There are many different types of alternative energy available today. From solar panels to wind turbines to geothermal energy sources, the renewable energy field is exploding. Nations throughout the world are also coming up with their own ways of reducing usage of polluting and traditional energy sources, with clean hydro energy being a popular solution. Using water as an energy source has been around for ages. With the addition of modern technology, it has become a more efficient and useful resource for generating power for a hungry world.

Hydropower generates about 20 percent of the electricity generated in the world, making it the most widely used alternative energy source on Earth. In the United States, hydropower accounts for about 10 percent of the total electricity produced, which means the US produces the second highest amount of hydropower in the world after Canada. Norway, however, has both countries beat. Although it does not produce as much hydropower as it is a much smaller country, 99 percent of the electricity in the country is produced via clean hydro energy production. Another contender in the world’s best usage of hydropower contest is New Zealand, which produces 75 percent of the electricity in the country via clean hydro energy. Countries such as Brazil and Egypt are also heavily reliant on hydropower.

In the United States, 28 million homes are powered by electricity generated by hydropower. Unfortunately, only 2,400 of the 80,000 water dams in the country are being used to produce electricity. This is a rather alarming fact. If more of the dams were put to use creating power, we would be far less reliant on expensive, polluting, non-renewable carbon fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. One can surmise that the process of converting the dams to hydropower production would be expensive, but the rising price of oil may soon make it a viable option.

Hydropower is a major player in the energy game. Frankly, it should be used even more where possible. Currently, the energy produced via hydropower production replaces the use of 22 billion gallons of oil each year. That is a significant number, but more may be about to come.

Although not a form of traditional hydropower, many are now looking to produce electricity from the oceans. Much like traditional dam turbines, companies and nations are now investigating if it is possible to put turbines in the ocean that are turned via moving currents and tides. The idea is fairly new, so a practical application is unlikely in the very near future. Nonetheless, if the process can be worked out, the energy worries will be greatly alleviated given the massive amount of energy in the ocean.

Compared to carbon fuels, hydropower is a very attractive way to meet our energy demands. Counties such as Norway and New Zealand prove it can be done with the proper planning.

There are those that believe that through the development of alternative sources of new energy, such as Energy-from-Waste together with renewable energy sources a considerable reduction of fossil fuel consumption can be achieved. Indeed there is increasing recognition of the contribution that waste can make, and its enormous potential contribution to energy supply in Europe could amount to as much as 5% of Europe’s domestic energy requirement.

Using waste as a fossiliferous fuel substitute means less reliance on fossil fuels. There will be no need to dig up the fossil fuel if the energy it would have provided is being sourced through utilization of waste. Therefore, waste incineration with energy recovery should rightfully be presented is an alternative to fossil fuels i.e. an alternative source of energy.

Unfortunately, it is seldom is spoken of in that light.

Waste which is right now being lost to landfill cannot provide any heat or power nor reduce our dependency on coal and oil. Waste incineration with energy recovery in contrast, acts positively to reduce emissions.

Also, Energy-from-Waste is generally “CO2 neutral”, because most of the carbon from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) , does not, come from, “fossil” sources such as oil and coal. It is also the most suitable waste management technique that actually reduces dioxin levels.

This can be justified on the basis that more than 80% of the dioxins entering a modern plant are destroyed.

Other aspects which should also be taken into account when judging Energy-from-Waste as an energy source, claimed by one European web source, are:

• Every three tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) burnt for energy saves one tonne of coal – so Energy-from-Waste means less reliance on fossil fuels
• Half of all coal imports to Western Europe could be met through developing Energy-from-Waste throughout all nations. A 10% increase in the use of MSW to generate energy would save two million tonnes of coal per year
• 10-14 million tonnes of oil could be saved annually through full usage of Energy-from-Waste
• Energy-from-Waste plants increase efficiency, replacing and conserving fossil fuels which would otherwise be used for energy generation
• Energy-from-Waste plants decrease CO2 emissions – figures from a Swedish source show that CO2 emissions per MJ in Energy-from-Waste plains (depending on MSW composition) are 1 -2 times less than those from a coal or oil fired thermal power station
• Energy-from-Waste plants reduce the volume of Municipal Solid Waste by 90% and its weight by 70% saving landfill space
• Energy-from- Waste acts as an important clean-up process for a wide variety of micro-pollutants

The European Commission is committed to increasing Energy-from-Waste in order to develop its enormous potential and to include it in official statements by recognising it as an alternative energy source.

Many national governments in Europe now drafted regulatory incentive schemes to prompt the development of clean energy sources. Energy-from-Waste is part of the ongoing discussions regarding the environmental implications of waste incineration.

We should all welcome the environmental and economically sound emission regulations, now in place throughout Europe. The modern Energy-from-Waste plants will be low emissions and Waste Incineration Directive (WID) compliant, as they will be equipped with state-of-of-the-art Air Pollution Control systems (APCs). As a result these plants will not impose any risk to the environment by its emissions.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A photovoltaic system (PV) may not be the complete answer when it comes to power, depending on where you live. It may only give you supplemental power due to light availability. But the combination of PV and wind where available should make a very nice power package for most every lifestyle.

The initial cost can be daunting for any alternative energy solution. Solar or wind are both expensive to start, and take a bit of time to repay. But people don’t seem to consider the long term effects. You have now given your home its own power supply. For most people, having your own source of power on a home you are considering buying, is probably a little more moving than a great bed of petunias. Today, people know that their homes are their biggest investments, they also know that a large portion of their bills are going to be in their utilities. The more you can make your home self reliant for power and also more energy efficient, the better it is for your bank account.

Also a lot of people think that alternative power is expensive because they price the size of their PV system based on their current useage. Many people don’t realize that their current useage is probably way more than what they actually need. To get an accurate idea of how much PV system is actually needed a person should first make sure that their home is as energy efficient as possible. Make your home energy efficient before considering alternative energy.

No Cost Energy Efficient Actions:

* Turn off everything not in use. Lights, tv’s radios.
* Check Furnace or AC filter each month.
* Clean and replace as needed during hot months,
* keep window coverings closed on the south, east and west windows. In winter, let sun in
* Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney.
* Activate ’sleep’ features on computers and office equipment to power down when not in use.
* When cooking, keep the lids on pots. Microwaves are more efficient than ovens. Use when possible.
* Dress for the weather. Its cheaper to put another blanket on the bed than to turn the ac up
* About 15 percent of the average home utility bill is the water heater.
* Take shorter showers and only wash full loads of clothes.
* Lower the temp of your waterheater.
* Only heat rooms you need. Close vents and doors on unused rooms.

Low Cost Energy Efficient Actions:

* Install low flow showerheads and sink aerators to reduce hot water use.
* Seal and weatherstrip your windows and doors Install a water tank insulation wrap. They are very cheap and keep the water tank insulated
* Check your windows. Old windows may save you from replacement, but that savings is offset by what you lose in money each month trying to heat/cool a house with leaky windows
* Use ENERGY STAR appliances.
* Fluorescent lights use much less energy than standard incandescents

Once your home is energy efficient, and you trim down your usage, then you will really see what your actual power usage is and most likely see that the alternative energy solution for your home doesn’t need to be quite as large or expensive as you first thought.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

* William Grove invented the fuel cell in 1839.

* General Electric invented proton exchange membrane fuel cells in the 1950s

* Francis Bacon demonstrated a 5kW alkaline fuel cell in 1959.

* NASA’s use of fuel cells during the Apollo space missions in the 1960s was the first commercial use of fuel cells.

* Alkaline fuel cells have flown over 100 missions and operated for more than 80,000 hours in spacecrafts operated by NASA.

* The US Navy has been using fuel cells in submarines since the 1980s

* Fuel cell buses are running in several cities around the world, the largest being the European Union backed CUTE project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe).

* All major automakers have prototypes of alternative fuel vehicles using fuel cells on the road-some have already been leased to customers.

* Iceland has plans to convert its fishing fleet from diesel engines to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a national project to create a fossil fuel free economy

* Several car manufacturers are hoping to produce their first semi-commercial models of fuel cell cars by 2005, yet they will most probably not be mass produced until 2010.

* Numerous fuel cell products will be coming to market-portable direct methanol fuel cells will power mobile phones, laptops and cameras in the near future

* A fuel cell is around 60% efficient at converting fuel to power, double the efficiency of an internal combustion gas engine-which makes it perfect for alternative fuel vehicles.

Fuel cells have several advantages over conventional power sources like internal combustion gas engines or batteries. Additionally, there are disadvantages facing manufacturers hoping to commercialize fuel cells. See how they stack up as the next best fuel for alternative fuel vehicles.

Advantages

* Fuel cells reduce pollution that is caused by the burning of fossil fuels-their only by-product is water

* If the hydrogen used in the fuel cell comes from the electrolysis of water, then using fuel cells will eliminate greenhouse gases

* Because fuel cells don’t need conventional fuels like oil or gas, they eliminate economic dependence on politically unstable countries

* Since hydrogen can be manufactured anywhere there is water and electricity, production of potential fuel can be allocated in various areas

* Fuel cells operate at a higher efficiency than diesel or gas engines which makes them an ideal source of efficient power for alternative fuel vehicles

* Most fuel cells operate silently, while internal combustion engines do not

* Fuel cells can operate for longer times than batteries, therefore to double the operating time, only the fuel needs to be doubled and not the capacity of the unit itself

* The maintenance of fuel cells is relatively straightforward since there are few moving parts in the system

Disadvantages

* Energizing fuel cells continues to be a major problem while production, transportation, distribution and storage of hydrogen remains difficult

* Reforming hydrocarbons via a reformer to produce hydrogen is technically challenging and not actually environmentally friendly

* The refuelling and the starting time of fuel cell vehicles are longer, while the driving range is shorter than in a conventional vehicle

* Fuel cells are normally somewhat larger than comparable batteries or engines, however, the size of the units continues to decrease with research and testing

* Fuel cells are currently expensive to produce, since most units are hand-made and some use expensive materials

* The technology is not yet fully developed, therefore few products are readily available

Although hydrogen fuel cells appear to be the most promising source of alternative fuel, other sources are being researched and tested. Alternative transportation fuels provide economic advantages while also offering significant environmental benefits. They offer air quality advantages through reduced emissions and some fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. There’s significant research being conducted worldwide. Canada, for example, is recognized as a world leader in the development and use of alternative transportation fuels with more than 170,000 alternative fuel vehicles in use across Canada. Some of the most promising alternative fuel sources being suggested for future use in motor vehicles are:

* Ethanol
* Propane

* Natural gas

* Biodiesel

* Electricity

* Hydrogen

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess what the future holds for alternative fuel vehicles.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What is solar power, and how does it work? What is solar power technology doing to harness the energy from the sun? What is solar power offering that makes it such an appealing energy source? What is Solar Power? Solar power is energy generated from the heat or light from the sun which can be used to produce heat, light, hot water, electricity, and cooling in a wide variety of applications including grid-tied and off-grid cabins and homes, commercial businesses, and industries such as oil and gas, telecommunications, remote traffic control equipment, remote sensing, and remote lighting.

Solar

Solar energy is converted using Photovoltaic cells. Solar panels are cheap to use because there are no fuel expenses like in electricity generators. Solar energy is first of all a very useful source of alternative energy, as it can provide electricity during power failures. Solar air heating panels are another system that saves energy, and is suitable for homes that can’t use passive solar heating. Solar power has been used in traditional buildings for years and recently it has become a good alternative to the limited supply and high cost of fossil fuels. Solar panels need to be pointed towards the most direct source of sunlight in order to absorb the highest possible amount of solar energy.

Power

Solar power is energy which comes from the sun. This energy is very powerful and hits the earth regardless of whether or not we take advantage of it. Even the tiny percentage of sunlight that touches the earth is plenty to meet the energy and power needs of the entire human population more than 8,500 times over. For this reason it is sensible to expect continual improvement of existing solar technology and the invention of new solar power devices over the next few decades.

Electricity

Solar energy is first of all a very useful source of alternative energy, as it can provide electricity during power failures. The photovoltaic panels do not have any moving parts and generate electricity quietly, without being harmful to the air. It uses sunlight (which is free) and hence these panels are not expensive in terms of their generation of the electricity. This saves the expense on electricity for the country and benefits the economy.

Renewable

Solar energy can be an integral part of any combination of clean, renewable energy sources to meet the nation’s need for electricity while reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. While the idea of using the power of the sunlight has been around for more than 100 years, it was not until the late 1970s that a genuine effort was made to learn about what is solar power and how it can help reduce the worldýs reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Other natural resources are also being explored as renewable energy resources such as wind power and water, however water generation is limited to areas where there is a sufficient flow to operate turbine generators. It is a versatile source of renewable energy that can be used in an amazing number of applications, providing power for everything from cars and boats to houses and spacecraft. Solar water heating Solar thermal technology is one of the most efficient and immediately accessible utilisation of renewable energy available in the UK today.

Conclusion

The simple answer to what is solar power is that it is a form of energy derived from the sun and then converted into electricity or heat. For a broader answer to what is solar power, it is a versatile and renewable source of energy that can work with a number of applications from cars to boats and houses to spacecraft. In addition, the answer to what is solar power is also that it is a clean and pollution free form of power.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

There are those that believe that through the development of alternative sources of new energy, such as Energy-from-Waste together with renewable energy sources a considerable reduction of fossil fuel consumption can be achieved. Indeed there is increasing recognition of the contribution that waste can make, and its enormous potential contribution to energy supply in Europe could amount to as much as 5% of Europe’s domestic energy requirement.

Using waste as a fossiliferous fuel substitute means less reliance on fossil fuels. There will be no need to dig up the fossil fuel if the energy it would have provided is being sourced through utilization of waste. Therefore, waste incineration with energy recovery should rightfully be presented is an alternative to fossil fuels i.e. an alternative source of energy.

Unfortunately, it is seldom is spoken of in that light.

Waste which is right now being lost to landfill cannot provide any heat or power nor reduce our dependency on coal and oil. Waste incineration with energy recovery in contrast, acts positively to reduce emissions.

Also, Energy-from-Waste is generally “CO2 neutral”, because most of the carbon from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) , does not, come from, “fossil” sources such as oil and coal. It is also the most suitable waste management technique that actually reduces dioxin levels.

This can be justified on the basis that more than 80% of the dioxins entering a modern plant are destroyed.

Other aspects which should also be taken into account when judging Energy-from-Waste as an energy source, claimed by one European web source, are:

• Every three tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) burnt for energy saves one tonne of coal – so Energy-from-Waste means less reliance on fossil fuels
• Half of all coal imports to Western Europe could be met through developing Energy-from-Waste throughout all nations. A 10% increase in the use of MSW to generate energy would save two million tonnes of coal per year
• 10-14 million tonnes of oil could be saved annually through full usage of Energy-from-Waste
• Energy-from-Waste plants increase efficiency, replacing and conserving fossil fuels which would otherwise be used for energy generation
• Energy-from-Waste plants decrease CO2 emissions – figures from a Swedish source show that CO2 emissions per MJ in Energy-from-Waste plains (depending on MSW composition) are 1 -2 times less than those from a coal or oil fired thermal power station
• Energy-from-Waste plants reduce the volume of Municipal Solid Waste by 90% and its weight by 70% saving landfill space
• Energy-from- Waste acts as an important clean-up process for a wide variety of micro-pollutants

The European Commission is committed to increasing Energy-from-Waste in order to develop its enormous potential and to include it in official statements by recognising it as an alternative energy source.

Many national governments in Europe now drafted regulatory incentive schemes to prompt the development of clean energy sources. Energy-from-Waste is part of the ongoing discussions regarding the environmental implications of waste incineration.

We should all welcome the environmental and economically sound emission regulations, now in place throughout Europe. The modern Energy-from-Waste plants will be low emissions and Waste Incineration Directive (WID) compliant, as they will be equipped with state-of-of-the-art Air Pollution Control systems (APCs). As a result these plants will not impose any risk to the environment by its emissions.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Nuclear power plants are very clean-burning and their efficiency is rather staggering. Nuclear power is generated at 80% efficiency, meaning that the energy produced by the fission reactions is almost equal to the energy put into producing the fission reactions in the first place. There is not a lot of waste material generated by nuclear fission although, due to the fact that there is no such thing as creating energy without also creating some measure of waste, there is some.

The concerns of people such as environmentalists with regards to using nuclear power as an alternative energy source center around this waste, which is radioactive gases which have to be contained.

The radiation from these gases lasts for an extraordinarily long time, so it can never be released once contained and stored. However, the volume of this waste gas produced by the nuclear power plants is small in comparison to how much NOx (nitrous oxide that is, air pollution) is caused by one day’s worth of rush-hour traffic in Los Angeles.

While the radiation is certainly the more deadly by far of the two waste materials, the radiation is also by far the easier of the two to contain and store. In spite of the concerns of the environmentalists, nuclear power is actually environmentally friendly alternative energy, and the risk of the contained radiation getting out is actually quite low. With a relatively low volume of waste material produced, it should not be a difficult thing at all for storage and disposal solutions for the long term to be developed as technology advances.

The splitting of an atom releases energy in the forms of both heat and light. Atomic power plants control the fission reactions so that they don’t result in the devastating explosions that are brought forth in atomic and hydrogen bombs. There is no chance of an atomic power plant exploding like a nuclear bomb, as the specialized conditions and the pure Plutonium used to unleash an atomic bomb’s vicious force simply don’t exist inside a nuclear power plant.

The risk of a meltdown is very low. Although this latter event has happened a couple of times, when one considers that there are over 430 nuclear reactors spread out across 33 nations, and that nuclear reactors have been in use since the early 1950s, these are rare occurrences, and the events of that nature which have taken place were the fault of outdated materials which should have been properly kept up.

Indeed, if nuclear energy could become a more widely accepted form of alternative energy, there would be little question of their upkeep being maintained. Currently, six states in America generate more than half of all their electrical energy needs through nuclear power, and the media are not filled with gruesome horror stories of the power plants constantly having problems.

Many alternative energy sources explained. Ocean thermal, wind power, photovoltaic, and wind power too.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Renewable Energy is not just a topic for politicians, government programs and do-good organizations. Did you know there are things YOU can do to help preserve the environment today? And they are cheaper than you might think! While you’re at it, you will be helping our nation become more self-sustaining, thereby promoting our national security. Here are some things you can do right now:

1. Convert your car to an Electric Vehicle (EV).

Here you have a few options: (1) you could take your car to a shop that does this and have it professionally done for $15,000-$25,000; (2) you could buy a kit and do it yourself for $5000-$15,000; or (3) you could do it yourself from scratch for $500-$5000. This is not as far out of reach as you might think. Even if you are not mechanically inclined, you probably know someone who is and would be glad to help (just trade for piano lessons or something). All you need is a good instruction guide, some basic shop equipment, and a little help from time to time. Chances are, there are people in your neighborhood who have done this already or are in the process. Check around. A good source of information is your local chapter of the Electric Auto Association. Keep in mind that the range of your electric vehicle will be much less than it was before. You may get as much as 100 miles before you need to recharge the batteries. For most of us that covers 90% of our driving in a given day, but there are times we want to go further. My advice is to keep your existing car for the long trips and find a vehicle with a blown engine but otherwise in good condition that the seller is willing to part with for a few hundred dollars. Convert that and now you’ve got something better than a hybrid!

2. Build your own Solar (Photovoltaic) Panels.

Most people would love to have their electric bill reduced. Don’t count on the electric company reducing rates. Instead, do something to capture an endless source of energy….the Sun. Most people are thrown off by the high price of state-of-the-art photovoltaic panels. Let’s face it, most of us don’t have $70,000 or so sitting around with nothing better to do. But did you know that you can make your own panels for only a couple hundred a-piece? Ok, so they’re not going to be the super-efficient, high-tech gadgets that you pay thousands for, but hey! You aren’t paying thousands. Best of all, you can start with one at a time and get better at it as you go. Before you know it, you’ll have a whole system generating enough power during the day to run your lights at night. You might even have enough extra to sell back to the electric company. Think of that!

3. Capture the power of the Wind.

Do you live where it is constantly windy? Well, even if you don’t, you could benefit from building your own wind generator. Ok, so if it’s always dead calm at your house, this may not work for you. But in most places even if it is calm during the day the wind generally picks up at night, enough to generate a reasonable amount of electricity — a perfect supplement to the solar panels that can only work during the day. Best of all, you can make a wind generator yourself and avoid the big up-front costs of a brand-new one. Get some plans, buy the materials and get to it!

4. Make your own Bio diesel.

People have been doing this for years. You can power your truck, car, generator, fuel-oil furnace; basically anything that takes standard diesel can take bio diesel. Right now you can buy bio diesel from some gas stations at about the same cost as regular fuel. The only thing you get is the satisfaction that you can sit and breathe the emissions without worrying about health problems. So what if you want a cheaper alternative? Get a supply of grease from your local restaurant and put it to good use. This is not a cakewalk, remember you’re dealing with fuel here, but it is pretty simple. As long as you carefully strain, mix and heat according to reliable detailed instructions, you will end up with a recycled, clean, multi-use fuel source. Don’t get scared off by the people that say bio diesel is bad for your engine. As long as you take precautions and follow some simple maintenance procedures, your engine will run just fine. If you live in a colder climate, during the winter you may need to mix standard diesel with the bio diesel to help keep it from gelling. Even at a 50% mix, you’re still running a cheaper, cleaner rig.

So what does Renewable and Alternative energy have to do with you? Everything! If we all did just one thing for our environment, we would find ourselves living in a cleaner world, breathing cleaner air and living better lives. I’ve shared just a few examples, but as you can see, there are things that you can do to improve and preserve your living environment today. You may not be able to do all of these things, but all you have to do is start somewhere. If you need help finding a good instructional, visit my web site. I think you’ll find that as you begin to take initiative on some of these things and build them with your own hands, you will gain confidence, security and self-worth. Perhaps best of all, you’ll be putting money back in your own pocket.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Adour Global Alternative Energy Indexes include only those companies that are principally engaged in the field of alternative energy and exclude those companies in which alternative Power is peripheral to their main business. The use of Alternative Energy is no longer an Enigma in our daily need for power. Find out what alternative energy is and how it can help save money, and the environment.

Solar and wind are well known the public, but the true potential of these mediums remains unexpressed. Solar has gone from $254 a watt in the 1950s to around $4 today. It suggests that people are going to abandon old methods of energy extraction and consumption in exchange for supposed cleaner methods like wind, water, solar, nuclear, giant batteries, methane gas, corn oil, etc. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association of solar energy

Power generators using renewable, sustainable energy sources don’t burn fuels in the production of electricity, thus reducing atmosphere-harming emissions. Some people see alternative energy as a joke and think that in particular wind power is too intermittent. Windmills are proposed to provide the power now obtained from natural gas. These types of energy derive their power from constantly flowing natural energy, and some examples include hydro power, solar power and geothermal power.

Renewable means that its use does not permanently deplete its existence. Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, small hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal energy and photovoltaic conversion systems, allow you a broader freedom of operation. The first is the massive infrastructure investment and federal law changes that are necessary to make the renewable energy smart grid possible. While we are making progress in finding new renewable energy, we should have already been more than halfway to our goal of moving away from our dependence on the oil industry.

Wind energy has long been denounced as weak and, due to it being location driven, impractical. Wind Turbines have also conquered an accepted role in the new generation of renewable providers. Now it is important to point out that tidal, wave, solar and wind power requires virtually no preliminary energy to harness, unlike coal, oil, gas, biomass, hydrogen and all the others. “Alternative” energy sources-wind, solar, water-are all good, but they don’t fix our addictive nature.

