We are all incredibly reliant on the power that comes through our sockets and light switches. But what would we do if there was a problem with that power, even temporarily?
Choosing a solar charger to back up a few batteries that will give you electricity any time it is needed. The good thing about solar chargers is that at any time you can use the solar charged batteries, and turn all the power off in your home that you can do without, and use the solar charged batteries. This will help you to cut down on your electric bill, dramatically.
To step things up and provide solar power for your home, you would need to make an initial investment in some solar panels. A professional is recommended at this stage, as this is a long term plan and you would want it doing correctly from the outset. Although remember, there are other ways you can utilise solar energy in your day to day activities.
Some people tend to go for the “ultimate” option of utilising solar power for their entire home. This can be a costly initial excerise (although well worth it in the long run). The alternatives, however, can be less expensive - you could start by just having a solar phone charger for example.
Research is key if you are looking to install “the full works” ie a solar power solution for your entire home. As this will be hooking up to your mains electricity additional technical items will be required to make it compatible. Of course, you can get minature solar panels and chargers for everyday usage around the home and indeed out and about.
Before you start the installation of the full option of using solar power for you whole house, ensure that all the essentials are included, from equipment to mount the panels to inverters to convert the electricity.
Of course you will need to maintain your panels and equipment, but if installed correctly this should only need to be done occasionally. And it’s got to be worth it for the peace of mind you would get from knowing you have “free” electricity whenever you need it.
Tags: solar panels
Nowadays everybody is starting to feel the need to go green, and everybody is starting to think of ways that they can help the planet but still keep the lifestyles they’re accustomed to. Wind power is an excellent alternative energy source that has many benefits.
Wind power can be used in conjunction with other alternative energies such as solar power or can be used as a sole alternative energy source with a link to the grid or batteries. You can save huge amounts of money if you build your own turbine.
The whole family can help out. If you want to take it further, try to use recycled materials where it is feasible. You can get the parts you need at your local hardware store for less than a couple hundred dollars.
The blades for your wind turbine can be made from plywood, corrugated cardboard, or PVC pipes. When constructing the blades care must be taken not to make them too heavy or too light. Corrugated cardboard can also be used to construct the frame and the base.
Before undertaking the building of your wind turbine find a good manual that outlines the building process in detail. A good manual will give you detailed building instructions in an easy to follow step-by-step format. The manual will also provide you with a detailed list of the construction materials you will need. Many manuals will supply several different options for the materials that are needed. The manual should give you tips where to locate the materials, but most of the items can be found at a hardware or home supply store.
If you have basic experience with a tool set, you can build your own turbine. It isn’t rocket science. Just mount it someplace in your backyard where you’ll get the most wind blowing and you’ll be taking part in the green revolution.
If you have an acre of land or two, you can even build more than one and send energy back to the grid. Your power company will pay for the energy you send to them.
It is a smart way to save money on energy costs, and with the right instructions it is also very easy. It will make you feel good knowing that you’ve done your part for the environment and saved a lot of cash at the same time.
Tags: solar panels
Current gas costs and new reports of planetary warming have put an increased focus on helping the environment. The problem seems so vast and so complicated that you may be thinking, what can one person do? Surprisingly, there’s much you can do.
One of the best places to start is your own home. It just takes a few days of work to help make your house environmentally sound, and the benefits can last for years - it can even increase the value of your home. Here are five tips to start:
One of the most useful ways to make your home environmentally friendly is the use of solar panels on your roof or nearby. Solar panels store the energy from the sun and convert it into usable electricity. Now sometimes you can use that electricity directly or you can sell it back to your power company to reduce your utility bill. If you can’t afford new ones, consider purchasing a used solar panel. As long as it’s efficient, it doesn’t matter how old it is.
Another good way to improve your energy efficiency is to use rain barrels. They can be as basic as recycled trash cans made into a water container. What a rain barrel does is collect the water running off a roof. You simply put the barrel beneath the rain spout, attach a water valve, and use the collected water for watering your plants or cleaning your car, for example.
