2010-07-30T05:47:52ZRaineCopyright 2010, RaineSPHPBLOGSan Diego is “almost” a Small Wind community! DyoCore manufactures the SolAir, a residential / small commercial hybrid wind turbine. This small residential power house can provide about 2,000 kWh’s annually in green renewable power. For the past several years DyoCore has worked diligently in both becoming the first and only residential roof top turbine approved by the CEC (California Energy Commission) and working with municipalities on updating their building codes to allow its communities to take advantage of its technology and the state incentives that make the SolAir almost completely free to purchase and install!
SolAir is the only approved Turbine though the CEC that is virtually free. For each installed SolAir unit the state of California through the CEC, funded by major utilities companies such as San Diego Gas and Electric, will pay you up to 100% of your cost and installation within 4 to 6 weeks of final installation.
David Raine, the founder of DyoCore said “The County Planning Commission of San Diego are not the first to recognize the potential of Small Wind and DyoCore’s power generator in the state of California and not the first in the County as Carlsbad recognized the benefit of these solutions within its community only just a few weeks ago along with several other areas in California that are very friendly to renewable energy and specifically small wind”. David expects other communities to follow in these footsteps very soon but not without an uphill battle.
States and the Federal government in preparation of these new modern green technologies several years ago began adopting and outlining Green energy guidelines but these have and will continue to take time to trickle down to the community level.
Communities have not addressed these types of products since the early 70’s and most current regulations are specific to “Large” pole mounted turbines. DyoCore’s SolAir in most communities doesn’t fit into any building code category. Even though it is light weight, appealing, silent and an easy to install generator at less than 65” tall this is a completely new solution that requires new thinking in how to change existing or implement new codes that allow for modern friendly green technologies.
In a time in which communities service budgets and personnel are being cut right now seems to be the most inconvenient time to expense the costs of creating, amending and approving new codes. But on the other hand DyoCore SolAir creates sustainable energy that reduces a community’s dependence on the grid which at certain times during the year can be very costly.
In the near future DyoCore is positive that both federal and state regulations will allow communities to implement and manage guidelines for the quick deployment of their products nationwide. But this week’s first step within San Diego puts DyoCore on the map as a major innovator and contributor to the future of residential small wind! ]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry100726-0819232010-07-26T00:00:00Z2010-07-26T00:00:00ZCALIFORNIA’S FIRST ROOF-MOUNTED WIND TURBINE INSTALLED BY DYOCORE™ • CALIFORNIA STATE UTILITY COMMISSION CERTIFICATION (Renewable Energy Unit): certified the, 1st low wind residential roof top surface mountable fifty-six inch tall, SolAir 800 Wind Turbine for their cash rebate program and listing on the California State List of Eligible Equipment. The California State Rebate money along with the federal tax incentive of thirty percent of gross purchase price completely reimburses the homeowners for his out-of-pocket expenses. Lower utility bills at no cost. • PUBLIC INTRODUCTION OF SOLAIR 800: The DyoCore Team presented the SolAir 800 in February at the Del Mar Home Products Expo to rave reviews and signed purchase orders from thirty homeowners wishing to install from one to four units on their property. Catch the Wind, ditch the utility bill. • WWW.DYOCORE.COM INTERACTIVE WEB-CAM WEBSITE: DyoCore’s new website will allow individuals to see the SolAir 800 Wind Turbine operating in real time (San Diego, County), download information about wind energy, state and local regulations regarding wind turbine installations, product prices, install time, and a host of other valuable information. Watch the Wind? What’s next? • FIRST SOLAR 800 WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION (San Marcos, California): The DyoCore Team watched as the first installation took place in San Marcos. The first is great, but DyoCore will rapidly follow with over twenty other scheduled installations throughout San Diego County over the next month. Distributor relations have been established for the rest of California, New York, Illinois, Texas, Florida, other parts of the US, Europe, Asia, and South America. A SolAir 800 Wind Turbine is coming to a home near you, soon!
For David Raine, inventor and founder of DyoCore, this is significant milestone in the change in thinking in this industry. “Until this moment I’ve been constantly told by the industry that small wind doesn’t work despite my live camera and live data feed that demonstrates directly that not only does it work, it can work at a low cost!” This accomplishment is only one of many in the works with several other states now looking at SolAir unit as a applicable solution for residential roof top mount applications.
DyoCore’s SolAir product line is priced for the average homeowner to begin small and build or buy a full package when needed. The price on a single installation is approximately under $4,000.00 with installation. Additional SolAir units can be simply added at anytime and networked together via a plug and play solution. For the average home a full system consists of four to five units, an inverter, wind monitor, and installation for around $11,000. Previously, companies sold individual units for over $30,000.00 which were bulky, unsightly, and sustained on-going mechanical problems.
DyoCore, a San Marcos company, produces the SolAir product line in American made at its Chicago manufacturing facility, with administrative offices in San Marcos, California. Questions about Dyocore or SolAir products can be addressed to Mr. David Raine, 760-807-2135 or dave@dyocore.com.
This show will take place in O'Brien Hall and the Activity Center. It features home improvement products and services offered by local businesses. This show will have a "green" theme and will highlight businesses that offer environmental products.
A special feature of this show will be the Treasures of King Tut, a traveling exhibit of more than 275 museum-quality replicas from the Egyptian king's tomb. Admission to both the home show and the exhibit is free (parking charge is $9.00). Please see the event Web site for more information.
The SolAir™ 800 I is a 56” tall, Small Solar Wind Turbine that can reduce home owner’s electrical utility costs by 20% to over 100% each and every month. The product is easy to install and is guaranteed for five years on electrical and ten years structural and is UL and CE certified. The SolAir™ 800 I is manufactured in Chicago and is an American made product.
Until now, wind turbine products suitable for use at home or small businesses bulky, bereft with mechanical problems, and frankly were cost prohibitive. The SolAir™ 800 I can be purchased individually for as low as $2,400.00 or using an inverter, in banks of four for around $9,000.00.
These costs are really facetious because the State of California offers a cash rebate up to $5,500.00 to purchasers of this technology and the federal government offers tax incentives. Additional savings over the warranty lifetime of ten years makes the purchase of small wind turbines for home or business a solid investment.
sales@dyocore.com 866-404-2428 ]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry100128-1448112010-01-28T00:00:00Z2010-01-28T00:00:00ZSan Diego Green Meets Green ExpoThough the show itself was not a big hit, DyoCore's presence at the show was! I've been to a few Green shows and they tend to draw a good crowd. This one did not. They usually also draw a lot of vendors that aren't quite "Green". For example our booth was ajacient to someone selling wrist bands that gave you super human powers. Unforunatly Super Human powers only work on specific people that are "open" to the concept. I was not so lucky and still walk to work rather than fly.
But DyoCore did come off as a super hero at the show drawing complete attention from all 20 show visitors over the three day event and all the other vendors - another 10 people. We designed a simple booth and setup the SolAir center allowing visitors to touch and feel the SolAir product as they walked by. It was welcoming to see such an overwhelming support for both our product and the small wind industry. It was as interesting to find all 5 Solar Panel vendors around us grew cobwebs in their booths.
Small wind solutions are new within the industry and too little actual installed real world conditions are available to make a decision as to if this is a "real" solution alternative or even combination with existing Solar. What is know is Solar is expensive, requires ongoing maintenance and quite often if not always under performs. This was reflected greatly in the lack of attention show visitors gave to the Solar vendors. It was also shown in the amount of visitors we had to our booth that had solar systems they were unhappy with.
The primary difference between the two is price. Wind is about 1/3 the cost of Solar for the equivalent projected output. The real barrier is getting to the truth about "real" output. But overall it tends to upset a buyer when they spend over $30,000 on a solar system to find out that the product only performs about 40% of what it should.
Overall this first local market event was a success for our small company. This coming weekend we are participating in our second local market event - the Del Mar Home Show. With several hundreds of vendors this should prove to be a busy weekend!
For more information about this show and other shows the DyoCore will be at please contact me. dave@dyocore.com]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry100128-1257002010-01-28T00:00:00Z2010-01-28T00:00:00ZWhat is “Small Wind”? When I developed my product I thought it fit into the category “Small Wind”, but now I’m thinking maybe “Micro Wind”. But nobody likes to be called Micro unless you’re a computer chip. The problem with these categories is they are self assigned. If you find your product performs terrible and under market expectations in large wind you simply classify it small wind, some companies simply put a big price tag on their products and tell you it needs a 250 foot pole and classify it big wind…
As an actual user of my own product I understand there are definitive differences in the placement of a product in these categories but do other manufacturers? Placing a turbine in “Small Wind”, let’s say the average residential wind conditions – fewer than 15mph and that is generous, means your product should then produce is rated performance in those specific conditions. However, manufacturers rate and post performance output on their products in what should be considered “Big Wind” conditions, greater than 20mph, but then classify their product as “Small Wind”. Then they justify this by stating in fine print their product should be installed in “Big Wind” conditions on a 60 foot pole where average wind speeds are greater than 20 mph.
I cringe every time I hear a story about how “Small Wind” products don’t perform and are not financially practical. Then to find the writer was making that assumption on a product that was both miss represented as “Small Wind” and substantially over priced to begin with.
The bottom line is “Small Wind” works if you buy a true “Small Wind” product at a good price point! The unfortunate dilemma is there are no guidelines to how a manufacturer rates or publishes data about their products. Very similar to the “healthy – good for you” sticker they put on the food you buy…
When buying Small Wind do a little research. These questions are easy for any manufacture; what is the rated wind speed? What is the cost per kWh at a realistic “Small Wind” average (under 15 mph most likely) speed in your area? Then see if the product will actually produce a return based on the actual performance in real world conditions.
SolAir rated wind speed output: 800 watts at 12 mph (850 watts combined with Solar) SolAir Cost: Only $1260 SolAir’s cost per kWh at the rated wind speed - Year 1: $ 0.50w, Year 2: $0.17w, Year 3: $ 0.08w]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry100119-1002392010-01-19T00:00:00Z2010-01-19T00:00:00ZWhat to expect when purchasing a SolAir system? Though generating your own energy is just a bump in the road to real cultural change, it’s a step in the right direction that you can physically see a benefit from. Research suggests that micro generation by homes could provide 20% to 30% of all produced electricity by the middle of the century. Wind turbines specifically like SolAir would form a large part of this.
You’ve taken the first step and we’re sure you have a lot of questions about generating your own energy, but getting started is surprisingly simple. Here is a step by step guide to help you get to know the basics.
Determine if Wind is Right For You?
Before investing in a Wind or Solar System you should decide if installing such a solution is the best option for you. The primary factors to consider are annual average wind and solar conditions in your local area. Though micro generation requires less wind and/or solar activity these still play an important role in “how much” energy you could generate and therefore “how soon” you could recap your investment.
Check with your local regulating officials for approval of the placement and/or use of any electricity generation equipment. A quick few calls might save you a substantial burden of obtaining permission in the future. Some contacts might include; Homeowner’s associations, building code enforcement agencies, the city, and the public utility company.
Obtaining permission in advance might involve people living in your immediate vicinity. They will be the first to experience your new installation and could be the first to approve or oppose them. An open and friendly approach will hope educate and smooth over any doubts about your installation – and you might inspire them to do the same.
You might be eligible to receive a Grant or Incentive from local, state or federal agencies.
Government has recognized the importance of Alternative Energy in our lives. This increasing awareness by government agencies to be more environmentally friendly, open the door for incentives for communities to generate their own energy. Some incentives are in Tax breaks, direct compensation, utility credits and general product purchase discounts. Each area is specific to the incentives and opportunities that exist. Contacting your local utility company is a great start.
Put energy back into your grid or use a standalone application?
A single small wind turbine or solar system has several general application purposes. The most common is for backup or specific device power. Multiple devices or larger PV applications could generate excess energy that could tie back into your grid system and possibly earn you utility credits or even cash back from your local utility provider.
Off-grid systems are simple and affective when charging a battery system or running a stand alone inverter that might be used to power lights and/or any portable electronic device. Grid-tie system get a little more complex and require professional grid-tie installation from your utility box. Each has a unique advantage and you should closely examine your goals now that you are generating your own energy.
Do you need expensive equipment?
There are many alternative energy manufacturers, suppliers and dealers to point you in the right direction. But the vast amount of information available might be overwhelming to start. Equipment is expensive and buying too much, too little or even the wrong equipment could be a costly mistake. Seek out actual referrals from users of alternative energy products similar to your desired application and results.
The AWEA, http://www.awea.org is a very useful tool in exploring equipment options, industry standards and in getting a start to your education on alternative energy products available. ]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry090821-1551572009-08-21T00:00:00Z2009-08-21T00:00:00ZWind/Solar and SolAir Windmills have been in use for over two thousand years, but only in the last 150 years has man harnessed the wind to create electricity. Small wind turbines brought electrification to a large section of rural America. Today many countries rely on wind, solar and other renewable energy resources for a significant fraction of their energy needs.
Creating Electricity from the Wind The rotational motion of turbine blades driven by the wind is converted to electricity using an generator. On horizontal-axis wind turbines such as SolAir, the generator is located at the top of the Frame in line with the rotating horizontal shaft. On vertical-axis wind turbines, the generator is located at the base of the structure in line with the rotating vertical shaft. The generator uses electromagnetic induction, magnets passing over copper coils, to generate electricity, which can either be used while being produced or stored for later use. The primary source of energy loss in this configuration is friction between the motor and its drive system, which may contain a gearbox. In order to reduce friction and increase efficiency, DyoCore has developed a gear-free, filler-free motor. This unique design reduces the stress and wear on the motor’s moving parts and allows the blades to move smoother and faster at lower wind speeds with less resistance.
Power Generation and Efficiency Wind turbines are available in small sizes from a few watts for remote on-site electricity needs, up to giant MW generators with a blade diameter of 400 ft or more. The amount of power that can be generated by a wind turbine depends on a variety of factors including wind speed, rotor size and air density (which varies with altitude). Because wind is not a constant resource, wind power generation often contains a capacity factor, usually in the range of 20-40% of the theoretical maximum. The German physicist Albert Betz calculated "that a wind turbine can extract at most 59% of the energy that would otherwise flow through the turbine's cross section", assuming a perfect and frictionless system.
Storing Electricity from Wind Turbines Wind, despite its benefits, does not provide a constant and continuous input for electricity generation. Because of this, power generated from wind turbines must either be used immediately either locally, within a grid-tie, or stored for later use using batteries. Batteries are used frequently in Small Wind/Solar applications to capture the energy, store and release that energy on demand. SolAir incorporates a Solar film designed into the Fin assembly mounting into the SolAir Frame. This allows constant charging capability during sunlight in no-wind or low-wind conditions and the opposite – no light but wind. The intermittent nature of both wind and solar make them an ideal partner in combination for the purpose of energy collection. ]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry090814-1545552009-08-14T00:00:00Z2009-08-14T00:00:00ZThe Grid Another growing burden on energy management is the growing consumer demand for accountability. The current system provides no way of knowing your energy consumption until after you receive your bill. This is coupled with the expensive burden of replacing currently installed equipment that does not have reporting capability.
What’s needed now is a new concept in how we get and use energy. The US has allocated approximately $4 billion in economic-stimulus dollars on smart-grid initiatives, but this doesn’t mean a smart grid for every home. In California utilities alone are spending about $4.5 billion over the next few years on smart meter installations. This would indicate a cost of approximately $50 billion nationwide. This would require hundreds of billions more poured into conventional grid infrastructure to meet US growth over the next decade.
The solution is a dramatic change in how we manage energy form the source of draw, our homes. This change will take effect within the consumer market and not from the energy companies themselves. As consumers purchase off-grid generated energy they require smart equipment to tie them into their home and businesses. As these off-grid system become grid-tie solutions the technology plugged into the grid at the source will become the next generation of the Grid.
Smart grid-tie power management devices will provide information to consumers about their usage and help utility companies more effectively control energy flow without substantial costly infrastructure upgrades to the community. These devices will empower consumers with the ability to manage their internal energy consumption at each source by allocating power as needed. This is very similar to how a landscaping sprinkler system would work. During low energy days the power can be dialed back, during a vacation it can be turned off in particular areas or managed remotely via the web, during high demand hours efficiencies can be implemented just by being aware via simple easy to ready power consumption displayed data.
Just by being aware of your power consumption through these smart home display devices our energy usage will go down dramatically. This additionally will drive the overall price of energy and provide consumers with a very effective means of price management through demand. Very similar to fuel prices.
Smart power consumption devices will add another efficiency to our near future power consumption trends. Power devices will draw less or even no power when not in use. High power consumption devices such as air-conditioners will incorporate power management technology, small portable devices will power remotely from ambient power, it will become more common to see lights & water faucets automatically turn off, and most homes & businesses will plug directly into the alternative energy they produce.
Smart meters and grid-tie inverters are about $500 to several thousands. The solution for the future home will be a combination of these devices and smart appliances. Demand for these products in our near future should bring the costs down to about $200 or no more than a DVD player. ]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry090610-0705002009-06-10T00:00:00Z2009-06-10T00:00:00ZIs Green Going Green or Getting Green? If we simply spend the same amount on education of green living habits we could reduce our carbon footprint and dependency on harmful energy by over 40%! The concepts are simple yet our consumption habits are not. We would have to radically change our living environments to make any significant impact on our environment such as turning off the TV, the video games, taking cold quick showers, no heat or air-conditioning, turning off the lights when you leave a room, really recycle, buy local, ride a bike to work and sell the car, plant a garden, install 30 solar panels, etc… Some might be practical in moderation, but most are completely unrealistic in our culture.
Companies cashing the billion dollar stimulus checks, promoting products & concepts that most likely won’t make it to market until 2020 if at all, would like you to believe we can create a green planet by building acres of wind and solar farms, tapping thermal energy from the planet, harvesting wind in the stratosphere or even free-unlimited energy from a parallel universe. But when the bubble pops these concepts will be what they really are – quick ways to make money for a few individuals. 1998 Business plans are being dusted off, re-written and being submitted for a quick buck. Not a lot of new anything has been put into them. Simply change the name with something “green” in the title, add a byline “saving the planet”, and the next millionaire is made.
What accountability has been placed on these companies? Did we learn much from the dot com crash? We’re pounding hard on GM, banks and other companies that requested stimulus dollars but have we put any similar expectations on “green” funded technologies? The buzz word green is truly green, but not the green they are promoting.
No corporation is going to sell you “green”. Green is a personal responsibility, not so much for the planet because I’m quite sure it will outlive us, as the next stage in our evolution. Green is tied directly to the quality of our social & environmental growth as a society. Ending wars, starvation, and providing every human with basic freedoms, education, and a quality of life is as simple as “green” gets. ]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry090609-0910122009-06-09T00:00:00Z2009-06-09T00:00:00ZDYOCORE LAUNCHES SOLAIR First wind/solar hybrid electric generator geared for residential market Offering a radical departure in design from traditional wind generators, DyoCore’s SolAir can be stacked and strategically placed in a residential home environment as an alternative energy source. The unit incorporates the latest in thin film transistor solar panels, providing a continuous flow of energy, even with low-exposure to the sun. Furthermore, the company’s supplied DC/AC inverter actually recycles unused electricity back into the local grid, dramatically reducing consumer dependency on the nation’s power resources, while providing true money savings to environmentally-savvy home owners.
According to DyoCore’s co-founder and VP of Sales, Moe Green, the SolAir represents the first time anyone in the industry has addressed the high cost and low performance of single install wind and solar energy resources. “DyoCore’s dynamic and unique approach to this market sector provides a low cost, high performance and reliable building block solution. The average homeowner can start slow and build an entire home solution over time that strategically solves specific power needs and performance issues with our unique and cost-efficient solutions,” explained Mr. Green.
The on/off-grid, plug-n-play hydro hybrid requires simple installation by homeowners, features an appealing stackable design, and delivers a complete return on initial investment within two to five years. Unlike other wind and/or solar systems, the SolAir has the potential to convert up to 70% of wind power into electricity, double the current average, and can operate in as little as 2mph to >25mph.
According to David Raine, company co-founder and chief engineer, it’s all about developing cleaner and leaner technologies, thus improving the way products are designed, made, delivered, and used. “At the end of the product’s life cycle, even the materials the product is made of can be recycled. The goal is to provide greater consumer value, performance and choice as well as reduce environmental impacts. DyoCore’s product line meets this goal and will lower the cost of energy for the end consumer," explained Mr. Raine.
Available in two configurations, 300-watt and 800-watt versions, the SolAir I and II will be available in July 2009 at a suggested retail price of $4,800 for a complete system, including inverter system, high-performance rechargeable batteries and mounting brackets. In many states, the SolAir qualifies for local, state and federal tax credits of up to 80%.
About DyoCore Smart Solutions
DyoCore’s focus lies within the development and distribution of simple, low cost residential energy solutions based on hybrid wind and solar alternatives. The Company's technology objective is architected to make alternative energy resourcing simple, reliable, cost effective, and flexible for customers. A key aspect of DyoCore's vision is that its product line helps customers avoid the cost, hassle, and reliability issues of maintaining a large, high cost, high maintenance current market product.
DyoCore products present a dramatic change over traditional turbine designs. DyoCore turbines have been specifically tooled for low wind and the SolAir has been created specifically for both low wind and obstructed areas, ideal for the average home roof. The company’s first two products, the SolAir I and Solair II will be available in July, 2009. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.dyocore.com.
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Contact: Moe Green (347) 617-2140 moe@dyocore.com]]>http://www.dyocore.com/sphpblog_0511/index.php?entry=entry090603-1535122009-06-03T00:00:00Z2009-06-03T00:00:00Z