Global warming is another big factor in the increase in alternative Power. Alternative energy is not just cost-effective and necessary for foreign policy, it is also required for domestic policy, to promote a sustainable environment and to prevent global warming and the worldwide catastrophe that advanced global warming could create.

Global warming or not, we still need to clean up this wreck of a planet. Read up on existing alternative energy technologies as well as what future energy sources can help you efficiently power your home or business. Living off the grid is a term used to describe people who install alternative energy sources and don’t tie in to the traditional electrical power plants.

Alternative Energy is the way of the future. Alternative Power is a future idea whose time is past.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Home power systems are now a reality. Below is some very useful information about why you should consider having one for your house:

Why Should I Invest in a Home Solar Power System?

Cutting down energy bills considerably is one of the best reasons to own a home power system. Typical mid-range systems can supplement up to half your electricity needs. Bigger and more efficient systems can supply virtually all the power your home would ever require. This gives you the freedom to go “off-grid” and never pay electric bills again.

How much does it Cost to Have One?

Solar power systems can be anywhere from under a thousand to several thousand dollars (depending on scale). Building your own is much cheaper. A good DIY solar kit can help you build a solar generator with decent capacity for just a few hundred dollars.

Can I Use Solar Power to Supplement my Household Power Need?

A majority of home solar alternative energy systems are usually “mixed” with power coming from the traditional power grid. You can have a 50/50 usage ratio to cut you bills by half. Power outages would not be a problem anymore either.

What If I Generate Surplus Power From My System?

You can setup a “net metering” agreement with most utility companies nowadays. This allows you to “sell back” your surplus power to the utility and get your bills reduced or even profit from it.

Is the Technology Behind Solar Power Really “Green”?

Solar power does not eat up any natural resource nor produce greenhouse gasses. Also, solar power components are built to last decades so waste and disposal would not be a concern for until a very long time.

What Incentives Can I Get for Using Solar Power?

The federal government provides up to 30% in tax credits for individuals who implement home power systems. State-level incentives and solar rebates are also available.

Would I Have to Replace My System Every Year?

Once setup, you can expect solar alternative energy systems to last decades. Maintenance costs for solar panels are almost non-existent. You just have to make sure it’s clean and that they are located in an area of abundant sunshine.

How Will This Impact the Value of my Property?

Solar power systems have the added benefit of keeping (even increasing) your home’s real estate value. Who wouldn’t want to buy and live in a house where you pay cheap (or even get free) electricity?

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Wind power systems have always enjoyed a good deal of popularity. The general enthusiasm surrounding wind power systems is still going strong. The clean nature of the energy and its eco-friendliness are the reasons for its popularity. Some alternative energy enthusiasts were also of the opinion that wind power is better than solar power because the former can keep working even after the sun sets. Wind power energy is virtually free and may sometimes suffice just by itself, thereby eradicating the need for other sources of power. However, there are two major complaints about wind power – the usually high cost of the wind turbines and the need to find the right location for it to wok optimally. Wind turbine systems, for one thing are quite complicated and are definitely not very easy to install. Most systems also require regular looking after and maintenance, and replacement parts. Such as battery packs that must be replaced periodically, can be quite expensive.

The main disadvantage with wind power systems is the unpredictable nature of energy production. One must have fairly strong winds to unleash the full potential of a wind power system. If the wind dies down, the entire system can prove to be quite futile as far as power generation is concerned.

All said and done, however, wind energy is still a popular choice as an alternative source of energy. This is because the many advantages of wind energy, especially its ability to produce clean energy without endangering the environment or exploiting the planet’s natural resources, far outweigh the handful of disadvantage that it suffers from. A closer look at all the problems that wind energy systems carry these days will reveal that these are fundamentally technical issues. As technology continues to evolve, and as wind energy systems become better owing to continuing research, one can hope to see these disadvantages become matters of the past.

Along with the beneficial effect on the environment, wind energy also spells better economy. If rising energy bills have always been your concern, just switch to wind energy and start your bills getting lower and lower. Wind energy can help you make huge savings on your energy consumption costs while ensuring a greener tomorrow for your children.

As wind energy systems continue to get better and more powerful with every passing day, it won’t be long before all the shortcomings that it suffers from will be gone for ever. By embracing wind and solar power, mankind can effectively put an end to the reckless exploitation of fossil fuels for energy production, prevent environmental pollution and stop global warming by eliminating harmful emissions. The future belongs to alternative energy and in tomorrow’s scheme of things, wind energy is all set to play a pivotal role.

We need to start embracing wind energy with more enthusiasm and vigor, and this need has never been stronger than now. With our already dwindling reserves of natural resources, especially fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum, the best time to switch over to alternative sources of power is today!

With the advent of D-I-Y (Do It Yourself) wind energy installation kits, one can install a wind energy system in one’s backyard quite easily nowadays. However, consulting a good step-by-step guide is strongly recommended to ensure an uneventful and successful installation. Just ensure that you have the knowledge to help you select the right location, buy the right equipment at the right prices, wire the system correctly and clinch the best deals. And of course you must find out about the safety regulations that need to be followed from the manual.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The economies of these states are tied to the coal industry in many ways, many of the citizens and politicians in those states will fight for coal as if their lives depended on it… this is because their economic lives do depend on it! Unfortunately for us, the general public, and the rest of the world, these states control who gets elected for president and they know it. In some ways we can understand their selfishness, not wanting to relinquish the power. In other ways we want to say… you dirty bastards, how dare you do this to the rest of us! The coal industry and the states who cater to it are holding our nation hostage, our current two-party political system is allowing it. Our kids will have to pay the bill in more ways than one… it’s time we stand up and be heard.

So this is the situation; energy use in the United States and the rest of the world is growing rapidly, the number one method for producing energy is coal, roughly 50% in the United States and 70% in China. In the next 5-10 years hybrid electric vehicles will become much more prevalent. This will create even more demands for electricity. We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in coal power plants, technology that sees roughly 5 to 7% price increases per year on the dirtiest method to produce energy we have. On the other hand we have alternative energy, energy that dramatically decreases in cost over time, both via reduced manufacturing costs with mass production and production costs because the equipment is very low maintenance and the energy supply…sunlight, wind, and geothermal are free.

The question is this… Do we want to be a nation who leads the next great worldwide revolution, the Alternative Energy Revolution? Do we want to sell our technology to the rest of the world, especially the Third World countries, as they begin to use more power? Or… do we want to continue to settle our kids with debt for old technology, technology that is obsolete as we speak? Would you like to be the nation responsible for continuing to pollute the world? Who Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For…We Are!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The current solar cell technologies are effective in capturing solar energy. Most panels are able to store up to 15% of the sun’s energy from direct contact throughout the day. This seems like a low percentage but considering the amount of energy emitted by the sun on a clear day, this is quite impressive. It would seem that the clean energy alternative offered by solar technologies compared to the harmful effects of our extensive fossil fuel would lead towards a very quick conversion to solar sources and massive developments of solar cells. Like many changes it all revolves around money as the conversion to solar requires a significant initial investment, probably at least $10,000 or more up front. For the system to pay for itself, the homeowner will need to reside in his home for several years. The average American household will utilize at least 1,000 kilowatts each month.

A high-quality home solar system will often include a 5-year warranty and a great percentage of this system should extend well beyond that period of time. Considering a $10,000 solar system investment this would indicate an average annual cost of about $2,000 or $167 per month to supply your household with the power it needs. For many households the average monthly costs of solar is below their current electrical costs. Additionally, the homeowner is then protected from rate hikes and other hidden fees often incorporated by power companies. Besides monetary savings, the environmental benefits are obvious as solar is a completely clean energy source and dependable. Many power companies are offering customers payment incentives to convert their homes to solar use. Although household solar systems are quickly gaining in popularity, as measured in the tremendous contributions to the power grid over the past decade, it is far from growing at a pace that would enable solar energy to be the major energy source in the U.S.

Many other nations are engaged in developing solar energy as a viable alternative to our extensive use of fossil fuel produced sources. Countries like Germany and Japan are offering governmental incentives for citizens willing to install solar receptors for home use. Like the U.S. these countries also receive monetary incentives by the power companies for solar conversions when excessive electricity is generated by solar systems then sold back to the power company. All of these benefits are marketed to influence homeowners to initialize solar usage in their home. As more homeowners take on the investment in solar the environment benefits and the electricity companies are able to stabilize loads placed on their power grids.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Since the 1970s, America’s fuel imports have almost tripled. The country is now importing over 12 million barrels of crude oil a day. That’s just over half of the oil we are currently using in America — over 20 million barrels a day. The majority of this fuel is going to power transportation, most of which is used in consumer motor vehicles. The more America increases its dependence on petroleum, the faster oil reserves become depleted. We are only decades away from the point at which there is too little petroleum left to make gasoline a feasible fuel. Americans cringe at $4.00 per gallon gas prices, but cringe is all we do. We continue to pay the asking price for the only fuel that can make our cars run. But what happens at $10.00, or $25.00 per gallon? The rate that gas prices have raised in the past couple years show us that these extremes are chillingly close [1].

While several fuel alternatives have begun to show promise, they all seem to also have distinct drawbacks. Some fuel alternatives could be too costly to become a commercially viable alternative to gasoline. Other more cost effective fuels do not appear to meet the range of requirements demanded by consumers. Few of these sources currently appear to be capable of matching the energy output of gasoline. Best estimates suggest that within 40 years, crude oil resources will be sufficiently depleted as to render gasoline commercially unviable. It is crucial that we quickly find an acceptable replacement for gasoline.

In addition, it takes no stretch of the imagination to understand what levels of pollution are being created by our nation’s oil addiction. One only has to look at the skies above New York City or Los Angeles to see where we have come in past century of automotive transportation. It is easy to see that alternative fuels will be needed very shortly to replace gasoline. Still, it is equally important that the next fuel we rely on does nothing more to pollute the environment. In the best-case scenario, our next national fuel should assist in alleviating our current levels of pollution.

WHY SHOULD ENGINEERS CARE?

Because of the booming industries that alternative fuels are creating, many more engineers will be required for research and development. These engineers will play principle roles in the biggest breakthroughs in alternative fuels in our lifetime. Furthermore, engineers will be needed to design the new infrastructure that will be used for the transportation and delivery of new fuel systems. With this in mind, it is imperative that engineers continue to invest time and intellectual capital to further scientific developments of alternative fuels. The research of today will be the answer of tomorrow.

WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?

Research in the field of alternative fuels is a booming industry. There are dozens of potential fuels that show some potential as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. For the purposes of our paper, we will review the six fuels that we believe to have the greatest likelihood of replacing traditional fossil fuels. These are: biodiesel; hydrogen; methanol; ethanol; electricity; and natural gas. Each of these fuels has had extensive testing to demonstrate substantial potential as an answer to America’s quest for a replacement of gasoline.

DIMENSIONS OF COMPARISONS

For a credible comparison, it is important that a standardized basis for evaluation be created and applied equally to each of the six fuels. To of this, we will be evaluating the fuels on the following criteria:
-Power output
-Cost and ease of production
-Environmental effects
-Renewability

We have rated each fuel in each of these categories on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest. This will allow quantitative comparison. Renewability is double weighted in our comparison due to its importance in solving the energy crisis in a sustainable manner. Continuing below is a full analysis of these six alternative fuels on the abovementioned dimensions of comparison.

BIODIESEL

Biodiesel is a fuel created from organic oils, such as vegetable or seed oils. The production process uses chemical reactions to create the liquid fuel. Biodiesel is an alternative to petrodiesel and can be substituted for petrodiesel in most diesel engines with little or no modifications to the engine itself. The fuel is already commonly added to diesel fuel in small amounts. B20, a common fuel mixture, is 80% petrodiesel and 20% biodiesel. Many countries already have laws requiring specific percentages of biodiesel additions to petrodiesel [2].

Biodiesel: Power Output

100% pure biodiesel (B100) has a power output of just slightly less than that of standard petrodiesel. B100 has a power rating of 118,296 Btu/gallon, about 8.5% less than petrodiesel’s 129,500 Btu/gallon rating. B20 (20% biodiesel) has a power rating only 1.73% less than petrodiesel. Because pure biodiesel has slightly less energy density as compared to its petroleum-based counterpart, a slightly larger volume of biodiesel is required as compared to petrodiesel to travel the same distance [3]. Because of the relative energy density of biodiesel as compared to petroleum-based fuels, we have assigned biodiesel a rating of 7 for power potential.
Biodiesel: Cost of Production

Biodiesel is most commonly and efficiently produced using a process called transesterification. Through transesterification, the alkoxy group of an organic ester compound is replaced by another alcohol, usually methanol or ethanol. The process of creating biodiesel is relatively simple, but not nearly as cheap. Best estimates put B100 at about $3.50 per gallon [4-5]. Even though $3.50 is currently comparable to gasoline prices, the efficiency ratio of biodiesel to petroleum fuels must be taken into account. A gallon of biodiesel just doesn’t go as far as a gallon of petrodiesel. Therefore, it would cost more to travel a set distance using biodiesel as compared to gasoline. For these reasons, we have assigned biodiesel a value of 5 for cost.

Biodiesel and the Environment

Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel. The liquid fuel itself is biodegradable, and therefore does not pose the risks associated with petroleum based oil spills. Biodiesel is actually 10 times less toxic than regular table salt, which makes the fuel much safer to handle than gasoline.

The combustion of biodiesel produces significantly less harmful emissions than petrodiesel.

Emissions from B100 have reductions of 67% unburned hydrocarbons, 48% less poisonous carbon monoxide and 47% less particulate matter, as compared to gasoline. However, biodiesel has around a 10% increase in nitrogen oxides, which are a large factor in the creation of smog [6]. Because of the reduction in poisonous emissions, we have rated biodiesel an 8 for environmental effects. Biodiesel has many environmental advantages, but the increase in nitrogen oxide emissions has kept us from rating it any higher.

Biodiesel: Renewability

Biodiesel is an excellent example of a renewable resource. The material components used in the creation of biodiesel are entirely organic. In addition, there are hundreds of diverse plant species that have known potential in biodiesel production. As long as there are oil-producing plants in existence, as well as the organic material needed to create alcohol, there will be the means for producing biodiesel. We have therefore given biodiesel a 9 for the category of renewability.

HYDROGEN

Hydrogen powered fuel cells have often been touted by advocates of alternative fuel. In fact, when one thinks of alternative fuel possibilities, often the first image to come to mind is a hydrogen car. However, hydrogen fuel has problems under the surface, which could limit its use as a fuel in the future.

Hydrogen: Power Output

There are two ways to harness energy from hydrogen. The first, and less efficient method is through combustion of hydrogen, similar to the internal combustion of gasoline or diesel. The more efficient use of hydrogen is in a hydrogen fuel cell, in which the hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce water and electricity. The electricity is then used to power electric motors that propel the car. Through this method, a hydrogen fuel cell would have 25% greater power efficiency than gasoline [7]. Because of this high efficiency, we have rated hydrogen a 9 for power.
Hydrogen: Cost of Production

Hydrogen can be produced in various ways. Most production procedures for hydrogen gas involve fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum gas. A more renewable method for creating hydrogen is through a process called electrolysis, which releases hydrogen from water. This is also a much cleaner process for collecting hydrogen [5].

Hydrogen production is prohibitively expensive. To make matters worse, the cheapest method of producing hydrogen is through using fossil fuels. Using renewable resources for hydrogen production is a very inefficient process, around 25% efficiency at best. In addition, fuel cell costs are enormous due to the fragility and the high cost of rare materials, like platinum, which are vital to their construction.

Some non-fuel cell type hydrogen cars are already on the road, thanks to the efforts of a small number of private entities. There are a few small companies that sell custom internal combustion engine hydrogen cars with fees well into the six figures. For example, one start-up company offers to convert a Hummer to hydrogen power via the less efficient internal combustion method for $60,000, not including the price of the Hummer [8]. Because of the inefficiency of hydrogen production, as well as the price tag for the fuel alone, we have assigned hydrogen a 3 for cost.

Hydrogen: Environmental Impact

A car running on a hydrogen fuel cell releases no harmful pollutants in its emissions. In fact, the only compound leaving the tailpipe of a hydrogen fuel cell powered car is pure water. As good as this sounds, one needs to asses the ‘cradle to grave’ effects of hydrogen on the environment. The easiest and most common process for the production of hydrogen, which is through fossil fuels, actually creates more pollution than just running a car on that same fossil fuel. Therefore, a car running on hydrogen would produce more pollutants than a car running on gasoline [7].

On the surface, hydrogen might appear to be the best alternative fuel for the environment. However, it will take a significant technological breakthrough before an efficient process for hydrogen production can be developed to eliminate harmful emissions. Because of the total pollution caused in the hydrogen process, we are rating hydrogen a 4 for the environment. One day there may be an environmentally friendly and cost effective way to produce hydrogen. For now, that day is not in sight.

Hydrogen: Longevity

Hydrogen is a basic and common element on this planet. It will always be around in some form or another, and thus, will always be a possibility for fuel. However, the most common collection processes for hydrogen utilize fossil fuels. This means that there will come a day where the only means for hydrogen production is through the very inefficient and costly renewable process of hydrolysis. At that point, it will be much more advisable to put that energy into more efficient methods of transportation. For these reasons, we rate hydrogen as a 6 for sustainability.
ETHANOL

Over 100 years ago, Henry Ford described ethanol as “The fuel of the future.” His famous model T was originally designed to run on pure ethanol. However, because of oil reserves discovered in Texas, ethanol soon took a back seat to the less expensive and better performing petroleum based gasoline. But because ethanol has been used as a fuel for so long, the benefits are well understood. With gasoline’s days numbered, ethanol is beginning to look much more attractive, and is one of the front-runners in today’s race for alternative fuels [9].
Ethanol: Power Output

Testing shows that ethanol has a lower fuel density than gasoline by about 33%. That means that a car capable of achieving 30 miles per gallon on gasoline would only get 20 miles per gallon using ethanol [10]. However, the production and costs associated with ethanol could help to offset this lack of energy potential. This will be covered in more detail in the next section. We have assigned a value of 5 to ethanol for power output.

Ethanol: Price and Production

Ethanol is most commonly produced in the United States using domestically grown corn in a process where sugars from the plant undergo fermentation with yeast. The process is around 40-50% efficient. However, the amount of farmland needed to grow enough corn to supply our country’s fuel needs is enormous. Estimates suggest that about 70% of America’s farmland would need to shift to corn production, with the entire crop going to ethanol instead of human consumption or animal feed. While corn is the predominant plant for use in ethanol production in the United States, there are several foreign plants that yield much higher levels of ethanol. For example, Brazilian ethanol production is much more efficient than American ethanol production, as their Brazilian sugar cane produces five times the organic sugars found in corn [5].

While efficient, in certain climates it can be difficult to run a car on 100% pure ethanol because the fuel is not volatile enough to start an engine at low temperatures. To combat this problem, ethanol is often sold as an 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline mixture known as E85. E85 costs about $2.50 per gallon, though the price will most likely fluctuate as corn prices fluctuate with demand for ethanol [11]. The $2.50 per gallon figure is already substantially less expensive than gasoline, and the cost margin will only increase as gasoline prices rise. We have rated ethanol a 7 for production and costs.

Ethanol: Effect on the Environment

Ethanol is a small, simple biodegradable molecule and therefore does not pose the same threats as petroleum-based fuels, or the crude oil they are derived from. Ethanol emissions consist of two main products, carbon dioxide and water. While carbon dioxide is not a poisonous gas, it does contribute to global warming through the greenhouse effect. Ethanol combustion however does reduce many of the harmful emissions that are created from gasoline combustion. As compared to gasoline, ethanol creates 40% less carbon monoxide gas, 20% less particulate matter, 10% less smog forming nitrogen oxides, and 80% less sulfate emissions [12].

Even though ethanol combustion emissions are lower in mostly all of the toxic gases found in gasoline emissions, ethanol production releases air pollutants. This has to be factored into the overall environmental effect of ethanol use. All things considered, we have assigned ethanol a 6 for environmental concerns.

Ethanol: Renewability

Ethanol is a good example of a renewable resource. Created from plant sugars and fermented with yeast, the production of ethanol is an organic process that can be repeated as long as these basic biological building blocks are available. So for as long as we can grow corn, we have the ability to produce ethanol. We have rated ethanol as an 8 for renewability.

METHANOL

Methanol is an alcohol fuel similar to ethanol. The fuel is produced primarily from methane gas, which is the chief constituent of the fossil fuel natural gas. Recently though, there has been considerable research into using various forms of biomass to create methanol in a renewable fashion. This would increase the renewable production of methanol.

Methanol: Power Potential

Methanol’s energy storage is only about 60% of the energy capacity of gasoline. However, it does have a higher octane rating (123) as compared to premium gasoline (93). This allows for higher compression ratios of the fuel in the engine cylinder, making the fuel burn hotter and more efficiently. Because of the significant difference in potential energy between methanol and gasoline, we have rated methanol a 5 for power potential.

Methanol: Production and Expenses

Methanol is most commonly produced from methane gas, often coming from natural gas. However, it is also possible to produce methanol from a “Biomass-To-Liquid” process using renewable resources with efficiencies reaching 75%. Similar to ethanol, methanol is not sufficiently volatile to ignite at low temperatures, so an 85% methanol and 15% gasoline mixture (M85) has been developed to solve this problem [13].

Methanol currently costs about 40% less than gasoline (assuming a national average of $3.50 per gallon of gasoline) in equal amounts, but because the fuel is also about 40% less efficient, the price saving is negated. That is to say, $1.00 will buy a greater volume of methanol, but it will take you about as far as $1.00 of gasoline. This simply means that for a car to travel as far as one could with gasoline, the same car would have to store a larger volume of methanol onboard [5]. Methanol was assigned a 6 for cost in our rating system.

Methanol: Environmental Concerns

Methanol fuel in its liquid form is extremely poisonous — four times as toxic as gasoline. Less than a cup is enough to cause blindness or death. The fumes can be inhaled during the pumping process, and methanol can even be absorbed through the skin directly into the bloodstream. The fuel can also be very corrosive to vital engine parts such as hoses and injectors, meaning that a revamping of engine components is required to convert a gasoline powered car to operate on methanol.

Emissions testing of M85 have shown that it does perform well in reducing the toxins produced by gasoline emissions. As compared to gasoline, there is a 36% reduction in nitrogen oxides, 53% reduction in carbon monoxide, and 74% fewer hydrocarbon equivalents [14]. Even though methanol does perform well in emissions testing, the extreme toxicity of the fuel has to be taken into consideration. We have rated methanol as a 5 for environmental safety.
Methanol: Renewability

Because methanol is currently being produced through the use of the fossil fuel natural gas, the process is not renewable. However, there are alternative production methods that use biomass and fermentation to create methanol in a renewable way. The biomass used in this process can even come from consumer waste, such as sewage and landfill gas. Further research needs to be performed to continue to expand the base of materials that can be included in this “Biomass-To-Liquid” process, but at 75% efficiency so far, methanol could become a viable renewable resource [13]. We have assigned methanol a 7 for renewability.

ELECTRIC ENERGY

Electricity powered transportation isn’t new. The first electric trolley was built in 1835, with an electric carriage following a few years later. The technology is well know, and constantly improving. In the past two decades, several concept and production cars have been created by large car companies such as GM, Honda and Toyota to demonstrate the feasibility of electric cars. In the future, electric power could be one of the most sustainable alternative fuels [15].

