Sustainable Energy Technologies – What Is Sustainable, Green And Clean?

Home Remodeling - Oct 14,2016 - No Comment

Define Sustainable Energy Technologies

Sustainable energy technologies aim to provide the present generation with clean and green energy that in no way compromises on the future generation’s ability to provide for their own needs or ability to generate energy. For the last several generations humans have been exploiting resources of the planet with no thought about the future or how our children and their grandchildren will survive if we exhaust all the resources available on Earth.

Need For Sustainable Energy Sources

Already, we have guzzled most of our oil and gas reserves. What is left will serve a few generations more at most. Oil and gas take several million years to be formed under intense pressure and temperature conditions. So, once we exhaust what is available it is going to take many millions years to get new supplies. So, how will our future generations survive is planet deprived of oil and gas? Where will we get energy to power our factories and businesses? How will our buses and cars run? How will our aircrafts fly? These questions have assumed urgency as the prices of oil and gas have gone through the roof and the demand is skyrocketing as hungry developing countries join the race for scarce resources.

The need for cheap, clean and green environmentally sustainable energy technologies have become almost a necessity. The race is on to get better and cheaper alternatives for fossil fuels. Though fossil fuels have played an important role in helping countries around the world to greater and newer heights they have also brought with them the ill-effects of pollution and environmental destruction. Our planet is at peril because of the unsustainable rate at which we have polluted it. Our Earth has the ability to heal itself. A certain amount of pollution is tolerable. But, unbridled development has led to environmentally unsafe practices which have simply destroyed many communities, deprived them of livelihoods and exterminated several species of plants and animals. If we keep going at the same rate it will be impossible for our future generations to lead decent lives.

Sustainable Energy Technologies Currently In Use

It is our responsibility and duty to leave the Earth in the same state that we inherited from our forefathers. A sustainable energy technology that generates power in a way that does not impact our future generation’s ability to generate energy for their needs is the need of the hour. Great progress has already been made towards this end. A lot more needs to be done and it is a continuous and never ending process. The world is slowly but surely moving towards sustainable green energies like solar power, wind power, geo-thermal power, and ocean tide power.

Hydro Electricity

For a number of years now hydro-electric power has been a major source of sustainable energy for many countries. There are some major drawbacks to using hydroelectricity. These are available only at limited locations and depend on rainfall to help in power generation. There is heavy human and environmental toll associated with hydro power as building huge dams and reservoirs needs displacement of several communities living in the area. But, there is no pollution or residues left behind because of generation of hydroelectricity.

Solar Power

The sun has been source of all power for the solar system. Though we use solar power is a variety of ways we have not yet been able to use it to produce electricity in the same scale as the coal or gas-fired power stations. Throughout the world research is on at a frenetic pace to make this possible. As this is a sustainable energy technology and in no ways affects our future generations this is one of most favored energy sources. Many large solar panel fields have been established and are generating significant amounts of electricity. About 1% of our planet Earth’s electricity needs are being met by solar power. The high cost of solar panels is impeding their adoption by the developing countries. Europe, America and China have rapidly adopted this technology and there are several solar panel installations contributing a significant portion of their energy needs. Solar heat concentration through use of highly polished mirrors is an inexpensive method of generating solar power and is fast catching up. Israel is a world leader in this technology.

Wind Power

Wind power is another favorite sustainable energy technology as it is one of the cleanest and greenest electricity generating systems. Once the wind mills are set up in suitable windy locations you get steady power for the surrounding areas. There are several million wind mills located around the world which are contributing nearly 2.5 percent of electricity needs of our current electricity needs. The search for more efficient and cheaper ways to generate sustainable energy is on. The technologies and know-how for this are in various stages of development and implementation. It is expected that in the next 50 years or so the Earth will move on to almost 100 percent environmentally sustainable, clean and green energy sources.

Solar Panels For Sale: Tips To Buy Solar Panels

Home Improvement - Oct 13,2016 - No Comment

When looking at solar panels for sale, you will find that they have certain differences. Solar panels prices are higher for more efficient panels. But efficiency is not critical for solar energy. After all sunlight is completely free, so even the less efficient solar panels will do if you have enough space to mount all your solar panels. If your budget allows for it you can go for the most efficient photovoltaic panels but this is not an important criteria.

