Home improvement projects using the solar power
Here's a list of home improvement projects that will let you make the most of this season in the sun.
WATER PURIFIER
Take a wooden enclosure and paint its exterior using black paint, the one that's used in barbecue pits. This promotes absorption. Now, install a reflective surface using aluminum foil at the back and side walls of the enclosure and glue some white foam insulation at the bottom. Put a tray of untreated water inside the enclosure and place a sheet of glass on top. Fit a catch trough at the bottom of the glass, tapering downward into the container, such that it collects the purified water. The mouth of the contraption needs to face the sun.
SOLAR SHOWER
Take an insulated camping shower bag; fill it about three quarters leaving the top clear. Suspend it from a fibre rod and leave it under direct sunlight for around an hour. Attach a thermometre to the bag and drag it indoors whenever it touches your desirable degree. It's also a great pool side bath idea that rations water and electricity intake.
OVEN AND GRILL
Open a big black umbrella with 16 ribs of 1.2cm each and glue reflective aluminum onto its inner side. Cut off the shaft and using tension chords, fit a small camera tripod in the centre. On this you could either glue a small barbecue grill or place a cooking pot. While the grill needs to be hightemperature resistant silicon, the por should be low, black in colour and approximately 20cm in diametre. Most lids available are glass, so it's advisable to use matte resistant spray paint and turn them black. Stand behind the cooker because this avoids making shadows on the reflector and turn the cooker at least twice an hour.
Take a wooden enclosure and paint its exterior using black paint, the one that's used in barbecue pits. This promotes absorption. Now, install a reflective surface using aluminum foil at the back and side walls of the enclosure and glue some white foam insulation at the bottom. Put a tray of untreated water inside the enclosure and place a sheet of glass on top. Fit a catch trough at the bottom of the glass, tapering downward into the container, such that it collects the purified water. The mouth of the contraption needs to face the sun.
Take an insulated camping shower bag; fill it about three quarters leaving the top clear. Suspend it from a fibre rod and leave it under direct sunlight for around an hour. Attach a thermometre to the bag and drag it indoors whenever it touches your desirable degree. It's also a great pool side bath idea that rations water and electricity intake.
Open a big black umbrella with 16 ribs of 1.2cm each and glue reflective aluminum onto its inner side. Cut off the shaft and using tension chords, fit a small camera tripod in the centre. On this you could either glue a small barbecue grill or place a cooking pot. While the grill needs to be hightemperature resistant silicon, the por should be low, black in colour and approximately 20cm in diametre. Most lids available are glass, so it's advisable to use matte resistant spray paint and turn them black. Stand behind the cooker because this avoids making shadows on the reflector and turn the cooker at least twice an hour.
