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THE SOLAR MINARET

gene's picture
2009/12/02 - 16:21 Wed — gene

a few tasty concepts that can be rolled into one:

DIY SOLAR PANELS MADE OUT OF BROKEN SOLAR CELLS

these things are amazing. after doing some quick research on ebay, i am pretty sure we will be able to produce 100 - 200 watts of power for under $100. compared to the alternatives (60 watt solar panels starting at $300, 50 - 400 watt (depending on windspeed) wind generators starting at $300). it's beautiful, the potential to turn nearly every flat surface into a solar panel is here now, using broken but still usable chunks of broken solar cells. every structure, could serve as a power plant. i've ordered a small bag of thirty 1 - 2 inch solar cell chunks off ebay for like eight bucks, so we can actually try this out soon. there will be pictures.

ALSO, in the wake of switzerland banning minarets from it's landscape, i have been reading about minarets. well, i'm exaggerating there, it makes it sound as if i've been doing actual research. i just mean i read the wikipedia article on minarets. it is a fascinating article, and i recommend it. but there was one particular line, which caught my attention:


fig 1, Mosque in Aswan,Egypt, with minarets.
 

"Minarets also function as air conditioning mechanisms: as the sun heats the dome, air is drawn in through open windows then up and out of the minaret, thereby providing natural ventilation.[citation needed]"

Now, despite that needing citation, and not being able to find any other mention anywhere else that this is actually true, it meets up pretty nicely with some of the other desert ventilation systems we've read about. Having tall, ornate towers rising high over our structures could be pretty neat. ESPECIALLY, if one were to combine both of the things i have written about so far in this blog entry, and what do you get? 

 

THE SOLAR MINARET


fig 2, THE SOLAR MINARET
 

THAT IS ALL.