A third idea is to ensure your house is properly insulated and sealed. Make sure your insulation is placed in the best places in the house, especially in the attic since most energy is lost or gained through the roof. Also, ensure all doors and windows have tight seals around their edges. A little caulk or specialized sealant could prevent a large amount of energy loss through those small spaces.
Finally, replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with flourescent ones, at least where they are most used, can save energy because they use less electricity to create the same amount of light with gas-filled tubes rather than heated filaments.
Also, there are even simpler steps that can be taken to make your house eco friendly. Things as simple as turning off lights when you exit a room or turning the water off while brushing your teeth can also help.
Don’t forget to use resources like your local library and conservation and governmental websites to find many more eco-friendly tips. When it comes to making changes and personal choices to help decrease the negative impact on the planet, there is something for everyone, and everyone benefits from them.
Tags: solar panels
The first step to living in a healthier, cleaner world is to get solar power information. Solar power can be used often in everyday life but before you learn how you can use solar power you should know what solar power is.
Solar power gives us the ability to harness the power of the sun. It is a completely renewable source and causes no ill effects on the earth.
One of the things you can use solar power for is to get electricity for your house. With the rise in cost of electricity and the decrease of natural resources many people are converting their homes to solar power. To produce electricity in your home you need solar panels.
In order for solar panels to work they have to have solar cells in it. Solar cells are the part of the solar panel that stores the energy that your house uses.
Solar cells have to be put inside of panes of glass for two reasons. The first being that solar cells send electrical currents to each other so when a solar cell gets wet it could short out.
The other reason is that the glass magnifies the sun so the solar cells are able to produce more energy.
Another great thing solar power is used for is heating your water. For as long as the sun has existed it has provided the earth with a natural heater. Heating your water with the sun is called thermal solar power.
The two main uses of solar power are to heat your water and provide you with electricity. Changing the way you get your energy will dramatically reduce your electric bill. Plus, if your solar panels produce more electricity then you use, your meter will go backwards. How nice would it be to receive a check from the electric company for a change.
There are other small ways to use solar power in your life. One of the things many people use is the solar lights that they put along their sidewalks. There are also fans that use solar energy and kits that convert bikes and go carts to be powered by the sun. There are even solar phone chargers and Christmas lights.
Using solar power on the small things may not seem like it would make much of a difference but over time even the little things add up.
Tags: solar panels
In 1892 Rudolf Diesel invented what would become known as the diesel engine. This engine would forever change the automotive industry. The diesel engine is capable of functioning on modified vegetable oil or diesel fuel. In the United States crude oil is the most common ingredient in refined diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is most widely used by commercial businesses to deliver products to the market. Commercial machinery and farm machinery also use significant amounts of diesel fuel. In order to understand our economy it is important to understand the role diesel fuel will play in the future.
Diesel Fuel consists of different grades or types of distillates. The primary distillate used by the majority of diesel engines in the USA is No. 2. This distillate is also used as fuel oil for heating. Distillate No. 2 has a relatively low amount of sulfur. Standards for the sulfur content in diesel fuels were implemented in 2006. Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel replaced Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) fuel.
The difference between LSD and ULSD is noticeable in the parts per million (ppm). Low Sulfur Diesel fuel has a maximum of 500 ppm sulfur content. Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel has a maximum of 15 ppm of sulfur. By the year 2010 vehicles on the highway will be required to be 100% ULSD. By the year 2015 it has been predicted that almost all diesel fuel used the United States will be ULSD.
Additional products made from a barrel of crude oilinclude liquified petroleum gases, jet fuel, heavy fuel oil, heating oil, diesel fuel and gasoline. These components and others can be combined to produce a substance known as biodiesel. Biodiesel can be made from animal fats, vegetable oils or recycled restaurant grease. Because biodiesel is biodegradable it can improve theemmisions of particulate gases such as, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
The United States transportation system could not function without diesel fuel. In 2007 highway vehicles used approximately 75% of the diesel fuel consumed in the US. diesel fuel is used in buses, boats, trains, delivery vehicles, semi trucks, farms and construction equipment. Off-highway equipment such as diesel motors used in military railroad and construction accounted for the remaining 25%.
