Archives for September, 2009
Posted on 2009 under Alternative Energy |
29
Sep
by Tim McDonald
As the world’s energy supplies dwindle, it is our duty to start producing renewable energy on a larger scale.
Currently there are 4 major types of renewable energy available at our disposal: solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, and geothermal energy.
From The Wind:
For thousands of years, the power of the wind has been used to move boats, for irrigation and to grind flour. But nowadays, wind turbines have evolved into electricity generating machines.
Some people still imagine windmills as the ornate ones found in the Netherlands, or the small wind pumps on farmland, but wind power technology has come a long way. Today, massive windmills, better known as wind turbines can generate millions of watts of electric energy, and smaller ones can be used at home as a substitute to grid-tied power.
Solar Power:
The sun is the most readily available form of energy there is, so we should be using it to a larger extent. And as technology advances, households are provided with a number of ways to harness the power of the sun. These ways include solar electricity, solar heaters, solar dryers and solar cookers.
With solar electric and heating systems, they are both cost-effective, good for the environment, they require little maintenance and help you save on your utility bills. Solar cookers are very healthy way of cooking food, since they cook the food at a lower temperature-helping to retain its vitamins and minerals. They are also very portable, making them ideal for travelers and campers.
Hydro Power:
Initially hydro or water power was used industrially in rivers and waterfalls to power waterwheels that would then be used to move water for irrigation or grind flour.
Today hydro power is used in dams to produce electricity for households and businesses. Hydro-electric power is generate on a large scale where dammed up water is channeled through turbines, which spins a dynamo as it gushes through. The best example of hydro-electric power would be the Hoover Dam, which was built to provide electricity to Las Vegas. In fact hydro-electric power is efficient is popular nowadays that it accounts for over 90% of the worlds renewable energy.
Many environmentalists and socialists are against hydro-electric dams, since they affect the natural forna and flora and can cause the forced removal of entire cities.
Geothermal (Volcanic) Power:
Most of the time Geothermal energy is harnessed in volcanic regions, where molten lava is rather close to the earth’s surface. An good example would be in Iceland, an extremely volcanic island that generates a lot of its power in this way.
Here, large power plants are built over the geysers, where hot fast-moving steam from the geysers drives large turbines to make electricity. To speed up the process, water is sometimes pumped back into the geysers to make more steam, which is then used to drive the turbines once again, thus making it an endless cycle.
This brings us to the end of the various types of renewable energy explored. To find more in-depth information on each source, you can visit our website at DIY-Renewable-Energy dot com.
About the Author:
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Home Solar Power for under $200, reducing your power costs, while saving the environment, then get a free copy of our
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Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, environment, hobby, home improvement, lighting, men, money saving tips, renewable energy, society, solar energy, solar power, Technology, types of renewable energy, wind power
Posted on 2009 under Alternative Energy |
28
Sep
by Bob Hobson
Yes solar energy for your home is very expensive but if you compare what you spend every month on electricity the cost will even out due to your saving. Residential homes are rearing towards solar power and realizing that eventually we will have no more resources available to supply the full load of electricity needed.
Take advantage of these offers and save an incredible amount of money. If you are building your home from scratch you will be able to install as many panels as you need and extra for the times when the energy cells are low. This will be a double take for you as you will save both ways in that you won’t be paying high electricity bills and you won’t need to take a loan for installation fees.
A complete installation of solar energy to you home will then cost you nothing. The money you used to spend on power can now be saved towards something needed. And by having a grid connection; local electric services actually pay you for power used from your home.
After you have done some reading and research you can then decide whether you can do this yourself or maybe you need a contractor to do the job. As well as installing solar energy to the inside of your home you can also install outside. You can use solar energy to heat your pool, as well as replace the geyser. Solar energy will provide both heat and cold which is a bonus in Africa.
You are able to take full advantage of rebates and incentives provided by your local governments once you have installed your system. The system has many environmental benefits in that you are contributing to the world’s electricity security. This technology has also opened a new avenue for those that are unemployed and strengthens world economy.
The panels are installed either on the south facing side or the north facing side of your home. This depends where in the world you are residing. They are mounted on a swivel rack which allows the panel to catch the sun rays in all directions. Similar to the weather cock method.
It has been noted that in some countries that after installing a solar energy system the value of your home will immediately increase and in some cases tax exemption is granted to the owners. This is a bonus due to the inflation and cost of housing in these deflating times. Houses that have the system have a better change of selling as the new owner won’t have high electricity bills to pay.
