To follow up on this story, these carports created by the New York Institute of Technology were in the news again. Last month, the school’s experiment was given an award by the Solar Industry Awards. They were granted a 6KC award for designing and installing these prototype solar carports.

Although other solar carports have been installed on Long Island since then, these by NYIT stand out for their practicality for the future. As we’ve seen in many instances regarding solar carports, the energy generated by them displaces that of the electric grid used by a nearby building. Although, in the short term, this lessens the dependence on the electric grid and other forms of energy (nuclear and coal, for example), it doesn’t address the issue of electric cars, particularly as domestic and overseas car manufacturers have been developing hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

With the solar carports by NYIT, vehicles can be charged underneath through solar energy. The car will then be able to go a certain distance, before needing another change. In the case of the students involved in this experiment, they would charge the cars at school and at home.

None of these carports are entirely practical on an individual level, however. Recently, a portable solar carport was introduced by Phat Energy at Dwell on Design 2010. Called the Phatport, this portable carport will act as a traditional carport or can be used as a patio cover and generates 2.5 kW of solar energy.

Being introduced recently, the Phatport has already been experiencing orders, but production for more models won’t actually start until later in the summer. Aside from the metal frame large enough for a car and a solar panel, the Phatport will have additional features, such as interior lights, outlets, EV chargers, and a column design. The product will come preassembled and the price, at the moment, hovers around $37,000.

Do you think that this type of solar carport seems practical? On the surface, the design makes protecting your car and generating solar energy more accessible for the average person looking to be more energy-efficient. However, when it comes to the design of a carport, the Phatport appears a bit flimsy. Additionally, there appears to be no mentioning of which materials make up the carport’s frame. Will it be galvanized or powder-coated steel? If the latter, do you think purchasing a less sturdy carport with photovoltaic panels is worth the $37,000 price tag?

The latter instance has started in the Philippines recently. Officials in Cavite, a town on the island Luzon, held a campaign in May and, afterward, realized that several tarps were left over. Instead of throwing them out – they would simply sit in landfills and no nothing – officials involved in the campaign decided to turn them into schoolbags.

Called EcoBags, these bags made from recycled tarps come in backpack, messenger, and pouch varieties. All are designed to hold up to five textbooks and come in many bright and vibrant colors. Additionally, the bags themselves are made by former garment workers and should be ready by the time the school year starts.

Are tarps ideal materials for bags, particularly for schoolbags for children? In a sense, yes. Polyethylene, assuming it isn’t damaged and torn, is durable and waterproof. If a bag is sewn from it, it would have the strength to hold the books and keep them dry. Aside from the durability factor, poly tarps have another advantage – the color palette available. Tarps range from staid colors like black, green, and silver to brighter ones, such as yellow, orange, and red. Camouflage is even offered as a color for tarps.

The blue tarp is an image synonymous with hurricanes. These tarps embody the damage experienced by the storms but also the hardships after. As mentioned in the linked article, tarps may end up becoming a long-term solution for residents who have experienced roof damage. In the case of Hurricane Ike, as mentioned in the article, the damage – and the tarps – can be seen nearly two years after the storm. Residents continue to use the tarps past the 90-day period because insurance won’t cover the damage done to the roof.

Nevertheless, blue tarps are another symbol for hurricane season – one of preparedness. FEMA often brings in more tarps in preparation for the storm, while residents of such areas are recommended to have their own.

When it comes to protection after the storm, blue tarps are designed to be a temporary patch over a damaged roof or broken window. The material is treated to be UV resistant and waterproof and, as a result, prevents water from entering the structure and causing more damage. The material also keeps mold and mildew at bay. But, if a tarp is used as a temporary patch, it shouldn’t be used for more than 90 days. Unless the material is changed after that time, the tarp will not be as effective.

This video makes several points in regards to owning and using tarps. While the visuals show you numerous activities that can be done with tarps (homemade waterslides, snowboarding ramps, and ice skating), the voiceover narration makes some points for using and purchasing tarps:

• Silver and White are two common colors for heavy-duty tarps. Most heavy duty tarps, which are used for long-term outdoor uses, come in these colors to reflect sunlight. Other colors, such as green, black, and brown, are also available in this thickness and strength.
• Blue is a common color for lightweight tarps. Lightweight – also known as medium-duty – tarps are used for many temporary outdoor uses. From covering a vehicle for a few days to patching a roof, medium-duty tarps in blue are the most common. Other colors, additionally, come in medium-duty thickness.
• The thickness of the tarp is indicative of the quality. Thicker, or heavy-duty, tarps are designed for more permanent uses outdoors, while medium-duty ones are only for temporary uses. Case in point is the use of tarps in outdoor canopy shelters like carports and portable garages that stay outdoors for several months, if not years. Generally, a heavy-duty tarp has a 12 mil thickness and medium-duty ones are six to eight mil thick.
• Expect a high-quality tarp to last three to four years. Of course, this depends on what you use it for. Heavy-duty tarps added to canopies, for example, will last four years outdoors. A heavy-duty tarp used sporadically will probably last longer.