In 2007 the United States imported approximately 4.5% of it’s diesel fuel from Canada and the Virgin Islands. Unfortunately 66% of the crude oil used to produce the remaining percentage of diesel fuel was imported from foreign countries in 2007. Diesel fuel is transported primarily by pipeline, barge or rail to loading areas where it is loaded into tanker trucks and delivered to retail locations all around the country.
Many people remember when gasoline was cheaper than diesel fuel. Since September 2004 that has not been the case. The increase in demand and the decrease in production has created this situation. The United States, China and Europe continue to need more and more fuel. At the same time production has gone down in the United States because of the transition to ULSD regulations.
As countries become more modernized their demand for crude oil increases. In recent years the demand for crude oil has gone up and the supply has gone down creating an increase in the price. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) controls approximately 2/3 of the world’s crude oil reserves. OPEC sets a maximum production limit on 40 percent of the world’s crude oil reserves. This limit on production will continue to have negative effects on the price of diesel fuel.
Tags: Biodiesel
Join the massive crowds that have gone to wind power, solar and other types of power generation. Save the planet and save your money at the same time.
1. If not done properly, home wind power can be pricy. Done right, the savings are a pure dream. The magic takes place when a simple turbine is placed on a high tower or on a roof. The blades take kinetic energy from the wind, turn it into mechanical energy in a shaft which in turn changes it to electrical energy in a generator. Many places on earth already have residential generators of 1 kw and bigger.
2. In some localities, you can make a deal with your local power authority. What it does is allow you to sell excess power to them. Your system will cost a bit in the short run but, since the turbines and equipment last 25 years or more, it will pay for itself many times over. In some localities, you can even get a tax break for being a producer of power.
3. Most of the energy in wind is “wasted”. Energy Balls are a class of wind turbine that use most of the power in the wind especially microwinds which are the major source of loss. Most Energy Balls are sold in sizes of 1 meter to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) in diameter.
4. A wind turbine uses the same physics as an airplane wing. Home and small industry generators come in the 1kw to 50kw range. Wind power generators can be made to automatically compensate for high winds or light power usuage. One method involves turning the blades away from facing the full force of the wind. Other designs tend to just not speed up as much when the wind increases.
One drawback of wind systems is that some view them as an eyesore and I suppose they can be. They get real pretty when you get your first check from the power company, though!
5. The winds are always changing speed. Your home wind power generator is at its mercy so you WILL need deep-cycle batteries to store energy for when the winds are calm. Most of the time, battery banks are built to store 3 days worth of calm weather.
6. In times of long periods of calm wind, power can be purchased from the local power authority. On the other hand, if you are in a position of having excess power and you can’t or don’t want to sell power to the local power grid, you can pass the excess energy into the immersion heaters of your hot water tank.
7. Some home wind power systems are tied into the local power grid. In times of excess, power is automatically sold and meterred to the local utility. In times of need, your system sucks power off the grid automatically and you are billed for what you use. All this can be easily done automatically but make sure the whole installation is approved by an electrician or other knowledgeable expert. Let electricity be your friend, not your enemy.
Building a wind generator from scratch is actually not as difficult as one may think. Get to know the technology available, make sure all local ordnances are obeyed and take your time. You are building for life.
The green movement has stated that wind technology affects birds. I believe this to be true and, lately, there is evidence that bats are also affected. While sad, you will have to make your own judgment as to which is harder on our natural friends, a simple wind turbine on your house or smoke and radiation from commercial generators.
8. You will laugh all the way to the bank if you spend a few dollars before starting on information from experts. If you don’t, you might cry all the way to the hospital or worse. Building and installing a system can be fun and exciting. Know your project and tap into the best sources of timely, information on wind generation you can find.
Tags: wind power
The economy is not getting any better. This means most people are still limiting their spending any way they can. Many are thinking about alternate sources of energy to use at their residence to save money on a long-term basis. Residential solar panels are a good choice for saving money and this source of energy does no harm to the environment.
