Alternative Energy

In 1972, Synthetic oil arrived on the scene.
Lately, there has been quite an interest in the enviromental impact of this oil. Below are some of these benefits.
Synthetic - A better performing vehicle.
 
Less friction and wear, and better gas mileage. 

The car runs much better in super hot temperatures.

So much safer for the environment.

Retains viscosity up to 8 times longer.

Much less waste oil to dispose of.

Fewer oil changes

Less ‘boil off’. Resulting in less pollution.

Reduces sticky piston rings and oil blow by.

On per mile research, synthetic oils are cheaper than petroleum oils.
Along with much less damage to the environment, synthetic oils will save you money. Even though petroleum oils may cost less per quart, The fact that you change synthetic oils eight times less is big savings.

Recycling is one of the easiest as well as most effective ways that you can help the environment. There are plenty of different projects at home you can separate from your trash for this purpose. It is convenient if you buy plastic trash barrels and label them for individual products.

You should have one for glass, plastic, and cardboard. If you drink soda from cans then have one for those aluminum cans as well. Find out where you can take each of these full barrels to be recycled when you need to. There should be centers for them locally around town.

You will often find receptacles out there that allow you to place these items into at collection spots. They are just huge containers that will get emptied out on a regular basis. This is perfect when the community doesn’t have any other method for taking in the items to be recycled.

If your community doesn’t offer them you need to see what you can do to get them in place. You can contact your local officials in person or with a letter asking them to consider offering them. Explain your concerns that without such receptacles in place people won’t be encouraged to recycle in your area.

The concept of recycling can extend to your schools and place of employment as well. Do your best to get this important issue recognized everywhere you can. In many instances people just need to be educated and then reminded about the benefits of recycling for our environment.
Your information can motivate them to take part in it.

Don’t overlook the importance of letting children know either. They are often very excited by recycling and find it to be thrilling. They can often help encourage their parents to take part in such efforts as well.

Buying products that have been recycled such as paper products is a great way to show your support for these efforts. You will notice some greeting cards are made from them. Even supplies such as napkins used in fast food restaurants can be made from recycled paper.

It is also very simple to carry around a large mesh bag when you are going to shop for a few items. Rather than getting a paper or plastic bag from them you can place your purchased items into your own bag. Look for one that is durable so it you can reuse it over and over again.

With all the information out there in the news and on the internet most people are at least aware of pollution problems. The issue is more serious in some areas but the fact remains that we all contribute to it. The concern is that with more people on Earth now and more pollution we are harming our environment.

Since we breath the air that is out there what is in it should be a top concern for each of us. Yet we often go about it without thinking twice about it. There are
enough individuals suffering from health concerns due to what they have been breathing in for years.

With all of the pollutants out there right now, imagine what it will be like for future generations. You may not care much as you will already be dead. Yet you will have family who will need to deal with the problems. Even our own children and grandchildren who are the next generations will be affected by it.

Each of us has the power to make some positive changes though. Some people believe that living green is a waste of time because you are only one person. Yet if the educational information out there about it could encourage many individuals to all do their part it would have quite a significant impact overall.

The efforts of only one person over the course of their lifetime will significantly reduce the amount of pollution out there. Teaching children from a young age what they can do and why will allow that process to continue being implemented in our society as well.

We also have the responsibility to let the government and businesses know that we expect them to take action. Buy what you can from companies that due have plenty of living green concepts incorporated for customers to take advantage of. At the same time you need to influence your government to place laws in effect that limit the amount of pollution that can be emitted by a company as well as by individual vehicles on the roads.

If you are ready to start living green and to do your part to reduce the carbon footprints you have placed on this Earth it is time to learn about the various ways you can do so. It is never too late to make some positive changes to your behaviors so that you can live healthier and so can everyone around you.

I think the bottom line may be ‘every man for himself’.

The sun is up there showering us with energy all
day long…everyday. Put it to use to run your home.
Or at least part of it.

I found this great ebook.

Now I can figure out some of the stuff I was wondering about. Like how many solar cells do I need to run my big tv, a light, and a couple computers? And don’t I need some batteries to store the juice?

Gotta have a ‘power inverter’ I think…to convert the 12 volts to 120 or whatever it is.

Geez, too much for me, but finally, an easy-to-follow guide to generating power from the sun, anywhere.
The Solar Power Design Manual Ebook starts from first principles to guide you through the process of designing, specifying and installing your own self-contained solar power system, anywhere in the world.

With the Solar Power Design Manual you will learn:

How solar power works, with simple diagrams
How to make the most of the power available
How to choose the right components
The best way to estimate the available solar energy
How to decide when solar power is not the answer
How to make sure that the system continues to work for
years to come.
 

A Solar Sizing Excel® spreadsheet template as well. I wrote this for myself, to save me having to do all the calculations manually, and it includes a couple of worked examples to show what’s possible.

I think you’ll find it extremely helpful.

 You can download it right now.

It’s is detrimental that we find affordable and useable sources of alternative energy before our planet completely uses up the already very limited supply of fossil fuels.

