I love simple solutions and nothing seems simpler than Practical Solar’s Home Heating- Mirrors. The concept is so basic it makes me wonder why this is relatively new solar technology for homes.

Like the massive desert solar farms that use hundreds of mirrors to reflect light at a central pipe with liquid in it, home-heating mirrors simply reflect the sun’s light at your home to heat it.

All it takes is two such mirrors pointed at your home, ideally at a window, to generate as much warmth as a space heater.

Of course these mirrors would only be useful to in sunny yet cold climates but there are plenty of people who fit that bill. Speaking of bills, it’s a great way to keep those expensive summer bills down while also providing plenty of natural light. Who needs to flick the light switch when you’ve got concentrated solar energy illuminating your room?

What do you think, does Practical Solar have a good idea here? Let us know what you think in the comment section.

Airplanes contribute about 3% of global carbon emissions, and people traveling by air is actually increasing at about 5% a year, meaning numbers of air-passenger miles will more than triple by 2030. When you consider the amount of carbon being pumped into the atmosphere by these thousands of flights, it’s not just leaving a bigger carbon foot print when you travel regularly; it’s more like putting on a pair of boots made of carbon, and kicking the planet in the face. Repeatedly.

But some of us can’t imagine giving up traveling! If you’re like me and concerned about how your travels will affect the environment and local economies, there’s no better way to control the impacts of your trip than planning the trip with the environment in mind. Search a directory of global destinations at Planeta.com, or, if you already know where you want to go, find a hotel that meets the standards of the Green Hotels Association.

If you’re traveling by plane, car or bus you can lessen the blow by offsetting your travel emissions. Making a donation to renewable energy initiatives, you can counterbalance some of the effects of greenhouse gases that were released during your trip. Web sites like Climate Care have carbon calculators that will determine your atmospheric footprint and how you can offset it.

Hopefully airplanes and other vehicles will soon operate with greener, more eco-friendly sources of energy. A British study group, OMEGA (Opportunities for Meeting the Environmental Challenge of Growth in Aviation) is studying a number of technological and other factors, including airplane design, sustainable fuels and open rotor-propelled aircraft that reduce fuel burn, to assess how they could mitigate aircraft pollution.

Toyota is currently developing a car that will be powered solely by solar energy in an effort to turn around its struggling business with a totally sustainable energy car.

According to newspapers, it will be years before the planned vehicle will be available on the market. Toyota’s offices were closed Thursday and officials were not immediately available for comment. According to The Nikkei, Toyota is working on an electric vehicle that will get some of its power from solar cells equipped on the vehicle, and that can be recharged with electricity generated from solar panels on the roofs of homes. The automaker later hopes to design a model totally powered by solar cells on the vehicle, the newspaper said without citing sources. The planned solar car is part of efforts by Japan’s top automaker to grow during the global economic crisis.

Toyota is a world leader in green technology and their executives have said that they won’t cut back on environmental research despite current financial troubles.

Energizer has finally stepped up to the plate and started swinging for the green team. At January’s CES, they will debut their rechargeable solar charger. Eventhough rechargeable battery devices are not a priority on an energy consumption scale, every little bit helps. I assume their main selling point is not the fact that they will save energy rather that you can charge your batteries anywhere there is sun.

The solar battery recharger will power charge AA or AAA batteries, and has a USB port for charging cellphones, iPods and basically any USB powered device.

Source [GoodCleanTech.com]

The Voltaic Generator Laptop messenger style bag is the first solar bag actually powerful enough to charge a laptop, and it does it using the latest, state-of-the-art high efficiency solar cells. It includes a battery pack custom designed to efficiently store and convert the electricity generated. It will also charge cell phones and most other hand held electronics, making the ultimate accessory for the eco-minded. The solar panel generates up to 15 watts using 20% efficienct cells, enough to fully charge the Voltaic battery in about five hours. The solar panel is waterproof, scratch resistant, and UV resistant.

Do you want to reduce your electrical bill and protect yourself from future rate increases all while producing clean, free energy? Wouldn’t you like to become energy independent and be able to watch your hydro meter spin backwards knowing you are saving the environment? Of course you do!

What you need is your own solar electrical system. This 1.9kW grid-tie PV power system is designed for use with your home or small business. It consists of high quality Evergreen (PV) modules, a Fronius inverter, array wiring, DC and AC disconnects, UniRac mounting structures to secure modules on the roof, electrical drawings, data sheets, warranties and instructions.

Not only does this system pay for itself with electrical bill savings, but the system also qualifies for tax credits, state rebates and incentives. The average lifetime of one of these units is over 40 years, that is why GoGreenSolar, the company that sells them, covers the solar unit with a 25-year warranty.

Here is a list of everything that comes with the package:

Solar Camera Gear Bags give photographers an extra power source for long outdoor shoots . The large cavity solar bags can handle a digital SLR camera and three lenses with room for even more accessories. Many solar camera bags feature adjustable dividers and foam to customize the interior to fit your specific camera gear needs.

The top covers feature a light-weight, flexible solar charging module that can be utilized using your existing 12V auto adapter. You can charge your camera batteries or AA batteries using the proper charging unit made for particular digital camera.

Considering a solar hot water system for your home? You should! Solar hot water is a fast-growing renewable energy technology. The benefits of installing a solar water heating system in your home are vast. Supplemental water heating from the sun can provide 40-70% of your domestic hot water needs, and if you live in the south, you could save between 50% and 80% on your water heating bill by installing a solar water heating system.

A small investment of a few thousand dollars will last at least thirty years and can pay for itself with five years. To make it even more appealing, many state and local governments are offering rebates and tax incentives for people who choose to use solar water heaters in their homes. The benefits also show up as reduced dependence on oil and other fossil fuels and a much lower cost than traditional hot water heaters. A solar water heating system is not polluting the environment with fumes and exhaust from the burning of fuel.

Foldable solar panels are lightweight and portable options for charging batteries to power cell phones and lap top computers. The solar panels are generally less than 5 pounds and are less than 2 inches thick when folded. Companies like Global Solar make portable solar panels designed to charge and maintain your batteries and provide power for your portable electronics including cell phones, PDA devices, and MP3 players.

These kins of portable solar products are perfect for campers, hikers or anyone who spends lots of time outdoors. Thin-film photovoltaic technology is perfect for charging many consumer products, solar cell designs are a proven success currently being used in space, military equipment, and large grid systems.

Meraki, a California-based WiFi company, has just made wireless even more wireless. In December they will start offering solar powered router to their customers. The units will be expensive, $1,500 for a model that comes with its own solar panels).

Meraki is a truly international company. For instance, a tiny fishing village in Chile used one of their systems to provide otherwise unavailable internet access to over 1,000 people. This new solar model increases the potential to bring internet access to remote regions, as it eliminates the need for costly electric installations. Meraki’s networks are already being used in San Francisco, where large parts of the city are receiving free, public WiFi.