Grid Tied power loss issues solved by SMA

Did you know that if you are grid tied and the power goes out, you also won't have power?  Seems silly when you have your own solar array, but it's true.

Now, I was pretty sure I saw solutions for this before, that essentially switched you over, but maybe I was mistaken, or maybe they were just really expensive "work arounds".  Either way, SMA America has also solved this issue with their new product, the Sunny Boy TL-US inverter. 

This is exactly what I would like to have.  Some mortgages won't let you go off grid and though I don't know what my mortgage will ask, it's safer to just go grid tied.  I just didn't want this disadvantage to come with it!

Wind Tech moving forward

Wind technology is moving ahead!



http://www.treehugger.com/wind-technology/new-bladeless-wind-turbine-claimed-be-twice-efficient-conventional-designs.html

I've debated having it on the Earthship, but I'm not sure if we get enough wind to make it worth having solar + wind.   It may be something to consider later, especially since the tech is growing more efficient.

The Sun Saluter

The Sun Saluter

Eden Full, 21-year-old Princeton undergrad, is a Thiel Fellow and inventor of The SunSaluter, a solar panel that pivots to face the sun without requiring a motor.

From http://www.good.is/posts/21-yr-old-invented-a-solar-panel-that-pivots-to-face-the-sun-without-requiring-a-motor?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbwall&utm_campaign=wall