Facts about Solar Energy – Some Things to Ponder and Why

Click Here To Learn How To Install Your Own Renewable Energy Power System. What are the facts about solar energy that you know? It is given that this comes from the sun. This was developed by people in order to take advantage and benefit from everything that the sun can provide. You can also easily guess the goals of these people why they opt to develop such technology. For one, they want to make lives easier to live. Second, they want to find other resources that people can use in their everyday lives. Maybe they also want to profit from the experience because if this will all be successful, people, businesses and industries will gain a lot from what is being developed.

During the first years of its introduction, people deem that this technological advancement can only be used by wealthy people. It used to cater mostly for the can afford types of individuals. What if it can heat pool and can run spas? Why should an ordinary John Doe care when he couldn’t find time to have a good rest because times are hard?

But the evolution of the solar energy is just starting. Nowadays, the benefits can be felt even by ordinary citizens. Researchers keep thinking of ways to arrive at this state. And this is proving to be good for everybody’s sake.

1. The scientists developed solar panels that can power up homes, but you need to look into  cheap home insurance quotes online first. They made this available not only for the rich and famous, but they sold the idea to governments. The latter used the innovation to bring electricity to people in their countries who still haven’t experienced to live in the comfort of having this kind of power source.

As a result, many people experience how it is like to have lights. They have also resorted to businesses that can be aided by such technology. The maintenance is still on-going while the technology is still being pursued. But the fact remains that this has been made available even for the ordinary John Doe.

2. Aside from electricity, solar energy can be used to heat water and cook food. Life is really becoming easier as people find ways to achieve such state. While the developments are still under way, people are finding ways to make such resource available for everybody. Different organizations and government agencies help in making this product affordable for everyone no matter what your status in life is.

You can even use it to drive your car. However, an easier way to save money on your car is to look at free online auto insurance company quote since most people pay too much already.

As time passes by, people will be able to develop more and more gadgets and tools to make lives easier. There will come a time when almost everybody can benefit from this. The first notion that the solar energy is only for the wealthy will cease to be remembered.

The responsibility now lies on to people’s hands to take care of nature. They must give back to nature for everything that they have also gotten in the process. Technological advancements can be better achieved if people will consider how these can affect the natural habitat in general. It is okay to get what people want and what people need. But this must always be done with precaution and by thinking of the effects that these will have on everything.

It is fun to learn some facts about solar energy every once in a while. These will excite you about the process. But more so, these must open your eyes to the whole scheme of nature and how important it is to take care of your surroundings to be able to benefit more in the long run.

Ground-breaking Plasmascluster Ionic Air Purifier Decimates Bird Flu Virus

On 27 August 2008, Sharp Corporation issued a press release that may someday be recognised as the true beginning of mankind's war against bird flu! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in destroying the bird flu virus known as H5N1.

Every now and then, the press reminds us that bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind's next pandemic. Pandemic does not just sound terrifying. It is. That’s when a highly contagious virus goes global, in a very negative sense. The 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 50 million people worldwide is the worst pandemic in human history! That was blamed on the H1N1 virus which was only recently confirmed on 5 October 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a bird flu virus.

Red Alert! Time to PANIC?

Not just yet. Statistically, as recorded by WHO as at 10 Sep 2008, "only" 245 people have died from the H5N1 virus. This is since 1996 when the virus first surfaced in China. So what’s the fuss? Scientists monitoring the virus fear that it may mutate into a form that transmits from human to human. To the knowledge of WHO, there has been only one probable case of human-to-human transmission recorded in Thailand in September 2004. But if (it seems the virus has not reached the “when” stage) the dreaded virus mutation takes place, you can expect pandemonium on a global scale.

With increasing momentum. many countries are conscientiously preparing for the worse (more on this in a later post). At our individual level, we should start doing some homework too.