Electric Power

The power of an electric car is directly related to the power of the battery. Battery power is measured in kilowatts, with 100 kW approximately equaling 135 horsepower. Historically electric cars have received criticism for having poor range on one battery charge. Many earlier electric vehicles released in the 1990’s had ranges of only 50 or 60 miles on a charge. New innovations in batteries, with the most recent being powerful lithium ion batteries, promise to drastically increase the range of electric vehicles. Some of the newest batteries have storage capabilities of over 120 kW, and can allow a car to travel hundreds of miles. We have rated electricity an 8 for power potential [16].

Cost and Generation of Electricity

Most electricity in the United States is still being produced through coal-fired power plants. However, there is an increasing amount of electrical energy being created through completely renewable resources such as solar, wind and hydropower. Electricity production through electric companies is low cost in the United States. Last year the average price of electricity was under $0.10 per kWh. The cost of electricity to power electric vehicles is only about 25% of the cost of alternative liquid fuels. In addition, electric motors that are responsible for providing the mechanical power for electric vehicles achieve around 90% efficiency [17]. Because of the high efficiency and low cost of electric power, we are rating it a 9 for production and cost.

Electric Power: Environmental Effects

Electric vehicles produce no emissions. The only emissions created from the electrical process are from the production of electricity. Electricity produced from coal burning power plants continues to release toxic sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, when electricity is generated from renewable resources, there are no emissions in either the production process or the use of electricity in the electric vehicles. That means that a car can drive any distance with absolutely no emissions of any kind [5]. Because of the increasing amount of clean electricity being generated as well as the lack of emissions from electrical power, we have rated electricity a 9 for the environment.

Electricity Doesn’t Grow on Trees

Electricity still has to be generated in some form or fashion. The best hope for electric cars will be to continue to invest time and resources into research of renewable sources for electrical energy production. Because of the lack of emissions of electric cars, they could pose the best possible replacement for gasoline. It will only require the development of more renewable electric energy to have a completely emission free means of transportation. We rate the renewability of electricity at 9.

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas is another alternative to gasoline that has already seen some use in cars today. Honda created a Civic GX in 2005 that runs on compressed natural gas, and can be refilled at home with a compressor. The fuel itself does indeed represent a viable alternative to gasoline, but there is no disguising the fact that it is still a fossil fuel doomed to extinction [5].

Natural Gas: Power Efficiency

The power generated by natural gas is just below that of gasoline, by approximately 1%. However, the higher octane rating of natural gas (120) allows for higher compression ratios in combustion engines, which contributes more efficient burning of the fuel, and generates more power. This helps to make natural gas combustion slightly cleaner as compared to standard gasoline combustion as well [18]. We have rated natural gas as an 8 for power effic

Natural Gas: Costs and Production

Natural gas can be obtained from several sources. It primarily comes from underground oil fields in either a dissolved or isolated form, but also from its own separate natural gas fields and from coal beds. The gas then goes through a processing plant where several of its natural constituents, such as acids, mercury, sulfur and water are removed. The gas can then be pipelined for delivery.

The cost of natural gas in the United States is currently around $7.00 per 1000 cubic feet. This is roughly equal to 1 million BTUs. The cost per gallon equivalent to gasoline would put natural gas at about $1.50 per gallon equivalent [19]. The relative ease of purification and transport of natural gas, combined with the cost equivalent to gasoline leads us to assign natural gas an 8 for production and cost.

Natural Gas: Environmental Aspects

Natural gas has mixed benefits and drawbacks when it comes to emissions. The benefits are that many of the smog and global warming compounds that are generated from gasoline combustion are found in much lower levels in natural gas. To start, natural gas emissions produce about 25% less carbon dioxide levels, 75% less nitrogen oxides, and almost no sulfur or mercury compounds. However, burning natural gas produces slightly higher amounts of carbon monoxide gas than gasoline [18]. All things considered, we have rated natural gas a 7 for environment effects.
Natural Gas: Renewability

There is no escaping the fact that natural gas is a fossil fuel. Once natural gas has been depleted, any engines that ran on natural gas will have to be modified for use with other combustible gases if their use is to be continued. There are no processes known to exist that are capable of producing synthetic natural gas. For this reason, we have rated natural gas as a 0 for renewability.

THE RULING

After thorough research and careful analysis, we feel comfortable in making a prediction as to the potential future of these fuels, as well as their sustainability in the long run. We have concluded that while each of these fuels may have advantages that make them appealing in one form or another, the next couple of decades will show a shift towards cars that operate on biodiesel and electricity. Eventually, we believe that electric cars will become the most commonly used form of transportation, surpassing biofuel cars as the mainstream used in daily driving.

However, we also predict that for many years there will be a combination of fuel sources powering transportation. We feel that it is possible that a typical family might have several differently powered cars for separate purposes. A smaller electric car could be used for the daily commute or to pick up the groceries, while a biodiesel powered SUV might take the family on vacation or perform other long range driving tasks. Differences in these fuels result in niche markets in which they perform well for their given duty.

SUSTAINABILITY: THE FUTURE

We predict that biodiesel will continue to undergo development as an alternative fuel, and will catch on in the next decade or so as a viable option for a versatile fuel based on its good performance and environmental benefits. B80 will probably become a common fueling option, as its power output is close to gasoline, and its price will continue to become increasingly attractive as gasoline costs rise. However, our country will not be able to produce enough biodiesel to establish it as the sole fuel to power our nation. Because of the limit on the amount of biodiesel we can produce, it will not be able to independently replace gasoline as our nation’s sole transportation fuel.

Hydrogen powered fuel cells would be a great way to power cars — if the technology were available. Use of hydrogen will continue to undergo research and development, but it will be at least 10-20 years before fuel cells are commonly sold in cars, and even then the high prices will keep most buyers away. Slow incorporation of hydrogen fueling stations as well as the cost of hydrogen fuel will also be a deterrent to hydrogen-powered cars becoming commonplace. We acknowledge that, in theory, hydrogen fuel cells are a highly efficient method of fueling transportation. Because of this, it is only a matter of time before the technology catches up. However, by the time fuel cells are simple and affordable enough for the daily driver, electric cars will have become everyday vehicles on America’s roads, and by then their efficiencies could even be better than that of hydrogen.

Ethanol and methanol are both potential fuels, but limited supplies of source materials and limited power output will not allow these alcohol fuels to be used as a primary consumer fuel. However, they may live on as specialty fuels for buses and other forms of public transportation due to lower demand and the ability of their vehicles to carry more liquid fuel on board.

Electricity will most likely be powering the transportation of the future. In 1996 GM introduced the EV1, a two-seater electric car that could be charged at home in 8 hours and driven for up 150 miles on one charge using the batteries available at the time. While not commercial successes, as only about 1000 cars were built, the EV1s proved that electric cars could be produced and used effectively for daily travel and were a strong competitor to gasoline powered cars. New battery developments will dramatically increase the range of electric vehicles while keeping the efficiency and low cost benefits of the cars intact [20].

Natural gas works well for powering cars today. A few cars have been produced that run on natural gas, as well as a line of city buses. The technology works well, and the emissions are an improvement as compared to gasoline. However, natural gas won’t last. It will eventually meet the same untimely end as gasoline, and thus does not provide a sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. Natural gas may, however, provide a grace period during the transition away from gasoline.

Finally, we cannot be certain as to what the future will hold for alternative fuels. There are a number of other unpredictable factors including climate change, industrial research and political instability that could play key roles in the great fuel race. However, based on what we know now, we feel that our conclusions represent reasonable conjectures for the future of alternative fuels. One thing is certain, engineers will definitely be at the leading edge of this exciting and important period in history.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A great way to introduce kids to this effort is through the benefits presented by our use of solar power. We now understand that solar power can heat homes, produce energy, and heat water to efficiently support our homes and schools. Teaching the methods of generating solar power to kids is a great way to preserve future energy efficiencies.

This education starts by educating young people about the harmful effects and wastes generated by our current energy usage practices. Children are very inquisitive and many have great ideas on how alternatives should be available to protect our environment. Our current use of electricity generated by non-renewable sources is a way for our children to start thinking about conservation and alternate sources to power our lives. It’s important for our kids to understand that there are new sources being developed so that someday we will not be dependent upon electricity in its current form. Solar power technologies are advancing so that they someday it may become our preferred energy source and it is important for kids to understand the benefits of clean abundant energy.

Many people, regardless of age, still believe that electricity in its current form can be produced indefinitely. Society cannot afford to this mentality as our sources may run out leaving no alternative sources. Furthermore, the production of energy today is quite harmful to the environment. Air pollution, in addition to all of its physical and environmental effects, further clouds our abilities to utilize rays from the sun as an alternative energy source. This is an alternative that we cannot afford to jeopardize and kids need to be educated about this risk. Youth provide a great rallying voice and provide an essential role in the momentum of advances in solar power development.

There are natural resources that can be combined with man made resources to generate solar power for social benefit. To be effective and efficient in these areas cost effective solar sources need to evolve so that our demands for solar power can be met. We can certainly teach kids how a home today greatly benefit by switching to solar power and the conversion is not difficult. Supporting this movement and practicing methods of electricity conservation are great ways to generate a voice of preservation to be carried out by our youth.

Your home can now be built with solar power being a method to generate electricity for the many uses power is needed. Power from the sun will allow you to have a warm bath or shower, operate your lights, power your computer, and provide energy for many other needs at home or even in your school. Our efforts today to promote a switch to solar alternatives will pay dividends for generations as our children will carry this important message forward.

Today everybody benefits by conserving energy and promoting solar power. Clean energy education needs to start now in order to benefit future generations. Teaching kids ways to save energy and the need to develop methods for saving solar power allows for the needed solar supply to heat water, and other energy needs. Solar power sources need to produce energy in large quantities and not stop with individual houses. Hopefully, someday there will be no need to run power lines through fields and along streets as they will be replaced by solar energy boxes and will be fueled daily by our most abundant energy source, the sun.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of wind energy?

Before trying to understand the true nature and scope of wind energy it is important to understand how wind energy is generated. Wind flow is a natural phenomenon that is caused due to a number of factors. The sun’s rays, as they fall on the earth, heat the surface of the planet in varying degrees. In other words, all the water bodies, landmasses and the air get heated differently according to their varying propensities to absorb heat. Besides, the temperature in the Equatorial region varies greatly from that in the Polar regions. The warm air at the equator expands and rises allowing cooler air from the poles to flow in to fill up the resultant vacuum. This circulation creates a convectional current which is called the wind. The wind, as it blows across the surface of the planet, carries with it a form of energy that is known as kinetic energy. This energy, when harnessed through suitable means, can be converted into other useful forms of energy like mechanical energy and electricity. And this, in a nutshell, constitutes the essence of wind energy.

Wind energy, above everything else, continues to remain one of the best alternative measures of generating power and electricity. In fact, alternative sources of energy production, such as windmill and solar systems, have always enjoyed varying degrees of popularity with the masses. The clean, green and non-polluting nature of the energy that it produces has made wind energy immensely popular with those among us who care about the environment and wish to leave behind a better world for their children. Some even claimed wind energy to be better than solar power as the former continued working even after sunset. The energy produced was also virtually free and some wind energy systems worked so well that they completely replaced the need for having any other source of power. The best news is that over the years, wind energy technology has undergone tremendous growth and advancements, resulting in their becoming more user-friendly, less complicated, more affordable and powerful in general.

Let’s look at some of the disadvantages of using wind energy. The main disadvantage, however, is perhaps due to the highly unpredictable nature of wind itself. While it may be blowing fair and strong one moment, the very next could see a sudden drop in its power. And as everybody knows, wind energy systems need fairly strong winds blowing consistently to produce any appreciable amount of energy. Other disadvantages include noise pollution (generated by the rotor blades), visual impact and avian mortality (caused by birds flying into the rotors and getting killed). However, these problems can be resolved by carefully choosing the installation site and also through continuing technological developments.

How are the benefits and disadvantages related to the environment and the economics?

Just by switching over to wind power, you will be surprised at how much savings you can actually make on your monthly energy consumption bills! In fact, the economic advantage that one gets from residential wind energy production is simply undeniable, being able to cut your monthly energy bills by as much as 80% or more! However, the actual savings made depend on factors that you can’t directly control, such as the speed of the wind and the weather. And above all, by using wind power you can also keep the environment clean and green. No wonder these are still the best reasons why millions around the world are turning to wind power every year. Continuing research in the field of alternative energy production, especially solar and wind power systems, is making these systems more powerful, more dependable and increasingly affordable. It will not be long before all the current disadvantages of using wind power will be gone for good and it will find even wider acceptance around the globe.

There are tremendous ecological and financial advantages of installing a wind power system in your home. On the one hand you can clean up the environment because this is eco-friendly, and on the other you can drastically reduce your electricity bill. However, before deciding to set up wind power for your home, get hold of a good guide. There are many helpful resources available in the market today, especially on the Internet, to guide you through all the critical steps of buying the right equipment, connecting them together, wiring the system and ultimately building a fully functional wind power system all by yourself.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

While researching your options for your electricity needs, you will learn that an advantage of alternative energy is that once you purchased the equipment, you will no longer have a need to purchase electricity from a provider. This can be a life-changing event. With alternative energy, you can now supply your own home with all of the power necessary for your needs without the worry of power outages and other problems with providers.

In fact, you could even tap into their network of power lines and sell the excess electricity that your home will not need back to the power plant. They have to buy it from you. An advantage of alternative energy is that it is clean, meaning it does not produce the harmful pollutants that burning fossil fuels do. This makes the power plant want to buy this electricity from you to help them reduce the amount of pollutants that they release into the air.

After you have a good idea of how much your electric need will be, have the power company install a meter to measure how much electricity you generate for them. You will love to see the meter reader coming to see how much they are going to pay you, instead of it being the other way around inmost cases. The amount of money you will earn will be the difference between how much alternative energy you can produce, with the equipment that you have installed, and the amount that you consume.

Another advantage of alternative energy is that we are finding ways to use it in our vehicles. This will reduce the amount of oil that we will have to buy from other countries. Also it will cut down on the amount of pollutants released into the air.

The technologies that are being discovered for using alternative energy are changing the way we look at burning fossil fuels. The advantage of alternative energy over fossil fuels is that it can easily be replenished from the wind, the sun, or from water power. Fossil fuels are in limited supply and once we have used them all up, we won’t be able to get anymore. Once we have mined all of the coal that the Earth holds, we will not be able to quickly reproduce more.

With the population growing and the consumption rate of fossil fuels rising at an alarming rate, the need for alternative energy sources becomes more and more evident. Studies are currently underway for new ways to utilize this technology.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The U.S. government has recognized alternative fuel as the fuel for the future and has included a number of tax incentives in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the energy law signed in the summer of 2005, to spur growth in the alternative fuel sector. If you haven’t already, you should give alternative stocks a try as it will make you feel morally stronger. It’s been nearly three decades since efforts to promote alternative fuel floundered after the 1973 oil crisis, but it’s making a comeback. Still, alternative fuel remains a small industry, with small cap companies dominating. Since 2005, 15 of the 36 companies in the WilderHill Clean Energy index have made huge profits. That includes hydroelectric power and wind energy, solar energy, and fuel cells.

Some of the most successful companies in the renewable fuel sector are huge conglomerates, like General Electric and Germany’s Siemens, and also big oil companies, like BP, that are hedging their bets. Investing in these companies offers a chance to own a clean energy stock. Here’s some information about GE worth knowing: It made close to $2 billion in sales from production of wind-powered turbines in 2005, treble what it made from that business unit in 2002. However, that’s only 1 percent of GE’s revenues.

There’s a lot of hope that alternative fuel technologies developed by some of the smaller companies will become commercially viable and help support the sector. As a result, stocks for these companies are expected to soar. WilderHill Clean Energy Index gained 26 percent in the past 12 months alone, compared with 50 percent for oil. That’s not bad, considering this is not an established sector in the United States.

Moreover, since continued oil supply is uncertain, a lot more consumers are going to turn to coal, which is abundantly available in the United States, China, and India. Coal used to be frowned upon because of its dirt, but technology has improved enough to make it just as clean as other fuels. Shrewd investors could buy shares in U.S. coal producers, including the two biggest, Peabody Energy Corp. and Arch Coal Inc., both based in St. Louis, Missouri. Coal companies have profited from the current oil boom.

Investing in coal doesn’t mean that Big Oil isn’t safe anymore. It only means that you are on much firmer ground when you have a diversified portfolio. If you look at both types of stocks, the difference isn’t large. Exxon Mobil, for instance, returned 36 percent to its shareholders in market appreciation and dividends in 2005 and BP returned 21 percent. Peabody Energy stockholders, meanwhile, did far better in the same time period. They more than doubled their money, and Peabody shares have risen more than three and a half times since the company’s initial public offering in 2001. Arch Coal stock returned 65 percent in 2005 as well.

Coal producers have benefited from increased demand from power plants and steelmakers in the United States, China, and India. Massey Energy Co. of Richmond, Virginia, for instance, said its average selling price for coal used in steel-making jumped 38 percent in 2005. Consol Energy, Inc. of Pittsburgh, the third largest U.S. producer, plans a $500 million mine expansion to keep up with orders.

Soaring prices for natural gas have given coal demand another lift. Many electric power plants have switched from gas to coal, which costs about half as much. In the spring of 2006, Duke Energy Corp. closed on a deal purchasing Cinergy Corp. for about $9 billion, in large part because of Cinergy’s coal-fired plants.

Back to oil, we’ve also seen that the market has been good to minnows as well. In fact, some smaller oil companies also have outperformed the giants. For instance, Apache Corp. of Houston produced a 12-month total return of 51 percent for its stockholders, helped by increased first-quarter selling prices of 51 percent for crude oil and 11 percent for natural gas. Apache recently bought property from Shell, BP, and Exxon Mobil and its profit rose tremendously in 2005. Oil transport companies have not been left behind. Overseas Shipholding Group of New York made an acquisition in 2005 that made it the world’s second-largest oil tanker company. The bigger fleet, combined with higher tanker rates, boosted the company’s 2005 earnings by about 40 percent. The world’s biggest owner of oil tankers, Teekay Shipping Corp. of Vancouver, Canada, capitalized on high energy prices in yet another way. In the fall of 2005, Teekay raised $132 million through the public sale of a 20 percent interest in Teekay LNG Partners LP, whose ships carry liquefied natural gas and crude oil.

Is it too late to buy energy stocks, large or small? BlackRock, Inc., which manages $391 billion, doesn’t seem to think so. It reported to the SEC in late summer of 2005 that after $870 million in purchases, it owned stakes in Peabody, Arch, Consol, and Massey ranging from 3.3 to 8.8 percent. The money manager also has a 4.7 percent stake in Newfield Exploration Co., an oil-and-gas company that returned 49 percent to its shareholders in 2005.

The bottom line is this: The world needs a lot of energy, but supply is getting tighter; an “überspike” in oil prices is in the making and the potential rewards for the savvy energy investor are huge.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Solar energy is harnessed by by placing solar panels where they can absorb the most sunlight and convert that heat into electricity. Wind energy is when the power of the wind is used to turn a wind turbine that’s connected to a generator, once again to produce electricity.

As the cost of power lines and power has been soaring, alternative energy is rapidly becoming more affordable and reliable than ever. However, despite what some might say, alternative energy is not necessarily a “zero carbon emitter” but it does come very close and it is generally sustainable.

When you factor in the ecological impacts of fossil-fuel and nuclear generated power, alternative energy is certainly lower impact. The timing for alternative energy is now, putting electric companies and electricians in a great position to capitalize on this booming business.

The most common forms we consider as alternatives to burning fossil fuels are solar and wind power. Solar energy is our oldest energy source, humans have always used the sun’s energy directly (eg, for drying clothes, heating air or water and drying food), as well as indirectly to power some of the agricultural equipment that supplies us with food. We can all use this solar energy directly, simply by capturing sunlight..

Solar systems are a reliable and cost effective method of harnessing the sun’s energy with many benefits. Solar power is a fast growing sector in the alternative energy industry.

This century we have started to use solar energy more effectively and it is looking like we’ll increase its use in the future. The great feature of solar energy is the fact that it will continue to exist so far into the future that we can think of it as being unending.

In addition, unlike fossil fuels, using solar energy doesn’t cause air pollution or involve damaging the Earths surface.

Farmers across America are discovering that they can control the impact of soaring fuel costs with cost-effective solar thermal and electrical systems. They are slashing up to 70% off their energy costs by using solar alternatives for:

1. Water and air heating for dairies

2. Heating and temperature control for greenhouses

3. Heating & LED lighting for meat-bird houses

4. Crop drying

5. Water and combustion air heating for food processing

6. Remote area water pumping

7. Lighting

8. Electric fences.

These days many governments offer subsidies to encourage people to convert to solar power systems for their homes. For systems installed before 2009, a federal solar tax credit returns 30% of the first cost of a solar system to you in the first year. In addition, up to 65% of the installation cost of your solar system may be recovered by Focus on Energy rebate incentives and Federal tax credits that dramatically reduce the time it takes your system to pay for itself.

As well as helping the environment, converting to a home solar energy system also helps the health of your finances and adds value to your home. But, if you are a handy type of person you can build your own solar power and small wind turbine systems yourself. By building your own wind turbine and solar powered generator you can save yourself money when setting up home green energy systems.

Wind energy has been harnessed on land since the first windmill was developed by the ancient Persians in the 7th century a.d. Wind energy continued to be harvested over the following centuries, early windmills were used to power millstones, pumps, and forges.

Wind energy is a resource which is abundant and easily accessible in most parts of the world. Wind energy, a renewable source of electric power, is the worlds fastest growing energy source. Wind energy or power is the newest way to generate energy without running up an electrical bill.

Because it’s available all year round and is a more permanent type of energy, wind energy can be used for practical purposes like generating electricity, charging batteries, pumping water or grinding grain.

Wind energy systems offer a clean affordable alternative to fossil fuel generated electricity. They are among the most technologically advanced and cost-effective renewable sources currently available and are easily installed using minimum space.

Wind energy is a clean, cost-effective option from an abundant, domestic resource and can be converted into electrical energy by the use of an electrical generator. Winds as low as 10 mph are all that’s needed to produce useful electricity.

Wind energy advantages over traditional methods of creating energy, emerge from the fact that as it gets cheaper and cheaper to produce, it may soon be the cheapest way to produce energy on a large scale.

Wind farms are springing up everywhere to harness the wind energy to power our communities through the main electricity grids. Because winds are stronger higher up off the ground, wind turbine towers are about 30 metres tall to allow the rotor to catch more wind.

Design improvements such as more efficient rotor blades combined with an increase in the numbers of wind turbines installed, have helped increase the worlds wind energy generating capacity by nearly 150 percent since 1990. Each megawatt hour of wind energy that’s generated currently avoids the generation, on average, of one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.

Alternative energy is cleaner than fossil fuel energy, is renewable, gives you independence from foreign oil, helps control rising electric bills and allows development of new venues in more areas.

The other thing is that fossil fuels (natural gas, oil and coal) are not a renewable resource and, apart from the negative effects on our environment, they’re running out and will eventually be completely exhausted.

In the USA, wind energy accounts for less the one percent of the electricity generated, but installed capacity has been expanding at an average annual rate of more than 20 percent, plus there are a number of small wind energy devices that you can use to generate power, and most of these are very cost effective in providing a substantial level of electricity.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

wind power is very much a possible alternative as many wind turbines are now in use. It is less expensive to set up and we continue to develop them steadily for use as efficient energy. There are many wind farms which have been developed worldwide and strategically placed to avoid any damage to the environment and also birds.

