Posts Tagged ‘green living’

« Older Entries

Earth4energy Review- Providing A Hope To Mankind

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

The Earth is running out of resources; that fact is as plain as daylight. The materials we use, namely fossil fuels, regenerate at a considerably lower rate than our velocity of consumption. Using logic and a little of mathematics, we can safely assume that these supplies will eventually run out altogether, and we will be left stranded in the middle of the road with a dying earth and a soon-to-perish population. In these dire times has emerged a popular E-book by the name of Earth4Energy. Here we provide a short earth4 energy review for those who are wondering if the text within is really worth your while.

‘A thing of beauty is joy forever’; the same applies to books too. It is very crucial that the book must contain useful content described in good style. Only then will it attract readers. No one has the patience to read lengthy paragraphs and boring lectures about the impending demise of the earth. Most all of us are aware of this fact, and also the remedies thereof. However, there is a lack of a motivational factor. The earth4energy review has found this e- book to be the best mentor to advice on conserving energy resources.

When earth4energy review pulled out a copy of the e-book, it came across a lot of visuals in addition to text. The illustrations are clear cut and easily comprehendible. The text is written in simple language with no tough technical terms. You will definitely enjoy reading it.

Accompanying the E-book is a set of videos that can be used as companion pieces. In fact, most of the information that is contained in the pages is illustrated in the videos as well. This is really great for those who don’t fancy themselves to be readers, and it ensures that the information is disseminated to as many people as possible. It appears that these videos have been added to the current addition due to the incessant complaints from past earth4energy reviews.

However, most past earth4energy reviews have agreed on one point: it is a good resource to have in these troubling times. This earth4energy review agrees wholeheartedly with that assessment as well. Contained within is information that can be considered vital. The writing itself is quite simple and thus its popularity and reputation are well-earned.

Most people will find that the information that the book contains, is simple to follow and easy to apply. The book does not take an imposing tone and never condescends to the reader. Instead it considers the reader to be a companion; a partner in the struggle to save earth. It starts off with a good explanation of the exact problems that we are facing and their probable outcomes, and then it goes into measures that can be taken to both prevent the terrible eventualities and to reverse the effects.

Earth4energy recommends using the sustainable sources of energy like solar and wind power, so that you too can pride yourself to be a part of a big dually beneficial plan to conserve nature and at the same time help yourself by saving thousands of dollars on electricity bills. Earth4energy review is clearly appreciative of these useful contributions of the e-book.

So, you may consider this particular earth4energy review to be quite positive. In fact, this review insists that you get a copy right now and start flipping through the pages. If you are not inspired to start doing your bit by the time the first chapter comes to an end, you might need to get your head examined!

Take the initiative to spread word about this book, so that others can also be a part of this wonderful campaign and save our children, Mother Nature and us!

For more insider tips and information be sure and check out Earth4Energy Review.Learning how to build solar panels at home can save you a lot of money but, there are other renewable energy sources that can help save you money as well.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Diy Green Energy-Contribute To The Cause Of Saving The World

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Many a people get delighted by the mere mention of DIY. Do- it- yourself is the expanded form of DIY and its application ranges to a variety of fields. There are DIY film makers, DIY carpenters, DIY auto engineers, etc. Things that can be done without professional help, is being referred to as being done DIY, by anyone at any place in the world. So the term DIY green energy is self explanatory, as we know what DIY stand for.

The term DIY green energy, in simple terms means energy that produces minimal carbon waste which in turn causes less pollution. Some of the green energy sources are the sun, wind hydro power, and geothermal power. Nuclear energy is also considered as green energy at times. Any way, let the experts decide upon that. We are here to learn about the applications and usefulness of DIY green energy and how it can help us.

Electricity bills are rising continuously. It even happens if you cut down on the usage. The power companies keep steeply hiking their energy rates at such regular intervals, that you are drawn into a well of confusion regarding who to fall back on. Anyway, every cloud has a silver lining! There is a solution to this also. If you know how to deal with DIY green energy, you can cut down your electricity bills with the aid of this, your personal energy saving tool.

What’s more, skyrocketing energy bills can be countered with alternatives that produce far less carbon pollution and are environment friendly. DIY green energy kits generally make use of sustainable sources of energy, like the sun, wind and hydro power. This means that you can use them without having to worry about depleting the supply. Using solar power, for example, has no effect on the sun whatsoever!

