Sungevity, Make solar more affordable than ever Lowe House

If you have been on the fence about installing solar panels home, listen to it.

Sungevity, one of the largest installers of solar CalFinder, finalized just a partnership with Lowe to provide solar energy affordable for the average owner. This is enormous, given the extent to which Sungevity makes solar already profitable.

Offer solar lease agreements with no initial payment plans Sungevity install iQuote kiosks in various stores of home renovation of Lowe. The kiosks will provide instant quotes via sattelite analysis of your roof.

For the quotes from solar cost in your area, click here.

These kiosks include instant are supposed to pop up in some solar States larger, including California, Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and Delaware.

Their attractive solar rebates, which may reduce your installation costs in half by region, is unique to these States. Sungevity has had an impact in each of them.

Here is what makes Sungevity solar lease calls:

No money to low and low monthly paymentsAverage of 15% saved on energy bills immediatelySolar maintenance and monitoringMoney-back performance guaranteeEquipment of insurance system

An agreement of this kind of innovative tears down the barriers of high initial cost. The owners more that can never afford to install solar panels, save on energy costs and do their part for the environment.

Sungevity has a winning business model, and we are proud to ask a certified installer of CalFinder.

Click here to start your own solar journey.

Posted on May 20 by going solar in Brittany.

View the original article here

Home to break the source solar in D.c thunphlangngan

With over 300 days of sunshine per year, San Jose, California with limitless potential for solar PV installation if you have access to a power output throughout the year. You should consider home solar panels for your property. Costs come down at any time and users in the San Jose than ever.

To find out how much and the cost of installing solar panels in your area. Click here.

The size of your home is the biggest factor in determining the amount of PV installation costs. When you find your installation program. They will assess your home for various factors such as:

Home solar power systems in the range from a few thousand price to $ 30000 and up. State and Federal Government to reduce However, they reduced the cost by 40%-60% depending on where you live. Initial investment can be recouped later via a very low power tickets.

The advantages of using solar energy and reduce your carbon footprint and you need to pay for other energy sources. Similar to natural gas for heat and electricity for lighting appliances and heating. In addition, you can see most of your investment back in tax season. When you apply for any credit you receive.

Install photovoltaic panels housing are eligible for 30% tax credit up to repository through the Government, while the State of California to reduce more solar water Heaters for use inside the building there are eligible for federal loan 30%

Local and State reduction can be applied. You might want to have a power audit completed on your House to install solar panels. Energy auditor can make recommendations for upgrading the energy you need in your home like a symbol of your investment around windows and door insulation. Latho CD instead of a window or even new heating and cooling system with them. You can take advantage of solar energy systems has more and save money in the process.

In addition to the 30% federal rate with offers to install photovoltaic of California also have reduced and savings programs for the go solar California Solar discount types of Initiative are complete through local utilities, which for most San Jose PG Bruce E utilities that show your energy in General and the home inspector to make sure that you are eligible for a cash discount.

California offers rebate program covering most States. Decrease varies depending on the political field and utilities that are used in current customers of Pacific gas and electric Southern California Edison and San Diego gas and electric can earn $ 0.00 per watt of solar energy is created. However, this would reduce the $ 1.25 £ when capacity to so it is best to get a cost estimate soon.

Free solar home is expensive initially, but with many discounts that you will pay significantly less than the price you are offered, you will still see a large savings in energy bills. Keep money in your Pocket now.

Photo by Mjmonty Bruce Jesse Wagstaff

Posted on 24 July in funding solar by Brittany

View the original article here

Solar rebates are Highest in the County of Los Angeles

You may have heard that LADWP has developed its programme of solar rebate pending. But for those of you in the territory of Southern California Edison (SCE), your chances for scoring amazing solar rebates are much higher.

In fact, PBS always offers best solar rebates in Los Angeles (and all of California, indeed). The California Solar Initiative, eligible owners receive $ 1.10 per watt of solar installed.

To know how much it costs go solar in your area, click here.

Therefore, if solar costs an average of $6 per watt, which is a little more than 18% saved on your installation. Add to that the 30% return from residential renewable energy tax credit, and you've eliminated almost 50% of your total expenses.

For example, if your system costs $ 25,000, you would pay only $12 500 after rebate.

State savings rebate = federal tax credit savings ~ 20% = 30% Total incentives = ~ 50%

It is phenomenal, given that many programs of reimbursement to the United States have been reduced, suspended or cut completely because of an overwhelming demand. PG & E in Northern California and the California Center for sustainable energy (CCSE) currently offer only $0.65 per watt, or about 11% savings.