Ok, so what’s all this got to do with Sharp’s ionic air purifier. Is it not just another ordinary ionic air purifier? It is ordinary in that it performs the usual functions of the run-of-the-mill air purifier by getting rid of dust, dirt, smoke, dander, pollen, cuisine and pet odours, pollutants, allergens etc. But if we can get protection from all these and more in one ionic air purifier, especially one that is a tested defense shield against a potentially deadly virus, why not? With Sharp's Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier, the whole complete package is promised.

The next obvious question for the value-conscious, would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? Sharp claims that it's at no extra cost! Sharp contends that it is cheaper than any other ordinary ionic air purifier when measured over 5 years. Now, that’s value for money! But, how is this possible in this nothing-is-for-free world?

With the Plasmacluster Ionic Air Purifier Model FP-N40CX as the basis, Sharp contends that it is great value for money as there is no filter replacement costs for the first 5 years. At first sight, the typical competitor's upfront cost of US$160 looks cheap compared to Sharp's US$399. But add in the annual replacement filter replacement costs of US$100 and the total outlay for the competing ionic air purifier comes to US$560.

If you have relevant data, be it on Sharp or the competitors, I would greatly appreciate your input. Do let me know if you have recent actual data.

Meanwhile, I’m going to seriously investigate this Sharp Plasmacluster IonTechnology. Now is the time to research, while bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.

Today is the day to get started. Fear etches itself deep in my psyche. It was like a horror movie that ran for months. Paranoia abounded in crowded places even as people commuted to work on buses and MRT trains. Taxis cruised empty as stories were told of the infected travelling in them to hospital. It was near pandemonium in many Asian cities as pandemic fears took hold. In case you have not heard, the year was 2003. The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus originated in Asia and infected 8,096 people around the world, resulting in 774 fatalities. As always, being prepared is half the battle won.

Watch this space as we track exciting developments in our pursuit of safe, pure and clean air with nothing more than an ionic air purifier.

To easily receive updates on new articles, subscribe to The Ionic Air Purifier Blog today.

Alternative Energy Found in Biofuels

Biofuels are produced by converting organic matter into fuel for powering our society. More often today, these biofuels are being used as an alternative energy source to the fossil fuels that we currently depend upon. Ethanol and derivatives of plants such as sugar cane, as well as vegetable and corn oils are all included in the aresenal of different biofuels. The International Energy Agency (IEA) tells us that ethanol could comprise up to 10 percent of the world's usable gasoline by 2025, and up to 30 percent by 2050. Today, the percentage figure is two percent.

However, we have a long way to go to refine these biofuels that we are researching and they become extremely economical and practical. Oregon State University did a study that proves this concept. We have yet to develop biofuels that are as energy efficient as gasoline made from petroleum. Energy efficiency is the measure of how much usable energy for our needed purposes is derived from a certain amount of input energy. (Nothing that mankind has ever used has derived more energy from output than from the needed input. In other words, the end product is what we use as alternative energy and needs to be more efficent than the effort used to produce it.)

The OSU study found corn-derived ethanol to be only 20% energy efficient while gasoline made from petroleum is 75% energy efficient and biodiesel fuel was recorded at 69% energy efficient. However, the study did turn up one positive: cellulose-derived ethanol was charted at 85% efficiency, which is even higher than that of the fantastically efficient nuclear energy. 

There are several nations which are seriously involved in the development of biofuels. Brazil happens to be the world's biggest producer of ethanols derived from sugars. The country produces approximately three and a half billion gallons of ethanol per year. The United States, while being the world's greatest oil-guzzler, is already the second largest producer of biofuels behind Brazil. The European Union's biodiesel production capacity is now in excess of four million (British) tonnes - mostly derived from rapeseed oil; soybean oil and a marginal quantity of palm oil.

Recently, oil futures have been down on the New York Stock Exchange, as analysts from several different countries are predicting a surge in biofuel availability. This would offset the value of oil, dropping crude oil prices on the international market to somewhere around $40 per barrel. The Chicago Stock Exchange has a grain futures market which is starting to “steal” investment activity away from the oil futures in NY, as investors are definitely expecting better profitability to start coming from biofuels.

Indeed, it is predicted by a consensus of analysts that biofuels shall be supplying seven percent of the entire world's transportation fuels by the year 2030. Demand for diesel and gasoline may slow down dramatically, says one energy markets analyst, if the government subsidizes firms distributing biofuels and further pushes to promote the use of eco-friendly fuel.

Make Windmill - Electricty Windmill

Earth4Energy is a guide that explains how to reduce the cost of your electricity and switch to an environmental way of using energy. We, all hear the talk about the Presidential Candidates promise to concentrate on producing energy. Of course, there are different alternative energy options, which include biofuel, electricity windmill, solar energy and renewable energy. No matter, which one you choose, you will be able to save on your gas and electric bill.

This instruction guide makes an attempt to show you how to build your own residential windmills or some call it electricity windmills. With the step by step instructions, the guide promises to help you to eliminate or reduce your electric bill.

One of the main issues of having a homemade electrical supply is the high cost of installation of the system that needs to be put in place. You may end up paying up to $20,000 for one of these wind powered systems and it would take up to 15 years to see the real savings. When you make your own windmill, solar panel or wind turbine, your cost would be no more than $200. The returns on savings will be experienced sooner - in a matter of weeks.

What you receive:

You will be able to download Earth4Energy instantly. The guide consists of 73 pages that you can print and read at your leisure or read directly from your computer monitor.

What Kind of Skills and Tools are Needed:

All you need are some basic handy-man skills with tools that most homeowners use such as an electric drill, hammer, saw, screw driver, paint and jigsaw. That is about it.

You will have to hire an electrician who is licensed if you want to connect your solar or wind generator to the wiring system in your home to run your appliances. However, an electrician would be able to do so quite easily and it would still save you a lot in the long run.

How Long does It Take To Build?

All it will take is a weekend once you have purchased the materials required. One week is the maximum time it would take for someone who had an average set of skills.

The Disadvantages:

The guide does not give an EXACT step by step action on how to make windmills or solar panels that the author has built.

However, the author does indicate in the Earth4Energy, that you may not find the exact parts that were used in his wind generator project. Therefore, what the guide does is to give you an understanding of the concept with building your own wind generator so you will be better able to adapt the principle. There were some details that were missing, which annoyed me. There was nothing said about mounting solar panels to the roof of the house neither was it clear how to mount the wind generator and assemble the blade. It may be more obvious as you start the building process, I guess.

The other thing I thought the author could have done was to include a video with the guide. I have yet to find a video that has been done about this topic. A video presentation is quite likely to give more hands-on and visual demonstration than the written word can do by itself.

With the pages of Earth4Energy, there are a couple of chapters that contained a bunch of fluff about ethanol and reducing your independence on oil, which we already know and that is why you are here, right?

The Advantages:

The guide is concise, clear, easily understood and quite simple. When reading this guide, it is apparent that the author has indeed built his own solar, electric windmill and other wind generator. So he is not writing from fiction, but from experience.

The guide does have a lot of diagrams, pictures and illustrations that do a good job of making things more clear and understandable. The guide is readily downloadable immediately after purchases. I was able to grab a copy at a low discounted price of just $49.97, which is quite reasonable since this is specific information that you won't be able to get readily. $49.97 is minuscule when you think of how much money you will save in the long run. This is quite a small investment for a life saving of thousands of dollars on electricity.

Customer Support:

Of course, when you buy anything, you always want to know that you are getting good customer support. Earth4Energy provides an email address for any technical questions. On the website, you will be able to access free updates of the product. Within July 2008 alone, there were six updates posted online.

Money Back Guarantee: Earth4Energy has an offer of 60 day money back guarantee.

Cost: My copy was on sale for $49.97 USD

Conclusion:

I highly recommend earth4energy to anyone who wants to make your own windmill, solar panel or wind powered generator to save on electricity. I give this guide a rating of 9.9 out of 10. It is the best one by far that is currently on the market.

This guide is very economical and excellent for providing the right information to creating any of these energy-saving devices. The author could have sold it for more money and it is because of all of these reasons that I feel comfortable in highly recommending earth4energy.

