Posts Tagged: Clean Energy

Economics 101, Environmental Studies 101 and Technical Science 101, should be necessary classes for everyone to study because Economics and Technology are necessary to care for the Environment and Save the Planet.

For those who may not be the university sorts or are well educated and shy away from any of these particular subjects, don�t be troubled. We’re talking about 101, not 401, so this is entry level logic we’re dealing with, and if you don’t have it yet, you have to get on board quick because there’s a huge amount at stake!

So, how does Embrace Renewable Energies and Eliminate your Power Bill 101 sound to you? Now that�s the kind of subject matter we can definitely undertand! Cutting edge technologies make solar power and wind power a bona fide clean energy solution!

Attention, Class is now is session.

There is categorically no hype in saying there’s a lot at stake here because everyone with a set of eyes and ears understands this already. It is a well recognized fact that our planet could very well be in trouble. Big trouble! The ice caps are melting, drought is killing individuals and the future may well be pretty bleak.

Here are a few observations that lay it out.

1 If you pause and consider that each time you flip a light switch on in your home, you’re conceivably damaging the planet, it’s not a guilt trip, it’s just a fact. I mean we’re all part of it right?

2 Most electricity in the world comes from power stations that burn coal. Coal is a fossil fuel, and it’s also dirty. VERY dirty! When the power plants burn it, they’re belching pollutants into our environment and contributing to global warming.

3 I know I didn’t send a memo to the power company and tell them to destroy the Earth, and neither did you, but we are, no question, adding to the dilemma when we use up lots of electricity.

4 You have to drive don’t you? If driving your car does the environment harm, I suppose you can tell your boss to keep paying you for not coming into work, so you can save the Earth. Correct? Try that and see what it gets you! The fact is, we’re all part of the dilemma, whether we like it or not.

5 People need to fly to get places, right? We can’t just ground all of our air planes, and, even if we could, could YOU demand that and have anybody pay attention? Most likely not.

Ok, you get the sketch, and its precisely this sort of idea that makes a lot of people feel helpless and think there’s very little they can do to help the environment. Nothing can be further from the fact!

Even if there’s question about the science of it, do we actually intend to take the gamble of not taking action? So what can you do to cause a difference as just yourself? The fact is you CAN cause a difference and you are capable of making a large difference!

Here’s the wonderful news… Each single occasion you walk outside your front door, you’re surrounded by free, abundant, clean energy. The key is harnessing free wind power and solar power, which there is a never ending supply of, and it’s a powerful force!

All you need to do is figure out how solar energy and wind engery operaties and turn it into what runs your air conditioner. Well, the technology is definatly here today, to economically build your own solar power or wind power generator for your residence, and hook them up easily. This isn’t a game, and it’s not some scam. It’s the genuine deal, and people are doing it every day and in the process you can get rid of your power bill.

When you’re running off your own renewable energy that you’ve generated from the Wind and Sun it’s like running out your front door and discovering a wad of cash on your front step. That’s almost exactly what’s occuring when you harness solar power and wind power, while at the same time you are helping to save the planet.

So, here’s to slashing your power costs and saving the Earth while saving your self a mountain of money in the process. When you embrace renewable energies call it an Earth-Kiss!

Proven techniques to utilize renewable energies and free instrucitons on where to begin the process of eliminating your power bill while you save the planet. Get go for solar power

While a complete solar electrical system for the home usually requires a considerable investment, there are still other solar power solutions which are much easier to implement.

Solar lights are relatively simple to acquire and install, and are powered by clean energy. Since they usually require no wiring, they are very simple to set up.

Solar garden lights (or solar landscape lights) are one example of this. Solar garden lights have solar panels embedded into them at the top, facing the sun. Of course one drawback of these is that they might not stay lit forever. The amount of sun they receive will influence how long they last. The specifications of these lights can give you some idea of how long they will stay lit in the dark. But 8-12 hours is not an unusual estimate for a reasonably priced light, which should be plenty of time to get through the night in most circumstances.

Furthermore, these lights usually have sensors so that they turn on automatically at dusk and turn off when the sun starts shining again. This means that you don’t have to run your lights the whole night through, if you don’t need to. Motion sensors are also used in some solar lights, such as those that would be placed along pathways or near the front door, so that the lights turn on when an person or animal is present. This is good for security, and its also good for just seeing where you are going when you walk in a garden or path, or approach a home in the dark.

Solar lighting can also be used in Christmas lights. One might not think that December is the best time of year to utilize solar energy, but I suppose Christmas lights don’t require too much voltage. Since solar powered Christmas lights are not hard to find.

Solar powered spotlights and floodlights are used in gardens and landscaping, among other things. These are used to set out and highlight the best features of a garden or landscape, and again, no wiring required means they are much easier to install than electrical lights. Not to mention cleaner and cheaper.

Again, with solar powered lights, one disadvantage can be the fact that they only stay on for as long as their stored solar electricity permits. In most cases, however, they should last throughout the night if they are receiving sufficient solar energy during the day. You could run into trouble if they are placed in a shady area or if you live in a cloudy climate. They will probably still work, but not as well. Snow can also block sunlight when it covers any photovoltaic surface. But solar lights are often sloped in such a way as to let snow fall off of them more easily.

There are plenty of other uses for solar lighting. And they aren’t all for the home owner.

Street lights can be run with solar power. It will be interesting to see how that concept develops, as the world turns its attention more and more toward clean alternative energy solutions. Admittedly, it would be dangerous if street lights went out early, on days when the power of the sun wasn’t sufficient.

But a simple solution would be to use a hybrid system, with a backup battery, a backup power generator, or the like. That way, if the energy from the sun weren’t sufficient one day, the lights would continue to shine nevertheless.

For more information on Solar Lighting and how it works, see this article on Solar Lights

————————

Anna Williams is a photographer and a traveler, with an interest in green energy solutions. She educates others online, on alternative energy and solar power solutions.

Visit Anna’s website to learn more information about Home Solar Power Products and Portable Solar Power.

When a person makes the choice to incorporate solar energy into his home and the appliances he uses in daily living, he may assume that he lives the natural way of life. Not only is he safeguarding the environment and also reducing dependency on the power grid and the necessity for foreign oil, but also he is saving cash.

Blueberries are good for you and carry all kinds of holistic health benefits. They are known to treat various health issues. They could even help our energy problems with technology. Tufts School analysts studied more than fifty fruits to determine their capacity and antitoxins.

Surprisingly, blueberries came at the top of that list. They lead us to believe that we can make a solar panel without silicon.

This might lead to cheaper and better solar panels. The solar panel will be more flexible because it is made of natural material instead of silicon. Analysts say that they can have a solar panel so thin that it may be clear and still wrap around any solid object. Solar electricity is very expensive due to the high cost of silicon and the cost of production to make solar panels. It is estimated that the use of renewable organic matter made of blueberry pigment will lower the cost of making solar panels by as much as 15% or more. This would create more electronic currents that the user could make use of. This would be a totally natural process. Not only would you be employing a clean energy from a plant that may be grown just for the requirement of energy, but may also be used as an antioxidant and a good part of any diet. The usages are limitless with a clear solar panel. Solar powered panels with their frames made from massive amounts metal sitting on rooftops, or unpleasant hardware scattered across backyards will no longer be unsightly views. If you are considering employing solar energy for your home, you might want to closely study the use of blueberry pigment solar panels.

Check regularly to see whether the technology has become available to the general public in the near future. You can save yourself a lot of money while at the same time making your home more beautiful. You can place a flexible solar panel almost anywhere.

They can be fastened on the side of a shed, the doghouse, or simply wrapped around your clothesline support poles. The possibilities are endless with a bit of imagination and creativity. Keep checking on the Internet for new developments in this current technology so that you might be able to invest in the developing corporation.

- originally posted at Alternative Energy

To most people, the differences between “alternative energy,” “renewable energy,” and “clean energy,” might not be obvious. But each term is unique and has its own individual meaning.

Alternative Energy

When we speak of alternative energy, we refer to sources of usable energy that can replace conventional energy sources (usually, without undesirable side effects). The term “alternative energy” is typically used to refer to sources of energy other than nuclear energy or fossil fuels.

Throughout the course of history, “alternative energy” has referred to different things. There was a time when Nuclear Energy was considered an alternative to conventional energy, and was thus called “alternative energy.” But times have changed.

These days, a form of “alternative energy” might also be renewable energy, or clean energy, or both. The terms are often interchangeable, but definitely not the same.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is any type of energy which comes from renewable natural resources, such as wind, rain, sunlight, geothermal heat, and tides. It is referred to as “renewable” because it doesn’t run out. You can always get more of it.

People have begun to turn to this type of energy due to the rising oil prices, and the prospect that we might one day deplete available sources of fossil fuels, as well as due to concerns about the adverse effects that our conventional energy sources have on the environment.

Among the different types of renewable energy, wind power is one which is growing in its use. The number of users who have some form of wind power installed has increased, with the current worldwide capacity being about 100 GW.

Clean Energy

“Clean energy” is simply any form of energy which is created with clean, harmless, and non-polluting methods.

Most renewable energy sources are also clean energy sources. But not all.

One such example is geothermal power. It may be a renewable energy source, but some geothermal energy processes can be harmful to the environment. Therefore, this is not always a clean energy. However there are also other forms of geothermal energy which are harmless and clean.

Clean energy makes the less impact on the environment than our current conventional energy sources do. It creates an insignificant amount of carbon dioxide, and its use can reduce the speed of global warming - or global pollution.

—

As you can see, alternative energy, renewable energy, and clean energy are very similar. But it is important to know that there are differences.

There are many steps which can be taken to help reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Some of these steps can be taken in your own home. Many clean energy solutions can can be easily installed, and some kits or DIY systems are quite affordable.

It is important to start making changes now; if we want to save our planet for our children, for the flora and fauna of the Earth, and for the future of mankind.