Last but not least by installing solar energy in your home you are not only saving money but In the long term you are also preventing harmful toxins which are released into the atmosphere daily from the use fuel. You can go online and research prices and what type of solar energy would suit your needs in the long term.
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, energy, environmental, home energy, renewable energy, solar energy
Posted on 2009 under Alternative Energy |
27
Sep
by Colin Jones
If you are thinking about a hybrid vehicle, you may be hearing quite a bit of “gossip”. Some people think the hybrid car is the best thing since sliced bread. Other people say it will just pass. Yet other people again say they think they can save a lot of money, but you’re not sure it’s really worth it. What is the truth, and how do you separate fact from fiction with all of the stuff that is being thrown at you? Below, you can read and consider the common hybrid vehicle myths.
Hybrid cars are the same as electric cars: This is not true since hybrid cars are fuel-powered most of the time. But they have what are called ‘battery assists’. The assist is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is rechargeable.
You are guaranteed to save money with a hybrid car: If you are doing town motoring, you may save gas and you may not. The same goes for highway driving. There are just many different factors. It has been said that if everyone bought hybrid cars, the fuel consumption would drop by only 10%. That’s not a very big difference.
A hybrid cars battery can run out: A hybrid car battery should not run out when you are actually driving it. The engine in a hybrid car does not idle when stopped (at a red light for instance). What does it do instead then? It recharges its battery. So there’s no need to worry about a hybrid car stopping on that score.
The hybrid vehicle’s rechargeable battery lasts only for two years: A hybrid car certainly would not be worth purchasing if this was the case. A hybrid car’s rechargeable batteries usually come with an eight-year warranty.
If I run out of gas, I can keep driving on the hybrid car battery: Keep in mind, a hybrid car’s battery is an assist. That means that hybrid car’s still run on fuel. After you run out of gas, the battery could keep the car running for a short while. However, the vehicle will stop running pretty soon.
Hybrid vehicles will soon put normal car sellers out of business: I’m sure that this won’t happen anytime soon. The reason for the delay has to do with the how much a hybrid cars cost. Many people just can’t afford one. Also, people just aren’t too sure whether they will actually save money by buying a hybrid car. Therefore, they are slow to join the rush of people who want to own a hybrid car.
Hybrid cars will only save you about 88USD per annum: I did see something on the news the other day, but it may be untrue. If there’s something you really want and there’s a lot of gossip surrounding it, you simply have got to start digging around and do some research yourself. There are many different types of hybrid vehicle, and many different manufacturers make them. This means that there may be much more involved than we have discussed here. A hybrid car may help you, and it may not, but the final decision is up to you.
So, don’t worry too much about what people say. Do your own research and make up your own mind. Use the Internet to get information. The manufacturer’s advertising is also useful, if you stick to reading the facts and gloss over the hype. Check that what the literature claims is also in the guarantee.
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, America, automobiles, cars, family, hobbies, hybrid cars, hybrid vehices, modern technology, motors, other, travel, trucks, vehicles
Posted on 2009 under Alternative Energy |
26
Sep
by Tim McDonald
Nuclear power has always been seen as a “safe” alternative energy to burning fossil fuels. So much so they today is accounts for about twenty-five percent of worldwide power generation. But here are 7 reasons why nuclear power sucks:
1 – It is expensive:
At $6 to $12 billion each, nuclear reactors are not a cheap solution. Nuclear power has already been subsidized hundreds of billions of dollars. Why should we, the taxpayers, subsidize the electric utility companies’ investments any longer?
2 – It actually increases green-house gases:
Nuclear is seen as a relatively clean alternative energy. But that is complete nonsense! While the reactor may not emit green-house gases, the rest of the activities certainly do. How do you think the uranium is mined and transported? How do you think the reactor was built? And all the building material transported? That’s right – trucks and machines – all of which emit carbon into the air.
What’s more is these reactors take years to be fully operational – wasting precious time in our fight against global warming. We could have used that time and money more wisely, such as improved research and development in solar and wind power.
3 – What happens to all that radioactive waste?
From mining to milling, processing to enrichment, fuel fabrication to fuel irradiation in reactors, large amounts of harmful, long-lasting radioactive waste is produced. In addition to 20-30 tons of high-level radioactive waste per reactor per year, this includes so-called “low” level radioactive waste.
