Direct Solar Powered Fan Project HowTo: 10.02.2008
Description: A design idea I have been thinking about for awhile now, I wanted to cool my apartment when the sun was out, but not cool it when the sun was hidden.  A direct solar powered fan seemed like the perfect match, so here is the design for all to see.  
     
Carbon Savings: At 1.44 lbs of Carbon per kWhr (www.carma.com) and 19 lbs of carbon in each gallon of combusted gasoline (www.slate.com): 
  • 0.13 lbs of carbon curbed each day, assuming 15W output operating 6hrs a day.
  • 47.3 lbs of carbon curbed every year, operating 365 days a year.
  • $8.64 of savings per year, letting the fan run every day in a sunny climate.
  • 2.5 gallons of equivalent gasoline curbed every year.  Not much but a start!
  
     
 

System Diagram: