Low Cost Renewable Energy Systems

Instructors: Peter Haas and Benny Lee

Email addresses: phaas@aidg.org, mrbennylee@yahoo.com

Course Description : Many people assume that renewable energy systems are out of their price range and technologically complex. That doesn't have to be the case. This new week-long course will present several low cost, low tech options for introducing renewable energy systems and ecological design strategies into your home. Class lectures will cover a variety of systems, including hydroelectricity, wind power, biodigesters, solar hot water, water filtration units, high efficiency stoves, and small-scale foundries. In addition, students will gain hands-on experience with three renewable energy systems: using ram pumps to move water, building a basic greenhouse for add-on passive solar home heating, and creating a biodiesel reactor to produce energy from waste vegetable oil for home heating and vehicle use. The instructors will also discuss the application of these technologies in a developing country context. All Levels.

Credits: 35 AIA Learning Units available

Course Objectives:

• Learn how, and construct ram pumps, site assessment for water pumping via ram pumps,
• Learn how, and construct a biodiesel reactor construction, making biodiesel
• Learn how, and construct a passive solar add-on home system
• Learn how low-cost wind, hydro, biogas, water filtration, high efficiency stoves, and small-scale foundries are built
• Have fun while working hard

Suggested Fun Reading Before Class:

Gaviotas, by Alan Weisman

Class readings, including design and build manuals, will be provided in class.

Things to Bring:

. Work gloves

. Notebook and pens/pencils

. Clothes to get dirty/stay warm in

. Eye protection

Rough Course Outline

Sunday

5PM: Orientation to Yestermorrow, dinner, and introductory slideshow

Monday

AM: Discussion on how ram pumps function, and how to conduct surveying/feasibility study for their use, begin to fabricate ram pumps in pairs.

PM: Continue in the construction of ram pumps, install and observe

EVE: Dinner and optional roundtable discussion of alternative energy

Tuesday

AM: Discussion on history and future of biofuels, advantages of various biodiesel reactor designs, begin constructing biodiesel reactor

PM: Continue Biodiesel Reactor Construction

EVE: Optional discussion of water filtration, water filtration units, high efficiency stoves, and small-scale foundries

Wednesday

AM: Biodiesel Reactor Construction

PM: Biodiesel Reactor Construction/make biodiesel

EVE: Optional lecture on low-cost solar hot water construction

Thursday

AM: Overview of add-on passive solar home heating, begin construction

PM add-on passive solar home heating

EVE: Free

Friday

AM Continue Solar construction

PM Finish solar construction

EVE Dinner and "graduation"

Schedule subject to change slightly due to inclement weather or the desires, requests or focus of the students.