Solar Carports Added to California School District

We’ve mentioned a few times on here the benefits of using a carport in the setup of solar panels. As solar power is gradually replacing that from the traditional electric grid, carports are at the forefront for supporting photovoltaic panels and, essentially, being a versatile and effective device in bring solar panel to many commercial and government buildings. The most common setup we’ve seen so far has been large carports installed over a parking lot with the photovoltaic panels added on top. In most cases, the energy from the panels powers nearby buildings, replacing the traditional grid energy used otherwise. In more sophisticated instances, the energy is used for powering both buildings nearby and electric cars underneath.

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.

Wind Storms Result in Roof Damage in Canada. How Can Tarps Temporarily Fix the Damage?

Hurricane season started this past week, but more areas than the Gulf have experienced damages due to storms. A few months ago, we saw that high winds in the Northeastern part of the United States resulted in homes having roof damage. Homeowners, not accustomed to such storms, were unprepared and didn’t always have tarps on hand to assess the damage. Part of Canada not far from the United States has been experiencing similar issues as the result of similar storms with high winds. A recent article highlights this issue in the city of Regina, not too far away from North Dakota.

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.

Consider Your Building Codes Before Adding a Carport

Often, when we talk about building codes in relation to carports and portable garages on this blog, we reference articles that discuss changes. However, one recent article presents building codes for an area, Hot Springs, South Dakota, from a local building inspector. The full article can be read here. The building codes presented in the article under the link appear to be typical, and the author gives some good advice in terms of the procedure before purchasing a portable shelter. Here are some points made:

• 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.

New Parking Ban in Birmingham, Alabama

While parking bans are nothing new, one subject often intertwined with them is the use of a carport or portable garage. Ordinances like this that we’ve seen previously often, on the surface, dictate where a car or other vehicle should be parked on a property. The second aspect of such ordinances is on what and under which type of structures are these vehicles parked. This is where the use of portable garages and carports comes in, and the most recent instance of this is a parking ban is Birmingham that, in general, is geared to get residents from keeping vehicles on their front lawns.

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.

Tarps Used in MS Tornado Aftermath

Tarps are one material used often in the aftermath of a hurricane or tornado, particularly if a building or home has experienced damage. Preventing water and mold from getting inside is a goal and, as a contractor might not be able to assess a property right away, putting a tarp in place give temporary protection. As you read in the news recently, Mississippi had such a tornado that ravaged the region around Yazoo City, although the storm traveled from Alabama to Louisiana. The Red Cross was distributing tarps in the area, as many need the material to protect their homes from further damage.

Tarps in this instance are particularly important. Hurricanes and tornadoes often aren’t isolated instances, and a smaller storm may follow. In the case of Mississippi, more rain is expected for the region and could possibly be enough to cause flooding. Mississippi saw a few casualties and 700 damaged homes from the first storm. Because more storms are set to approach, having your home protected before the storms hit is a necessity. If you don’t have any tarps on hand at the moment, obtain them through the Red Cross or another organization to repair any roof damage or broken windows.

The cleanup for the region has already started. Outside of doing building repairs, debris and fallen trees are being cleaned up. Nevertheless, the threat of more storms looms overhead, which could result in more damage. On an individual level, however, now is the time to get your home ready for any future storms. This includes repairing any damage to your roof done by the storm and stocking up on additional tarps in case of future damage. The important factor in regards to tornadoes and hurricanes is keeping your home free from water and mold damage, and using tarps to repair your roof helps with this.

Baseball Tarps Used at Target Field

Baseball season is starting all over the country. Teams begin their opening seasons, which will last until fall. Nevertheless, in the news recently, the Minnesota Twins experienced rain at their opening game — the first time for an opener since 1981. Although the linked article implies that the team continued to play through the rain, it also mentions the grounds crew being ready to cover the field with tarps – a standard procedure when rain is approaching. Perhaps, after the game was finished at Target Field, they added the tarps to the field to prevent it from becoming muddy.

No matter if a team is professional like the Twins or is your local little league, a season can find itself derailed by canceled games once rain shows up. Not covering the field with a tarp makes the grass muddy and the field unplayable. While the home team waits for its field to dry from the rain, they end up missing games and practices. Instead, having a few large tarps on hand, or a baseball field tarp, is necessary when rain is approaching. At the first sign of rain, have the grounds crew or the team add the tarp over the field and then add weights, such as bricks, cinder blocks, or chains, to keep the material in place.

While general large tarps can cover a baseball field, many manufacturers of the polyethylene material have specialized baseball tarps in the shape of a diamond. When rain approaches, this tarp is rolled out on top of the ground and secured. Some of these baseball tarps are even equipped with chains around the edges, so, once rolled out, they stay in place and need no additional weight. Made from heavy-duty polyethylene, the tarp prevents the water from reaching the baseball diamond. Additional tarps can be placed over seating areas around the field.

