Are Americans Giving Up On The Environment?
Interesting points to take note on. There was a comment that was also posted that I thought warranted notation.
The planet will likely recover, true. The question, however, is whether mankind will be included in earth’s recovery
I watched a discovery show the other day based around the scientific theory of what would happen in days/years after
mankind. It was interesting. So I think the true question to ponder is more likely: Not whether mankind will be included in
earth’s recover, its more like can there ever be a recovery with mankind? Your thoughts?
Here is the link to the article I am referring to, go read it for yourself, let me know what your thoughts are.
Are Americans Giving Up On The Environment? | Mother Jones
New "Smart Meters" for Energy Use Put Privacy at Risk
I don’t know about you but I think this maybe a little scary.
The ebb and flow of gas and electricity into your home contains surprisingly detailed information about your daily life.
Energy usage data, measured moment by moment, allows the reconstruction of a household’s activities: when people wake up,
when they come home, when they go on vacation, and maybe even when they take a hot bath.
California’s PG&E is currently in the process of installing "smart meters" that will collect this moment by moment data—750 to 3000
data points per month per household—for every energy customer in the state. These meters are aimed at helping consumers monitor
and control their energy usage, but right now, the program lacks critical privacy protections.
Click here to read the full story.
What are your thoughts?
Do you think Smart Meters are a step in the right direction for energy efficiency?
Or a direct violation of your privacy?
Have a small renewable-energy project? Rocky Mountain Power will fund it – Salt Lake Tribune
For those of you that live in the Salt Lake area I thought this would be of interest to you.
Rocky Mountain Power has some cash and is looking for a few good renewable-energy projects.
Beginning next week the utility will accept applications to fund small, community-based solar, wind and low-impact hydro projects —
undertakings it hopes can be used to help educate the public on the benefits of renewable energy while producing electricity.
Click the link below to read the full story.
Have a small renewable-energy project? Rocky Mountain Power will fund it – Salt Lake Tribune
Healthier World: and Solar Designs
Solar energy happens to be designed to be used as a comfortable way of getting the right temperatures and light levels through an active solar design. You will find that the passive solar design is where the sunlight is entered into cold conditions and it then is maximized and enters hot weather to be reduced. The use of solar panels and the passive solar energy is where you are able to get natural sunlight to interact or become generated with energy without the use of mechanical systems doing all the work.
Passive solar design generally focuses on managing heat gains through the sun’s daily and annual cycles to reduce the operational energy and costs of heating and cooling the air in the building. Human thermal comfort is similar, however, it is one part of a thermally efficient building design, but passive solar design is not related to factors of ventilation and other building concepts that is usually taken into consideration.
When it comes to passive solar design, there are many systematic ways. The first is simply pragmatic thinking. A house can easily achieve 30 percent or better cost reductions in heating expense without making obvious changes to its appearance, comfort or usability. This can be achieved using good sitting and window positioning, small amounts of thermal mass with good but conventional insulation, and occasional extra heat from a central radiator connected to a water heater. You will find that the sunray that touches the walls of your home during the day will help you to generate heat in the evening.
Another passive solar design is known as annualized passive solar. Recent research has developed techniques that capture warm-season solar heat, convey it to storage mass and still have heat available six months later, during the colder seasons. There are possible ways for you to use the technique; however, you will find that if you bury waterproof insulation near the foundation of your home, you will then burry loops of ducts or pipes under the foundation slabs. The insulation will help prevent you from heat leaks when it comes to the weather or water.
You will find that passive solar technology, right now, cannot run your home entirely. You will see that the system will help you to create a better way of living in an environment conscious. When it comes to the green house you will find that it is needed to the alternative energy production. Passive solar design is a great place for you to start thinking about these types of technologies and if they are right for you and your home. This is the time where you will want to do further research on a topic. This is going to take a lot of work and time, but there are benefits that you will find from passive solar design in the home. You will find that the benefits will not pollute the environment and making it a better place for your family, yourself, and the future of society.
Learning about Renewable Energy
When it comes to alternative energy, you will find that it is often used to describe fossil fuels, but you will find that these solutions will fall into a category of renewable energy. When it comes to renewable energy is important for two reasons. You will find that there is lot that is hurting the environment. You will find that there is a lot of future harm from the greenhouse effect and effects caused by the fossil fuels.
Renewable forms of energy are typically safe for the earth, making them a much cleaner option. Second, renewable energy sources are exactly what their name implies—renewable. Therefore, these sources of energy will not run out or become scarce and expensive, as fossil fuels eventually will. Because the renewable energy sources are becoming more and more researched, it is only a matter of time when major energy companies begin their switch from fossil fuels to these alternative energies.