Visit the main Earth4Energy website right now

Can You Cut Your Fuel Bills With DIY Renewable Energy?

With every hike in the price of electricity, more and more people start to think about whether they should be using renewable energy to supplement their regular power supplier.

What kind of renewable power you decide to use will very much depend on where you are in the world. If you enjoy a reasonable climate and the sun shines for much of the year, you'll likely decide to use solar energy.

If you're in a colder part of the world, it's more likely that you'll turn to wind power instead.

Both solar and wind power have their plus and minus points.

Pretty obviously, solar power only works in daylight, even if the efficiency of modern solar cells means the sun can be hidden from view. If you live in a hot climate, the sun will be shining at the time you most need your power for air conditioning and other such items. In cooler climates, solar power almost certainly won't be your only option, although we still use power in the summer months, when output will be higher, or solar power could contribute to running your computer in the day, your fridge and even some evening lighting for your garden or patio.

Likewise, wind turbines need at least a breeze in order to operate but they'll also have an upper limit of windspeed, beyond which they won't operate - if the wind falls below a certain speed, they won't operate, if the wind is too fast then the wind turbine may fail to operate as well. Wind power also brings with it occasional times of no wind at all, so you'll need a battery or regular power connection for such times. This problem also means that unless you have your own storage, you shouldn't totally go off grid power if you rely on wind.

Once you've decided on the type of renewable energy you want, the next decision is whether to buy an off-the-shelf product or go for DIY renewable energy. You can get a set of comprehensive renewable energy instructions to help take you down this path if you like, there's also a big advantage that DIY renewable energy will typically cost hundreds of dollars less than shop bought equivalents.

Alternative Energy Comes in Many Forms

The availability of alternative energy comes in many different forms. One of these is solar power: Solar power is driven by photovoltaic cells, and these are progressively getting less expensive and more advanced.

There aren't any areas where solar power cannot be utilised including: generating electricity and hot water plus of course it has the added benefit of being pollution free. However, much more work still needs to be done in order for us to economically harness the sun's energy. The one major problem is storing the power for use when the sun is not as strong, on overcast days and when night falls.

As of the moment, the most-invested-in alternative energy source favored by many private investors as well as the government is the wind energy. Huge double and triple bladed windmills can be seen around the world, working constantly, day and night to produce large amounts of electricity. Of course, there is nothing new about the concept of a windmill for harnessing energy.

The windmills used today are massive compared to those used in the past and much more 'high-tech' and often referred to as 'wind-turbines'. The only downside to this form of power is when the wind isn't blowing, you cannot produce power. Of course, the power we need can come from other sources when this happens so currently we cannot rely completely on wind power even if we had sufficient farms to cater for our needs.

A massive quantity of power can be obtained from another source of alternative energy which is the hydroelectric energy. All that is required is a large body of water and gravity - this fall of water from a great height is able to turn large turbines which generate electrical power. As water is everywhere it has not generally been a problem finding locations where it can be employed.

The main problem with this process is the initial financial cost and the size of these dams means it is a lengthy project which does not come without it's own issues. Building of dams is often the most common and effective means of controlling the flow of water to sufficiently provide the source in generating the needed power.

Conservationists are starting to be worried about operating a dam as it not only requires a lot of labour building it to store and control water's potential and kinetic energy but it can also be risky and complicated. To produce power this way does not always require a dam, especially if it is only a small community that is being serviced.

There are other options that you may use especially if it is just to supply neighbourhoods or an individual office or home such as small run-of-river hydroelectric converters.

However, the most underused and under-rated form of energy is geo-thermal: this is the heat which is generated inside the planet beneath the crust. The earth's inner molten core is the one responsible for transferring the heat into the water.

Power plants use a number of ways to draw this water to the surface and harness it into 'free' energy. When hot water is drawn up, it simply means that there is the need to gather steam. The Geysers is an example of a dry stream plant located in the region of about 100 miles north of San Francisco and perhaps the best-known of all geothermal power fields.

