Monthly Archives: November 2009
Wind Power – How to Do It
If you’re interested in home wind power, there are a few basics you will need before you get started. Using a small wind turbine is an inexpensive way for people in rural, suburban, and even urban areas to slash their electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprints. Possibilities range from using a very small wind turbine to power small appliances and equipment, to generating amounts of power large enough to eliminate your consumption of grid electricity. Home wind power is not only good for your bills, but also good for the environment. It is simple to implement and can be installed by non-professionals using minimal tools. Many people around the world supplement the energy they get off the grid with home wind power. Some people are even able to eliminate their monthly energy bills completely! Whether you produce a little bit of energy or a lot, you can be assured of reducing your “carbon footprint” and helping to improve the environment. Some studies estimate that about .5 percent of a country’s energy expenditure could be slashed if ten percent of homes had small, inexpensive wind turbines. If you’re interested in using home wind power, you first need to know the basics of how it works. You can purchase a small off-the shelf wind turbine for a low price. Or, you can elect to purchase a turbine kit that you put together yourself. Either way, if balanced against the electricity savings, the initial expenditure is quite modest. Many people should be able to install their home wind turbines themselves, but you will need to have a basic toolkit and have a little bit of experience assembling machines or doing home electrical work. You can also pay a professional home wind power installer to set up your system in a few hours at a modest price. Home wind power works best for people in rural or low-density suburban areas. Of course, you will need to be in a location that gets a lot of wind predictably during most of the year. People in urban areas can still cash in on the home wind power movement, but because air flow may be partially or wholly blocked by other buildings, they can expect to net a smaller amount of power. However, the important thing to remember that when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, any amount of energy savings is worth it. A growing idea that can be implemented in urban, rural, and suburban areas is to use a very small, inexpensive wind turbine to create a battery charge that is used to run low power appliances. Although these small turbines don’t produce a large amount of electricity, they still diminish the carbon footprint. Residential Wind Generators are generally small to medium size specially designed electrical power generators. These generators convert the energy of wind into electrical power using a low-speed generator. There are several different varieties of wind power electricity generators and designs are commercially available – as well as numerous do-it-yourself kits available for varying skill levels. For most people, it is best to hire a professional installer to size and install both the generator, and electrical interconnects.
Which Engineering Focus Should I Choose.?
So the first thing you should know about me is that I can adapt myself to almost any of the engineering fields. I’ve done robotics, computers, electronics, structural design, and a bit of architecture & interior design. Well, I just graduated last week today and signed up for my general engineering courses at USI, where I may later transfer to IUPUI. (since there isn’t really a focus until year 3). So, I’m having trouble deciding which focus I should major in, because it seems like everyone wants to do computer engineering, and mechanical engineering feels like mostly drafting and less problem-solving. I want to try to land a career that is modern, cutting-edge, but stable and something I can “climb the corporate ladder” in. Like: Green/Passive home design (products, materials, architecture) Consumer electronics engineering Aerospace engineering Computer hardware/software design. Game Engine Design/programming (not as stable, but more fun) So does anyone have any tips, experience, or suggestions to help me decide? Thanks!
Going Green Is Not Just For Big Business-You Can Grow Profits, Too!
