Educational ReVolt – Problem Solving Challenges for Kids
Consider the Source
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficient Photovoltaic Production
The Optical Cavity Furnace is a relatively new type of furnace that uses light and optics rather than other sources to create silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) cells. The new process uses only half the amount of energy to make conventional PVs. The recent innovation uses a series of lamps in a reflective chamber to create temperature … Read more
Making Things Glow
The lamps of yesteryear, incandescents, produce light when electricity heats a thin filament. This causes it to glow. The quality of light is pleasing to many. But the lamps only last about 1,500 hours at best. They’re also inefficient. Roughly 90 percent of the energy is emitted as heat rather than light. Full, partial, or … Read more
Build a Rocket Stove
Make the stove and the insulating bricks.
Having the Environmental Footprint of a Toddler’s Flip-flop
Deciding to live in a tiny house involves making some big lifestyle choices. You’ll need to be happy with minimal belongings — hoarders need not apply. But cozy quarters also offer huge advantages. Tiny houses are far more affordable than standard-size houses. Most owners of tiny homes live mortgage-free. The lower building costs allow many … Read more
Facts About Insulation and Mold
Understanding the Causes of Fungi Growth in Building Structures Mold – What is it? Where is it found? Why the Concern? Molds are microscopic fungi that live on organic matter. Most molds produce spores, which can be air-borne, water-borne, or insect-borne and are highly adapted to grow and rapidly reproduce under the right conditions. Mold … Read more
Lighting the Homes of the Poor
A social entrepreneur of the Philippines has come up with an ingenious solution for lighting problems in the low income areas. He uses plastic bottles to lighten up the dark homes of poor. The solution is green and cheap.
Recreating the American Home – The Passive House Approach
A small but informative book by author Mary James and titled “Recreating the American Home: The Passive House Approach” is replete with excellent photographs, floor plans and construction details to complement the well-written text. The book does a great job explaining the passive house approach to construction and describes each of the eight featured homes … Read more
New York to London via Bearing Straits?
A remnant of the Last Ice Age, the strait between Alaska and the Russian Far East is thought to have been a land-bridge for late Palaeolithic human trans-migrations, from the Old World to the New, perhaps dating to 85,000 years ago. (See AMERICAN INDIAN — An Overview on the Ascension University CMS) Over the past … Read more