I-Renew’s First Tinker Day

Sometimes it’s hard to make the time to tinker in our busy lives. I-Renew hosted its first Renewable Energy Tinker Day on August 3, 2019 from 12-4pm. Five of our board members gathered at the Jordan Solar Center in Hiawatha. We also had four visitors that came in and out throughout the afternoon. 

We tinkered with shoebox solar ovens, solar cell phone chargers, and solar heaters. Some of us had made shoebox solar ovens in the past, so we were excited to have the supplies ready to make more. Materials needed to craft a shoebox solar oven are: a shoebox, black paper, black tape, a piece of clear plastic (or saran wrap), tin foil, and glue. This is a great activity for both kids and adults. We’ve found that one of the most common foods to cook in solar ovens are s’mores. 

We were also excited to have the opportunity to try out some solar cell phone chargers. We wanted to make sure they worked before we give them away as prizes at future events. We were able to get them to work. Two of us found that they increased the percentage on our cell phone batteries by about 30% after they’d been sitting in the direct sunlight for about three hours. 

Lastly, using old windows, wood, black spray paint, dryer hose, and other supplies, Gus, Chris, and Tamra were able to build a solar heater. It can use the sun’s energy to add heat to spaces through a window, etc.  

My favorite moment of the day was when a visitor walked in and said “I wish more people did stuff like this”. 

Hopefully this was the first of many Tinker Days for I-Renew. We’d love to continue to explore how more people can use renewable energy in their daily lives. Do you tinker with renewable energy? If so, what have you explored? Feel free to comment or my email is carrie@irenew.org. We’d love to hear from you!  Also, please contact me if you’re interested in being on our board.