Monthly Archives: December 2009
Top Green Alternative Energy Tips
Start by switching to green power The easiest way to switch to green energy is to call your current provider and see if they offer an alternative. An increasing number of companies do, harnessing renewable sources like wind and solar power to offer electric service in their markets. This costs more for the consumer, since you?ll pay a premium to offset the money involved in tapping the alternative source, but the price varies: in Sacramento, you?ll pay 5 cents per kilowatt hour or $30 a month for solar, and in Oregon you?ll shell out only .8 cents per kilowatt hour for wind, geothermal, or hydropower. Curious about the options in your state? Plug in to solar power There are two kinds of solar power you can use in your home: active and passive. Active solar power is captured through solar cells (also known as photovoltaics), and then stored to later provide heat or electricity-or to supplement a traditional heating or electrical system. But before you buy a solar system for your house, keep a few points in mind: many towns have restrictions on the size and type of collectors they?ll allow; the annual number of sunny days in your climate will affect how much power you can collect (the Southwest usually has the best luck with solar collection); and the system?s cost efficiency varies based on its size, your location, and the amount of power you plan to get from it. Get passive solar to work for you The second kind of solar power, passive solar, doesn?t involve the (expensive) photovoltaic cells and mechanical systems of active solar, but still takes advantage of the sun to heat your home in one of three ways: direct gain, which collects light through the windows; indirect gain, which stores thermal energy within the walls; and isolated gain, more commonly put to use in a solarium or sun room setup. By thinking about window placement, insulation, and even landscaping?trees can be the ultimate passive solar helpers, since they soak up solar in the hot summer, and let the sun through in the winter?it?s possible to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Opt for solar hot water You can also use solar power to heat the water for your showers, dishwasher, and laundry (though why aren?t you using cold water for that?) by installing a solar hot water system. If you live in a place where freezing temps aren?t a concern, look for a direct circulation system-this cycles water through the solar heater and into the home; otherwise, go for an indirect circulation system, which runs a freeze-proof fluid through the system to prevent icing. Both those active systems are generally more efficient than passive solar heaters, which don?t have the same pumps and controls but can be more dependable. No matter which system you choose, you?ll want to consider a (smaller) more traditional hot water heater for backup on days when the sun won?t come out or for showering during peak times. Tap into the earth?s natural geo-energy The terms ?geothermal? and ?ground source heat pump? are nearly interchangeable in casual conversation-but they shouldn?t be, since they?re not the same. Geothermal energy comes right from the ground-think hot springs, geysers, and volcanic areas?while ground source heat pumps use the relatively steady temperature of the Earth (as compared to the air) to heat and cool buildings. These heat pumps use as little as half as much electricity as traditional systems, and generally last between 25 and 50 years; while they are more expensive to install than other systems, you can expect the system to pay for itself in energy savings in less than 10 years. Replace oil with biofuel You can also heat your home using biofuels?nontoxic, biodegradable, and renewable power sources, like those made from animal and vegetable fats and oils or wood. If you?re using oil heat, have a technician take a look at your furnace and get the okay to switch to a blend of 20%-99% biodiesel; in most cases, you won?t need any additional parts or service to make the switch. Using a woodstove to heat your home is an age-old solution, but the more modern version is the pellet stove: The pellets of compressed sawdust take up less storage space than a wood pile, and burn with so few emissions that they aren?t required to get EPA certification. (One tip: if you?re going this route, find a local source for inexpensive pellets first.) Harness the power of the wind Wind energy is one of the cleanest forms of alternative energy available, and using it can cut your electricity bill by as much as 90 percent. Once you make sure your area is zoned to allow wind turbines, you?ll want to make sure you have enough space?the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy suggests at least one acre of rural land?and a climate that affords a steady breeze. Run an energy audit on your home to determine what size turbine you?ll need; most houses require between 5 and 15 kilowatts to produce an average of 780 kilowatt hours every each month. And wind turbine systems aren?t cheap, so run the numbers to figure out if you?ll save enough to make the 20-year investment worth it. Capture