Combating Global Warming

If you regularly watch television, surf the internet, or listen to the radio, there is a good chance that you have heard about global warming.

Press and media outlets have elevated the issue in the public consciousness through their increased coverage. Being concerned about the issue is something that many of us are, thanks in part to the continuing debate and disagreements over the issue. After all, so much is at stake for our future family members.

Fighting against global warming does not have to take a lot of effort or money out of your pocket. There is entirely too much emphasis placed on vehicles and appliances that are energy efficient. Every little bit helps, and if you do not have the budget for the big items, there are less expensive ways to become proactive.

Your home is the key to helping you combat global warming.

If you are not using an electrical appliance, such as your computer, shut it off. As an added bonus, your electricity bill will decrease, saving you money as you help out future generations.

Reducing electrical usage by turning off all the lights and appliances is simple. This is not only a free way to help out, but you can also save money at the same time!

Another way you can help is by making sure your thermostat is not turned up too high so enjoy the comfort of wearing a sweater instead. The amount of reduction in toxicity your home produces can be substantial with a change in just a few degrees.

Many people do not understand the benefits to using energy efficient light bulbs, or how that differs from traditional ones. Another benefit that many users of these energy efficient light bulbs discover is an increased amount of savings on their electric bills.

A typical energy efficient bulb can operate for a year or two, making them last much longer than traditional light bulbs. Depending on where you shop, you may be able to buy these lights for around five dollars per multi-pack.

The contributions to combating global warming are not constricted to homeowners, as renters can help to. If you feel cold air sneaking into your house when it shouldn't, speak to your landlord about making window repairs.

Though many people hesitate to bring items such as the hot water heater or insulating blanket up to their landlord, these tips can result in saving him or her money in the long run.

Not everyone can afford to buy an energy efficient vehicle such as a hybrid, and those people can still help out by examining their day to day transportation habits. First, examine how often you drive and if those drives are really necessary.

Could you walk, join a carpool, or take public transportation instead?

If you want to help fight global warming, you can easily do so by choosing to simply not drive three times you normally would during the week.

The Good And Bad Of Using Solar Power

Fans of solar power would say that it is the way to fuel the future. Cynics have a tendency to find reasons why solar power won't work. The reality is that there's some validity to both sides.

There are both advantages and drawbacks of using solar power. Since the daylight is widely available each day at least to some degree, it is straightforward to make use of its energy such as with solar water heating.

For each solar power system that is used, pollution is cut down that much more. Solar power is clean and puts off no damaging emissions into the atmosphere. It causes no pollution of the water supply and no fouling of the soil. There's simply no energy source that causes less damage to the earth. Solar power systems can be expected to last a while. They need to be built to last so that owners can recoup their investments. It seems that solar power systems last much lengthier compared to that. The trustworthiness factor is vital for any power source.

Solar energy passes the test of dependability with flying colors. The expenses for maintaining a solar power system are extraordinarily low. Some parts of the system may last decades without any upkeep at all. Solar panels are sometimes assured to maintain eighty percent of their potency for as much as twenty-five years. A solar power system is neither too perilous nor too difficult for most folk to run. It needs no supervision from the govt. Or any other agency as it poses no hazards. The price of running the systems is also awfully low. There are actually some negative facets of using solar power. Before purchasers can have any solar power, they must invest thousands of bucks. In 5 to 10 years, they are going to make up the price tag by saving on electric bills. The other main reason that solar power isn't ideal is that it does not perform well on cloudy days or at all at night. In the final analysis, the benefits of solar power far outweigh the downsides. It appears the main sticking point is cost. Yet, as green technology comes down in price, this sort of energy becomes even more fascinating.

What is Alternative Energy?

What is Alternative Energy?

There is a lot of energy that can be harnessed as we continue to do research and development using current day technologies. It is imperative to begin getting away from the fossil fuels that have been used for decades and we must turn to different energy resources.

Wind power is a great source for alternative energy. Wind turbines continue to be developed that are progressively more energy efficient and less costly. Throughout the world, wind farms have been showing up in many areas and even more so over time since they do not harm birds or any other kind of wildlife, unlike the original wind turbines did.

