaurant in the country that works entirely with solar energy.
Thus arose Villaseca and today the town is news to national and international level.
The particularities of the Elqui Valley help achieve this type of production with solar cookers: here the sun shine on the town almost every day of the year. Thus, the ten ovens working all day to serve about 70 people.
While it is not possible to offer the widest variety of dishes due to this particular form of development, the fact is that you can enjoy the most diverse vegetable salads and casseroles with various meats and poultry.
Meeting point for both local and national and international tourists, Villaseca today is an example of social and green micro-initiatives that are worth playing.
The development of green initiatives bring benefits to the environment
Such is the case of the Barefoot College project (“Barefoot College”) in Tilonia, India, where not only is promoting renewable energy production but also is changing completely illiterate women’s lives and their communities . The initiative is based on empowering hundreds of women, most of them grandmothers to make them specialists in solar energy. After learning about installing solar panels and batteries, they return to their communities and work to provide the only source of electricity in the area.
While the United Nations estimates that about 1.5 million people on the globe still live without electricity, projects such as the Barefoot College can not only offer this resource to thousands of people but also contribute to the development of the region changing lifestyle for all inhabitants of the area, especially for those women able to carry out the project.
Founded in 1972 by social activist Sanjit ‘Bunker’ Roy, the Barefoot College believes that solutions to the problems of the poor in rural areas are in the community, their traditional heritage and new technologies. With this in mind, from the 1990′s began to train young men and women are illiterate or semi-literate as engineers of solar energy. Since then, those most involved with the project were grandmothers, showing enthusiasm and ease in learning.
The first step is from the institution, bringing together citizens to inform them about the benefits of solar energy. Then he chooses women who take courses in Catalonia, who for six months will be prepared by other people who performed the training. Beyond the incentive is produced from the Barefoot College to the success of the project is fundamental commitment to the community, who must work collectively to monitor, manage and decide on installing solar panels.
As explained by the very founder of the institution, school trained 150 grandmothers from 28 countries, enabling around 10 000 households receive electricity from solar energy. It is, in short, a role model for their ability to teach about the natural and human potential to transform a community and grow hand in hand with sustainability.
Electric cars made in the University of Villa Maria
As part of an exhibition on scientific projects have seven universities in Villa Maria Cordoba, the public’s main attraction is a small car developed by high school students in a school villamariense. The 49 students Ipem Domingo Sarmiento, in conjunction with the Institute of Basic Sciences, National University of Villa Maria developed a car powered by two batteries of 12 volts, supported by a solar energy display.
The small car, the size of those used on golf courses, has a range of six hours and can go up to 25 mph. The engineer Mario Pierantonelli, the UNVM said actually used as a measurement platform to compare the advantages of locomotion to electricity by other means of transport.
After testing this prototype, students work on a Fiat Uno and they won the municipality. The intention is to try to make it work with electricity in the urban circuit and make comparative measurements of actual conditions, said Pierantonelli.
The exhibition, which will tour other cities after Cordoba, participating national universities of Cordoba and Villa Maria, two regional UTN, the Catholic University of Cordoba, Blaise Pascal and the Aeronautical Institute. Besides showcasing projects, the exhibition serves to raise debates, exchanges of experiences and presentations.