It may be difficult to imagine for us, but according to the U.S. Department of Energy nearly two billion people live without electricity. How do they deal with it? They burn fossil fuels such as kerosene for light.
Denver inventor Stephen Katsaros is hoping to give light to people without electricity. His solution to the problem is his new invention – a solar-powered light bulb.

Image from http://www.nokero.com/. Solar-powered light bulb.

Solar-powered lights are nothing new, but the inventor hopes this one could improve the lives of people in developing countries, who have no electricity but plenty of sunshine. The bulb has a battery that gets charged by the sun. A one-day charge will power it for about two hours at night. “It’s replacing kerosene lanterns that are very polluting and dangerous around the world,” says Steve Katsaros, founder of Nokero. The name Nokero is short for “no kerosene.” They are usually used in sets of 2 or more. One light is used for 2 hours until the rechargeable battery is used up. Then, the next light is turned on until that one is used up. And so on.

Image from http://www.nokero.com/. Solar-powered light bulb.

Nokero bulbs were invented just 8 months ago in the shop of Katsaros’ Park Hill neighborhood garage. The first solar-powered bulb looked like a regular light bulb – the same shape and size as the ones in your home, so you could actually screw it into a standard fitting.

Four band-aid size solar panels decorate the outside of the bulb. Each panel helps charge one battery which powers 5 small LED lights.

The battery should last at least 2 years, according to the manufacturer.

What distinguishes Nokero, claims Katsaros, is that the battery is not just rechargeable but replaceable. Plus, the entire unit is affordable.

His wholesale solar powered bulbs cost $6.
Nokero’s target market is developing countries like India and Pakistan, plus western Africa. Katsaros says he’s already shipped thousands of samples to 50 different countries.

Some customers have already ordered as many as 1,000 bulbs.

Read and see more at: http://www.nokero.com/

Is the future of oral hygiene solar? Are we ever going to stop depending on toothpaste? Will we be using solar power instead of toothpaste one day? In Japan, the Shiken company is trying to give answers to these questions by field testing an unusual solar-powered toothbrush that doesn’t require toothpaste.

Soladey-J3X a solar-powered toothbrush.

The Soladey-J3X is a solar-powered toothbrush designed by Dr. Kunio Komiyama (dentistry professor at the University of Saskatchewan) and Dr. Gerry Uswak. The first model was designed 15 years ago (it was described in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology) and more work has been done since then in order to perfect it.

Now, Komiyama is back with a new model, the Soladey-J3X, which he says packs twice the chemical punch compared to the original.
It is a solar-powered toothbrush with a solar panel at its base that transmits electrons to the top of the toothbrush through a lead wire.

Soladey-J3X a solar-powered toothbrush.

These electrons react with acid in the mouth, creating a chemical reaction that breaks down plaque and kills hazardous bacteria. This means no toothpaste is required – helping you save more money in the long run (as well as water, since there is less rinsing to be required).

Image from www.kk-shiken.co.jp. Soladey-J3X a solar-powered toothbrush. Plaque removal mechanism.

Soladey-J3X a solar-powered toothbrush.

Researchers have already tested the toothbrush in cultures of nefarious bacteria that cause periodontal disease. The solar-powered brush caused complete destruction of bacterial cells.

How much power does the Soladey-J3X need to be effective? To get fully charged this toothbrush needs only as much sunlight as a solar-powered calculator.

The Soladey-J3X won the first place prize out of 170 entries at the annual FDI World Dental Conference in Dubai last month. This gives Komiyama confidence that there is scientific merit to the brush.

Learn more about this solar-powered toothbrush at the Shiken company’s website.

$740 million development started outside Dezhou, China. It has been called “The Biggest Solar Energy Production Base in the Whole World,” or Solar Valley.

Image from Himin Solar Energy. Dezhou Solar Valley in China.

The base will be a clean energy technology hub that China hopes will rival Silicon Valley in California. “This is an experiment. It is a big laboratory,” said Huang Ming – an oil industry engineer turned solar energy tycoon.

Image from Himin Solar Energy. Dezhou Solar Valley in China

The $740 million plan has attracted about 100 companies and factories, a research center and wide boulevards illuminated by solar-powered lights.

China’s Solar Valley in Dezhou (Promotional Video)

The main developer for the park’s plan is a company called Himin Solar Energy. It was started by Huang Ming who is often called the ‘Sun King’ of China. Although he says: “I prefer to be called solar madman.” The building that serves as headquarters for Himin Solar Energy is located at the Sun-Moon Mansion and is currently the largest solar powered office building in the world.

Image from Himin Solar Energy.
Sun-Moon Mansion – Himin Solar Energy’s headquarters. Night view.

