Archive for the ‘Saving Energy’ Category
Save Money With Solar Panels
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear about solar panels? Do you think about people who can only have electric for 3 or 4 hours a day?
Granted, this is the way that many people live, but it doesn’t have to be you. Instead, you can utilize solar panels to save tons of money and actually receive several other benefits from it. In fact, you will notice that taking this route is quite inexpensive and extremely cost effective. Thanks to the benefits of solar panels you can provide more energy to your home in order to supplement your energy with hot water and electricity. It’s a long term benefit, and you can still enjoy your everyday electricity from your power company.
How it Works - When it’s time to go looking solar panels you can choose between 2 different options. The two options are either solar thermal or photovoltaic panels. When you use the thermal option it will collect the heat from the sun and then send it to your home. Now the water will circulate through the collectors and then become heated thanks to what was originally collected. Throughout the winter this plays a major role in what you pay throughout the month on your electric bill. It’s possible that if you use it enough, the process might take care of all the heating needs. We imagine this can have a major affect on your monthly finances.
When you use a photovoltaic panel it uses the sun’s power to convert it into electricity. The silicon cells absorb the light as opposed to grabbing the warmth like thermal panels. In the beginning the light that becomes electricity through direct current isn’t usable in most homes. In order to accommodate those houses that cannot, the electricity is converted to an alternating current. So when you’re using photovoltaic cells there is some power that you actually lose in the process. The good news is it’s a small amount that doesn’t really make a monumental difference.
One additional benefit to these solar panels is the ability to use both types at the same time. If you ask around most of the people who use these do utilize both options. This way electric power and heating needs can both be justified.
Keep online even with Solar Panels - One of the most important things you can do is stay on the grid even when you install solar panels. This way you protect yourself in the case that you don’t have enough. Also, you will be able to sell your excess energy back to the power company! Taking this route will give you the comfort in knowing you are getting electricity and hot water whenever it’s needed, and still be able to cut your costs in the process. This will allow you to take your savings and put it towards other bills or simply enjoy the other parts of your life. Can you imagine the power company paying you instead of the other way around? It would definitely be a big turnaround.
How Much does it Cost? Well, in order to install these solar panels you can’t really pinpoint an exact cost. Instead, you have to look at what the experts say, which is somewhere around four thousand dollars. However, the overall could change depending on whether or not solar panels become increasingly popular. Plus you have to look at the fact you can offset the costs thanks to tax and energy credits, as well as other avenues. In the end it’s all about savings and being able to say you are helping the planet at the same time. This is one of the best options out there today, and it’s better to get started sooner than later.
To find out more about solar panels go here…..
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January 31st, 2010
Saving Energy for Folks that are Home-Based
Working from home brings a lot benefits. It saves you from commute and dressing up everyday, it gives you tine for that extra minutes of sleep and it lets you work from your most convenient hours. But working from home it may also increase your energy bills - unless you carefully choose your office equipment and do some energy saving measures.
Buy energy efficient office equipment – computers, fax machines, scanners, printers, monitors and multifunction devices (scanner, copier, fax). Some ENERGY STAR office equipment can save as much as 90% of the standard energy consumption.
Most ENERGY STAR office equipments consume 50% less energy than standard ones. Aside from energy saving advantage, some office equipments reduce electromagnetic field emissions (for monitors), air-conditioning loads, and noise from transformers and fans.
An ENERGY STAR computer is 70% more energy efficient than computers without this designation. When left inactive, this computer shifts into a low-power mode, which only uses 15 watts of power or less.
Some office equipments that do not have to be turned on all the time should be shut down and unplugged because they still draw power when turned off.
Unplugging unused electronic devices is not limited to office equipments; unplug your television, VCRs, stereos, microwave oven, electric stove and other appliances when not in use.
Do not leave other appliances turned on while working. Avoid leaving unused appliances on “standby” mode.
Turn off the computer monitor if you are going for a break. Manually turn off your computer if you are leaving for an hour or more. Avoid using screensavers because they consume the same amount of energy as with normal computer use. Activating the computer’s sleep mode is also a better way to save energy.
Do not believe that office equipment should always be turned on because it will last longer. Practicing this belief may only result to higher electric bill.
