Image by Ontario Power Generation

When it comes to large-scale alternative power, hydroelectric plants are currently the most common – supplying more than 80% of the word’s renewable energy.  While hydro power is much cleaner and more cost-efficient than the generation of electricity using fossil fuels, there are a number of disadvantages including the threat of dam failures, disturbance to the natural environment, and some greenhouse gas emissions.

Small hydroelectric power systems, however, create fewer threats and can be an excellent alternative energy source for residential use.  Could small-scale hydro power be a viable option for your home?  Keep reading to learn more…

Small hydroelectric projects are growing in popularity in the commercial energy sector, especially in China.  These plants generally range in capacity, generating up to 10 MW of power – enough to supply a small community.  Small-scale hydro power can also be a cost-efficient alternative for residential, off-grid living under the right conditions.

Requirements for Hydroelectric Power

Image by NeilsPhotography

To generate power with water, you’ll of course need an adequate supply of water – a flow of at least 2 gallons per minute with a substantial drop to create pressure.  A drop of just 2 feet would require a flow of 500 gallons per minute.  Mother Earth News offers some useful advice on site assessment for your homestead hydropower project.

You’ll also need the necessary hardware to harness the power generated by the flowing water and then convert the energy into a usable current for your home.  A hydro power generator is the heart of the system and can be purchased through a variety of suppliers.  You’ll also need a battery pack and inverter, as well as a sufficient amount of piping.  A complete hydroelectric power system will cost as little as $1000 up to as much as $10,000, depending on your needs.

DIY Hydro Power

If you’re mechanically inclined with a good supply of flowing water nearby, consider trying your hand at a homemade hydroelectric power system.  Build it Solar has a tremendous amount of resources to help with your hydro power planning and installation as well.

For those who prefer to start with a really small-scale hydro system, check out Sam Redfield’s bucket hydro generator – the perfect alternative energy gadget charger – or this faucet powered hydro turbine made of recycled CDs and auto parts.  If a rustic waterwheel is more your style, take a look at the DIY home energy projects we mentioned in a previous post.

If you’re considering an alternative source for residential power, hydroelectric may be an affordable and efficient option if you have a nearby supply of flowing water.  Be sure to look into local and state regulations regarding small hydro power systems before you get started.

Alternative Power: Hydroelectric Potential is a post from: Ecoble

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Image by Krassy Can Do It

New ways to integrate alternative energy sources into your home and everyday life are surfacing everyday.  We’ve featured creative off-the-grid gadgets, awesome uses for wind and solar power, and the available options for solar ready homes.  The power of humans is just as reliable – and typically more cost-effective – than other types of alternative energy.  Take a look at these innovative ways to use your own kinetic energy at home…

This concept phone by Kyocera gains a charge the more it’s used.  The kinetic powered phone boasts a space-age design, folding into a convenient wallet size for portability and simple calls.  Space memory technology  allows the keyboard to pop up when in use and to blend flat with the phone when it’s not needed.  Unfolded, the low-energy OLED screen widens making it an ideal phone for mobile media fans.

Designed by Efrain E. Velez for the 2008 Greener Gadgets Design Competition, this creative kinetic energy lamp is a suitable addition to any contemporary home.  Aptly named, the Krank Lamp is constructed of recyclable aluminum and uses eco-friendly LEDs.  About a minute of hand-powered cranking produces nearly an hour of light – the perfect reading lamp after dark!

You may remember the old push-powered floor sweepers?  The Electrolis is a similar human-powered concept, submitted to the Australian Design Award by Ms Neo Amy.  We’re not sure if this floor and carpet cleaner would perform much better than those from the past, but it definitely features a catchier design and is said to be much more comfortable to use, not to mention easier to empty.

The E-Bag may not get much use around the house, but it’s the perfect companion on the go.  Designed by Apor Püspöki, the kinetic powered snack cooler is a stylish bag with a built-in cooling unit and plenty of space for water, lunch, and snacks.  The handle is designed to rotate with movement, capturing energy from movement as you walk and using that to keep things cool.  

Pedal powered creations range from generators to juicers to washing machines and everything in between.  Kevin Blake, a bicycle designer, made this pedal-powered snow plow from an old lawnmower, pedals, and a snow shovel – an excellent eco  alternative to your traditional gas powered snow blower!