Why carports and why now? According to the article linked above, those from the city are moving out to the suburbs and often purchase homes with garages. Owning a garage is seen as more than storage, however. For many, a brick-and-mortar garage can become a lounge, work, or activity area and the vehicles end up getting in the way. Because new homeowners want the garage space for more than vehicles, the cars go outside and the garage becomes an additional room in the house. The carports or portable garages, then, are needed to protect the cars outdoors.

Carports, as an alternative to brick-and-mortar garages, have their own benefits. These structures, including both fully metal and metal and polyethylene ones, protect a car from rain and UV rays and allow air to circulate underneath. For convenience, an open shelter can be modified at a later date to be fully enclosed by polyethylene walls and zipper doors. In addition to protecting the vehicles, the portable shelters can also protect many other items outdoors, including people. A carport offers versatility to the user: not only will it cover cars everyday but it can protect seasonal vehicles and serve as a temporary tent for outdoor gatherings.

A similar development in the use of solar carports was in the news recently. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District decided to start using solar power in its middle and high schools. According to the linked article, photovoltaic panels were added to six schools in the district through a $23.2 million contract with SunPower Corp. The setup is designed to be up and running some time during the 2011-12 school year. These solar panels will replace two-thirds of the electricity the schools use currently.

Carports, of course, will be the setup of choice for the solar panels, and these will be added to school parking lots. However, as mentioned in the article, the district had to decide whether adding solar carports would be beneficial in the long term, particularly for savings with electricity. The photovoltaic panels have a 17-year warranty and, within this time, the energy replacement will go up from two-thirds to 95 percent of the power. If not, SunPower will need to reimburse the school district for a portion of its contract.

Many homes in Regina, according to the article, have experienced damaged roofs from storms with high winds. Homeowners, as a result, are covering their roofs with tarps to prevent water damage. Unfortunately, the persistent nature of the storms in the area has resulted in tarps being torn off and the interior of homes, then, experience water damage. Similarly, roofing companies in the city have a long list of homes needing repairs, and residents are told to wait. Additionally, because working on wet or damp roofs is more likely to result in injuries to the roofers, roofing companies have to postpone their projects.

So, in this instance, what is a person waiting on repairs to do? While the situation has no easy answer, especially if more storms are on the way, one option is to find an effective method for attaching the tarp. As we’ve explored on here before, protecting the damage on your roof isn’t simply throwing a tarp over the hole – or even using cinderblocks to hold it down. Rather, the tarp needs to be attached to the roof. If you’re looking for some tips to protect your roof this season, read some of our tips for tarping a roof from our blog.

• Adding any structure like a portable garage requires a building permit to be obtained first. This is done by filling out an application with the local Building Department with building plans included.
• The location of the shelter is important. In the case of Hot Springs, a carport or portable garage must be 25 feet from the street, eight feet from interior property boundaries, and five feet from the property line.
• No portable structure is to be placed in the front yard, even if the area is pave.
• Be aware of the size of the structure. According to Hot Springs building codes, no more than 30 percent of the property lot can be taken up by portable structures, including sheds. If you plan to add a carport and a shed together, plan beforehand to see how much space the two structures take up.
• As soon as a carport has two or more enclosed walls, it is considered a garage, for which different building codes exist. One of them includes keeping your structure anchored.

While some of these codes may be unique to Hot Springs, others appear to apply to anyone wanting to add a portable shelter. In general, check with your local building department about adding a carport or portable garage, even if you don’t plan to anchor it.

Rather than simply stating this, however, the ordinance, Section 11-8-9, outlines for specifics for residents of Birmingham. For example, vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, or RVs, can only be parked in front of a house if the area is paved or a permitted driveway or has access to a carport or garage that is part of the main house. It appears that portable structures, such as carports installed separately, do not fall within the scope of these qualifications for a vehicle to be parked in front. Nevertheless, as later mentioned in the linked article above, this area in the front yard can provide access to parking on the side or in back of the house. In this case, having a carport or portable garage to protect your vehicle is acceptable.

No matter if you live in Birmingham or a town with a similar parking ordinance, check with your local laws first before purchasing a structure. In many cases, having such a structure in front of your home may not be permitted, and, for available space, you’ll need to measure the area on the side or in back of your home or building. Additionally, this area may need to be paved and the portable shelter may need to be set in concrete for you to meet local codes or laws.