Another alternative energy resource is the one that is most well known: solar energy. To manufacture solar cells it is vital to gather and focus the energy given directly from the sun, and then transform it into electricity or sometimes hot water. As with wind energy, solar energy creates absolutely zero pollution.

Ocean wave energy is seen by governments and investors as having enormous energy generating potential. The generator that is located in France has been operating for years and is known to be largely successful and now the Irish and Scots are operating experimental facilities.

Hydroelectric power has been with us for a while, and wherever it is set up, it is a powerful generator of electricity and is cleaner than a grid. Unfortunately, there are limitations on where a large dam can be built and not many places are available for this type of project. Several run-of-the-river hydroelectricity or localized hydroelectric generators have been set-up in recent times due to that type of limitation.

Geothermal energy is extremely abundant, since it lies directly beneath our feet, just a few miles below the earth’s surface. This energy is produced by the heating of water through the actions of earth’s fantastically hot molten core. The water turns into steam, that can be harnessed and used to drive turbine engines that will generate electricity. A lot of research and development is needed in order to further our usage of geothermal energy tapping.

Waste gas energies, which are essentially methane, reverse the usual energy-pollution relationship by creating energy from waste that lies in the dumps and from some air pollutants. This gas is used in fuel cells and can be used in standard gasoline generators.

Ethanol is a gasoline substitute and is created from such things as wheat, sugarcane, grapes, strawberries, corn, and even wood chips and wood cellulose. There is controversy over this fuel with regards to it ever becoming truly economical or practical except in very localized areas, however, technologies for its extraction and admixturing are continuously being refined.

Biodiesel energy is created out of the oils contained in plants. Today we have large commercial stores containing biodiesel that have been created by using soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower oils. At the time of this writing, biodiesel is typically produced by entrepreneurial minded individuals or those who want to experiment with alternative energy, and there is commercial interest from companies also on the rise. It burns much cleaner than oil-based diesel.

Atomic energy is created in atomic energy plants using the process of nuclear fission. This energy is extremely efficient and can generate huge amounts of power. It has been the concern of some people on what to do with the small amount of waste products that atomic energy gives off, since it is radio active and will take many years for it to decay and become non-toxic.

Renewable Energy Residential And Commercial Systems

Traditional, carbon based resources like coal, natural gas and oil are finite. As they get harder to find and extract from the ground the price to use these resources will go up. This will continue as more of these resources are used. And there is another, potentially more serious, cost to using these types of fuels. They are thought to contribute to environmental problems like global warming and destroying the ozone layer that will be paid for by future generations. So what are the alternatives to these traditional sources of energy. This article will cover a few of the alternative energy sources that are being touted as practical solutions both commercially and for the individual homeowner.

The first alternative energy source to be covered is solar energy. It has been around for quite a while now and most people have seen the odd solar panel on a neighbors roof. Indeed, mankind has always used the Sun's energy since earliest times but only in the past 60 years has it developed to the extent that we are now familiar.

At this stage we use heat and light from the sun to create energy.

Heat energy provided by the sun is used for many things like heating water, heating a room or cooking food. As we can feel the heat provided to by the Sun, the inspiration for using it as a renewable energy resource was not a great leap. Indeed, it was probably used in many ancient civilizations as an energy resource and might explain why so many of these civilizations worshiped it as a god.

Harnessing energy from sunlight is still a relatively new discovery by comparison. The technology developed to do this is called the photovoltaic (PV) cell. It was first used in the 19th century but only started being produced commercially in the 1970's.

The principle behind this is that photons in sunlight give the individual atoms in the PV cell enough energy to displace a spare electron. Many cells and more sunlight cause more electrons to flow. This is the principle of direct current (DC). Direct current can be stored in a battery or used to power appliances that run on DC.

Another popular renewable energy option is wind power. I think this is because it is fairly well understood by most people as a concept. It may also be because plenty of wind turbines are popping up all over the countryside.

