Archive for Solar
January 16, 2012 at 6:20 pm · Filed under Activism, Bio Fuel, DIY Projects, Green Tech, Money and Finance, Off Grid, Solar, Uncategorized
Sounds simple enough, yet how?
Being a vagabond is great and all, but I also believe in community and sustainability! How could I accomplish all parts of my equation at once? I mean, isn’t community and sustainability accomplished successfully by living in one location with a group of people, following models of communal or group living, farming and running co-ops? And isn’t tramping around comprised of moving from one place to another quite often, rarely being somewhere long enough to build community or become part of an already established one, coupled with spending way too much time in cars, busses, trains, or airplanes and chain supermarkets to be sustainable? Read the rest of this entry »
December 12, 2011 at 11:46 am · Filed under Solar
Like any other “alternative” energy sources, the sun is renewable or rather bottomless. And similar to its other elemental counterparts (water and wind), it provides energy in the safest, most environmentally-friendly way possible. But, if the sun is a reliable and clean energy source, what’s stopping us to use this? Is solar energy the way of the future?
While not all parts of the world are familiar with the use of solar power, a growing number of countries are now starting to practice using it. Extracting energy from the sun is a very efficient and environmentally-friendly method of generating power. Typically, solar panels are used to catch energy from the sun. A regular-sized panel is able to generate more or less 1,000 watts per hour during midday, when the sun is at its brightest. Of course, like anything else in this truly imperfect world, using solar energy has its pros and cons. Read the rest of this entry »
November 29, 2011 at 8:34 am · Filed under Green Tech, Off Grid, On Grid, Solar
There are so many different industry buzzwords that have come about lately that it is very difficult to ignore them. Whether you’re talking about “cloud computing” or “grid computing” or even “smart grid technology” there are literally hundreds of company cropping up trying to market their wares to the various enterprises who may be in need of such products. Some of these technologies may take a while for rapid adoption, while others will make it to the masses rather rapidly. In the case of smart grid adoption, I suggest that the former will be more indicative than the latter. Read the rest of this entry »
October 28, 2011 at 4:00 pm · Filed under Solar
The Green Deal was put through by the UK Government at the end of 2010, with both the Conservative sand the Liberal Democrats wanting to lower carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. The aim of the Green Deal is to make UK citizens more aware of the ways in which they can make their homes moreenergy efficient. The UK Government will be providing all of the upfront finances for this to happen,in a form of loan, starting in 2012.
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October 18, 2011 at 6:51 am · Filed under Bio Fuel, DIY Projects, Green Tech, Off Grid, Solar, Wind Power
Add-on solar systems are another possibility as an auxiliary source of heating energy. Air heaters, to provide at least a portion of the needed winter space heat, built along south facing walls can be constructed of relatively inexpensive materials Solar water heaters can take much of the load off of conventional water heaters – on a year round – winter , summer , fall, springtime basis.
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October 4, 2011 at 7:13 pm · Filed under Bio Fuel, Green Tech, Off Grid, Solar
For most homeowners and property owners, investing in equipment to produce all the heat and power needed is somewhat less than practical. Most of us in 2011 need to put priorities on limited energy and fuel dollars – especially to shepherd our fossil fuel usages. The wisest course of action is to invest first in materials, systems and equipment which will give us the greatest rate of return. This is basic logic when it comes to raw savings. In most homes and properties, in this era, space heating and domestic water heating demand attention first and foremost. Or so it seems. Let us do the analysis and workup.
Decrease Fossil Fuel Wattage - Upgrade the Insulation in Your Home
September 28, 2011 at 8:43 am · Filed under Money and Finance, Solar
Experts and solar power advocates stated that what seems to be the collapse of Solyndra can become a main advantage in the success of solar market, making way for the venture to be known in different parts of the world. Solyndra, a company based in Silicon Valley, crashed down even after being funded by almost $545 million coming from the government. Experts said that it can open lots of possibilities for the solar market to make it big as one of the top businesses around.
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September 21, 2011 at 12:21 pm · Filed under Bio Fuel, Green Tech, Solar
Amazingly for most homeowners and those wanting to be “green” and energy smart few realize that hot water in homes is the second biggest user of energy in most households. If your household is typical, then 15 to 20 % of your total annual energy bill and wattage use goes to heat ordinary domestic hot water.
September 19, 2011 at 1:04 am · Filed under Activism, Bio Fuel, Green Tech, hybrids, Solar, Wind Power
Is there an energy shortage, are energy shortages looming or is it just a case of us being wasteful and using more than our fair share? Experts in the energy and energy conservation fields have stated time and time again that “Our trouble is not just one of being a simple shortage and shortfall of energy”. The same can be said for an alcoholic in that one drink is neither enough nor one thousand.
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September 17, 2011 at 6:50 am · Filed under Activism, DIY Projects, Off Grid, Solar, The Politics
Energy used to be cheap so overall most people became wasteful of energy even to the point of energy hogs. Whether it was that electric power bills were minor or that you could drive from Winnipeg to Minneapolis return on $ 13 of gas conserving, saving and not wasting fuel and energy was essentially a non-issue. At least in North America most commercial buildings and even homes were built in these pre-1973 oil crisis times of the 1960’s and 50’s when cheap energy ruled the roost and there was power and gas to “burn”. Yet no doubt times have changed, not only in terms of prices and pricing but also in addition in terms of our values and norms when it comes to the using of excess energy and energy conservation.