It is a common belief that the only way to have green renewable energy is to purchase a system through an alternative energy company and have it professionally installed in your home. This is out of reach for most people, as they cannot afford it. What they do not know is they can build their own solar panels for a reasonable cost at home.
Installing homemade solar panels can significantly lower your utility costs and at times may even pay you. If you hook your solar power system up to your electricity provider’s grid, you can actually sell your extra power back to the energy company. This means that instead of receiving a bill at the end of the month it may be possible to actually receive a check. How nice would that be?
One thing many people are concerned with when it comes to solar power is your ability to use electricity at night or overcast days. There are three solutions to this problem.
A system of batteries can be set up to store power for use when you need it. When your solar panels are not getting enough sun to work, your batteries will take over to provide power to your home. Once you have the battery back-up system in place you will not be dependent on the electric company for power. You can have your power from them shut off.
This is what they call being off the grid. It means all of your power is created at your home and you are not dependent on the electric company to run your household appliances, equipment, or any other object that requires electricity. Your home is self-sufficient.
Solution number two is to not only install solar panels but to harness the wind’s power as well. You can easily and cheaply build your own windmill and use home wind power when solar power is unavailable. Of course, if it happens to be dark and still you will not be producing any energy.
You may want to keep your electric turned on or set up your battery backup for the added security of knowing you will still have power when the solar panels and windmill cannot provide it due to the weather. These two types of green renewable energy will provide for most of your needs without having to use back-up power.
The third and final option is to simply stay connected to the power company; these ways when the sun doesn’t shine you still have power. It will greatly reduce your bill and perhaps you will even get a check from them occasionally.
Times are tough. Our economy isn’t flourishing and our environment is beginning to show signs of fatigue. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you were doing something positive to help? Residential solar panels are an effective way to power your home. With the proper tools, and program anyone can build and install solar panels on their home.
Tags: Ecology, energy, energy bill, environment, environmental, green energy, home solar panel, nature, off grid living, renewabel energy, residential solar panels, save earth, save energy, Save Money, solar power
That may seem like a very odd question. Certainly everybody knows that we need renewable energy solutions. The ecology of this planet is going to heck in a hand basket. Our oil reserves will soon be as extinct as the dinosaur and everybody is fighting against nuclear because they’re all afraid of being blow off what’s left of this rock. It’s not a pretty picture. But in case you’re not aware of all this, let me throw some statistics your way.
According to some pretty bright minds, the world will be out of oil by the year 2056. If you don’t believe me, you can look it up. Personally, I’ll be dead and buried by then (probably) but many people living today will still be on this planet in 2056. Then what? Do we just drill for peanut butter and hope for the best?
A famous Scottish philosopher confidently stated that we’ll have all the oil we need for ever. Problem is that he hasn’t been alive for over two hundred years. His name was David Hume, and while he might have been right about a lot of things, he didn’t live in the world we live in today which is so highly dependent on fossil fuels.
Trade (dis)agreements, conflict and war, shutting down pipelines because you’ve had an argument with your neighbouring country. Not to mention the Middle East fighting that is going on. Yep, the world has quite an issue, and the proof of this is all of those previouse two sentences. People are starting to panic, and it’s showing.
Renewable energy starts to look like our only hope, the direction we should be looking in. If not, what are our options? A return to the dark ages? Eventually we’d even run out of wood for fires, and our lifestyles have not really evolved to cope with that.
Tags: Climate Change, Ecology, energy, Energy Efficiency, Home, Science, solar power
Are you searching for an economical way to energize your home or business with power? You can enjoy using having the energy when you need it, even if the traditional means of power goes off. You can even help create a better world by using solar panels as they are very economically and environmentally user friendly. Using solar panels will also reduce the amount due on your monthly power bill and they make great backup sources when you need them, whether or not the power company line is working. Solar panels are fairly easy to install and can be used in conjunction with other economic energy solutions such as wind or water power as they do compliment each other very well. However, there are a few things you should know about solar panels before you begin.