Most of us have heard of solar energy which is another energy source which is a good workable alternative. We have all seen solar panels which are manufactured with many solar cells that harness the sun’s energy so that it can be converted into electricity for many uses like heating water. This resource is very environmentally friendly as it does not pollute the air.

One energy that most of us have not heard of is ocean energy. This is renewable energy from the sea which experts believe to have huge benefits as a power source for the future. There is the potential to generate an enormous amount of energy and for years countries like France, Ireland and Scotland have already used generators to successfully use this source for power.

Hydroelectric power is one of the oldest alternative energy sources. Powerful generators uses water and converts it into electricity. It is limited in that you can’t build large dams anywhere, which were largely used to control floods and for irrigation. They also affect natural habitat although they are clean running and good for the environment. There are now smaller electric generators now being set up to so they can be more localised.

Geothermal energy is a natural resource of which there is an abundance, and is found just below the earth’s surface. We produce this type of energy by using the earth’s molten core to heat up water. The steam that is produced from the heated water is then used for running turbine engines so that it is converted to electricity. Experts say that more extensive research should be done in this area to that we can learn how to tap into this geothermal energy.

Instead of using gas to run our cars and engines we can use Ethanol. It is derived of strawberries, sugar cane, wheat, wood and wood cellulose. This type of fuel source may not be as economically feasible according to experts, so it may not be viable as an energy source.

Biodiesel energy could potentially be another good energy source. It is made of plant oils. Seeds, soybeans and other oils could potentially be used to make up biodiesel, although the progress on this is slow to develop as an energy resource. If we to use this on a large scale it would not be feasible economically, although it is much more clean running than diesel as it is oil based. It is also clean and environmentally friendly.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Are you frustrated with understanding the how and why associated with alternative enegry fuels? Once the mystique is removed from the idea of using solar energy to produce power people will began to understand how it all works. This will lead to people seeing how using solar energy can be looked at as a viable alternative source of energy. In fact in this choice of alternative energy the largest component is the sun. Scientist and those in the private sector are even now looking for ways to make using solar energy to produce power in homes and businesses more economically feasible

HOW DOES IT WORK?

When considering the choice of using solar energy to produce power you should understand how it works right? Well if you can imagine that it works much the same way that leaving your garden hose laying in the sun all day on a hot sunny day. When you go to use it the first thing that comes out is hot water having been heated by the sun all day.

This is a simplified version of one way to utilize solar energy. There is usually a water container that collects the sun’s rays in the form of heat. After this is heated to a pre-determined temperature it is then properly utilized elsewhere.

Some common applications of this have been to heat water in swimming pools and ponds with water moved into large containers that are basked in the sun all day. The mechanism will then move the water back into the pool or pond once the water reaches a preset temperature which in turn helps heat the rest of the water. This of course has been utilized in more commercial applications as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

Approximately more than ten thousand homes in the United States are entirely powered by solar energy.

Another way that is properly thought of when considering using solar energy to produce power gathering solar power through photovoltaic cells that in turn convert energy obtained from the sun DIRECTLY into electricity. This electricity produced is in Direct Current or (DC) format. This (DC) can then be stored directly into storage batteries. After this (DC) is converted to Alternating Current (AC) it can be used to operate lights and any other common appliance.

INTERESTING FACT:

Silicon from just one ton of sand used in photovoltaic cells could produce as much electricity as burning five hundred thousand tons of coal.

CONCLUSION

Your goal? To start utilizing these alternative fuels whenever and wherever possible. However, there are areas that have a lot more average days of sunshine, like the southwestern part of the United States, where using solar energy to produce power can be a good source of power. When you couple this with the fact that you are dealing with solar power which is clean, cheap and renewable it just makes sense. However, with a proper understanding how it works , you can see how using solar energy may not be a good solution in areas of the country with several days of overcast skies and insufficient sunlight.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Most people don’t realize is how using their normal appliances in their home or at work can affect our climate so strongly so they aren’t worried about finding alternative fuel sources. But the importance of finding renewable clean energy sources has never been so important as it is right now. Besides the fact that our current energy sources are harming our atmosphere, it is a fact that they will eventually run out since they aren’t renewable. This is one of the most important reasons, aside from keeping our environment clean, we need to find alternative sources for our energy needs.

Many energy companies have been exploring the possibilities of using solar panels and windmills (solar and wind energy) on a widespread basis, bringing production costs down and making them more efficient so they can be readily available. Hydro power, using dams to harness the energy from moving water with turbines, is also a good alternative source but it can only be used in area with rivers and large bodies of water. The downside of wind energy is that it can only be used in areas that have consistent wind so it can’t be used in a lot of areas as a stand alone sole energy source.

Researchers all around the world are currently trying to discover sources of alternative energy right now. One of the most common energy sources that doesn’t emit carbon dioxide is nuclear power but it is also one of the most controversial as well. Concerns about the dangers of a meltdown and contamination of the environment have kept nuclear power from being developed large scale in the United States but other countries are using nuclear power to their benefit. It is one of the most widespread uses of clean energy but the biggest downfall of using nuclear energy is the nuclear waste it produces, which can take millions of years to become inert and has to be stored. The main problem with this is that we only have so much space for storage and eventually it could leak into the environment, causing more environmental concerns.

Until we discover a clean source of energy that is more commercially available and solves our current issues with our current power power sources, the best thing we can all do to help is try to limit our our energy usage daily by being consistent. Researchers have shown that if everyone always turned off the lights when not in use in their homes and offices that it would reduce our energy usage by up to twenty percent.

Seems simple, doesn’t it?

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

2. Environmental Power is another alternative energy supplier. It has two subsidiaries namely Microgy and Buzzard Power. Microgy undertakes research and development in the field of alternative energy. It has developed a cost-effective biogas facility by making use of agricultural and plant waste. It focuses on eco-friendly production of renewable energy like biogas to compare with the standards of natural gas. The biogas is used in combustion engines, and for heating homes and offices. Buzzard Power has an 83MW power facility to generate ‘green’ energy from coal waste.

Environmental Power has been in existence from the year 1982 and has a long history of development in the field of clean energy. The company has developed and operated municipal waste projects and hydroelectric plants and assisted in clean gas generation and energy recovery. It has a team of experts from the agriculture and finance sectors to manage the business and help its growth and expansion.

3. Intrepid Technology and Resources Incorporated (ITR) processes animal waste into natural gas as an alternative energy resource. America’s supply of natural gas is depleting. ITR believes that the two billion ton animal waste produced every year can be used to generate natural gas to tide over the deficit. Their ‘organic waste digesters’ built close to the sites of the organic waste, produce clean methane gas which is a viable option to natural gas. The company is based in Idaho but plans to expand its operations to the whole country.

4. Nathaniel Energy generates energy from waste matter. The company has devised s system known as Total Value Preservation System (TVPS) which sees the potential of waste materials to generate energy. Industrial waste matter which would have otherwise been discarded or destroyed is being put to optimum use to recover the trapped energy. The production costs towards generation of alternative energy are equivalent to the costs incurred by a company to install pollution control systems and preventions. TVPS is an innovative technology which recovers valuable resources that other processes fail to do.

There are many companies such as those listed above, which use innovative technology to augment our diminishing supply of natural resources by adopting environmentally safe methods to generate alternative energy or renewable energy. There is a need to invest in research towards finding alternative sources of energy as a replacement to fossil fuels. The future of the world depends on industries which can help to achieve this goal. The governments of the various countries need to co-operate in terms of exchange of ideas and information to solve the problems of global warming and environmental pollution. Alternative energy suppliers like the above mentioned companies can play a major role in this process and the government can promote these companies by providing them subsidies.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Wind energy is one option when it comes to renewable power. Large spinning turbines harvest the movement of the air, and the energy is transferred into an electricity generator for usage in any application. While it’s not available everywhere, wind energy represents one of the fastest sectors of growth when it comes to alternative power sources, and it is consequently one of the most widely used alternative sources. As a matter of fact, since the year 2000, the number of wind turbines present in the United States has more than doubled!

Solar power is another significant source of renewable energy. Solar cells known as photovoltaics are placed on sun-catching areas such as the roof of a house. These cells turn light energy into electricity, and enough electric panels can provide power for an entire home, leaving you independent of the energy companies altogether.

Geothermal energy represents a source of energy that is not commonly discussed. Heat from underneath the earth’s surface is harvested as steam, which helps to spin a turbine much in the way of wind power. The spinning motion is sent to an electricity generator, and the power can be used in any modern application.

Low impact hydropower represents another significant source of renewable energy. Incorporating the use of a turbine, hydropower is created in streams and rivers which produce enough of a force to properly spin the turbines. Many aspects of hydropower need to be approved to ensure that the turbines do not significantly effect wildlife that may be living in the area where the energy is being harvested. Most hydropower sources do not dam a river up; they operate with the river in free-flow as to minimize the effect on the environment.

While these sources may not be easy to come by, your conscience can be unburdened regarding the climate crisis by switching to one of these environmentally friendly sources of energy. Do your part in helping to change our planet for the better!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Ocean currents are a natural phenomena located along most coastlines. The only requirement for harnessing their power is that the currents amalgamate under the surface of the ocean at depths of between eighty to two hundred and thirty feet (25 – 70 meters) with a flow of between five to ten feet per second. Harnessing this type of natural energy production it is not only a feasible undertaking, but is also quite an efficient way of supplying a clean, alternative energy source.

Although tidal power is an amazing concept, wave power also offers a much needed link to cheaper, cleaner power and its availability and conversion is being investigated vigorously in the ongoing race to market an economical, clean, renewable source of energy. Concerting above ground wind turbine units to meet undersea performance is technologically possible and, with a few adjustments, present day wind turbines are easily adapted to harness the awesome power of the sea.

Physicists have studied the gravitational pull of the moon and its effect on ocean currents for eons. Ocean tides are predictable, constant, natural occurrences that are easily forecasted for years in advance. This awesome and essentially untapped source of alternative power is not negatively affected either by adverse weather conditions or climate changes – which makes it ideal for further investigation and implementation.

In order to harness the full power of the ocean, nanotechnology may be just the ticket needed to successfully construct man-made tidal dams designed to control the flow as the tides ebb and recede. Predetermined openings would allow ocean currents to flow up through these gaps into a bay or estuary where the water is collected in the dam-like barrage and then released via a series of sluice gates and through a turbine which in turn generates electricity.

This alternative energy source is well established in La Rance France where a 240 megawatt facility has been operating since 1966. In addition, other, smaller sites have also garnered some success in Canada and in South Korea plans are underway to construct a plant larger than the one in France. However, there is one drawback to this type of power harnessing. Naturalists and environmentalists are concerned with the effects that constant flooding of the barrages has on the delicate ecosystems within the bays and estuaries where they are located.

Nanotechnology scientists are working in close liaison with forward thinking ecologists to correct this deficiency by designing a type of tidal lagoon to house the turbines. Instead of creating dams within the estuary itself, they propose to take advantage of strides in nanotechnology in order to erect man-made lagoons just off shore which would be built up from the seabed and reach out at least one meter above the high tide level. In this type of construction, the turbines would be situated in a wall close to, but not interfering with, the seabed itself. The concept is simple and very effective: the water would flow in through the turbine during high tide filling the lagoon, at low tide the flow would be reversed and the turbines turned in the opposite direction. The result is a generation of electricity in both directions four times a day. Careful placement of the lagoon would be determined by the differential between the maximum heights achievable between high and low tides. Producing energy by this means is anticipated to cost less than any coal fired facility, while protecting and encouraging a positive ecological environment.

Plans are underway to begin construction in several locations off the coast of Wales and China. This combination of conventional technology in partnership with nanotechnology advances has put environmental and ecological issues to rest, yet there is still a viable concern that this type of energy plant may have an adverse effect on shipping lanes. However, these concerns have also been considered and development of barrage ocean turbines that operate independently with little or no interference to ship traffic is well into production stages.

Because narrow passages promote the fastest movement of currents, the feasibility of harnessing huge amounts of power via ocean turbines offers an excellent alternative to nuclear and coal fired energy generating plants. With the reduced threat of ecosystem damage, advanced technology, co-operation between industry and environmental agencies and the almost unlimited locations that can potentially provide ideal conditions for tidal/ocean power harnessing, this type of energy source is generating serious attention worldwide.

Therefore, this begs the question: Is it really necessary to expose our planet and its people to constant ecological threat by continuing to provide nuclear power and its associated danger to the environment? The answer is, unequivocally – No. For those of us who care about living in a cleaner, safer world, it is imperative that we embrace nanotechnology assisted methods of energy generation which are proven to exceed present energy output while reducing the threat of pollution and destruction of our ecosystems.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Ideas On Dealing With Complaints And Cancellations

In a lot cases, cancellations are conducted in person at most health clubs (or substitute your service here) without any trouble.

If you do not have this type of policy in place it may be worth looking into.

There have been instances with large fitness chains and I’m sure smaller ones as well as individual operators making it next to impossible to cancel, or making the cancellation conditions difficult or onerous.

Want a guaranteed sure fire way to lose business, get loads of negative publicity, upset staff and a get a reputation that will make sure people go out of their way to avoid your business? Then that’s the way to go!

But if you’re an ethical responsible business owner that would rather have a legion of raving fans, then make the experience a pleasant one for the customer.

Remember, people cancel for all sorts of reasons, in some case you may even be able to prevent the cancellation by various means such as decreasing their weekly, fortnightly or monthly dues, or ascertaining why they really want to cancel and offering them another alternative such as suspending their payments if it is a financial objection.

The following are a few ideas of what your cancellation conditions could include. Feel free to adapt and use any or part of this if you feel it will benefit your services.

Where the member is unable to come into the centre, they must send a representative or proof they have left the area. If this is the case then and the member is still in their contracted period a fee of $200 applies or they will need to find someone to take over their membership.

There is no fee payable by the member, only the person taking over the balance of the agreement pays a nominal transfer to redo all the paperwork.

Only then is the cancellation fee not payable and the customers membership cancelled.

Inside their contracted period they can elect to pay the above mentioned fee or provide medical evidence in the form of a certificate from their GP stating what the reasons are for something minor you will not cancel but offer to suspend until such time the member is able to resume.

For something medically serious then you could cancel on 30 days notice.

You as a owner, manager or salesperson need to Find out what the customers real reasons are and see what you’re able to do, or to offer to prevent losing the client.

Don’t just thrust a cancellation form over the front counter with a curt “Just fill this out”

Get them to come over to a place where your conversation will not be overheard by other members/clients offer them a drink of water, listen to their reasons, is it lack of time? Lack of money? Have they moved? Or do they simply need a break.

Go over with the customer their original reasons for joining your club, do they still want to achieve the same goals they had when they started?

So what’s changed now? Be emphatic to their reasons, and endeavor to see what alternatives are available.

Remember just one membership saved per week can have enormous impact on your bottom line; treat a cancellation as you would a brand new customer.

So how about your member that just wishes to whinge or complain?

Do we roll our eyes, tense up, speak louder, slouch, or generally show poor body language?

Well, some times we do, because we get taken off guard or by surprise. We may dislike their attitude, or if other members are looking and we know they are frequent whingers!

Show empathy and ask yourself, do we overlook the fact that these people:

• Pay for a service and expect it?

• Have a valid point when machinery is broken?

• Expect their classes to have an on time instructor?

• Expect to have hot water and clean showers?

• Need help on the gym floor?

• Do not want to be just a number?

The Answer:

Yes, we do occasionally overlook these things when we hear them complain!

How do we handle such members that wish to complain to us about our centre or our staff?

Act surprised-”oh really”? (Persons name) I’m sorry to hear you are upset” Apologise for them feeling upset, not the situation:

Politely ask them to sit somewhere quite and explain the situation while you take notes (this helps defuse and they speak slower) Put yourself in their shoes.

Give the person a reason to answer your questions:

(”I’d like to help you, do you mind if I get some details?”) Ask them what the situation is. Encourage them to talk and always ask, “Is there anything else?”

Come up with a solution.

Look into what can be done, and let them know you will get back to the ASAP and make sure that you follow through!

Follow these tips and you’ll get all the business you can handle!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Though skeptics believe that composting toilets will never be successful in the Western world, new technologies as well as old are being used to solve two problems: how to treat our waste, and how to produce enough food without poisoning ourselves and our environment with expensive chemical fertilizers. The next generation of composting toilets, such as that made by Clivus Multrum, are solving these problems and making the system more appealing to consumers. The low-flow composting toilets that they produce contain a basement level compost bin and service is included with the product. A much more low-tech version of the composting toilet is being used by the NGO Estamos in Africa. Although the organization’s aims are to improve sanitation and reduce illness, their programs are also helping small-scale farmers make a living. The organization provides composting toilets at no charge, and has greatly improved the quality of life for many poor families. The organization’s director, Feliciano dos Santos, just won the 2008 Goldman Environmental Prize in Ecological Sanitation for this work.

Many countries have well-established methane-capture programs that use animal waste, such as pig farms in Australia and cattle ranches in the United States. But what of the gas creation potential of human waste? Developing countries are pioneering this technology as a way to save money and create renewable energy. With the help of the Heifer International Foundation, rural farmers in Uganda’s Mukono district are mixing human feces and urine with other biological waste such as water hyacinth and banana peels to create biogas, and using the byproduct to fertilize their fields. The biogas produced contains 60-90% methane, and is being used for lighting, cooking and some engines, and many residents are improving their quality of life and rising above the poverty level. Likewise, Cyangugu prison in Rwanda is creating biogas from the excrement of its prisoners. The Kigali Institute of Science and Technology built the digester for the prison, which is using the resulting product to cook 50% of the prisoner’s meals, and saving $22,000 annually — a great deal of money in Rwanda. But developing countries aren’t the only ones taking advantage of human generated biogas. The Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant in Vancouver, British Columbia, once the subject of a lawsuit regarding a violation of federal pollution laws, has piloted a $1.1 million project to harvest methane from the city’s sewage and feed it directly into the natural gas distribution system. The project, which is expected to be operational in 2009, projects a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 500 tonnes annually, and enough energy production to power 100 homes. A similar project is underway in San Antonio, Texas.

Current debates surrounding plant-based biofuels focus on competition between food crops and biofuels crops, and many experts worry that high demand for biofuels will exacerbate current food shortage problems. Several projects have tackled this issue by creating biofuels from algae grown on human waste. One of these is Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation, which harvests the algae used in the sewage treatment ponds in Malborough, New Zealand. The “green crude” they create from the algae can be used for all crude-oil applications such as gasoline, diesel and plastics. In a more direct process, a Canadian company called Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation is feeding human waste directly into a biofuels generation system using a “fast pyrolysis process”. The system achieves 80% efficiency by recuperating waste gasses and heat from the process, and the end product, BioOil®, can be used as a substitute for a variety of petroleum products. One of the most high-tech, cutting-edge technologies for energy creation from human waste is the development of microbial fuel cells. Developed by Dr. Bruce Logan of Penn State’s engineering department, the system has been suggested as a way to take waste treatment plants off the grid. The fuel cell, still being refined to produce an acceptable energy output, uses wastewater to generate hydrogen fuel, and clean water is produced as a by-product. While the technology is not practical for other fuel-cell applications such as hydrogen-powered cars, it can be used anywhere there is a large supply of biological waste.

Many people cringe at the thought of human waste based energy systems, and would rather not think about what happens down the pipeline, but as humanity becomes increasingly demanding of energy we must begin to embrace unconventional methods of producing it. With the increasing success of the projects mentioned exists the possibility of eliminating human waste pollution worldwide. One day our sewage may be referred to as “brown gold”, and could be more valuable than even crude oil.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Man has always been ingenious enough to find ways of harnessing the various forms of energy found in nature to put them to his use. Power from the sun (solar power), power from cascading water (hydro-power) and power from the wind are not new to mankind. Wind power is not a new concept but one that has actually been around for quite some time now. It was met with much enthusiasm when it was first discovered. Wind power is a result of wind flow which is caused by several geographical and environmental factors like the earth’s rotation, topographical diversities and the differential heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Wind power solutions involve converting the kinetic energy of the winds into various other useful forms of energy, mainly electricity. What still makes it a hot idea the world over is the fact that wind power could be one of the answers to end the imminent energy crisis that the world is facing today. As the rampant depletion of natural resources continues unabated the world over, the future of the planet never looked so grim. Natural reserves of wood, coal and petroleum are becoming fewer and fewer with every passing year. It is time to start looking at alternative sources of energy. Green, renewable energy is the need of the hour. And wind power is the perfect match!

Some facts about the workings of wind power

Whenever one mentions wind power, there emerges two possibilities of obtaining it – first by the traditional windmill system, and secondly, by virtue of the modern turbine system. The windmill system is responsible for generating mechanical energy and its most frequent use is in farming and agriculture. Windmills are most commonly seen being used to harvest the wind resource to generate the requisite power to pump water or grind cereals. On the other hand, the wind turbine system is based on a more elaborate design, uses more sophisticated technology and is used to generate electricity. A wind turbine mechanism can be broadly categorized into the vertical axis type and the horizontal axis type. A typical wind turbine resembles the aircraft propeller blades that turn in the direction of the moving air. This movement, in turn, activates a shaft that is connected to an electricity producing generator. The power that is actually generated by these systems is dependent on two factors – a) the size of the turbine and b) the speed of the wind. In both the cases, more the size of the turbine or the speed of wind, more is the energy that is generated.

Wind-flow, as has already been stated earlier, is a completely natural phenomenon that is caused by a host of natural factors. The sun’s rays, as they fall on the earth, do not heat the surface of the planet uniformly but in a differential manner. In other words, all the landmasses, water bodies, and the air enveloping everything get heated to varying extents according to their varying propensities to absorb heat. Besides the differential heating by the sun, there are other geographical factors too. For example, the difference in temperature at the Equator and at the Poles. The warm air at the equator is continuously expanding, getting lighter and rising upwards while cooler air from the poles are rushing in to fill the resultant vacuum. This circulation creates a convectional current which is called the wind. It is of much significance to develop an understanding of how wind energy is generated in order to understand its true nature and scope. The wind, as it blows across the surface of the planet, carries with it a form of energy that is known as kinetic energy. This energy, when harnessed through suitable means, can be converted into other useful forms of energy like mechanical energy and electricity. And this is what wind power is really all about.

Advantages and disadvantages of wind power

The advantages of using wind power far outweigh the few disadvantages that it might have. Let’s face it, like every other form of energy, wind power too has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. But, undoubtedly, the advantages are more plentiful than the disadvantages. To start with, wind power solutions for the average household are excellent for cutting down on power bills, staying independent and also keeping the environment green and clean. Wind power is a true ‘green’ energy source and is one of the cleanest sources of power known to man. By and large, it is also very affordable. Due to its generally inexpensive nature, it can be widely afforded by a large cross section of the society. All said and done, the fact is that concerns like noise pollution (generated by the rotor blades), avian mortality (birds getting killed by accidentally flying into the rotors) are still there. But such issues can be easily resolved by locating the plant suitably and through continuous technological developments.

To enjoy the many benefits and advantages of wind power, all one has to do is set up a wind power system for himself. However, this might be a difficult proposition for those who are new to the technology or have no prior experience. Therefore, a good instructional guide is strongly recommended. By following step-by-step instructions, even the most inexperienced layman can set up a fully functional wind power system and start enjoying its many benefits. Choose a guide that will also help you in finding the best quality equipment, get the best deals on them, select the right location and on every other aspect of setting up a fully functional wind power plant at home.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Solar thermal power is the most efficient way of harnessing the sun’s power. A photovoltaic system using commercial grade solar cells is about 16 to 18% efficient; for every 6 watts of sunlight that hit the panel, about one watt of electricity is generated. However, the use of a solar power water heater (or solar thermal transfer) is about 45% efficient, due to the way that thermodynamics works and this is a good reason to start your journey to solar home power by looking at building a solar power water heater as your first project.