The world of big business is making daily headlines by “going green” after discovering that what?s good for the planet is also proving good for business. IBM recently announced “Project Big Green,” a $1 billion initiative to reduce energy consumption by offering new lines of energy-efficient IT products. Wal-Mart is adding solar power to more than 20 stores. PepsiCo is buying renewable energy certificates to offset its carbon footprint. Even major banks and energy firms are being asked by shareholders to prove that they, too, are going green. It?s not just the biggest businesses that are attracting new customers and shareholders and reaping huge profits by “going green.” Small businesses also are growing eco-profits by embracing surprisingly inexpensive strategies to add value to their products, services and brand. Consider these innovative examples: – Bob Smith of Mad River Brewing Company in Blue Lake, California, has attracted positive publicity (and new customers) by promoting his efforts to reduce his small firm?s waste output and take other environmentally conscious steps. In turn, he has received welcome positive publicity from the press. “What PR budget? That is our PR budget,” he told the Albuquerque Tribune about “going green” to market his business. – In Florida, Natalie Kelly formed Home Therapy Cleaning Services, which uses only nontoxic, all-natural cleaning products for her home cleaning business. She used to sell aromatherapy candles from her home, she told the St. Petersburg Times, but today uses an aromatherapy baking soda blend to freshen carpets. Here?s what you can do: – Two inexpensive ways any small business or solo entrepreneur can go green are to change light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs and use biodegradable cleaning products. – With that done, tell your customers and the media about these simple ways to go green. You will have just earned instant credibility as a green business, and also as a media resource for simple, effective ways to “go green.” – Many communities online and offline are forming networks to exchange energy-saving ideas for home and business. Form your own energy network, enlisting neighborhood businesses that will welcome another opportunity to show they?re going green, too. The plus for you is that you will have just positioned yourself and your business as a community environmental leader. – Copy what the New York Times called “Phase 2″ of the corporate response to global warming. Partner with an environmental group. Travelocity invites customers to donate an extra $10 to $40, which goes to the Conservation Fund to plant trees to offset the carbon used by a client to take a trip. Whole Foods invites customers to buy a $5 “wind power card” that goes to Renewable Choice Energy to build wind farms. What local environmental group can you partner with to promote on your Web site (and vice versa), to set aside a day that a percentage of profits will go to that organization or to make their fliers available at your business? – Make use of readily available, free information to hand out with your business literature or to make available in your office. For example, create a one-page flier on your letterhead inviting clients to calculate their own carbon footprint by visiting http://multimedia.wri.org/safeclimate_calculator.cfm. – Go deeper green! Attend a “green” conference in your community or region, and promote your attendance. (Go to Google.com and type in “green” and “conference” and your area to find out when and where they are scheduled.) Write a “green” article on simple ways you are going green and submit it to one of the dozens of “green” Web sites and blogs that invite reader contributions. It?s a great way to market your smart ideas and your business! Tushar Mathur We are all About Green at : Talking About Green and selling green products at : Buy Green
Renewable Energy Start-Up
Green Business Start-Up? With much of the attention now on the state of the economy and efforts to begin a new era of opportunities in the renewable energy sectors, now may be the time to look at launching a career in the field of renewable energy. There are opportunies to become solar and wind technicians all across the country and many of the certification and training programs are available online. The
Wind Power Generators – A Realistic Alternative
With the world starting to shift toward green living many are looking into conserving energy. Many people think of solar panels first as this is the most common choice for residential customers. I don’t know about you, but in my area of the world the wind is always blowing. Nothing compliments solar panels than a wind power generator. Keep in mind, with a wind power generator the wind is you fuel. I often see people who invest in creating alternative energy and are disappointed that they aren’t seeing great results. To achieve great results, choose a product that is going to benefit you the most. When you can, combine the use of solar panels and wind power to achieve maximum results. While wind power is a great way to create electricity, you may not achieve the goal of living completely off the grid. Now this depends entirely on your environment as we all know wind is widely unpredictable and is ever changing. You will achieve greater results if you are able to invest in a larger wind mill and have an area for it. There are many claims to living completely off of the grid, and while some may be true its going to be very hard to reach this goal with a small wind mill. Think of it this way, you are literally trying to catch wind. Obviously the larger the blades and the taller the windmill the more you will be able to catch! I am a big believer in alternative energy, whether or not we are able to live off of the grid depends on how big of an investment we are able to make. I know many may not be able to purchase solar panels, or a large wind power generator for that matter but we can all start somewhere. There are so many DIY projects available, you might not achieve all that you want with a small project but you can start somewhere. These projects are great to do with children. You will be able to teach them about wind power while opening up a conversation about what we are doing to our mother earth and what will happen if we don’t take steps to change. I have completed a couple of DIY projects myself, honestly the first didn’t turn out exactly how I had planned. If you want to take steps toward saving energy there are so many affordable options available. Whether you hire a contractor to build your wind power generator
Question About Energy Labels?