It is important to note, however, that these discounts do not last forever. Incentives CPE reached 42% of their capacity, so when those who remain discounts are attributed, encouragement of levels drop down to the next level, or $0.65 per watt.

You can check the size of the State Tracker delivery trigger for updates on how much money is left. Soon you will find an installer, less cost of your system. Estimates are easy to find and can be obtained for free by clicking here.

You do not know if your home is eligible for discounts of CPE? The County territories include a large part of Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Kern, Tulare, and Inyo.

We recommend obtaining your roof for solar potential. A Certified Installer can determine if your roof gets enough direct sunlight collection, among other factors.

Posted on May 16 in solar funding in Brittany.

View the original article here

Marines take portable solar chargers in battle

Portable solar chargers have become relatively cheap and readily available and can be a lifesaver, if you need to load your phone or tablet in displacement. For the Marines in the field, the devices can be literal rescuers: troops rely on a multitude of electronic devices to do their job and, normally, transported to batteries with them (3-4 days). That creates a lot of weight on individual navies; It also creates a higher demand for supply convoys which may come under attack by insurgents, who, traditionally, fuel generators have served as the only recharge option.

But a lightweight and flexible solar panel is resistant to the requirements of the battle? Body decided to discover and started testing these devices in environments of formation in summer 2010. This year, the company of the Indies (company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment) were taken in real combat situations in the Sangin Valley the Afghanistan. The results are positive: Marines were able to keep their devices running and dramatically reduce the amount of replacement batteries that they should wear.

Portable chargers are an element of a wider drive for renewable electricity in the Marine Corps: the same company also experimented with large solar panels to their base of operations, and the body hopes that the success they saw with small and large solar technologies moves worms their long-term goal of requiring deploy fuels mobility by 2025.

Oorah! Watch the video above for more details on the experience of the company of the Indies with solar energy and let know us if you have other ideas about how the marine (or other branches of the army) could operate more efficiently with renewable energy technologies.

Jeff McIntire-Strasbourg is the founder and editor of sustainablog, where he wrote generally less martial matters, such as green building and the bicycle culture.

Posted on May 13 in Sun products by guest author.

View the original article here

Poll: What gets you solar enthusiasts?

We know that solar is wonderful in all its forms. But our question for you is more specific: what topic, the category or the facet of the solar industry gets you will have more illusions? What seek you in the morning news on this subject? What solar topics are your absolute favorite?

Take a second must weigh on our poll below. We would like to know what is on your mind.

For the cost of going solar in your area, click here.

Photo credit: WikiMedia via CC

Posted May 4 at CalFinder solar in Brittany.

View the original article here

Internships for green energy at dancing rabbit Ecovillage

Uber-amazing solar article today comes Jess dancing rabbit Ecovillage avalanche. If you've never heard of rabbit dance, it is a community out of network of some 50 people in northeastern Missouri. People are committed to live more sustainable as possible and have even developed an infrastructure powered by renewable sources to run computers, internet, phones and more. Dancing rabbit, is where technology and sustainability merge as never before.

If renewable energy systems like solar and thermal looks like a fit for you, see Jess article below. These courses are advanced, at least.

And get your own rooftop solar installation help, click here.

Dancing rabbit Ecovillage offering two courses of green energy this summer. Candidates must have a firm grounding in engineering of relevant topics. They you expect to understand principles of common methods of thermal energy generation respectful of the environment and will examine the various technologies that could potentially be used to fuel a broader eco-village.

These courses call for people committed to the environment, but also able to understand and apply the concepts of advanced engineering. Trainees will be installed in the village and eat, socialize and interact with the community. They expected you to participate fully in the life of the Ecovillage and produce a piece of research which will be transformed into action.

At the present time, Dancing rabbit is about 50 people, and all the energy is generated on the site. A large part of the food consumed it is grown in the village or locally, and houses are built using the latest and most effective green building techniques. Those who live there are committed to the sustainable lifestyle in all its forms, which means always using technology of ethical and effective.

As an opportunity, at the Dancing rabbit summer internships to adapt any person interested in the technological concepts with the environmental concerns of mesh. If engineering for sustainability if your passion is your chance to make a real contribution.

The main points of internships are valuable contacts in the industry and experience in the workplace. They have a chance to demonstrate the skills you have learned from a college diploma program and can be the best way to show employers you have what it takes to get things done.

But there is another aspect. The labour market has never been virulent. Employee of high-paid white collar of today should put more hours, more effort and more creativity. Complete a stage shows that you are ready to work hard to get your foot in the door and to land a great job with the starting of your dreams salary, that is all that you need.

Not everyone is motivated purely by finance. An internship may also be the ideal way to enter in an industry that really inspires you. Environmentally friendly electricity production is in its infancy now, and there are a lot of smart graduates wishing to obtain the level of the soil before it took off from masterful way. The fact that the eco energy is the future is no longer in dispute - we are quick to reach a scientific consensus on the reality and the causes of global warming and oil reserves are not going to last forever.

Jess avalanche worked with dance rabbit during more than a year. It acts as a consultant in green business for companies such as the spirit of the fountain and outside of the Appalachian mountains. As many friends and residents of the ecovillage, she qualified Ph.d. and commitments firm both sustainability and science.

Christine Cooney, offering home plans & designs, as well as plans online supports the distribution of this content.

Images courtesy of dancing rabbit Ecovillage and davedehtre

Posted on 18 may in the Sun News in Brittany.

View the original article here

Arizona solar incentives still going

Arizona has seen an explosion of interest in solar energy, especially in Phoenix and Tucson. And it is not surprising small; a large part of the State Gets an average high of 99 degrees during the summer. Great interest for the harvest he accompanies sunshine amply.

To know how much it costs go solar in your area, click here.

But there is some confusion surrounding solar rebates and incentives in Arizona. Recent cuts have decreased APS returned to $1.45 per watt for systems related to the grid and $1.35 per watt (up to 5 kilowatts) for the Salt River (SRP) project.

While the State and utility rebates are falling, they are not, as many believe, hollow or leaving owners in the dust.

In fact, the system of reimbursement of Arizona is designed to encourage solar sooner or later. Thus, when owners more acting on refunds and install solar panels, decreased faster these discounts. The goal? Finally more people let go solar.

What some of these costs are similar? Unbelievable, in fact. $1.45 Per watt rebate are stellar, especially from the current reimbursement of California, which has already fallen to $0.65 per watt because of the soaring demand.

In the plain of dollars and cents, if solar costs $ 6 per watt, you save approximately 24% with rebates from the State. Add to that the federal tax credit of 30% on installation costs, and that you save a grand total of 54%.

In fact, the cost for a system of 5 average kW in Arizona is $ 27,000, according to the SRP. Factor of discounts for the tax credits, and you are looking for a labour cost $. In addition, of course, solar energy can reduce your bills by 85% or more.

All considered, solar incentives is very affordable. But it may not be good for everyone. It is best to communicate with several installers, to shop and compare bids for more affordable contract.

You can obtain estimates quickly and free of charge by clicking here.

Then, be sure to come back and share your story of solar success with us!

Via Ahwatukee. Photo by Joncallas

Posted on May 11 in solar funding in Brittany.

View the original article here

How Much Does Home Solar Cost in Sunny San Diego?

Could not connect to http://api.microsofttranslator.com/v1/Soap.svc. TCP error code 10060: A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond 207.46.192.223:80.
An error occurred while receiving the HTTP response to http://api.microsofttranslator.com/v1/Soap.svc. This could be due to the service endpoint binding not using the HTTP protocol. This could also be due to an HTTP request context being aborted by the server (possibly due to the service shutting down). See server logs for more details.

With an average temperature of 70 degrees, San Diego offers plenty of free solar energy for the taking.

In fact, the city makes it easy to install renewable energy, providing a whole host of rebates to cut your costs. And our top San Diego solar contractors can help you get the most out of those incentives.

I’ll break down the major ones below, but believe me, this is only the beginning.

To learn how much it costs to go solar in your area, click here.

The largest incentive comes from the federal government, which offers a 30% tax credit for home solar installations. This credit isn’t capped, so you really can subtract 30% from your total costs.

Next, the California Solar Initiative (CSI) offers rebates from the state. The sooner you go solar, the higher your rebates will be. Currently, San Diego Gas & Electric offers a rebate of $0.65 per watt. So, if solar sells for about $6 per watt, you’re saving roughly 11% with the state rebate.

That, plus the federal credit, brings your total costs down to 59% of the asking price. But if you’re interested in going solar, it’s best to get your solar estimates soon, as this rebate will decrease again once capacity is reached. See the Trigger Point Tracker for rebate updates.