In essence, sunlight hits a dark colored tube with water in it; the water heats up for the same reason your car heats up in the parking lot in the summer. That water is then circulated to a storage tank, where it fills your solar power water heater, or is piped throughout your home to provide warmth.

What most people don’t realize is that getting hot water is usually the single most expensive part of their utility bill. Water has a high degree of thermal latency which means that it’s a great way to store thermal energy, and because it’s liquid, move it to different parts of the house. However, this also means it’s expensive to heat up in the first place, whether by electricity, natural gas, or propane. Which is why heating water accounts for just over 30% of the average household’s power bill. And why starting your journey to energy-freedom with a DIY solar hot water project makes excellent sense. Tackling just this one area of your energy needs by building your own solar power water heater will significantly reduce your electric bill and your carbon footprint!

There are a variety of methods to choose from when deciding on a DIY solar hot water system, depending upon your own circumstances, such as your particular usage, application, situation and budget. One innovative solution for a solar power water heater is to make a ‘garden wall’ that faces south, and put an underground cistern for collecting the water that’s heated by it. Usually, garden wall solar thermal systems feed into the kitchen sink or the dishwasher, which are big users of hot water. They have a bracket of pipes running through a clay wall that’s painted black; the water is heated and circulates (via normal expansion) into the cistern, which draws cooler water from the storage tank next to it. This won’t give you boiling water, but even on a cool, fall day they can give you water that’s about 100 degrees – a little cooler than a cup of coffee, but more than hot enough to wash dishes in.

Another DIY solar hot water system can bring the ‘garden wall’ concept to the house; the southern wall of the house becomes the ‘garden wall’, and the water is either routed to the main hot water storage heater, or routed through plastic tubing underneath the floor, to give radiant heat in the family room.

Whatever method of building a solar power water heater you choose to use, you need to take into account what is most practical for your home, given your own particular circumstances. But it is definitely worth considering a DIY solar hot water solution – it’s easier and cheaper than you may think and can provide an extremely cost-effective way of reducing your power bill. By building your own solar power water heater, you will cut costs significantly and will find that you can recoup your costs very quickly with the savings that you make on your power bill. Then you’re into pure profit for ever, which is a wonderful feeling. Here’s to hoping that the sun’s warmth runs your showers in the near future!

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

We all know that one of the sad times we face every month is receiving our expensive electric bill. The price keeps on increasing and it seems to be difficult of us to get rid of it. But we are lucky that solar energy is an alternative energy source to solve the problem. Having a solar power system at home, we will no longer worry about the electric bills.

Solar energy has been used for a very long time and, lately, more people are trying to build their own solar energy system at homes. The number of solar panels built is skyrocketing. People want to not only reduce the bills but also make any effort the save our planet.

It has become very convenient and easy for you to get solar power for homes and here is how you can use this renewable and clean energy with the help of solar power inverters.

Why Using Solar Power Inverters

The job of the solar power inverters is to convert the solar energy into usable electricity for homes. After your solar panels attract the solar energy and trap the heat, your solar power inverters will take over the job and provide enough power for you.

The solar panels used for accumulating the solar energy are also named photovoltaic panels. Through appropriate wiring, the solar inverters will connect with the panels and, as a result, the energy will be transformed into electricity for your air heating system, swimming heating system, lighting and more.

How Handy Solar Power Inverters Are

Solar electricity is not only used at home. You can even use it when you are enjoying any outdoor activities. For instance, if you are camping, you can install solar panels on your RV and use the solar inverters to convert the solar energy. Then you will no longer have to worry about power problem in the jungle.

There are more and more people building solar electricity systems for homes and RVs. One of the reasons is that it is really a cost-effective task. Some people have found that the cost can be under $200. With the use of solar power inverters, you can transform enough energy for your use.

What makes it more appealing is that you will save and earn money at the same time. If your solar electricity system is large enough to produce more electricity you have to use, the electric company will have to buy the extra energy from you. You can easily break even.

Useful Tip

The installation of solar panels and solar energy converters has to be done in a professional way. You have to make sure that the solar panels that you place on the roof are in the right position to accumulate enough sunlight. You will also need to consider how to capture the maximum sunlight in cloudy days or winter in order to make full use of your solar electricity system.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Another feature is that once you have a system set up and working it costs nothing to keep running and any initial setup costs you have will be easily recouped by how much money you save every month in your electric bill. There are a few choices you have in how to make and setup your own wind power system. You can either buy a commercially made wind generator, which can cost up to $10,000 depending on which type you pick, or make your own out of easily available supplies if your handy around the house. If you choose to make your own windmill you could probably make one that can generate 800 – 1200 watts for less than $200.

There are many do it yourself kits and easy to read construction plans available online that you can use to build your own wind generator when you are ready. The best part of using wind generators is that they will supply power all day and night as long as you have a slight breeze, and then you can run any appliance in your home using a inverter. The energy is collected from the blades of the windmill turning, then it goes to the generator and battery system you have built, which converts the power to AC current that we use in our homes.

To build your own windmill from the ground up you need to make sure you follow a guide that is written by someone with real experience in making and using wind power systems like these. Most online guides that you follow will show you the exact materials you will need.

Here’s a short list of things you need to look for when searching for the right guide for you:

1. The most important thing is that you have to be able to understand the instructions and blueprints provided.

2. I recommend that it have a high power output (1000 watts and above) so you can use it to make as much free electricity as possible.

3. It must be strong enough to withstand your normal weather conditions. (I live in a area that gets heavy snow in the winter and my first windmill I built collapsed in the middle of winter from the heavy snow.)

4. Be sure to find an ORIGINAL and proven system that has been tested by many others.

5. The author should have great after sale support in case you have a question or get stuck.

6. The cost to assemble your system should be relatively inexpensive. If you are making it yourself to save money you shouldn’t be spending more than a few hundred dollars on materials.

Using these points I’ve listed above, you should have no problem building your own wind power generator and start saving money every month on your power bills.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Wind power has its advantages a wind turbine at Greenpark Reading, England, produced electricity for around one thousand homes. Wind energy benefits from subsidies of various kinds in many jurisdictions, either to increase its attractiveness, or to compensate for subsidies received by other forms of production or which have significant negative externalities. Since energy produced is several times energy consumed in construction, there is a net energy gain. 1 square kilometres of unobstructed land per megawatt of nameplate capacity.Stored energy increases the economic value of wind energy since it can be shifted to displace higher cost generation during peak demand periods. Unlike fossil fuel and nuclear power stations, which circulate or evaporate large amounts of water for cooling, wind turbines do not need water to generate electricity. Wind energy supporters argue that, once external costs and subsidies to other forms of electrical production are accounted for, wind energy is amongst the least costly forms of electrical production. There are many thousands of wind turbines operating, with a total capacity of 73,904 MW of which wind power in Europe accounts for 65% (2006). For example, the estimated cost of new wind power capacity may be lower than that for “new coal” (estimated average costs for new generation capacity) but higher than for “old coal” (marginal cost of production for existing capacity). ” Countries such as Canada and Germany also provide incentives for wind turbine construction, such as tax credits or minimum purchase prices for wind generation, with assured grid access (sometimes referred to as feed-in tariffs). There is an estimated 72 TW of wind energy on the Earth that potentially can be commercially viable.

Wind power also has its drawbacks, historical experience of noisy and visually intrusive wind turbines may create resistance to the establishment of land-based wind farms. Some wind turbines kill birds, especially birds of prey. It can be noted that climate change poses a much more significant threat to wildlife, and therefore supports wind farms and other forms of renewable energy. However, leaking lubricating oil or hydraulic fluid may run down turbine blades, in some cases contaminating drinking water areas. When ejected pieces of broken blade and ice, are thrown hundreds of meters away,it can pose a dangerous problem. Residents near turbines may complain of “shadow flicker” caused by rotating turbine blades. Sea eagles have been killed by wind turbines, lightning strikes are a common problem, also causing rotor blade damage and fires. In Australia, a proposed wind farm was canceled because of the possibility that a single endangered bird of prey was nesting in the area. For example, in December 2006, a Texas jury denied a noise pollution suit against FPL Energy, after the company demonstrated that noise readings were not excessive. For example, in the UK, where there are several hundred turbines, about one bird is killed per turbine per year; 10 million per year are killed by cars alone. Like other electricity sources, wind energy must be “scheduled”. In the United States, turbines kill 70,000 birds per year, compared to 57 million killed by cars and 97. 03 birds per year, or one kill per thirty turbines. Deaths to members of the public include a parachutist colliding with a turbine and small aircraft crashing into support structures. Almost nothing is known about current populations of these species and the impact on bat numbers as a result of mortality at windpower locations.

Almost nothing is known about the impact on bat numbers as a result of mortality at windpower locations.

Wind power can saved you money,customers may enter into long-term pricing contracts for wind to reduce the risk of future pricing changes, thereby ensuring more stable returns for projects at the development stage. Since the primary cost of producing wind energy is construction and there are no fuel costs, the average cost of wind energy per unit of production is dependent on a few key assumptions, such as the cost of capital and years of assumed service. In the United States, wind power receives a tax credit for each kilowatt-hour produced. In economic terms, the marginal revenue of the wind sector as penetration increases may diminish. In 2004, wind energy cost one-fifth of what it did in the 1980s, and some expected that downward trend to continue as larger multi-megawatt turbines are mass-produced. Individuals purchase these systems to reduce or eliminate their electricity bills, or simply to generate their own clean power.

Wind power can also make you some extra money,1811 W Arrowhead Pl Incentives 9 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2006, the credit has a yearly inflationary adjustment.Farmers may receive annual lease payments of two thousand to five thousand dollars per turbine.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A solar power system designed for residential use has many of the same parts that other solar power systems have as well. They have inverters, solar panels, and batteries. Usually you’ll need about 120 sq ft for one of these systems to be installed, since you need plenty or room for the solar panels to make sure you can get enough electricity to power your home. While these systems will only work well when the sun is out, you can also store any excess energy and use it later as well.

These systems work by using the solar panels to absorb the light of the sun and the panels are located on the home’s roof. Then, an inverter takes the sunlight and turns it into energy that you can use in your home. The batter in the system will store excess energy and then later it can use that energy to provide power as well. So, when you use a solar power system in your home, you can still get the electricity you need at any time.

Whether you are building a new home or you want to install a solar power system in your existing home, it is definitely possible. Of course you need to make sure that you are the owner of the home, or you’ll have to get permission from the owner of the property before you have one of these systems installed. While the prices of these systems do vary, usually you’ll pay about $10,000 for a system that will power an average house. While this may seem on the expensive side, it can help you save a lot of money in the future.

One of the best benefits of investing in a solar power system for your home is that the sun supplies an unlimited amount of energy. This type of energy is reusable and renewable as well. This type of power is also pollution free, so you won’t be harming the environment when you use it. Some electric companies will even pay you to use some of the excess energy you may have if you have one of these systems, so you may be able to make money from the installation of your residential solar power system. You’ll also find that some programs through the government will offer you tax breaks for using solar power too, so this can help you save more money as well.

As you can see, there are great benefits to having a solar power system for your home. It is great for the environment and can definitely help you save some money. The price of electricity is on the rise; however, solar power is always going to be there, offering you a great way to power your home.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Perhaps you are quite happy with the status quo of today. Perhaps you feel all is fine and you don’t feel the need to change a system that’s worked for over a century. If you do, consider a few of these benefits to solar power and you may just recognize its potential in a somewhat more responsible, yet selfish, light.

But Maybe I don’t really care about the current situation? Maybe all in the world is satisfactory as far as you are concerned. The very last thing you care about are trees, clean air and clean drinking water. Heck, the drinking water turns up every time you turn on a faucet, the heating comes on when it’s cold, the light switch brings you bright light. What is there to be concerned about anyway? Consider that this is just the problem. If you don’t care for the earth, the tap may not bring you pure drinking water, the heat may not go on and the car certainly will not start. If the environment is kept neat and left to do what it was supposed to do, everything would continue to work just fine. But get in its way and everything you thought was hunky-dory won’t be for long.

Cost savings – One of the most wonderful things about caring for the suns ability to serve its rightful purpose is that it can greatly save you money in the longer run. Once photovoltaic solar panels are procured and installed, they cost little, if anything to operate. In most instances, the government will even help to pay for the upfront costs of installing the system through tax incentives. Additionally, power companies in most regions are required to pay you for energy that you have generated and not used. Yes, you read correctly, the power company will pay you!

Makes Economic Sense – In most instances, 85% of the northern hemisphere can produce more than enough solar energy to run and heat their homes with existing solar systems. This means that whatever is left over goes back to the power grid if you so choose. Just think of your electricity meter running backwards. The extra energy you need for that cloudy day is stored in ever more efficient batteries. Most current users of the technology say that the use of solar systems only takes a little thought in power management.

Take Yourself Right Off the grid – Depending upon how you see things, another of the better reasons to use solar modules is that you can jump off the ‘power grid’ so to speak. Many people do not enjoy being a part of the social collective that is interconnectivity. Going photovoltaic takes you away from this one aspect of community and puts you closer to self reliance.

Versatility – Even though the solar electricity industry has come a long way in providing energy, heating and a whole array of other services there is a long way to go. This is not to indicate, however, that solar electricity is not currently versatile in form and function. Solar panels can currently be formed into thin sheets for vehicle top electric powered cars. They can cover rooftops and not be noticed, unlike those 1970s units. Costs are also coming down, almost as fast as the MP3 Players of today.

Personal responsibility – Looking Past the cost savings and environmental benefits that solar electricity brings you should consider using it because you are part of a larger social order that will procreate. Man has not been on earth for all that long and is doing its best to end its run in one way or another. If you would like to give your children’s children a better shot at continuing the species’ run on this planet, solar energy is one small contribution that you can make all by your self.

One way to complete the goal of maintain all the creature comforts of home working in good order is by using other sources of power generation like the sun, and not generating nasty things that get in the way of the planet doing its job. Most current sources of power include carbon based fuels such as gasoline which are derived from fossilized plant matter. Environmentally responsible power, heating and cooling, and transport come from living or energized sources like h2O and O2 molecules. The Sun’s rays can be turned directly into electricity and used to power your truck, provide heat for your house and generate your light. But to make the process work, you need to be able to be in the direct path of the sun, which means taking care of the environment and not getting in its way.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

It is easy to build a solar power system if you have the right materials and do a little research beforehand. First you have to make solar panels. You can do this by purchasing solar cells. Solar cells will be your biggest investment in your solar energy system. Once you acquire the solar cells, you can make complete solar panels by building a box for the cells and covering the outside of the solar panels with glass to help reflect the light. Solar cells are very fragile and should be handled with care. Since they are the source of energy for your solar power system, if you break them, you are reducing your ability to produce power. Additionally, they are made of glass and are very fragile, so use caution when handling your solar cells. Luckily, there are many kits available that can be set up to protect your solar panels, and keep them perfectly safe while you install them.

For wind power system, you can make a windmill or purchase a windmill. Building a windmill is not difficult and is extremely inexpensive when compared to building solar panels. But while building a wind energy system is less expensive, wind energy is less consistent. On average, depending upon where you live, you are likely to have more hours of sunshine than wind in a typical day. For many people, a combination of wind energy and solar energy make the optimal alternative energy system. This is the ideal setup, because with luck, you’ll get wind when it’s less sunny, and plenty of sun on those not so breezy afternoons.

When constructing a basic windmill in your home, the goal is to convert wind energy into mechanical energy so you can generate power. You may want to put your windmill as high up as possible, so you can maximize how much wind you get. A windmill basically needs to include the base, tower, wind blades and a gearbox that will facilitate the blade movement. Windmill blades can be made of light weight plastic or wood, making them more economical than solar panels. The blades need to be about a third to a quarter of the size of the base. So, if your base is four feet tall, your blades should be approximately one to two and a half feet tall.

Ultimately, solar power and wind power can help you reduce your electric bills by thousands of dollars, reduce your carbon footprint and give you a feeling of accomplishment that you built it all yourself. You can reduce your electricity costs by as much as 80 percent and invest in clean, renewable energy by building solar energy and wind energy into your home. What are you waiting for? Start today and you can begin saving money and making the planet cleaner right now. There is no better way to take care of your environment than through solar and wind energy systems.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

First of all, what is solar power? This refers to the ability to generate electricity and energy from the suns’ rays and heat. Typically, solar panels are used. The sun usually gives us energy in passive ways. Imagine the light of day that floods your rooms, and the warmth of the sea or pool water on a sunny day. These two examples are passive uses of solar energy. Panels and other such converters transform it and take it one level further, making it all work for you at your own convenience.

Solar energy is viewed in very positive and favorable light. It holds many advantages.

It is a free source of energy, and the cost of installing panels can be easily recouped shortly after. Virtually inexhaustible, this is an energy source that will never be depleted and which is accessible from all over the globe. Solar energy can be easily transformed into electricity, merely being converted from one form into another.

Solar power systems require practically no wires, are easy to install, and make no noise whatsoever. Another big plus for them is that they emit no waste product and no by-product when producing electricity, making it one of the cleanest and non polluting sources of alternative energy.

So, with all this in mind, you do ask yourself how it all works, don’t you?

Panels work with fuel cells. They capture light from the sun through the glassy surface of the panel and the fuel cells found under the panel convert this light into energy. This energy in turn can fuel everything from batteries to solar-powered cars.

An extensive use of solar energy is for heating water. In fact, most people, when they hear of solar energy, think of solar water heaters. These work with a somewhat different process than solar panels.

Solar water heaters use thermal panels that are typically installed on a portion of the roof that receives unobtrusive sunshine and which faces south. The panels collect the heat of the sun and use this heat to warm the water in the tank through a liquid running through pipes.

In some cases, the water is heated directly, as it passes through the pipes. In other cases, a heat-transfer liquid such as anti-freeze is made to flow through a heat exchanger in the heater, warming the water like a gas-powered or electric heater would.

On top of providing hot water, solar water heaters significantly help to decrease your electricity bill as you are not using any electricity to heat your water.

Viewed like this, and once you know how easily solar power works for you, there leaves little doubt in your mind about the need to go green through solar energy.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Home solar panels are becoming more and more popular these days. However, this also means that the price of having them installed by a professional technician is still very high, despite the cost of the raw materials required going down at quite a steady rate. You will be looking at a cost of at least $3000 to have solar panels installed in your home (wind turbines will also set you back a similar amount) It is possible to build your own fully functional system, from scratch and install it, for under $250. This will perform just as well as any professionally installed job. All of the extra cost of professional installation comes from the labour costs. For a few hours of work over a weekend, you can save yourself over $2500 on installation costs, and that figure doesn’t even include the savings you will make on your power bill.

Wind turbines are another good option for powering your home using alternative energy. Much like solar, they are expensive to have built and installed by professionals, but can be fitted on the cheap by yourself. For less than $300 you can build an attractive, reliable and safe wind power system that will provide power on all but the most windless of days. Installing the system yourself is just as easy as the solar generator, and these two alternative energy systems will combine to give you simply mind-blowing electricity savings and power bill reductions.

So how do you build your solar panels and wind turbine system? You will need to use a set of instructions and blueprints for both devices in order to get the maximum possible power savings. Of course you could try and work it out yourself, but that will just waste time and money. With the right set of blueprints you will be told exactly what to purchase, how to assemble all the components, and how to install both the systems in a safe manner, with a minimum of time, difficulty and fuss. Finally, you’ll also save a large amount of money, which is always great news.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Go Green fails to change lifestyles because our lifestyles are so technologically engrossed that Cell Phones and iPods and HD TVs get more reaction than anything else… except for LOWER COST, CONVENIENCE, SAVE MONEY. Big energy count on these old refrains to keep everyone rooted in modern world realities whenever “Green” threatens their little kingdoms.

The time has come for Go Green to evolve…

Enter Eco technology… the first evolutionary step to ensure that everyone will have “Gone Green” without much effort.

Eco technology (aka eco powered tech) describes the use of high energy efficiency and clean energy to power technology that promotes eco friendly lifestyles. Eco powered tech will give consumers what they want; LOWER COST, CONVENIENCE, SAVE MONEY and deliver what people everywhere need; LESS WASTE, LESS POLLUTION, GREEN ENVIRONMENT.

Here’s how eco technology delivers for both sides:

LOWER COST, LESS WASTE – Unlike 5-10, years ago energy efficient devices are more prevalent and the number and availability of eco friendly alternative energy is rising. Increased prevalence will lower initial cost for consumers. Greater energy efficiency means not only less energy use but also less waste of energy than ever before. Energy efficiency carries a further side benefit of increased longevity which translates into less material waste… another boon for the environment.

CONVENIENCE, LESS POLLUTION – energy efficient technologies and cleaner energy are now more convenient to access and use. Energy efficiency is built into many commonly used devices and since it’s actually cheaper to make them, the increasing trend for more energy efficient devices will result in even greater convenience for the consumer. Most devices don’t produce pollution directly; instead they use conventional energy that was co-generated with millions of tons of pollution yearly. Eco technology that use and waste less energy actually cause less pollution to be created even when they use conventional energy sources.

SAVE MONEY, SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT – eco powered tech leaps ahead by promoting the use of clean energy, such as solar to satisfy the energy needs of already energy efficient devices, such as LED lights and miniaturized gadgets, …and the effects are synergistic (solar powered LED lights can last more than 20 times longer than battery powered incandescent lights of the same brightness). Clean energy such as solar and wind can be generated at or near the consumer’s location and cost nothing after installation (some minor maintenance cost). Being close to the consumer, their is little energy waste due to transmission lines so consumers save money when they use and waste less clean energy and save the environment by co-generating zero pollution.

These features and benefits can be simplified by the following equations:

consumer equation for eco powered tech;

((more energy efficient devices x lower energy use per device x near zero energy cost for clean energy) + lower cost) x longer times between replacements = huge money savings + huge convenience.

environmental equation for eco powered tech;

(Lower energy use + lower energy waste) x more energy efficient devices x fewer device replacements per time unit x near 0 pollution for clean energy = huge pollution reduction + huge reduction in the rape of natural resources + huge preservation of ecological beauty and wildlife habitat.

Dreaming of the green old days is just not working and we still have dire need for a green earth. Eco movements everywhere must change people’s lifestyles by wholeheartedly endorsing affordable eco technology because it will ensure a green future for this planet.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1. Alcohol Fuels

Probably the most widespread alternative fuel is ethanol. Ethanol is just plain old grain alcohol, made from corn or soybeans. There aren’t very many vehicles at the moment that can run on pure ethanol. Most of the time, what is available are ethanol blends, which is just ethanol blended with varying percentages of gasoline. At this time, the highest percentage available is 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline.

Methanol is also used, but is not as common as ethanol. Methanol is also called wood alcohol, and can be produced from wood fermentation or from coal, but is usually made more cheaply from natural gas.

2. Natural Gas Fuels

Another alternative fuel is natural gas. This petroleum-based gas burns more cleanly than gasoline, but still suffers from the renewability problems of all petroleum products. It is also an actual gas, unlike liquid propane, and thus suffers from storage issues. Propane is the alternative, and is a liquid when stored, but still suffers from renewability problems.