On your next upgrade, consider buying a laptop as a computer replacement as they consume less energy than desktop computers.
When the battery chargers are not in use or if the batteries are fully charged, unplug the charger immediately.
Set up your home office where you can utilize the natural light to minimize the use of lamps and room lights.
If you are working at night, prefer task lights that consume less energy instead of using room lights. Close the drapes and shades of the windows to keep cold air out and save energy on heating the room.
If you are alone in the house, make sure that you lock all the doors and windows before working.
Set the thermostat of your cooling or heating system to a comfortable level. A digital thermostat can provide better electricity savings. Work where you can reduce the use of heating or cooling system and lights. Prefer a small room as an office rather than the entire living area. Always maintain your air conditioning system clean.
Make energy saving improvements to your home. Home energy saving improvements like insulation, repairing of crack and holes (on the windows, walls, ceiling, floors, attic and basement) and switching to compact fluorescent bulbs can bring down your electric bills.
Not only that, if you are planning to sell your home, making your home energy efficient is a good strategy.
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August 5th, 2009
You Can Build Your Car To Be Powered by Solar Energy Source
All cars are powered by gas. But with the volatility of crude oil prices and because it is not a renewable, something must be done before it is too late. Given that solar energy, a green energy source is used to power a community, you can also do this on a small scale by using the same principles to build your own car.
But what do you need to make this work? A lot of things but the two most important are the solar array and the batteries.
The solar array is vital because this is what’s used to collect the sun’s rays and then converts this into electrical energy. There are two types to choose from in the market namely the prefabricated type and the individual kind which you set up yourself.
If you are looking for branded parts, check out either Siemens or ASE Americas that sell terrestrial grade cells and the space grade cells. The lower end model which can produce a significant amount of power is the terrestrial grade version.
Proper wiring must be done to make sure that if one of the panels is not working, your vehicle will still move. If you are worried that the voltage of the solar array should match the system voltage of your motor, you should not to worry because it will still run.
We mentioned earlier that the battery is also important because this is where the solar energy will be stored. Your options for this are lead acid, lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium. Just how many you need to buy will depend on your motor’s voltage.
When you finally have these two components, these will now have to be connected to the motor. So you know how much juice is left in your batteries, you will also need to install instrumentation similar to the heads up display console on regular cars which tells you your speed, mileage and gas.
Don’t forget to put a steering wheel, suspension, brakes, tires and hubs. You may not be able to make a car that have the same features as like what you see done by one of the three US automakers but just enough to be able to drive it from one place to the next.
The only cars that use solar energy so far are the ones only used in races especially the one held in Australia from travels from the northern part of the country all the way to the south. If this has helped people realize that renewable energy is really the key to the future, the big automakers should try tapping this technology instead of relying of still relying on gasoline.
But apart from solar energy as a green energy source, biodiesel is another alternative. This is a combination of alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. This can also be done using corn and sugarcane.
Although these are not renewable, these are still considered as a green energy sources because it is cleaner than conventional gasoline. This means you do not release harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide into the air which causes damage to the environment. So if you can’t build a solar powered car, consider a different fuel alternative. Maybe a mixture of gas and water would be the answer. Check Here
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July 25th, 2009
Easy Ways to Make your Home More Eco-Friendly
We all want to do our part to protect the environment and be more frugal in the process. Doing your part doesn’t have to be hard. Small steps add up to a big difference, you just have to know which ones to take.
Use less water.
Saving water is all about small steps, here are a few that will help save big.
- Shut off the water while you brush your teeth
- Take showers that are a minute or two shorter
- Only flush the toilet when you need to
- Only run full loads of laundry and dishes
- Buy from sustainable producers. These are farmers, ranchers, and other producers that use techniques that pollute less and use less water. You can do some research online or ask at your local organic market to find these products.
Use less energy.
If you don’t have the money to buy a hybrid car or convert your house to solar power, you can make a big difference with small changes.
- Buy energy efficient appliances. They may be more expensive, but make up for the increased cost in lower energy bills.
- Unplug chargers when you’re not using them. Cell phone and other chargers use up powers even if there’s nothing attached to them.
