Solar ready homes are the latest thing in green building standards.  From prewiring to prefabs with solar-ready roofs, there are already plenty of options available.  New legislation, like the recently signed solar ready homes bill in Colorado, will ensure that even more homes can easily make use of solar power.   We’ve compiled a collection of the best solar ready housing options currently on the market…

Sunlight Homes offers custom designed houses with passive solar features, including zero-energy, self sustaining living options.  A Sunlight Home package includes everything needed to build your new home – from SIPs to lumber and fasteners – with an assortment of available add-ons, like garages and hardwood doors.  Once you’ve designed your Sunlight Home, the components are manufactured off-site and delivered to your lot where a local builder will erect the structure.

The Cornell Solar Decathlon House for 2009 boasts an intriguing cylindrical design, featuring a living room, kitchen, bed & bath, and covered courtyard within 800 square-feet of living space.  The sun-powered home is complete with Energy-Star appliances, a fuel-free indoor/outdoor fireplace, and plenty of dual-purpose living options.  Offers are currently being accepted for the creative home with an asking price of $199,000.

We’ve mentioned the intriguing (and affordable) i-House in a previous post – with it’s solar-ready roof and sustainable design, the i-House is a perfect addition to this list as well.  Created by mobile manufacturer Clayton Homes, the i-house is a customizable, solar-ready prefab that is loaded with eco friendly options – including Energy-Star design and appliances, bamboo flooring, and rainwater harvesting.

Michelle Kaufmann is one of our favorite green architects for obvious reasons.  All home designs are solar ready and built off-site with eco friendly materials for maximum sustainability.  The Glidehouse pictured above is available in 1 to 4 bedroom floorplans, complete with environmentally safe finishes and accessories.  Sunshades, FSC certified cabinetry, and water-efficient fixtures are integrated into the design as well.

Possibly one of the first homes designed to be solar ready, John Avenson built this house in 1982 and has enjoyed living in it ever since.  E-star certification was received, with an applaudable rating of 26, in May of 2007 and is still much more advanced than many modern sustainable homes.  When the solar house was built 28 years ago, the southern-oriented roof was designed to accommodate solar panels without protrusions that could interfere with the panel layout.  The Avenson website contains a wealth of information about solar-powered housing.

Solar Village Homes offers several options for solar ready living.  Custom solar home packages include everything from site planning to design to green consulting to ensure the best sustainable materials.  Five different turn-key options are available from Solar Village, ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms and up to nearly 2,500 square-feet.  These homes, available in 34 states, can be ready for move in within 2 months and can completely eliminate utility bills.  

Shea Homes is the first builder to join Arizona Public Service Company’s solar home building program.  Solar ready connections were already an option in Shea’s Trilogy community in Arizona so this state incentive was a natural choice.  Shea Homes builds quality communities in California, North and South Carolina, Colorado, Florida, and Washington state as well and offer several eco-friendly options in their houses.

Serving the Colorado area, Prestige Home Builders designs custom homes with solar-ready tile roofs.  Each design is personally overseen by the company owner, meaning only a handful of Prestige homes are built each year.  Floor plans include 2-story models with more than 6,000 square feet of living space, as well as luxurious ranch style homes in various layouts.  

Road Home Builders is helping New Orleans rebuild green with their Sunconomy, high-efficiency homes.  Eighteen different floor plans are available, ranging from cozy 1-bedroom cottages to spacious models with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths.  Each home integrates a number of standard green features and are constructed of steel SIPs that can withstand 150 mph winds.  Solar hot water systems and photovoltaics are available as well.

Wisconsin residents can seek the services of award-winning green builders, PEA Builders, for their solar-ready home.  PEA homes are Energy Star and Green Built certified, featuring SIP construction, bamboo flooring, and on-demand hot water systems.  Passive solar designs are available, along with solar panel and geothermal energy options.

Feel free to add your thoughts, comments, and resources for solar ready homes in the comments!

Top 10 Solar Ready Homes is a post from: Ecoble

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While wind and solar power may not be the complete solution to a green energy future, these 2 sources of clean, renewable energy definitely have some amazing potential.  From off-grid homes and gadget chargers to bike helmet generators and fully-functional campers, there are already plenty of awesome applications for wind and solar power and just as many other unbelievable ideas to come…

Reminiscent of days gone by but with futuristic flair, the Westfalia Verdier solar camper doesn’t appear to have made it to the production lines but is an awesome concept regardless.  Using GPS technology, solar panels power the camper van when you’re ready to camp – lowering the vehicle onto the wheels to increase stability.  The pop-up design will accommodate a family of 4, but the proposed $69,000 price tag might be the holdup on getting this cool camper on the market.

