Back to Basics at Home with Sunlight

Long ago the word edutainment crept into our vocabulary.  This was a time when entertainment-centers were popular.  It was at a time when CD's first were announced and were an immediate success.   Next came the internet along with all of its e-possibilities and great expectations for learning and business. Phones, radio, TV, and stereos integrated with the internet and the e-lifestyle is continuing to progress with great new i-ware. I'm in the process of creating an edutainment center in my home-study with portable solar-power and "all-in-one" electronics.  

I am planning to build a "modern" greenhouse in my backyard and need to combine this with a "hybrid-modern" solar shed to generate electricity for revenue as well as generating the electricity for the edutainment center.  I am currently in the process of estimating how much home equity and revenue these structures will produce.  I know that the value/cost ratio of solar structures is pretty good.  Also, there are great incentives to rejuvenate with sunlight. Recently, I've produced "science project models" of solar systems to power a small scale edutainment center consisting of my graphing calculators and solar-electric kits.  I created a game controller for my TI-84 in 2007 as a science project design and have added a solar power supply to it in 2010.  Now, I've  become interested in extending these concepts to the backyard by combining the idea of classical gardening and modern gardening into this entertainment and educational center.

We tried to grow small apple trees in our garden years ago but they disappeared rapidly.  The modern genetically produced honey crisp apple is now available to the gardener.  I plan to start these seedling trees in the protection of the greenhouse and to eventually surround them in the adjacent garden with a solar powered electric fence.  So, truly, the idea of a "modern victory garden" combating the finacial woes that face us is truely within our reach. Combining the power of photosynthesis with the power of photovoltaics is a positive step for education and the environment.

Just imagine the possibility of lighting your gardens with free solar energy and powering your pond/waterfall as well as mowing your lawn and backyard putting green with a solar-powered robotic lawnmower while your read your e-books under a solar-powered beach or patio umbrella or take a solar shower.  All this is possible with todays technology and products.  And it's good for the environment! You could even park your solar-powered golf cart in or near your modern photovoltaic sun-roofed carport and use it as a wheelbarrow  for your modern backyard garden when not golfing.

Sunlight has been the basic power source since the beginning of time.  Only recently have we realized that it is an instant source of power that can transform our backyards into positive energy and cash flow enterprises. 

Solar Electric Systems

Imagine automating your garden-work and powering the equipment with free electricity from the sun.  Combine this automatic watering system  with a solar generators and imagine automating indoor and outdoor garden work with free electric power.  The link below shows an example of an automatic watering system.

Solar Systems

A solar panel dedicated to a certain function meets can serve as a system based on free energy.  Examples of these are solar spotlights, flashlights, and fountains.  Click on the item below to check out a solar fountain.

Solar Panels

A solar system can be defined as a dedicated or general purpose device that includes a solar panel,solar circuit, and an electric circuit.  It could be a dedicated device such as a calculator or radio, or a general charging device for modern battery powered electronics.  Solar apparel is beginning to include these systems.  Check out the product link below for some ideas.

Modern Solar Gardener

We now have new ways to measure environmental conditions in our backyards and our gardens.  The list of measurements includes sunlight as well as moisture and other growing conditions.  The sensor shown below can easily hook up to a netbook computer through  the USB connection and let one find good places to do photosynthesis and photovoltaics.  So get some ideas by clicking on this link.

Powering your Smart Phone with Sunlight

Sunlight is a natural resource available to anyone.  It is a form of electricity and both are forms of energy.  Devices are available now that can convert sunlight into electricity during the day, store it, and make it available for electronics.  They have connectors called tips that allow one to connect them to many different phones as well as other electric devices.

Learn, Commit, and Do an Outdoor Project

The internet is a great resource for doing problem-solving activities. So let's rejuvenate our dream of a better environment and "sharpen the saw" to do outdoor projects that will add to our prosperity and take us to a better future.
I focused on this vision last fall and committed to learning about an industry that can benefit the consumer and her/his environment. It is a "win/win" situation for the homeowner as well as builders and providers of this emerging technology.
I am now in the process of doing some weekend outdoor projects with the help of some friends and am becoming proactive in the areas of concern that can help to restore that dream of a better day

Think small with a Big Idea

A greenhouse is a form of a shed. It is an ideal structure for the backyard farmer. A portable and practical solar-powered office can be constructed with very little energy needs. Perhaps it is time to plant a modern victory garden to combat the energy, financial, and housing problems that face us today. This structure could also house your portable solar panels when impending storms are possible. Heating a small space, such as a shed or greenhouse during times of need, is very simple. Check out the device below by clicking on it for those times when you are stranded without heat.