small-scale hydropower Before you can use hydropower for residential energy, you?ll need one very important jumping-off point: running water on your property. If you are lucky enough to have a creek, stream, or river in your backyard, then a micro hydropower system may be a good alternative energy solution. By diverting a portion of the water through a wheel or turbine, you allow a shaft to spin; the spinning allows immediate results, like pumping water, or more indirect usage, like powering a generator. These calculations from the Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy can help you figure out if your water source will provide enough energy to significantly offset your electric bill. Make a smart start If you?re in the process of buying a home, it?s easier to make alternative energy work for you, by buying a property that comes with running water or room for wind turbines, for example. If you?re designing from the ground up, choose a roof that?s specially fitted for solar panels; place your house on the lot so it takes advantage of the sun; build with passive solar materials; and use daylighting technology by installing windows and doors in places that allow you to get the most out of natural light sources,and to go green. Think smaller If you can?t make the jump to powering your entire house with alternative energy, start by focusing on one room at a time. Or look even more closely at your life, and get small solar cells to charge your laptop, cell phone, iPod, and other small gadgets?every little bit helps! Visit your leading sustainability Going Green news source at Going Eco Green
Solar and Wind Power System – Learn How to Build One Yourself Today
Maybe one of the most talked about issues today aside from politics is global warming. It is the term referring to the condition of the earth where its temperature has suddenly increased compared to the past. It has such an impact aside from our daily lives where we feel the sudden changes of weather. The ripening of fruits has been delayed resulting to the destruction of the ecosystem of some areas of the world and typhoons have been so destructive lately. The media has been telling us time and time again to conserve Mother Earth. One way to do that is to be “environment friendly” in all things that we do. Environmentalists frown at different industries for their contribution to pollution. The use of fossil fuels is one huge contributor to pollution and to global warming. Scientists have long found alternative sources of energy; it’s just that we haven’t made use of these. Examples of earth-friendly energy sources are the wind and sun. Solar and wind power system might just be the answer to energy problems. Let’s start with the sun. What is solar power and how does it work? The sun is ever present up there, abundantly gazing down at the earth and shining with its brilliance. The sun which provides all the energy that life on earth needs. Now, why don’t we trap all the energy from the heat of sun and store this for our use? That is how solar power works. The heat from the sun is trapped in solar panels or solar cells. This energy is then stored in a generator where it is now ready to be used just like any regular power source. The sun produces 1000 watts of energy per square meter of our earth’s surface. Imagine all that energy! If we could collect all that, we could power our homes for free. Just think of all the money we could save. Wind power on the other hand is of course, power generated form the wind. Usually, we need a wind turbine to collect energy from the wind. The energy from the wind is in the form of kinetic energy from the air molecules that collide with the blades of the turbine. This kinetic energy is then transformed into rotational energy by the shaft which is connected to a generator. Rotational energy will then be converted into electricity in the generator. A solar and wind power system would be a more powerful source of energy. During bright days, you can power your own home or business with solar power. During long periods of cloudy days, you can still store energy from the wind. If you are lucky enough to live in a place where both the sun and wind are plentiful, you can make use of this. However, if you live somewhere sunny but not windy, then solar power is a good choice. Solar and wind power system are abundant, clean, and renewable. Not only are we being earth friendly when using solar and wind power system, we can also save lots of money. So why not learn how to build a solar and wind power system now? Ready to stop relying on an expensive energy source?
America’s Growing Energy Crisis
