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Enter Our August Green Giveaway – Win a Fabulous HYmini Deluxe

30 Jul

This month we are giving away a fabulous solar and wind power combination charging system which straps to your bicycle to provide totally green and portable power for recharging your gadgets on the move.
The HYmini Deluxe pack includes a wind-powered charger plus a mini Solar Panel attachment so you can catch some rays as well. Connect your iPod, cell phone or digital camera to the built-in USB port and begin charging ’till the cows come home.

HyMini Deluxe Giveaway

HyMini Deluxe Giveaway


The HYmini comes with a built-in Lithium-ion battery to store any electricity you generate. You can also charge it up via the 110v jack.
The HYmini deluxe includes a solar panel which connects to the turbine unit to provide additional charging.
The HYmini Deluxe Comes with a Solar Panel for Extra Charging!

The HYmini Deluxe Comes with a Solar Panel for Extra Charging!


Charge Your Gadgets with the HYmini Wind Turbine

Charge Your Gadgets with the HYmini Wind Turbine


We’re even going to throw in the HYmini bicycle clamp so you can charge up with wind-power while you’re on the move. With the clamp you can use your HYmini generator on your bicycle to produce pure, eco-friendly electricity for all your devices. The HYmini mount can be attached to anything tubular…so that includes bicycles, motorcycles, and even water-ski tow ropes if you really wanted to!
We're Throwing in a Bicycle Clamp Too!

We're Throwing in a Bicycle Clamp Too!


Entering the competition is easy, simply leave a comment against this post telling us why you would like to win the HYmini Deluxe solar and wind power charging system, leaving a comment against this post earns +1 point (comment must contain a valid email address);

You can earn bonus points in the following ways (Be sure to let us know which bonuses you use in your comment);

  • LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER: Just leave a comment against this post and you will be entered to win a HYmini Deluxe
  • RETWEET THIS CONTEST: Simply retweet our contest on Twitter be sure to let us know in your comment!
    = +1 point
  • SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the Our Everyday Earth Newsletter
    = +1 point
  • Enter your email address:

  • PRIZE: A HYmini Deluxe solar and wind power charger and the HYmini bicycle mount (Approximate value $75.00)
  • GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Tuesday, August 31st 2010 at 8pm CST
  • NUMBER OF WINNERS: One – picked at random using random.org
  • PRIZE SHIPS: USA or Canada
  • THE USUAL: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. In the event of a tie the winner(s) will be selected using random.org and announced on Wednesday 1st September 2010. Good luck!

More Competition Info…

You can read all of our competition policies here; COMPETITION POLICIES

Top Five Home Solar Installations

9 Apr

This month’s post is simply a wonderful collection of solar panel installations in everyday homes. Hopefully one day in the not too distant future we will all have wind and solar power in our homes.

Number 1: A Wonderful French Home with a Huge Solar Array;

images from http://www.flickr.com/photos/trebosc/

French Home Solar Install 1

French Home Solar Install 1

The Solar Panels Being Installed

The Solar Panels Being Installed

The Finished Installation

The Finished Installation

Number 2: A Small But Super Green Home in L.A.:

images from http://www.flickr.com/photos/clownfish/

Before the Solar Installation

Before the Solar Installation

Solar Install Completed - 100% Solar Energy!

Solar Install Completed - 100% Solar Energy!

Number 3: A Self Sufficient Log Cabin – Solar Powered:

images from http://www.flickr.com/photos/44244119@N08/

Log Cabin Solar Panels

Log Cabin Solar Panels

Log Cabin Solar Panels - Off The Grid

Log Cabin Solar Panels - Off The Grid

Number 4: A Green Wedge Potton House:

This wooden timber construction home by Potton is green through and through

images from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikehales/

Green Wedge Shaped Home with Solar Array

Green Wedge Shaped Home with Solar Array

The Green Stripe is Very Fitting!

The Green Stripe is Very Fitting!

The Home Has a Solar Well for Extra Light

The Home Has a Solar Well for Extra Light

Number 5: Suburban Home With Solar Panels Cut to Fit:

Proof that solar panels can be designed into any roof line….

images from http://www.flickr.com/photos/silas216/

Solar Panels Cut to Fit

Solar Panels Cut to Fit

We hope you were inspired by our list of home solar installations, we tried to include different examples from normal homes to the more modern super eco designs.

Let’s all go solar!

Portable Solar Charger Battery the Solio Classic-i

2 Jan

Our Christmas celebrations were very much green themed this year and I received numerous green gifts! One of my favorites is the Solio Classic-i solar charger battery which my wife bought me.

My Solio Classic-i Solar Charger Battery

My Solio Classic-i Solar Charger Battery

The Solio Classic-i has an internal Lithium Ion 1650 mAh battery which can hold a charge for up to 1 year. It has three solar panels which fold out into a three blade design.
(more…)

Capture Wind and Solar Power on Your Bike

21 Jul

My husband and I have taken quite a few bike rides in the fall and spring; cruising the many biking trails available in the area.  While riding we typically listen to our iPods, kind of a serenade along the trail.  Last time we were out, about 10 minutes into the ride, my iPod went dead. Don’t get me wrong it was still a great ride and the scenery was peaceful, but I missed the accompaniment of my music. When we got home I took a little time to search the Internet for an eco-friendly way to charge my iPod or iPhone while out enjoying nature.  I found what looks to be a great product;

hymini_green_windpower
(more…)

New Weekly Column on Proven Green Strategies

13 Jun

Hi, I’m  Jim, a new contributor to Our Everyday Earth.

Not a Harbor Seal!

This picture of me is included to show an unfortunately unforgettable example just how practical the strategies described in future posts to this column will be.  Real Problem ~ Solution stuff. “P ~ S”

In this case, the problem  was my fear of Sharks.  My job as chief hunter (Karen was chief gatherer) on our Sailing expedition forced me into the water almost daily.   My real instinct was to follow the plan endorsed by one of our cruising companions who claimed he had a deal with sharks, “If the sharks would agree to stay out of the Pubs he would promise to stay out of the water.”

Having seen many tearful interviews in which the victims, or their next of kin,  stated that the shark must have mistaken them, in their black wet suit, for a Harbor Seal or Walrus, I resolved to make sure that I did not – by proportion or color – resemble any standard selection on  “The Bull Shark Catch-of-the Day Menu.”

“P ~ S”.   “Problem ~ Solution”  Still alive and not so much as a close call.

In our sailing days we fitted out both of our boats with wind power and solar power and the deep cycle batteries to store all that we generated.  In future posts we will discuss those systems and power conservation strategies .  We even had a wind powered self-steering system to drive for us on long passages.

After our sailing days we moved to a totally undeveloped 10 acres situated 2 hours west of San Antonio Texas.  There we designed a super energy efficient  home, using passive solar principles and SIP Panels, that included a solar hot water outside shower, grey water system, tankless propane water heater, rain water capture system and a composting toilet.  We did all of the work ourselves.

Like on our boats, through research,  careful design and installation,  our homestead was very successful.  The climate in that area is desert-like. It gets over 100 degrees for days at a time and then down into the teens.  And yet, we never had an electrical bill over $100. and never felt like we were camping out.

Future posts will cover these green adventures and more.

See you then,

Jim


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