There are many different types of renewable energy, including solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, and tidal. Many effects will have a positive outlook on the environment because there is nothing produced by the energies that could harm the environment at all.
Solar energy refers to power from the sun. We see this in everyday life as solar covers are placed on swimming pools to help then gather and retain heat. When you wear black on a sunny day, you will feel the effects of solar power. Solar power takes this heat and turns it into useful energy, which we can use to heat our homes and power other electronic devices.
Wind energy is one of the oldest forms of alternative energy, along with water power, Windmills and waterwheels were used as early as the middle ages to produce energy, and are still being used in many countries today in refined forms. By using generators, you will be able to convert power into electricity by using things like generators, windmills, waterwheels, and other old-world technologies.
Geothermal energy taps into the heat from the earth, by using geological hotspots such as volcanic sites, to produce energy. Biomass is also a very earth-like way of producing heat. This form of renewable energy refers to the use of once living organisms to produce heat and other forms of energy.
Tidal waves can begin to make the energy or power that waterwheels and windmills in the same way. The ocean can also be used for its heated surface temperatures and cool deep-water temperatures to convert heat energy into useful electricity.
At the end of the day, you will find that the only drawback you will find to using renewable energies in the place of fossil fuels happens to be the current cost of use. It is expensive, but it can do a lot for the environment and your own good.
Solar, wind, water, and other ways have been studied so that you can get renewable and alternative energies. Most people will agree that fossil fuels are not going to last forever, and now is the time to start planning for the future. You may want to fight these alternative methods since it will allow the environment to be beautiful and healthy.
The future of electricity
When the future of electricity is discussed, quite a number of thoughts come into mind. Let’s look at a few of such ideas.
Electricity will be wireless!
Wouldn’t it be delightful to see no wires in the house even with an uninterrupted supply of electricity? Will the future see wireless supply of electricity? Apparently, it will, according to industry experts. Last year, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted a wireless electricity experiment successfully. This dream has never been far-fetched, and with the success of wireless electricity experiments, this dream will soon come true. So, it is not very far that we will see electrical appliances charging themselves off air!
Consumers will have complete control!
Industry experts believe that in future, your power supply will not be dependent on the electricity department but on you. You will have complete control on how you want the power supply to reach your place. You may not be required to pay the mandatory amount when you are vacationing around the world, shutting off the house. Experts see a variety of control options for consumers in the future. Now, whether this future is in the next ten years, or twenty, or a fifty years is not known, but what is known is that the future will see the consumers in control of what they use.
Electrical energy will be clean!
Do you know that the remains of electricity production emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide in the air? The future of electricity is perceived as green and clean. Given the concern for the environment, the electricity in future will make use of renewable sources of energy, leading to a clean environment. Currently, electricity is produced mostly by consuming fuels that are on the verge of being extinct.
All things will be electric!
OK, we have already seen electric cars and electric shavers, what else will the future see? May be, electric shoes! Combs, toothbrushes, watches, glasses, even clothes may become electrical gadgets. If these sound far-fetched ideas, visit the futuristic shops at Akihabara in Japan for a glimpse of the future.
There will be no outages!
More than anything, consumers look forward to seeing a future with absolutely no power outages. Alternate power solutions promise to take us into a future that has no power interruptions. With increased dependency on power for everything, consumers need to have an uninterrupted supply of power.
Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at www.earth4energy.com
Solar power solutions at home
With energy sources depleting at a rate faster than they are being built, it is only wise that we use the abundant energy available for free – the solar energy. Apart from the easy availability, solar energy helps control environmental pollution. Most of us shy away from installing solar power solutions at home thinking them to be expensive and cumbersome. You will, however, be surprised to know how easy it is to employ these power solutions. Moreover, these will help cut down your power bills. Finally, you will be delighted to know tat you are doing your bit to save power for the future generations.
This article will explore the various solar power options available for home use.
Solar cooker: A solar cooker is a cooking utensil that uses absolutely no fuel for cooking. You can cook food for up to five people in the small box. If you are thinking that using a solar cooker will reduce your chances of spreading up a varied platter on the dining table, you will be surprised to know that you can not only boil food items in the cooker but also roast and bake! The only limitation with the solar cooker is the time it takes to cook. However, given the free source of energy it uses, this is a great option for cutting down those sky-rocketing bills and saving some power.
Solar home lighting: A solar home lighting system converts solar energy into electrical energy for your home. This is done via cells that are charged with solar energy. So, in the night, if you wonder how the lights are on in the house, it is because of the solar energy stored in the solar cells. You can install the solar home lighting system in your house and not worry about the electricity bills anymore.
Solar heating system: Installing a solar heating system in your home helps cutting down your electricity bill along with saving the world’s quickly-exhausting power. If you are worried that a solar heating system will turn your sweet home into a gadget house or that it will be an expensive investment, your concerns are misplaced. Companies providing solar power solutions for homes make it a point to install aesthetically-pleasing heating systems in your house. As per as expenditure is concerned, investing in a solar heating system is wise because you get a return on your investment within 3-4 years, giving you absolutely free service after that.
Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at www.earth4energy.com
How to save power at home
We all learned about the renewable and non-renewable sources of energy in school. However, we never paid much attention to the rapid consumption of the non-renewable sources of energy until recently. The world is faced with severe energy crisis now and none of us remain unaffected anymore. Should we leave everything to the governments, or can we do something to save power? The answer is simple: we can.
Let us look at how you can save power at home.
Computer: More often than not, we do not switch off our monitors even after we have shut down our computers. Keep the monitor and the computer switched off when you are not using them. Start practicing this even when at work. You will help save some more power for the world.
Light bulbs: You must have seen compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs being advertised all the time. You must have even used them at times. As a power-saving measure, start using the CFL light bulbs as much as you can. If you are thinking they are more expensive than the regular bulbs, the benefits of the CFL bulbs will prove much more cost-effective in the long turn by the amount of power they will save.
Air Conditioner: Set the temperature at the minimum or maximum best you are comfortable with, depending on the season. Try not to set it at too high or too low temperatures. Setting the air conditioner at reasonable temperatures helps save a lot of energy.
Washing Machines: Do you use your washing machine as often as you want? Do you use your washing machine even when there are not enough clothes to wash? Minimize the number of washes by washing full load of clothes every time.
Television: Take off the power plug of your television set when not using it. This may not sound a big deal but this tiny step will help save power.
Geysers: Keep the geyser thermostat at the minimum heat. You do not need to heat the water at a very high temperature or for too long.
Refrigerator: Bring hot food to room temperatures before putting it into the refrigerator. You can also save power by taking cold or frozen food out of the refrigerator much before the mealtime, thereby saving power in heating it.
Car: For an air-conditioner equipped car, pull up the windows of your car before switching on the air-conditioner.
Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at www.earth4energy.com
Living The Green Energy Home Dream
With all the advances in green energy technology, it is easier than ever to start converting your home into a green energy home. A green energy home utilizes renewable resources to provide electricity, hot water, heat and peace of mind.
There are several ways to implement your green energy home plan. The first is solar energy. In a green energy home you can install solar hot water panels which heat and store water for use and you can install solar panels, which use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. These systems can be pricing if purchasing them and having them installed by a professional, but there are many great resources available to build your own solar panels and solar hot water systems that can reduce the cost greatly.
If you are just building your home, a great way to make it a green energy home is to implement passive solar design during construction. This means taking advantage of south facing sides of the house for heating and cooling. By installing lots of highly efficient windows and heat retaining bricks and stone on your south facing areas, you are taking advantage of passive solar techniques to develop your green energy home.
Another addition to the green energy home would be a windmill. Windmills are used to generate electricity from the renewable resource wind. Windmills can be installed on rooftops or in yards and offer pollution free electric. Windmills can be purchased from retailers or there are a wide variety of affordable kits available for the motivated do-it-yourselfers to handle the implementation of their own green energy home plans.
If you have a stream on your property, you may also add to the efficiency of your green energy home with hydroelectric power. This is also a great pollution free option that is easy to maintain and works as long as there is water available.
The ultimate green energy home would combine all of these resources. By using wind, water and solar to generate electricity you are looking not only at huge savings and possible profits from your electricity usage, but you would truly be green as each of these options contributes little to global warming. To further combine passive solar design and solar hot water systems, you are reducing your energy needs exponentially and truly living the dream of going green.
A green energy home doesn’t require more maintenance than traditional homes. Solar technologies require little to no maintenance and wind and water turbines require only regular oiling for peak performance. There is no better time to create your green energy home and start living your dreams in green.
Benefits of Green Solar Energy
To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed. There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light. Thermal energy is considered passive solar. This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building. By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure. The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems. The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity.
The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money. Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business. Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system. In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.
The most important benefit of utilizing green solar energy is completely environmental. With polar ice caps dwindling away and climate changes creating tragic storms world wide, it is increasingly obvious that steps must be taken to decrease global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Green solar energy provides a clean energy alternative as it creates little pollution and does not contribute to global warming.
Green solar energy systems can be used by homes and businesses alike. If going solar cannot meet all of your energy needs, it can certainly reduce them. Utilizing green solar energy can save you money, but it’s greatest benefit is to the environment and our future.