Why Buy Solar Panels For Sale To Generate Solar Power?

One of the best renewable alternatives to fossil fuels that we have is solar energy, because sunshine is abundant and the sun and its light will always be with us. Solar energy is a great alternative to conventional sources of power. Conventional power plants use either fossil fuels like coal or gas to produce power. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fuels. The by-products from running these power plants result in harmful by-products that are difficult to dispose. Also, the increase in demand for power and energy has lead to prices of raw materials to sky-rocket also, coal, gas and nuclear fuels are in limited supply. All these factors make solar panels for sale to generate solar power an attractive option.

Pointers to buying solar panels for sale for your home use:

The cost of building solar panels is largely dependent on the size and design of the system you build. The larger panels require more materials to build them.

If you wish to install roof top panels then that needs specialized mounts. Ground mounted panels are more simple to install.

What ever the type of mount your choose building and installing solar panels for your home on your own is the best option as cost differential is so high.

Buy from a reputed maker with proper energy certification and you will be safe. This will a little more expensive option but in return you will get quality goods.

Buy a book or a DVD on for more ideas to learn how to build and install panels. The point of DIY solar panels is to save money. So you have to expect trial and error in order for you to learn. Expect a few problems to crop up but they won’t be insurmountable.

There are also ready made panels where in all you have to do is install it. You can pick small solar panels for sale if your needs are simple or used solar panels for sale if your running on a tight budget.

Depending on how integrated you want your system to be with the rest of your household you can hook up the solar panels to power just a few power points in your home or plug it into the mains to power your whole home.

Sunlight is an inexhaustible resource and it produces renewable energy. It makes sense to exploit this readily available energy resource which is also a cheap alternative to the conventional energy sources. It makes good economic sense to pick up solar panels for sale or buy them wholesale.

Home Remodeling Design – Ideas To Renovate Your Home

Home Remodeling - Oct 12,2016 - No Comment

Home remodeling design helps homeowners give a fresh lease of life to their homes. Styles and designs go out of fashion and after a few years or decades of use most homes feel outdated and jaded. Whether you plan to sell your home or want to continue living in it, a dose of healthy remodeling is good way to put some zest into it. Renovating and remodeling homes need not mean whole sale changes. Even minor tweaks and subtle changes can make lot of difference to your everyday life.

Complete Or Partial Home Remodeling Design

A complete home remodeling design and renovation project can set you back financially by a huge amount. Also, the time commitment for such a task is huge. So, if you have a smaller budget you can instead opt for limited remodeling project involving just the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. A limited project allows you to concentrate on small areas and helps you to complete the project within a fixed time period. When you finish a project in a short period of time and can see good results you feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Sometimes, it just takes a minor tweak to save us from some irritating tasks which we perform because of the way things are placed or designed in our home.

Living Room Remodeling

There are certain spaces in the house which exist but can’t be put to meaningful use due to various reasons. This kind of unused space can be found anywhere in the house but most likely you will find them in a poorly designed living room. Analyze the reason why the particular niche or alcove is unused. Will adding a partition or extra lights in that area make it more productive. The home remodeling design should serve a purpose. Adding closets and storage cupboards will help you organize your stuff better. Partitioning it off can help make it useful for small private sit out, computer room, study, studio or even a modern bar with a counter. It can also be used as a special place to display your trophies or may be hobby collections. Depending on need and better utilization of space a living room remodeling project can be taken up.

If you wish to make a large living room into two separate usable spaces then adding a glass partition or light wooden partition is a good idea or just a dramatic transition in the design can itself serve the purpose and mark the other part as a different living space. Sometimes, even a subtle demarcation like the end of carpeted space will mark the transition.

One part can be the entertaining space for friends and family. Make the room inviting and trendy by updating the lighting to the latest available fixtures, updating the furniture, replacing the carpeting, creating wall space for some modern open shelves or to put up a few prized display pieces. Putting up a stunning picture that draws your eye, adding a fresh coat of paint and changing the window dressing style are a few suggestions that cost much less than a whole scale remodeling.