First SmartPark Carport Installed

It appears that over the past year, many solar carport systems are popping up. All of these fall into two categories: one that provides solar energy to the electric grid and shade to the cars or one that is designed to charge up electric vehicles while providing shade at the same time. Most of these solar carports fall into the former category and have been installed as a method for alternative energy. The energy from the carport either replaces part of the power used in the electric grid of the town or is used to power a nearby building. In all cases, the structure is versatile in protecting cars and providing a green source of energy.

One of the latest solar carport systems to hit the news is the SmartPark, which received its first US installation recently by Martifer Solar in Lancaster, California. This solar carport system was funded by a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and assists with the local transportation system. The system, itself, is designed to shade 110 vehicles and covers 35,000 square feet. The carports generate 368kW of power and consist of multiple 300kW modules and a smaller roof mounted system.

As you can see from the picture added to the article, the design of these SmartPark carports is no different from that of ordinary metal carports, particularly those designed to cover a large area. The image indicates that, while each shelter has a sturdy metal frame and roof, on top of each is several photovoltaic panels designed to absorb the sun’s energy and convert it into power. The structure, essentially, is a benefit to everyone using it. Those using the building below can shade their cars under the shelter during the day, and the carport provides an alternative energy source for the town.

Tarps for Earthquake in Chile

We’ve covered the earthquake in Haiti on our blog in a few posts, especially as relief efforts in the island nation are still in need of tarps. With the rain season in Haiti in full force, tarps are still in need in the country. But, not long after Haiti experienced its severe quake, Chile experienced one. The earthquake, which struck with an 8.8 magnitude, was soon followed by a 2.3-meter tsunami that caused even more damage to the country. Although less aid is being sent to Chile, some organizations, such as CARE, as stated in a recent press release, are coming to the country’s aid.

According to their press release, CARE has distributed food, hygiene products, tents, and tarps to 200 families in Chile, although more aid is needed. Tarps are considered the first protection measure, more so than tents, as we explained in an earlier post about tarps needed in Haiti. Tarps, when used with the right materials, provide temporary protection to rain and UV rays, while tents generally aren’t as waterproof. In fact, as we’ve seen many times before in regards to camping, tarps are often needed to protect the tent from rain.

As in Haiti, the rain season started this month in Chile, which means that tarps are in even more need than before. If you’re considering assisting with aid, consider donating any tarps you own. These don’t need to be brand new, as we saw in the case of Haitian relief efforts. Rather, the tarps need to be in working condition, which means no tears, holes, or frayed edges. Other items are needed in Chile, as well, but shelter is also important. If you’re looking for a way to help, contact various organizations, like CARE, in your area to see if they’ll take tarps as donations.

Getting Your Carport Ready for a Twister

No matter what you call it – a tornado or a twister – having yourself and your belongings ready before the storm is important. As April, May, and June are the months most common for tornadoes, now is the time to start doing drills with your family or neighborhood, as suggested by a recent article. Other important steps to take at this time are preparing a survival kit of food, batteries, water, and flashlights and making sure you have the necessary materials on hand to fix any damage to your home. Usually, a set of tarps is sufficient enough for any broken windows or roof damage. But, what about belongings you ordinarily keep outdoors?

As the article suggests, these should be brought indoors to a garage or carport. Of course, this assumes that your carport or garage is stable. Before a storm hits, check your carport before, even if your carport is a square tube shelter. Although such shelters weigh up to 90 pounds and can handle winds up to 95 MPH, this all depends if the shelter is anchored properly in the ground. Any type of portable carport or garage needs to be secured in cement and anchored into the ground for it to be considered fully secure. If the shelter is only embedded in dirt or not anchored at all, it will surely be damaged by the storm and result in damages to your car, as well.

As we’ve mentioned before, the steps for checking any carport for stability is to first check the frame. Are all components attached securely and not rusted? Is the canopy attached appropriately with bungee cords to the frame? Once all of these factors have been checked, examine the anchorage of the shelter. The best protection is offered through a shelter with legs anchored in cement and put in the ground.

Methods for Tarping a Roof

What’s the best way to tarp a room after damages from a storm? Although several methods and even EZ Tarps exist, the best way is often by keeping the tarp nailed to the roof. The material is designed to be protective with a waterproof and UV resistant surface, but in order for the material to be effective, it should be held in place. One option for tarping a roof can be seen in this video from Lowe’s:

While this video from Lowe’s gives an adequate demonstration for temporarily fixing your roof with a tarp, they bring up one important point: Determine the areas where your roof is damaged before tarping. This isn’t always done from on top of the roof, as seen in the video. Going under the roof and looking for all possible damages indicates where you’ll need to tarp, as even small dents can result in a leak. Because another storm might occur soon, addressing your roof first thing once the current storm has passed is important to preventing water damage and mold in your home.

While the method used by Lowe’s is somewhat different from ones we’ve suggested so far, it’s not bad. The demonstration includes the tarp being nailed and sandwiched between two boards on opposite sides before being nailed to the roof of the house. The other two sides are, then, nailed down with boards. Our suggested method involves wrapping two of the ends of the tarp in two-by-four boards and then nailing them to the roof. Otherwise, if you use no method to anchor the tarp to the roof, the tarp won’t stay in place, as seen in this video: