'It's a solar-powered apartment': Western University prof's book teaches DIY solar energy projects
Aren Page is living self sufficiently.
"My van is actually a complete integrated off-grid system," says Page, whose journey can be seen @ArenPage on Instagram.
"Essentially it's apartment on wheels and it's all solar. Everything comes from my solar array on the roof, three 100 watt solar panels and it powers my entire system. I water filtration, fans, LED lights, a fridge-freezer combo and outlets to plug in and charge."
As an engineer working remotely in California, Page was able to complete the van himself using the website Appropedia, and a do-it-yourself book called To Catch the Sun.
The book was co-authored by Western University Professor Joshua Pearce, who partnered with Lonny Grafman.
"It's a book that teaches people how to create solar photovoltaic systems for themselves," says Pearce, a professor at Ivey Business School and Western Engineering.Aren Page of California built a solar-powered van as a DIY project. (Source: Aren Page)Pearce says in a single afternoon, you could get enough knowledge to build your own starter solar system.
"If you've never worked with electricity before, maybe you want to start with something really small, like solar charging your iPhone," says Pearce, who estimates that can be done for under a couple-hundred dollars.
"After you kind of get an understanding of it then you can start doing bigger and bigger projects and eventually buildings, houses, farms."
Pearce says solar prices are coming down and this is the best time in decades to act.
"For example, a business may need 10 kilowatts," says Pearce. “The going price is around $3 per watt so that's a $30,000 investment. Many small businesses just don't have that kind of capital, so what the book shows you is how you can radically reduce that capital by installing the system in chunks, kind of as small little building blocks and doing a lot of the work yourself to eliminate more than half of the cost."
Using Kickstarter for this project, they managed to get 440 backers, which doubled their fundraising goal.
The $20,376 allowed them to offer a digital version for free on their website.
"You can have an unlimited resource at your fingertips," says Page. "So if you don't have much capital, you can get your start right there."
To Catch the Sun features design-and-builds for dozens of DIY photovoltaic systems, including:
- small home in a financially rich country
- few homes in a financially poor country
- school rooms and community spaces
- ‘zombie apocalypse’ survival tools
- laptop and cellphone chargers
- tiny home and van living
- glamping and backpacking equipment
- emergency supplies, like powering an oxygen machine during a power outage
- isolated loads, like electric gates, pumps, greenhouse fans, backup generators and telecommunications gear
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.