- Put devices with remotes, like T.V.s, VCRs, and stereos, on a power strip and turn it off when you’re not using them. These devices use a lot of power to run the remote receiver even when the device is off.
- Walk or ride your bike for short trips.
- Buy local products. It takes energy to transport food and other products across the country. Buying local not only supports your local economy, it helps them use less energy.
When it comes to saving energy and water, it’s a great idea to get the kids involved. You can even make it a game. Have them track how much water and electricity everyone is using. You can compete to see who uses the least water. You can often count on your kids to help keep you on track when given the task.
Reuse.
Most of us know the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, but when we work on conserving, we often leave reuse out of the picture. While you can often find tips on how to reuse common products from other people, what you need most is creativity. With a little thought there are many items around your home that can be reused – toilet paper holders can be used to sow seeds for the vegetable patch. And old yogurt containers can be cut into strip to make plant labels. Old food jars can be refilled with homemade foods or can make great impromptu vases.
Use environmentally friendly products. When you go to the grocery store, you probably see more and more “natural” or “eco friendly” products every time. There are generally two big problems with these products: 1. Just because they’re more natural than regular products, doesn’t mean they’re entirely natural. 2, They’re often expensive.
If you want inexpensive, natural, safe products, why not just make them yourself. Vinegar is a great way to clean and disinfect glass and other surfaces. Need to remove stubborn stains? Just add some baking soda to your vinegar cleaner. Some quick searching online will lead you to hundreds of other natural safe home-made cleaning products.
We all knowing that going green means better for the environment, but it’s also better for you. Conserving resources also helps save you money, which is something most of us are happy to live with.
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July 8th, 2009
Saving Energy–Save Money-Save the Environment
As the cost of living continues to rise, energy reports and broadcasts are crammed with energy saving tips and suggestions. Some energy saving tips require initial investments, some just solicit a change of lifestyle. The best energy saving tips are those that require almost nothing but changing a habit. This one is about the wise energy saving choices.
1. Limit, as much as possible, the use of water. Of course water is not that expensive (at least for now); but saving water saves energy. When cleaning the driveway, the deck or patio, using the broom instead of the hose would save several hundreds of gallons of water a year.
2. A push mower is a good idea to mow a small lawn. Aside from not using electricity or fuel to ride the mowing machine, it is also good exercise.
3. Rakes are good leaf movers. Like the push mower, you do not need energy to fuel up a machine to get the job done. There is also a sense of nostalgia in using this traditional tool.
4. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to light up your driveway or as a security light. CFLs are one of the most handy and energy efficient products that you can have. If you are worried about bugs sticking to the light, there are yellow CFLs that are available.
5. When shopping, avoid going for the disposable ones. Disposable products need more landfills and landfills emit dangerous gasses. Go instead for items that could be used several times over. Again when shopping, go for products that are made of better quality. They might be a little more expensive but generally, quality products last longer.
6. Bring your own bags when shopping. Paper bags are made from trees; the environment can use more of them. Plastic bags on the contrary are oil based and are not biodegradable. If you bring your bag with you, you do not only help in saving energy, you could also get a discount from your store.
7. Batteries contain toxic materials. They produce heavy metal like zinc, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, mercury etc. Thus, disposal needs proper care. Once the heavy metal in batteries seeped into the ground it has a good chance of contaminating the ground. When buying products that would need batteries, pick those that are rechargeable. That way battery disposal is limited and you save on the cost of buying new batteries.
8. Good thing that SUV sales everywhere are going down (well, at least for the environment and not for car manufacturers). SUVs use much more energy than compact sedans for the same distance. While using SUV’s could be fun, there is also that tinge of indifference to the current energy issues and environmental problems we are facing. Reducing the use of SUVs on the street may not mean much in terms greenhouse gas emissions but is a signal to manufacturers to build more energy efficient vehicles.
9. The use of solar power is an excellent idea if you want to tackle the issues of energy conservation and environment protection. If there is one thing that the world needs most at this time, it is the widespread use of solar power.
10. Energy saving devices may cost a little extra but the pays offs are much more than the extra cost in terms longer life spans and energy saved.