Ideas Worth Sharing

[GLG]

Thought I would start a new thread with a positive spin on what we can accomplish if we have the will to do so. We all know we have problems but some of the solutions may be less known. My hope is that others can add to this thread with some solution that they have run across or have tried and are willing to share their results.

[IDGZdCm-cl4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDGZdCm-cl4

More to the story...
http://www.greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/cradle-cradle

 

[Dogbreath]

I think I've seen those roof tiles somewhere-just thought 'Slate-must weigh a​ tonne' good to get the real story-Thanks.

 

[GLG]

Nice idea coming from Nelson BC in today's news

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...nelson-b-c-could-be-a-1st-in-canada-1.3136182

The City of Nelson, B.C., could become the first in Canada to build a community solar garden that would provide residents with "clean" energy and credits towards their power bill.
The project, put forward by the city-owned and -operated utility Nelson Hydro, would allow people to purchase power from a solar panel farm for 25 years, and receive a credit that would go towards balancing, and eventually reducing, costs on their bills.
It's in the preliminary stages, said Carmen Proctor of Nelson Hydro, who said interest in the project is growing.
"People here really do care about the environment and they are really progressive in their way of thinking," said Proctor.
She was introduced to the idea a couple of years ago at a conference in the U.S., where community solar farms are growing. Based on a successful pilot program in Nelson aimed at encouraging people to make their homes more energy efficient, she says she knew the concept of a community solar garden would be well received in the southeastern B.C. city.
[h=2]How it works[/h]A community solar garden is a centralized solar panel farm that gives homeowners and businesses access to solar energy without having to install and maintain panels on their own roof.
The price of the electricity purchased from the proposed solar project in Nelson would cost residents more, but initial community feedback indicates people would be willing to pay the extra costs, said Proctor.
It's about more than trying to save money, she said, and added costs eventually will even out.
Nelson Hydro is still working out detailed costs, but says people could end up investing something like $1,000 for a solar panel space for 25 years. They can either pay a lump sum up front or make monthly payments of about $3.47 until the solar panel space is paid off.
Depending on how much energy the solar panels produce, it could take roughly 12 to 15 years for residents to recoup the costs of their investment, but once the space is paid off, people would then slowly start to save money, said Proctor.
The amount of the credit that will be put towards hydro bills would depend on how families invest in the project, the amount of energy produced and current electricity rates.
The benefit of the 25-year contracts, she said, is long-term energy price stability.
[h=2]Next steps[/h]The city-owned utility has budgeted roughly $25,000 to build the community solar garden, with approval from council.
But there are still a few steps to go through before the project becomes a reality.
Council wants more details on the cost and would have to amend a few bylaws before the project could be built.
If council approves those amendments in the fall, Nelson Hydro would hold a public information session and a presale. It would require a commitment of 75 per cent before going ahead.
The field of solar panels will likely be located outside of Nelson.
If successful, it wouldn't be the only solar project in B.C., but it would differ from the large-scale multimillion-dollar solar panel farm in Kimberley, which sells energy back into the BC Hydro grid and provides credits to the city. The Nelson project, on the other hand, would see residents become direct investors and recipients of the credits that come from the energy produced.
"It's city directed, but it depends on community involvement," Proctor said.
To hear the full interview, listen to the audio labelled Nelson Solar.

 

[GLG]

Tracking the Energy Revolution - Global
The Top 10 Trends Propelling the Global Clean Energy Transition

Executive Summary and Recommendations:Each year, Clean Energy Canada produces Tracking the Energy Revolution, a pair of annual assessments detailing the current shift to clean energy, both within our borders and around the world. This edition identifies 10 policy, technology, and business trends and milestones that both defined and propelled this global shift in 2014. Along the way, we also flag alternate perspectives, challenges and developments that stand to temper each of these trends. Note: Trends appear herein no particular order.

1. A New Hope: Renewables Stall Out Carbon Pollution
2. As Solar Prices Drop, Affordability Rises
3. Tesla’s Gigafactory Poised to Unleash Battery Revolution
4. 100 Percent Renewable Energy Goes Mainstream
5. Climate Diplomacy Rising: Superpowers Move From Finger-Pointing to Handshaking
6. Wind Spreads Like Wildfire
7. Developing World Plugging In to Renewable Power
8. Carbon Pricing is Fast Becoming the New Normal
9. Global Clean Energy Economy Surging
10. Divestment Movement Gains New Allies

http://cleanenergycanada.org/tracki...racking-the-Global-Energy-Revolution-2015.pdf

 

[GLG]

Music break.... Canadian music icon Bill Henderson, lead singer of Chilliwack, performs "Take Back this Land"

[02BbNxesSEU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02BbNxesSEU&feature=player_embedded

 

[GLG]

[IEWYLbQXg4U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEWYLbQXg4U

 

[walleyes]

http://boereport.com/2015/07/14/suncor-energy-begins-radio-frequency-pilot-at-dover-site/

 

[GLG]

Here is a good idea for your fishing partner that has a challenge backing up the trailer.
[4S5fie_WX7A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S5fie_WX7A

 

[TheHurtLocker]

Don't eat yellow snow.

 

[Cuba Libre]

Thanks Gil-- too bad we humans are too stupid to do what we KNOW we need to do.....

 

[GLG]

[Tn_oHbpgQa0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn_oHbpgQa0

 

[GLG]

Looks like a good day to pour some lead on Saturday

 

[TenMile]

Cool bee hive idea:

[WbMV9qYIXqM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbMV9qYIXqM

 

[bigdogeh]

that's crazy!!
Ingenius!!
kickstarter rocks. hope it does well. I can't see it not suceeding.

 

[GLG]

This one is from a year and a half ago but I thought it had some great ideas like batteries with 4 times the capacity.