San Diego Gas & Electric also offers rebates under California’s SASH program. Rebates range from $4.75 to $7 per watt, and go to households that earn half the area median income. That’s a free solar PV system.

Households that earn 50-80% of the median income can also qualify for a partially subsidized system. To learn if you qualify, call GRID Alternatives at (866) 921-4696 to walk you through the process. You can then let CalFinder Solar match you with a licensed San Diego installer by clicking here.

Solar panels installed by December 31, 2016 may qualify for 100% property tax exclusion.

Qualifying solar power systems include:

Solar pool and hot tub heating systems are not included. Your exemption can be claimed for the fiscal year you install. Call your county assessor’s office to see if your solar energy system qualifies.

Rebates up to $1,875 are also available for solar hot water heater installations. Under AB 1410 of 2007, $350 million was set aside for water heaters that displace traditional gas-powered and electric models.

If you installed a solar water heater after July 15, 2009, you may be eligible to claim your rebate retroactively. Applications are still being accepted for solar heaters installed now, as well. See the CSI Thermal Program for more information.

I’ll break down the major ones below, but believe me, this is only the beginning.

Posted on May 10th in Solar Funding by Brittany.

View the original article here

How much is the cost of solar installation in San Francisco?

San Francisco is one of the best cities for solar energy installations. We have helped more owners in the area of the Bay to obtain solar estimates that almost everywhere elsewhere in the country. And it is probably because San Franciscans are extremely lucky discounts and incentives. They have not two, but three types of incentives that make solar affordable. Today, I will bring federal tax credits, rebates from the State, city discounts and incentives utility to go solar in the city by the Bay.

Solar energy is not known to be a good market. But State and Federal Government respond to that and brought all sorts of measures incentives owner for going solar in San Francisco. These incentives, plus the long-term energy savings, make home solar panels more affordable than ever.

To learn how much it costs for solar installation in your area, click here.

The incentive greater is the Renewable Energy tax credit, which pays you back a whopping 30% of the costs of installation after State of discounts kick in - and it is without a Cap. Therefore, if your system costs $ 30,000, you get a tax credit of $10,000 and spinning your meter probably towards the rear for the next 25-30 years.

Second, all owners must know about the California Solar Initiative, a State agency that provides cash rebates for systems up to 30 kilowatt-hours (systems typical House of 3-7 kW range). Discounts are measured by watt that you install, with an average of 9 to 14% return through discounts.

But declining system of discounts in California, the amount you receive depends on when you install the system. This is called the Expected Performance-Based of reduction of interest, which dictates that earlier you go to solar, refunds you are eligible. Rebates are paid in a lump cash sum when your system is connected. However, if you wait too long, you might miss. Once the State has achieved its goal of 350 megawatts, CSI discounts expire. It remains to see if they will be renewed.

Delivered State are calculated through your local public service, which, if you live in San Francisco, probably PG & e. currently, PG & E offers a discount of $0.35 per kilowatt-hour of solar energy produced. Once again, this refund will decrease to $0.25, once reached the capacity for the current level. Owners are encouraged to act quickly to take advantage of utility discounts, which can add up to thousands of dollars returned.

The third round of rebates to San Francisco come from GoSolarSF, which has been extended to June 2011. A table below shows the specificities of the dollar and who is eligible for how much. Average rebates through GoSolarSF are $ 2,000 - an incredible additional bonus for San Franciscans. Even better is the rate for low-income applicants who strikes the $7,000 cost of your system.

Companies can also get $1,500 per kW of installed capacity (up to $10,000). Therefore, if you have installed a 3 kW system for your small business, you will receive an additional rebate of $4,500. It is too good for any business owner to let pass.

Average residential PV systems costs are approximately $8.70 per watt (as calculated in January 2011). It is approximately $34,840 for a 4 kW system, which is the table of average size.

Let's say that you want this system 4 kW, and with tax, it is about $36,000. With a roof of the South face inclined 30 degrees (ideal conditions), your upfront cost is $22,820. Which is an economy of $inhabitants, i.e. 37%.

As you can see, the reimbursement of the CSI State nets you $1,400, GoSolarSF refund takes you $ 2 000 (except if you are low income or eligible for more information), and the federal tax credit is reimbursed $9,780.

Then, once your system helps reduce your invoice of electricity by 85%, you'll save $1,820 per year.

That removes the cost of your first year up to $20,980 total.

Amazing, no?