August, 2005: I read an online article this morning about a ‘war games’ simulation conducted in America showing how fuel prices could soar as a result of certain events, such as terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia and Alaska, political instability in Nigeria and other scenarios. In short, fuel supplies would be choked, the cost of oil would soar to $120 per barrel, gas would rise to $5.30 per gallon and the U.S. would slide into an economic recession. April, 2008: Fuel is trading at a record high of approximately $118 per barrel and the national average price for a gallon of gas is $3.56. August, 2005: Let’s put this in perspective, current fuel prices in Iceland are approximately 110 kronur per liter. At today’s rate of exchange of 64 krona per dollar, the cost of a gallon of gasoline in Iceland is $6.43. Talk about “crisis level” prices! The current U.S. national average for gasoline is $2.21 per gallon that would be 37.8 kronur per liter. If we saw this price at our local gas station, we would be shocked by the amazing deal being offered. We would immediately fill our gas tank to the top and then alert all of our friends. The “crisis level” price of $5.30/gallon as stated in this article, correlates to approximately 91 kronur per liter. This would still be considered a deal. August, 2005: It is time that Americans face the reality that their energy policies, attitudes and behaviors need to change. Most Americans believe that driving is a birthright and if they want a 500 horsepower, 10-cylinder, viper-powered sport truck that gets six miles per gallon then, so be it. Wait till these people have to spend $250-300 to fill their 40-gallon (152-litre) tank. The average European is already dealing with what the average American would call “crisis level” gas prices. They do it by purchasing automobiles with small displacement gasoline and diesel engines. Most of the trucks (SUVs) here are diesels, very few are in America. In fact, in many cases, in America diesels aren’t even offered. April, 2008: The cost to fill a 40 gallon tank would be approximately, and conservatively $142.40 at $3.56 per gallon. Diesel fuel is quite a bit more expensive and many independent truckers are operating at a loss, some have even started staging protests by blocking roads. And, for the first time since 1980, Americans are driving less. Sales of hybrid cars are growing strong but most Americans have a strong bias towards large, inefficient automobiles. Meanwhile, the top three U.S. auto manufacturers are in big trouble as sales of SUVs has dropped significantly and they have not invested enough in the development of fuel-efficient cars that people would actually like to buy. August, 2005: I am always converting prices in Iceland to U.S. dollars. This is something I should stop doing because I can’t help but be consistently amazed at how expensive things are here. But living in Iceland has taught me to adapt. Yes, fuel is expensive here – so is everything. So, drive a smaller car. I am not saying that Icelanders are somehow inherently more environmentally enlightened than Americans. If you ask me, Icelanders are a lot like Americans: they love their cars and they are major consumers. It’s just that the tax climate and general high costs of life in this country are very prohibitive. And, Icelanders remember more vividly what it is like to go without. August, 2005: The current consensus is that fuel prices will not stay at this level and will most likely drop again. Many experts claim that this is an issue of refinery capacity, not a lack of oil. Nevertheless, it seems obvious that this is a sneak preview of what’s to come for the world in general and the United States specifically. I don’t know about you, but this sneak preview frightens me. I don’t see much movement in Americans’ willingness to embrace change in the energy arena. We can only hope that they wake up to this looming global reality and that the next U.S. president will be a strong leader, willing to promulgate a more sensible and logical energy policy. April, 2008: I am not so sure that the US fuel prices are likely to come down significantly anymore. I sometimes fear for the future and wonder what kind of world my children will inherit as oil becomes scarcer and scarcer; we have already fought two wars in the gulf. Could more wars be in our future over energy? If you think we are feeling the pinch now just wait till China and India demand a larger share of the world’s oil output. Don’t get me wrong, I love cars. I love driving. Part of me is sad and disappointed that I will never get to own the sports car of my dreams. Or, maybe that sports car will be an electric one like the Tesla! But times are changing and if we don’t start moving aggressively towards much greater fuel efficiency standards and other renewable energy sources for electricity, like geothermal, wind and solar, we could have a very bleak future ahead of us indeed. I recently read that Iceland is one of the few countries that have a solid plan to go 100% non-fossil fuel by 2050. They are already investing in hydrogen powered cars and buses and have one of the first hydrogen fuel stations right in the capital city of Reykjavik. They already get almost all of their electricity needs met by geothermal and hydroelectric power. Wouldn’t it be ironic if this tiny island nation ends up leading the way towards clean and renewable energy economies in the 21st century? Weirder things have happened. Iceland is a rich source for green energy development, and has many of the top companies in geothermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants. – David Brooks David Brooks is a San Diego-based freelance SEO consultant.
