Understanding And Calculating Wind Loads

 Since we've been exploring ground screws and other solutions for ground mounted solar, next natural path of curiosity has led to trying to determine some rules of thumb for actual construction. The biggest issue any pergola or carport style integrated solar pv system would have to consider is wind loads. In a world with increasingly erratic climate and which includes more powerful hurricanes overbuilding to 150 mile an hour winds isn't a terrible idea. To put it simply, you don't want your solar panels flying off in the wind.

We're not going to get in to the specifics of how to calculate wind loads, but below, for anyone who might be interested are a couple of links to fairly detailed explanations and learning materials. 

Woodworks.org - Designing Wood Frame Structures For High Wind

FloridaBuilding.org - Wind Load Calculations Florida Building Code 2005

Photo Credit US National Archives

Solutions For Ground Mount Solar Installations

 A few days ago we started a list for solar ground screws both installers and manufacturers. While screws are probably our top choice for easy of installation, time and cost, they are hardly the only option available. A couple months ago Solar Power World wrote up a nice article that briefly described the general options available for ground mount installations, I Beam, ballast, concrete piers, helical anchors and ground screws. Want a quick read on all their differences, follow this link to the original story, There Are Solar Ground-Mount Solutions For Any Type Of Soil. 

Photo Credit Wikipedia

Ground Screws For Solar PV

 Ground screws, most commonly used in ground mount solar installations, although the old fashioned concrete sonotube seems to refuse to die. For the most part seems as if all of these ground screw systems are more or less the same, large drill of some sort drives screw in to ground, maybe four or five feet and then racking system is attached, easy. These are also used for more typical construction projects, pergolas, decks and even foundations for sheds or garages. Not sure if I would use them on a whole house though, still like the idea of having a basement. Below we’ve started to compile a list of different manufacturers and possibly installers for our own record.

Bayo-s The Ground Screw

Stop Digging Ground Screw

First Base Ground Screw

American Ground Screw

Goliath Tech

Just a few, more to come when and if we find them.

Image from Screw Piles LTD UK

Rising Seas And Climate Change Seven Public Art Installations

 The original article was first posted all the way back in 2017, but recently had an update, so worth revisiting. Seven art projects, or installations that are calling attention to climate change and rising seas. With each passing year, art is becoming more of a tool to help raise awareness for our deteriorating environment and the future of an uncertain but hotter climate. Artists are excellent at communication and have a way of getting us to stop and think that sometimes simply reading an article or watching the news can't quite compete with. Art, done well, helps us to think.  Read the article from Post and Courier. The article is mostly about Charleston, of course, but is equally relevant to any of us who live in coastal communities and anyone who cares about the future effects of climate change on our planet.