What if there were energy labels on products, like nutrition labels for foods? What if a consumer were able to compare products that take less energy to manufacture? Would that create a more competetive “green” environment? Would companies be more interested in lessening their carbon footprint? How much of an impact would that bring?
Green Home Ideas – Energy Efficient Lighting, what a bright idea
Setting up a good green home starts with energy efficiency. Traditional incandescent light globes lose almost 90 per cent of their energy in generating heat – only 10 per cent of the electricity used is actually going into lighting your room. And because of their various filaments and parts, incandescent bulbs generally have a much shorter life span than their more energy efficient counter parts. Installing energy efficient globes is one of the most cost effective and easiest options available for a good green home. Some companies had even traditionally given out energy and water saving “packs” for people to try out. Nowadays, these energy saving globes are available everywhere – so the question becomes, which light fitting is right for you? Eco Home Tip # 36 – The lowdown on CFL – Compact Fluorescent (CFLs) are the most common energy saving fitting. CFLs use just about 20 percent of the energy required for the same amount of light from an incandescent globe and last 10 times as as long. All in all, a CFL will help reduce the cost of lighting your home by as much as 60 %. Eco Home Tip # 37 – Keep your CFLs close, if shaded – a British study last year revealed that CFLs produced a small amount of UV radiation when used unshaded and in close proximity. Open globes were of note, which “encapsulated” globes were considered safe. So if you’re using a work lamp with a CFL, keep it shaded of opt for an encapsulated globe instead. Eco Home Tip # 38 – Recycling your CFLs – The typical CFL contains a minute 4 mg of mercury sealed in its glass tubing. Some manufacturers have lowered its CFL mercury content to as little as 1 – 2.5 mg. Handle your CFLs with care and take advantage of recycling programs for CFLs to keep mercury from ending up in landfill. Eco Home Tip # 39 – Leading by example with LEDs – Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are another popular energy efficient lighting option, especially to replace halogen globes and downlights in your home. The small cluster of diodes can be arranged in a number of configurations and sizes to suit your home. LEDs have been traditionally found in electronics including clocks, and have a variety of uses in terms of producing a broad spectrum of bright coloured light. LEDs are the perfect substitute to the more heat intensive halogen globes and last for over 50,000 – 60,000 hours and uses 70 percent less energy than standard halogen globes. LEDs are also mercury free. Lighting a home can account for as much as 20 percent of a home’s energy use. Energy saving lights are simply a bright idea for your green home. Looking for more eco home tips and ideas? Visit the Green Pages directory for more great eco home tips and ideas! Visit your leading green directory and news source at www.thegreenpages.com.au
Residential Wind Power Generators
Residential wind power works by having a wind turbine attached to the top of a tall tower so that it can collect kinetic energy and change it into electricity so that it may work with your homes electrical system. Wind turbines will have out put if the wind power is over 7 to 10 miles per hour if not then the power that the house needs is purchased by the utility. If the wind turbine puts out more electricity than is needed for the houses supply, then the rest of the electricity is sold to the utility. A small wind turbine can lower you bill significantly. To determine if a small wind turbine will save you money in the long run you?ll have to think about the amount of electricity that your household would be using and also how much wind speed is around your house as well. Before buying a wind turbine you should remember that the owner of the wind turbine should have a minimum of an average of 10 miles per hour wind speed and also be paying a minimum of 10 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity. Wind turbines help the environment because they output no pollution and by using a wind turbine you are stopping the pollution that would have occurred from electricity generation by the utility company. During a wind turbines lifetime they can prevent about 1.2 tonnes in air pollutants. You won?t have to change any wiring in your house because wind turbines can fit any homes and normally they supply an 80 to 120 tower with the wind turbine. A wind turbine?s performance improves as the altitude increase however depending on the manufacturer there are several different turbines available. Depending on size and the manufacturer, wind turbines can cost anything from $ 6,000 to $22,000. Most wind turbines do not require regular maintenance and over the long term is a good investment. If you want more FREE information on residential wind power generators, please visit our website: http://windgeneratorstoday.com
Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Help.?