Energy – America’s Addiction
In December 2008 an Ice Storm barreled through the northeast knocking out power. Much of the New England states were left in the dark for several days while the rural areas went weeks without electricity. For some people they found refuge in a community shelter and for others, well, they were prepared – backup systems or a small generator. My family had a generator but, unfortunately it ran on gas and we ran out, the road we live on was littered with power lines and fallen trees. Three days past before town officials were able to go down the road with a loader to clear one lane. Once there was a lane cleared we went looking for a place to buy gas, after 40 miles of traveling and several detours we found a place that was able to pump the gas because they were on backup power from their generator. While pumping the gas tanks full and watching the panic of the society trying to function with no electricity, it was then and only then, I realized we have an addiction problem. We as Americans take for granted the power that flows into our house from power lines. We take for granted that gas stations will always have gas for us -no matter how expensive. We take for granted that our oil tanks in our house will always be filled so we can live in a comfortable heated zone. The American culture for the last 120 years (since the invention of the car) has lived leaving a destructive carbon print on the earth. The point of this is we as Americans are addicted to fossil fuel energy whether it is gas or diesel for our vehicle, oil for our furnace, or electricity (generated from coal or oil plants). Like every good addiction breaking the habit is painful. Are we as a society really committed to changing or are we just willing to make small changes that really amount to nothing. Are we willing to invest money now in solar for our homes, community buildings, or even the streetlights that guide our way in the dark? Are we willing to place some wind generation on our hill sides, near the ocean, or any wind alley that could supply energy for society? Only you and I together as a working group willing to resolve our addiction to energy can answer this question. We now have solutions to resolving some of our energy addiction; the new Government is focusing on green energy, clean burning coal, and hybrid cars for our future. Solar companies are making strides in improving photo voltaic cells, Wind generation companies continue to improve technology that can power a neighborhood. Wood pellet stoves can heat your home efficiently while burning clean not adding any more to the carbon print than the wood would if it rotted away. We are getting there as a society but, will our efforts continue with no days off till we have reversed the damage we have done to our fragile earth. Only time will tell. For more information about Green Energy please visit us at www.solarwindgreenenergy.com
Wind Power
With the way the energy crisis is growing, soon the fossil fuels that we rely on will be gone or so overpriced, that very few people will be able to afford it. Researchers have been creating new and innovating ways to create energy out of the natural resources that Mother Nature provides. Even though the wind has been a source of power for hundreds of years, it is not until recent decades that it was considered on a large scale. There are many different types of natural resources that researchers have found promising, however, wind power is the most promising and least expensive renewable power source. There is however a downside to wind power; its variable nature because wind doesn’t always blow researchers must determine the effects it will have, however, wind power has been determined to be stable, because its cost does not fluctuate with the price of fuel. Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. It is used in large-scale wind farms and for national electrical grids as well as in small individual turbines for providing electricity to rural residences where traditional power is not offered. Wind power is versatile when air moves, causing wind, it has kinetic energy?the energy created whenever mass is in motion. It is especially helpful here in the winter to capture both the ferocious and gentle mountain winds during the times of least sunlight and highest power use. Wind Power is clean and renewable type of energy, and should be considered an important component of any long-term energy strategy. This is because wind power generation uses a natural and virtually inexhaustible source of power, (the wind) to produce electricity. Wind power is an affordable, efficient and inexhaustible source of electricity. It is set to become an important means of generating electricity worldwide. Wind power has become the world’s fastest growing energy source, It a viable, robust, fast-growing industry. Wind power is growing partly as a result of technology improvements and cost reductions and partly in response to state and federal laws and incentives. Wind power is by far the renewable source with the largest growth in worldwide capacity during the last decade. Wind power is now a major option for new, utility-scale power generation. It does not even compete with the prices of fossil fuels, which are continually rising on a daily basis. David Tanguay is dedicated to providing research, reviews & helpful information to consumers and businesses. For more information related to Green Energy and Renewable Energy please visit http://greenenergyonline.org
Solar Energy Is Pure Sunshine!
Pure sunshine makes almost all of the world’s energy. Let’s repeat that; Pure sunshine makes almost all the world’s energy! No matter how you look at it the sun works in mysterious ways, whether the energy is harvested from of a tree, plant and then used indirectly as wood, pellets, oil or coal(taking billions of years) the majority of energy we use is a product of the sun. Enough sun energy falls on the earth in a single day to supply us with energy for several years. This could also be through several man made sources including solar panels, solar heating and solar hot water panels.
Make Cash With Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is becoming more and more popular in many places around the world. Why? Because it does not harm the environment and it can help save a lot of money. There is also an infinite supply of green energy because it is all natural. But there is even a greater benefit of using renewable energy. You can actually make money from it. If you build your own wind turbine or solar panel generator you can actually save money and make money. By building your own natural energy you will be able to power your home without having to pay the utility company. Now, this isn’t the most likely thing to happen but if you find the right guide and put forth effort it is definitely realistic. In order to make money from your natural power system you will need to be producing more energy than your are using. This is rather difficult to do but worth it in the end. You will be saving hundreds of dollars every month by doing so. At the very least you can use a wind turbine or solar power generator to power small appliances and minimize the cost of your energy bill. Even then, you will be saving plenty of money in the long run. And the best part about building your own natural power is that it can be very cheap as long as your have a reliable DIY green energy guide. If you think you are interested in saving a ton of time and money then you should check out the guide below. Just click the link. http://www.squidoo.com/howtomakenaturalpower http://www.squidoo.com/howtomakenaturalpower
Shelved Nuclear Technology Can Solve Energy Crisis
A nearly forgotten breakthrough in nuclear power technology has the capacity to virtually replace the use of fossil fuels within 10 years according to researchers.
