Clean Cheap Or Free Sustainable Energy For All Our Needs
Posted by admin in environment on 07 12th, 2010The bills keep going up and up and I don’t see them coming down any time soon. In my area they are talking about a 47% increase in just 18 months. That is going to hurt a lot of people.
I fall into the believers category when it comes to climate change but even if I didn’t I would still feel that the less we pollute the atmosphere the better.
One of the great pluses would be getting out of the clutches of the power companies and even receiving cheques from them on a regular basis. That is a real pleasure.
For the average domestic consumer I think that we can dismiss wave and thermal power generation.
There are two readily available renewable energy systems that have been tried and tested over many years.
Obviously I am talking about Solar and Wind energy they both have strengths and weaknesses but a great deal of effort has gone into making them more user friendly over the past few years.
When it comes to Solar which is probable the simplest to install there are a couple of options. The first one is just put panels on your roof and feed any power generated straight through the meter and back to your power supplier.
They then either take what you have the supplied of your bill or simple send you a cheque. This is not available in all areas but were it is its great and the cheapest way.
The second way is to is to put any power you generate from your panels and put it into your household supply.Storing any excess in batteries. This system makes you more independent. But it is more expensive and difficult to install.
However there are way that you can help yourself and cut the costs dramatically and battery technology is improving rapidly.
Wind energy has one big plus over Solar and that is it will run a night or in overcast conditions. There is however problem with safety in many areas.But in the right place it could be the ideal solution. Especially when connected to a good battery storage system.
Lets face it both of them can have down times. Solar when its overcast or dark. Wind when there just isn’t any. So for many people a combination of the two would be ideal.
Despite some draw backs with either system you have to bare in mind that the energy is.
Free, renewable, clean and plentiful.
Just imagine what it could mean to you to be independent of the power companies not only do you not have to pay their bills but you are not subject to their power cuts. If you would to get the whole thing in yours or just about any ones budget. Click on the link below and help save everyone’s future. http://www.live-well2.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James MountfordClean cheap
read comments (0)Alternative Energy For The World
Posted by admin in environment on 05 6th, 2010Alternative energy sources like biomass, sunlight, wind or water now represent the earth-friendly solution that could replace the consume of harmful fossil fuels little by little. Nevertheless, there are lots of controversies related to the use of palm oil or food remains as bio fuel. Comparative studies indicate that without proper care such alternative energy sources could lead to a competition with food markets and would cause too low an improvement of the global warming issue. Read about TRUE Renewable Power!
Floating wind farms make superior alternative energy sources because they are planted in the middle of the ocean. They can harness the powerful ocean winds, going 700 meters deep in the water. The wind still has obstructions on the coast, which is why floating wind farms have an improved potential for energy production. Look - A new breakthrough in Renewable Power!
Among other alternative energy sources we should mention biogas digestion resulting in the generation of methane. Garbage and sewage systems are a huge reservoir of energy given the fact that methane is produced by bacteria breaking down the biomass in an air-free environment. Systems capable of collecting and refining the methane resulting from digesters make really valuable alternative energy sources with an important role to play in the future of renewable energy.
Another example of alternative energy sources that raises collection difficulties is hydrogen. So far, there haven’t been much success with the commercial collection of hydrogen. The challenge is that of implementing the hydrogen production system on the large scale. Yet, this should become a reality in the coming years, due to the increasing pressure to come up with a viable energy source.
Solar energy still holds the top position among the alternative energy sources particularly in warm climates. It is highly efficient for the generation of electricity and home heating. Moreover, there are serious tax reductions and rebates offered by the federal government for the purchase and installation of solar systems. Carefully look into the regulations specific for such situation so that you identify the IRS forms you need to fill.
Always appreciate the efficiency of alternative energy sources in your particular case. The efficiency of the power system could be improved by using two types of renewable energy. Superior energy levels are thus more within reach! Real renewable energy is here!
Indoor Lighting with Solar Lights
Posted by admin in environment on 09 18th, 2009When it comes to any form of solar energy, what automatically comes to ones mind are cost efficiency and convenience. That is why many homes in the US use solar powered equipment in their household as much as possible. Thanks to technological evolution, solar powered equipments take a central place in many people’s lives today. This led to the evolution of the usage of Indoor Solar Lights in many households and became a recommended method of electricity in areas with constant sunshine throughout the globe. Want to learn more about true renewable power?
Indoor solar lights not only help you save electricity, but it also help reduce the green house effect, helping the envitonment. According to statistics from the Energy Star website, if US households switch on to indoor solar lights, $600 million can be saved from energy costs, anually.
By switching to indoor solar lights, you can save a lot of hassle that you may otherwise go through with replaceable bulbs.You obviously need a solar panel system installed in your home in order to utilize indoor solar lights. Indoor Solar Lights can ideally be used in extra rooms such as the garage, storage room or even barns as there is no need for wiring and is extremely convenient. True renewable power is here!
Using Indoor Solar Lights for your entire home though is not recommended due to the unpredictable nature of sunlight within the vicinity. Another reason why indoor solar lights are not suitable for your household is because they are not as bright as electrically powered ones. There are instances where Indoor Solar Lights may not come on at all if the day had been a cloudy one and the solar panel system had not absorbed sufficient amounts of sunlight. Indoor solar lights are usually available for usage during both night and day because energy that gets accumulated during the day gets used up during the night. Although indoor solar lights are a good replacement for electrically powered lights, it is still not a total reliable solution. Therefore, indoor solar light should not be used in the entire house. Totally green energy for your home - are you ready?
SOLAR ENERGY DEBATE HEATS UP
Posted by admin in environment on 08 24th, 2009The world’s demand for all energy forms is anticipated to increase by fifty four per cent over the next two decades, according to forecasts by the US Energy Information Administration.Another long-term forecast from the EIA puts world electricity demand in 2025 at nearly twice what it is now.
Coal, oil and natural gas are among the fossil fuels which provide most of the world’s energy.These release energy when burnt but carbon dioxide is also released into the air during the burning process.These traditional energy resources won’t last forever and are not renewable and burning them leads to emissions which harm the environment, therefore there is a growing need to develop renewable energy sources such as wind, water, solar and geothermal.
Energy from the sun that reaches the surface of the earth is 6 000 times the amount of energy needed on earth a day. Solar energy has been used by humans to meet some of their energy needs since ancient times, but with growing global concern over environmental issues, it is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Energy from the sun is a workable alternative to the traditional energy sources of fossil fuels, and is mainly used for generating electricity and heating water.
In state-of-the-art city skyscrapers and sports stadia to ordinary homes in the heart of suburbia, solar energy provides a clean and cost-effective solution.For eg, the newly finished 55 000 seater stadium in Taiwan is the world’s first stadium to use solar energy technology to produce power. Built for the 2009 World Games, the gigantic 19-hecare structure has nearly 9 000 solar panels on its roof which will generate sufficient energy to power the building’s 3 300 lights and two enormous television screens.
Now that is solar energy on an enormous scale. For ordinary households however, solar power is a real alternative to conventional sources and can meet domestic energy needs cost-effectively and with very little maintenance.
Solar energy experts, Perth based Solar My World, say that by installing photovoltaic or solar panels on a domestic property, homeowners will ultimately save on electricity, add value to the house and contribute to creating a greener Australia.Two solar power systems, grid connect and off-grid, are available for property owners in Perth.
A grid connect system is usually installed in areas that are more built-up and will supply solar power to a household through an inverter.When the solar system generates power that is surplus to needs, that surplus may be ‘on-sold’ to the electricity grid where appropriate.The other type is a standalone system which uses a battery bank for energy storage.This system is more common in remote outlying areas where people have no or restricted access to traditional power sources.
Solar power systems can be designed for AC or DC, and can be expanded to meet growing needs making them very versatile systems.
Energy is the single largest contributor to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and as environmental concerns grow, the call for people to reduce their own CO2 emissions is growing louder.By using solar energy technology to generate power, the new Taiwanese stadium alluded to earlier in this article, will prevent 660 tons of carbon emissions each year.A decision to install solar panels in our homes could just be the energy needed to save the world.
Home Solar Energy Can Help You Lower Your Energy Bill and Save the Earth
Posted by admin in environment on 08 11th, 2009Developing residential solar power is critical to combating the energy crisis we are facing today. The rate we are consuming natural resources, especially non-renewable fossil fuels, is growing at an increasing rate. One example is the rapidly increasing number of automobiles in countries like China and India that didn’t used to have near as many people driving. This is causing skyrocketing demand for resources like oil to produce gas, not to mention the increased demand for non-renewable resources like steel. If we are going to ensure that future generations can enjoy the same standard of living we have today, we must start conserving our resources immediately and get serious about using alternative solar energy sources and other renewable energy sources.