The earth has a limited supply of elements, you see. Not everything we use can be replaced, not even within the period of our lifetime. Perhaps if we give the earth a few million years, it might be able to replenish its supplies, but we hardly have that much time. Our species may not even exist in the form we know today, by then. So, why put things off till tomorrow, if we can help today? Building your own DIY green energy appliances can help save the planet! These days extremely good DIY Kits are available on the Internet, and it takes only a click of a button to download the best. These will see you through your quest to build a green solar or wind based power generation system, in a step by step fashion, without any hitches. They will also teach you how and where to procure the parts required for making it a success

And as you save the planet, you shall be saving yourself. Humans have come to rely on comforts and appliances that do harm to the environment. I am not saying that people should be robbed of things like air-conditioners; but, the energy source can be replaced with something that is more sustainable. Conventional electricity takes a massive toll on the environment. Think about this; if the environment ceases to be a hospitable place, will we be able to enjoy our comforts; No, right?

Never waste time waiting for tomorrow. Act now! If you are interested in engineering and if you are fond of putting things together, then you should go for the DIY green energy business.

Pretty soon you will have your own renewable, sustainable source of energy in your backyard. Not only will you be bidding goodbye to electricity bills, you will also be helping Mother Nature heal. Remember, every little step counts, and only when single steps are taken will a million ever follow!

But DIY green energy is not for you alone. Convince your friends, your neighbors and even your arch-enemies of the benefits. Once you have understood the basic principles, show the people around you how easy it is to put together and use. And when the momentum catches on, no force made by man will ever be able to battle the sheer mass of the oncoming attack! Save the Earth, save yourself!

Furthermore, folks may discover just how straightforward these Diy green energy house enhancements will be to make and put in utilizing a superior do it yourself guide.For more insider tips and information be sure and check out Earth4Energy Review.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Easy To Make, Cheap And Non-Toxic Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Monday, September 6th, 2010

Common household items can be used to make safe, cheap, child-safe, non-toxic cleaning solutions. Plus, they do a great job of cleaning your home! The “greenest” thing you can do is to first use up what you have. Even if they are a bit toxic, using it is better than dumping it out into our water system. If you have toxic products you don’t want to use, dispose of them properly by contacting your cities hazardous waste department.

Tile, Counter Tops & Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Form a paste by mixing baking soda and water together. Mix until you get a consistency similar to a soft toothpaste.

Shower Doors – If your glass doors are covered with scum, wipe them down with lemon oil. As a preventative measure, you can use a few drops of lemon oil on them once or twice a month.

Shower Heads – If you shower heads have mineral deposits, put vinegar in a plastic bag and attach the bag to your shower head using a rubber band. You essentially want the showerhead to be immersed in vinegar overnight. Then rinse with water in the morning and they will be mineral deposit free and sparkling clean!

Window’s & Mirrors – Fill a spray bottle with Club Soda. Spray down your glass and mirrors then immediately wipe off the solution using newspaper.

Unclogging Drains – Mix equal amounts of salt and baking soda and pour down your drain. Then run hot water for a couple of minutes. This will work great if your drain is clogged due to oil or grease. If your drain is clogged for any other reason, such as hair, you need to clean out the hair trap or snake your drain.

Faucets with Lime Scale – Rub on some lemon juice and let it sit over night. In the morning, wipe with damp clothe.

Stainless Steel Sinks, Fixtures and Appliances – Mix one part rubbing alcohol with two parts water. Put into a spray bottle and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Use the damp cloth to polish your steel.

Hardwood Floors – Mix together one part distilled white vinegar and two parts water. Vinegar disinfects and is great at picking up dust.

Scuffed Floors – Apply 2-4 drops of tea tree oil to the scuff. Wipe off the excess oil with a soft cloth. Take a clean soft cloth and rub in white distilled vinegar.

Wood Furniture – Create your own polish by combining 2 cups olive oil or vegetable oil with the juice from 1 lemon. Rub it on your furniture with a soft cloth.

Glassware – Make your glassware sparkle by adding 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse water.

Vehicle – To clean your car, mix 1/4 cup of liquid Castile Soap with a full bucket of hot water. You can use it to clean your car’s exterior, windshield, hubcaps and tires. Use a clean soft sponge and thoroughly hose it off when you’re finished washing.

Garage Floor – To remove oil stains and get your garage floor looking like new, cover oil spots generously with baking soda then sprinkle with water until a paste forms. Let the paste stand overnight. Scrub with a damp course brush, rinse and wipe clean.

Cheers to a clean healthy home, a healthy family, a healthy planet and a healthy pocket book!