Another Greener Gadgets Design entry, the Minute Glass is an exceptional concept for a kinetic powered alarm clock.  No batteries, no cord – and no snooze button, this clock is sure to start your morning on time.  During the night, the clock can serve as a portable night light; in the morning, the alarm sounds to your favorite radio station and doesn’t turn off until you shake it long enough to stay charged until the next day.

Until the Kyocera Eos phone is available, the nPower Personal Energy Generator (PEG) can keep your gadgets powered by human energy whether you’re at home or out and about.  The kinetic powered charger is lightweight and can be carried in a bag or strapped to a bike rather than worn like other chargers.  The PEG doesn’t store energy but will keep your iPod or phone running while you clean or travel.  The charger is currently available for preorder with a price of $149 and includes 2 free adapters of your choice.

Instead of wasting energy to charge your wireless mouse, this concept design converts the movement of the device into power.  The kinetic mouse, created by Natalie Miklosic, ensures a continuous power source wherever you may be without depending on electricity.

8 Amazing Ways to Use Kinetic Energy at Home is a post from: Ecoble

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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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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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From staircases to furniture and art to lighting, a sustainably designed home requires eco-friendly accessories for a green design inside and out.  This collection of amazing eco designs goes beyond standard energy-star appliances and stainless steel cabinetry, including chairs from worn-out keyboards, elegant light fixtures from recycled aluminum, and more…

Book lovers that can’t bear to part with their old collections can transform them into bookcases and shelves to hold new books and trinkets.  These super-cool recycled bookcases are created by Jim Rosenau in Berkley, CA and can be purchased through his website.  Visit WebUrbanist for more awesome bookcase designs.

Old car parts, industrial scraps, and yesterday’s trampoline springs get new life as one-of-a-kind home decor when artist Tim Pace gets his hands on them.  Each piece of Eco-Art is imaginative, intriguing, and fashioned by hand from recycled metal.  The item pictured here is one of Tim’s amazing wine racks – other Eco-Art includes business card and candle holders, creative garden sculptures, and more.

Beautiful wood and simple steel are the only materials in this stunning spiral staircase designed by Patrick Jouin.  The magnificent set of stairs requires little space, making it ideal for modular building or prefab – not to mention the fact that it is absolutely gorgeous!  (via dornob designs)

Do your window blinds simply keep out the bright rays of sun and cool your home – or do they harvest the sun’s power and turn on your lamp?  The illuminating solar blinds, created by Yoon-Hui Kim and Eun-Kyung Kim, do just that!  During the day, the blinds shade your home while storing solar power.  Turn the blinds on after dark and an integrated table lamp, chandelier, or floor lamp will brighten the room without taking up space or using electricity.

Every home office needs a good desk.  The ‘Deborah’ is one of many pieces of innovative recycled furniture from Reestore.  An airplane wing is transformed into a sturdy and attractive surface, then topped with heavy glass.  The wing desk is supported by stainless steel legs and available for purchase for £1990.

Recycled aluminum, resin, and low-energy LEDs create amazing eco-lighting solutions.  Stem, Firefly, Cocoon, and Flur, pictured here, are part of the SKIN collection – a company featuring the award-winning lighting designs by LEED-accredited Deniece Duscheone.

Chic and modern, this creative lounger is also eco-friendly.  Named the Text-ile Chair and designed by Dante Bonnucelli and Lamm for the UMUL workshop in 2009, the furniture rescues several old keyboards to provide an intriguing and resourceful seating option.  (Via Inhabitat)

Demolition scrap piles are the perfect source for home interior remodeling – at least when A77 Studio is in charge of the job.  The house pictured here, located in Buenos Aries, was completely refurbished with discarded highway guardrails, scrap wood, and forgotten industrial doors and windows for a stunning eco interior design.

These snake-like creations are the latest innovation from designers MOI – transforming Trask lights.  The LED light fixtures are versatile and unique, doubling as an intriguing task light for your desk or end table or track lighting suspended from the ceiling.  Adding to the eco-friendliness of Trask lights, the units are manufactured from recycled sheet metal with a safe powder-coat finish and flat-pack shipped to minimize transportation costs.

Hold on to those plastic drinking straws – especially the colorful ones, and you could have your very own recycled chair, footstool, or even a lampshade.  We’re not sure exactly how many straws were used to create these intriguing pieces of recycled eco furniture, or how long they would last under regular use, but it is one of the most creative examples of reuse we’ve come across!

10 Incredible and Intriguing Eco Accessories for Your Home is a post from: Ecoble

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