This lakeside retreat was put together with used shipping containers and timber from weapon boxes in the Maduru Oya area of Sri Lanka, according to Dezeen.  Located on an army training camp, this simple container solution was designed by Damith Premathilake and built by soldiers with materials found in the area.  It’s now become “the ideal destination for the traveler seeking a relaxing and rustic vacation.“  What do you think about it?

[+] Read about this Container Cabana by Damith Premathilake.

Credits: Logan MacDougall Pope Photography.

The BALVER ZINN Group, alloy provider, will highlight its solar applications in Hall4/Level2/A51a at the 25th EU PVSEC in Valencia, Spain from 6-9 September 2010.

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Join us for the last Family Day of 2010! Come fishing at Solar One!

Patrons of a new San Diego California gym called Greenasium have the chance to drop calories while producing energy to run the gym. The new gym opened this week and sports 3 specialized spinning bikes that are equipped to produce energy that is plugged into the nearest outlet.

Amendments to the photovoltaic feed-in tariffs of Germany’s Renewable Energies Act (EEG) were passed in early July, with a further adjustment to take effect October 1. The changes mark a further shift towards the rooftop segment by abandoning field installations on cropland and increasing the attractiveness of the own consumption bonus for small and medium-scale rooftop installations. This bonus is paid to rooftop installation owners of systems smaller than 500 kWp who intend to use the energy they generate.

Feed-in tariff rates were reduced by 13 percent for rooftop installations and eliminated for cropland field installations from July 1. At the same time, conversion areas saw a reduction of 8 percent and all other areas were decreased by 12 percent. Beginning October 1, these rates will be reduced by a further 3 percent. Still, the new tariffs remain highly attractive, with rates ranging from 25.02 - 34.05 EURc/kWh for installations connected before October 1 and 24.26 - 33.03 EURc/kWh for those connected during the remainder of the year.

The law, established ten years ago, requires power companies to buy renewable energy from system owners at the corresponding feed-in tariff rate for 20 years, guaranteeing an attractive payback time and high returns.

Increased Demand by Private Users

The two-tiered changes to the EEG are a reaction to the increased price competitiveness of photovoltaic systems, including the recent price drop for solar panels and components. These developments have created a number of new market opportunities for PV companies. Increased demand in the rooftop segment corresponds with installations by private users who overwhelmingly prefer high-quality systems. Changes are also leading to growing demand for energy storage systems and smart grid applications to fully profit from the own consumption bonus. By 2013 energy from PV sources is expected to be competitive with conventional energy sources in the electricity market for private consumers.

Manufacturers in Germany not only have easy access to a large and growing market, they also benefit from a competitive advantage through a local brand presence and reputation for high quality products. Germany boasts a well established industrial infrastructure, large equipment supplier base, and qualified and experienced workforce. The country’s PV industry also features the highest density of R&D institutes in the industry.

Germany Trade & Invest will have representatives at this year’s 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference & Exhibition in Feria Valencia - Level 2 - Hall 2 - Booth A17 to meet with companies interested in the world’s photovoltaic leader.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

While five locations have been identified, details of the submitted proposals will ultimately determine how many of the sites are selected to receive solar panels. If chosen, the non-profit entities and government-owned facilities will receive all the energy produced by their site’s solar system. APS will receive the renewable energy credits, which will go toward helping the company meet the requirements of the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Renewable Energy Standard.

Funding for the installations is expected from two sources. A majority will come from the Energy Office of the Arizona Department of Commerce’s Distributed Energy Leadership (Utilities) Program, which is funded with federal stimulus dollars (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The second funding source, pending ACC approval, is the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program.

As part of the development process, installers must meet all reporting requirements of the Arizona Department of Commerce and all requirements related to the accounting and disbursement of federal funds pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

RFP submissions are due by noon (AZ time), Monday, September 27, 2010. Additional information, including the locations for the projects, is available online at aps.com/rfp.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves more than 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the largest principal of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).

