Make A Cheap & Easy Solar USB Charger With An Altoids Tin Photos by Joshua Zimmerman The craftster behind the very popular $3 solar-powered emergency radio is back with a new awesome project: a cheap solar battery charger with a USB plug. Zimmerman wrote, saying that he saw a lot of small solar powered chargers being talked about over Earth Day, but there was a big problem: "They're all quite nice, but also quite expensive. I don't think I've seen any for less than $60, and I've not seen one that really suits my style." So, he came up with his own, using one of our favorite reusable items -- the ever wonderful Altoids tin. In looking for the cheapest way to accomplish the task, Zimmerman found that he could build a USB solar charger for under $30 (or $10 if be buys parts in bulk, though it's not likely you'll be buying bulk solar cells and DC-to-USB converter circuits). Zimmerman states, "The central brain of our project is a DC to USB converter circuit.
A Practical Zeer Pot (evaporative cooler / non-electrical refrigerator) A zeer pot is an evaporative cooler used in rural Africa and the Middle East to keep vegetables fresh. They consist of two terra cotta pots, one nested inside the other, with the gap between them filled with wet sand. The sand serves as a thermal mass that helps keep the pot cold once it has cooled down, and acts as a wick to spread the moisture up the walls of the pot. Unless the air is very dry and the pot is exposed to a constant breeze, they generally do not become as cold as a refrigerator, but they will keep vegetables fresh for a couple of weeks. Think of it as an open-cycle refrigerator. Zeer pots were re-discovered and popularized in the early 2000s by the Nigerian teacher Mohammed Bah Abba. In the under-developed parts of Africa and the Middle East, zeer pots use custom made pots prepared by local potters. What makes this zeer pot practical? There are other zeer pot instructables out there, but this one is optimized for practicality. Parts list with prices
Wine Bottle Design | Recycled Wine Bottle Torch | Package Design Firm | Sustainable Packaging 08.09.09 | by Erik Anderson Whether it’s product branding, package design or projects for ourselves, we’re pleased when we find a solution that’s very effective and creative, while keeping resources to a minimum. This idea is very inexpensive idea and it’s a great way to recycle a wine bottle. See how this simple idea inspired this brand and wine bottle design. It’s been a record year for mosquitoes here in Indianapolis, Indiana and I’d been wanting to add some Tiki-esque torches to the patio to combat the little buggers, and add a little ambiance. Here’s what you’ll need. Empty Wine Bottle (Use any bottle as long as it’s glass and the neck is 1” in diameter. Helpful Tools: Channellocks, adjustable wrench, hacksaw, power screwdriver, and a funnel. Safety Note: This is for outdoor use only. Building Instructions The Hanger Decide where you want to mount your Recycled Bottle Torch. The Bottle Carefully and tightly wrap the 1/2-inch end of the Coupling with your Teflon Tape. Good Luck! -Erik
About - Emily Cummins When I was four, my Grandad gave me a hammer and began to teach me how to make toys from scraps of materials found in his garden shed. I loved the fact that we could make something out of seemingly random bits, and my interest in sustainable design was born. As I got older I learnt about the properties of different materials and became more experienced in using a range of tools. Now I'm 27 and my latest innovation is a sustainable fridge which is 'powered' by dirty water but keeps medicines or small food items clean, dry and cool. I refined my fridge during a gap year in Namibia and then decided to give away the design plans in townships across southern Africa because I wanted to enable as many people as possible to build their own fridges. My design philosophy involves a back-to-basics approach which keeps an eye on the past as well as the future and combines the best of both.
50 Things You Should Stop Buying & Start Making Promoted Content From The Web:Promoted Content From The Web:Promoted Content From The Web:Promoted Content From The Web:Promoted Content From The Web: You might be realizing that most of the products out there that aren’t made organically or naturally contain a lot of toxic chemicals. Not only that, many of these products can be harmful to our environment in a number of ways. Making things yourself not only saves you money and helps the environment, but it lets you know where your products are coming from and exactly what’s in it. You can make anything from food items to personal care and cleaning products all in very simple ways. Remember: whenever you can, use organic foods and ingredients in recipes. 50 Things You Can Start Making Homemade Ketchup – This ketchup won’t break the bank, tastes better than the real deal and contains no added sugar – so it’s nutritionally good for the whole family. Peanut Butter – It is so simple to make this pantry staple it would be silly to buy it. Share:
Ball Jar Lights I’ve been wanting to do this for a year. It’s one of those things I’ve just been putting off. I love ball canning jars, especially the blue ones. So I took the hammer and busted up the seal to get it out. Once the seal was out, I marked the center of the lid. And used the drill bit and a hammer to poke a hole where the mark was. Then we started drilling. It only took a few seconds since the lid is so thin. I bought 2 recessed light converters years ago from Lowe’s (I think). This is what the shade originally looked like. I thought these little round bulbs would look the best with the ball jar lights. Then I just screwed the jar onto the lid. I love how it looks. I made one for over the sink too. I know these have been done all over the place, but it’s something I’ve been wanting to do forever and I’m glad I finally did. And a side note: I’ve always wondered how high lights should be hung over an island. Oh, and Mom, it only took me a year, but I finally made them.
