ST - Solar Thermal - reflective mirrors and Trombe wall
EC - Evaporative Cooler
RC - Recycling (city)
CC - City Composting
2 Occupants
Homemade Olla watering system
Uses 3 flowerpots glued together with the hole plugged in the bottom and a saucer on top
burried to the rim of the top pot (left corner of the planter)
Experimenting with a bigger pot on top. Rims of pots were filed flat using sidewalk cement and glued with Guerrilla glue (regular - not fast drying seemed to work better). Bottom hole plugged with cement in the hole.
Olla videos:
http://drippingspringsollas.com/faqs/how-can-i-find-out-more-about-olla-irrigation/
http://www.pleonasm.net/largus/ollas1.jpg
http://youtu.be/s0BryMMFwME
2013 (newer) version of solar screens below
Changed to hanging or awning rather than tight against the windows
Solar screens used as sun carport and to shade windows and house wall
experimenting with removing solar screen from on window under the solar carport.
Note small windows to the left, in 2012 still have screens against window - went with awning approach in 2013 (see above)
- more light and better ventilation for windows that open
2012 (old approach) Solar Screen close to window and view from window (different window, but similar)
In 2013, moved away from windows. Now, in the summer, the sun is shielded from all house windows - makes a big difference in keeping the house cool. Will remove the awnings in September to allow more light and solar heat.
Solar screen moved to hang from roof eave and view from window
This "away from window" approach expanded for all windows in 2013
Now have a very loose twine on bottom corner to keep screen from flipping up on the roof, but still lets the screen move in the breeze which I like.
I'm working on an idea to have the back screens be more of a "sail" than just hanging from the rafters, which was still a big improvement over tight against the windows.
Solar Thermal - Trombe wall prototype using same screens that were used for cooling to provide heat in the winter
- so far 85 to 110 degrees on sunny days, working to get more air flow to lower temperature a little
Solar Thermal - reflective mirrors
lots of light, not as much heat as I would like coming through the windows - lots of heat outside against the house
Solar screen inside to block some sun and collect good heat heat coming from 24 - 2 ft x 4 ft mylar mirrors (the glass ones would break in the cold)
