Solar power question: What is the pricing of thin-film solar panels like per watt, compared to standard PV cells? I'm comparing 80W thin-film panels in the 6% efficiency range to 135W, 185W, 210W sized Kyocera panels. Also questions about sourcing from China and thin-film solar manufacturing. [more inside]
posted by thewalrus on Oct 5, 2009 - 3 answers

i'm fascinated with the solar chimney concept for electric power generation. i'd like to build a small, fabric-based model, see if it might be able to provide enough power to charge a couple of car batteries. does the mefi hivemind want to help me brainstorm? [more inside]
posted by kimyo on Sep 27, 2009 - 18 answers

How can we present instantaneous stats on our energy consumption and generation in a site with a windmill and possibly other forms of energy generation? [more inside]
posted by advicepig on Sep 18, 2009 - 3 answers

Best netbook/solar combo recommendations for keeping a journal while on safari? [more inside]
posted by The otter lady on Aug 6, 2009 - 8 answers

How can I estimate the time that a photo was taken? [more inside]
posted by zvs on Aug 5, 2009 - 11 answers

As we will probably end up buying a house in a sun-drenched corner of the San Francisco Bay Area, I'd like to learn more about solar panels. [more inside]
posted by the cake is a pie on Jul 5, 2009 - 6 answers

12v versus 240v set-up in a new off-grid (solar PV) residence. [more inside]
posted by wilful on May 27, 2009 - 11 answers

Is solar power feasible yet for a multi-unit dwelling? [more inside]
posted by mkultra on May 18, 2009 - 11 answers

Would orbiting solar power farms be remotely practical? [more inside]
posted by greytape on Apr 16, 2009 - 10 answers

This weekend, I saw a green renovation show that used a large amount of gravel in the basement to hold heat gathered from a solar-collecting area in the roof. My dad, a builder, says this method doesn't work well. Help me understand if someone has devised a "better mousetrap" or if this is just something that has never worked and is being done for greenwashing on TV... [more inside]
posted by bitter-girl.com on Apr 14, 2009 - 14 answers

Your experience and advice re installing solar arrays? [more inside]
posted by lemonade on Mar 30, 2009 - 5 answers

I am looking for research data on demographic trends of customers of companies that have opted to install solar energy systems on their buildings. My hypothesis is that companies who invest in solar will attract a more affluent customer to the desired call to action than companies in the same industry, all other things being equal. I am interested in any data pertaining to manufacturing, retail, medical, commercial office, etc. applications. Any ideas of where I can find any secondary research that has been done on solar (or renewable) energy demographics? Thank you!
posted by wts111 on Mar 1, 2009 - 1 answer

Where in China should I go to best experience the total solar eclipse this July? [more inside]
posted by the duck by the oboe on Feb 17, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm trying to remember the title of a space combat and exploration shareware game for the PC from the early 1990s. [more inside]
posted by greycap on Jan 12, 2009 - 6 answers

I heard about a company that installs solar panels and then they take part of the energy created as a source of paying for the panels and installation...does this sound right and does anyone know of such a company?
posted by matthelm on Jan 2, 2009 - 9 answers

I have some remote monitoring equipment out in the woods that runs on a single 12 volt deep cycle car battery. How do I keep my 12 volt battery charged using a solar panel? [more inside]
posted by jldindc on Dec 8, 2008 - 12 answers

What would it take of an alternative energy to make a serious impact in current global energy consumption? What cost/benefits would it need to demonstrate over and above existing sources? Who would need to seriously start using it? Anybody have some good sources of information or discussion on this topic?
posted by zaebiz on Oct 22, 2008 - 19 answers

Is now the time use solar power for my house? [more inside]
posted by atchafalaya on Sep 30, 2008 - 7 answers

In just a couple weeks I will fly to a remote area of Peru from Europe via the US. I'll be bringing some research equipment which including a mobile solar unit. That solar unit is powered by a lead acid battery like this one. [more inside]
posted by mateuslee on Sep 12, 2008 - 2 answers

Can I install/configure solar panels on my roof so that the energy produced goes directly to the electric company as a credit to my account? I'd like to install some panels, but I don't want to invest enough money to power my house exclusively with solor, and I don't want to store the power using the current batteries that are available. Thank you.
posted by GernBlandston on Aug 6, 2008 - 10 answers

I would like to know about the future of solar energy. [more inside]
posted by heylight on Jul 28, 2008 - 16 answers

Do you have this backpack? Have you taken it through the TSA? [more inside]
posted by aetg on Jun 26, 2008 - 5 answers

Solar hot water and central heating for dummies? I'm in the UK, our (gas, combi) boiler has been rubbish since we moved in, and given that we're now looking at a new boiler we're thinking of complementing it with some sort of solar panel based solution. What should we look out for? What do we need? Can we reuse our existing radiators? What questions should we ask installation companies? [more inside]
posted by handee on Jun 23, 2008 - 7 answers

Looking for installer recommendations of grid-connected solar photovoltaic panels in the Southern California Edison area. [more inside]
posted by jaimev on Feb 25, 2008 - 0 answers

Working on DIY solar charger from modified garden power lamps. Of course the panels look different than the ones in the pictures! [more inside]
posted by aetg on Feb 17, 2008 - 6 answers