Image from Himin Solar Energy.
Sun-Moon Mansion – Himin Solar Energy’s headquarters. Day view.

Image from Himin Solar Energy.
Sun-Moon Mansion – Himin Solar Energy’s headquarters. Day view.

An intriguing mix of raw capitalism and socialist planning is giving companies such as Huang’s Himin Solar Energy Group a shot at making a difference.
The city of Dezhou already requires that all new buildings be equipped with solar water heaters (the type made by Huang’s company). Last year they spent $10 million to install solar lighting along several miles of road.
Huang’s company is the world’s biggest producer of solar water heaters. It recently opened a low-carbon five-star hotel and is building Utopia Garden, a gigantic, eco-friendly luxury apartment complex – both with solar-heated pools.
“Renewable energy doesn’t mean people have to be uncomfortable,” Huang states.

Last year, China invested about $34 billion in solar panels, wind turbines and other alternative energy technologies, nearly twice as much as the United States, where green technologies spending unfortunately fell sharply.
Huang notes that, so far, solar energy is “a drop in the ocean” on the road to the major Environmental and Economical changes but he said that Dezhou offers a model for the future. “I like big plans,” he says.

Image from Himin Solar Energy. Huang Ming presents Dezhou Solar Valley.

Who would expect that the small islands of Hawaii are the solar hot water leaders within the United States!

Image from mauisolarproject.org

Check out the size of Hawaii’s solar energy market compared to other key states:

Source: Solar Energy Industries Association.

Considering the fact that Hawaii’s population is a mere 2.5 percent of California’s, it is not difficult to see why the 31st and 50th states deserve notice.

Image from mauisolarproject.org

Hawaii supports solar hot water with a mix of policies:
• An upfront solar hot water rebate of $750 for residential systems ($125/deferred kilowatt-hour for commercial systems)
• A state tax credit of 35 percent.
• The broader 30 percent federal tax credit.
• A requirement that all new single-family homes come with solar hot water system installed beginning in 2010, cutting energy costs by 30%.

What does this means for a typical residential buyer?
If the initial system cost is $7000 (a conservative estimate — Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program estimates the average initial cost is $6,620).
After the upfront rebate of $750, your contractor bill would be $6,250. With the 30 percent federal tax credit, your expenditures would total $4,375.
Finally, after the state tax credit of 35 percent, your ultimate costs would come to a mere $2,500. Of course, this is assuming that you have the appetite for these tax credits — check with a tax expert to see if this is the case.

A residential solar hot water system can pay off in 2 years, and a system lasts between 15-20 years!

As noted above, for a tiny island state with a population just over 1 million, their contribution to and example for the solar hot water market is truly commendable. Many of these efforts had developed from Hawaii’s lack of traditional energy resources and the related need to import oil and gas.

Their Renewable Energy Policy begins by explaining:
The objectives in the area of Alternate and Renewable Energy are to promote commercialization of Hawaii’s sustainable energy resources and technologies in order to reduce the state’s high dependence on imported oil, increase local economic development and reduce the potential negative economic impacts of oil price fluctuations.

Clearly, well-built motivation to implement renewable energy sources leads to prominent results.
The state of Hawaii has a goal of at least 70 percent renewable energy use by 2030. “Achieving this goal is nearly impossible without widespread use of solar water heaters,” Hawaii Sierra Club director Jeff Mikulina says. “The solar roofs bill is smart policy, sensibly crafted to smooth a transition toward zero-energy homes of the future.”

Image by This Old House.

Hawaii, which has always been a dream vacation destination and an ideal residence across the Pacific, has become a sensible renewable energy policy leader!

Kapalua, Maui, HI. Image by Your Solar Link – www.yoursolarlink.com

Just like chameleons Stone Solar Lights completely camouflage with existing landscapes and look like any other ordinary garden rock.
Also known as Solar Rock Lights, they can be used to mark landscape hazards, such as steps or a large boulder that could be a hazard in the dark. They are a good alternative to cast light on shrubbery and low hedges, and to mark pathways.
These Solar Spot Lights are a suitable addition for rock gardens, xeriscape landscaping, or for anywhere that solar garden lights would fit into your garden. Models vary from a nice, light brownish green to standard gray colors for blending perfectly into your existing landscape design.

Stone Solar Spot Light with 4 LEDs.
Image by Your Solar Link.

At yoursolarlink.com, we have 3 different sizes to choose from – they vary from small to large. These Stone Solar Lights have super bright LEDs for brighter light output.

Aside from being completely powered by the sun, they have no wiring and are fast and easy to install. With its flat base, each stone solar spot light can be placed it on the ground, giving you the option to move it to various locations as needed.
And because they are solar powered, they save money on your energy bills in the long run.

