PV Gap

Judith Said:

Walkway lights - LED but NOT SOLAR? Is there such thing?

We Answered:

Hi there-don't know where you live, but if the latitude is similar to mine at least half the year a working person never sees their landscape in daylight. Lighting is a powerful addition and well worth an investment. Low voltage is the only way to go...sorry. Anything else will become landscape trash.

A few years ago a new law came into being where landscapers, homeowners can not set up the transformers for low voltage. A licensed electrician must be employed. There was some loop hole that homeowners could install low voltage with a 'package lighting' deal...I'm not too clear on that but my advice and I am very, very serious is to hire a pro.

Lighting is powerful...done by an expert. A hard and fast rule in ANY lighting scheme is to not see any sources of light or bright blinding hot spots looking at a bulb causes. Money is wasted in purchasing fancy light fixtures. Read these words again! Money is wasted purchasing fancy light fixtures. You DON'T want to see light fixtures. Path lighting in particular...those flying saucers that light paths do nothing but get you to the house or car and are so much fun to knock over with mowing or maintenance or by a guest blinded by bright bulbs. The worst offender of all are 'security lights'...the bright lights blind homeowners, guests but a bad guy can stand just outside the swath of light and be perfectly invisible.

Here is the crux of professional lighting; One should not see the source of light but the object that has been lit. Spot lights in black, up-lighting a perfectly pruned multi-stemmed small tree is breath-taking. So too are lit boulders, grasses, sculptures. The object whether a tree, grasses, boulders, swath of gravel BECOME THE LIGHT FIXTURES....The landscape takes on a totally different manifestation. Curtains will remain open to be able to view the landscape...did I mention lighting waterfeatures???

Important to understand is 'ambient light'. That is the light that the tree, boulder, sculpture, shrubbery lit with low voltage spot lights SHEDS. In other words when you shine the spot light at a boulder alongside a path that boulder in turn sheds plenty of light with which to transverse safely a path.

If professionally installed, low-voltage lighting increases security by not blinding owners, thus not hiding bad guys/gals? Another security feature is CRUSHED ROCK or gravel...preferably 3/8 minus or crushed granite which is even finer. No one can sneak up or run away soundlessly!

Clients of mine that have tried a small set of low-voltage lighting (usually including a lifetime warranty transformer able to take on even more lights) ALWAYS have called back to ask for double or triple the lights.

Unfortunately, I've never seen an ad for lights that can do justice to the impact of low-voltage, professionally installed lights.

It may seem a bit expensive at first but I promise you you will be glad you spent the money...and I think your insurance insists on licensed electricians. If you ever get the chance to see a friend's landscape with professionally installed lights (the best are those with zero hot spots!) you will gladly increase your budget especially if you've had a landscape installed by professionals!

Solar, LED or Homeowner Building Material outlets just don't have enough power to provide a 'night' landscape. You won't get an accurate idea or even a semblance of the impact proper lighting can give...Professional lighting and a professional landscape have been found (Money Magazine) to increase the value of your home more than installing a new kitchen or an extra bathroom.

Constance Said:

Pool Solar Covers / Reels / and Hot Boxes???

We Answered:

My parents have a 24' above ground pool, I am the one who set it up and cared for it for about 4 years. The solar cover we had the same problem my mother had a hard time rolling it up it was heavy, just not for her. A couple of years ago we dragged home approx. 300 feet of black hose. we attached the hose as it came out of the filter and ran it up on the roof of the house, the other end of the hose went back into the retun line. we put valves on the hose to regulate the amout of water and to be able to turn it off at night when it was cool outside. This process works very well, this summer when we opened the pool the water was around 64 degrees the first day, within a week the water was around 90 degrees. The pump has been working fine and I believe it puts no extra stress on it. The pool is warm and it works very well. hope this helps, any other questions email me at jessejo69@yahoo.com

William Said:

Can any car become an electrictric/solar powered car by conversion?

We Answered:

The motor is replaced. Batteries and electronic controls are added. The batteries take up a lot of space, because the car was not designed for them

The process is very expensive, and the result not all that great as a car, for anything except carrying a few people short distances. You would do much better to buy a modern car that gets high gas mileage. Good for the planet, good for you. Someday you'll be able to buy a cheap and functional electric car, but we're not there yet.

Michelle Said:

most economical solar energy supply for a house.?

We Answered:

Here is a starting point for you!
Good luck

http://www.solarenergy.org/

Todd Said:

Solar energy for my house?

We Answered:

Here are some resources where you can learn more about solar energy. I've also included links to products that can be purchased online and four book titles that may help you. Good luck!

links to a variety of small-scale solar products.
Solar lights: http://www.kansaswindpower.net/lights,po…
Cell phone charger from Gaiam: http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/17-0…
Cell phone charger from Silicon Solar Inc: http://www.siliconsolar.com/Solar-Cell-P…
Solar battery chargers from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Powered-Batt…
Other solar products: http://store.sundancesolar.com/

A review for the solar lights available from Kansas Wind Power
http://www.smallist.com/2007/05/08/solar…

Learn more about solar energy:
This article, Home off the grid by Michael Burnham - 10.3.05, from Sustainable Industries discusses current and future uses of solar and wind energy: http://www.sustainableindustries.com/liv…

Solar Energy International - Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future: http://www.solarenergy.org/resources/ind…

Information Resources from the US Dept of Energy - Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/info_r…

Solar Energy Industries Association: http://www.seia.org/solartypes.php

For information regarding large-scale solar projects: The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency provides info on state, local, utility and federal incentives that promote energy and energy and efficiency. http://www.dsireusa.org/


Books you might find useful:
Designing a renewable energy home : choices for sustainable power including wind, solar, wood, photovoltaic (PV), biomass, hydrogen, home-sized power plants, woodgas, natural cooling & A/C, combined heat and power (CHP), fuel cells, thermophotovoltaic (TPV), alcohol/ethanol, electricity, batteries, automobile power, and much more. by Mel Moench
Publisher:Buffalo, Minn. : Osprey Press, ©2006.

Homeowners guide to energy independence : alternative power sources for the average American. by Christine Woodside
Publisher:Guilford, CT : Lyons Press, ©2006.

Power with nature : alternative energy solutions for homeowners. by Rex A Ewing
Publisher:Masonville, CO : PixyJack Press, ©2006.
Edition:Updated 2nd ed | 2 Editions

Energy, use less--save more : 100 energy-saving tips for the home. by Jon Clift; Amanda Cuthbert
Publisher:White River Junction, Vt. : Chelsea Green Pub. Co., [2007].