Hive Modular, a prefab company out of Minneapolis, recently completed this custom modular home on a sloping corner lot in St. Paul.  Sandwiched between mid-century modern neighbors, the 1,864 square foot prefab features contemporary oak finishes and landscaping from none other than Rosenlof/Lucas.  Check it out below from a few different perspectives. 

This is the X-Line 012 model with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Hive aims for airtight construction and uses 2×6 exterior wall framing, R19 insulation, and R44 engineered floor and roof trusses. 

The company also uses low-VOC and green materials while minimizing construction waste in controlled factory conditions. 

Hive Modular is one of a handful of businesses out there consistently building contemporary prefabs.  If you like this one, you’ll certainly like some of these others, including this B-Line Medium in Minneapolis, this X-Line in Vadnais Heights, and this B-Line Medium in St. Paul.

[+] Get more info on Green Homes from Hive Modular.

Credits: Hive Modular.

Double-printing is experiencing strong growth due to the potential for better print resolution and subsequent increases in efficiency. Ferro’s NS 33-514 and NS 33-515 are capable of printing grid lines that are 70-microns wide with a greater than 0.3 aspect ratio.

In double printing, the bottom layer silver can be tailored to have lower contact resistance and the top layer can be designed to have low bulk resistivity. The net effect is to improve electrical output, efficiency, and production, enabling solar energy to become a more cost-competitive energy generation alternative.

“Ferro has been engaged with double printing applications for more than five years,” said Todd Williams, business manager for Ferro Electronic Materials. “This technology is experiencing strong pull due to the improvements in electrical efficiency possible from the higher aspect ratios that can be produced.”

Fighting a war on the ground in Afghanistan has to be one of the hardest things a young person can do.

Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Defense, or DOD, is on the ground with our troops offering help and support – albeit in some very unexpected ways.

According to Tony Bui, an engineer with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC (located at Fort Monmouth, NJ), newly developed renewable energy devices will give U.S. troops more mobility, allow them to stay in the field longer, and protect the average soldier from exposure by ensuring that battery changes happen once in a blue moon. Literally.

The first is called REPPS (the Rucksack Enhanced Portable Power System). Made up of flexible solar photovoltaic (PV) panels rated at 62 watts, it represents a continuous, portable power generation system that can be used to keep laptops and similarly sized electronics running in the field.

Charging can be done in five or six hours. For larger items – that is, larger than a laptop and smaller than a Jeep – REPPS units can be chain-ganged to deliver even more electricity, thanks to integrated power conversion technologies.

Another system, called RENEWS (Reusing Existing Natural Wind and Solar system), marries solar and wind energy and integrates inverter technology to allow soldiers to connect to the device through AC/DC (alternating or direct current) outlets.

Because the device also incorporates battery storage of electricity, RENEWS needs the combined muscle of two soldiers to transport. Even so, it provides all the electricity needed to power communications and surveillance equipment, even in the boonies, where vehicle- and grid power often aren’t available.

Both are still in development, but thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; 2009), 700 REPPS and 125 RENEWS will soon be headed to the troops in Afghanistan.

As Fort Bliss Commanding General Howard B. Bromberg noted, “We are looking for game-changing technologies…”

Seattle allows backyard cottages — legally referred to as detached accessory dwelling units (DADU) — in certain single-family situations.  These structures aren’t without controversy but can helpful when taking on a renter or housing extra family.  BjarkoSerra Architects designed this DADU for a family in Beacon Hill, and it will be built in the next year or so to a Built Green 5-Star rating. 

As shown in the rendering above, Beacon Hill DADU will have abundant windows for natural lighting, SIPs for an airtight and energy-efficient envelope, and rainwater harvesting for garden irrigation and stormwater management. 

Clad in Western Red Cedar, the project will also have roof-mounted solar systems for hot water and electricity and will be built with recycled and otherwise green materials.  I’ll try to follow up with this DADU upon the completion of construction.  It will be beautiful. 

Credit: BjarkoSerra Architects.