They come equipped with integrated solar panels that are durable in all weather conditions. An on/off switch is located at the base of each light, allowing you the option of saving battery charge for special occasions or during times when you wish to simply have the light off. When they are in the on position, an integrated photoresistor turns the lights on at sunset and off at sunrise.

Stone Solar Spot Light – Small.
Image by Your Solar Link.

You will be surprised by the amount of light that stone solar spot lights cast onto your garden. Just place your rock light where sunlight reaches in your exterior spaces, and the integrated solar panel will do the rest. Solar rock lights are capable to get light into areas of your garden where no electrical supply is available. They can give up to 10 hours of light when dark, depending on the amount of sunlight they receive during the day. The LED bulbs never burn out, and the rechargeable Nickel Cadmium AA battery is comes installed are ready to go right out of the box. They are water and corrosion resistant, as well as being completely safe to use around pets and children.

Stone Solar Spot Light with 4 LEDs.
Image by Your Solar Link.

In this video below you can see how on a completely dark night, our small Stone Solar Light casts a sufficient amount of light on various plants in the garden.

You can check these and other solar lights at www.yoursolarlink.com/solar-spot-lights, where they are sold at reduced prices with no hidden charges and free shipping.

Stone Solar Spot Light – Small.
Image by Your Solar Link.

Solar spot lights like this one rely on energy from the sun to charge their batteries and provide light throughout the night. This means that there is no need to tap into the electrical grid for these lights to operate. The solar spot lights will work consistently, even if the whole neighborhood is dealing with a power outage.

Plastic Solar Spot Light (4 Super Bright LEDs).
Image by Your Solar Link.

Solar spot lights efficiently use energy stored in the rechargeable batteries when it uses multiple LEDs. In this case, 4 ultra-bright LEDs provide bright and effective lighting.

These Ultra Bright Solar Spot Lights can be used to light up many different features of a landscape at night. You can create an interesting focus by putting light on an appealing tree or a flowerpot. Another practical application would be to increase visibility along the exterior walls of a home, driveway or a walkway.

Plastic Solar Spot Light (4 Super Bright LEDs).
Image by Your Solar Link.

All solar spot light models are adjustable in their positioning. It could be directed up, down or forward, and at different angles around the post. All you have to do is to turn the wing-nut to secure its position.

Even on cloudy days your solar lights will charge, but it is always best to choose the sunniest location for your spotlight to get the most charge from the sun. Typically, the charge will last throughout the night. Your solar light will also turn on and off automatically every day.

Solar Spot Lights can also be used as a low voltage substitution to your existing outdoor lighting. At www.yoursolarlink.com, you can check out our Solar Calculator for your energy bill savings when you decide to replace your existing electrical spot lights with solar spot lights.

In the video below you can see it in a night setting. The 4 LED bulbs create an effective and sufficient directional beam.

The more LEDs a solar light has (it can be as much as 6, 10 or more LEDs), the sooner the rechargeable batteries will get used up for the night. This means that you could get fewer hours of a more intense light. But for this particular solar spot light, a perfect balance is achieved. The design gives the brightest light output with the longest duration throughout the night. And its LED bulbs never burn out.

These solar spot lights is corrosion and water resistant, so it’s safe to leave outside during all weather conditions. Each light is 6.5 by 7 inches square and 18 inches tall. They also come equipped with 3 Nickel Cadmium AA batteries and are ready to go right out of the box.

A four-month pilot project was conducted by the City of San Diego in cooperation with the Uptown and Downtown Community Parking Districts to evaluate new high-tech single-space parking meter mechanisms. The pilot was conducted to determine the suitability of this enhanced technology for broader use within San Diego.

Unlike old, battery-powered models, the high-tech meters allow users to pay with coins, a credit card, or a reusable, rechargeable parking debit card. The systems meet the Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards and IPS is a level-one PCI-certified vendor. Once a card is swiped, it is encrypted and authorized. The meters do not store full credit card information and the information is not kept on file.

Solar Powered Parking Meter in San Diego, CA.
Image by Your Solar Link.

The new mechanisms are quickly and easily installed in existing single-space meter housings/poles. The solar-powered mechanisms are more environmentally friendly than existing single-space meters reducing battery usage and disposal when compared to existing mechanisms. Real-time communication capabilities provide more complete and timely information/statistics, allow greater flexibility and control of parking meter rates and include more robust displays with better information and instructions for users. The technology also provides a broader range of payment options including credit cards and is one of many important components necessary to better manage City parking resources.

The Solar Powered Parking Meter in San Diego, CA.
Image by Your Solar Link.