A wind turbine, much like the windmills of old, uses the wind to turn blades. The kinetic energy turns a generator that, in turn, creates electricity. Countries such as Germany, Denmark and the United States are increasing the number of wind turbines every year. They represent a clean and cheap way to create energy.

Wind turbines or mills are an option even in the suburban home and can be constructed quite cheaply. It is quite simple to build a windmill or turbine from scratch or a pre-built variety can be purchased. Before this is done, it is important to ascertain the amount of wind you get and have a clear unobstructed place for the turbine to go. You may also want to notify your neighbors that you are erecting a turbine as it could be an issue with some people.

Other systems use water as the primary source of energy, utilizing the kinetic energy to create electricity. This is hydro-power and a dam is an obvious example of this process in action. Geothermal energy can also be used to some extent. The principle behind this is that the molten core of the earth can heat up water which can be used as is or to create electricity.

Alternative Energy Of The Future

Alternative energy is quickly becoming more prominent nowadays, and environmental concern is no longer just reserved for the tree huggers. People are starting to wake up and realize that our planet is slowly being destroyed by pollution and a lack of responsibility for the environment. Alternative energy is slowly emerging as a viable industry, and it is not yet clear which companies have the best solutions for the future. This actually makes the alternative energy sector ideal for Exchange Traded Funds, which are ideal for spreading risk among the stocks of various companies and technologies. This Earth4Energy review explains how you can make an impact by yourself. There may also be future technologies for the transformation of coal to a clean source of energy.

Alternative energy sources must be developed so that everyone on Earth can have reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly ways to run their cars, power their manufacturing plants, and heat and cool their businesses, schools, and homes. Alternative energy simply describes energy sources that are used as an alternative to fossil fuels. Earth 4 Energy is a manual that will let you generate electricity on your own. Generally speaking, it indicates energies that are nontraditional and have a small impact on the environment. Alternative energy technologies such as photovoltaics, wind turbines or biofuels attempt to harvest the abundance of nature's power.

The renewed interest in this field of study comes from the undesirable effects of pollution (which can be seen all over the world), both from burning fossil fuels and from nuclear waste byproducts. Alternative energy is a long term growth industry. As the economies of the world continue to grow, energy consumption will rise. It is not even that much more expensive to build an energy efficient house or automobile. Alternative energy grants from national governments can act as a driving force in developing viable alternative energy for our daily consumption.

Solar energy continues to have potential, but it is not quite yet economically viable, nor will it be able to supply more than a small fraction of our energy use for another 10-20 years. The Review Earth4Energy site is dedicated to informing the public about how they can save the environment. Solar panels can provide plentiful power during the long hours of summer sun, but wind generators should be added to help support these systems through the winter months. Solar energy would obviously be a key part of achieving full energy independence.

Green Living: What it's Really About

When you hear the term “green living”, you may get an image in your head of hippies living in communes making everything they use. Truth is:  the definition of green living has changed. The concept simply includes doing things to help the environment be viable for future generations. If you don’t feel like shedding your worldly possessions and living in a mud hut, here are a few steps you can take to make your life a little greener.

Buy local organic products. Organic farmers not only use little to no chemicals, they also take steps to reduce water and soil degradation, along with other problems caused by traditional agriculture. Veggies from grocery stores have usually been shipped a long way, which causes environmental pollution. Buy your produce from a local farmer’s market or coop. If you can’t find one, start your own organic garden.

Use natural products. Household products that don’t contain chemicals are not only better for the environment; they’re safer for your family as well. You can make various cleaning products from stuff in your kitchen, like vinegar. If you don’t have the time, there are products you can buy. Just make sure they’re all natural and don’t just have a few natural ingredients. 

Reduce. We’ve all heard the spiel about reduce, reuse, recycle; however, most of us focus on recycling and completely ignore the reducing. Try to use products that don’t end up in landfills like cloth diapers instead of disposables or regular towels instead of paper ones. Another great idea is to buy concentrated products because they come in smaller packages or buy in bulk so you are not paying or wasting the packaging.