4 – A damaged reactor could lead to a catastrophe:
Nuclear power plants are not as safe as they are said to be. They could easily be attacked and even if an accident happened, there are no realistic evacuation measures in place. Furthermore, thanks to the Price-Anderson Act, a utility company is liable for only $10.8 billion as opposed to the real potential damage of $600 billion! Who will be picking up the rest of the bill? The working-class taxpayers – that’s who!
5 – Increased risk of cancer:
The levels of radiation released in the air, water and soil are considered “safe”. However, this standard is based on how it impacts healthy, white males and does not take consideration for children that are sensitive to cancer-causing radiation.
The current solution for the “disposal” or “storage” of this waste is unacceptable. There is no scientifically safe place to dump this waste, and new reactors would exacerbate the problem. Additional “low” level radioactive waste would have to be dumped in landfills or incinerated, polluting the water and air.
6 – Nuclear technology sets the stage for atomic weapons:
If you look back at Israel’s bombing of Syria’s suspected nuclear site in 2007, and America worried about Iran’s nuclear program, nuclear development brings about the threat of a nuclear attack. Just imagine how tensions would rise as more countries increase their nuclear deployment. Not to mention the fact that the more reactors there are, the easier it is for terrorists to get their hands on nuclear materials.
7 – There are cleaner alternatives:
What bothers us most is we already have better, cleaner, safer and cheaper alternatives available and ready to implement. Perhaps with the recent election of our new US government, nuclear energy will be put to rest and renewable energy will be harnessed on a larger scale.
But while we wait, it is possible to start harnessing renewable energy at home. What’s more is, it does not cost very much and is rather simple to implement. Various solar and wind power guides have already become available, which you can see in our reviews section.
About the Author:
So forget about nuclear power and learn to make your own power at home. But before you get the wrong advice, have a look inside the top-rated guide –
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Earth4Energy Reviews here.
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, energy efficiency, environment, environmental law, modern living, nuclear power, renewable energy, SCIENCE, solar energy, Solar Panels, solar power, Technology, wind power, world
Posted on 2009 under Alternative Energy |
26
Sep
by Jessica H. Skymore
The solar energy jobs have skyrocketed by a 25% margin since 2001. The need for alternative energy has spread world wide and the availability of alternative energy jobs have been coinciding with these needs. By 2010 many in the industry expect the needs to increase to incorporate 100,000 new jobs. This is good news for the environment as well as for those seeking the green employment that contributes positive energy to the world.
With an increase in jobs that is so dramatic, there is an abundance of positions all around the world as well as in the country that will change your world. Literally.
As alternative energy jobs go, solar energy jobs are one of the most readily available. It is speculated that the job market will continue to grow for several more years. Without the appropriate research and the access to qualified construction, solar energy will be delayed in its implementation all over the United States. Joining the wind turbine industry, solar panels are expected to become one of the most common home improvements within the next 15 years.
While we can definitely be proud of the increase in solar energy jobs throughout the United States, our increase has yet to match the increase of many European countries. They are outperforming us on available solar energy job availability as well as wind turbine construction. The competitive nature of the figures has nothing to do with rivalry, but a hands on study of how we have progressed in alternative energy jobs. While our efforts are more than reasonable for such a short period of time, we need a stronger movement to get things moving in the right direction.
We are moving forward at a rapid speed in filling the solar energy jobs and giving a huge boost to the eco friendly energy movement. While many European countries have surpassed our current level of eco success, we are catching up quickly. The science behind the solar energy and the construction needs for continued use and development is already here. Alternative energy jobs are proving our progress in clean energy.
Solar energy can provide homes and business with enough power to decrease fossil fuels gas by 25%. Solar energy may one day lead us to new cars that don’t need fuel. There is no limit to where the development of alternative energy will take us. Being part of the generation that offers the best and most practical solutions would be an amazing experience.
Sometimes in order to get the alternative energy job that you have your eye on, you will need to gather some experience and the right education. Sometimes you can pick up an internship or an alternate position while you are finishing up your education.
Some students are offered a transfer to help fill in the voids in the industry. While this can mean losing college credits it also pretty guaranteed you a job before as well as after college. Those who apply and are selected are definitely in a unique position. The transfer can be hard on you but the experience is once in a lifetime.
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, going green, green careers, green companies, Green jobs, new careers