thecheatscalc/Instructables.com
DCL
Most of the country has had a pretty rainy spring, but with sunshiny summer weather finally here, it's a perfect time to get to work on projects that harness solar power. Lifehacker rounds up ten no-fail ideas that range from the easy—starting a fire with a soda can and piece of chocolate—to the more elaborate, like turning your lawnmower into a solar-powered cutter. Some ideas, like helping your Wi-Fi reach the backyard, are practical no matter where you live; others, like cooking in a cardboard box, are more useful for campers. But whether you choose to make a $50 greenhouse, an outdoor night light, or an Altoids-tin iPhone charger, this comprehensive round up simplifies solar power—and lets you take full advantage of late-summer sun.
Here's one of our favorites to get you started: using the sun to make etched designs on pieces of wood. You'll need dark sunglasses, aluminum foil tape, an Exacto knife, a magnifying glass, and a piece of wood. Cover the wood with the tape, and then cut out the designs that you want, leaving a stencil behind. Use the magnifying glass to focus the heat on the wood, and in a few minutes you'll have a picture, monogram, or other design—no fire required.
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