Are you spending way too much money on gas for your auto? Increase your cars miles per gallon by exploring Hydrogen Fuel Cells.
Unlike their “thick-film” cousins, thin-film panels use much less raw material in manufacturing. Additionally thin-film cells can be manufactured in a large-area process. This process can be both continuous and automated. Another unique characteristic of thin-film panels is their ability to be deposited on flexible substrate materials. This means thin-film solar panels can be integrated into roofing tiles and other architectural products. Thin-film panels are also much lighter than traditional photovoltaics.

 If you are really eco friendly there are small wind turbines available that will produce energy for your home but the present level of technology means that much of the initial energy created is wasted before it can be turned into a useful power source.

Rebates for using alternative energy platforms are handled under the Renewable Energy Resources Program. The program is designed to motivate Illinois residents to use alternative energy by providing financial incentives in the form of rebates for those that modify their energy use.

fossil fuels are not, for all practical purposes, renewable. As it stands now, we use fossil fuels 100,000 times quicker than they can form. The demand for them will far outstrip their availability in a matter of centuries…most likely much sooner.

Alternative energy to look into:
Geothermal Power

Wind Turbines

Solar Panels

environmental footprint (definition): the environmental impact of a human activity, machine, etc. (Wikipedia.com)

(editor’s note: often associated with
energy waste, pollution, and contamination)
Adding solar panels to an average home which pays $130 per month for electricity, would eliminate approximately 361 tons of CO2, 1324 lbs of NOx, 1838 lbs of SO2, 45 lbs of PM, 19 lbs of VOC, and 163 lbs of CO. That is equivalent to taking approximately, 63 automobiles off of the road, or planting 1060 trees.
 
Oil is predicted to be at its peak production right now and as our population grows exponentially the supply will no longer reach our demand. When this happens, we will slowly sink into a recession and possibly another depression.

By: Adam Beazley

Most people simply do not realize how effective energy efficiency is in the fight against global warming and rising energy cost. More can be done for the environment by simply increasing the efficiency of existing homes and building than by removing all of the automobiles and planes in the entire United States. That is not an inflated statement either, over 1,800 megatons of CO₂ would be reduced every year if all existing structures would simply use current energy efficiency techniques and technologies.

The down side to these amazing figures is the fact that most people have no idea how to make their home or business more energy efficient. So, the following list is my top ten energy efficiency techniques and products which I have determined to be the most cost effective and worth while things to do in any home.

1: Reduce Phantom Loads - phantom loads are those unforeseen “standby” electrical loads that rob about 11% of annual energy consumption. Most electrical products have standby electrical loads which use electricity even when the product is turned off. DVD players, TV’s, Computers, phone chargers, and many other products all use electricity on a constant basis. The solution is to plug these things into surge protector strips and turn the strip off when they are not in use. Or better yet, get one of our Smart Strip Power Strips and it will do all of the work for you by turning off the electricity to all unused peripherals.

2: Seal Up Leaks - Air infiltration is a major cause increased energy usage. When a home or business is not properly sealed, heat will be lost during the winter and gained during the summer driving up electricity consumption and heating and cooling cost. The solution is to perform a pressurization test to locate air leaks and use some sort of caulk or silicon sealant to seal the air leaks in your walls and ceilings.

3: Weatherize - This is similar to the procedure mentioned above as it helps to reduce air infiltration in your home or business. However, weatherizing is different in that it is applied to moving parts such as doors and windows where a caulk type sealant will not work. Weatherizing doors and windows require specially made products such as v-channel, foam strips and sweeps. For a more detailed tutorial about sealing and weatherizing your home or business, check out ”Air Leaks & Energy Exchange.”

4: Change Lights - Inefficient lighting is responsible for not only wasted electricity, but added heat gain as well. The incandescent light bulbs of yesterday are slowly being phased out to the more energy efficient Compact Florescent bulbs and LED lightbulbs. A new energy efficient CFL bulb can save about 150 kWh of electricity annually and save you approximately $37 over the life of the bulb. LED lightbulbs, although more expensive up front, will last much longer than CFLs and use even less energy as well. So, change as many lights in your home or business as you can afford and your upfront cost will be paid back in electrical savings very quickly.

5: Control Radiant Heat - Radiant heat is the most efficient form of heat transfer and in order to increase a home or businesses heating and cooling efficiency, radiant heat transfer must be stopped. In the winter heat from the inside of a structure is lost due to radiant heat transfer and vise versa in the summer heat is gained through radiant heat transfer. The only way to stop radiant heat transfer is by using a radiant barrier which is basically a sheet of reflective aluminum. Radiant barriers come in all shapes and sizes, but be sure to find a well made, durable, two sided (for winter and summer protection), perforated radiant barrier to ensure proper reflection for years to come. I highly recommend Ra-flect radiant barrier as a cost effective quality product (www.raflect.com).

6: Increase Water Efficiency - Considering that a massive amount of energy is used to treat and move potable (drinkable) municipal water, it makes sense to reduce water usage to be more energy efficient. There are a variety of things you can do to reduce your potable water usage such as using low flow faucet and shower fixtures, taking shorter showers, only running dishwashers and washer machines when they are full, not leaving the water running needlessly and using water filled two liter bottles in toilet tanks to reduce water used to flush toilets.