You might like trying your hand at making your own solar panel, which can make a really interesting home or school science projects when you make these with your children. You can make just one solar panel to see how they work or you may want to make a lot more and install them on your roof or on poles to create the energy you require. On the other hand, you can always purchase solar power kits now; there are various types from which to choose. These various kits will include all you need for solar panels such as wires, mounts, inverters and either photovoltaic or thin film panels. You might like to install them yourself and save money or you might want to hire a professional contractor to install them for you. Having a professional install them for you offers the advantage of other benefits such as solar power user incentives and an assortment of rebates.
Your solar panel incorporates the use of Photovoltaic cells. These cells will generate the power by transforming natural sunlight into energy which is then stored. You can use this energy later when you need it. When you make your own solar panels, you will also have to have an inverter when making residential treatment, especially made for converting the DC energy current that solar panels generate into, 110 AC energy for your normal everyday use.
There are also thin film solar panels which are much more lightweight than regular solar panels. Using this type of solar panel eliminates the need for rack mounting. They are generally quick and easy to install as they are applied to the roof panel. It normally takes about ten minutes to install your thin film solar panels.
Basic Supplies for making your own solar panels include:
- 1 Sheet Copper Flashing - A pair of Shears to cut your Copper Flashing - 1 Wide Mouth Jar or 1 Clear Plastic Bottle - An Electric Drill with a Brush or Sandpaper Attachment - A 110 AC power Inverter - 1 Micro-ammeter - Some Tap Water - Some Table Salt - 2 Alligator Clips
Having solar panels installed on the roof of you home or business are worthwhile additions to your structure, whether you choose to make them yourself or buy one of the various kits. You really should consider using solar panels to help lower you energy bill, whether you choose to use a photovoltaic or thin film solar panel.
Tags: best solar panels, business, how solar panels work, Small Business, solar panels, solar panels san diego
Frequent topics discussed at the office water cooler these days are whether energy prices will ever go back down and how does solar power work? A major worry of changing to solar is the expense of purchasing and installing the materials. But check out the ever increasing number of state and federal grants available to help with the purchase to help fund the project. Setting aside the initial cost factor, using solar power in the home is an attractive option.
When installing solar power to a residential or commercial application, the concept is basically the same except for the difference in installation requirements. A house is small and simple but a factory or warehouse needs greater capacity and would require a more complex and involved installation.
In its most basic application, solar panels are a set of solar cells with a semiconductor that produces electricity when sunlight hits it. There are also solar panels that are made to heat the air and water in the building. When the solar panels produce electricity, it is transferred to the system’s controller-regulator to adjust the voltage/amperage to what your system uses, then transfers for current electricity needs or to the batteries to be stored for future use.
The essential parts of a solar power system consist of: 1. PV panels which are the solar or photovoltaic panels. 2. Current regulator which is a device for controlling the voltage or amperage of the electricity produced by the solar panel. 3 A storage system which is usually a group of batteries that will reserve for later use the power produced by the solar panels when the sun is up.
Solar panels can vary greatly in cost depending on the type of installation you are aiming for. If your building is in a more remote area and is industrial you can use the typical boxy style roof mounted panels. In a business or industrial application solar panels can be installed not only on the much larger roof space offered by an industrial structure but additional panel arrays can also be installed on the ground offering additional power generation.
Solar panels are commonly mounted on rooftops with ground or pole mounts. The mounts provide added flexibility if your structure is accustomed to shade. To maximize the power generated, mechanisms can be attached to panels. This allows maximum sun exposure. One of the biggest downsides to solar installation is sunset. This is easily fixed by installing a battery array, a storage system, or simply using supplemental power from the utility power grid.
If you want a more discrete, dual purpose installation you can even have your structure constructed with solar cells built right into the roofing, awning and window materials. In a residential application using roofing materials with the solar cells built in will give you the same level of protection as an asphalt shingle while functioning as a solar panel, giving you more flexibility in design and reducing the chances your home will look like a space station.
Tags: alternative energy, construction, do it yourself, electricity, energy, green energy, home energy audit, home energy efficiency, home improvement, home;improvement, real estate, renewable energy, solar energy, solar power, technology, wind power