Heidi is a professional organizer specializing in organizing paperwork , creator of The Fast-Filing Method home filing system, & publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine. She energizes her readers’ lives by teaching effective systems to help you accomplish more in less time! Visit ClearSimpleLiving.com to get a complimentary subscription & a FREE Home Organization Kit.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Directing Some Lights For The Solar Energy Alternative

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Without a doubt, solar technology will be the wave of the foreseeable future. Solar power production is surely an extremely easy process to comprehend. The solar, or photo voltaic, cell gathers power coming from the sun. A solar cell is really a semiconductor unit which is constructed using photo voltaic components. It includes no essential fluids or chemical substances, and no moving portions. Pv cells transform sunlight straight into electrical energy.

The solar panel commonly includes a group of individual cells, that are sustained by a system that allows the individual cells to operate together. The energy that is captured with the solar panel is usually stored in a battery. Solar panel products create direct current (DC) electricity. Numerous solar panel technology systems come with inverters within them which in turn will allow for direct current (DC) electrical energy to be transformed into alternating electric current (AC). Nearly all consumer products including appliances as well as electronic devices run on Alternating current.

Unless you have a huge field of acreage to be able to accommodate a large selection of solar panels, it’s improbable that you’ll be in a position to power your entire house using solar panel technology. However, you can actually power one particular room within your house by using a modest selection of panels mounted to the roof top of your own home. Multiply the actual wattage of every particular electronic gadget by the amount of hours you imagine to make use of them on a daily basis. That combined range shall be your benchmark, or maybe the smallest amount your system must be able to generate.

You have a variety of possibilities to people who are thinking about converting to solar power. The common system which you can use to power your personal computer and a few additional small items can be acquired for about $1000.00. Obviously, the price increases depending on the generating capacity of your system. In most areas, the price tag on a set up model will set you back somewhere in the price range of $10.00-$12.00 for every watt.

Solar Energy is just one of a handful of genuinely environmentally friendly solutions that can be used when it comes to electricity as well as power generating. Every single hour of each and every day, the sun blankets our world with more than enough strength to be able to maintain our global energy requirements for a calendar year. When the technological know-how powering solar power advances, people are going to be unable to resist the impulse to switch.

Plenty of means are being given to the particular growth and development of solar energy technological innovation. Almost all of the main oil and also electricity organizations have got whole sections focused on solar energy. Analysts and technicians are spending a lot of time attempting to grow the actual technological innovation today that may significantly improve conditions in the world down the road. It is no hidden secret that individuals can not continue on down the trail we are on. Fossil fuels really are not a viable option with regard to energy source manufacturing.

If you have been thinking about switching to solar power or wind power electricity, you should really check out our site at: Solar Power Cost.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Eco Friendly Products

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Eco friendly products are available nowadays. These include small articles from handmade papers bags, jute bags, recycled papers to Eco friendly fuels so on. Eco friendly products are often distributed with very little advertising and marketing or packaging cost. Different products struggle for attention with fancy packaging and advertisements. Eco friendly products are eco friendly because they assist the atmosphere while remaining vitality saving for you and resource saving for your complete world.

Eco friendly products are made with recycled materials that don?t exploit the already depleting assets of the planet. The main focus is so as to add to the environment and not take from the environment. Eco friendly products are primarily made from recycled materials. Eco friendly products comprise parts that are good for the environment. Eco friendly products are usually manufactured in an environmentally sound process. So, there’s much less emission of poisonous waste and harmful chemicals.

Eco friendly products are there, now it is as much as you to choose one of the best from there, and contribute to avoid wasting your world, and your family. Eco friendly products are improving to make a declaration in regards to the environment. Transport for London added 4 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs into its fleet as a part of Mayor Boris Johnson’s programs to make London the electrical car capital of Europe.

Pure soaps and soap nuts also make nice eco friendly laundry products. Pure assets have been used unabashedly and that has left people anxious about lack of assets in future.

Atmosphere Safety Company or EPA has also prolonged the use of this label to cowl infrastructural services, together with houses and business establishments that meet eco-friendly criteria. Environmental design considerations and skyrocketing energy costs have drastically contributed to this wave of change. As a result presently, scientists from all around the world are attempting to carry these bio-primarily based eco friendly, modern products from the fields of the farm, to the lab and ultimately to your building.

