solar kit : wireless

1.TIs solar radio combo
http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/ez430-rf2500-seh.html
2.a private zigbee based solar
http://chezphil.org/slugbee/

engineering ladder

1.should know the options available to achieve a goal
2.should know important parameters of the options
3.should decide what parameters are for needed for goal
4.make a choice from the options
5.make execution plan
6.validate the plan in intervals
7.bound it by time
4.decide on cost,availability,skill,time etc