The amount of sunlight reaching a horizontal surface at Earth’s surface is called insolation, measured in units of watts per square meter (W/m2). Insolation (power), or insolation accumulated over some amount of time (energy), is affected by several factors, including time of day, time of year, latitude, cloud cover, moisture in the air, and air quality.
Photo-voltaic solar panels (PV) are rated at 1000 W/m2. If 1000 W/m2 hits a 200 watt panel, then it produces 200 watts. If the 200 watt panel receives 1000 W/m2 for 4 hours, then it produces 800 watt hours. This would usually be around the 10am to 2pm time frame. Other hours of the day, the panel receives sunlight at lower intensities, so you may pick up another 100 watt hours over the rest of the day.
The closer to the equator you are, the higher the intensity, the further you are from the equator, the lower the intensity. Close to the equator, it’s common to see insolation values higher than 1000 W/m2, and far from the equator, it’s common to see values much less than 1000 W/m2.
A device for determining insolation values for your location, both instantaneous, and with logging, daily averages, is called a Pyranometer. The following website gives a parts list and instructions (and provides a optional kit) for building and using a Pyranometer. This will help you determine how much output your panels will generate at your location.
It’s summer time in the north country. That means skeeters the size of hummingbirds (well, almost), horse flies, black flies, and gnats. Hard to enjoy a BBQ or campfire without heavy layers of clothes, or plastering yourself with all kinds of nasty cancer causing chemicals, right? Not any more! Our favorite organic soap company, Vermont Soap Organics, has come to the rescue with “Insect Armor”, a “herbal suit of armor to help protect you from flying insects and ticks”.
From their website:
Just in time for summer activities, we are introducing our newest product – Insect Armor. Spend time enjoying yourself outside, instead of battling bugs!
100% Natural Insect Armor is like an herbal suit of armor to help protect you from flying insects and ticks. Safe and nontoxic for humans and pets of all ages, and made with organic oils.
Insect Armor does not contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), or any other petroleum derived chemicals, pesticides or neurotoxins. Instead, we use essential oils and botanicals that have proven bug repellent properties!
Use liberally on clothing to create a protective barrier against biting insects. Close eyes and spray above your head. Apply to lower body. Renew as needed.
Ingredients: Insect Armor Natural Essential Oil Blend (contains Lemon Eucalyptus and other natural essential oils), Castile Liquid Soap made with Organic Oils and Rosemary Extract Preservative (approved for use with organic products)
How does “socializing” (I think Maxine meant nationalizing) oil companies, i.e. government takeover, reduce oil prices, as compared to increasing supplies? Consider Chavez and Argentina as an example!
We were saddened to learn today that John Shuttleworth — who co-founded Mother Earth News with his first wife Jane — passed away in late March. He was 71 and died of natural causes at his Evergreen, Colo., home.
In our quest to conserve resources, and reduce expenses, we decided to capture rainwater, and install a composting toilet. The rain gutters direct roof water to a 1000 gallon concrete cistern. The cistern is connected to the house water system with a 12v piston pump. The piston pump has two sets of valves, so I can select the cistern, or the shallow well. The well goes dry in the hottest parts of summer. In order to reduce water usage, we installed a Sears front loader washer, and a waterless composting toilet by Nature’s Head. This reduced our water usage by 50%. In winter, when the rain water system freezes up, we switch back to the well, but we miss the soft water. A larger tank would allow us to use rain water all winter. The water is purified with our Berkey water purifier for drinking and cooking, eliminating the need for bottled water.
Our friend Jim Farley sent us a newsletter put out by their preparedness co-op. We though you might find it interesting to see what other groups are doing. I have included an excerpt, and contact information for the group:
I was glad to see Dancing Bear express his fun in doing these things which is our whole intent of the Bitterroot SOS Co-op as I’ve said from the git-go. In expressing this to the group last night, I said people pretty much do all they do in life, either out of fear or fun. People are seeing we are all having these meetings out of fun, not fear. It is fun to create all the many self-reliance tools, systems and products, not because of fear of the boogy man, but the sheer enjoyment of doing things for ourselves. It is a true warm, fuzzy feeling of knowing you can do so much to free yourself of total life sustainment from outside sources. I’ve never seen anybody that was not happier with themselves when they learned and built something that helped them to become a more self-reliant person.
Prepared people have more fun in life. Even if no catastrophic event ever happens, we will all still get to enjoy the fruits of our labors in this effort, become far more independent and save a lot of money in the normal costs of living in producing/generating much of our own food, energy, shelter and all of those activities of the 7 task forces.
Want to be able to produce your own power for very little money? David Butcher has videos showing how he can power a washing machine, a bread maker, and more with the power of the human body. For less than $250, you can run lights, a tv, radio, and more (but not all at once maybe), and get your exercise at the same time. Stay healthy, and save money. What a deal!
We have discussed turning off appliances and phantom loads as a way to cut the electrical consumption of your home, but what about your office? Are there other considerations besides the electric bill? This video quantifies one of those considerations, CO2.
Professionally, I'm an IT Engineer (Executive Level) and Electronics Tech. Philosophically, I'm a Green Conservative, leaning towards Libertarian, and may have been a hippie in the 60's if I had been old enough. I live off grid, with Solar (PV), Wind, veggie oil fueled diesel generator power, veggie Chevy Suburban and have been teaching and living sustainable technology for over 10 years.
Brian Whitney Inc., presents HealthyNaturalClean.Com, a website devoted to information and products about anti-microbial and environmentally friendly cleaning products to fight MRSA, VRE, Swine Flu, Meningitis, and more. There are also products for water purification (Berkey) and self sufficiency Composting Toilets, Solar and more) in times of pandemic or other disasters.
Green-Trust is going to Mexico on a missions trip. We will helping local missionaries with renewable energy and sustainability projects. You can support this endeavor by donating at The Village Global. Please specify "Fitzpatrick Technical Services Fund" in the comments area. Funds will be used to purchase materials for projects, and for travel and living expenses.
It’s summer time in the north country. That means skeeters the size of hummingbirds (well, almost), horse flies, black flies, and gnats. Hard to enjoy a BBQ or campfire without heavy layers of clothes, or plastering yourself with all kinds of nasty cancer causing chemicals, right? Not any more! Our favorite organic soap company, 
We were saddened to learn today that John Shuttleworth — who co-founded Mother Earth News with his first wife Jane — passed away in late March. He was 71 and died of natural causes at his Evergreen, Colo., home.
Professionally, I'm an IT Engineer (Executive Level) and Electronics Tech. Philosophically, I'm a Green Conservative, leaning towards Libertarian, and may have been a hippie in the 60's if I had been old enough. I live off grid, with Solar (PV), Wind, veggie oil fueled diesel generator power, veggie Chevy Suburban and have been teaching and living sustainable technology for over 10 years.