3. Electricity

Electricity is the focus of much research, because it is not tied (from the consumers point of view) to any particular fuel source and produces zero emissions at the vehicle. This shifts the burden of utilizing cleaner, often harder-to-handle fuels, away from the average end user and into the hands of organizations with the resources to safely handle the alternative fuels. The main problem with using electricity is, again, storage. Current batteries often require large banks to provide enough power for reasonable speeds and distances. For this reason, electricity is still more often found in “hybrid” vehicles that use petroleum products to generate extra electricity when needed.

4. Hydrogen – The Holy Grail of Alternative Fuels

Hydrogen is the most promising alternative fuel source currently under development. It is extremely clean, producing only water vapor as an emission, and is one of the most abundant elements on the planet in the form of water. All that is needed to produce hydrogen is a source of electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The biggest drawback is that hydrogen is only liquid at extremely low temperatures, and extremely explosive when mixed with air in gaseous form. These characteristics make hydrogen hard to safely store and transport, especially in an end-user safe fashion.

These are only a sampling of the various types of alternative fuels available or under development. With petroleum prices skyrocketing, pressure to develop an alternative fuel fit for mass consumption is at an all-time high. Many other possible alternative fuels are being developed and studied every day. In the end, the mass use of these fuels will result in an overall better quality of life on this planet.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

A decade ago, only the top College Football schools used the Olympic lifts in their programs. Then, if filtered down to the point where just about every high school football player in the country was at least doing Power Cleans. However, over the last few years there’s been a backlash against using the Olympic Lifts in football weight training programs.

The biggest argument for not using the Olympic lifts comes from the Powerlifting world where Box Squatting is king. It is said that Box Squats actually produce more explosiveness than Cleans.

Once and For All, What’s More Explosive – A Power Clean or a Dynamic Box Squat?

A Power Clean starts on the floor, where the bar is picked up in a controlled manor, once the bar passes the knees, the athlete explodes the bar up and catches it in a 1/4 Squat.

In a Dynamic Box Squat (using chains or bands) the athlete un-racks the bar, sits back (pre stretching the hams and glutes), descends while getting pulled down by the force of the bands, sits and relaxes some muscles while keeping others tense, then has to activate all of those muscle fibers at once to explode the weight up.

From the description alone you should see which is better for football training!

Remember, we are after explosive football training here, the goal is not just to be strong but strong and fast.

Even when doing speed training for football, we are concerned with explosiveness rather than just straight-ahead speed. We need to build the muscles to be able to cut quickly or to deliver a shot that will knock the fool out.

However, this does not mean that Power Cleans shouldn’t be done!

They will still build explosiveness, but from a different path. They are hugely helpful in bulking the upper back and traps as well.

For the hip-explosiveness gained from Power Cleans alone the effort to learn at least basic form is well worth it. Use them as an alternative Speed exercise or use them as your heavy leg movement. Keep the reps low, the sets high and get the bar moving as fast as possible!

So, should you use Box Squats or Power Cleans for Explosive Football Gains?

Actually, you should use both.

Box Front and Back Squats should be the foundation of your heavy leg training and Power Cleans should be used in certain periods to build your hip explosiveness and add mass to your traps and back.

If you choose to use Power Cleans, go with multiple sets of low reps, i.e., 6 – 8 sets x 2 – 3 reps.

You can also use Power Cleans right after Box Squats. But, you’ll need to use a bit less weight on the cleans and concentrate on explosiveness.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

What exactly does all this mean though?

Wind power refers to the way energy can be extracted from the wind.

Wind is created through a facet of solar energy. The sun heats the Earths’ surface, and this heat diffuses back into the atmosphere at varying speeds. Cooler air also moves when this heat goes up, and this movement of air creates what is known as wind.

Consequently, as long as there is the sun, there is wind. This implies then that wind is a virtually inexhaustible resource, as opposed to scarce fossil fuels that are currently used to generate electricity.

So, wind is movement. This further translates in what is known as kinetic energy, the energy generated by motion. Wind technology uses this kinetic energy, converting it into electricity or mechanical power.

Speaking of mechanical power, this is an aspect of wind power that is ignored or downplayed in many occasions. But the potential in this mechanical energy is tremendous. Imagine the windmills of old, using the motion of the blades to turn the mechanisms of machinery inside, for example to mill grains. The same technique can be applied nowadays even, for a good many uses.

Returning to the topic of electricity generated by the wind, all you need for this a wind generator or wind turbine. This work through a simple process – the wind makes the rotor spin, and this movement turns a turbine inside a generator and this in turn produces electricity.

After going through the functioning and in and outs of the ways to generate power from the wind, let’s turn to the actual power itself. What makes it such a hot commodity?

Wind power is said to be easy, economical over the long term, and clean. Let’s look at it one by one.

It is easy to get power from the wind. All you need is a good dose of wind in your area and a turbine to convert this movement into electricity. It is virtually as easy as setting up this turbine and start reaping electricity immediately. No huge, elaborate setup is required, and installation is quick and efficient.

Over the long term, you’ll end up making economies through this process. How? Especially when you consider the cost of setting up a turbine? It pays here to note that once you invest in a good turbine and start producing your own electricity, you no longer pay a utilities company if you are completely self-sufficient. Consider also that you may end up producing more power than you need, and this extra energy may be bought from you by utilities companies.

Energy from the wind is clean. You need only the wind and spinning a rotor produces no by-product or waste material. Furthermore, it doesn’t release carbon particles in the air. You are not polluting anything by switching to wind energy.

Keeping all this in mind, you can easily see how wind power can be a very good thing for you and for the planet. It’s up to you to make your choice.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

BioDiesel is a viable answer.

For awhile I owned a 1984 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel and tried BioDiesel in it a few times. It ran great (the same as regular diesel, but with less soot) and the power seemed to be the same, but it’s hard to get where I live and I don’t have the room to set up a proper distillation system to clean and prep the fuel. Yes, you can actually burn straight vegetable oil in a diesel engine, but it tends to get a bit solid when it gets cold, so you need to treat it a bit first.

So though BioDiesel is great stuff and if you can get it in good supply (and can get a diesel vehicle), then by all means, go for it.

So what to do with my gassers? I looked at Ethanol, but studies show that it either takes more energy to grow the corn and refine it than we get out of the ethanol fuel, or that the margin is so slim that it’s simply not viable. Studies also show that if all corn grown in the US was used for ethanol we’d still only provide 6% of the needed fuel. Methanol works, but it’s a bit harder to come by and like Ethanol is really only well suited to use as an additive to make regular gas a bit better.

I’ve never been a fan of hybrids; they just don’t get the mileage I would expect a true alternative to get. Sure they can pull off 50MPG at the best of times, but a 1982 Honda Civic coupe could get 62MPG. So what’s the big deal? Hybrids also come complete with large, nasty rechargeable batteries – one of the worst things around for the environment. And honestly, let’s not forget the largest waste product from a car: the car and the manufacturing process for that car. New cars generate a lot of waste and I want something that will extend my existing vehicles and make them more viable.

That essentially means this: What else can I burn in my car that is good for the environment and has low emissions?

The answer: Hydrogen.

I know what you are thinking, “whoa mister, I don’t want to drive around on a bomb!” And honestly, who would? Interestingly enough, when gas burning vehicles were becoming common, a lot of people were very concerned about how flammable gas is and how dangerous it was to drive around with tanks of it. As it turns out, we’ve survived. We also can build much better tanks these days. There are propane and natural gas vehicles out there that have pressurized fuel tanks of very explosive gasses and they have a very low leak in crash ratio. Much less so than a thin metal gas tank.

Norway even has a hydrogen highway that spans several hundred miles and has fuel stations along it. Iceland is working on a similar scenario. Hydrogen is a viable fuel, and it is starting to catch on.

But that still doesn’t deal with my concern over the fact that I want something that will work in my current cars. Can they burn hydrogen? Yes, yes they can. Modern engines are very well capable of burning hydrogen. They sometimes require a bit of adjustment in their air-fuel ratios, but they can burn just about anything that can be compressed and be ignited with a spark.

If you have the ability to get a good supply of hydrogen and know a competent mechanic, you can turn your car into a H burner. However, that’s unlikely, and the prospect of hauling heavy hydrogen tanks in my trunk didn’t fill me with enthusiasm. So I looked a bit further.

And I found HHO Conversion systems.

I knew that Hydrogen was the most common element in the universe, and I knew that it is the primary ingredient in water. What I didn’t know is that there is a tried and true process for extracting the hydrogen from water. It’s called Electrolyzing water. Electrolyzers have 2 (or more) rods or plates in water. They then run electricity between then and the process breaks the bond between the Oxygen and the Hydrogen in the water, causing a gas called HHO to be emitted.

Unfortunately this process is slow and at present it’s not feasible to power your car off of this entirely, but there are ways to add this HHO gas to your fuel. What it involves is a small electrolyzer that converts water to HHO gas in your car as needed. It starts up when your car starts and then bubbles happily away. It doesn’t add a large amount of HHO, and on most cars it’s better not to. What it does add is more oxygen and enough hydrogen that your car burns its gasoline faster.

I won’t go into details, but much of a car’s power and efficiency comes from when the fuel burns, not how, or how much. The faster it burns, the more of its power translates into spinning the engine. We’ve all had some really bad gas once or twice and you can feel how your car doesn’t have as much power. This is usually because the gas is not burning fast enough, or completely.

Adding HHO seems to really help this out and provide a significantly better burn and power transfer to the engine.

There are a lot of products out there that can help you take advantage of this technology. One such offering is from Hydro Fuel Solutions and their Super Hydro 2 product ($389 US). Additionally it seems that there are a lot of people offering information on how to build your own Hydrogen Generator, such as Water4Gas which for $97 will provide over 400 pages of information on how to create your own generator and stick it to the man.

Obviously they cater to different markets, the Super Hydro 2 is for folks who want a complete, working product and things like the Water4Gas ebook is for people who want to learn how it works and tweak and optimize their process.

I’ve started playing around with HHO conversion and am doing extensive tests before I release my numbers, but they are looking promising. I’ll be sure to publish the results when I am done and show whether or not I was able to save money at the pump (won’t that be nice) or if I’ll have to wait on some new advanced technology and a new car to save my pocketbook.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The above sounds too good an option to be true. Are there viable options out there that meet the criteria? Well, we could all use less heat and wear more clothing in winter, or reduce our energy consumption and simply sleep earlier. Rather than being passive about your consumption and paying high electricity bills every month, there is a proven viable and sustainable alternative which many homeowners are beginning to catch on. The alternative is to learn how to make solar panels for homes and build homemade solar panels for your own household energy consumption.

Solar panels capture sun rays and convert them into electricity. As long as you live in a place where you could capture sufficient sunlight, you can create electricity. The beauty of this concept is that sun light is a gift from heaven, a free form of natural resource that you can create power to drive your home appliances and the best part is that is that it is renewable over the long term once you set up the solar panels. This power can also be stored and used as and when you need. Solar power is environmentally friendly.

The oil crisis in 1970 has prompted many to explore alternative fuels sources in order to lessen the dependency on oil. Since then, there are alternative fuels such as bio diesel, ethanol from agricultural products, palm oils, etc. There are even exploration on hydro turbines which are large scale experiments. But nothing comes close to the success of development of solar panels and windmills in creating renewable energy. The success of home made residential solar panels arises partly from the fact that it uses the most economical resource, sunlight and components easily available from your friendly neighbourhood do it yourself hardware store.

Learning how to build your own solar panels system for home use could initially sound intimidating. This is especially so when you are not technically inclined. Your salvation is here with the advent of solar power enthusiasts who have achieved success in building their own solar power system and have created comprehensive guides capable of bringing you through the entire process, with directions to where to source the required components, complete with videos to walk you step by step to completion.

You will need to pay the solar power companies thousands of dollars to set up a system. Comparatively, it is much more affordable to do it yourself if you choose a comprehensive package which can cost at less than 200 dollars to build.

Nothing is more satisfying than to see your own solar power creation up and running, have your electricity bill halved as well as protecting the environment from the ever enlarging ozone. So if you are interested in tapping on free and clean natural renewable energy, it is time to roll up your sleeves and start learning how to build your very own solar panels and start save on your electricity bills.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Energy is everywhere. So why do we use the carbon belching sources for energy if there is ample energy available. Short answer. Because the infrastructure has been built and it is currently the cheapest energy. If at the beginning of the industrial revolution some great inventor had discovered how to convert sunshine to electricity instead of burning fossil fuels, solar energy would most likely be our main source of energy. As we know, that didn’t happen, so let’s take a look at some of the current and possible future sources.

Our main source of energy is currently derived from fossil fuels, unless you live in France where it is nuclear. Of these fossil sources, coal has the largest share followed by natural gas. There is some oil fired, wood fired, and trash fired sources of energy. In all these sources the fuel is burned to create steam which turns an electric turbine which puts electricity on the grid. This is the energy you use when you turn on your hair dryer or other appliance. All these, to one degree or another, emit carbon dioxide and other environmentally harmful gases. Coal is the worst of these and natural gas the cleanest.

Nuclear energy is different. It produces no harmful carbon dioxide and has a very clean environmental footprint except for the waste that results from burning the nuclear material. That waste will be radioactive for generations and must be secured for centuries. This disposal is a real problem as no community wants a nuclear waste facility in their backyard. Their currently exists no solution to this waste, except to secure it far underground. The other issue with nuclear energy is safety. As we have seen at several major nuclear accidents the fall-out from a nuclear plant accident can be very catastrophic.

Alternative energies such as hydroelectric, wind and solar are environmentally positive compared to the fossil or nuclear based energy solutions. However, they do have one primary issue. They still cost, for the most part, more than coal or gas to manufacture and distribute. One of the main reasons is that the infrastructure for generating alternative sources of energy is not developed to the same scale as the more traditional forms of power generation. This means the economies of scale do not exist and the price is higher.

However, this not need be a long term situation. Just as the cost of new Plasma screen televisions were very high, as the manufacturing and distribution systems become more efficient the prices dropped. The same can happen with alternative energies.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Solar power provides an ideal source of electricity. It is clean, renewable and does not pollute the surroundings. In sense, it is virtually inexhaustible. However, producing electricity from solar energy is a complicated process. It makes use of solar thermal principles to effectively and safely generate and distribute sun-sourced electricity.

The common misconception with solar power is that most people think that it is cheap since its raw ingredients are free and renewable. The solar power systems that are typically installed for home use are also called photovoltaic systems or PVs. A PV system is in fact a wise investment although the initial installation costs can be quite high. Some do-it-yourself types can install their own systems fairly cheaply but others would be compelled to shell out around $32,000 to install one system. Let’s take at look at what’s involved.

Typically, the system has four major parts; the solar panels, charge controller, battery pack, and inverter.

Solar panels are commonly seen as a flat plastic material that is comprised with wafers of silicone. It is what produces current out of the sunlight that strikes on its surface. A system makes use of a number of solar panels to form a module, which maximizes the current produced by the system. A house would need about 10 square meters of unshaded solar modules to be fully sustained with solar power. A good designer is needed in installing solar panels for he is skilled in creating the mounting frame which is typically angled in the manner that the panels can maximize their exposure to solar energy.

The battery pack is what stores or retains power within a solar power system. Usually, it can last for years with proper maintenance. Be careful of handling PV batteries for they can become very dangerous because of their acidic electrolytes.

Charge controllers regulate the voltage and current flow to the batteries to keep them charged. They can also keep the batteries from being damaged through overcharging or warn the operator in the event of undercharging. This way, it regulates the risks of damaging the system’s battery, which happens to be a major solar system operations safety concern.

The direct current that is generated by the solar panels and stored in batteries needs to be converted to standard 120/240 VAC electricity. The device that does this is the inverter. The inverter connects to the electrical panel, also know as the electrical service panel or breaker box. From here power is distributed throughout the home. Meters measure the power being consumed in KW, or kilowatt-hours.

Home solar power systems can be completely “off-grid” or “on-grid”. Off grid homes are not connected to the public utility grid at all. The are completely independent and may use a gas-powered generator as a backup. On grid systems are tied to the public utility grid and may use it some of the time. Such systems can also be used to sell excess solar power back to the energy company.

A solar power system can cost a considerable amount of money, but it will pay itself off over time. However, it needs careful planning as well as at clear site to operate successfully. More importantly, it needs to be installed, operated and maintained by the right team of people to work smoothly. There are a lot of factors to be considered with solar power. But one thing is sure; it remains the most promising alternative energy systems for the home.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Back then in the middle ages Europe, windmills were used to mill or grind grain. This is where the original word of ‘mill’ derived. It had a simple type of windmills consist of poles with blades. Centuries later, it turned into tower mills which took shape as windmills with tower in its based and a rotator on top of it. Tower mills known as ‘torenmolens’ in Dutch. It performed much better work than the previous windmills since it could farm even in a lower wind.

In the industrial revolution era, steam and engines replaced windmills. But for some countries windmills are preserved as antique machinery for their historic value. The original use of windmills nowadays is usually done in ranches in remote area that has less connection with latest technology.

The interesting part is that the world has changed when the prices of energy increases very high. People tend to go back to the use of windmills for the sake of saving their pocket and preserving the environment at the same time.

The necessity of less cost energy pushes companies to find effective way to create new source of energy. They went back to windmills and build ‘windfams’ as their alternative commercial energy for production. Now modern windmills equipped with turbines or generators to generate electricity. They can produce electricity up to 6 MW of power or similar to 500 – 1,300MW for conventional power plant.

Other type of windmill usage is a windpump. As it sounds, a windpump is used for pumping water from soil. It’s largely used in Africa and has a function to supply water for human and animals. Particularly in countries where lies above sea level, windpump is functioned to drain the land, as it did in Netherlands, some part in United Kingdom, and also in East Anglia.

A windmill has thermal and electric power output which produces by windmill’s blade rotation. They are mounted and connected to a speed increaser machine and compressor that moved by wind applied to the blades of the windmill itself. To produce electricity, a gas turbine generator should be connected to the compressor. A windmill can generate power or heat by adding impeller type of air brake and a valve and also a heat-sensitive control.

Here are the windmill power specifications for generating electricity:

1. It has a function as an electricity generator.
2. Minimum wind speed is 10 km/hr.
3. Maximum wind speed is 50 km/hr
4. Rotor specifications are: blade made of aluminum with 3 m in diameter, its framework made of bagel steel.
5. Body specifications are: tail model pointed to the top, frame work made of hollow steel.
6. Tower specifications are: 10 m in height, it has L stripe steel framework.
7. Generator specifications are: direct current electricity generator with power range from 1000 watts, 2000 watts, to 5000 watts.

Windmills, which use as alternative energy sources will play a great part in replacing fossil fuels power plants. It’s renewable and clean for the environment. It even helps us to create better climate in the future. Wind is free to get and produce no pollutions to earth, which can make our environment healthier for generations to come.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

First, let me give you my take on it:

* This type of job is better left to a qualified electrician.

* Consider it part of the expense of the job.

* This is a job that will require some lead time for planning.

To build a battery bank for your alternative energy source, requires planning.

A battery “bank” is just that, a bank or series of batteries. As with any power source, you must use extreme caution around it.

To store the excess power and feed it into the system, the battery bank must be designed to put out the same voltage as the system.

Storage area for the battery bank

Now that we know it will take a series of batteries to build a battery bank, the next objective is storage for them. The batteries need to be kept dry and clean. This will maximize the life of the batteries. They also need to be protected so that NOTHING comes in contact with them accidentally. Venting is another requirement because the batteries emit fumes.

Your electrician should be able to help you with the size requirements for the storage unit and may be willing to purchase it for you as part of the job. Expect that the price will be marked up if this is the case.

NOTE: This storage unit should NEVER be opened with less than 2 people focusing on it.

Chaining the batteries together

Chaining the batteries together and hooking them into the power system needs to be done by a qualified electrician. This part of the job is extremely hazardous and should not be attempted by the layman.

About DC or direct current

There are 2 types of current, AC and DC

* AC or alternating current is the type that will kick you across the room, pushing you away from the source. Although it’s hazardous, you may survive this contact because it does not hold onto you.

* That leads us to DC or direct current being the type that will hold onto you. It will not let go until it has depleted every drop of moisture. This type of current is lethal. The chances of surviving even the slightest contact with this type of current, if you are alone, are practically zero!

It cannot be stressed enough that this storage unit should NEVER be opened by a single person, not even “just to look”. The second person is a standby to knock you away if you happen to be “caught” by the current. We’ve all seen this dramatized on TV.

Don’t think that it can’t happen to you.

Still thinking that you should Build Solar Panels for Power? There’s a very good diy manual that includes videos for the difficult steps and, they even have support available in case the manual and videos aren’t enough. Check it out at http://www.nopowerbill.info There is also a DIY manual included to make a wind turbine. Having both manuals together makes this the right choice for either option.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

How Solar Panels Turn Your Home into a Solar Power House

Solar cells made of silicon are grouped together into solar panels. The cells in solar panels take the sun’s light and produces electricity. Silicon is the most commonly used material for photovoltaic cells because it absorbs photons from solar rays and in the process, dislodges electrons. When this occurs, an electrical field is formed. The grouping together of solar cells makes for the controllable use of the electrical current produced. It takes dozens of solar panels to produce enough electricity to make a solar power house.

The Cost Involved in Owning a Solar Power House

Affordability has been an issue when it comes to using solar panels on homes. The cost of installation ranges in price from 10 to 30 thousand dollars. Most solar panel companies offer affordable payment plans. The idea of going into more debt might give you pause, but rest assured that if you live in one of the countries offering government incentives for greener sources of fuel, you can claim more tax deductions and may even receive rebates for your decision to turn your home into a solar power house.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Panel Installation

In areas that receive full sun the majority of the time, solar panel installation can cause meters to turn in reverse. This means a large reduction in costs – in fact, power companies may end up paying you. Why? Because when this occurs, unused energy goes back into the grid and that means lower amounts of energy are being produced by power plants. The electricity you don’t use goes back into the grid to be shared by other members of the community. Let’s say you don’t get full sun the majority of the year. Even with the amount you get, your electric bill will reflect lower pricing because you will be using less electricity generated by your power company.

When you turn your home into a solar power house, you are using a renewable and clean energy resource. The carbon footprint you leave on the planet will be decreased. For many people, that is reason enough for using solar power electricity. Unlike nuclear power, solar energy does not leave pollutants on the surface of our planet. A disadvantage involved in converting to a solar power house is that you cannot take advantage of this power during nighttime hours. This is only a problem for you if you are planning to use it as your only source of energy. If you view it as a supplement, alternative solar power has no disadvantage at all.

Many people in the world are hungry for a means of helping to reduce greenhouse gases. If you are able to afford the cost of installation, a solar power house can be your contribution for helping to solve the problem of global warming.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

These and other questions drive us to pay more attention to conflicts in the Middle East, Venezuela and elsewhere.

The first installment of this article will deal with the major sources of alternative energy:
solar, ethanol, coal gasification and wind power. The second installment will discuss the potential financial benefits of investing in this growing segment of our economy.

Solar Energy

Solar energy breaks down into passive and active solar. Passive is typically dealt with in the architecture phase of a building. Basically, passive solar is about orienting a building and constructing it with materials and techniques that take advantage of the sun’s lighting and heating abilities when it is dark and cold and shading it when temperatures are hotter.
Active solar involves installing solar collectors that capture the sun’s heat and transferring it to a liquid for household or commercial hot water applications.

The newer form of active solar utilizes photovoltaic cells similar to semiconductors that convert the sun’s energy to electricity. In simple terms, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms allowing them to flow through the material to form electricity.