Alternative energy sources like solar power and wind power, can reduce the burden on non-renewable resources. There are many things you can do as a home owner or user of energy to conserve energy, save the environment, and save some money too. Here are a few ideas to consider.
Solar water heaters can save you a lot of money on the energy used to heat your water for showers, laundry, dishes, and everything else you need heated water for. They are more expensive to install than a traditional natural gas or electric water heater, but over time they can pay for themselves with the energy savings you will achieve. You can either buy a water heater designed to use solar energy or you can modify your existing water heater to take advantage of the suns rays to heat your water. This is a really great use of the suns energy!
For anybody that owns a swimming pool, the sun can be a great help in heating up your pool in the spring and fall to extend your swimming season. These systems are so cost effective that if you live in an area where you can get sun to the heating system, you are foolish not to use solar energy to heat your pool up. If you really want to be environmentally friendly, make sure you convert to a salt water pool to avoid the chlorine and install a solar panel to produce electricity for your pump. Once you do that, you can have an eco-friendly pool that is powered completely by alternative solar energy.
One of the oldest uses of solar energy is to use the sun to heat and light your home. During the day, make sure your blinds are open to let the sunlight in and provide some heat. You can also install skylights or light tubes that will let sunlight into your house so you can turn off some lights. On the other side, if you keep your blinds closed when it is hot out, you will block the sunlight and heat which will help keep your home cool. Just use a little common sense on when you want to let the light and heat in and when you want to keep the heat out. Using solar energy in this way costs almost nothing unless you decide to install one or more skylights. If you already have blinds on your windows, it might not even cost you anything.
Last but not least, we need to discuss solar panels. These come in many sizes and do things as simple as store energy during the day to power your sidewalk lights at night or as complex as harness the suns rays to create electricity to power your house. The technology is the same. Basically you convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it in a battery or series of batteries for use later. Large solar panels can be quite expensive, but with the cost of electricity today, there can be a very substantial payback on your monthly electricity bill. If you really produce a lot of electricity, you can even sell some of it back to the electricity company in some areas.
Now you might be asking what you can do if you cannot install solar panels or modify your house or apartment to put in a solar water heater or skylights. You can still help save the environment by purchasing green energy from your electricity company. In many areas, electric companies offer a green energy option which promotes the use of green or renewable energy like alternative solar energy. One such company that offers a green energy option to electricity customers in Texas and New York is Ambit Energy. Check with your company to see if you have the option to select green energy or check out the cheap electricity Ambit Energy offers.
Now that you know a little more about what is out there as far as renewable energy, go start saving money!
Earth4Energy Review
Posted by admin in environment on 08 6th, 2009The Earth4Energy manual is a great step-by-step guide for anyone wanting to build their own solar or wind power generator. By using solar and wind energy you save tons of your hard-earned money and, what is more important, you do not harm environment. Let’s talk more about it.
The guide has helped me to buid a solar panel for just $200 while they cost about $3000 in shops. Believe it or not, I started building solar panels because I was very interested in this theme, I did not even wanted to use them to powe my home. One of my neighbours managed to build a solar panel, so i thought I will manage to do it to. The Earth4Energy Manual was the first guide that I purchased because it comes with video tutorials as well as the written manual.
Earth4Energy contains many types of renewable energy devices, I used only solar panels, however, there are also wind turbines which are also considered very powerful. You know, the most powerful setup is undoubtedly an off-grid setup, it can generate electricity fo your entire house and sometimes even give electricity to your neighbours. But what about the price of the materials?
Another part that I found very helpful in the Earth4Energy manual was where to get FREE solar panels. Some of the required materials are very easy-to-find, moreover, we use some of them every week.
Developing homemade wind power is also thoroughly discussed in this manual. Believe it or not, but a small turbine could cost less than one hundred dollars, you know, they are ten times as expensive in shops. One thing to remember is that a homemade wind power generator is useless if there is no wind. If your wind speed is about 10mph, it is enough to produce electricity and power your house.
If you really want to build a wind turbine or a solar panel to generate electricity, earth4energy is undoubtedly what you need. How does solar energy work
What Are The Best Green Power Options?
Posted by admin in environment on 07 13th, 2009Everybody wants green energy. What is the best way to achieve being able to get the power we need without damaging the environment, which is our obvious goal? Should we be opting for wind farms, hydroelectricity, or solar energy as alternative power? This guide to green living will help us decide
Resources that are regenerative, meaning they cannot be depleted are considered renewable energy. Resources like these produce energy without emissions from fossil fuels and harmful pollutants and are safe for our environment.
Wind farms often receive a bad press, especially when they’re situated near homes or in popular hiking areas. They can make a lot of noise and because they have to be placed on skylines for maximum efficiency they often spoil views. Offshore wind farms are less problematic in this way and can take advantage of fierce sea winds, increasing their output, but they rely on a nation having a lot of suitable coastline.
While the Netherlands does very well with its wind farms, the US is, considering the comparative size of its population, at a distinct disadvantage. For the home-owner, small wind-powered generators are available, but they’re not very efficient and often result in complaints from neighbors.
A much more effective way of generating power is using hydroelectricity that uses tidal forces and the natural energy of rivers. However, there are a limited number of suitable locations for hydroelectric generators, and often these are in areas which already provide fertile farmland, so a lot of people have to be displaced and lose their land in order for them to be built. The impact on local wildlife can also be damaging.
Of these three major options, only solar energy as alternative power passes the test of being truly non-polluting, practical and easy to access. Modern solar panels can still function effectively even in areas where it’s frequently cloudy. Once installed, they require little maintenance and don’t get in anyones way. For these reasons, the greenest way to generate the power we need is by harnessing the power of the sun.
Tips to Save Energy to Go Green and Save the Earth
Posted by admin in environment on 05 17th, 20091. Cooking requires heat and energy, so conserve it to save money. Cover the cooking pan with a lid so that the heat doesn’t escape. Water will boil around 5% faster in pans with a lid on, thereby saving time, energy and your money, as well as giving the environment a break.
2. While cooking in a Oven, keep the door closed. Most modern Ovens have a glass door so as to let you see what’s happening
inside. Use it appropriately. Around 15% of all oven heat is lost every time the door is opened. If you’re trying to bake a Pizza, for example, and you keep opening the door to see how it’s cooking, then you are cooking at 85% of the efficiency, at the sametime wasting energy and money!
3. STOP using commercial cleaning products in your kitchen or anywhere in your house. They are expensive to buy and expensive to produce. Their production is also harmful to the environment. The waste you release after cleaning is also harmful to the environment.
You can make your own cleaner from a mixture of vinegar, salt and baking soda. It will clean perfectly the same way as a commercial product, and it contains no toxic chemicals, thereby helping the environment. It will cost a great deal less too.
To put this into perspective. We dump some 35 million pounds of toxins down our drains every year, just from household and kitchen cleaning products alone. What kind of damage do you think that is doing to the environment? Well, you don’t have to do it anymore.
Here’s another simple recipe for an all-purpose cleaner, courtesy of
Greenpeace:
½ cup pure liquid soap
1 gallon hot water
¼ cup lemon juice
It’s safe and effective, and costs very little.
4. You don’t have to pre-heat your oven for every time your cook, unless you are baking bread and cake. Just put the dish into the oven and switch on, setting it to the right temperature. That way you are not wasting energy which is lost between the time it is pre-heated and you put in the preparation.
5. Cook once in a day instead of twice. This is a great way to save all round. If your oven can hold two chicken pieces, then why not cook two instead of one. Two chickens will cook in about the same amount of time that one will. Now, do the math… You will cut your cooking time in half, thereby saving electricity - and guess what happens to all the money saved! Yep, it stays right in your pocket. This way you have more time for other activities. The time saved on cooking the second time can be used better elsewhere. Remember, it doesn’t have to be just chickens. It can turkeys, beef, etc. And I surely don’t have to mention the environmental benefits.
Independent writer and Internet Marketeer. My website : http://www.make-my-home-green.com
UK Government Introduces “Stealth Tax” on Green Energy
Posted by admin in environment on 03 23rd, 2009It’s absolutely insane. While on one hand we’re facing a dire recession, on the other the cost of basic amenities like gas and electricity is skyrocketing. The poorest in society, often the elderly, are often also the most vulnerable in terms of their health. It is they who are in most need of heating during the colder months. But it is exactly these people who are increasingly struggling to heat their homes.
“Green Energy” is something repeated daily by the government and huge energy companies alike. It is hyped up as the answer to all our troubles. You can save money and save the world at the same time - its just perfect. With this mantra on their lips, they win votes and build wind farms, supposedly for our benefit.
But there’s something fishy about the way the “green energy” issue is used, exemplified by the recent proposal by UK energy secretary Ed Milliband. The “Renewable Heating Incentive” is a plan to build more wind turbines and solar panels to replace fossil fuel energy sources. Yet it’s not the energy corporations who are going to foot the bill for this. It is going to be the bill payer who has to pay for this! The plan aims to charge a levy to energy providers using fossil fuels. But these energy companies then plan to pass the charges on as increased gas and electricity bills.
Gas prices went up by 59% last year, and electricty by 26%. This meant that millions had to think twice about switching on their portable heaters. Going green has been touted as a way for people struggling to pay their bills to lower their costs. But this new legislation harms the poorest in society. Basically, if you have money, you will be able to afford the necessary home improvements to make your house ecologically powered. But if you can’t, and resort to using fan heaters or oil filled radiators to warm your house when the temperatures drop, you’ll be hit with higher energy bills. The same will be true even if you factor in the low interest loans scheme that is supposedly aimed at making it more affordable for people to go greener. If you’re already up to your neck in debts and worried about making rent next month, you’re hardly likely to take out a new loan, low interest or not. One thing we learned from the introduction of student loans, at the time touted as a measure to make university more accessible to lower income families, is that only the middle classes are prepared to put themselves in such debt on top of everything else.
Is this not an unfair situation? To my mind it would be far more just, and sensible, to make sure that the money for such schemes comes out of the mega-profits made by these huge energy conglomerates.They could then use this significant sum to subsidise green refubishment on lower income houses, so that they can benefit from reduced heating bills. Please contribute your thoughts on this matter.
Renewable Resources To Power An Energy Devouring Planet
Posted by admin in environment on 12 24th, 2008The world as it is today is an fuel thirsty place and it’s imperative that we be researching greener channels of power to provide that thirst. We also need to discover better ways of utilizing the current sustainable energy technology that are already in place. We all need to be worried about the impact that is being placed on our earth and how the high cost of energy is affecting us. It makes no sense the amount of energy that is wasted each and every day. People should be more sensible of what they could do to be more moderate in their use. It doesn’t make any sense the amount of energy that is wasted each and every day. People really need to be more aware of what they could do to be more moderate in their utilization. There are solutions to these problems but how willing have people been to carry out these solutions at the present.
One of the more popular forms of renewable energy is wind power. The price of the power it develops is turning very competitive with established methods of energy production such as coal and natural gas. Power used to be created by windmills in the past on the family farm for many years. Back in the day farmers were real trend setters because you could find one on every farm and it was used to provide power not as a yard decoration. It is an identified fact today that the states of Texas, Kansas, and North Dakota have adequate wind to supply power for the whole U.S.
Corn over the past several years has been seen as a savior to our oil dependence. The ethanol that is created from corn is a clean burning energy source and crops can be grown year after year so it is inexhaustible but at what cost. The cost of corn has gone up as the result of this, which is good for the farmer but bad for the consumer. There are better alternative to corn and one of them is prairie grass. It actually produces more energy per acre than corn. Prairie grass grows wild. You don’t have to cultivate or tend to it. It is a chemical free crop that just needs to harvested and processed.
Another renewable energy source we see and hear more of is solar power. There are solar panels that will convert the suns energy into electricity and solar water heating systems to provide hot water. I recently read an article in a solar energy magazine about a family that installed a solar energy system on their home. They lived in Seattle. Of all the place in the world to put up a solar installation. Believe or not they had a respectable payback. Even though this is a very cloudy rainy area the ROI was very amazing.
Solar power offers the chance for people to take charge of their own energy independence and self-sufficiency. The control of power can be decentralized. Maybe that is one of the reasons why there hasn’t been as much advancement as there should be and why costs remain high. Large corporations want to protect their profits and unfortunately it almost seems as though they’d do anything to make that happen.
Regardless there are many alternatives that are now being explored because we know we can’t stay dependent on the oil pipeline forever. Aggressive measure need to be taken to start setting in place and implementing a new energy infrastructure. We can start to benefit from it now but we also need to think of how it is going to be of value to the next generation. You can do something to help make green energy a very real possibility for everyone.
You can learn more about solar power, wind power , and other forms of sustainable energy sources by studying on-line about the subject that intrigues. Be green and help keep the globe healthy and vibrant for our children.
