Cheap DIY Solar Collectors Made From Recycled Soda and Beer Cans

[Nathanael]

Big businesses aren't the only entities spending resources developing new solar technology. Check out this story on the innovative creation of Do-It-Yourself solar collectors:



How would you like to have a lifetime supply of free heat? Imagine reducing your annual heating costs by using empty beer and pop cans!

Two resourceful people, Ward Miner and 10-year-old Rashel Cortez, have designed and built inexpensive solar collectors made out of recycled aluminum cans. Solar collectors absorb the sun’s radiation and generate heat. Solar panels, on the other hand, convert the suns energy into electricity.

Ward Miner, a 61-year-old man from East Peoria, Illinois has plenty of time on his hands these days. Currently on disability after several strokes and open heart surgery, Miner loves to tinker. So, Miner put his tinkering skills to use and designed and built two solar collectors for his home out of recycled materials.

Link: http://www.energyboom.com/solar/cheap-diy-solar-collectors-made-recycled-soda-and-beer-cans

[snappyturtle]

1. Thanks for posting. I just looked at the link. Nice to see good ol'

American ingenuity at its best!

[phantom power]

2. People were building those things when *I* was in grade school.

It's industrious of them, but I would quibble with the word 'innovative'

[Ozymanithrax]

3. A Red Neck Solar heater...I'm going to build myself one of these...

[Ozymanithrax]

4. In boyscouts we made solar ovens, using large metal cans

with refletive surfaces. Open it up, put you food in in in the bright sun, and it would cook biscuits and other things. Takes me back.

[prairierose]

5. There are several good instructional videos ...

for making these on youtube.

[ixion]

6. k/r...

awesome!! :woohoo:

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Thank you very much, i am sharing this with a friend who I believe will be able to do this for me.

[Nathanael]

8. Cool

I would love to hear how it turns out, as well as hear about the energy savings you receive.

[Fledermaus]

9. Very Good!

This is excellent. Any body could make one of these.

I would make one for my home but I already use cheeper solar attic heat to warm my house. We don't get much snow in San Antonio. My roof makes a good solar collector. Not as efficient but much much bigger. The size of the whole roof makes up for the lack of efficiency.