Kitchen Remodeling

The other part can be better used as dining area or open kitchen with dining. By knocking down the walls of the kitchen and opening it up to the living area, you can have the whole kitchen and dining area in combination with the entertaining area as an open and free space without any constraining walls. This is major home remodeling design, where a professionals help with your valuable inputs will help create a free flowing space. If you love to entertain people this makes a great idea as it allows you to check on the cooking, supervising the serving and also talk to the guests in the living room. This modern design also forces you to keep the kitchen and dining as spic and span as the entertaining area. You can have the same theme for the entire space with similar lighting, color and design scheme. Themes can be modern, antique, based on the wild west or a sport. There are hundreds of other themes to choose from depending on your likes and dislikes.

If you don’t want the open kitchen model then you can create the dining area with in the kitchen if it is large enough. Or even a breakfast counter with bar stools allows interaction between the person cooking and kids or family eating. The breakfast counter can have storage cabinets on one side and sitting area on the other side. If you have space a more formal dining space can be adjoining the kitchen or in a partitioned living room.

Bedroom Remodeling

If you have small bedroom and you wish to make it larger than that is a major remodeling exercise especially if you want to incorporate the adjoining room into this master bedroom space. You will need a professional contractors help to bring down the walls and redesign the room. On the other hand if you wish to make some minor changes then it can be take up as a project for the weekends. You can devote a few weekends to make changes to your bedroom like create more storage space, update the furniture and linen, change the window treatment, add a fresh coat of paint and add some colorful rugs to the bedroom floor.

If your bedroom is large and you wish to make use of the space a little more effectively then you can create a walk in closet or powder room by partitioning the bedroom into two usable spaces. Add closets, lighting, mirror and you can keep a lot of clutter out of the bedroom with better organization in this newly created space.

Bathroom Remodeling

A very popular home remodeling design project is the bathroom remodeling. It is challenging and major one if you are thinking of changing every aspect of the room. Pulling out the old tiles, replacing them with a new design scheme, changing the fixtures and fittings can all add up to a pretty penny not to mention the effort and time involved.

A simpler solution might be to replace the sink or vanity, bathtubs and shower stalls. Make the shower a more open design for a sense of space and freedom, have ceiling mounted shower that reduces water splashing. Modern rain showers and waterfall showers are bliss to bathe under. If you are a bathtub person then deep, comfortable bath, hot tub or Jacuzzi are great ways to relax after a stressful day at work.

Solar Energy – How To Quickly and Easily Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Home Improvement - Oct 11,2016 - No Comment

Switching to Solar Energy Can Make A Difference:

Are you worried about global warming, climate change, burning fossil fuels and carbon footprint you are leaving behind due to your various activities? You have every reason to be concerned about the well-being of the planet and you should take every effort to make the Earth a cleaner and greener place.

It is your duty to leave behind the Earth a better place for your future generations. We inherited a green, clean and beautiful earth from our forefathers and our children and their children deserve to enjoy it as it was before all the pollution destroyed it.

How can we use Solar Energy To Make Difference?

Instead of conventional(read polluting) energy sources go for green and abundant clean energies like solar energy, wind energy or geo-thermal energy. There are several solar energy companies today generating solar power in large scale. Here we will share a few solar energy facts and some simple but effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home environment friendly.

1. Install a solar water heater to get hot water supply for free. In just 3 years time you will recover the initial set-up cost and save hundreds of dollars and energy every year after that.

1. If you have a swimming pool then a solar heated pool will save you a ton of money in heating costs over the years and also you can have a longer swimming season. You don’t have to worry about using costly electricity to heat your pool. You will be using natural sunlight to heat it with the help of solar panels.

1. Reduce your power usage by switching off unnecessary lights and fans. Switch off TV, music systems, computers, laptops, battery chargers and electronic items not in use at the plug point. Power saved is money saved and you also reduce your carbon footprint.

1. If powering your entire home with solar power is not an option then use it for small parts of your home like the drive, the garage, the porch or outside lighting. If you have a farm or garden then use creative ways to use solar energy to operate the sprinklers and water the lawns, use farm machinery and lighting the barn.