As I was reading The Universal Traveler, the idea came to me that this is the time for the Electronic Cottage, predicted by a chapter of the same name in Alvin Toffler's The Third Wave. According to Toffler's book, copyrighted in 1980, there were three great social changes in history: farming society, industrial society, and electronic or information society. The third wave has an important similarity to the first, which is getting back to a lifestyle at home. Pop stars of the time had already alluded to getting back to the farm and saying "goodbye to the yellow brick road." Perhaps the time of the backyard farmer has arrived again with a little help from the instant physics provided by the devices that can harvest pure sunlight. One can even design and plan a "barn-like, 2-story shed" for his/her backyard. I am designing a modern one to take advantage of providing energy for an indoor and surrounding outdoor garden and pond.

Organizing Around Small Spaces ("A little bit of Everything is a Lot")

My library is currently spread throughout our home with books virtually everywhere. The e-reader is a device to convert the library into a space that can fit in ones hand. I am beginning this process. Modern electronics is providing the technology to do this. And more than this, these devices can be powered with free energy.

There are many good book genres centered around the concept of "everything." One of my favorites is "The Everything" series. One can search for almost any topic and the books can be found for a small price at the local outlet store. I am currently reading The Everything Organize your Home book that contains some interesting chapters. One is entitled "Organize your Office" and another "Organize the Outdoors." This chapter has a section on organizing a shed. I have decided to organize my shed around the concepts of portable(making the space a general one) and solar (free energy).

A new device is available for "Our Pad"(Solar Shed) that can include your library as well as a bookstore for ebooks. It also includes a brand new way to work with office software and it is an internet or idevice. So check out this great new invention and try searching for portable and solar on the link below. I am currently reading a book entitled The Ten Day MBA and hope to purchase it soon in electronic form.

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From Science Project to Business Project

A shed is an ideal place to have a workshop, why not a solar one? Charging alkaline batteries is possible with commercially available chargers. I developed a science project design around a smart solar system to charge a AA battery. The system would have the appropriate switches, micro-controller, and smart measuring system to do this. I could apply my portable office/study equipment to the task. Just as science projects were an academic need beginning in the 1950's brought on by events of the time, I believe the events of our time foster the need for business projects in the educational environment.

Utilizing a greenhouse as a solar shed and a solar system in the form of a briefcase, I plan to power a commercially available alkaline battery charger with free energy and provide this as a service to the community. The analogy is of a classical greenhouse using photosynthesis to harvest energy and sell plants and the modern photovoltaic driven greenhouse to house a system for harvesting and storing energy. The commercial recharging units are available from the oldest mail-order catalog shop (on ebates) as well as from a company called smarthomes on the internet.

I am currently exploring the benefits of combining the traditional solar shed with a modern green solar shed and will seek the help of expert planners for custom design. I am also exploring the benefits of operating my portable office in the task of what I call "The Business of Being A Student." I have written software for my TI-73 calculator to generate floor-plans. This is a very simple form of a smart drawing program to handle the interior designs for this protean money making structure.

Smart Home Link
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Money and Energy

An outdoor structure that can harvest and utilize energy is a good investment in time, money, and energy: all limited resources today.  Balancing energy flow and cash flow is certainly a strong possibility with these structures properly constructed.  The concept of equity with regard to a personal or business structure can be applied to the concept of a solar system employed with an outdoor project.  Home equity can be calculated in terms of (appraised value - amount owed on a mortgage or home equity line of credit.)  It has been said that solar structures can be worth more than one pays for them instantly.  We are in the process of studying this effect.

The fact that solar circuits can be used to generate electricity and power electric circuits as well as store electricity is a result of transistor technology just as the computer.  The cost of producing these solar cells and arrays has dropped from tens of thousands of dollars 30 years ago to a few dollars today.  The technology is advancing just as computer technology has advanced in the last few decades.  We are also doing a cash flow as well as energy flow study of the solar structure.

Solar Power   

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MyPad: A sunspot for Weekend Getaways

Years ago we had an planner design an addition to our home. It contained a sun room, playroom, music room, and dining room off of the side of our home. We have decided to reduce the plan to a sun room, attached to the house, but adjacent to the kitchen. Since it will be approachable from only the outside and it is in a sense to be a breakfast nook or outdoor kitchen but is really none of these, I called it "MyPad", a place for a weekend retreat and weekend projects. The connecting link between the house and this room is a garden window, a classical solar component, that we are converting into a modern one with to days' technology.

We plan to customize a small room plan and convert the porch into a sun-porch, that is, include solar arrays or shingles on the porch roof. The plan will include appliance shelves and provisions for a walk in pantry. All small appliances are to be energy efficient. A closet is included in this suite to allow the room to even be converted into a gym with portable equipment easily stored. Click on the picture below to find some convertible furniture.

The inside of this space is to be convertible. A key component will be a console/card/dining table to so that the area can serve as a work and play room. Portable electronics will allow the area to serve as a study, office, or studio, and more. A great new device has appeared that is perfect for a kitchen. With all-in-one electronic devices and energy efficient appliances, this room is planned to be a self-sufficient in terms of utilities.

Check out this shopping portal to fill your favorite room with great equipment. Please use our email(ekit101@gmail.com) if you choose to join and consider this to be friendly advice. Here is the signup link.