Make Natural Energy
The cost of energy is rising as we speak which in turn is causing many people’s energy bills to increase dramatically in price. How exactly can we combat this energy crisis? Well, we can’t exactly stop the rises in cost but we can begin to rely on different forms of energy. In particular, we can make our own natural energy. Making natural energy offers many benefits as well as helps the environments. Let’s take a look at what making natural energy has to offer. If you were to install a solar panel or wind generator somewhere outside of your house you could save up to 80% on your energy bill within a month. In fact, you could even earn money by building your own natural power source. This is all great, but what exactly would it cost to install a solar panel or wind generator. Unfortunately, having one of these natural energy sources professionally installed could cost anywhere from $3000-$10,000. You might be asking yourself what the point of this article is if I am already requiring to dish out thousands of dollars. Aren’t we supposed to be saving money? Yes, it is true that having a solar panel or wind generator proffesionally installed can cost thousands of dollars. But, this is where many people make a mistake when making the jump to green energy. People are made to believe that these expensive units are there only means to a natural energy source when in fact they can build the same renewable energy sources for about 2% of the price. Instead of paying someone else to install these natural energy sources, why not just make your own natural power for a fraction of the price. By making your own natural power you will still recieve all of the benefits of a solar panel or wind generator for a fraction of the price. This includes… Saving 80% on your next energy billEarning money from your natural energy sourceHelping out the environmentYour new natural energy will pay for itself within a monthProducing more than enough energy than you need (selling energy for $$$)A great experience! Remember, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars in order to have your very own natural energy. You can do everything the professionals do for a fraction of the price. Green energy is the future, why not get started right now? Click the link below if you would like to learn more about making natural energy without having to pay thousands of dollars! http://www.squidoo.com/howtomakenaturalpower Click the link below for more on making natural power. http://www.squidoo.com/howtomakenaturalpower
Bioethanol the Green Fuel that Powers Green Cars from Saab and Koenigsegg
With fossil fuel stocks in rapid decline and scientist around the world arguing the case for global warming, caused by increased CO2 emissions, the race is on to find both a greener and cheaper alternative to petrol. Bioethanol fuel may be one such possible contender, which is why both the mainstream car manufacturer Saab and the super car producer Koenigsegg now offer vehicles that can run on bioethanol. Normal ethanol can be easily derived from petrol, however because bioethanol fuel is derived from plants it is viewed as a green fuel. The energy from the sun is used by the plants to make sugar, which in turn is converted into bioethanol. In addition during the growing process the plant is also absorbing high levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making the whole process greener than the refinement of conventional fossil fuels. The bioethanol is produced firstly by the action of enzymes and microorganisms on the crops to release the starch and sugars, and then by a process of distilling and dehydration to produce a product that can be used as fuel in the internal combustion car engine. The added benefit of bioethanol is that it has a higher octane rating than standard fuel, 104 as against 97, and so using bioethanol will offer increased performance. Sadly you cannot put bioethanol into a standard petrol combustion engine without first making some modifications. The engine management system needs to be upgraded, so that the engine can determine which fuel it is running on, and secondly the engine internal components need to be toughened up, because ethanol can react with certain materials to form corrosive acids. Despite the changes required Saab now offers one of its most popular turbo charged models with a duel fuel option. It can run on either petrol or bioethanol and costs only a fraction more than the standard model, and from its car headlight bulbs through to its alloy wheels you would be hard pressed to spot the difference. Meanwhile Koenigsegg offer their CCX super car with a bioethanol option that can produce over 100bhp more than the petrol version. Bioethanol does have its detractors, with environmentalists worried that as the demand for bioethanol grows, more land normally used for growing food stocks will be converted over to fuel production. One study has argued that to convert the whole of the US to bioethanol would take up three quarters of all of the world’s arable land. Whilst Bioethanol certainly has green credentials it is not viable as a fuel for the masses in its current state, due to the huge land resources required. However there are now second generation biofuels derived from waste stocks and third generation biofuels derived from algae. Algae biofuels produce 30 times more energy per acre than biofuel crops, and so could ultimately be part of the future of green energy production. Jo Alexander is an online, freelance journalist and keen windsurfer. Jo lives by the sea in Essex.