51 of the enhanced mechanisms were installed in existing City single-space parking meters at various Uptown and Downtown locations.

Project Highlights.

Number of Meters: 51
Mechanism Vendor: IPS Group, Inc
Pilot Project Areas: 3800 4th Ave (24 meters)
600 West G St (5 meters)
600 6th Ave (13 meters)
500 Market St (6 meters)
600 5th Ave (3 meters)
Evaluation Criteria: Evaluation Criteria for Enhanced Mechanism Pilot (PDF: 9K)
Payment Methods: Credit card, coin, pre-paid parking value card
Key Stakeholders: City of San Diego, Uptown Partnership, Uptown Community Parking District, Center City Development Corporation, Downtown Community Parking District, Downtown Parking Management Group.

Check out this vendor installation demonstration video.

So far, the high-tech meters have increased revenue, decreased labor and produced valuable data for the city.

Resource: www.sandiego.gov/parking

Using the sun to heat the water in your home will reduce your monthly utility bill, and your family’s carbon footprint on the world.
There is a lot of different companies on the market offering solar water heating systems. One of them is VELUX. It is bringing its Solar Water Heating system, proven for years in Europe and around the world, to the United States.

The Solar Water Heating System. Image by Veluxusa.

Why solar water heating systems?

Today’s energy methods need to become more sustainable, renewable and efficient. Natural resources such as gas and oil have been tapped so much that they are beginning to run low, making them ever more costly and difficult to find. High emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels are also causing noticeable global climate changes.

Energy prices continue to rise, and environmental concerns are high on the nation’s agenda. Savvy homeowners are on the lookout for alternative energy sources. VELUX, a global leader in skylights and other solar technologies, is meeting this need by providing solar hot water heating systems. As you can see, there are many benefits to solar hot water heating that make it a great energy choice.

Cost effective solution.
On average, if you install a solar water heater, your water heating bills should drop 50% – 80%. Also, because the sun is free, you’re protected from future fuel shortages and price hikes. Other financial incentives include:

* Anticipated payback period of 3 to 7 years, in years with state and federal incentives.
* Solar energy systems can take advantage of the sun’s free energy year round.
* Solar energy can be produced even at low temperatures.
* Federal tax credits help pay 30% of the system and installations costs. Many states and utilities offer additional support.
* Between tax credits and energy savings, this system offers a faster return on your investment than other types of solar energy systems.
* Lower first-time start up cost than solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy EERE consumer’s guide.

Environmentally beneficial
* Solar energy is an unlimited resource.
* Solar energy does not produce harmful emissions or require transportation or pipelines like electric energy does.
* Solar water heating systems installed in the U.S. help reduce our household energy consumption, and the nation’s reliance on toxic fossil fuels.
* Solar water heating systems will work anywhere in the U.S., not just sunny states.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy EERE consumer’s guide.

The Solar Water Heating System. Image by Veluxusa.

How it works?
Water heating systems are economical and effective.

Take a look at how they operate.
Solar water heating system installation video HERE.
Find more technical information here.
Resource: www.veluxusa.com.

Today more and more people discard the idea of using standard electric lights and are exploring the possibilities of using economical and eco friendly solar lighting solutions.

The Solar Path Lights. Image by Your Solar Link.

Path solar lights are an excellent choice for lighting paths, walkways, driveway perimeters or other regions around your home and in your landscape. They are often used in multiples to guide the way along a set of stairs or a dark walk.
Video below is showcasing the Stainless Steel Conical Path Lights. They are sold in sets of 2 at Your Solar Link’s website.

These solar path lights are 5 and a half inches in diameter and 14 inches high.
To get the most benefit from the sun, try to position your solar lights in a sunny place. The fixtures turn on and off automatically for your safety and convenience. This also allows you to “store” the electrical charge for a special event and ensure the longest possible run time.

A solar panel that collects sun energy during the day is located on the top of the light fixture. This highly efficient solar panel collects enough energy during the day to provide 8 to 10 hours of free light during the night. This Stainless Steel Solar Light set uses 2 ultra-bright LEDs for maximum light output and minimum battery usage. It comes with 1 rechargeable Ni-Cd AA battery. The lights are safe and water and corrosion resistant.
No wiring is required to install your Solar Light set, no need to call an electrician, just stick the ground stakes in and they are ready to go!

Have a look at them in a night setting (video). These solar path lights emit a soothing glow and softly light up flowers and shrubbery surrounding them. They release just enough light to guide you along a path or accentuate the beauty of your garden.
Solar path lights fall into the category of solar accent lighting and are designed to mark a place. You can use them exclusively or to compliment other types of outdoor lighting. Perhaps somewhere where you don’t need extremely bright (like a solar spot light), but want something subtle, producing just the right amount of light.