7: New Insulation - Convection heat transfer is the transfer of heat through a fluid such as water or air and it is the second most efficient for of heat transfer while conduction heat transfer is the transfer of heat through touch . Insulation retards the passage of convective and conductive heat and is rated in R-value, which is the measure of apparent thermal conductivity, and thus describes the rate that heat energy is transferred through a material. Although insulation does not stop radiant heat, insulation in conjunction with a good radiant barrier, can effectively stop the majority of heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter creating a very energy efficient building envelope. If your insulation has been pressed down over the years or the R-value is not the proper value for your location, re-insulating your home is well worth the expense. In order to choose the most efficient insulation for your home or building check out the Energy Star website to find out: http://www.energystar.gov

8: Window Renovation - Windows are generally the most significant energy sink in almost every home or business due to lack of insulation. Windows come in a variety of different efficiencies such as single pane (not efficient), double pane, gas filled, mirrored, etc.. In cooler climates gas filled double pane windows with high R-values are excellent and are well worth the cost of replacing old single pane windows. In hotter climates, these same windows are not as effective as they only reduce convective and conductive heat gain but fall short in stopping radiant heat gain. In order to stop radiant heat gain in hotter climates you can either use exterior shading elements to shade south and west facing windows or you can use an energy film which is a clear radiant barrier which helps to block the suns UV rays. Window energy films are applied directly to the glass with soap and water and will essentially make an existing window performance like that of an energy star rated double pane gas filled window.

9: Energy Star Products - Energy star is a governmental rating system which gives its seal to products, buildings, homes and devices which meet minimum requirements of energy efficiency as compared to the norm. When buying new devices such as refrigerators, washer machines, dishwashers and home electronics be sure to purchase products with the Energy Star seal as they will use less electricity than their competition. For more information about energy star and there rating system please see their website (www.energystar.gov).

10: Build Green - In order to increase your energy efficiency build green instead of buying an already made home or business. The benefits of having an architect design a green home or business for you are too many to count. Some benefits of building green include increased energy efficiency, better interior air quality, higher resale value, higher rental rates and occupancy rates for businesses and not to mention, you get the house or building that meets YOUR needs, not some generic home or building which may not be sized appropriately.

Efficiency IS greener than green

Anyway way you look at it, there is no getting around energy efficiency if you really want to green your lifestyle. Efficiency does not have to stop at your home or business, the idea of efficiency can be used in every aspect of your life, from shopping for products to driving around town, efficiency is the key to being green…

Efficiency is Green.

For the Home

 The trend toward homes that are powered by alternative energy sources, ranging from wind turbines and solar collection cells to hydrogen fuel cells and biomass gases, is one that needs to continue into the 21st century and beyond. We have great need of becoming more energy independent, and not having to rely on the supplying of fossil fuels from unstable nations who are often hostile to us and our interests.

But even beyond this factor, we as individuals need to get “off the grid” and also stop having to be so reliant on government-lobbying giant oil corporations who, while they are not really involved in any covert conspiracy, nevertheless have a stranglehold on people when it comes to heating their homes (and if not through oil, then heat usually supplied by grid-driven electricity, another stranglehold).

 As Remi Wilkinson, Senior Analyst with Carbon Free, puts it, inevitably, the growth of distributed generation will lead to the restructuring of the retail electricity market and the generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. The power providers may have to diversify their business to make up for revenues lost through household energy microgeneration.

She is referring to the conclusions by a group of UK analysts, herself included among them, who call themselves Carbon Free. Carbon Free has been studying the ever-growing trend toward alternative energy-using homes in England and the West. This trend is being driven by ever-more government recommendation and sometimes backing of alternative energy research and development, the rising cost of oil and other fossil fuels, concern about environmental degradation, and desires to be energy independent.

Carbon Free concludes that, assuming traditional energy prices remain at their current level or rise, microgeneration (meeting all of one’s home’s energy needs by installing alternative energy technology such as solar panels or wind turbines) will become to home energy supply what the Internet became to home communications and data gathering, and eventually this will have deep effects on the businesses of the existing energy supply companies.

 Carbon Free’s analyses also show that energy companies themselves have jumped in on the game and seek to leverage microgeneration to their own advantage for opening up new markets for themselves. Carbon Free cites the example of electricity companies (in the UK) reporting that they are seriously researching and developing ideas for new geothermal energy facilities, as these companies see geothermal energy production as a highly profitable wave of the future.

Another conclusion of Carbon Free is that solar energy hot water heating technology is an efficient technology for reducing home water heating costs in the long run, although it is initially quite expensive to install. However, solar power is not yet cost-effective for corporations, as they require too much in the way of specialized plumbing to implement solar energy hot water heating.

 Lastly, Carbon Free tells us that installing wind turbines is an efficient way of reducing home electricity costs, while also being more independent. However, again this is initially a very expensive thing to have installed, and companies would do well to begin slashing their prices on these devices or they could find themselves losing market share.