This has to be the geekiest concept ever for a solar gadget charger – a solar necktie, complete with a built-in pocket and adapters to keep your favorite gadget safe while it charges.  The small solar panels create an intriguing design for the tie but I wonder how comfortable it would be with an iPod stuffed in the underside?

We’ve seen a few solar powered cars already, as well as a couple wind powered vehicles, but this intriguing concept by RORMaxx combines both wind and solar power into one amazing car that may actually see production later this year.  The Formula AE is designed to be a wind and solar powered race car, boasting a top speed of 155 mph, with a layer of solar cells and an innovative energy recovery system using intakes and turbines to store additional power.

Similar to the Hymini wind powered gadget charger we’ve featured before, the K3 offers solar and wind energy to power your portable devices.  This off-grid gadget charger is compatible with most rechargeable handhelds, including phones, cameras, and iPods, and will charge the typical cell phone 5 times when the K3 is fully powered (and it’s a bit more appealing than the solar tie above).

Creatively artistic and completely renewable, these street lamps produce 380 watts of power with nothing more than sun and wind.  Solar panels and a small wind turbine are masked amid the creative design of the hybrid street lamps by Urban Green Energy.  LED bulbs increase the lights’ efficiency and the company will customize the posts to suit the area where they will be installed.

The latest addition to China’s skyscraper skyline is an eco-friendly tower powered by the wind and sun.  The Austrian designed Shenzhen Tower will house businesses, meeting rooms, recreation facilities, and residences within it’s 49 floors and is created to provide natural ventilation and shade to increase efficiency and reduce China’s dependency on nonrenewable resources.

Forget electric motorbikes – a wind-powered helmet can create enough juice to operate headlights, turn signals, and tail lights!  Three Cheng Shiu University students came up with the light-powering helmet, using 5 small turbines to generate electricity while the bike is in motion.  Four batteries store the energy and then transmit power to the lights.  Plans to reduce the weight of the helmet are in the works, with hopes of public production in the future. 

Image by Michael Jantzen

Completely off-the-grid and totally recyclable, the Homestead House makes the most of solar and wind power.  The futuristic prefab, designed by Michael Jantzen, is still a concept but definitely one worth considering.  The house is made of recycled steel, is low cost, and easy to customize.  A small wind turbine and a series of solar panels provide the off-grid home’s energy, while utilizing passive solar technology to control the climate and the unique arched shape to harvest rainwater – a simply awesome use of wind and solar power!

8 Awesome Uses of Wind and Solar Power is a post from: Ecoble

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Image by Dragonleek

Wind + solar power = a sustainable, renewable energy future … or does it?  As China’s renewable energy sector grows in leaps and bounds – doubling wind power capacity alone each year since 2005 – the US is questioning the viability of a wind and solar powered economy.  

No More Fossil Fuel?

Minimizing our dependency on nonrenewable fuel sources may be a lot more achievable than eliminating our need for fossil fuels, especially when wind and solar power are the alternative, but what does that mean for cost-efficiency and for the environment?  

• Off-shore drilling destroys natural habitats and increases the risk for hazardous spills and water, as well as air, contamination.
• Coal, while it may be abundant at the present time, is the dirtiest option.  Clean coal technology is in the works, but an expensive process that isn’t sustainable – especially with the rising demand for coal from developing countries.
• The obvious need for fossil fuel-based energy, alongside renewable options like wind and solar, means an even greater cost to the public for those receiving grid-supplied power.  
• China, Russia, India, and other developing countries are currently making worldwide deals on natural resources for their own use at a fraction of the prices available to the US – nonrenewable resources can only go so far.

The Problem with Wind and Solar Power

Image by phault

Wind farms are popping up around the world and a number of major power suppliers are supplementing their grids with solar panels – but just as many wind and solar power projects are coming to a standstill.  Cost is one of the primary obstacles, even for off-grid homes.  Even with monthly savings on electric bills and the assortment of government incentives available, a home solar system only offers minimal savings as a Washington Examiner editorial piece points out.  Even billionaire, T. Boone Pickens has postponed major plans for wind farm development.

Another pressing concern is location.  The mega-solar facilities planned for the Mojave desert are under heated debate because of the potential to interfere with natural wildlife habitats.  Wind farms have been debated because of risks posed to birds and bats.  Maintenance is also an issue – a dirty solar panel can reduce output by as much as 15 to 25%.  Keeping a large solar plant clean equates to a hefty labor cost.