Reuse. Many people have gotten in the habit of sending their recyclables away in the bins, but there’s more supply than demand in the recycling market. That’s why it’s also important to reuse items if you can. Before you throw something in the recycling bin, consider whether you could reuse it for something else. Also consider programs like freecycle, Craig's list or garage sales which allows you to offer your gently used (or even broken) items to someone else. You really never know when your trash is someone else's treasure or learning tool. 

Recycle. We should all have a recycle bin in our homes, but you can do stuff to recycle on your own. Instead of using potting soil in your garden, set up a compost pile and make your own rich soils. You can also use products like shredded plastic bags to mulch your garden.  If you get creative, there’s lots of recycling you can do on your own.

Conserve Energy. There are so many things you can do to save energy. The big plus on this is that it also saves you money. Get low energy light bulbs for your fixtures. You could also take more drastic renovation steps by getting new energy efficient windows or installing solar panels. Even small steps like setting the thermostat a degree higher or lower or unplugging appliances not in use can make a big difference. A big way to conserve energy is to get a more fuel efficient car, or get rid of your car altogether. If you don’t need a big SUV, then don’t get one. You’ll be doing the environment a big favor.

Teach your children. You might not be able to change the world on your own, but you can start a trend by teaching others to be more environmentally friendly, starting with your own kids. Make sure your children know what steps you are taking to improve the environment and why. And most importantly, make sure you are all doing all you can for a sustainable future!

The Eco Friendly Office: 8 Easy Ways to Make Your Office Greener

At your home, you may have stopped using incandescent bulbs, you may have a low flow showerhead, you may have added more organic foods to your diet, and recycling may have become an ingrained habit.You are doing what you can at home to keep our Earth green and to reduce your carbon footprint.

But how many of us are carrying that same concern into the workplace? How many green office supplies do you use at work?

Using eco-friendly office supplies can save a business hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your company. Here are eight ways to make your office a little greener.

1. Make it easy to recycle. Set up bins for various recyclables that you go through in any given day. You can recycle the paper you print on, your calendars and organizers, even the ink cartridges themselves.

2. Purchase items made from recycled material, whenever possible. You can easily find post-consumer paper and even printers made primarily of recycled plastic.

3. Opt for refurbished office equipment instead of always buying new. Expect savings of 20 to 30 percent on refurbished office equipment and even more if you buy it used. Most refurbished items still have a valid manufacturer’s warranty. Make sure to read the fine print before you finalize your purchase.

4. Waste not. Get into the eco-friendly office mindset by reducing your waste. Print and write on both sides of the paper. Print documents only when it's necessary to do so. Share PDF files, for example, instead of printing each document. Use email and bulletin boards to further reduce the amount of paper used for office memos. Scrap paper should be collected for recycling and not thrown away. And, whenever possible, reuse envelopes, boxes and packing materials.

5. Turn off your computer when you are done for the day. The few seconds it takes to boot up in the morning is well worth the electricity you will save by turning it off. You may be surprised to know that many office machines are continuing to draw power from their source, even when they are switched off. You can save energy by putting the office equipment on a power strip, so you can entirely switch off the electricity to the machines.

6. When you replace office supplies, do so with an eye toward energy usage. Switch a CRT monitor, for example, to an energy-saving LCD flat screen monitor. You'll save on energy costs in the long run.

7. Clean green. Don’t forget the cleaning products used in your office. You can "green" them too by using only non-toxic, biodegradable, natural cleaners. Depending on the size of your company, you might be doing the earth a favor to do away with Styrofoam or paper cups. Have employees bring their own glassware for coffee or water. For large office gatherings when it's not practical to ask everyone to bring their own place setting, consider compostable plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery. More major office supplies stores are starting to carry these items.

8. Form a Green Team. If your business is large enough to merit it, form a "green" committee to meet on a regular basis and brainstorm new ways to fill your workplace with eco-friendly office supplies.

Protecting the environment is important enough to be carried on anywhere we are, throughout our entire day, at work as well as at home.