Organic and eco friendly clothing is something we all wish to see more of. In the event you take into account the quantity of clothing you’ll use in a lifetime and the environmental influence of manufacturing them, ecologically aware brands like Prairie Underground begin to look much more attractive! Organic growers and producers really deserve all our help an again-up. However most important – except we say “No!”.to producers of hazardous pesticides and insecticides, how can we count on clear, recent streams, fish, plants and life?

Businesses are doing versions of residing walls on a large scale, as you possibly can see on this put up at Chemically Inexperienced . Enterprise card printing, shade printing services, full shade digital printing, printing brochures, printing postcards and all different services should comply with the FSC Rules to be good eco friendly products. When you select a great eco friendly product you naturally save the greenery round you.

Learn more about Eco Friendly Products. Stop by Jennifer Mcgrevy’s site where you can find out all about Eco Friendly Products and what it can do for you.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Residential Solar Power – Solar Power For Homes

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Solar kits : We have all felt the impact of rising fuel and energy costs, we have also all seen the devastating impact on the environment the extraction and use of fossil fuels has. For quite a few years now solar power for homes has been a much promoted alternative, the only problem is that it is so expensive to purchase and have installed, that is until now…

Residential solar power for homes has become a must if we are to free ourselves of the rising cost of traditional power resources such as fossil fuels. Solar power for homes has been with us for some time now, unfortunately the costs of taking it up have been prohibitive.

Residential solar power for homes is the simplest alternative energy installation we can preform on our homes. Easy to install and maintain (solar panels have a life span of around 30years) a residential solar power system will have you saving money for years to come.

No longer do you have to have massive, ugly solar panels decorating your roof, the panels produced today come in a variety of shapes and sizes (depending on your energy needs) and are made to blend in with the design of your home.

Possibly the most attractive feature of solar power for homes is it gives you the freedom to live your life independently or at least be less dependent upon, the power grid. This independence not only allows you to have what is effectively a free energy source, it also means you are not harming the environment as solar energy is a clean (no emissions, non polluting) and renewable energy source. The fact that residential solar power provides us with a clean, renewable energy, gives us the luxury to be less conscientious of and more liberal with our energy usage in the home.

Regardless of whether you are looking to totally power your home with solar or are looking to supplement traditional power sources to give you a cheaper, more reliable (no more power outages), unrestricted power resource, solar power is the way to go.

Recently we have seen the emergence of an affordable way to get a residential solar power system up and running. Many households are turning to DIY (Do It Yourself) solar power projects. DIY solar electricity guides are available on the internet via instant download and contain all the information (via video and ebook) you will need to get a solar power for the home system built and installed in no time.

To find out more about Residential Solar Power For Homes click the following link Residential Solar Power also be sure to check out water tank installation

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Self Sufficient Living – Does It Appeal To You?

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Self sufficient living is experiencing a resurgence of interest as many see pollution rising and natural resources being depleted. Many are also turning to this way of life as they consider the economic benefits of learning to live a more sustainable lifestyle. So what is self sufficient living anyway?

Self sufficient living is a phrase that refers to utilizing renewable sources to supply basic needs. For most individuals, this means a real change from depending upon city power and water. It also means becoming your own grocery store by growing a garden. For the purists, it involves learning to make things we use everyday – like soap and even clothing.

The fast pace of many people’s lives has caused them to reconsider their lifestyle and turn to a simpler, more self sufficient way of living as a better alternative. They see this as a more healthy way to live. Others are pursuing this in the interest of preparedness in light of increasing natural and man made disasters, as well as the looming threat of political unrest resulting from economic collapse.

What’s Involved – Let’s look at some important considerations to make for those interested in adopting a more self sufficient way of life.

Power – There are several solutions available for helping people to develop alternative energy systems which are independent of the power grid. While many are satisfied with a generator and battery bank for power, this would be the least desirable as it still requires a dependence on fossil fuels. On the other hand, advances in solar power technology offer a better, more sustainable, and low maintenance alternative. It does require an up-front investment starting at around $10,000 for smaller systems, but this will of course pay back over time. Two other alternatives for generating your own electricity are wind and micro-hydro (water) systems.

Food – There has been increased interest in gardening in recent years as evidenced by an increase in garden seed sales. This is truly a part of self sufficient living that anyone can start right away. While there are many helpful books on the subject, this is one area in which it largely comes down to experience. Thus, the sooner you get started, the better. Even if you only have a small patio, you can start gardening in pots, even during winter months, you can grow some things in the house. The other aspect of food involves learning to preserve and store food. This is something that people used to be better at, but with the convenience of supermarkets, many do not consider just how fragile a family’s food supply can be. Natural disasters remind us of this when interruptions in transport result in shelves being emptied in only a matter of hours. Methods for food preservation and storage include canning, dehydrating, air vacuum sealing, and use of air tight storage containers.

