Tag:Tips
Solar Roadways
Artist’s rendition of downtown Sandpoint, Idaho – Home of Solar Roadways Graphic design by Sam Cornett
I ran across this site for Solar Roadways the other day. This is a pretty cool concept if they can get it off the ground. The basic concept is to “pave” roads and sidewalks with durable solar panels. Not only would they generate electricity, theoretically paying for themselves, but also have benefits:
- Lighted Pavement Markings, which would be below the surface. They would never need to be “restriped” and would be visible at night.
- They would have internal heating elements to melt snow in the winter time.
- Power street lights, stop lights, etc.
- They could post emergency messages or warnings.
- Include sensors that could alert motorists to problems down the road.
It seems like there are lots of possibilities if this works out. It’s conceivable that every home could have a driveway from this material as supplemental power.
The company is generating funds from a Federal Highway Grant as well as crowdfunding. (Linked at their site.) Check them out. They have a lot of cool pictures… some conceptual and some actual prototypes.
Image Source: Solar Roadways
A Sense of Place
Becky often gives me grief about not turning things off when we’re out somewhere. When I walk through a parking lot I am looking at the lane layout, the slopes, the drainage structures and drainage patterns. When we’re sitting in a restaurant or someone’s home, I’m looking at the details of how the trim was completed, the lights that were used and the lighting patterns that were created. I can usually tell whether someone else was thinking of these things or whether they where haphazardly done. A lot of these things I file away for future reference and they will appear in some incarnation in a future project if it’s something I liked. I’ve always believed the adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…
Ground Water Monitoring Survey
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is conducting a Statewide Ground Water Monitoring Survey. Participation is free and if you are selected for the survey you will receive a copy of the report.
Most of the residences on Lake Maxinkuckee and throughout Marshall County are on wells. The age of the Lake Maxinkuckee wells may preclude their inclusion in the study, but it can’t hurt to ask. I’m sure there are conspiracy theories on why this might not be information you want to share, but in my estimation, most people don’t test their wells as often as they should. This is an opportunity to possibly have the test done for free. Don’t you want to know if there is something bad in your drinking water?
Here’s a link to the study site with a description of who would be eligible and an application for inclusion in the survey. The study is statewide, so it should give an interesting picture of our ground water resources. I signed up for my home which backs up to a golf course. I had the well tested when I moved in, but have only followed up on that once since that time. My bad! This is an opportunity to bring some tax dollars home!
Image Source: indiana.edu
Australia’s first carbon-positive prefab house produces more energy than it consumes
Check out the article and an extended photo gallery here.
Image Source: Inhabit.com
Did You Celebrate it?
Unfortunately I missed it! We did go see the Mad Ants (Win!) play yesterday in Fort Wayne and in honor of that, stopped for supper at Mad Anthony’s in Warsaw. It was late, so we just did some appetizers and tried a beer each. Everything we had was good and there were enough interesting things on the menu that we will probably be making a trip back there in the near future. I would recommend the Mad Ants and Mad Anthony’s, separately or in combination. Becky and I enjoyed both. Go Ants!
Image Source: @thefloridakeys via Twitter
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Ronald W Liechty - President, Garden Court, Inc.