BRICOLAGES SOLAIRES (et autres...) - Le monde de Brazihou Four solaire et parabole solaire : Fabriquer une parabole solaire à partir d'une antenne parabolique de récup. Impressionnant. Un cuiseur solaire ultra-simple : Fabriquer un four solaire en carton : Un autre modèle de barbecue solaire bricolé : Construction d'un four solaire Le four solaire à entonnoir L'auteur prétend que ce modèle a le meilleur rapport rendement / sécurité. Il explique aussi comment s'en servir de FRIGO (voire même fabriquer des glaçons) pendant la nuit. Un four solaire à entonnoir gros modèle (1400 W, 200 °C) Four solaire grand luxe. Construire des fours solaires (fiches techniques de nombreux modèles) Site sur les cuiseurs solaires Barbecue solaire de camping transportable : Le cuiseur thermos (ou marmite norvégienne) : On peut tout bêtement utiliser une glacière... Le cuiseur à bois économe : utilisez 10 fois moins de bois pour cuire au feu de bois Explications en photos sur le cuiseur à bois économe (document PDF) Séchoir solaire Séchoir solaire Construction d'un séchoir solaire
The Quest for Sustainable Living Climate-Friendly Sunken Pool Converts into Radiant Floor Here’s a truly glamorous idea for a pool. A sinking pool! The apparently permanent stone floor in this room literally slowly drops to reveal the pool underneath. In the raised position, you can walk on the same surface radiantly warmed from beneath. And of course, having the swimming pool convert itself into a floor makes it child-friendly too: this is not a pool that a child can fall into. Once it is sunken it looks like any other indoor pool – as permanent as you could possibly want. You could design this so that it remains as just a shallow decorative pool when not in use, one that is only an inch or two deep. But the best thing about this idea is that it would also make keeping the pool warm a cinch. Radiant floors or the use of thermal mass is climate-friendly design because of the slow release of warmth – reducing energy needs for heating. The super-rich with luxury housing do the most harm to the planet with their luxury high energy use architecture.
Chauffage Solaire de Fresnel Lundi, 31 Octobre 2011 01:00 Domotics Connaissez-vous la lentille de Fresnel ? C'est une lentille inventée par Augustin Fresnel pour équiper le système optique des phares de signalisation marine. Sa conception lui permet d'obtenir une courte distance focale pour un large diamètre, sans le poids et le volume nécessaire à une lentille standard. On trouve aussi cette lentille dans les retro-projecteurs, les autobus (pour voir le bas), dans les détecteurs de mouvement à infrarouge, etc. Cette lentille est aussi utilisée dans le domaine du Solaire. Pour chauffer une maison avec de l'énergie renouvelable, il y a des solutions grands publics (chaudière à condensation, géothermie, etc) mais il y a aussi des solutions moins connues comme le puits canadien ou les chauffages Solaire de Fresnel. Je vous ai déjà parlé des puits canadiens dans une actualité précédente. Il s'agit de construire un panneau qui va conduire l'air ou l'eau. Ensuite, il faut réaliser les premiers essais :
How to Build a Top Bar Beehive - Part 1 with Design Plans - Art and Home by Jon PetersArt and Home by Jon Peters Here’s a how to video on building a new top bar beehive using thermally treated poplar. You can also print the complete design plans, and parts list which is posted below to build your own hive. The 2 new top bar hives, side by side How the bars fit in the body of the hive Attaching the sides to the hive JON PETERS ART & HOME – helpful links: Facebook Youtube Instagram Ebay Store How to Make a Cushion for a Bench without Sewing a Stitch Phewwwwww… is how I feel right now. The holidays came and went like a flash. I enjoyed them, but I can’t believe we are on the other side already. All that prep and then bam – all over. Life for me is back to normal – except for taking all the boxed up Christmas decorations back up to the attic. I love the mirror I added above my piano, but when I took the candles and glittery branches away it looked like it needed something in the way of a color pop. Houzz Now I am not big on following too many trends. Piano Bench – Before Too much brown. As I am wring this, I am watching one of my favorite old movies – Lover Come Back with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. I am going to add… just a touch… of Tangerine Tango to this corner of my family room. After How To Make a No Sew Fabric Covered Cushion Cover for a Bench 1. 2. Foam can be costly. Flip it all over and start stapling the fabric to the lid using a staple gun. First the white lining. Cut the corners as shown. Then staple the fabric on. All done.