Archive for February, 2010
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all do something to help with global warming? Actually, wait a minute, we can! You would have to be on a different planet not to know about how bad global warming has become. You only need to take a look out of the window to observe the ever increasingly unpredictable weather. The weather is becoming so bad that natural disasters are becoming more frequent and causing more death and destruction than ever.
Why is it important for us to change the way we live?
As you know, the earth as we know it is damaged. The way we humans have lived has taken its toll on the planet and because of it, global warming is causing things to happen that shouldn’t happen. Icecaps are starting to melt and as a result, species of animals are becoming extinct.
So what can we do it about it?
The problems we humans have is that we are naive by thinking how can one person wasting electricity or doing something else along the same lines cause this much damage? Well, this may only be your thoughts, but then how many other people think if I do this it will not do any harm? Before you know it, a lot of people are doing the same thing and it all contributes.
So, if you are not sure what to do, assess the way that you live. Basically, do you leave lights on when you do not really need to? Just by making little changes, you could be doing your part to help save energy.
Smart houses could be a reality
There has been a call to produce smart houses that eat their own rubbish and power themselves up. The government’s chief scientist, Sir David King, is overseeing this project that plans to design these smart houses that can withstand the conditions of the 21st century. It is thought that the homes need to be wireless so it would need to draw any energy that it can from its own environment, whether it be solar or wind energy.
It could be a fair few years before this can happen, but in the mean time, the government is constantly trying to find new ways to help reduce carbon emission and other things. New methods include taxing people for the amount of rubbish that they have and they are trying to also encourage people to recycle more of their rubbish instead of throwing it away.
Why not change the way that you live today by switching off lights, or by trying to find other ways of saving energy. Together, we can help to make the changes needed and to try to help the planet repair itself. If nothing is done, things will just becoming a whole lot worse and it may get to a stage where nothing could be done whatsoever anymore.
Derek Both
http://www.articlesbase.com/causes-and-organizations-articles/smart-homes-to-eat-their-own-rubbish-105934.html
Saving acres of trees and reducing pollution.Buying at the same price.
Absoultely!!!! In fact we are in the process of building our "green" home here very soon!!! There are so many advantages to green living…both for your family and for the environment!!
Hi, Well I have a family of four and month after month we notice that the power bill amount keeps getting higher but we are still using the same amount of power. So my question is: I was wondering if anyone knows a good solar-system company in Miami that sells solar-systems that I can use to power my aircondioting and house. But the most important thing is that I want it to power my airconditioning because I noticed that my airco’s use alot of power.
And also it would help if the company exports the solar-system if you buy it.
Here is a seller I found on the web.
Photovoltaic solar panels (Called modules in the trade) are mounted so they see direct sunlight. They generate DC electricity. The DC is converted to AC by inverters. Some DC can be use to maintain a charge on batteries. Where permitted the homeowner can feed excess power to the utility, and get it back at night when the solar system is not generating.
Batteries are needed if the system is not on the utility grid, and can be useful where utility outages are frequent, or have an impact on the user.
What is a ball park price for converting an 1800sq house to solar power? What is involved? Things 2 consider? How long is the process?Any info would be appreciated.
Converting to solar is more about how much power you use on a daily basis, where you live and how much space you have to install the PV panels.
First – make a note of your power consumption for the last year or so. Then look at anything you can cut consumption on – new appliances, home improvements, alternative heating/cooling.
Second – Survey your location for solar potential. Remember the sun’s ability to power PV panels will change significantly if you the more north you are.
Last – Plan for what you use. If you normally consume 4kW/day you will need to capture (and store in batteries) 4kW of solar on average. You can mount 5-6kW and if you have reverse metering have you meter spin backwards during the day and use the grid power at night.
If you can reduce your need from 4kW to 2kW you can save on the amount of panels you buy. For maximum solar potential you will need to mount the PV panels on a tracker – a motorized stand that will tilt and turn the panels to follow the sun. Thus you may need lots of space.
There are lots of factors that go into the price but a ball park number to start with is about $6/w installed so 5kW is about $30,000 give or take on your area and the complexity of the installation.
If you pay $500/month on average for electricity then you can see the light at the end of that tunnel. If you only pay $100-200 then well, it is a lot harder to justify until price/watt drops.
Hope that wasn’t all bad news…
How much for all of the parts? The complete system ($)
I use 11KWH per day and need a system that would provide that-
Based on the lowest current panel prices of $7 a watt, you would be looking at an initial cost of about $77,000. That initial cost will rise after about ten years as the photovoltaic panels decrease their electricity output by about 10% every ten years.
Seriously, if you want to go green, consider a mixture of both wind and sun. You’ll save a massive amount of money by doing so. And consider solar for heating your water, as this is a very effective way to save money.
Here is a link for building your own solar water panels:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm
During the winter months, finding a beach vacation spot can be a little difficult. It does not have to be, which is where this article will really come in handy. Below, you will find some resorts that offer a unique twist to your winter beach vacation.
1. Molokai Ranch and Lodge
On a white sand shore on the tiny Hawaiian island of Molokai, guests will stay in comfortable yet unique tents. Each double unit canvas bungalow sits on wooden platforms, offers queen size beds in one unit, twin beds in the other, solar powered lights, and a private bathroom with hot water showers.
The Molokai Ranch and Lodge offer over 54,000 acres, including seaside cliffs with very lush valleys. The outdoor activities here include sea kayaking, cultural hikes, mountain biking, and horseback rides. For the kids, the lodge offers nature walks, horse stables, tidal pools and Hawaiian arts and crafts.
2. Grand Wailea Resort and Spa of Hawaii
Long ago, a big swimming pool was enough to make guests happy. Now days, resorts compete in water activities such as lagoons, waterfalls, water slides, and even lazy rivers.
The Grand Wailea Resort offers several attractions, such as the 4,580 square foot Hibiscus pool, and the 25,700 square foot Canyon Activity pool which is great for families.
3. Atlantis Resort of the Bahamas
In the amazing water fun department is the unique Atlantis Resort and Spa on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Along with the beach, the Atlantis has eleven swimming pools, Mayan Temple water slides, and lazy river rides. The Atlantis also boasts an amazing marine habitat, with exhibit lagoons that house more than 50,000 sea animals.
4. Club Med Punta Cana
Over the last several years, the Dominion Republic has been working very hard to establish itself as a destination for families, with many all inclusive being built. This location has all the perks of a tropical resort plus stand out features that include kids programs, and other attractions that make Club Med Punta Cana one of the most unique beach vacation spots in the entire world.
5. Virgin Islands
The US Virgin Islands National Park is a very unique vacation spot with white sandy beaches, and lodging in comfortable tent cottages.
As with the Molokai Ranch, guest cottages are built on platforms and designed to be both attractive and comfortable. Each one has a sleeping area, bed linen, towels, kitchen utensils, stove, ice cooler, and even a private deck.
Water sports for the area include kayaking, wind surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. There is also an outdoor restaurant and a food store for those who want to cook from the privacy of their own room.
Francis Lua
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/beach-vacations-for-winter-50374.html
A sun powered battery charger is a convenient way of saving money while using natural resources. This transportable battery charger can go almost anywhere. They are easy to operate and do not require a technology degree to set up. Because the sun powers this type of charger, you will always have power available to use. Solar chargers are the wave of the future and they are quickly showing up in households across the world.
Sun power is one of the strongest free energy sources available today. By using a solar charger for your batteries and other electrical devices, you will eliminate the need for electricity. Solar power can be used to charge your batteries, but if you have a large amount of solar panels, you can also use solar energy to operate most any electrical device. Even on cloudy days, a solar battery charger will still be able to charge your batteries.
Portable solar chargers are smaller and do not offer as much power. They are most commonly used to charge battery packs and other small devices like cellular phones. A portable charger usually consists of one solar cell panel that you can connect to the equipment you want to use. It can take several hours for a portable solar charger to work. You may need to plan ahead and have batteries constantly charging, so they will be ready when you need them.
Many people today are afraid to try any new technology. As a society, we have already had to adjust to so many technological ideas that some people just do not want to have to learn about another gadget. However, solar chargers are easy to operate. You do not have to have specific technical skills to use a solar charger. Most portable chargers come ready to use and you simply have to plug them into your device or battery charger.