1. You can install solar panels and generate your own electricity and gradually replace using conventional energy from the your town’s power grid. You can do the solar panels yourself if you are handy with tools and get a professional to help connect the panels wiring with your mains. This whole project can be finished over a couple of weekends. Once installed the solar energy cost of generating electricity is nil.

1. Reduce your thermostat setting by one or two degree, wear an extra layer of warm clothing, reduce your air conditioning usage when the weather is good, just open the windows and let the natural cool air to cool your home. During day time use the natural light of the sun instead of switching on the lights.

1. Look for hybrid options where you can switch between conventional and renewable energy sources which will considerably lessen your dependence on fossil fuels.

Armed with the above solar energy information you can reduce your carbon footprint. Changing over to solar energy has several advantages not to just to the environment but also to your wallet in the long run.

Solar Energy Technologies

Home Remodeling - Oct 11,2016 - No Comment

Department Of Energy’s Program

US Department of Energy has an initiative called SunShot. This initiative aims to make solar energy technologies commercially competitive by year 2020. This is a major program that aims to develop cost-effective solar power generation methods that benefit the country and the world at large. This is a nascent industry and developing it on a large scale is another way to train new manpower and add jobs thus benefitting the economy.

Let’s take a look at the different solar energy technologies in use today.

Solar Energy – Photovoltaic Cells

When we consider generating solar power for our home’s needs it is inevitable that we think of solar panels and photovoltaic technology. This is one of solar energy technologies that have found widespread acceptance and use. Here the tiny photovoltaic cells capture sunlight and convert it to electricity. Solar power through photovoltaic technology is more expensive as the production of PV cells is costly.

Also, solar panels works only during daytime as sunlight is not available during night. The excess electricity created during day time has to be stored in batteries to be used during the night. Photovoltaic are very inefficient and convert only 12-19 percent of the sunlight into usable energy. But, solar panels are highly subsidized under various government programs and that makes somewhat cost-effective.

Solar Energy – Solar Thermal Technology

In this method of solar power generation the sunlight is concentrated to create heat. This heat is then used to run a heat engine which in turn generates electricity. Unlike solar panel technologies which uses sunlight, in this method heat can be collected and stored to generate electricity through the night. Solar thermal collectors have 55 percent efficiency. The solar energy technologies concerning solar heat concentration are much more advanced. This is much more easy and efficient way to generate solar energy but has not received as much attention.

Solar water heaters are an application of this method and have providing hot water solutions to millions of satisfied homeowners around the country and the world. Solar cookers are another innovation of this technology and many homes in Africa employ this method to cook their meals without burning fossil fuels or wood. This method of solar concentration has been in use for a more than 200 years and yet this technology has not been fully exploited or supported by the governments to the extent of photovoltaic. Japan and Israel are world leaders in solar thermal technologies and majority of their populations use solar water heaters for their hot water needs.

This is a very inexpensive and reliable method of power generation and needs more governmental support in the US for extensive adoption and use. Photovoltaic are not the only alternative in solar energy generation.

Small Solar Power Projects

Small solar panels power projects can provide for the energy needs of a home or a business. Remote areas which are outside the grid of conventional power sources can also benefit with these kinds of installations.

Large Scale Solar Power Projects

These can be used to supply power on large scale like conventional gas or coal power thermal power stations. Currently several of these solar panel farms have been set up in many countries. PV panels or solar thermal concentration method can be employed for the above programs. These two types of solar energy technologies both help in the march towards using more and more renewable energy sources for our use.

Residential Solar Panels And The Benefits Of Using Solar Power

Home Improvement - Oct 09,2016 - No Comment

Residential solar panels are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and also to cut your energy consumption both at the same time. Using solar panels and solar heater is a good point to start.

At homes to warm water and for outdoor lighting residential solar panels are used . These solar water heating systems use solar panels called flat plate collectors, which is placed on the roof of the building. A boiler can be used when these panels do not heat up the water to the expected level.

Current technology in solar electricity allows homes to have a steady source of electricity to power home equipment and appliances. It is a fact that the cost of solar energy harnessing is coming down as technology matures. Also, the federal government and many states are giving tax rebates, credits and grants to help offset initial cost and encourage the use of residential solar panel installation for domestic use. In fact even the solar power used for commercial purposes is subsidized.