Finally, there’s the obvious – wind and solar power are not 100% reliable.  Large scale storage for renewable energy hasn’t yet been perfected and it’s impossible to depend on the wind and sun alone to produce a 24/7 power source in every location.  Coupling these renewable energy options with fossil fuel-based backup will only provide a 30 to 40% decrease in carbon output – definitely not clean energy and not a sustainable solution!

Other Solutions for a Green Energy Future

There are many other possibilities for renewable energy options beyond wind and solar power, or in combination with wind and solar.  The potential of biomass is seemingly endless – from garbage to human waste.  Hydropower is another possibility, but can raise concerns for natural habitats and is only viable in certain locations.  Geothermal energy production has a future in many areas of the world.  Hydrogen power also has great potential, but will require advancements in fuel cell technology.

Small scale wind + solar power projects are another sustainable energy option.  Off-grid homes have more potential than solar and wind based grid production – energy storage solutions are more feasible on a small scale and there are also more cost-effective methods of generating small scale power.  DIY renewable energy projects are a great way to get started or consider making your own solar panels from inexpensive damaged panels.

Wind + Solar Power: Is There a Future for Green Energy? is a post from: Ecoble

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Just in time for the 4th of July, we’ve collected 10 eco-friendly BBQ grills to green your summer celebrations.  No, the mega Hemi-powered  grill above isn’t too clean or green – although it will fire up a whopping 240 hotdogs in just 3 minutes, but the grills featured below are some of the friendliest options for your green outdoor cooking…

There’s been plenty of debate over the best fuel for grilling – traditional charcoal produces all sorts of toxins, while propane and natural gas are nonrenewable resources that contribute a few chemicals of their own.  Aside from building your own solar oven, what are the best options for eco-friendly grilling?  

Clean and renewable solar power is always a winner and the Helios solar grill also boasts an innovative, futuristic design.  About the size of an average charcoal grill, this solar cooker soaks up the sun through a reflective parabolic dish and then transfers the energy to a receptor that heats the coil and grills your favorite foods.  The Helios also features a retractable plug for an electrical option when the sun isn’t enough.

Definitely not as intriguing to look at but just as eco-friendly as the Helios, the Hydro-que is a hydrogen powered grill that eliminates the need for charcoal or propane.  Cooking with water power is a relatively new concept, but the Hydro-que table top model is available for purchase for $495.  The price may seem a bit costly compared to similar sized grills, but I’m sure it would pay for itself in fuel savings…eventually.

WoodFlame, a Canadian-based company, also offers a charcoal and propane-free grill option – although the true eco-friendliness of the portable  cooker is a bit questionable.  The WoodFlame is a wood-burning stove that also requires electrical power, either through an AC or DC source or 4 D batteries.  Our source claims that wood burning provides health benefits, while most organizations argue that burning wood produces toxins as well as medical concerns.  The WoodFlame grill only requires a small cube of hardwood, however, and is said to “perfectly combust”, eliminating the typical pollutants and concerns associated with wood burning.

The FlameDisk by uGO is a clean alternative to charcoal grilling and offers a renewable option for gas and propane users – it’s also relatively cost efficient.  Rather than replacing your entire grill with a greener version, the FlameDisk works with traditional cookers.  Instead of dirty charcoal, the disposable insert uses plant-based ethanol to cook clean and green.  Each disk provides about 40 minutes of cooking time, requires no warm-up time, and can be recycled after just 10 minutes of cooling.

While these cookers look like your basic gas-powered BBQ grill, renewable plant-based fuel powers them as well – actual dried corn kernels, in fact!  Corn-burning grills are clean and safe alternatives that can be used on balconies and decks with no worry of fires.  They’re also easy to clean – and you can grow your own fuel at home!

Electric BBQ grills are another option that provides a greener solution to outdoor cooking, especially if your home uses an alternative energy source other than fossil fuels.  Electric grills are also one of the easiest types of cookers to get your hands on – available from many different manufacturers.  Kamado grills are ceramic cookers, retaining heat to use less fuel and boasting gorgeous designs that become a part of your decor.  Kamados can be used with charcoal or gas, but the electric grill models are ideal for any setting – including balconies and indoors.

The Big Green Egg offers a ceramic BBQ grill too, although these require charcoal or wood as fuel and do not operate on electricity.  These grills are available in 5 different sizes, including a portable model and an extra large version, and the company offers a selection of electric and natural fire starters, natural lump charcoal, and an assortment of wood chips for a more environmentally safe grilling experience.