Don't Be an ENERGY HOG !!
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September 13, 2011 at 12:47 am · Filed under Activism, Bio Fuel, Green Tech, Off Grid, Solar, The Politics
Wherever you and your family reside you can start easing yours, theirs and family members as well into the “natural energy “picture right away. If you look through recommendations from solar , wind and governmental energy saving agencies you will notice that most of what is being done in this area of “alternate energy” and energies is for the most part completely new , complex and complicated and certainly not outside the boundaries of good old fashioned common sense. For the most part we are returning to good old proven and sustainable ways and means. The sun has been there for a long time – billions and billions of years. People have burned wood for heat since the dawn of man.
Add in the potential for heat from hot springs and geysers.
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August 11, 2011 at 6:05 pm · Filed under DIY Projects, Off Grid, Solar
We all have heard the phrase “His (or hers) heating budget is just up the chimney. What a waste of energy and the limited resources of the earth. Yet what if the chimney itself is defective or in poor repair and losing heat and energies becoming highly inefficient itself? Defects in masonry chimneys are often neglected because overall they cannot be easily seen or viewed. Yet unseen is neither unheard nor good for overall home energy usage and wastage. Such neglect can be dangerous as well as power and fuel wasteful.
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August 10, 2011 at 11:28 pm · Filed under Solar
There are a number of business technologies that are “oh so hot right now.” I wonder how many cloud computing and green energy businesses have been started in the last couple of years. And, rightfully so, there is money to be made there if you can execute on your business plan effectively. Entrepreneurs generally know the logistical processes of actually starting a business. However, few are versed in the nuances of starting a solar business. Here are a few general tips to get you started. Read the rest of this entry »
August 6, 2011 at 3:33 pm · Filed under Solar
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology team of mechanical engineering students and their professor announced recently successful testing of a new design in solar power generation that, once perfected and adopted, could potentially be commercially viable and costing as low as seven cents per kilowatt-hour, competitive with today’s pricing.
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July 24, 2011 at 11:42 pm · Filed under Solar
It’s no secret that, although dropping quickly, the upfront cost for installing a home solar system is still far too high for the average family trying to go green on a budget. Creating a home that runs almost completely on solar power requires far more than just slapping a few photovoltaic panels on your roof. Depending on the size and sophistication of the system you choose, upfront installation costs could be anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000, and even with tax incentives and rebates, this is still a big investment for many individuals and businesses.
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July 17, 2011 at 10:09 pm · Filed under Bio Fuel, Green Tech, Solar, Wind Power
It would seem the nations of the world are seeing the writing on the wall when it comes to energy and the depletion of limited resources from whence we acquire our power. Consequently, there are countless inventors, scientists and investors who are pouring countless resources into finding the next killer app in the energy field. Where there is pain (and there certainly is or will be), there can be great opportunity. Investing in the future of renewable energy resources will certainly prove necessary for mankind’s continued survival, but which solution will prove the most soluble in the long run? Read the rest of this entry »
June 29, 2011 at 10:58 pm · Filed under Solar
For those who love hot showers and sustainability. There are two choices when it comes to solar-powered water heating systems installed on the roof of your home: active and passive. Read below to help decide whether an active system heater or passive system heater better suits your needs.
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November 27, 2010 at 11:02 am · Filed under Solar
The last lines are connected in November 2010 and Europe’s largest photovoltaic plant now produces energy to cover more than 16,500 households needs. The CO2 savings is equivalent to a reduction of 40,000 tons or the equivalent of removing 8,000 cars from the roads. The plant, located in Rovigo in Italy are from several commentators have hailed as a milestone in the global expansion of solar power – not least because of its impressive size. A full 70 megawatt plant is designed for. Read the rest of this entry »
June 2, 2010 at 10:12 am · Filed under Green Tech, Solar
Despite the fact that silicon is actually the market normal semiconductor in the majority of electronic products, which includes the photovoltaic cells that photovoltaic panels use to transform sunlight into power, it is not really the most cost-efficient component readily available. For instance, the semiconductor gallium arsenide and similar substance semiconductors offer practically double the efficiency as silicon in photo voltaic units, yet they are rarely utilized in utility-scale applications because of their excessive production cost.
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July 23, 2009 at 12:55 pm · Filed under DIY Projects, Green Tech, Solar
I just read about a new type of solar based water heaters for households, that are already on the market. The setup is pretty much the same as with normal solar water heaters. There are panels for absorbing solar heat, a pump and a an indoor tank for accumulation. But with this type, there is no water circulating. Instead the system uses gas that will boil at a temperature about 0 degrees. The gas will then be transported inside to a compressor and this will create a temperature at about 100 degrees. The pump and compressor uses a minimum of electricity – far less than the popular ground- air- or lake heating system.
The amazing thing about this setup is that:
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