Residential Solar Panels Has Other Obvious Benefits

1. Homes that use home solar panels to generate solar power can eliminate their need to get energy from conventional power grids. This means no monthly electric bills. Those getting power from power grids that use gas and oil will find solar power cheaper over time.

2. This is also great investment for the future as the rates of electricity are constantly on the rise.

3. A great side benefit in using residential solar panel kits or solar shingles to generate solar power is its positive impact on the environment. As solar power harnesses sun’s inexhaustible energy there is no need to burn polluting fossil fuels that cause global warming and climate change.

4. Solar energy is free once you residential solar panel system is set up. You don’t need to pay a penny towards electric charges once your whole home is hooked to solar panels

5. Governments around the world are encouraging the use of such un-coventional sources for power purposes. You will be eligible for many subsidies and tax cuts if you install residential solar panels and tap electricity from the sun.

6. Residential solar power is environment friendly. By minimizing carbon dioxide emission you will in your small way contribute to and allow the environment to recover. Trimming down on the usage of fossil fuels like petroleum, gases and coal can best be achieved by using solar energy. For this reason, using solar electricity is not only cost-effective but environment-friendly option as well.

7. Solar power from residential solar panels can be stored in batteries and used later during nights or when there is no sunlight for a few days. Solar power is useful during blackouts or other emergencies.

8. Solar power is reliable and efficient use of nature’s abundance without any side effects.

Due to its many benefits the residential solar panels kits industry is one the fast growing areas in the field of renewable energies. Technology has improved leaps and bounds and new innovations to tap solar power are being found every day. Governments are also encouraging the use of residential solar panels as everyone needs a cheap alternative source of energy before the planets supply of coal, gas and crude runs out.

Adopting Renewable Energy Technologies Reduces Dependance On Fossil Fuels

Home Remodeling - Oct 09,2016 - No Comment

We need renewable energy technologies that make use of energy resources which are both sustainable and non-polluting and we need them fast. The unrestricted and mindless use of fossil fuels have led world to the brink of self-destruction. Global warming and resulting melting of the ice-caps are predicted to raise sea levels dangerously high around the world. This in turn could wipe out many of the major cities of the world that are located along the coastal areas. Global warming and climate change are not the only problems. Pollution is another major worry. But, the biggest worry of all is that we will soon run out of the fossil fuels that we take for granted. Oil and gas are not going to last forever. Coal is available in plenty but it alone can’t sustain our energy requirements. Mining coal itself is cause for major pollution.

Green energy technologies have been of great interest to researchers and scientists for long. Many have invested time and energy in search of the Holy Grail – the perfect renewable energy resource – that is both the cleanest and sustainable energy source. Solar energy has held lot of hope. But, the production of solar panels itself is a very expensive and energy intensive process and is out of reach of many in the developing world. Wind energy generation too was not very efficient and not all areas of the world are blessed with strong and sustained winds needed to produce it at a steady pace. This was the problem faced by governments and researchers a few decades back.

The continued interest and research in renewable energy technologies have led to rapid advances in this field and efficiencies have greatly improved to the point where the commercial exploitation of the solar and wind power on a large scale has become possible. If you look at the investment pattern in the last decade alone over 100 billion dollars were put into renewable energy projects. In the race for investment dollars non-renewable energy projects are falling behind. Europe is the leader in the exploitation of wind and solar power. Several European countries have significant percentage of their electricity requirements met through renewable sources. Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Iceland are just few of several European countries that have major solar and wind power projects on their soil.

US is not far behind, it is the world leader in wind energy production. Canada has some of the biggest solar power plants. Many Asian countries are ramping up their renewable energy technologies in order to power their ever increasing need for electricity. China and India are already fast catching up with their Western peers. China in fact is one of the leading suppliers of solar panels and photovoltaic cells. It is also the leading producer and major user of solar water heaters. Many African countries like Kenya and Angola have invested in solar energy technologies in order to help their citizens to break out of vicious cycle of ignorance and poverty. Renewable energy technologies are helping in not only fulfilling the energy needs of these people but also helping their children to study after dark and for businesses to run their stores for longer hours.

