Alternative Energy

The scientist/experimenter inside me is always looking at new technology, especially technology that involves alternative energy sources. I’ve never considered myself a tree hugger, but I (like everyone else) love clean air and water. After several years of looking at real-time data and looking back at historical records, I really believe that man-made global warming is a political fabrication. I believe that changes on the Sun’s surface and Earth’s volcanic activity spewing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere have a greater effect on global temperatures than all of the SUVs put together. None-the-less I am a huge fan of Alternative Energy for replacing at least a portion of the fossil fuels that I use every day to reduce pollution and to reduce costs of energy. For many years I have been a fan of the back to the basics approach of Mother Earth News and an avid reader of Home Power Magazine. Some of the more practical and immediately available alternative energy technologies include solar, wind, biodiesel, and geothermal energy.

A couple of years ago I helped my oldest daughter with a 5th grade science project. What better way to pass on my love for science and alternative energy than to create a solar powered project. After looking around I found some ideas for a relatively easy to make Solar Hotdog Cooker. In making the cooker we used a variety of learning tools to complete the project including math which we used to plot out a parabolic curve to create the reflector that would suit our needs. We still have the cooker. It still works just fine and has never used any additional energy beyond what was needed to make the components and what we used to assemble it five years ago. Besides all that, I think that our Solar Hotdog Cooker makes some of the best tasting hotdogs and bratwursts that I have ever tasted.

I think that one of the most fun ways of using alternative energy is using wind power to push a boat. One of the most memorable and relaxing trips I have taken with my wife was a day cruise around Lake Norman on an old sailboat. There is something magical about hearing the wake sizzling behind a boat with no other noise around except for the creaks and splashing noises the boat makes while cutting across the water. I was content watching the world glide by while my wife dangled her toes in the water. One of the best tales I have heard about sailing involves a power boater yelling at a sailboat as he thundered past, “Get out of the way slow poke, it will take you all day to get where I am going! The screaming engines on the power boat drowned out the sailor’s response of, “I’m already where I want to be.” Well that brings up another topic, but I will leave building and sailing wooden boats for another post.

What is a Shadow Catcher? I'll let the cat out of the bag on May 1st 2010. In the mean time don't forget to take my poll on "What is a Shadow Catcher?".