Because solar chargers are so easy to use, they are becoming more and more popular around the world. Backpackers are carrying them on long hiking trips. Car travelers are keeping portable chargers on their dashboards. There are even houses that are entirely run off of solar energy.
It can be intimidating to venture into a new technology like solar power. Once you buy your first charger, you will be hooked. Because they are so easy to use, many people end up buying several portable chargers to use with their battery chargers and other small electrical devices. Solar energy is a free source of power, which in today’s world of high electric prices, is just what many households are looking for.
Try out a portable solar charger for yourself. You will see that they are easy to use and very convenient. First, decide what you want to use your solar charger for, and then get a portable charger that will fit those needs. Having solar energy available is another gift that we should all take advantage of. It does not matter whether you decide to use a portable charger for charging your batteries. You can decide to connect your entire household to solar power. Using a renewable energy source such as the sun is a great start to being environmentally responsible.
Remy Jirek
http://www.articlesbase.com/gps-articles/advantages-of-a-sun-powered-battery-charger-68232.html
Do you also think that you are paying too much to the Power-Company each month? Well, “Free Solar Energy House” System seems to be the ultimate answer for that problem. The first impression may not reveal that, but this technique requires no more than a weekend to get it done. If you read this article you’ll be able to discover more about how it works.
Short overview
Did you know that “Free Solar Energy House” System doesn’t have to be that expensive as most people think? Nowadays there are quite few excellent guides on the Web that teach you everything about assembling Solar-Panels on your own. Before choosing a guide verify that it answers your needs; verify that it provides the following: clear illustrations, photos, diagrams, videos, and technical support. Anyway, here are several tips & benefits that may help you to know more about this subject.
Quick advantages
Undoubtedly most of us can find this solution highly effective:
* Uses Wind-Power as a backup when having long periods of cloudy days.
* No need to remember to switch off the lights each time we leave the room.
* Can work for anyone, no matter where he/she lives on the globe.
* Very quick return on investment (ROI).
* Excellent backup to your conventional elec. sys. in case of power failure.
Quick advice
Many U.S states will actually pay for your unused energy – don’t miss this excellent opportunity to get an extra income.
On the bottom line
It is vital for any household to have such “Free Solar Energy House” System in hand – those who haven’t started using this outstanding invention simply throwing away thousands each year. Without any question – there are plenty other great benefits provided by this one-of-a-kind ‘machine’, simply because it is revolutionary. The best advice would be to evaluate it in order for you to enjoy the benefits that it offers.
Jason Gilford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/quotfree-solar-energy-housequot-system–dont-say-you-didnt-know-718098.html
By using “Do It Yourself Solar Panels House” Tool you get an amazing opportunity to produce your own independent power-supply in just matter of days. Many people find it hard to believe but this technique provides an excellent quick return-on-investment that is in average measured by weeks. Read the following article to hear more about how this innovative technology can change our lives.
Some background
The idea is quite simple yet a clever one – “Do It Yourself Solar Panels House” Tool is based on a downloadable instructional guide that explains in simple words how to assemble Solar-Cells at ridiculous cost. Although many of these guides offer the same thing, it is necessary to choose the right one; make sure it offers clear instructions, video tutorials, diagrams, and technical support. This way or another, here are just a few advantage & advices that can help you out.
Main advantages
While examining what is in it for us, we quickly find the following:
* One-time investment that lasts for life.
* Enables us to store the produced elect.-power at zero cost.
* Enables us to get an extra income by quickly providing such sys. for others.
* It is already proven to work for thousands of people.
* Can produce 1000 Watts +.
Advice
Nowadays it is possible to get deep cycle batteries at no cost, so you can store your energy for free.
Final words
Using such powerful “Do It Yourself Solar Panels House” Tool opens up an outstanding opportunity for any of us to ‘cut’ our elec. expenses once and for all. We could probably come across other great advantages provided by this remarkable ‘machine’, simply because as individuals we no longer need to depend on the authorities to supply these needs. The first action you need to take is to evaluate it as in most cases it will take you no more than a single weekend to have it working.
Jason Gilford
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/quotdo-it-yourself-solar-panels-housequot-tool–it-really-works-717015.html