Finally, everybody needs energy to live and for most of us that come in the form of electricity. There are various ways of generating your own power these days such as wind or solar. While many think that a simple gas generator is sufficient for a back up, keep in mind that such a system still requires fuel which might be hard to come by one of these days. Thus something more sustainable is preferable. A small solar power system can cost as much as $10,000 but it’s an investment that will pay for itself over time.

Homesteading – There’s no way around the fact that urban living is the least friendly to becoming more self sufficient. The topic of finding country property is one we’ll take up in another article, but keep in mind this can be done with the proper planning and persistence. For sure, rural living is the most ideal situation for becoming more independent.

Conclusion – Self sufficient living is within the reach of most individuals and families if they’re willing to invest the time and energy into making it happen. Furthermore, such a way of life positions people to be better equipped to not only take care of themselves in times of need, but also to be of help to others. In this sense, it is truly a responsible way to live, and thus a noble pursuit.

If you want to realize your dream of self sufficient living, come and visit http://www.selfsufficientlivingblog.com and learn how this way of life can be yours.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

New Alternate Energy Source, The Waste Gasifier

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

A gasifyer is used to heat wood or other organic matter to a temperature great enough to release the volatile elements inside. The gasses produced can be burnt in an engine to make power or simply burned in a heating system. The gasifier is basically a container that is insulated to keep in the heat.

A small layer of burning fuel is held within a container inside the drum. The bed of fuel is forced to combust under controlled conditions, by limiting the amount of air, and starts the gas production.

Being self contained has lots of advantages.

A modest controlled burn is necessary, partially because you do not want to simply set fire to all the combustion mass, and the small fire burning with limited oxygen is efficient. And heating and drying the remainder of the fuel stock means it will also willingly burn when it , in turn, falls into the fire grate. Temperatures of the order of 1200 degrees F should be aimed for. The top of the cylinder has a tube that allows the combustion gasses to escape. They are then filtered to take out particles, and cooled since a denser gas has more power.

A small power station, transportable and self contained, is one of the decided advantages of the gasifier. A four cylinder engine needs an oil barrel sized gas producer, but if the fuel is a waste product, the gas is just as good.

Waste products such as chipped branches and wood, rice, maize coconut remains, in any combination, even chicken litter. Even rapid growing willow might be planted as a fuel harvest.

This not only is a new source of fuel, but since commercial agribusiness makes massive amounts of waste organic product, all of which costs money to get rid of, but also land fill is reduced. The gasifyer residue, or char, is an excellent soil conditioner, making it a very eco-friendly alternative.

My special interest is in lessening the expense of home energy production or even off grid living.

The gasses, regularly called syngas or producer gas, can be especially clean burning with little or no contamination.

The claim is that 20lbs of dry chipped wood is comparable to 1 gallon of gasoline. A gasifier of appropriate size will furnish all the gas to run a particular engine, the larger the gasifier the bigger the engine. A gasifyer does not necessarily call for any external power nevertheless this will help to start the machine, someone will nonetheless have to fuel the machine. With an internal combustion engine the inductance will suck air through the hearth creating a self sustaining sequence.

As a green alternate energy source a gasifyer and petrol generator offers a serious solution.

This Process is over Two Hundred Years old, but is just as useful now when the world needs an appropriate new fuel source. Find out now how heat and electricity can be produced with the latest generation of gasifiers. Find out more at The Gasifyer. Com.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Information On Recycling Industrial Batteries

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

The world faces many issues today, and one of the most important is the need to preserve the environment. Humans must adjust the way they live in order to protect the environment so future generations inherit a clean Earth and not be responsible for cleaning up a mess that they did not create. Unfortunately, many businesses have yet to change their own habits and are not doing their part in helping out.

One environmental hazard that businesses are especially negligent toward is the industrial battery. Lead, cadmium, dilute sulfuric acid, and alkaline electrolytes are all toxic materials found in industrial batteries and can cause great damage to the environment if the used battery is tossed casually into the trash. Proper disposal is key to reducing their impact on the planet.

Waste disposal law requires businesses to take responsibility for the proper processing of waste that they produce as part of their business operations. It clearly states that people must follow certain procedures in relation to used industrial batteries when they have they are no longer needed. As some of the materials that are used to make these batteries are highly toxic, they are actually classified by law as being industrial waste.