Photovoltaic applications have been limited to low power devices like calculators or to remote locations where the electrical grid was not available. This is changing as the number of photovoltaic cells being manufactured increases, which has been lowering the costs per unit each year by 3 to 5%. At the same time, technology has been making them more efficient. The combination of these two factors has lowered the cost of producing a watt of electricity from $7.50 in 1990 to $4.00 in 2005 with the payback on installing a system coming down to 5 to 10 years.

Benefits of solar energy include the fact that it is free and has little maintenance once it is
installed. When combined with lower costs and more efficient technology solar is sure to play an important role in the future.

Ethanol

No discussion of ethanol can take place without including the amazing success of Brazil
in eliminating its dependence on imported oil from the Middle East. Brazil produces enough ethanol from sugar cane to provide 40% of its demand for gas. All fuel sold in Brazil is at least 25% ethanol.

In the US the primary source of ethanol is from corn. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates that production of ethanol in the US will double to 7.5 billion gallons over the next 5 years. Projections are that private industry will exceed this level with no government intervention.

Ethanol is not without its challenges. It cannot be transported in pipelines and is currently
moved in railcars and barges. When used in higher concentrations, which can be as high as 85% it can damage fuel tanks and filters, can cause improper readings on fuel gauges and can corrode iron parts and electrical fuel pumps. It also has problems with high levels of evaporation and only provides 66% of the energy content of gas.

With that said, in the short-term ethanol is one of the only solutions we have to the fact that transportation uses 67% of our nation’s petroleum consumption.

Coal Gasification

The 600 traditional coal burning power plants in the US produce 50% of the electricity that we use to run our country. Unfortunately, coal pollutes when it is mined, transported, stored and burned. Using current methods, coal is pulverized and burned to heat up boilers to produce steam that spins turbines that turn generators that produce electricity.

This process is the primary cause of global warming, acid rain and a number of other problems.

In coal gasification the coal is heated to 2000 degrees in a closed environment with steam and a limited amount of oxygen so that it breaks down to its component parts without burning.

A form of natural gas is created that can be burned more cleanly. One of the component parts is carbon dioxide, the primary culprit in the pollution of our world, but it can be captured and pumped underground to revive oil fields or stored underground in caverns.
Currently there are several power plants in the US using this new technology known as IGCC, one in Indiana, one in North Dakota and a more modern one in Tampa, Florida.
With 300 years worth of coal in existence, this may be the most important current technological advance on our planet.

Wind Power

Wind power currently provides less than 1% of the worldwide electricity capacity.
This source of energy has tremendous potential with the cost to generate it having gone down by 80% over the last 15 years due to technological advances. It is abundant, renewable and clean and is currently growing by 38% per year in the US, faster than any other form of energy generation. The highest levels of wind are found at high altitudes where average wind velocities of 100 mph are not uncommon. But places where winds average over 12.5 mph are economically viable. The best locations are on cliffs or on the ridges of mountains where changes in ground elevation cause an increase in wind speed. The problem with wind is its inability to gear up to meet heavy load demand and the necessity to have backup power production capacity from other sources.

These four sources of energy production are the major alternatives we have today to eliminate our nation’s addiction to oil. As newer technologies such as fuel cells become more practical we should see less dependence on fossil fuels like oil and coal that can provide future generations with clean renewable energy.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Truth is, switching to cleaner sources hasn’t been easy and cost-effective. Both solar and wind energy can be converted to make your life easier. Not long ago, thinking about using solar panels or wind power generators to save on the utilities bill, was out of any household budget. If you also considered of adding your contribution to “saving the planet”, was just plain expensive.

Now there are new developments, many of which come from individuals like you and I, not necessarily from 500 Fortune corporations, hi-tech R&D departments. Some average Joe starts playing around with solutions for his own home. Every weekend he fiddles with ideas, sketches and gadgets, most of them purchased at the hardware store. After months, even years, some creative solutions are born.

That is exactly what happened with Michael Harvey. Michael, now 57, has been playing with alternate and clean sources of energy for over 15 years. His solutions to cut power bills by 80% or more, have helped many households to face these times of recession, using simple materials and designs. I have been an enthusiast of eco-conservation and believe that we owe our kids and the coming generations, a better planet to live in. It’s just that every time I turned to clean energy sources, commercial solutions, being good and appropriate, were beyond reach.

We have been playing with Michael Harvey’s designs, and boy, they work like a charm!. I will further write on this subject, since, somehow I am getting so excited and enthused that this is not about saving on our power bills anymore.

This is becoming an adventure, and I am all fired up. In our Florida based firm, Gaventerprise Group, we are committed to help some initiatives in third world countries. We have been involved, as volunteers, in the process of reeducating and re-socializing ex-combatants, both guerrilla and para-militaries.

Energy conservation on-a-budget may be a great alternative for these fellows, who are attempting to build new, meaningful lives. Since their income is very low, anything we can do to help them get inexpensive electricity, would be welcome. The fact is we can and should us solar panels to generate clean and renewable electricity for our homes.

The best example of the importance of solar energy to provide electricity in remote locations can be found on satellites. For many years, satellites have been using solar panels to catch the suns rays, in order to provide power to the equipment onboard. Using solar panels is a great way to generate clean and renewable electricity to power remote appliances, or even the average home. In the United States, solar power production is maximized while we all sweat under the summer sun, but wind levels are fairly low. Conversely, solar production is low during winter while winds tend to be at their highest. As the technologies surrounding the use of photo voltaic systems improve, we are likely to see a much greater, widespread use of solar cells.

Solar and wind are the future of alternative energy sources. Well, it’s about time, we start finding ways to save on your electricity costs and energy usage, so we may contribute to save the planer, by lowering our carbon footprint.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Republicans have been taking Senator Pelosi to task for not bringing up a vote, on offshore drilling. Meanwhile, Republicans have voted against renewing the tax credits for solar and wind eight times this year. Talk about shortsightedness! As T. Boone Pickens says, whether we drill or not, “this argument misses the point.” It’s a band-aid at best. The U.S. only has 3% of the world’s oil supply. We consume 25% of the supply.

What is needed is long term energy solutions. Here is what they don’t want you to know. Using less than 1% of our southwest desert lands, solar power plants could power the whole country. This is an area 92 miles by 92 miles, an area which is less than the land now used for coal mining. The January 08 issue of Scientific American featured an article called “A Solar Grand Plan”, a proposal, (which you can read online) to do just that. Their proposal would create a 69% solar powered grid by 2050.
You can read it online at Scientific American website

It proposes building solar thermal and concentrating photovoltaic power plants, in our southwestern deserts, and a network of high voltage DC transmission lines to distribute the power to other parts of the country. This HVDC distribution system is the same thing that T Boone Pickens is recommending to move wind generated power from Texas, and from windfarms in the midwest, to the rest of the country. This will have the added benefit of beefing up the grid, something that is needed anyway.

Current thinking is that solar thermal should be emphasized more than the concentrating photovoltaic plants that the SciAm article emphasizes.

There is no shortage of good ideas out there. At setamericafree.org, you will find another plan called “A Blueprint for U.S. Energy Security”.

This plan shows how we can achieve energy security and meet the goals of reducing the threat of global warming, using current technology to get started. As we build, the technology will improve and the costs will improve.

One thing this plan calls for is plug in hybrid cars, (PHEV) which would achieve an overall 100 mpg for the average driver. Most people drive less than 40 miles a day, cummuting etc. With current battery technology you would use no gasoline for the first 40 miles in a PHEV. Most people would recharge at night when demand is low by plugging into a 120 volt outlet, using about $1 worth of electricity to recharge. As the grid gets cleaner, the environmental benefits will improve. Plug in Partners has good information on PHEVs, including cost benefits.

from their site:
“A motorist driving 9,000 annual gasoline-free miles and 3,000 using gasoline would get 100 mpg (based on vehicles that get 25 mpg).

PHEVs outfitted with a battery pack providing a 40-mile electric range could power, using the all-electric mode, more than 60% of the total annual miles traveled by the average American driver.
A 2004 study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) found that plug-in hybrids can achieve life cycle costs parity with conventional gasoline vehicles – meaning that over the life of the car the cost will be equal or less despite the initial higher cost. The study calculated gasoline price as $1.75/gallon.”

Once the grid is clean energy, it can power much of our transportation as well. At that point, electric cars will make perfect sense and we will have had more time, to perfect the technology. If you study these two plans, you will see that they have much in common. By combining the best ideas of these and other similar plans, we can get the job done.

Another energy plan that also has much in common with these are at:
repoweramerica.org/

Those in power want you to believe that these solutions will be too expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, the solar proposal published by SciAm calls for spending about $400 billion in public money, over a period of about 40 years. This is less public money, than we spent to build the high speed information highway over the last 35 years. And that is about how much we give to oil companies, in the form of tax credits and subsidies, every five years. So by spending about 1/8 of what we now give away to oil companies, we could power the entire nation with solar energy in the southwest.

As further proof that we are misinformed, most Americans probably haven’t even heard of solar thermal energy. Solar thermal power plants use the heat from the sun to generate electricity, usually by boiling water to drive a steam turbine generator. This is so low tech that we could have done it 100 years ago. If you can build parabolic mirrors or Fresnel lenses to concentrate sunlight, and if you can build a steam driven electric generator, you can build a solar thermal power plant. In fact some designs use flat mirrors. Solar thermal plants can generate electricity at night or during cloudy periods by storing heat. One method uses molten salts, which are excellent at retaining heat. Their power output can remain steady when clouds pass by. The scale of these plants is in the hundreds of megawatts. Two plants proposed for the Mojave Desert are for up to 800 and 900 megawatts each.

One gigawatt equals 1000 megawatts. One gigawatt would power San Francisco or about 770,000 homes.

An excellent article on solar thermal and it’s benefits is at:
salon.com/news/feature/2008/04/14/solar_electric_thermal/index.html

“The key attribute of CSP is that it generates primary energy in the form of heat, which can be stored 20 to 100 times more cheaply than electricity — and with far greater efficiency”

“I don’t believe any set of technologies will be more important to the climate fight than concentrated solar power (CSP)…..It is the best source of clean energy to replace coal and sustain economic development. I bet that it will deliver more power every year this century than coal with carbon capture and storage – for much less money and with far less environmental damage.”

The sunlight can be intensified 1000 fold with concentrating solar.
They do need intense sunlight to be cost effective, hence the emphasis on the southwest. With 1% of the Sahara Desert, you could power the whole world with current technology. 3% of Morroco would power all of Europe. Green Wombat’s website has many articles on solar power plants being built or on the drawing boards in California and Arizona. The three power companies in California have already signed on for about 3 gigawatts of solar power plants. About 2 gigawatts of this is solar thermal. It’s just the beginning.

Concentrating PV or photovoltaic plants use similar parabolic mirrors, fresnel lenses etc. to concentrate sunlight on photovoltaic solar cells or panels. Specialized solar cells that can take advantage of the increased light are used.

“I’d put my money on the sun & solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
Thomas Edison, 1931

Republicans keep pushing nuclear energy, claiming it is a simple solution and good for the environment. I don’t rule out nuclear power altogether, but it has numerous problems, and is not as green as it’s promoters claim.

One of nuclear’s biggest problems is water. It takes billions of gallons to cool a single reactor. We are already seeing one potential problems with this. A reactor in Alabama had to be briefly shut down last summer during a drought in that region. How reliable will the sources of cooling water be in a changing climate?

“An Associated Press analysis of the nation’s 104 nuclear reactors found that 24 are in areas experiencing the most severe levels of drought. All but two are built on the shores of lakes and rivers and rely on submerged intake pipes to draw billions of gallons of water for use in cooling and condensing steam after it has turned the plants’ turbines.”

Every nuclear power plant will require about $500 million to dismantle it, when it has outlived it’s useful life. This adds to the nuclear waste disposal problem.

Every nuclear reactor represents about $200 million for it’s share of Yucca Mt. in Nevada, to dispose of the waste.

Nuclear power doesn’t give us energy independence. We import 65% of our oil and 90% of our uranium. And now Russia is being lined up as a future source of 20% of our uranium.

“The United States and Russia signed a deal that will boost Russian uranium imports to supply the U.S. nuclear industry, the Commerce Department said Friday….”

“The new agreement permits Russia to supply 20 percent of US reactor fuel until 2020 and to supply the fuel for new reactors quota-free.”

“So if, under a President McCain, we build a bunch of new nuclear reactors — they could be fueled 100 percent by Russia.”

“I can almost hear Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin saying, “Excellent.”
gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/3/20/14125/7761

Nuclear power is not safe. According to Argonne National Laboratory, an airliner crashing into a nuclear power plant could cause a complete meltdown, even if the containment building isn’t compromised. Think the twin towers disaster was bad?

The more nuclear reactors are build all over the world, the more fissionable material there will be, which can be stolen by terrorists and used against us. Just look at the concern over Iran’s nuclear program. How many times may this kind of scenario be played out if nuclear energy proliferates all over the world?

The transportation of radioactive waste from all over the country to Yucca Mt. is potentially dangerous, as well as expensive.

“In the United States, current surcharges on nuclear power are too low to cover expected disposal costs. In addition, the US government foolishly absorbed all risk for an on-time opening of a repository for commercial nuclear waste — despite longstanding technical and political challenges associated with making this happen.” from eoearth.org

There is no accountability with nuclear power. The Price-Anderson Act places most of the liability for nuclear accidents on the backs of taxpayers, not the nuclear power industry.

A nuclear power plant costs about $4,000 per kilowatt hour to build, compared with $1,400 per KWH for wind energy.

Wind and solar are much quicker to get up and running than nuclear or coal. And both can start generating power before large wind or solar farms are completed, because they are modular in design.

Nuclear energy is heavily subsidised, like coal, gas, and oil. Estimates are 4-8 cents per KWH

If you want to know more, read “The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy” pdf online. It’s a real eye opener.

theleaneconomyconnection.net/downloads.html#Nuclear

from “The Lean Guide to Nuclear Energy” -which takes apart the argument for nuclear energy piece by piece. After reading this you will understand, that what you have been told about nuclear energy thus far, is completely misleading. It is not a long term solution, in any way shape or form. It is inherently unsustainable. Unsustainability is not what we are looking for.

“The world’s endowment of uranium ore is now so depleted that the nuclear industry will never, from its own resources, be able to generate the energy it needs to clear up its own backlog of waste.”

“Shortages of uranium – and the lack of realistic alternatives -leading to interruptions in supply, can be expected to start in the middle years of the decade 2010-2019, and to deepen thereafter.”

“Every stage in the nuclear process, except fission, produces carbon dioxide. As the richest ores are used up, emissions will rise.

“It is reasonable to conclude that,even if the nuclear industry presented no other problems, “peak uranium” would rule out the prospect of the nuclear industry being in any way an answer to “peak oil”, and to scarcities of gas and coal.”

“Nuclear energy certainly has disadvantages, quite apart from the clincher problem of the depletion of its fuel. It is a source of low-level radiation which may be more dangerous than was previously thought. It is a source of high-level waste which has to be sequestered. Every stage in the process produces lethal waste, including the mining and leaching processes, the milling, the enrichment and the decommissioning. It is very expensive. It is a terrorist target and its enrichment processes are stepping stones to the production of nuclear weapons.”

Wind and solar can provide most of the power for our future energy needs. They never need any fuel, to prospect for, mine, transport, refine, store, burn, fight wars over, or clean up the mess from. It’s our future. Oil and other fossil fuels will only go up in price. The price of solar is falling fast and will soon be cheaper than fossil fuels. The American Wind Energy Association forecasts that installed capacity could grow from 11,603 MW today to around 100,000 MW by 2020. That’s 100 gigawatts, or a nearly 90 gigawatt increase. Hoover Dam produces about 2 gigawatts, as does a medium size nuclear reactor. Many nuclear plants are one gigawatt. So in the next twelve years we could get as much power from new wind farms as McCain’s plan for 45 new nuclear plants would achieve, at less cost and way less risk. And that’s just wind!

Solar can do more. Add photovoltaic panels on rooftops etc. all over the country to the solar plants in the southwest and you have both distributed and centralized solar energy on a vast scale. Denmark already has 20% wind power. Parts of Germany and Denmark have 40% wind power. We are told that wind and solar are too intermittent. Why isn’t that a problem in Denmark. Could it be because they have no oil company lobby?

That’s why we should start building up this new energy infrastructure now. As we build, the costs will fall. Photovoltaics are becoming more efficient and cheaper to make. Economies of scale will kick in as these industries grow, further reducing prices.

One company on the cutting edge, Nanosolar, says their thin film PV solar systems can be built for less than the cost of a comparable coal fired plant, without the need for any coal or any other fuel. They are promoting their solar systems as solutions for individual towns. They say ten acres on the outskirts of town would power 1,000 homes, twenty acres- 2,000 homes.

In many parts of the country solar prices are already competitive, during hours of peak demand, when rates are higher. This is particularly so in sunny areas that also have high electricity prices. Also, solar plants put out energy when it is most needed and when prices are the highest. At those peak prices, solar is already competitive.

We can’t afford to wait. Oil is ruining our economy and our environment. SetAmericaFree estimates the annual hidden costs of oil, including the subsidies mentioned above, at over $800 billion. If these costs were reflected in prices at the pump, gasoline would be close to $12 a gallon. Their estimate of oil and gas company tax credits and subsidies is over $80 billion annually. The mililtary costs of protecting oil shipments are estimated at $100 billion annually. And oil adds $700 billion annually to our trade deficit, mostly with nations we don’t get along with. Throw in the costs of the two wars in Iraq in both lives and money and oil starts to look pretty expensive.

McCain wants to give $4 billion more in tax credits to oil companies. Exxon/Mobile made $40 billion in profits last year, and the top five companies made a combined $123 billion. We are subsidizing the past, when we should be subsidizing the future.

Our lack of political will to develop renewable energy in the U.S. threatens to put us in a position, of playing catch up with other producers.

Green Wombat comments of Abu Dhabi solar project and Torresol ambitions in U.S. southwest.

“Abu Dhabi is not content to just sell you the oil that fuels your SUV; now its going to sell you sunshine to keep your lights on and power your electric car when the internal combustion engine goes the way of the buggy whip. Masdar, the oil-rich emirate’s $15 billion renewable energy venture, and Spanish technology company Sener on Wednesday announced a joint venture called Torresol Energy to build large-scale solar power plants in Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the United States.”

(They are targeting the same American southwest, where the authors of the Solar Grand Plan proposal are encouraging America to invest.)

“The irony is too rich to leave unsaid: A leading oil producer invests billions in carbon-free energy while a leading consumer of fossil fuels – the United States – continues to subsidize Big Oil while while offering only tepid support for green technology.”

“It is inevitable that climate change will foster the rise of renewable energy – the only question is which countries and companies will profit from the new energy economics. It is entirely possible that the U.S. will trade energy dependence of one kind – on Middle East oil – for another – on Middle East and European solar technology – in the era of global warming. It’s no coincidence that most of the solar energy companies with contracts to build utility-scale power plants in California and the Southwest have overseas roots – Ausra hails from Australia, BrightSource was founded by American-Israeli pioneer Arnold Goldman, Solel is based in Israel and Abengoa is headquartered in Spain.”

from the proposal in the Scientific American article:

“The greatest obstacle to implementing a renewable U.S. energy system is not technology or money, however. It is the lack of public awareness that solar power is a practical alternative-and one that can fuel transportation as well. Forward-looking thinkers should try to inspire U.S. citizens, and their political and scientific leaders, about solar power’s incredible potential. Once Americans realize that potential, we believe the desire for energy self-sufficiency and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will prompt them to adopt a national solar plan”.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The alternative energy frontier has recently expanded its vast horizons. The newly crafted wind turbine technologies, for example, have given us fresh glimpses of how cost-effective wind-powered energy can become. They are gaining support due largely to their superior long-term viability in comparison with what traditional energy technologies offer. With initial successes, industry players are expected to jump on the bandwagon, further fueling possibilities of increased investments in wind technology research and production.

Another example is photovoltaic or solar cell alternative energy technology. This technology has long been in use to energize pocket calculators, personal asset lights, US Coast Guard buoys and other related implements. Now its uses have been increasing, like gracing housing roofs, commercial and other industrial complexes. While the cost of the technology continues to drop, its efficiency ratio continues to rise. The efficiency ratio of energy conversion using silicon cells has risen from only 4 per cent in 1982 to more than 20 per cent in recent years with application of the latest technologies. Moreover, photovoltaic cells do not emit pollutants because they merely produce electrical power. The downside of PV cells is that they are currently not as cost-efficient when compared to the commercial electric-generating facilities. Their production capability at a scale remains constrained due to their space requirements. But with increasing availability of areas where PV cells can be placed in adequate number, the PV technology has become an attractive business proposition.

Alternative energy investment experts also believe that alternative sources of energy from tidal currents or movements as well as temperature differentials offer new and huge business potentials. France continues to lead in developing hydro power technology research and production. The United States and Scotland, among other countries, are also deep in their own researches on hydro power generation. There had been initial difficulties in this field, owing in part to the decline of salt water metals, proliferation of barnacles and turbulent storms, among other things, which impeded stable energy generation. But current breakthroughs have addressed these concerns such as by using alternative and better industrial materials. It also helps that people are having a better understanding on ocean currents and ocean waves. Many things are working for ocean-powered energy, not the least of which being its reliability and renewability.

Elsewhere, investments in hydro-electric technology have increased in the last 20 years. Hydro-electric power is environmentally clean. The problem with dams that make use of water and gravity to run turbines and generate electricity is their limited availability. Not many dams can be viably constructed in relation to total demand for energy. The giant dams have also been blamed for despoiling the marine eco-system. Efforts to address these concerns require big and sometimes prohibitive expenses such that focus has turned to low-impact “run-of-the-river” hydro-power-generating facilities. While they remain potent as sources of electric power, these relatively smaller facilities are not ecological hazards.

Green energy is the way to go. Alternative sources of energy are environmentally safe even as they respond to our growing need for power. This sunrise industry beckons. We would be well-advised to go with the current and invest in it.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

These energy crops which are also called closed loop biomass are fast-growing crops and are good biomass energy supply sources. This research based project is committed to growing crops and biomass energy supplies processing from fast-growing energy crops or closed loop biomass. The research is primarily on the planting of energy crops which are fast-growing crops called closed loop biomass and processing of resultant supplies of biomass energy. The project aims at developing power wood-pulp plants which provide wood-fiber; providing clean biogas to the industries; ethanol development from plants such as sugarcane; and biodiesel fuel production from crops like soybeans.

The petroleum over-dependence of our nation for power has given rise to an urgent need for an alternative energy source to be developed. Penn State University has undertaken special research to develop an alternative energy source which is practical and which will not cause an increase in the pollution like petroleum products. Such focused research is taking us to a hydrogen-fueled economy, when the hydrogen power would be a sustainable and clean and endlessly renewable energy resource. This Hydrogen energy can be obtained from crop plants and water and can be continuously renewed. The Penn University seeks to build this sustainable energy resource within the US? own infrastructure. This assumes great importance in a situation where the world?s supply of oil peaks and ultimately begins to decline. Fuel cells powered by Hydrogen need to be developed commercially to be used as substitutes or together with conventional combustion engines for motor vehicles.