I’m writing a rhetorical analysis for my college English course. I’ve never written anything like this before so I’m having problems with it. I’ve finally worked through the intro and body, but I don’t know how to conclude it. My professor explained that it should in no way resemble a conclusion like those of the “5-paragraph format” essays. I.e. I don’t want to go back and restate my points and such. So I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to conclude it. I’m going to put my full essay on here, so you may read it (or proofread it o:) ) if you’d like. Or, it would also really help if I just had some steps or examples to go off of to conclude this essay. Thanks! “Green Consumerism is the Solution: Fact or Faux Pas?” In his article, “Buying into the Green Movement” author Alex Williams writes, “Some 35 million Americans regularly buy products that claim to be earth-friendly, according to one report, everything from organic beeswax lipstick from the west Zambian rain forest to Toyota Priuses” (345-6). Williams discusses the concept of green consumerism as a way to lower the amount of carbon in our eco-system. He states that many more people are beginning to buy products designed to reduce our impact on the environment. He addresses the pros and cons of this idea and how the cons may out weigh the pros. In the same, he shows what else can be done if consumers really want to protect the environment. Williams places a new perspective on green-consumerism in order to get readers to realize firstly that buying eco-conscious products is not enough to help the problem, and secondly to show it may in fact be better to continue with the products we already have than to buy their eco-friendly counter-parts, so that they can stop overlooking the larger problems just because they shop green. The new spin placed on this concept seems not to persuade the reader not to buy eco-friendly products, but to show the importance that doing this alone will not have a great impact. In this sense, Williams doesn’t totally discredit those who are going green, but only shows that there is much more to be done than solely buying products designed to reduce carbon. He goes even further than this in saying, “Environmentalists say some products marketed as green may pump more carbon into the atmosphere than choosing something more modest, or simple nothing at all” (347). This forces the reader to become more buyer conscious. He uses this logic to show that even though the products are marketed as green, they may actually have adverse effects, or using what you have now may in fact better than buying new “green” products. Williams uses logos when he discusses the fact that although many people have began buying eco-friendly products, they do not realize that it could be hurting more than it is helping. He illustrates this by using the SnackWell’s analogy. He says, “It’s as though the millions of people . . . confronted with a box of fat-free devil’s food chocolate cookies, which seem to be deliciously guilt-free, they consume the entire box, avoiding any fats but loading up on calories” (346). In this analogy, one can see the fat-free cookies as the eco-friendly products being marketed today. We buy so much of these goods because they are marketed in such a way that makes us believe that they do not hurt the environment at all, when in reality the over consumption of the products does as much damage as purchasing the regular goods. By using this metaphor, he appeals to the readers by comparing the idea to something on a simpler, more logical level. Coupled with this, it reveals the often-unseen side of green consumerism. The way to truly solve our environmental issues is to attack them at the top. In order to argue this to his audience, Williams turns to another creditable authority. Michael Brune, the executive director of the Rainforest Action Network, says, “After you buy the compact fluorescent bulbs, you can move on to greater goals like banding together politically to shut down the coal-fired power plants” (Qtd. In Williams 348). This use of logos instills in the reader the necessity to attack the environmental problems at a higher level along with the smaller steps of buying green products. This also incorporates the perspective of another credible individual, thusly making Williams’ claim more plausible, and adding ethos into his argument. In the same, Williams argues that green consumerism is a flaw in the attempt to become more eco-conscious. He shows that the green movement is being use as a marketing ploy. As so many people are beginning to try to become better stewards to our earth, they see purchasing “green” products as a great way to help. They do so without realizing that products labeled as eco-friendly may not be as much so, while the regular products, even the ones they already own, may be better for the environment. Michael Ableman, an environmental author and long time organic farmer, remarks, “ The assu