Carbon emissions, and other forms of pollution are not only created by heavy industrial factories. They are created by the common household as well. Energy efficiency has become an important aspect of our lives. If we start to change our habits on an individual level, others will begin to follow our example, and a real change can occur world-wide.

Clean alternative energy systems for the home can also save one a lot of money on electricity in the long-run, but it can be expensive to have the systems installed by a commercial company. It’s quite possible to build your own wind or solar power system at home, however, for a fraction of the cost. And advanced technical knowledge or skills are not a requirement. There are several good, popular guides available which will teach you exactly how to do this, and give you step-by-step instructions.

For more information, on some of the best-selling DIY Clean Energy guides available, please visit Best-Selling DIY Wind & Solar How-To Guides.

This article will describe how solar energy is created and cover some of its basic principles.

Solar energy consists of the light and heat emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

With today’s technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity.

Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.

But in order to benefit the most from the use of solar power, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make a sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.

- Available Solar Resource

The technical feasibility and economical viability of using solar energy depends on the amount of available sunlight (solar radiation) in the area where you intend to place solar heaters or solar panels.

This is sometimes referred to as the available solar resource.

Every part of Earth is provided with sunlight during at least one part of the year. (I say “part of the year” as the north and south polar caps are each in total darkness for a few months of the year.) The amount of sunlight available is one factor to take into account when considering using solar energy.

There are a few other factors, however, which need to be looked at when determining the viability of solar energy in any given location. These are as follows:

* Geographic location

* Time of day

* Season

* Local landscape

* Local weather

Because the Earth is round, the sun hits its surface at different angles, at different locations on the globe. This ranges from 0� (just above the horizon - a good example of this is the north pole during the winter) to 90� (directly overhead, at and near the equator).

When the sun’s rays are vertical (directly overhead), the Earth’s surface gets a maximum of solar energy. The more slanted the sun’s rays are, the longer they have to travel through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the surface (becoming more scattered and diffuse as they go along).

The more scattered and diffuse the sun rays are, the less concentrated the solar energy is. Because the Earth is round, the polar regions never get direct sunlight, and they receive no sun at all during their respective winter months.

The Earth travels around the sun in an elliptical orbit. Because of its elliptical path, the northern hemisphere of the Earth is closer to the sun during one half of the year, and the southern hemisphere is closer during the other half of the year.

When one part of the Earth is closer to the sun, it receives more concentrated solar energy. This is the time of year that is referred to as “summer.”

But regardless of summer or winter, the 23.5� tilt of the Earth’s axis plays a larger role in determining the amount of sunlight striking Earth at a particular location. The tilting of the earth results in longer days in the northern hemisphere during one half the year, and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other half of the year.

Areas such as the United States and Europe receive more solar energy between May and September - not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is nearly overhead during this season. The sun’s rays are far more slanted during the shorter days of the winter months. Cities such as Denver, Colorado, receive nearly three times more solar energy in June than they do in December.

- Diffuse and Direct Sunlight

As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected.

The following is a general list of materials that cause the sunlight to be diffused:

* Air Molecules

* Water vapor

* Clouds

* Dust

* Pollutants

Sunlight affected in this way is referred to as diffuse solar radiation or diffuse sunlight.

Sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface without being diffused is called direct beam solar radiation or direct sunlight.

The sum total of all diffuse and direct solar radiation in a given location is called global solar radiation. It is the total amount of sunlight hitting the Earth at any specific spot, both direct and diffuse combined.

Pollution and other atmospheric conditions (such as weather patterns) can reduce direct sunlight by 10% on clear dry days. They can reduce direct beam radiation by 100% on thick, cloudy days.

Note that the absence of direct sunlight does not imply total darkness, as some diffuse light will still get through.

- Measuring Sunlight and Solar Energy

Scientists measure the amount of sunlight available in specific locations during the different times of year.

They are then able to estimate the amount of sunlight which falls on similar regions at the same latitude with similar climates and conditions.

Measurements of solar energy are normally expressed as “total radiation on a horizontal surface”, or as “total amount of radiation on a surface tracking the sun”.

In this last case, the assumption is that one is using a solar panel that automatically tracks the sun.

In other words, the solar panel would be mounted on a tracking device so that the panel would remain at right angles to the sun throughout the day.

This system is primarily used for industrial setups, when it is used at all.

- Solar Energy Measurements

Radiation data (the amount of solar energy available at a given location) for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems is often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2). Direct estimates of solar energy may be expressed as watts per square meter (W/m2).

Radiation data for solar water heating and space heating systems is usually represented in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft2).

————————

Anna supports of clean living and the use of renewable energy in order to combat pollution and Global Warming, as well as the humanitarian and economic consequences of dependency on fossil fuels.

For more information on solar energy, visit Anna’s blogs, Solar Power and Alternative Energy.

You can also find a wide variety of solar power equipment, solar battery chargers, portable solar power, solar water heating, solar powered weather stations, solar fountains, solar lights, home solar panels, and more, at her Solar Power Store.