Normally, businesses are not equipped with qualified processing facilities on their own. Because of this, they often must hire a qualified subcontractor to transport and handle used industrial batteries. These regionally approved handlers collect the batteries and transport them to plants containing facilities approved in the disposal of these materials. The law requires this in order to limit any potential damage to the environment.

Here are the requirements by law in handling industrial batteries:

- There must be a designated handler of industrial waste who is qualified to do so.

- Collection and transport of used industrial batteries must be performed by a specialist subcontractor.

- Accurate records must be maintained regarding the number of batteries purchased and used. This data must be provided to the subcontractor.

Failure to adhere to the regulations that your country has adopted will result in large fines for your business. Following these guidelines is not voluntary. It is the law. It is especially important to comply with the law nowadays due to the scrutiny companies are under to be environmentally sound. A business caught in noncompliance would certainly scare off potential customers and other businesses due to their reluctance to be associated with such a company.

More : Industrial Batteries

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

Solar Energy Money-Saving Tips

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

The initial expense of a solar energy installation is one of its primary deterrents. For the average American today, the traditional fossil fuel home energy system is less expensive to purchase than a solar home energy system. A solar energy installation, however, has a bigger picture to consider:

1. Using solar panels to capture and use the sun’s energy will improve your home value.

2. In about half of its lifetime, a solar home energy system will have paid for itself (lifetime of 25-30 years on average).

3. You are installing a clean, non-polluting system that, since there are no moving parts to break or replace, will be either low maintenance or maintenance-free.

4. If you generate more power than you need, you may be able to sell your excess energy to your local electric company.

5. There are government sponsored rebates and incentives that you may qualify for.

If you’ve been keeping up with home building trends, you’ve undoubtedly noticed more and more home owners are interested in “going green,” resulting in a remarkable trend toward using as many renewable resources, including solar energy, for construction, as possible. Not only will this trend result in a rising value for “green” homes, it will also push costs for solar energy and other environmentally-friendly building supplies down.

If you’re convinced that solar energy is the way to go when building or remodeling your home, but just not sure if you can afford it…or are willing to pay the initial costs, consider doing the installation yourself. Getting solar panels installed by a contractor can be very expensive…look for bids that are easily 10 times what it would cost you to do it yourself. Solar energy panel construction isn’t terribly difficult…no rocket science involved. It’s basically a specially constructed solar panel (wooden box, photovoltaic [PV] cells, wire, soldering iron, connections, tempered or plexiglass and silicone sealant) to capture the sunlight’s energy on the PV cells that activate electrons. As the electrons move and are directed, they create the electrical chain that you then put through a charge controller in the form of a DC charge. You then capture the charge in either a deep cycle storage battery, or run it through an inverter to transform it into 110 volt AC current. You can find many DIY models on the Internet…some that offer free tips and tricks with instruction, and some that charge a small amount. One site that provides clear instruction at a very reasonable cost is Earth4Energy.

And, of course, you can cut your energy costs by taking advantage of passive solar energy. Explore the most advantageous way to use the sun’s energy to direct sunlight to your home’s windows, floors and walls, in order to distribute heat in the winter, and reject it in the summer. There are no panels, mechanical or electrical devices involved in passive solar energy, but there are five elements of passive solar design that are critical for success. They include a collector – glass area through which sunlight enters the building; an absorber – hard, dark surface where sunlight hits and is absorbed as heat; thermal mass – material below or behind the absorber; distribution – the way in which the solar heat circulates; and control -blinds, awnings, roof overhangs, and differential thermostats.

There’s money to be saved using solar energy, whether you use passive or active, or combine the two. While your initial cost may be higher, (although you can reduce that expense significantly with your own installation) consider the cost of your energy usage over time. With constantly rising fossil fuel expenses, putting in solar energy is going to ultimately save you money on your utility bills. And, you’ll be saving the planet from the environmental damage that continues to escalate.

Rhone Resch, CEO and President of Solar Energy Industries Association, said, on Earth Day 2010: “Today we need to take action to accelerate the deployment of solar. If you are a homeowner or business owner, consider putting solar on your property or buying clean energy through your utility. And if you are a policymaker, consider incentives, like extending the federal Treasury Grant Program, that are working to stimulate more investment in solar.”

Large or small, whatever thing each of us might do that encourages and supports solar energy development, will benefit generations to come.

Looking to learn more information about solar power costs and other solar energy topics? Then visit Timothy’s site at: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in environment | Comments Off

« Older Entries