TEN-HUT! 19-year-old Eden Full invented a rotating tracker that allows solar panels to move with the sun without the aid of a motor and won $275,000.  Pretty cool huh?

You see, while most solar panels require electric motors to track the sun, Full’s invention uses something else. She discovered that by using different kinds of metals and bamboo her tracker would actually follow the sun’s movement without the use of a motor. How cool is that? And what’s the name of this awesome tracker? The SunSaluter, of course.

But wait there’s more.  Her tracker doesn’t need a motor, which means it is cheaper to make and buy.  1/60^th of the cost of a traditional tracker to be exact. Think $10 instead of $600.  That’s huge savings. Full’s tracker is also increasing the output of solar panels by 40%.  Plus, her technology is easier and simpler to maintain than an electric motor.  Did I mention it’s also recyclable?

Like most inventions, Eden saw a need and set out do something about it. And guess what: you can too.  All it takes is imagination and innovation.

ACE helps thousands of students take on projects just like this one.  We offers loads of resources to help your club take off — everything from cool project ideas like an Energy Audit to free leadership trainings to prepare for projects like converting vehicles to biodiesel. To get started, just check out our website www.acepsace.org.

ACE salutes Eden Full because she used her imagination and innovation to bring the world a cheaper, simpler, and greener solution – the SunSaluter.

How are you going to use your imagination and innovation to the change the world?

Check out Eden’s Story: