Recycling Means Everyone Can Do Their Part For Our Planet

There is no denying that you only have one true home. It is not your house, apartment, condo or shack. It is this Earth and it is more valuable to you than you will ever realize. It provides you with food, air and shelter. Would you really not do your part to keep your home clean and free of litter? Recycling is the easiest step you can take towards preserving your home and ensuring it is there for your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Global climate change is a very real threat to the preservation of this planet. You have probably seen television ads focusing on new hybrid vehicles that can help save the environment by producing less toxic byproducts from the burning of fossil fuels. Does the burning of trash cross your mind as ways you can help save the environment. Our landfills are becoming overflowing with hazardous waste and other products that are not biodegradable. Plastic water bottles, disposable diapers and styrofoam containers, to name a few, are all becoming huge problems in most areas of the world.

If you are going to be recycling, then you will need to make sure the recyclables go into the appropriate destination containers. Plastics, glass, aluminum cans and paper products will each have a separate container. You should also consider making a compost if you live in a house that has a yard, that will utilize any yard trimmings and left over food waste.

If every person did their part to help combat overflowing landfills, then we could reduce our waste by fifty percent. That is half the amount going into landfills today. Perhaps there will come a time when we no longer have to continuously find new places to bury our waste. Plastics would be reused. Organic materials would be turned back into the soil to enrich the ground for crops. It is a lovely sentiment and thought but not enough people are doing their part to help make this a cleaner world and prevent global warming causes.

Recycling is a huge responsibility that each and every person should take upon themselves to help keep our landfills free of recyclables that could be better used elsewhere. If you do not know how to recycle, then there are resources in many places to help you getting started. Your local sanitation program can give you information on learning how to recycle and you can find a plethora of information on the internet.

What may cause my kids illness?

Indoor air pollution may not sound too serious, but it does contribute to some terrible diseases like, asthma, respiratory infections, and even lung cancer. You need to be very concerned with pollution indoors because lung disease, every year, claims 335,000 American lives. People constantly warn you of the harmful effects of giant factories, and exhaust from motor vehicles; however they do not often enough discuss the dangers of indoor air pollution. In addition to causing chronic lung problems, poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, nasal congestion, nausea, and dry eyes. It is especially dangerous for someone who already suffers from lung problems, to be exposed to indoor air pollution on a regular basis. You may never suspect it, but the quality of air in your home could easily be polluted by many biological pollutants. Many people get sick and miss days of school and work, when their illness could be prevented by keeping up with good quality air, in the home. You could have a number of biological pollutants in your air such as, bacteria, molds, pollen, viruses, dust mites, and even pet dander. There are many ways to keep things like mold out of your home, and the sooner you learn of these the better your life will be.

Just how badly each person is harmed by pollution will depend on the duration of exposure, as well as the amount they were exposed to during that time. These together, are referred to as the total exposure to the pollution. Elderly people, as well as children usually are more harmed by the effects of air pollution, than a healthy adult. It is also dangerous for people with asthma or lung disease to be exposed to air pollution. People are aware that pollution is harmful and could even kill you like the exhaust from your car,but the benefits we get from activities causing pollution, often outweigh the potential harm, in our minds. It is not until we have felt the effects of air pollution personally that we begin to be concerned with fixing the problem.

This can be done by keeping good air flow in the rooms of your home, and keeping them clean regularly. If your basement is high in humidity, you might need to buy a dehumidifier to keep it from turning into a mold factory. A major cause of indoor air pollution is cigarette smoke. It is especially terrible if a person smokes around non smokers like their children. Environmental tobacco smoke is known to cause 3,000 lung cancer deaths and at least 30,000 deaths from heart disease each year, in non smokers. Another cause of indoor air pollution, that can even cause death, is carbon monoxide. There are many appliances in the home that use gas or wood as fuel, including heating systems, which can release carbon monoxide into your home. This is a serious problem because carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that stops oxygen from getting to vital parts of the body. In mild cases it can cause fatigue, dizziness, confusion, and headaches; however when inhaled in high doses it will cause death. Carbon Monoxide detectors are the only way to detect carbon monoxide in your air. If you don't know ask but before you guess ask how to prevent indoor air pollution.

How To Build Solar Panels – DIY Solar Powered Generator

Many people today have considered solar energy as an alternative for electric energy, since solar energy is free and unlimited in quantity. Throughout this article you will learn how to build solar panels to capitalize on that solar energy for your own benefits.

1. Why You Should Build Yourself

Buying readymade solar panel can cost you $2000-$3000, compare that with building your own self that can only cost less than $500, beside it is a fun process you can learn to do. Let´s take at some basic principles to build your own solar panels successfully.

2. Solar Cells

Solar cells are the necessary equipment for solar panels. Solar cells or known as photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electric energy that you can use to supply your house.

3. A Concise Guide To Build Your Own Solar Panels

The first thing you need to have is semiconductor on the cell´s surface. This is where light will be gathered. Usually the semiconductor is made from silicon. Aside from using silicon, there is another type of semiconductor that uses cuprous oxide. In this case you need to heat copper first before producing the copper oxide.

If you find it difficult you can buy the different parts of solar panel at local supplier and assemble it at once. This is a cheaper method than buying the whole readymade package.

The next step is to loosen the incoming electrons and send it to a pre-determined place.
After building the semiconductor, you need to mix the semiconductor with other elements that have an effect of changing their polarity this way you can create an effect to loosen the electron. The last step is direct the electron to a pre-determined direction and convert it to electric energy.

Michael Harvey has written a guide that provides a step by step guide on how to build your own solar powered generator.

If you want to learn how to generate your own solar power yourself, check out Michael Harvey Earth4Energy guide. Check out my Earth4Energy review here.

The Truth about Ethanol Plant Emissions

If this is the first time you have encountered the term ethanol, this is certainly a good time to know more about it and what it can also benefit us on a personal level and as a country.

Ethanol is a valuable product for several reasons. For one, ethanol is an environmentally friendly product. Compared to gasoline, it is not as harmful to nature. Cars that are fueled with ethanol yield emissions that have fewer amounts of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Ethanol also emits similar or even less amounts of hydrocarbon and nitrogenous oxides. And in recent times there has been a boom in the construction of ethanol plants.

Aside from the environmental benefits, ethanol is also easily accessible and uncomplicated to use.  Several car companies have also appreciated the use of ethanol and are now producing cars that utilize ethanol fuel for their customers. Besides this benefit, ethanol is also favorable to our nation’s economy.

Because ethanol can be generated locally in the United States, we can lessen our dependence on obtaining fuel from other countries. It can be a step to more independence in terms of fuel. Especially in these times when there are conflicting issues with other countries and the steep price needed to maintain our fuel supply, the use of ethanol will be beneficial.

The consumption of ethanol costs significantly less for every gallon. In addition, if ethanol is produced locally, the price of ethanol fuel would be less volatile than the price of fuels obtained from other countries.

The vitality of ethanol justifies the need to increase awareness of the benefits of ethanol on both personal and national levels. If there are more ethanol plants, it will also help us financially. Still, we also need to consider ethanol plant emissions during the production of such fuel alternative. We need to find out if the ethanol plant emissions are worth it.

Some research studies have already been conducted by scientists regarding ethanol plant emissions. Based on the different studies performed over time, results show that although the plants will produce ethanol plant emissions, the amount produced is actually minimal.

Neither will the ethanol plant emissions outweigh the beneficial effects from the ethanol generated or manufactured by these plants. Furthermore, ethanol plant emissions are far less in amount from the huge amounts produced by plants producing other types of fuel. Thus, worrying about it is unnecessary and maintaining our point of view on its many benefits will be far more worthwhile.

Finding Ethanol Plant Jobs

Ethanol is a significant material in the world today. Ethanol offers a number of benefits. One such benefit is that ethanol is a much cheaper alternative fuel to unblended gasoline. For another, ethanol is an environment friendly product. Ethanol is easily accessible and can be used without difficulty. Cars that are able to use the ethanol fuel E85 are available globally. These cars are also designed to come in a variety of forms and designs from car companies. 

Ethanol also provides many benefits to the nation’s economy. The production of ethanol provides support to local farmers. Because ethanol is a material that can be generated locally, it can also create work and ethanol plant jobs within the United States. Ethanol can also lessen our reliance on oil coming from other countries and can add to our country’s independence in terms of energy.

The few things mentioned are only some of the beneficial effects of ethanol. It will surely interest people to know more about this new fuel alternative. If we begin production and manufacturing of ethanol, it is a primary step that can truly help us to decrease our dependence on oil from other countries and to add to the country's independence.

How to Get Ethanol Plant Jobs

Because of the significance of ethanol, ethanol plant jobs are held in esteem. There are countless ethanol plants around the globe, including in North America. If you wish to get one of the ethanol plant jobs, you can look for the ethanol plant located in your area an see if there are any job openings.

Work experience is usually necessary for most of the ethanol plant jobs. Still, there are also some ethanol plant jobs that do not require it. In the latter, if you are indeed hired, you will receive training and learn how to perform an ethanol plant job prior to beginning work. If this is the case, ensure that you are open minded and ready to learn these preparation materials.

Despite the benefits brought by ethanol, a job related to ethanol production also has inherent risks or hazards. It is thus imperative that anyone seeking an ethanol plant job knows and complies with directives and heeds cautionary advice. A necessary thing is to step up and be active in environmental conservation efforts. As a nation, we are confronted with a multitude of global environmental concerns.  Ethanol is a wonderful product that can yield numerous benefits and advantages which we can utilize to our gain.

How Much Does an Ethanol Plant Cost?

Ethanol is a liquid substance consisting of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. It is produced when sugar or starch from grains and other feedstock of the agricultural or agri-forest variety is fermented. Ethanol is an important liquid because of its various features and benefits. It can be used in a variety of ways. For example, there is a kind of ethanol used in the industrial setting. There is also a kind of ethanol used as fuel. These two examples are some of the popular uses of ethanol.

One of the noteworthy advantages of ethanol is the beneficial effects on the environment. Fuels that have the ethanol blend are observed to have notable decrease in the amount of emissions. When we use ethanol, we make a little contribution to environmental preservation.

Factors that Affect Ethanol Plant Cost

Because of the value of ethanol, people may see the necessity of having increased number of ethanol plants. However, we have to think of the amount necessary to construct such a plant and to determine the ethanol plant cost. To such a question, there is just no ready response. Ethanol plant cost varies in amount based on a number of factors.

One primary factor is the ethanol plant design. The size of the proposed ethanol plant, its location and other related issues matter and will have an impact on the probable amount needed to be spent in constructing a plant.

A number of plants for the production of ethanol are currently being built around the country. These plants may become ready for operation and use around springtime or thereafter. It would be good if our nation pays attention to the ongoing construction of these plants and when they will become operational.

These things are important because if we have more of the ethanol available for our use, the more it will benefit us. Generally, ethanol plants are financed by the government. On a more personal note, there are also some plants that are financed by average citizens. If it interests you, there are ways in which you can show your support.

Spend time and research on ethanol plant cost and their benefits. It will give you a good picture of how much it takes for an ethanol plant to be built. It can also help you to know whether or not you wish to support such projects.

Black hole discovered in outer space

A study has confirmed that there is a giant black hole at the centre of our galaxy. German astronomers tracked the movement of twenty eight stars which were circling the centre of the Milky Way using two giant telescopes in Chile. According to reports the super massive black hole weighs four million times heavier than our own sun which is just incredible to try and comprehend.
Black holes are fundamentally objects whose gravitational pull is so incredibly great that nothing – including light – can escape them. The black hole that was found is being dubbed as ‘The Black Pearl’ by the astrologists who found it and they have also explained how galaxies form around giant black holes in the same way that a pearl would form around grit. The Astrologists had pointed out that although the common opinion of black holes is deemed as dangerous they have stated black holes may of had a role in helping to create our galaxy. Not just our own but many galaxies across the vast universe. “They have had a role in bringing matter together and if you had a high enough density of matter then you have the conditions in which stars could form”.
The researchers who discovered the giant space odyssey said the black hole was an incredible 27,000 light years, or 158 thousand, million, million miles from Earth. The most incredible aspect of this lengthy 16 year study is that it has delivered empirical evidence that super massive black holes actually exist. Apparently, the stellar orbits in the galactic centre show that the central mass concentration of four million solar masses must be a super massive black hole, beyond any doubt.
The observations were made using the 3.5m new technology telescope and also the 8.2m very large and powerful telescope in Chile. Both of these magnificent machines are operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

Excellent land agents. Brand new homes.

 

What is Biosecurity?

Biosecurity is the concept of protecting the environment from invasive pests and diseases. Biosecurity covers three areas of intervention - exclusion, eradication, and pest management. These different levels of intervention can be used by themselves or combined effectively to manage any plant or animal pests.

Any plant or animal has the potential to become a pest when introduced to a new environment. The reason is that as you may not know how it will behave in the new environment. In one country a plant could be economically beneficial and in another it can be considered a pest. Gorse is used as boundary and hedge plants in Scotland to great advantage. In the warmer New Zealand climate gorse rampant weed and is a major problem for farmers.

What makes an animal a pest? The possum in New Zealand is a problem as it can attack native plants, like the pohutukawa. It can attack the eggs of some of New Zealand’s endangered bird species. The possum is also a known vector for Bovine Tuberculosis.

Plant species known as invasive species or weeds can out compete, displace and threaten native flora and affect farm pasture. In New Zealand, Gorse is a good example of a plant that affects farm pasture and costs landowners a lot of money to control.

Excluding pests can be achieved on a national scale through legislation for screening and inspection services. This is achievable in some countries like New Zealand and Australia as there are no land borders to control and the distance from other countries reduces the natural spread of animals and plants without human intervention.

Islands, peninsulars and areas with some form of natural border or man made borders can mean that eradication programmes may be successful. A programme to prevent the reintroduction of unwanted plants or animals can be put in place. When looking at physical means of excluding pests, this can be achieved with predator fencing and chemical barriers. Once the barriers are up a programme to remove all current pests within the area can be implemented

Eradication may be the preferred option but may not always be practical to achieve. In these cases pest management control programmes may be the most cost effective way of reducing pest populations and the associated risks. Eradication and pest management plans can be achieved through, mechanical removal, chemical treatment, trapping or shooting. All these methods are dependant on what needs to be eradicated or controlled.

Pest plants and animals can be difficult to control. Plant control and Animal control programmes can last over many years depending on the population density of the plant or animal pest. For some plants the continual threat can come from the potential seed bank in the soil. This means when a programme is implemented it must be continued with for the benefits to be felt.

 

New technology could save water

The average UK household uses roughly 40 pints of water a day using washing machines, this figure has risen sharply over the last few years, since 1990 washing machine usage has gone up by a massive 23% due to the fact that the average household now washes their clothes on average 4 times a week compared to  15 years ago when it was just 3. Through the UK this equals roughly 750 million pints which would fill over 100 olympic size swimming pools.
In the past many people used commercial laundry equipment in laundrettes to wash their clothes but as washing machines have got significantly cheaper this area has now declined.

The British government has said that it wants to decrease water usage by 2010 but as more and more people look to save time and money this target does
look like being met.
But now there appears to be a way that this could all change. "Xeros" is allready being dubbed the new Dyson, which was the bagless cleaner the re invented the way we cleaned in the mid 90's.
The machine uses only 2% of the water conventional large washing machines use which makes it the first virtually waterless washing machine.
The Researchers at Leeds University where this product is being tested claim the technology  could be ready as early as 2009.
It works by the use of thousands of small plastic chips which are around half a centimetre in size which then absorb and remove dirt. Around 20 kilos of these chips are loaded in each wash with a small cup of water, this is then heated to help disolve the dirt and then the chips remove it.
The company behind the product hope this will change the way we wash our clothes and could not only save money but also the environment, it is also hope this technology could be used in commercial dishwashers as well as many other water using household items

Homemade Solar Power – How To Generate Your Own Solar Power And Save Money

In this time of high cost electric energy, having your own homemade solar power can be beneficial especially, because solar power is cost free and abundant in supply. Read on, because we will discuss several advantages and disadvantages of solar power and later on we will tell how you can make your own homemade solar power for a price less than $500.

1. Advantages Of Solar Power

- What I like about solar power is that it is a renewable source of energy, no matter how much you use it. You will always find plenty of it as long as the sun is up. So you can use it over and over again without need to worry it will diminish.

- It doesn´t produce pollution, unlike any other sources of energy that pollute our environment incurring global warming to our world.

- Low maintenance cost. Homemade solar power equipment needs a very low maintenance cost and can last for a lifetime. Unlike any other generators you might just need to check it once a year and it would be perfectly fine.

2. Disadvantages Of Homemade Solar Power

- Unfortunately, solar power cannot be generated without sunlight; some areas have such a bad weather until they have only sunlight few times during the year.

- Ready made solar panel systems are still too expensive since they are not manufactured in large quantities and that could put people off.

How To Produce Your Own Solar Power

Buying homemade solar power is not cheap and can cost you thousands of dollars, however you can build your own solar power equipment for less than $500. You can find almost all the necessary equipments at your local electric store.

Some of the necessary equipments are small solar panel, deep cycle 12 volt battery, box for protection from children or animal, 12 volt DC meter and DC input.

Michael Harvey has written a guide on how to make your solar generator yourself that cost less than $200.

If you want to learn how to generate your own solar power yourself, check out Michael Harvey Earth4Energy guide. Check out my Earth4Energy review here.

Things You Should Know About Solar Energy

There is more to solar energy than the big panels on the roof of homes.  This article is going to expose some of those other solar energy facts.  Back in the 1960's, solar power came to the front.  Very few used it, but today, still less than 1% used it, but today our hybrid cars are running up and down the highway using solar energy.  Solar energy is free.

Our electricity bills get higher each and every year.  We can take this solar power using Earth4Energys kit for a fraction of what it cost us for electricity.  Our environment is in trouble today with green house problems, solar does not damage the environment at all.

Ages ago, we considered people who applied solar energy to heat their houses pretty much as fruitcakes.  Today, the people who were using this energy source are the one's who are laughing.  Each day we watch the monetary value of oil grow and fall.  Never knowing where it is going to be tomorrow.  Then there is the trouble with global warming stairing us in the face.  People who practice the alternative energy source like solar and wind energy are the people who are saving and not to worring about the rise and fall of oil for warming and cooling or running their houses.  

New construction are beginning to take part in the solar arena.  They are being built with the idea of solar or some type of alternative energy.  Big business is concerned about the environment as well.  You can do a lot more with solar other than just warming our homes.  Solar and wind energy can be used for working our appliance's as well as some electronic devices that we use.   We all know about the solared power calculators.  In most cases there is some type of rechargable storage device, but in some cases there is not even a battery needed.  So let's use this to run other things.

If you blend solar energy with wind power, you can even have more of an energy impact.  Heating our homes, working our automobile, operating electronic devices, appliances are just a couple idea's for solar energy purposes. Saving lives is another, such as cleaning water for people to drink in some third world countries.  Solar and wind energy can be used for a lot more than we have even thought about yet.

In order to use solar energy and stay with this technology, more emphasis has to be made on the growing concern over the cost of energy as well as the impact that it has on the eco system.  Both those who are concerned about saving money and those who are concerned with the environment will agree that solar energy is a hopeful means at solving a problem with regard to the higher cost and high impact of today’s types of energy.

Our Energy Devouring World Needs Renewable Resources

The globe as it is today is an energy ravenous place and we need to be researching renewable sources of power to supply that demand. We also need to determine better modes of utilizing the current green energy technology that are already in place. We all need to be worried about the impact that is being placed on our world and how the high cost of energy is affecting us. The energy that is wasted every day is beneath contempt and everybody should take a look at what they could do to be more limited in their usage. It doesn't make any sense the sum of energy that is wasted each and every day. People really need to be more aware of what they could do to be more reasonable in their use. There are working propositions to these issues but how inclined have individuals been to execute these solutions at the present.

One of the more popular forms of sustainable energy is wind power. The price of the power it creates is turning really aggressive with traditional methods of energy output such as coal and natural gas. Power used to be created by wind generators in the past on the family farm for many years. The agrarian landscape used to be spotted with them to supply power to pump water. It is a known fact today that the states of Texas, Kansas, and North Dakota have adequate wind to furnish power for the whole U.S.

Corn has also been touted as wonderful reservoir of renewable fuel. The ethanol that is formulated from corn is a clean burning energy source and crops can be grown year after year so it is renewable but at what toll. This is a two edged sword though. On one hand the farmer benefits with an increase in the price of corn. On the other hand the consumer suffers because they are going to have to pay more at the grocery store. Research has shown that prairie grass would do a better job than corn. It actually produces more energy per acre than corn. Plus you don’t have to cultivate it because it grows wild. All you have to do is harvest and process it and no fertilizer or chemicals are used.

Solar power is another green energy source that we are hearing more about and seeing being utilized. You have the solar panels which convert sunlight into electricity and solar water heater to produce hot water. I've read about people who have placed solar energy systems on their homes in areas you wouldn't think it would work, like Seattle. Even though this is a very cloudy rainy area the return on investment was very amazing.

One of the reasons I really like solar power is the fact that it allows people to become energy independent one home at a time. The control of power can be decentralized. Think about it there hasn't been a lot of money spent on the research and development so costs remain high and the cause doesn't advance. It seems the corporate world definitely like to be in control.

We all know that oil isn't going to last forever. If we don't start doing something about it now than when. We need to get smart about what we are doing with our energy situation and begin to implement a new energy agenda. We need to look to future generations and how it is going to benefit them. Do your part in helping to make renewable sources of energy a bigger reality today.

You can learn more about solar power, wind power , and other forms of green energy by doing more research on the Web about the subject that interests you the most. Become sustainable and help keep the world healthy and alive for our children.

 

DIY Residential Solar Energy

Making a home Solar Panel is fun! Click Here For Solar Panel Videos and More Information! Although solar panels manufacture is a strict quality controlled industry, you can build your own home solar panel, and see how the sun’s energy can be converted to electricity. While most commercial panels are actually made with silicon, you can build your own home solar panel by using cuprous oxide - copper- which causes light to be turned into electricity. You can use a thin sheet of copper to get your cuprous oxide.

Click Here For Videos and More Information on home Solar Panel building!

Here's the list of what you need to make your own home solar panel: one square foot of thin copper plate, two alligator clips and short leads of wire, a wide mouth glass jar, tap water and salt. A voltmeter, which measures small amounts of electricity will detect the end result. The copper sheeting needs to be heated on an electric stove or hot plate, to build your own solar panel. Place the copper sheet on the burner and turn it on high and let it sit there for about 30 minutes. As it is heating up, you can see the plate turning colors. It will show the outline of the heating coil underneath the plate. It will get hotter, hotter and hotter, and then it will start to turn really dark until the whole thing has a dark, black coating.

When the sheet is entirely black, turn off the burner and let it sit to cool for about 20 minutes. As the the cuprous oxide cools the black coating will begin to pop off the sheet, leaving a thinnish coating of red on the copper. This red coating is needed to build your own solar panel, and while the majority of the black can be rinsed off under running water, it should not be brushed clean.

Salt Water Helps Produce The Electricity for your home solar panel: Using the alligator clips, connect the copper sheet to one the top of one side of the glass jar. Attach the other clean copper sheet to the other side of the jar. Mix about 2 tbs (tablespoons) salt with hot tap water, dissolve well and then pour it into jar. Be careful the water does not get on the alligator clips. The two copper sheets should be under water with about 1 inch exposed at the top of the car to build your own solar panel.

Your home solar panel is almost done. Carefully, carefully, place the entire item in the sun-light, that means either through the window or outside ,exposed to the sun. connect the voltmeter to the leads to the two alligator clips and you can see the meter indicate the power being generated by sunlight, if you were able to build your home solar panel. Enjoy the sun's energy from your own home solar panel! You can feel proud!!! Click Here For Solar Panel Videos and More Information

CSP - Solar Thermal Electricity

There are two main types of solar power generation methods used to produce electricity on a commercial scale. Photovoltaic panels, which are the large collections of the systems that you see in small scale on house roofs. Concentrating solar power (CSP) uses thermal solar power, the heat of the sun, to produce environmentally friendly energy.

It’s the way in which concentrating solar power plants produce electricity that we will concentrate on here. CSP plants are capable of producing electricity at a higher maximum capacity than a photovoltaic facility of the same size. They will play an increasingly important role in the move away from fossil-fuel sourced energy to that of renewable energy.

The four main comercially productive concentrating solar power systems are: parabolic troughs, dish / engine systems, fresnel reflectors and central receiver systems. The technology involved with each is proven and either has been or still is in operation around the world with more developments in solar power in progress to try to meet future demands.

Trough systems work by making use of mirrored troughs that are used to focus the sun’s energy onto a receiver tube that is filled with fluid. The fluids are heated to very high temperatures so that super-charged steam is generated. This steam is then directed into a conventional steam generator to produce electricity.

A trough-based CSP plant typically consists of rows of mirrored troughs placed parallel to each other along a north-south axis in what is known as a collector field. The troughs pivot as they follow the sun to ensure that it is continuously focused on the receiver tubes. Thermal storage is also used to allow electricity generation to continue either when the sun is not shining or after it has set. Technological advancements are continuing to prolong this production period in a bid to move to continuous solar electricity production.

Power plants known as Andasol 1, Andasol 2 and Andasol 3 in Spain all use the parabolic trough design, forming a combined 150MW solar power plant. The surface area of the mirrors used to form the energy collection field of Andasol 3 alone is around 500,000m2.

Dish / engine systems are stand-alone units that contain dish-shaped parabolic mirrors that concentrate the sun’s energy onto a receiver mounted above the dish. The receiver takes the energy and converts it into heat which is then converted into mechanical power, similar to a mechanical engine. Each dish / engine unit has a capacity of around 25kW of solar power and it tracks the sun to ensure optimum power.

An example of the dish / engine technology is the Stirling Energy Systems dish called the Suncatcher that will be used in fields of thousands to form a power facility capable of generating over 500MW of electricity

Fresnel relectors are similar to parabolic troughs except they are flat mirrors that focus light onto one receiver. Costs are reduced using this method because the rows are positioned more closely together, there are fewer moving parts and less receivers are required. The receiver is stationary and it is shared by several mirrors.

An example of a recently commissioned CSP plant using reflector technology is the Kimberlina CSP plant in California developed by Ausra. This 5MW CSP power plant is a demonstration of the technology that will be used in much larger scale developments in the future.

Central receiver systems are also known as power towers. Looking as though they're honoring a higher deity, thousands of mirrors called heliostats cluster around a receiver that sits atop a tall tower. As the energy is directed into the receiver it is used to super-heat nitrate salt mixtures which goes on to produce steam that runs a conventional steam generator. The molten salt can be stored for great lengths of time which means that this type of solar energy generates electricity continuously around the clock.

Solar One, Solar Two and the latest power tower, Solar Tres are all examples of central receiver systems. The Solar Tres power plant will be a 15MW facility and it follows on from the successful demonstration power plant known as Solar Two which was located in the Mojave Desert.

Opponents of solar energy cite cost as a limiting factor, but this is being overcome thanks to technological advancements. Already, concentrating solar power plants hold a huge advantage over the traditional fossil fuelled counterparts in the lower impact to the environment. In fact, one of the only impacts that concentrating solar power plants have on the environment is land use.

Solar energy continues to grow and with continued support it will eventually become one of the main sources of electricity around the world. Concentrating solar power has proven to be a renewable energy source with still more untapped potential

How Is Geothermal Energy Turned Into Electricity

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source from deep within the earth. It has already been used to provide power to 1.2 million homes in the United States. It has far greater potential and to both heat and provide electricity to homes and is yet to be properly utilized. That's about to change.

There is an enormous level of energy trapped beneath the earth's surface coming from a list of sources: movement of continental plates, the planet core and decay of naturally occurring substances within the crust as they slide against and underneath each other. Volcanoes, hot springs and steam vents represent the easily accessible points to this energy but most geothermal energy is trapped under the earth’s crust and must be accessed by drilling into the resource and harnessing the energy. The thermal energy in the uppermost 6 miles of the earth’s crust contains 50,000 times the energy of all the world’s gas and oil resources.

What Is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy is the heat stored under the surface of the earth. In some parts of the world where the earth’s surface is thin or cracked, steam and molten rock can escape. These are usually locations of high seismic activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes. If water finds its way into these cracks, it becomes heated and may come to the surface as geysers, fumaroles, hot springs and mud pots.

Parts of New Zealand, Japan, USA and Europe have high geothermal activity. Electricity is generated using high grade geothermal energy such as geysers, fumaroles, hot dry rocks and mud pots. Geothermal energy can also be used as a heating source, for example in Iceland hot water is brought to the surface through a bore , then sent through insulated pipes into homes and radiator panels which provide heat. Over 80% of homes in Iceland are heated this way.

While geothermal energy is a renewable resource and the creation of electricity does not pollute the air, the actual process can pose serious environmental problems. Scientists are not sure how the long-term use of this resource could affect our underground water supplies. Some geothermal tourist attractions at Rotorua in New Zealand have already suffered a decline in surface activity due to the draw-off of geothermal fluid from the underground reservoir by domestic and commercial uses.

Geothermal energy can be broken down into 4 main types – Geothermal energy can be broken down into 4 main types – hydrothermal, hot dry rock, geopressured and magma.

Hydrothermal

This is the only type of geothermal energy that is currently producing commercial quantities of electricity and is derived from hot water and steam formed in porous or fractured rock at relatively moderate depths from 100 metres to 5 kilometres.

The hot water and steam are formed from the intrusion of molten magma into the earth’s crust or the deep circulation and heating of groundwater through faults and fractures.

To generate electricity, hot water at temperatures ranging from 180 – 250 degrees Celsius is brought from the underground reservoir to the surface through production wells and is flashed to steam in special vessels by release of pressure. The steam is then used by being directed into a turbine engine which turns a generator. Ensuring the water levels are not depleted, the used geothermal water is returned to the reservoir.

Geopressured

Geopressured energy comes from hot, pressurised waters containing dissolved methane, trapped at depths of three to six kilometres in sedimentary formations. The water temperature ranges from 90°C to 200°C.

Three forms of energy can be captured from geopressured sources – hydraulic energy from the high pressure, chemical energy from burning the dissolved methane and thermal energy from the hot water.

Hot Dry Rock

In certain cases granite at a depth of 3 to 5 kilometers beneath the ground can get to 250°C. Unlike hydrothermal resources, the fractures and faults required to conduct water to the surface are not present, therefore water must be pumped into the rock at high pressure to create an artificial underground reservoir of steam or hot water.

Obtaining energy from hot dry rock has not been implemented commercially due to the costs, and questions about resistance of the reservoir to flow, water loss and thermal drawdown remain. Costs are coming down though and geothermal technology in general will improve enough to make hot dry rock economically feasible.

Magma

There is still no practical way of extracting the energy potential from magma. Found at depths from between 3 and 10 kilometers under the earth's surface, magma is molten rock reaching temperatures up to 1200°C. Magma is only accessible where volcanic activity or tectonic plate movement occurs.

The Future Prospect of Geothermal Energy in the US

An exciting new development in the future of geothermal energy in the United States has just been announced by the Department of the Interior who have promised to make 190 million acres of federal land available for geothermal power development. This is good news because the proposed land includes no environmentally sensitive areas such as national parks or designated wilderness areas.

By the year 2015 it is estimated that electricity from geothermal power production in the United States can reach 5,500 MW thanks to this new initiative. It’s a positive move that will promote a form of renewable energy that has been used for years, but perhaps not to its full potential.

Build Solar Power Generator – How To Generate Your Own Electricity And Save Money

Commodity price has been increased more than ever before; this brings a toll upon our energy cost. The cost of our electric bills have increased more than ever, this make a lot of people choose solar energy as an alternative solution.

One way is to build your own solar power generator. Now before you laugh it off as impossible, read below and learn how other ordinary people have successfully build their own solar power generator and generate their own electricity.

1. Why Solar Energy?

Why solar energy? Simple, it is free you don´t have to pay anything and unlimited in supply not forget to mention free from pollution. A simple solar power generator can generate enough energy to supply one small house. Most often than not, you will have an excessive supply of energy that you can share with your neighbor.

2. The Cost

You can build a readymade package of solar power generator at Ebay; this will cost you around $2000 to $3000. For those who prefer a cheaper price, you can build your own solar power generator at a price less than $500, what a huge saving!

3. The Equipments Needed

The equipments needed include small solar panel, deep cycle 12 volt battery, box, 12 volt DC meter, DC input. You can find all of those at local electric store for a price less than $500.

One thing I like about solar power is you can use this energy anywhere in the world. Once you have wired everything, your last task is to aim the solar panel in direct sunlight and you can start collecting some solar energy immediately.

4. Conclusion

Building solar power energy is a perfect alternative for people who need a cheaper solution for their electric energy needs. Solar energy are free, unlimited, and don´t produce any pollutant.

You can build your own solar generator at a price less than $500 compare that with $3000 you need to spend if you buy that from Ebay, you can build your own solar generator easily and cheaply.

If you want to learn how to build your own solar generator, i highly recommend you check Michael Harvey Earth4Energy who has several years experience building DIY solar generator. Check out my Earth4Energy review here.

Understanding Your Carbon Footprint

There are still many people who have no concept of what a carbon footprint is or how it is produced. The impact we all have on global warming is reflected not only in our personal production of greenhouse gases but in the products we use. This isn’t surprising, it’s just a fact of life that there are many distractions that take place and we take for granted the imprint we are leaving on the world, just by living.

I'll give you a simple personal example of how my family takes energy use for granted. In our house we have multiple digital clocks and they all run 24 hours a day, one in each room - the microwave, the conventional oven, the CD player, the stereo and in each bedroom all has a clock and each one is sucking up passive energy we could be saving, and we don't give it a thought. It’s just one of the assumed “rights” of living in a modern affluent society, we may not use it but we don’t mind paying for it regardless. It may be a little shocking for some people to learn exactly what the level of carbon emissions they produce each year is, as well as the added costs they are incurring simply by being blase about the little things.

If You Don't Know It, You Can't Change It

The previous heading sums up a whole range of human instincts and precisely describes one of the roadblocks in front of those trying to educate people on the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. It’s only when someone is shown the consequence for the actions of their daily lives that they can begin to grasp the idea that there is a need for change.

It’s not until you’re told that running your car produces around 2 ½ tonnes of carbon dioxide per year that you begin to realise that this could be a problem. The aim is to reduce the number for next year. Now you have given yourself a goal that can be quantified with the possibility of aiming to achieve. Failing to get a definite number with regard to your carbon footprint means that you will be guessing about the amount of carbon dioxide your produce. Any attempt to lower the levels in the future will be all but impossible.

The fact that there is also a corresponding cost benefit to reducing your carbon footprint size should have people flocking to the cause.You save money! The word will continue to leak out while, hopefully, carbon dioxide doesn’t.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Sounds good, but are we really doing enough

http://www.rustic-lodge-lifestyle.com/index.html

We live in a throw-away society

We're wasteful. Not just on an individual level, but on a global scale. Our lifestyle is just not sustainable in terms of the world's resources we consume.

The subject of unnecessary waste in our society came sharply into focus for my wife and me over the last couple of years due to numerous trips to take garbage to the county dump.

When we were renovating our cabin we took construction scrap to the dump on a regular basis (along with our wet garbage). We began to notice a considerable number of perfectly good items that had been thrown out. After observing this for a while (and rescuing numerous perfectly good items along the way), we started to ask, "What can we do about it?"

We started changing our habits to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Although we may think we can't make a difference individually, small steps taken on an individual level can and do make a difference. We must each do our own small part to minimize the waste and excess consumption in our society. Change is possible... indeed, it's absolutely necessary.

One of the greatest challenges in doing this is the constant bombardment from the media... the non-stop stream of powerful advertising attempting to convince us that we need the latest and greatest gadgets, toys, electronics, cars, and on and on. It's a powerful and extremely effective influence.

And it seems that, unfortunately, a lot of people are too lazy and/or simply don't think about the fact that something that they are throwing away could be used and appreciated by someone else. Nor do they think about the landfill being taken up by perfectly good and useful items.

Our dump experience spawned the idea of a series of short video vignettes that would highlight this sad situation. Although the topic is serious, we wanted to have a little fun with it in order to highlight the number of perfectly good items that were being thrown into the dump every week. Thus was born "Adventures with Fitzgerald the Dump Truck". The episodes can be seen on the Rustic Lodge Lifestyle home page.

What can you do?

Are you concerned about rampant consumerism and the corresponding waste? If so consider taking some of the following steps:

Turn off

Break free of commercials by limiting your exposure to them... and if you have children, this is even more important. Setting the right example becomes paramount in teaching the next generation that it is not necessary to have the newest, most recent model of everything!

Teach them that happiness does not come from a store! We don't expose ourselves to the onslaught of commercial messages. We rarely watch TV, we listen to public (commercial-free) radio, and have a limited number of subscriptions to magazines that come to the house.

Consequently we are blissfully unaware of so much of the product marketing and thus are not even tempted to rush out to buy this or that "must have" gizmo. We've never had a TV at our country lodge, so when the grandchildren visit, there is no temptation to watch it... it just isn't part of the "lodge experience".

Critically assess your habits

What are you throwing away? Get in the habit of looking critically at all of your household waste. Is it really garbage? Can it be put to use by someone else? Can you compost your wet garbage? Are you recycling everything that you can? We have two or three charities that call us regularly to ask if we have any donations they can pick up. Some of them let us know we can call them any time for an additional pickup of clothing and household items. Check for charities that offer this service in your area.

Taking this simple step would see items such as toys (we've seen full boxes of perfectly good stuffed toys at the dump - some brand new with the tags still on), other toys, bikes, chairs, lamps, tables and other furniture, and much more, put to good use.

Episode one of the "Fitzgerald" series highlights many of the items that we rescued from the dump. Other episodes show many perfectly good items that had been thrown away, but which we personally didn't take.

Challenge each other

Families can get together and set up challenges to minimize waste. At the office, organize a waste awareness day. Get your boss involved... or if you are the boss, you set the tone. Even neighborhoods can activate to increase awareness.

These are just a few suggestions to start the creative juices flowing. Each one of us must start taking individual responsibility to reduce the resource footprint on our fragile planet. Reducing our personal waste by limiting thoughtless consumerism, and through reuse and recycling are important actions we can all take.

Consider the Environment and Discover the Solar Energy Facts

We hear about solar energy on an nearly daily basis.  But are we hearing real solar energy facts or is there are lot of talk filled with opinions which cannot be backed up with hard evidence.  Since this is becoming a hot political topic there are many solar energy facts out there which are not quite as substantiated as we are lead to believe.

One of the reasons why solar power is so topical is because it is a renewable energy source.  This means that, unlike energy which is dug or drilled out of the ground, it is not going to run out. 

Another important solar energy fact is that it is a clean energy source.This means that it does not increase levels of hazardous greenhouse emissions and it does not produce any other emissions which are currently considered to be dangerous to our ecosystem.

Solar energy facts concerning its versatility are a bit vaguer.  This is due to the current problems with efficiency and storage.  If you are considering converting to solar power completely you may want a solar powered car.  This is possible, but you will probably find that you are going to have a difference in performance levels between your traditionally fuelled car and your solar powered.  So it is true that you can have a solar powered car, but there will be sacrifices.

So if you wanted to go green and have everything solar powered, would it be possible?  Well, one important solar energy fact is that manufacturers are cashing in on the idea and they are pricing solar energy powered products much higher than traditionally powered similar products.

So is solar energy cheaper to run?  This is a maze of information and extracting the solar energy facts of this one is not easy.  Once solar energy systems are installed they are cheaper to run.  The sun will shine for free and every time she shows her face you will be gaining power to either use, store or sell.  In some areas you can sell your excess solar power back to your local energy supplier.  This all sounds very good, but there are a lot of upfront costs which you will have to recoup before you are making a profit, so don’t get too excited too quickly.  The only way to truly establish if you could run solar powered without breaking the bank is to get one of the solar powered companies to come and do a home assessment.  During this they will advise you of the work which would be required to convert your home to solar power.  This should include the cost parts and the amount of energy you are likely to be able to produce.  Most companies will be able to review your current energy use and be able to tell you if you will be short and need to top up with traditional sources of energy or if you will be selling back to the local supplier.

One solar energy fact you can be sure of is that solar energy is here to stay.  We just don’t know what percentage of our energy usage will be solar and how quickly this change over will happen.

Solar Power's Past

Click Here To Learn How To Create Your Own Solar and Wind Energy System. Solar energy is for everyone simply because the sun shines in every corner of the planet. In fact, the history of solar energy can be traced back to the Greeks that were then passed on to the Romans which marked the first people to ever use the passive solar design.

Passive solar design is a way to warm the home based on the dwelling’s design. They may not have had glass windows back then but their architecture made it possible for the people to use the sun’s rays to light and heat indoor spaces. As a result, there was no need to burn food that often which was in short supply.

In 1861, Auguste Mouchout invented the first active solar motor. Unfortunately, its expensive price made it impossible to produce commercially. Less than 20 years later, Charles Fritts invented solar cells which will later on be used to power homes, heaters, satellites and other devices today. But before installing anything make sure to look into compare house insurance quote to the impact of any system you install.

Since what he invented was very primitive, other people experimented on solar energy. One such person was Albert Einstein who won the Nobel Prize for physics in his research on the photoelectric effect which is a phenomenon associated with the generation of electricity through solar cells.

In 1953, Bell Laboratories  which we know today as AT&T labs developed the first silicon solar cell capable of generating a measurable electric current. Three years later, solar cells ran $300 per watt. With the Cold War and the Space Race on, this was used to power satellites and crafts.

But the biggest event in the development of sola energy occurred during the oil crisis of 1973. This prompted the US government to invest heavily in the solar electric cell that was developed by Bell Laboratories 20 years ago. 

By the 1990’s, research towards solar energy came to a standstill as the price of oil dropped in the world market. Funds were diverted elsewhere and the United States which was probably the leader in this form of alternative energy was soon surpassed by other nations mainly Germany and Japan.

In 2002 for example, Japan had installed 25,000 solar panels on rooftops. Because of that, the price of solar panels went down as the demand for it was on the rise. To date, solar energy is growing at a modest 30% per year.

Although there have been improvements in solar energy, its fundamentals are still the same. The sun’s rays are collected and then converted into electricity. Aside from powering homes or office buildings, the technology has been used to power aircraft, cars and boats.

Unfortunately, none of these have been made available yet for public use. We still rely heavily on oil for electricity, gasoline for our cars, fuel for planes and ships. And while we can't use solar just yet yo can save money on car by having a look at Get Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes Online.

In fact, the US is one of the biggest oil users in the world. To prove a point, the department of Defense consumes 395,000 barrels per day because of the wars being fought right now in Afghanistan and Iraq which is almost the fuel consumption of an entire country like Greece. 

This has to change because our oil reserves are almost depleted and many experts believe that global supply for these non-renewable resources will be gone before the end of the century. We have to do our share to push for renewable energy and one of them happens to be solar energy.

Solar Power Vs Wind Energy: Which is Best?

Click Here To Learn How To Create Your Own Solar Energy System. Today in center stage is a battle for the ages. On the right corner, packing a hurricane punch yet is known to move softly as a breeze is wind power. On the left corner, with a scorching hot aura, moves in a speed of light, is solar energy. Wind power versus solar energy, which one is going to be declared the champion of the alternative energy movement?! Let’s get ready to rumble!

Or something like that. I apologize for that intro but I just can’t help. I figured that if I was going to match one alternative energy resource against the other, then I’ll make some extravagant introduction. Just imagine the drum rolls.

Actually, there is an existing debate among environmentalists and even scientists on which energy resource should be developed first given their advantages and drawbacks. Staying away from the personal biases, numerous studies have shown that overall, wind power is more cost effective than harnessing the sun’s energy. Let’s see the reasons behind that conclusion.

Harnessing the sun’s energy can be done by a number of ways. But probably the simplest way which can be applied in a small home is by using photovoltaic cells or PV or solar cells. What happens is that sunlight hit the surface of a photovoltaic (PV) panel which responds by creating free electrons which is channeled to generate an electric current.

Wind power on the other hand utilizes a propeller and a shaft system which has a magnet wrapped by a coil of wire inside. As the wind turns the propeller and the magnet inside, the electrons in the wire are forced to move along the wire producing an electrical current.

Both ways are quite simple but the complexities now lies on the costs of producing the necessary equipment especially the mechanisms that will maximize the power output. Also have a look at cheap home insurance quotes for further thoughts. When costs of production of photovoltaic cells and wind turbine are compared, the latter is much cheaper to produce. Although, manufacturers of photovoltaic cells stress that as the demand on PV cells increase, the costs of production decreases. So its just a matter of time before PV cells become price competitive.

Other problems include the logistics of placing the equipment. A solar panel requires quite a large space plus, your location on the globe will affect the amount of sunlight you receive and consequently the amount of power you produce. The further away from the equator you are, the less amount of sunlight you can harness. Also, on the average, the PV cells have a 15-20% efficiency rate.

The problem with wind power on the other hand is that not all areas will have winds favorable for a turbine. And if you do locate a place where winds are strong and the turbine can be maximized, you’ll find that the area (more often than not) is inhabited by various species of birds. You don’t want to kill birds with your turbine, do you?

Now going back to our wind power vs. solar energy match-up, indeed we do have to agree that wind power is more cost efficient. However, both alternative energy resource will play a big role in our future.

It is, therefore, in my humble opinion that we both develop the two technologies simultaneously for each one has their advantages and disadvantages and each one can be properly utilized for specific areas. To save money right be sure to also check out free auto insurance quotes online.

Solar Energy - How Does It Benefit the Agricultural Sector?

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Solar and Wind Power System. What is solar energy? To put it simply, this is the energy coming from the sun. The heat and light that the sun provides are essential to life. Can you even imagine life without the sun? It will not be normal and there are lots of things and experiences that people can no longer indulge into if ever that will be the case.

Everybody relies on the sun for its benefits. Did you know that the earth gets 174 petawatts of insolation or the incoming radiation from the sun? This happens at the upper part of the atmosphere. Almost 30% gets reflected back to the space. The rest of the percentage is being absorbed by the clouds, land masses and oceans.

The Agricultural Sector
If you can think of one industry that won’t survive without the energy coming from the sun, what will be the first thing on your mind? There may be many sectors that must rely on the sun’s benefits such as home where you need to get cheap home insurance quotes first. But the agricultural and horticulture industry will not thrive without it. They have no other options. If the sun will be gone, these sectors will die.

The sun is need by the agricultural and horticulture departments to be able to grow their produce. The latter is needed by people as well as animals. These sectors’ productivity will depend on the amount of energy that they are getting from the sun. It must be balanced in all ways. It can never too little. And it must also not be so much.

If it is too little, the plans may not be able to grow accordingly. The farmers won’t achieve the required harvests in order to feed the population. And if it is too much, this will damage the crops. This will also cause bad effects on people’s health. But if the latter is the case, people can think of ways in order to achieve the needed produce by manually trying to reduce the amount of heat that can be directed on the plants. But if the situation becomes unbearable, it might lead to drought and deaths.

Farmers must know when the sun will be up, when sunny days will be long and factors like that so that they can settle for what kinds of plants they must plant to survive the kind of weather condition. Here are only some of the things that they resort to in order to optimize the full benefits of the energy coming from the sun.

• Timed planting cycles

• Different heights of plants in between rows

• Tailored row orientation

• Mixing different varieties of crops to improve the yields

Do you ever wonder what farmers did in times like the Little Ice Age? It is said that English and French farmers resorted to fruit walls. These fruit walls help in maximizing the collection of the energy from the sun. These serve as the thermal masses. These walls help in keeping the plants warm to speed up the process of growing and ripening of produce.

The sun’s energy is also being utilized in these sectors in vital activities such as drying the crops, pumping of water, drying animals’ manure, brooding of chicks and a lot more.

It is hard to imagine the agriculture and horticulture sectors to survive without the solar energy. If there are anybody who knows the importance of the sun, these people are the first in line. Morover, if they get on line insurance quotes they may find they have a further advantage as well.

Home Built Wind Generators - How To Make A Windmill

Inflation in the price of utilities, like electricity and gas, is provoking a rethink on using alternative methods to generate power. If you have taken a car journey to any remote parts of the country, you will porbably have seen banks of wind turbines scattered acros the countryside or even in parts of the sea. They are generally hard to miss as they are massive pylon like constructions with a large rotor at the top. The rotors are turned by wind power that is converted to electrical power by a generator. This is sold to homeowners by the utility companies.

Many people are looking at building a wind generator that makes electricity to offset their normal energy use. This can help to reduce your energy bills and also lessen your reliance on traditional sources of energy, like coal and gas. This article will discuss how to go about making a home built wind generator.

Why a Home Built Wind Generator ?

Traditionally wind generators are found in remote or isolated homes that have to find alternate ways to create power rather than rely on the grid for power. Generally the home will have a good amount of space to erect a wind generator. In most cases it is used alongside other energy generating methods. Thus it can be used in combination with another energy generating system, like a gas powered generator or, more commonly these days, a solar power system.

The advantage of having a solar/wind energy generating set up is that the wind can work at all times but is more likely to be effective when the sun is down and the solar power system doesn't work. Thus your hybrid energy creating system is fully operational all the time.

Two considerations when it comes to windmill generators is that you have enough wind and enough space. If your home is in a residential area then you may want to consider the feelings of your neighbors as they will be unhappy about a large (and even loud) structure blocking their view or other factors. It is good practice to inform your neighbors that you are embarking on such a project as it will keep them on side and more tolerant during the construction.

Kit Versus Do It Yourself

The next question is whether to buy a kit or do it yourself. The basic argument for each option comes down to the cost. A kit will cost more but you will probably find it easier to put up and may well save time on the project. You may even get support from the vendor when installing the system if you are not comfortable with DIY work.

A home built system will be cheaper to make but will be harder to build and will probably take more time to complete. You expertise in DIY will be a factor in this. You can make your life a little easier by getting one of the many DIY manuals that can be found on the internet or in bookstores now.

A home made wind generator that is made from one of these manuals will cost about $200 (excluding your time) so it can be far more cost effective than buying a kit or getting a professional to construct the system.

The quantity of electricity that your wind generator can produce will be determined by the amount of wind, how consistent it is and the size of your system. Where you live and the wind conditions can determine whether a generator may just reduce your utility bill by a few dollar each month or be a significant source of your energy needs.

Get more information on a step by step guide to building your own wind generator and a solar power system at Earth4Energy and many other facts and figures about alternative energy at solar power appliances 

Conserving Energy Through Solar Power

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Renewable Energy Energy System. As an ordinary person who lives according to what the day brings, have you ever thought about how to conserve solar energy? Do you even care? You may think you are an ordinary worker, or a simple wife or mother. Should you even care about such things? The answer is yes.

You must bear in mind that you are part of a whole spectrum of nature. Whatever you do will affect all the things around you. Everything must be conserved, including solar energy. Here are some suggestions to throw in your little efforts to achieve this goal.

1. Plant trees. Nature works wonders. Every element around us affects everything else. By planting trees, you will be able to maximize the energy coming from the sun. This will be directed to help the plants grow and produce harvests. With healthy plants and trees rooted to the soil, the soil will be firm. This will be able to hold its structure even in times of natural disasters.

2. Limit your use of the energy coming from the sun. With today’s innovations, there are lots of things that are being developed to use solar energy as a power source. The source may be free. But to be able to turn it to such power source, there are things that are utilized for this reason. If you will abuse the use of such technology, the crash of the materials used to put this up will be fast. This will take a toll on you especially if you rely a lot on this advancement.

3. Teach kids about the importance of solar energy. You can gain knowledge through research and through your everyday interaction with other people about this thing called the solar energy. You must tell your kids about its importance, they must be educated about it at an early age. They are the future of the nation. What you teach them now will be instilled to them until they grow old. At such a young age, they must know about how they can contribute to conserve energy.

4. Take good care of nature. This is the most important thing that you can do to help advance such cause. The sun can cause damage to people and nature if people won’t do the necessary steps to care for nature in the first place. There are lots of things that you get from the environment. It wouldn’t hurt to look back every now and then and see what you can do to give back to what it has already given to you.

The idea here is that everything in this life must be conserved. You cannot abuse the power that you posses to gain so much without even thinking how your actions affect the world around you. It is all right to go with the flow of the continuing advancement of the technology. Always be sure to cehck out option for your home with cheapest house insurance quote.

Look at the options available to you nowadays with regards to solar energy. This can be used to power homes and vehicles (mkae sure to look at Your Online Automobile Insurance Quote Is Here first). This can give light, heat water and cook your food. This can give you satellite television and phones for supreme entertainment and communications enjoyment. This can give you luxuries like spas and warm water at pools.

You must learn everything on how to conserve solar energy so that you can do your part in making sure that such resource will be available as long as you live.

Interesting Facts About Solar Power: Some Things You Didn't Know

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Solar and Wind Energy System. There are lots of interesting facts about solar energy. Educating yourself about this will prove to be beneficial in the long run. You can share the information to your loved ones. You can teach them of ways on how they can help to conserve the energy. You can also do your share to help this method to advance if you are a genius in the field. But if you are an ordinary citizen who only wants to enjoy, then feast on. But remember that you also have responsibilities to the environment that you must accomplish in order to do your part in the whole scheme of things.

The Facts that Matter

1. Solar radiation makes it possible for the energy coming from the sun to be used as power source and energy that can in turn be used for many purposes. The technology on this aspect is characterized in two ways. They can either be passive or active. This will depend on the methods that are used to get, convert and allocate sunlight.

What are active solar techniques? These utilize pumps, photovoltaic panels and fans to renovate sunlight into useful resources. These aim to increase the energy supply that is why these can also be referred as supply side technologies. The passive solar techniques, on the other hand, use only selected resources with constructive thermal properties, utilize the kind of spaces that can circulate air naturally and apply the position of buildings and structures towards the sun. These will lessen the need for other sources and can also be referred as the demand side technology.

2. Solar energy has influenced many factors that surround people. This can be referred in planning and designing buildings. This process can be rooted back at the early days of the architectural history. The Greeks and the Chinese first used such factor in building and constructing their architectural pieces and on their planning methods.

3. Solar energy is also being utilized by the agricultural sector because they rely heavily on its benefits in order to gain more harvest. They developed ways in order to plant the kind of crops that will grow according to the amount of sun that they will be getting for the season. This can also be used to dry the crops, pump water, brooding of chicks and to dry animal manures that can later be used as fertilizers.

4. On seasons like the Little Ice Age, fruit walls were used by French and Chinese farmers to be able to collect and store solar energy to help them keep the plants warm and to speedy up the process of ripening of fruits. These walls serve as the thermal masses. The fruit walls that were first developed were perpendicular to the ground and faced the south direction. Over time, innovations were done and slopping walls were used to gain more advantage from the sun.

5. To convert the solar light into heat, people have developed greenhouses. These enable the production and cultivation of specialty crops all year round. Such innovation made it possible for crops to be produced in untimely seasons and in places where you think that those plants won’t grow.

6. People have even manged to build solar powered cars. Unfortunately most people can't buy one yet. So in the meantime be sure to look into compare car insurance quotes.

And these are only some of the interesting facts about solar energy. These give you a good peek at how wonderful nature is and how people have developed ways to use it to advance in many aspects of their lives. Before using it on your home be sure to look at home insurance quote cheap.

You Need a PV System to Generate Solar Energy

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Solar Energy System. Solar energy has been around for quite some time. In fact, now is the best time to get it if you want to cut your electric bill and do your share to protect the environment.

For that to happen, you will need to buy a PV system. This is designed to reduce or eliminate the amount of electricity you purchase from the utility especially when there could be a price increase in the next few months.

The best part about the PV system is that it generates clean electricity which is clean, reliable and renewable since it does not emit any harmful gases into the atmosphere. Just be sure to see about homeowner insurance quote.

The PV system must be placed in an area that is free from any obstruction otherwise, it will not be able to capture the sun’s rays.  A lot of experts say that the south facing roof is best while the east and west is sufficient. If the roof is not available, it can be mounted on the ground.

You should know that PV systems come in various sizes so you should get the one that matches our electrical needs. If you consume about 6,500 kilowatts a year, then a PV system within the 3 to 4 kilowatt range is right for your home. You can measure this by reviewing your past electric bills and making some projections.

Naturally, the size of the PV system will determine the amount of space needed.  If you do not use that much electricity, 50 square feet may be sufficient. However, a larger system may require a little over 600 square feet. Just remember that a kilowatt of electricity requires an area of 100 square feet.

Solar energy is converted with the help of an inverter since this is what changes direct current to alternating current. You will also need batteries so excess energy may be stored so you can still use solar energy during the evening or during a power outage.

The size of the PV system is also in direct proportion with the cost. Most cost from $9 to $10 per watt and when you include installation, the bill may reach be from $10,000 to $20,000.

The cost of the PV system should not discourage you from investing in solar energy. People who use it are able to get tax rebates and it will also increase the value of your home.  With that, the only thing to do now is to call a reputable solar energy provider. 

One other thing you should know about the PV system is that this should also be connected to your grid. For this to work, you have to enter into an interconnection agreement with your utility.

This agreement will address the issue with regards to the terms and conditions under which your system is tied up with them. This also includes what is known as net metering which allows you to bank any surplus electricity that your system generates on the electric grid in the same manner that you will be charged accordingly should you consume more electricity than what you have banked.

You need a PV system to generate solar energy. You just need to know what size of a system you require so this can be installed by your solar provider. And for your car you can visit free car insurance quote on line.

Why Solar Power Has Not Yet Hit The Mainstream

Click Here To Learn How To Install Your Own Solar and Wind Power System. Between you and me, we know that solar energy is a good renewable energy resource and that we should start to utilize it more especially when the Earth’s fossil fuel reserves are slowly dwindling and will run out in 30 to 50 years. We better look at the various alternative energies and begin a fast tracking of development to hasten our independence on non-renewable fossil fuels. And solar energy is as good as any other alternative energy resource out there. However, several arguments against solar energy have been raised through the years. But probably the most convincing argument is the high costs of solar energy utilization.

The problem with solar energy is that you can only harness it during the daytime. And even when the sun is up, the sunlight will be interrupted by occasional cloud covers, rains, fog, and even smog. So in order to harness the sun’s energy we need equipment that can get as much solar power as possible at a given time and we need some way of storing that energy so we can use them without ay interruptions. Right now you can barely run a car on one, but you can see about free car insurance quote.

We do have the technology to harness the sun’s energy, convert it into usable electricity, and store them for future use. And that technology itself is the primary reason why solar power has not caught on even today. The process of making solar panels as well as the technology for storing that harnessed power remains to be quite expensive.

The good thing about this fact today is that due to the recent increase in the costs of fuel and gas, solar power is no longer a far fetched alternative. The gap between the costs has gone down considerably and hopefully in the near future, the costs of solar energy production will be quite competitive.

Furthermore, the costs of photovoltaic cells are indeed quite expensive that contemporary oil and gas equipment. But one of the flaws of the argument of costs is that people tend to limit their perspective of solar energy as to only referring to photovoltaic cells. There are other means of harnessing solar energy and not all of them are as expensive as PV cell manufacturing.

One way of getting the sun’s energy and converting it into usable electricity is the concept of solar thermal plants. In solar thermal technology, various solar collectors are utilized to generate heat which can be applied from the simplest heating and ventilation of houses to the production of massive amounts of electricity. The use of mirrors or lenses to reflect sunlight to towers equipped with liquids that heat up and produce steam. The steam then turns turbines which in turn generates the electricity needed.

The process adds another step compared to photovoltaics which converts solar energy directly into electricity. Nevertheless, solar thermal systems of power production is cheaper that the production of PV cells. For a larger consumer market, it seems that solar thermal energy is the way to go.

Regardless, the point here really is to emphasize that solar energy has more to offer. The cost of production is a valid argument against solar energy but still there are ways around it. Costs can be minimized by using other techniques of harnessing solar energy or future developments in the field of science and technology will produce products that are more cost efficient that what are available today. In the mean time you can save money for your house with home owner insurance quote online.

Solar Energy Promises You of Obtaining Useful Advantages for Your Life

Most people actually already have basic understanding about solar energy. Discussing about solar energy will be near to talk about how the sun can produce inexpensive energy. In reality, many people have used the sun's power to heat water and air for several energy resources. Furthermore, lots of people shift to solar energy since it is the cleanest and most viable form of renewable energy.

Solar power detains the sun's rays by using photovoltaic cell that changes the energy into electricity in order to supply electrical energy. In fact, electrical energy can be converted to the type 120-volt alternating current even though the electricity produced is only 12-volt direct current.

Usually, power converter is used to wielding this energy by most household electrical appliances. In addition, the number appliances that operate on 120-vot direct current are rising these days. They do work with solar energy even though most of them were designed for portable use by being plugged into a vehicles 12-volt outlet.

Business or homes can safe the expenses of energy by using the solar energy. Since the present crop of solar cells, the grouping of photovoltaic cells that convert the energy into electricity only operates at about 15-percent efficiency, so many of them are required that it is costly to install enough of them to give the power needs.

Return on Investment Provides Inexpensive Electricity

Even though the present high initial cost, once a facility has been converted to solar energy they can use far less power from the utility grid. The more power that is improved from the sun the less electricity is required, putting a significant dent in the electric bills. It is estimated that the initial cost of converting an regular home to solar energy will be recouped in about 15 to 18 years.

During that time, electric bills will be much lower and once the charge has been recovered, the payoff can be implausible. The investment is considered worthwhile with most of the components needed to turn on a home on solar energy having a warranted life of 20 years. However, not all appliances, such as electric heaters and those that use a large amount of power for operation, may still require more than the sun for their use.

Numerous houses that have turned to solar energy remain connected to the power grid. It commonly happens for the times that the sun is not shining strong enough. The power grid is used to power the solar cells as well as to have enough electric to power some of the more energy-hungry devices in the house.

Solar energy will help to find inexpensive energy that last very long. To get more information, you can explore this useful site about solar energy.

Net Metering and Solar Energy

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Renewable Energy Power System. You can’t help but get into net metering when you decide to invest in solar energy because you sometimes consume more or less than what you actually generate.  When you consume less energy, your electric meter spins backward, if you use more then it goes forward.

Net metering is simply a special metering and billing agreement between you and the electric service provider. You are eligible for this if you reside in a residential area and generate some form of energy using solar, wind energy or a combination of both. It also has to be located on your premises and connected to the grid.

For this to work, you need to have a meter capable of moving in both directions. Most meters these days can do that but if your provider wants to use two meters, they will have to pay for it. However, if you enter into a time of use billing agreement, you will have to be one to buy the unit.

The net metering agreement works by letting you use the electricity you generate first before you use what you normally get from your electric service provider. Your meter should show the net which is measured as the difference between the electricity you purchased and what you actually purchased.

The benefit of the net metering system is that it allows you to store electricity when you are not there and then use it the moment you get home. Since there is a law that expands net metering, you can take advantage of it by generating electricity during peak hours and then using it during off peak periods.

Another benefit is the fact that you only pay the net electricity that you use. If you consume below the baseline, you pay less and more if you go over it. If what you use offsets what you normally get from a provider, then you will most likely pay a lower rate.

Since you entered into an agreement with your provider, you will still be billed monthly. This will state the amount of power you generated and the amount you actually consumed. On the anniversary of your agreement, you will be billed for the previous 12 months but you can also request for this on a monthly basis. Keep in mind that you will not be paid for the excess generation of electricity in a given year although some do.

If you want to use solar energy, you have to contact your electric service provider and ask if they offer net metering (besure to look at free house insurance quotes online to see how this will affect your rates). When the papers are drawn up, remember that they cannot require you to pay for any meters beyond the bi-directional meter. They cannot conduct any tests or impose any requirements if it meets existing national standards for grid-interconnected systems. Lastly, you don’t have to buy additional insurance or buy power from any of their affiliates.

Net metering is a policy and also an incentive when you decide to use solar energy. This is because you reduce the number of kilowatts used by your electric service provider which in turn decreases the emissions of carbon dioxide into the air. 

If you happen to live in either New Jersey or Colorado, consider yourself lucky since they have the best net metering policies in the US. In fact not all states have such a policy in place for people who decide to use solar energy. Just be sure to look into the insurance implications of such schemes with on line insurance quote.

The Drawbacks of Solar Power

Click Here To Learn How To Create Your Own Solar and Wind Power System. Not that I’m against using solar energy or anything but there are some downsides of using solar energy. My intention is to illustrate these disadvantages so that people can realize the other side of the coin to prepare them and not so much as to dissuade them from using solar energy. I am for everything that can save the planet. View this article as an introduction where we can still improve the current technologies involving solar energy.

One of the first and major drawbacks of using solar power is the costs. The expense is considerably higher than the conventional electric installation. From the purchase to the initial installations of the solar panel unit, the cost is a significant factor to consider. The high costs of solar power panels lie on the expensive semi-conductor materials that convert sunlight into electricity.

However, as technology progresses and as the need slowly increases, the costs of solar panels are expected to go down, something on the level of being competitive with other energy resources.

Another to consider is space. We’re talking about installing a solar panel which is not small. It requires a significant amount of space which also helps maximize the amount of sunlight it can collect and convert into electricity. Some households will have the panels installed on their roof others will designate a place for it on the year or on top of a pole (look as house insurance quotes as since this could have an impact. The same space problems will need to be readdressed once you decide to add panels when your current setup is no longer enough for your family’s needs.

Positioning is also vital. The solar panels will need to be facing a direction where it will receive the most amount of sunlight in a day. However, there is always a solution. If space does not permit such installations, there are some add-ons that can help maximize sun exposure.

Aside from the location and positioning of the panels relative to the sun, another aspect that you might want to consider is the amount of pollution in your areas. The degree of air pollution in the area might also be a factor in producing electricity. The smog as well as the clouds in the area can affect the amount of sunlight that reaches the panels. One way around this predicament is to purchase more panels so can gather more than enough sunlight to power your home.

At night, you might encounter a problem with relying solely on solar power. Although the solution here is to purchase batteries which you can charge during he day and use at night. You will need a couple of batteries though to be able to sustain your electricity needs through cloudy, stormy or smoggy or foggy times during the day.

Moreover, you can't even run a car commercially on it yet. So much for saving on high fuel costs. But, in the meantime you can save money by looking at auto insurance quote online.

As far as solar powered transportation services go, there are still some quirks that need to be fixed before mass production of such vehicles is rolled out. The most noticeable difference is the speed. Solar powered cars are far slower that their counterparts. But again, due to the fast development of the solar car and the technologies that go with it, this drawback will soon disappear.

When you look at the things that I mentioned about the disadvantages of solar energy, you will see that most of them have solutions while others you just need to compromise a bit. I still think that harnessing the power of the sun is the way to go, so these downsides of solar energy are just a small obstacle that we need to overcome.