The world has not yet reached the stage where they can say goodbye to fossil fuels which are still the mainstay for most countries. But, every country is trying to find ways and means to cut their dependence on oil and gas and invest in green technologies. Result, you see countries like Brazil which uses ethanol – a biofuel derived from sugarcane to fuel its vehicles. The day is not far away when the world dependence on non-renewable energy sources is minimal. Rapid advances in renewable energy technologies make green energy a sustainable and viable option.

Building A Solar Panel

Home Improvement - Oct 08,2016 - No Comment

Building A Solar Panel In The Most Cost Effective Way

It’s easy to build a solar panel if you have the required step-by-step guide and the tools and materials. It takes about 6 hours to complete this entire project and will cost you less than 200 bucks and can lead to massive savings in your energy bills. Start using solar power in just a few days after installing the solar panel. Another option you can explore is putting up solar shingles if you are planning to replace your roof. The solar panel roof can help power your lighting fixtures or provide hot water for your family’s needs.

Before you start the building process research solar panels, their types, efficiencies, wattage ratings and buy materials suitable for your use. Buy good quality mounts. There are mainly three types – thin film solar panel, mono-crystalline panel and polycrystalline panel.

A solar panel are highly resilient and tough. They are low maintenance and last for two to three decades. They will continue to work efficiently for much longer if there is no damage due to accident or extreme weather conditions.

The technology behind a solar panel has improved drastically over the years, the price of a solar cell has fallen steeply. This becomes more attractive when you consider the fact that the price of other energy sources have risen proportionately in the last few decades.

Some Money Saving Tips For Buying A Solar Panel

Efficiency – A solar panel has different efficiency ratings. A higher efficiency panel converts same amount of sun light into more energy compared to a lower efficiency solar panel. Well, since sunlight is absolutely free we don’t have to really make efficient use of it unlike fossil fuels, crude or gas. You can put up more number of low-cost low-efficiency solar panels and get the solar energy you need.

But, if you have limited amount of space in which to put up the solar panel then in that case you will have to go for the more efficient and lesser number of panels. High efficiency solar panels cost higher than others.

Buy materials for solar panel at a wholesaler or at a reputed solar panel manufacturer. With newer models coming in every week they will be in a hurry to get rid of the older models which you can grab for lower prices.

You can generate your own electricity using a solar panel and gradually replace using conventional energy from your town’s power grid. As energy prices rise and the cost of panels and other equipment decreases, solar energy systems look better as an investment.

You can install the solar panel anywhere and tap into solar power. Your terrace or your farm or open spaces are ideal to place the panels to trap sun’s heat. As mentioned earlier in the article if you know how to make a solar panel then you save quite a bit of money and you can recover the whole cost in just a few months when you start seeing massive savings in your energy bills.

Sustainable Energy Technologies – What Is Sustainable, Green And Clean?

Define Sustainable Energy Technologies

Need For Sustainable Energy Sources

Sustainable Energy Technologies Currently In Use

Hydro Electricity

Solar Power

Wind Power

Related Posts:

Solar Panels For Sale: Tips To Buy Solar Panels

Why Buy Solar Panels For Sale To Generate Solar Power?

Pointers to buying solar panels for sale for your home use:

Related Posts:

Home Remodeling Design – Ideas To Renovate Your Home

Complete Or Partial Home Remodeling Design

Living Room Remodeling

Kitchen Remodeling

Bedroom Remodeling

Bathroom Remodeling

Related Posts:

Solar Energy – How To Quickly and Easily Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Switching to Solar Energy Can Make A Difference:

How can we use Solar Energy To Make Difference?

Related Posts:

Solar Energy Technologies

Department Of Energy’s Program

Solar Energy – Photovoltaic Cells

Solar Energy – Solar Thermal Technology

Small Solar Power Projects

Large Scale Solar Power Projects

Related Posts:

Residential Solar Panels And The Benefits Of Using Solar Power

Residential Solar Panels Has Other Obvious Benefits

Related Posts:

Adopting Renewable Energy Technologies Reduces Dependance On Fossil Fuels

Related Posts:

Building A Solar Panel

Building A Solar Panel In The Most Cost Effective Way

Some Money Saving Tips For Buying A Solar Panel

Related Posts: