Solar-Powered Window Shutters – As Seen at West Coast Green
Yes, you heard right. Among the many intriguing green innovations at last weekend’s West Coast Green were the new Plug n’ Save Solar Shutters, a rather simple solution for homeowners hoping to cut utility costs.
Mounted onto gorgeously crafted bamboo shutters, the flat PV panels collect power from the sun and channel it directly back into the home’s electrical system. The shutters need only be plugged into a wall outlet to operate.
Created by father-son entrepreneurial duo Dan and David Curran, the shutters feature clever inlays to hide the electrical wiring and cords, leaving clean post card-sized panels. The panels themselves can only be seen from the outside.
The idea is that as a homeowner goes about their day, they will open or close their shutters to shield extra-bright sunlight. The panels waiting on the other side, however, will be harvesting that solar energy at peak hours of the day. It’s genius, really.
For more, read about the Currans on Examiner.
Posted on October 5th in Solar Products by Brittany.
October 7th, 2010 at 1:54 am
I’m impressed. As someone continually searching for ways to improve my energy use and production, putting PV cells on window blinds should have been a no brainer. This really is a brilliant idea. Using something we already use to block the sun to gather what it would instead reflect. Its this kind of innovation that screams of efficiency and demand. That along with ease of installation and operation make this a killer combo in my book. Now the only question I have is it something that can be placed in the right price range? I always hate to see good ideas die because it can’t achieve the right price point.
October 7th, 2010 at 5:06 am
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