I would like to power my laptop with the sun. [more inside]
posted by sonicbloom on Feb 10, 2008 - 19 answers

What domestic devices can be operated effectively on solar power these days? Know any interesting alternative uses? Wide open question.
posted by vizsla on Dec 28, 2007 - 11 answers

I wish to travel the world, learning about renewable energy. Discuss. [more inside]
posted by laughinglikemad on Dec 11, 2007 - 13 answers

Anyone know a simple and cheap solar panel setup to run a small boombox about 9-12V DC? [more inside]
posted by Bengston on Dec 4, 2007 - 3 answers

I'm going on a 10+ day bike ride and want to be able to use my fantastic Nokia 6110 (with built in GPS) and my ipod Nano as long as possible. I bought a cheap solar panel charger on ebay and have found that it's useless. What are the best solutions? So far under consideration are better solar, a spare battery for the phone and emergency chargers that can be recharged when I can get to mains power. The 'name brand' solar chargers around, the solio and the freeloader also have negative reviews. The Freeplay 12V looks cool, but has also got some pretty poor reviews (but at least it looks like it works). What would you recommend?
posted by sien on Nov 28, 2007 - 22 answers

Help point me towards the best laptop for taking into the backcountry... [more inside]
posted by wavejumper on Nov 13, 2007 - 2 answers

The oil we use today was made from a biomass from a certain era. When was it, and how long was that era? [more inside]
posted by sourwookie on Oct 27, 2007 - 7 answers

I would like to get a solar powered bird fountain for my backyard. I want to make sure that the fountain isn't constructed of a material that is going to be toxic to my cat if she drinks out of the fountain. She's an outdoor cat and loves to drink and play in running water. I suspect that she'll be drawn to the running water in the fountain and try to drink out of it. Does anyone know which solar powered bird fountains are made with materials that are safe for cats? [more inside]
posted by alleycatd on Aug 19, 2007 - 5 answers

I need to find software that will let me tweak the speed, hue, saturation, brightness, etc. of videos live -- and any other effects but those are the basics. Mac or PC. [more inside]
posted by jruckman on Aug 16, 2007 - 8 answers

Where can I find the most affordable solar panels to power my dorm room? [more inside]
posted by peetle on Jun 23, 2007 - 24 answers

Solar photovoltaic fabric. I'm trying to find or recall about a particular type of technology that I half-remember, as well as find out more about the current state of the art for flexible and/or fabric and/or imprinted solar panels. [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Jun 6, 2007 - 4 answers

I'm thinking to have it installed on all my windows? The salesman showed me the "solar screen". It looks just like the regular mesh screen, probably a bit thicker. Has anyone have the solar screen in your house? Does it make big difference in your house's temperature? Does your electric bill show a nice decrease? Thanks so much. [more inside]
posted by teapot on May 10, 2007 - 4 answers

Solar-powered and/or hydroponic apartment gardening: have you done it or something like it? Do you like or dislike any commercial solar kits or hydroponics kits, or suppliers of seeds & equipment for container gardening? [more inside]
posted by allterrainbrain on Jan 17, 2007 - 11 answers

Where can I buy a portable solar light that would be bright enough to light a room for a few hours? [more inside]
posted by birchhook on Nov 30, 2006 - 7 answers

Any ideas on the effects of a prolonged solar eclipse, say 10-30 years? [more inside]
posted by Sevenupcan on Oct 7, 2006 - 43 answers

Does anyone have any information about, or experience with, SEI's online PV courses? [more inside]
posted by bjork24 on Sep 17, 2006 - 1 answer

Are there any easy and inexpensive solar kits for your home? Someone preferably DIY installable. (in the 500-1k range?) [more inside]
posted by mphuie on Aug 28, 2006 - 4 answers

if heat and light can be turned into usable energy, why don't we launch some collectors to orbit the sun and gather truck loads of the stuff that is otherwise dumped into space, then beam it home via microwave? [more inside]
posted by Tryptophan-5ht on Aug 20, 2006 - 25 answers

If I wanted to learn all about the energy industy, what would be some good books and resources? [more inside]
posted by BigBrownBear on May 4, 2006 - 8 answers

What effect would a massive growth in renewable energy sources have on the environment? [more inside]
posted by ganseki on May 2, 2006 - 7 answers

I'm looking for an app that will calculate how much sun different parts of my yard get over the year. [more inside]
posted by obiwanwasabi on Apr 10, 2006 - 7 answers

Solar powering a linksys router? [more inside]
posted by ph00dz on Mar 12, 2006 - 22 answers

After seeing the recent movie Serenity, and having my intelligence insulted by how poorly thought out the universe is (it's all supposed to be taking place in one solar system, with hundreds of habitable worlds), I was wondering what the theoretical upper limit of possible habitable worlds in a single solar system is. Assume the normal Earth-like worlds, and moons of Jovians. [Slightly More Inside] [more inside]
posted by geekhorde on Oct 8, 2005 - 70 answers

Why hasn't solar energy been able to replace fossil fuels in Europe where gas is taxed so heavily? [more inside]
posted by MrMulan on Aug 31, 2005 - 33 answers

Alternative-energy junkies : help! Solar / kiln question... [more inside]
posted by Slothrop on Apr 29, 2005 - 13 answers