Green Oil Campus/Ecolounge: Solar Hot Air Workshop
The Ecolounge hosted another successful workshop, attended by over 40 folks, presented by Rebekah and Stephen Hren. Braving the cold of the unheated space, (how ironic) folks were impressed with the hands-on presentation by our areas’ two, green entrepreneurs, who just published their Carbon Free Home guide, which contains lots of great and easily implementable, energy saving ideas.
Many folks in the environmental community have been pushing solar hot water and PV units, however, solar hot air hands-down is more cost efficient and is an easier to install technology than anything else, except maybe CFLs and energy efficiency through insulation and home improvements. This is a particularly viable technology for those with some sun that hits their house in the winter and for low income families. Solar hotwater requires significant investments in pumps, plumbing and installation and is viable only for large users of water. Instant on technology used in Europe extensively is a better plan for smaller households. PV units are still expensive, but their prices are dropping and the ability to grid tie and receive energy credits through net metering are improving.
Folks gained insight into several styles of hot air systems and plans exist to conduct a demonstration build here at the Green Oil Campus, along with a solar hot water system to help heat waste veggie oil processing and our biodiesel production systems. Stay turned for more events of the Ecolounge, YIKES! and The Forest Foundation’s Green Oil Campus. Thanks goes to Sandy Smith-Nonini and her hard work in organizing the event while MK and Marc were away.