[4NNxlUKYXEI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NNxlUKYXEI

 

[Island Fish Lifter]

i can be a dickhead sometimes even though I dont mean to be. To attempt to make up for it I am posting this for all to see. I found this spot in 2007 by trial and error from chart info. if you hit it right you will be in 165 feet of water and it is where the deep water from the sound starts to meet the shallower gravel and it starts to level out. it is a bit sticky so beware. I have caught halis here consistantly averaging about 45 lbs. If you dont get one right away keep trying. they are there. Good luck THis is not a chicken spot but a high quality producer and not too deep.

 

[GLG]

Wow I want one of these.....
Mind you my fig tree this year has a bumper crop.
Willing to share / trade if anyone want's some.
Strange thing is it's over a month early.

[ik3l4U_17bI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik3l4U_17bI

 

[GLG]

[PJKYekL7JsY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJKYekL7JsY

 

[GLG]

A scientist found a way to dry clothes using barely any energy

Read more: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/low-energy-solution-drying-clothes-faster#ixzz3hPpN6RUb

Clothes dryers in the United States use about as much energy each year as the entire state of Massachusetts, according to an estimate from EnergyStar — which is part of the reason the Department of Energy is trying to develop more efficient home appliances.
Among those making significant progress is Ayyoub Momen, a staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.
Like most Americans, he owns a dryer. But he says he hates using it. He knows it's an energy hog, and it takes so long to dry anything.
Then, one day, he was thinking about ultrasonic humidifiers — a kind of portable room humidifier that uses high-frequency vibrations to turn water into steam without getting hot. And Momen thought: What if I use the same technology on a piece of wet fabric?
“The result was so amazing. It was like mind-blowing," he says. "In less than 14 seconds, I could dry a piece of fabric from completely being wet. If I wanted to do the same thing with heat, it’s taking somewhere between 20 to 40 minutes."
Momen’s current prototype looks nothing like a conventional dryer. It's basically a small circle of metal called a transducer that he plugs into a battery. He then douses a small piece of fabric in water and places it on top.
The fabric sizzles and steams, and in about 20 seconds, it's dry. Momen says it uses barely any energy.
"This dryer technology has the potential to save somewhere [around] 1 percent of the overall energy consumption of the United States," he says.
Venkat Venkatakrishnan, director of research and development at GE Appliances, calls the technology a "big breakthrough."
"It is not very far-fetched, not very difficult to do," he says. "But it is not an idea that everybody thinks of, because there is a lot of science that goes into it.”
GE has partnered with Oak Ridge to help put the ultrasonic dryer on the market. They still have to test this technology on bigger batches of clothes and build a more sophisticated prototype. But, he says, "I think we are about four years away from being able to buy this dryer at a Home Depot or at Lowe’s or any appliance retailer.”
He doesn't know how much they'll cost yet, and people might not run out to buy what could be an expensive purchase. Still, Venkatakrishnan thinks consumers will be willing to pay more to dry their clothes much faster — and, of course, save money on their electricity bill.


Read more: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/low-energy-solution-drying-clothes-faster#ixzz3hPpaobcz

 

[GLG]

http://www.sunmine.ca/

SunMine means bright future for sunny resort city Kimberley, BC



(KIMBERLEY, BC) The City of Kimberley is pleased to announce that SunMine is commercially operational. The 1.05 MW (megawatt) solar project is B.C.’s first grid-connected solar facility, as well as being Canada’s largest project to use solar trackers.

Production data since June 22nd confirms that the energy being generated by the SunMine is exceeding the modeled design potential.

According to Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick, “SunMine is a great example of the resiliency of our community. We are thriving and pursuing new and innovative directions. Although SunMine is the largest solar facility in BC, it is relatively small. As the SunMine proves its potential, the City of Kimberley is looking to expand it and have already had several inquiries from prospective partners.” SunMine is supplying enough electricity to the BC Hydro grid to power approximately 200 homes.

“SunMine is a symbol of Kimberley’s commitment to the environment. When Kimberley’s mineral resources were depleted, we took advantage of our solar potential and developed a new resource which is renewable,” said Scott Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Kimberley. Kimberley receives the most sunshine in B.C. (over 300 days per year), and the community-owned SunMine is well suited to capitalize on these clear and sunny conditions.

“Innovative, private clean energy projects have helped power B.C. since the 1980s and are a cornerstone of B.C.’s energy policy,” said Minister Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines. “The Sun Mine project has the potential to spur interest in development of other solar projects, bringing more jobs and economic benefits to communities across B.C.”

Teck provided use of the land and site infrastructure as well as a $2 million contribution towards the project. SunMine is located on Teck’s former Sullivan Mine site, which has been fully reclaimed.

“Participating in SunMine reflects both Teck’s commitment to supporting local communities, even after mining has ceased, and our focus on expanding the use of alternative energy,” said Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck. “We’re proud to be contributing to the long-term prosperity of Kimberley and commend the City for their entrepreneurial spirit.”

The City of Kimberley gratefully acknowledges the support of Columbia Basin Trust and the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust and the Province’s $1 million contribution through the Innovative Clean Energy Fund.

The SunMine project was conceived and supported by the Vancouver-based EcoSmart Foundation. “I’m extremely pleased that SunMine’s initial operation confirms the expected performance benefits of the project’s innovative design,” said EcoSmart CEO Michel de Spot. “Solar energy is one of the fastest growing industries in North America and its potential in BC is exceptional. EcoSmart is proud to have collaborated with Teck and Kimberley on this innovative project.”

Free public tours of SunMine are being offered several times per day from July 31st to August 5th. To sign up for tours, visit www.sunmine.ca or call the Kimberley Visitor Centre at 778-481-1891.