This Stainless Steel Solar Path Light set is an excellent savings not only because you can buy it at a lower price from www.yoursolarlink.com, but also because you get free, clean and renewable solar energy while using them.

Here’s an easy way to learn the way solar panels work.

What is solar power?

Solar energy is radiant energy that is produced by the sun. Daily the sun radiates, or sends out, a huge amount of energy. The sun radiates more energy in a single second than people have used since the beginning of time!

The energy of the sun derives from within the sun itself.

Like other stars, the sun is a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms. The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to create helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.

During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. However the helium atom contains less mass than the four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.

It takes countless years for the energy in the sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, and somewhat over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to earth. The solar energy travels to the earth at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, the speed of light.

Simply a small percentage of the power radiated by the sun into space strikes our planet, one part in two billion. Yet this volume of energy is enormous. Each day enough energy strikes the United States to supply the nation’s energy needs for one and a half years!

Where does all this energy go?

About 15 percent of the sun’s energy that hits our planet is reflected back into space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, when lifted into the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar power also is absorbed by plants, the land and the oceans. The remaining could be employed to supply our energy needs.

Who invented solar energy?

Humans have harnessed solar power for hundreds of years. As early as the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they would cause wood to catch fire. More than a century ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to make steam to drive a steam engine.

At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar energy in earnest. One important development was a remarkably efficient solar boiler introduced by Charles Greeley Abbott, a United States astrophysicist, in 1936. The solar hot water heater became popular at this time in Florida, California, and the Southwest. The industry started in the early 1920s and was in full swing right before World War II. This growth lasted up to the mid-1950s when low-cost gas had become the primary fuel for heating American homes.

People and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar power until the oil shortages of the 1970s. Today, people use solar energy to heat buildings and water and to generate electricity.

How we use solar power today?

Solar power is employed in a variety of ways, of course. There are two very basic types of solar energy:

* Solar thermal energy collects the sun’s warmth through one of two means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.

* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun’s radiation to usable electricity.

Listed below are the five most practical and popular solutions on how solar energy is employed:

1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden products. Portable units may be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems are used for traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.

2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems via a solar collector is a very practical solution to heat water for your pool or hot tub.

3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by sunshine and the heat is then transferred to water in a hot water tank. This technique of collecting the sun’s energy is much more practical now than in the past. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal methods to heat water are economically sound. It can pay for itself in three years or less.

4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or office. In many parts of the planet, solar photovoltaics are an economically feasible approach to supplement the power of your own home. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other types of power. In the USA, new incentive programs make this form of solar power ever more viable in many states. An increasingly popular and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.

5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. When you have enough sun power at your site, you may be able to go off grid. You may also integrate or hybridize your solar power system with wind power or other forms of renewable energy to stay ‘off the grid’.

How do Photovoltaic panels work?

Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to produce photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electric power. The energy created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the energy into basic voltage and AC electrical power.

Solar cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors like silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the photovoltaic cell, a particular share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.

The energy unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Solar power cells also have more than one electric field that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.

Do you know the positives and negatives of solar technology?

Solar Pro Arguments

- Heating our homes with oil or natural gas or using electricity from power plants running with fossil fuels is a reason behind climate change and climate disruption. Solar power, on the other hand, is clean and environmentally-friendly.

- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment may be recovered within a relatively small amount of time.

- Solar hot-water heaters can work in almost any climate, even in very cold ones. You just have to choose the best system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.

- Maintenance costs of solar powered systems are minimal and the warranties large.

- Financial incentives (USA, Canada, European states…) can aid in eliminating the price of the initial investment in solar technologies. The U.S. government, as an example, offers tax credits for solar systems certified by by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation), which amount to 30 percent of the investment (2009-2016 period).

Solar Cons Arguments

- The initial investment in Solar Water heaters or in Solar PV Electric Systems is higher than that required by conventional electric and gas heater systems.

- The payback period of solar PV-electric systems is long, as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (only the solar domestic hot water heating payback is short or relatively short).

- Solar water heating does not support a direct conjunction with radiators (including baseboard ones).

- Some air-con (solar space heating and the solar cooling) systems are very pricey, and rather untested technologies: until recently, solar air-con has not been an economical option.

- The efficiency of solar powered systems is determined by sunlight resources. It is in colder climates, where heating or electricity needs are higher, that the efficiency is smaller.

Article by Barbara Young.

Barbara Young writes on motorhome solar panels; in her personal hobby site 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar energy to reduce CO2 emissions and energy dependency.