Green Building Library
Green Power
Sun, Wind and Water Site Evaluation and Information Resources
Renewable Resource Data Center
Solar Path Chart
Solar resource calculation program
See Sandia National Labs PV and RE equipment supplier catalogs for design information.
Figure about 225 sq.ft. of panel area per KW.
Wind Resources
Wind Energy Resource Atlas
See RE equipment supplier catalogs for measurement instruments and generator curves.
Wind speeds measured on the ground can be multiplied by 1.5 for speed at tower height.
Micro Hydro
Stream flow measurement: Run water you plan to use through a piece of pipe large enough to be the penstock. Time how long it takes to fill a 5 gallon bucket. Divide time in seconds by 5 gallons = seconds per gallon (spg). Divide 60 by spg to get gallons per minute.
Approximate microhydro power equation: Power in watts = feet of head x flow in gallons per minute x 0.18 x turbine efficiency (varies from 0.25 to 0.50; use 0.30 for rough numbers).
See RE equipment supplier catalogs for survey forms and generator curves.
Further Information
Oregon Office of Energy
loans, tax credits, technology assistance
Toll-free: 800-221-8035
Christopher Dymond: 503-378-8325
Justin Klure: 503-373-1581
Home Power magazine
one of the best RE resources!
Aprovecho Research Center
appropriate technology, efficient cooking with wood and solar
Cottage Grove, OR, 541-942-8198
American Solar Energy Association
American Wind Energy Association
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
Renewable Energy Policy Project
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology www.crest.org
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
Northern Idaho retail sales
SolarElectric
retail sales
Redway, CA
Solar Design & Construction
retail sales
Corvallis, OR
800-267-8725
Eastern Oregon Solar Electric
retail sales
Prineville, OR
541-576-2478
Copyright Alan Van Zuuk