President Bush recently envisaged the concentrated research and development of five centers of Sun Grant for this alternative energy initiative. One such center is Oregon State University with government grants of $80 million to be spread over four years span for this special mission. Thus OSU will be the leader in the research for alternate energy sources since it represents Pacific Islands, the US? Pacific Territories, and the nine Western states. Various teams of leading scientists are doing specific research on alternative energy. One of the projects which deserves a mention here is how to convert straw-like products into an efficient and renewable source of biomass fuel and yet another project is conversion of wood fibers into efficient liquid fuel. According to Edward Ray, OSU President, this pioneering work being done by the their Sun Grant Center is the direct answer to the challenge given by President Bush for achieving energy independence.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Renewable energy sources basically are those resources which keep creating energy without exhausting themselves. The three main sources of renewable energy at the current time are solar or sun energy, hydro energy and wind power although atomic energy has proven to have much potential.

Solar energy or power from the sun is the most abundant energy source available on earth and is clean, nonpolluting and free. The amount of solar energy that hits the earth every hour provides enough power to supply the entire globes needs for an entire year. Solar power is currently extremely underutilized but it could and should be our main salvation in the long run. We will never run out of solar power.

Hydroelectric energy is a very affective and clean renewable energy. Under the proper conditions running water and power turbines create electrical power. Dams are the most common and visible ways of creating this hydroelectric power. As a matter of fact; it’s been estimated that 90 percent of all renewable resource power is now being produced is hydropower. Unfortunately, this is currently only a drop in the bucket, no pun intended. The major problem with hydroelectric power is location. Creating dams requires certain geophysical features such as deep ravines and canyons or large amounts of land which can be flooded.

The advantage of hydroelectric power is the massive amounts of electricity that can be generated in this manner. The disadvantages are the displacement of arable land and the animal and human population that lives upon that land and depends on it for their substance.

The third major source of clean non-polluting renewable energy is wind power. We have been harnessing the wind for thousands of years as a power source, but only recently have researchers looked into the possibilities of using wind to alleviate our energy crisis by generating large amounts of electricity.

There is some opposition to the use of windmill farms to generate electricity. This opposition comes primarily from people who think the sight of windmills is ugly or object to the noise they make. These are valid points, but unfortunately our options are rapidly running out, and we have to make hard decisions as to how we’re going to solve our energy problem.

The time has come for all of us to demand action. We all have to insist that our political and business leaders get together and agree to make realistic decisions while there is still time.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

So why is this the ideal time for wind energy?

With Oil and Natural Gas prices dropping so sharply, Alternative Energy Solutions such as Solar Power and Wind Power are not yet ’seen’ as necessary by the general public, making the raw materials for constructing Solar Power Generators, such as solar panels, and for building Wind Power Generators, such as wind mills and wind turbines temporarily VERY ‘irresistably inexpensive’. Once Oil and Natural Gas start rising again, watch out… as the cost to build these units (solar panels, wind mills, wind turbines and windmills) will also increase and the expertise to build these for you will be VERY hard to find.

So why Wind Energy in the first place?

Because it’s Clean and because it’s Free… well, after the initial capital expense. There are many Wind Energy Power Generators, or Wind Power Electricity Generators, but most of these cost thousands of dollars and require an entire army to assemble. Other DIY Wind Energy Power Generators and DIY Wind Power Electricity Generators options are available, but these cost in the hundreds of dollars and still expect you to be an expert.

FIVE Benefits to installing Wind Powered Alternative Energy Devices for the Home

1. Clean:This means that no fossil fuels are used in the production of Electricity from Wind, unlike your hybrid cars, which still run on fossil-fuel based gasoline, and use electricity produced by coal-plants. (But if you were to charge your electric hybrid car, using electricity generated from the wind, you would be at least ‘half-clean’.)

2. Safe: Wind Energy is much safer than the other major non-fossil energy source, nuclear. We are all still painfully aware of the events in the 1970’s and 1980’s which bear testimony to this fact.

3. Good Alternative and Complement to Solar: You can consider solar energy and wind energy to be the ‘dynamic duo’ of the alternative energy space. They work well together, and pick up well for each other’s shortcomings.

4. Saves money instantly: There are some DIY Wind Energy Generators that can re-coup their initial capital costs, within a very short period, some even saving you 80% of your electricity bill.

5.Can Make you money: If your state or locality allows grid rebates, you can actually earn money from the excess electricity you produce.

The best of the Wind Energy Generation products I’ve seen, Earth4Energy shows you how to build a Wind Power Generator for your home for under $200 and in under a weekend. This cost includes the training videos, manuals, and all necessary parts to build a Wind Power Generator. The subscription can be delivered to you in ebook manual pdf format and includes EXCLUSIVE access to step-by-step videos.

Find out more about Wind Energy and learn how you can build your own Wind Power Generator for under $200 and in one weekend.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The energy requirements of humanity has for too long been met by the traditional mode of energy constituted by the fossil fuels. This eclectic cluster of carbon-based substances includes petroleum, coal and so on. However, the old order does change, yielding place to the new. So, it is no wonder that several new alternative power sources are increasingly being sought after by governments and consumers alike. We live in a consumerist society, where the consumer is both the lord as well as the puppet that sways to the tunes of companies offering fancy gadgets for convenience or entertainment.

The unquestioned and continued dependence on fossil fuels for power needs has visibly been replaced by a select band of alternative power sources, each with its own relative merits and demerits. While one might view a particular alternative energy source askance, the inevitable need for alternative energy modes is now almost universally accepted the world over. Fossil fuels are finite in their known reserves, liable to irksome rising prices, detrimental to the environment, and charged with perhaps leading to respiratory ailments among the people. It is almost certain that the energy scenario is set to become characterized by a plethora of alternative energy forms, enabling the consumers’ added choice and flexibility in their use.

Hydroelectricity: Dynamic Aspect of Water

Among the alternative sources of energy hydropower has established itself as the leader of the lot, accounting for about nine-tenths of all the alternative energy generated worldwide, as well as one-fifth of the current global energy needs. Have you seen the force with which the waters of a waterfall descend upon the earth? If a set of turbines were to be strategically placed below, they could generate substantial amounts of power. It is precisely this that hydroelectricity is based upon. Dams collect huge amounts of water, cause them to fall from a great height to generate large quantum of electricity at affordable rates for the people.

Solar Energy: Making Hay While Sun Shines

Solar energy is a ubiquitous form of energy that shows considerable promise. Solar calculators, solar panels and photovoltaic cells are increasingly being used for a wide gamut of applications, ranging from solar kitchen appliances, to running cars or powering space ships. This mode of alternative energy is virtually inexhaustible, clean, obviously renewable and easy to install.

Biomass: Emerging and Effective Energy

Biomass is derived from organic matters, such as plants, wood or animal remains. Ethanol from plant remains and methane from animal waste materials are its prime components. Bio-fuels have found a ready application in the auto industry as a substitute for gasoline.

Wind Energy: Employing Momentum Profitably

Wind energy represents an old and clean alternative energy form. Places that habitually see strong winds blowing make ideal spots for an adoption of this energy form. Windmills can be constructed to cause turbines to move by the force of the blowing wind, which would lead to the generation of electricity. The GWEC {Global Wind Energy Council} estimates the global wind energy market to grow by over 150 percent by 2012, to reach an annual capacity of 240 GW.

Nuclear Energy: A Mixed Blessing

Nuclear energy has failed its natural potential if being a leading provider of the world’s energy needs. Nuclear fission involves safety concerns regarding the disposal of radioactive waste products that have been far from resolved yet. Nuclear fusion is free from such safety issues and is likely to prove the more popular nuclear option in the times to come.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Through the support of ordinary citizens and global awareness of greenhouse gas emissions, solar power electricity can aid the world by reducing dependence on coal, petroleum and nuclear power.

Solar panel installation reduces the amount of electricity produced by power plants as demands for it go down because of contributions to the grid. Solar power electricity is renewable and clean unlike the fuels we commonly use to power our communities. Coal and petroleum-based gas have earned a bad reputation for destroying out earth’s atmosphere through the release of carbon emissions. Gasoline prices have sky-rocketed due to resource depletion and dependence on oil from outside nations. Nuclear fuel is an abundant source of energy but the radioactive waste it produces is an unwelcome pollutant to our earth. This knowledge has yet to stop the use of these fuels as major power sources for electric plants.

Using solar power electricity brings about lower usage of electricity from power plants. Not only are electric bills showing a decrease in cost, many electricity bills come back with credit. The unused electric power gets sent back into grids and communities can share this excess energy rather than causing an increase in production by power plants. This significantly lowers the amount of carbons being released into our air.

For now, the cost of solar panel installation is too high for most of us to afford. That is why governments across the world are providing incentives to home and business owners to employ alternative fuels as a means of producing energy. Solar power electricity is one alternative we have and for those who can take advantage of government tax breaks and rebates, it is receiving high marks. We can encourage the use of solar power electricity by supporting more incentives and take advantage of every opportunity for the utilization of renewable solar power.

Environmental awareness and advances in research have the potential to lower the costs of solar power electricity for power plants, corporations and families. It is our responsibility to make demands of our leaders and support solar energy use in every way we can. Because of worldwide insistence on the development of alternative fuel for vehicles, hybrids are now traveling the streets of the world. Hydrogen kits are available for those who wish to install the technology in their own cars. This is the result of pressure on government and automakers to find efficient ways of raising gas mileage and cleaning up the atmosphere. If we get behind solar power electricity in the same way, we will see results from it sooner than might be anticipated.

In less than 30 days, our sun produces more energy than all the non-renewable resources combined. Solar power electricity is not the only source of alternative energy but it is up there with the best of them and cannot be ignored.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

1st Myth: You need blue skies with the sun high in the sky.
Blue skies in the UK doesn’t seem to happen that often, but, let me ask you this have you ever been to the beach on a cloudy day, and been sunburnt at the end of the day. At the same time you are getting burnt by the suns energy, solar panels can be collecting this energy. This will be less than the amount of energy you would collect on a sunny day, but as long as their is a degree of sunlight, the panels will continue to collect the sun’s energy. This energy can then be stored in batteries, solar modules, and then used in the evening to provide power to a home.

2nd Myth: We don’t get enough sunlight in the UK
Over the course of a year, on average, the UK experiences 2.5 hours of sunlight a day that can be used to produce energy. Not very much, but with current technology it is more than enough to handle the power demands of the average home without fully draining the solar modules. The methods and technologies used in storing and gathering the solar energy are also continually improving which will allow for even greater demands on the stored energy.

An average solar panel can capture 15 to 20% of the energy collected, again this looks like a low figure, but it is enough to power an average home during a cloudy day, without having to dip into the battery power. Storing the energy in solar modules allows future use of the energy and is easily expanded by adding to the number of panels and modules.

Solar energy is still a relatively new resource in our search for alternative energy options. While the concept of solar power has made some great advances in the past thirty years or so, the next decade should see a number of technological improvements. These new innovations will make the harnessing of the suns rays even more viable as a means of not only safe and clean power to our homes. As we continue to refine the process of using solar energy, perhaps we can also rid ourselves of some of the misinformation about solar energy that has become part of our public consciousness in the UK. Mind you I would still like to see more blue skies.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

The wind power and solar power are just few of the secret alternative energy that every man should know. These alternatives are naturally given to the people for them to survive. The solar power is normally derived from the rays of the sun. The sun itself is the one that provides energy. Obviously the solar power only works during day time. Some of the major used of the solar power are to desalinate salt water, generate electricity, and generate heat. Heating systems of the solar power may either be in passive or active design. The active heating system is the one that circulates the water heated by the sun through the use of pumps. The passive solar heating system is the one that creates circulation by the using the nature of water. This method has just proved the fact that heat energy wanted to be placed to some areas with lesser heat. Another alternative type of energy that can be very useful to human is the wind power. This is a renewable and clean power that derives from the wind. This power can be harnessed through the use of the wind turbines while a classic version to harness wind power is by the windmill. Wind turbines these days are recognized as one of the latest machinery that employs from the modern technologies.

The increase of energy cost as well as its bad impact that damages the condition of the environment may force the people to use this secret alternative energy that is very useful to the day-to-day living of man. Several people now have started to discover these secret alternatives, which received good deal of interest. The solar and wind power are the two of the most effective source.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

First of all, let’s try to demystify the idea of renewable energy. Most of the energy we use today to drive our cars or light up a room are derived primarily from what are referred to as “fossil fuels.” Most of these fuels are dug or pumped from gigantic sources under the ground. To most people they are invisible until you actually pull up to the gas pump or flip on a light. Even then, there is still a magical, mystical element to it. To the average person the concept of billions upon billions of gallons of oil or pounds of coal is so incomprehensible that it seems unlimited to us. Let’s face it. after nine or ten zeros, our eyes start to glaze over and we just go into nod-and-smile mode. It is difficult for us to believe that this supply is limited. But it is! This is the reality behind the so-called theory of “Peak Oil.” Peak Oil may be a controversial model but the reality is the more we use, the less we have; and the available resources are said to already be on the decline.

At the turn of the 20th century, the United States was the primary supplier of oil. Things have changed. While we still have local supplies in states such as Alaska and Texas, our demand has far exceeded our supply. Anyone that isn’t aware of the implications on our economy and our national security probably has their head buried in the sand, and therefore wouldn’t be reading this article. So I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say we are questioning our national security and are on shaky ground economically, due largely to our huge dependence on fossil fuels.

“Renewable” is a fancy way of saying unlimited. Renewable energy comes from unlimited resources. The primary sources of renewable energy are: solar, wind, thermal and hydro. Just remember: the sun will always rise and the wind will always blow; heat will always rise and current will always flow. (I just came up with that off the top of my head, but it sounds pretty good; so if someone else already said it, my apologies). Capturing these sources of energy has been done for thousands of years. The down side to renewables is that they often fluctuate. The sun rises and sets, winds vary, climates change and water flow fluctuates. (Not as catchy, but you get the point). The technology exists to efficiently convert these energy sources into electricity. But to make these usable, the energy must be stored during peak production. To store electricity efficiently, we need cost-effective batteries that last a long time. The ability to effectively store electrical energy has been around for almost 200 years. Technological advancements and enhancements have been made over the last 100 years, but not as much as you might think. The discoveries that Thomas Edison made in battery technology almost 100 years ago didn’t improve substantially until the 1970s and 80s. Even then, those developments didn’t reach the consumer until the 1990s. The average person didn’t even know what a nickel-metal hydride (NiMh) or lithium ion (Li-ion) battery was until a couple years ago. The most prevalent batteries are still lead-acid and these have been around since the beginning. Still, there is a common element in all batteries: metal. The reality is that while the source of energy may be renewable, the resources needed to make it usable is still based on mining special metals and mineral deposits in the earth. Does that mean it’s a bad idea? Absolutely not! Metals can be recycled. Fossil fuels cannot.

Next, let’s see if we can tackle the concept of alternative and clean fuels. “Alternative” basically refers to anything other than traditional fuel sources (e.g. Gas, diesel, coal, wood). It doesn’t necessarily mean renewable or clean, although emphasis is given to those fuels that are. Natural gas is an example of an alternative fuel that, while already used for heating, is not widely used for transportation, and while it is cleaner than petroleum and coal sources, it is not 100 percent clean burning. It is, however, much less invasive to the environment to obtain and transport, and is more prevalent in America. Ideal alternative fuels come from renewable sources and are completely clean burning. Hydrogen, for instance, can be made from prevalent sources such as water and is 100 percent clean, but it needs an energy source, such as electricity, to separate out the elements. Electricity is clean and renewable only if it is generated from a clean renewable source. Fossil fuels supply a surprising amount of our daily electricity needs. Much of the controversy surrounding electric cars is that most of America’s electricity is generated from huge generator farms and coal-burning plants. On the other hand, as more and more states convert to renewable sources, the cleaner and more plentiful it will get. Washington state, for instance, is primarily supplied by hydro power, which, while it does have its own set of environmental issues, is considered zero emissions. The idea of “clean coal” seems viable, but it is at least 15 years from full development and is still not renewable. Out of all the alternative and renewable sources, electricity seems the most promising. While hydrogen is a close second, it is generally used to generate electricity (e.g. most hydrogen cars use electric motors for propulsion). Most likely we will see hydrogen and electricity working together for many applications in the future.

So what does this all mean for you and me? Well, it depends. It’s going to mean something different for you than for me. But what it means for everyone across the globe is that we need to consider some lifestyle changes. There are those who will take this kind of information and try to exact major changes in government policy and national security, maybe even internationally. Actually, this has already been done on many levels. There are even those who have gone into their communities and made a stand for change. But the reality is that we all have to live. Not very many of us have the capacity to make drastic lifestyle changes on the spot without some sort of major cataclysmic event. The inherent warning of Peak Oil is that we are headed toward that cataclysmic event. It may be too late to avoid it completely, but we can soften the blow by making some changes now — even if they are gradual changes. So what can we do? I’m not just talking about changing out your incandescent bulbs with energy efficient CFL bulbs (although this is a good idea). I’m talking about pinpointing one major element of energy usage and changing it to a renewable source. A good place to start is with your car (or at least one of them). You can convert your car to electric for less than you think. Yes, your range will be greatly reduced, but if you have more than one car, use one for long-range driving and the other for short-range. Unless you are one of those people that commutes 3 hours to work, you’ll find that you use your short range, electric car for as much as 90% of your normal driving. The savings in gas will pay for the vehicle in as little as one year. From there, you’re essentially making money in gas savings. If you’re not ready to do something that drastic, you can add a hydrogen generator to improve your gas mileage. It’s not the best solution, but it’s something.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

You can use wind power for individual residences, or it can also be applied to towns, cities and even countries. When used on a large scale, wind farms that consist of many wind turbines spread out over flat open areas are connected to an electrical grid and can produce energy for many homes. In fact, although only 1% of the world uses when power, in Denmark 19% of the electricity is powered by wind turbines.

These wind power fields can be rather small having only a couple of turbines or can be gigantic having over 900 turbines. The towers can range in height, but are usually at least 80 feet tall so that the blades can get up above any interference from trees and structures on the ground. The largest turbine tower is located in Hawaii and stands 20 stories tall with gigantic blades which are as big as a football field.

The wind turbine itself is a pole or hollow metal tower with three large blades at the top. The wind turns the blades which in turn creates electricity. These turbines have to be pretty tall and they aren’t really that pleasing to look at so if you want one for your home, you need to make sure that you live far from neighbors and have enough land to place the turbine in a place where it won’t be a nuisance. Although they are relatively quiet, making about as much noise as a washing machine, the constant spinning of the blades in the subtle noise can be a bit unnerving.

In order to consider using wind power for your home, you obviously need to live in an area that has wind year-round. In the US, this includes about 17 million homes according to one of the latest census. You need to have about 9 mph average wind speed to consider a wind turbine. Believe it or not you can buy a wind maps to see if your home is in a spot that would be suitable.

Typically what one does is have both the utility company and the wind turbine hooked up to the house so that when there is no wind, the house can be powered by the utility company. When it is very windy and the turbine is producing more electricity than the house needs, the excess is sold back to the utility company. Unlike with a the solar power system, there are no batteries and therefore no method to store the excess electricity for later use.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Energy is so vital that Nations hoard vast fuel assets for the sole function of going to war to secure supplementary energy sources, but none of these are allocated in support for civilian use. In the event of a major failure of an energy supply we hold no Alternative Power Sources that can be used as an energy supply replacement in place of the failed supply.

The energy supply we use is produced by consuming Fossil Fuels; this resource supplies the energy supply for transport and electricity in support of our homes and business. The bulk of these energy supply requirements are created from Hydro Electric (dams), Carbon Based Fuels or Nuclear. Each one of these important energy supplies is extremely hostile to the natural environment with Fossil Fuel the number one highest contributor to the Greenhouse effect and Global Warming:

1. Fossil Fuels are used in cars and generating high temperature to be converted to steam power for electricity generation; Fossil Fuels exhaust Carbon Dioxide Gas the number one cause of Global Warming.
2. Nuclear Electric Power Plants contain a unwanted product of radioactive material with a 500 year half life, in addition the plants are extremely expensive to construct and keep up. As these power plants age we start running an elevated chance of accidents which at the worst set of circumstances would trigger the China Syndrome; the reactor core melting threw the planet crust into the interior core, in this event no one really knows what would take place and I am certainly we do not want to find out.
3. Hydro Power is the cleanest and on the whole the most efficient power source but requires a vast quality and supply of water, a commodity that a lot of Nations do not control. There are not adequate amounts of rivers or free ground area to be able to generate the greater part of the power demand necessary.

The theory of Global Warming has been in existence for 30 years or better and the need to start using alternative power sources has been acknowledged for a prolonged time, but has been strongly been fought by many members in the Earth Science Community; the majority of the opposition has not been based on Science but rather on research funds to be had from Energy Corporations for research projects and pay-cheques.

On the News almost each day we hear of areas affected by weather change and anybody who would deny that these are not a product of Global Warming has either a low education (forgiven) or else is a fool (not forgiven). To not have noticed what has been going on inside the natural environment you would have to be a recluse living in the Russian far north with no communications but you would still have noticed a change in the weather. Humans are like sheep they can be blindly herded and directed to slaughter, we cannot afford the risks to carry on down this path and we must begin switching to Alternative Power Sources immediately.

There are existing Alternative Power Sources that are pollution free and can be used in exchange to these current power supplies, but we are not using them. It is exceedingly easy not to replace our current energy supplier, but why would we keep on sending pollution into the air when we can be using clean one of these Alternative Power Sources?

Homes are the largest consumers of Electric Energy and Electric Power is the second largest contributor of Carbon Dioxide next to transportation. Discovering one of the Alternative Power Sources and making our homes into self sufficient in the consumption of Electricity is the initial and easiest step to stopping Global Warming. An Alternative Power Source System in 2006 typical cost $500usd; this has become much smaller with the integration of modern equipment as well as becoming more efficient in Electric Energy output. Depending on the Alternative Power Sources selected the yearly cost of maintenance normally runs less than $125 for every year and each fifth year and normal upgrade cost of $200, this is a lot less then what you are now paying monthly to your Electric Provider. The main benefit to switch and using one of the Alternative Power Sources is the achievement in reduction of the Carbon Dioxide Gases by using a pollution free energy supply system.

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.

Recycling
Is a Worldwide Phenomenon, which is a basic application towards the concept of Green Technology. It shows and encourages people to reuse items that can be reusable. Items like saving Cans of food or drinks, Paper etc have been encouraged by the governing bodies around America and rest of the world, to be recycled so that it can be used in the future for several other purposes. It can thus help protect the environment and cause less waste/pollution.
Water Purification
The whole idea of having dirt/germ/pollution free water flowing throughout the environment. Many other phenomenons’ lead from this concept of Purification of water. Water Pollution is the main enemy of this concept, and various campaigns and activists have been organized around the world to help purify Water. Considering the amount of water usage that is under current consumptions, this Concept is of utter Importance.
Sewage Treatment
Sewage Treatment is a concept that is really close to Water Purification. Sewage Treatments are very important as it purifies water in levels of its pollution. The more the water is polluted, it’s not used for anything, the least polluted water is supplied to places where Water is used affluently. It may lead to various other concepts of environmental protection, sustainability etc.
Environmental remediation
Environmental remediation is the removal of pollutants or contaminants for the general protection of the environment. This is accomplished by various chemical, biological, and bulk movement methods, in conjunction with environmental monitoring.(encyclopedia of medical concepts)
Solid Waste Management
The purification, Consumption, Reuse, Disposal and Treatment of solid waste that is looked after by the government or the ruling bodies of a city/town and its proper care is basically known as Solid Waste management.
Renewable Energy
Energy that can be replenished easily is the easiest way to explain renewable energy. For years we have been using sources like wood, sun, water etc for means for producing energy. Energy that can be produced by natural objects like wood, sun, wind etc is considered to be renewable. (Nrel)

“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.