Eco-friendly?  Well, maybe not – but this intriguing and unusual BBQ grill recycles a forgotten (and antique) baby carriage…throw in some natural charcoal and fire up your organic steaks.  Unfortunately, this model isn’t for sale but designer David Klose creates an assortment of unique smokers and grills – all made by hand rather than machines.

The first solar powered BBQ grill we featured in this post is still a concept, but the El Solito parabolic barbecue pictured above is available for $500 – or you can make your own solar cooker for a fraction of the price.  The El Solito grills meats and veggies with plenty of direct sunlight or can heat up a pot on a cloudy day.  You can also deep fry or bake with a solar cooker and never harm the planet.

If you’re not in the market for a new eco-friendly BBQ grill or just can’t bear the thought of cooking outdoors without charcoal, give the ethanol powered FlameDisk featured above a try or check out some other green charcoal alternatives like those from Big Green Egg or Enviro’s biomass grilling accessories.

10 Eco-Friendly BBQ Grills to Green Your Summer is a post from: Ecoble

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Small-scale renewable energy is a must for a sustainable home – but converting your home to clean energy options can carry a huge initial price tag.  We’ve scoured the web for some of the most innovative examples of homemade energy solutions to compile a collective list of DIY projects to make your home greener and more energy efficient without costing you a fortune.  From solar water heaters and gadget chargers to homemade super-efficient refrigerators, you’ll find links (with instructions) to some of the best projects you can make at home…

Homemade Energy-Save Fridge

The ‘Ambient Air Fridge’ isn’t quite a year-round green appliance but when things cool down in the winter, this homemade fridge will definitely shave a few dollars off the electric bill!  The insulated wood box fits snugly in an out-of-the-way doorway and even controls the temperature with an inexpensive thermostat and a couple of computer fans.  

DIY Electric Lawn Mower

A small DC motor, two 12-volt batteries, a circuit breaker, and wiring can transform your polluting, fossil-fuel dependent lawn mower into a clean, green, grass mowing machine!   The first version of Lee’s mower required an electric battery charger.  After a few more updates, Lee has created a completely eco-friendly solar powered electric mower.

Make Your Own Wind Turbine

It may not generate enough power to charge up your electric mower, but this mini-windmill from GotWind.org is a great way to operate small power tools or turn on your garden lights.  DIY wind turbine projects are a bit more complicated than some of the other renewable energy options available, but are well worth the effort when it comes to off-grid living.  There are an assortment of plans available for more powerful wind generators, but do some research before buying.  You’ll find a good selection of reasonably priced DIY wind power projects at GotWind.  

Low Cost Solar Water Heater

Imagine the savings on your electric bill – and the environmental benefits – if you no longer depended on fossil fuels to warm your water!  This DIY solar water heater is inexpensive to build and provides scalding hot water in just a couple hours.  This particular project requires a little scavenging if you want to keep things cheap and the 5-gallon bucket isn’t quite enough hot water for the average family, but the mirrored solar pre-heater found on Wired actually pumps the heated water into a household tank.

Pedal Powered Generator

From laptops to cell phones to blenders – bicycle generators eliminate the need for electricity to power your favorite gadgets and allow you to stay in shape at the same time.  This particular pedal-powered charger was created by the librarian at Phillips Elementary School in Virginia – shouldn’t all schools utilize these?!  You’ll also find free plans for a solar assisted bicycle generator here or can purchase plans from the pedal power generating master, David Butcher, for $50 – including photos and online support.

DIY Hydro Power

It’s scenic, it’s rustic, it’s tranquil – and it’s clean, renewable energy.  This DIY water wheel was created with many recycled materials and generates about half of the designer’s electrical needs – complementing the output of his solar panels at the New England home.  Hydro energy is an old, but not forgotten, sustainable energy option!

Human Powered Laundry Machine

Simple construction and easy, manual operation make this energy-free washing machine the perfect choice for developing countries, as well as off-grid living.  Designed by Michael Perdriel, the ‘think-small washer’ agitates clothes by pumping the mechanical arm and can clean a load of laundry in less than half an hour.  The machine is currently in use in Nepal and features a portable, wheeled design for convenient filling and emptying.

Homemade Solar Gadget Charger

A small DIY solar charger like this one is an ideal backup if the power goes out, but this project can easily be expanded to serve as much more than an emergency power source.  The version pictured here costs about $150 to build and can charge up cell phones, laptops, or iPods or could power a portable DVD player at the pool.  The 12-volt battery requires about 8 hours of sunlight for a full charge and the unit is perfect for camping use or at home.

8 Completely Awesome DIY Home Energy Projects is a post from: Ecoble

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