Compare estimates for your own home by by clicking here.

Posted May 3, solar financing in Brittany.

View the original article here

Discount of Oakland, CA slice 60% off cost solar home

Famous for their commitment to greener lifestyles, Oakland, California residents have pushed hard for the incentives to go solar. The result is a variety of ways to finance your solar panels in 2011.

We will explore the most popular solar incentives for Oakland, which can reduce your costs of installation of at least 60%.

To see how much it costs go solar in your area, click here.

The initiative of the California Sun, most of the owners in California can obtain solar refunds of their local public services. If you are a client of the Alameda Municipal power, your rebates are above the average at $2.25 per watt of installed solar energy.

This means, is that you can save about 30% of discount for State only and money is provided initial for your system. This allows the most Oakland homeowners go solar than ever before.

However, the discount is set to decrease by $2.09 next year, it is wise to consider on this soon. You can get a free solar evaluation of your home by clicking here. Know that most California discount already declined $ 0.65 per watt, the sooner you call an installer, you will earn money.

Owners who buy their electricity from Pacific Gas and electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric may also be eligible for CSI rebates. Click here to learn more about discounts in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

Incentives for solar heating systems are usually disbursed in two ways: either as a sum unique installation, based on the estimated output of the system, or payments for five yearsbased on the actual effectiveness of the system.

Your property should have the roof space or ground with the light of the Sun from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the year.

The incentive another giant is the federal tax credit, which gives you right to a return on your taxes to go solar for 30%. Solar energy systems installed on primary residences or secondary before the end of 2016 can receive federal credit.

With these two measures of incitement taken into account, here is an example of what might look like your solar energy costs:

system of 224 (priced at $7 / watt) = $28,000

Reimbursement of AMP (priced at $2.25 / watt) = $8,999

Subtotal (except the reimbursement of the AMP) = $19,001

Federal tax credit (~ 30% x $19,001) = $5,700

Final to go solar cost = $13,300

Total savings = $14

In Oakland, your savings still exceed the costs. It is impressive, considering that certain public services have had to reduce or defer incentives in total in the wake of the high demand.

If you thought that it was the end of solar rebates and incentives, I have a surprise for you. Here is a list of new and existing programs, in all of the Bay area and California each designed to facilitate the rapid adoption of solar energy.

PG & E has been responsible for connection almost 30% of the nation to the grid solar customers. Available for customers of PG & E, NSHP is an incentive cash for builders of new residential buildings. First of all, candidates must apply to CSI and meet certain requirements, found on PG & E Web site.

Another program of the ISC, this program provides funding for homes to low income, installation of photovoltaic systems. Rebates for this program are so high that it is essentially a free solar system. Find out if your household is considered here.

Similar to the sash, MASH provides incentives for multifamily residential housing to low income. This program has already benefited 4,213 California tenants and property owners to date.

California currently provides exclusion of 100% of the property tax on installed solar electric systems and components. Systems must be installed by December 30, 2016. Are also eligible solar water heaters, solar thermal electricity and mechanical energy. Your County Assessor Office can help you claim this exemption.

Fees calculated to install solar systems on homes can be added to the mortgage without increasing the necessary down payment, with the Federal EEM program. More information on this topic at hud.gov.

The city of Oakland has developed a program that began in Berkeley, where owners can pay an increasing level of taxes in exchange for initial funding, funded by the city of their solar electric installations.

Pace programs, as they are commonly known, have unfortunately was put on hold while city programmers try to repair the dam has implemented by Giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan. Solar lovers from around the world hope that they will be reopen soon.

The growing popularity of solar, or photovoltaic (PV) electric systems has increased the level of technology in the field while simultaneously driving prices down. In 2010, the cost of solar panels fell by 40%, at a price wholesale between $3.50 and $4.00 per watt to-2,25 $ $1.75 per watt. Even more important is the absorption of the Government rebate and incentive programs, stimulated by this same understanding of the necessity of new methods to provide clean household energy.

The shift from alternative and renewable energy systems reduced year after year solar installation costs. The cost of the decrease of the facility, the enhanced efficiency of solar electric systems guarantees that they will pay for themselves, in a few years or less. How much you save depends on your exact location, eligibility and a number of other factors. Contact solar electric practitioner to learn how much money you can save right now.

Photos via - Marlith - and Mjmonty

Posted on May 17 in solar funding in Brittany.

View the original article here

Solar in New Jersey: break costs, discounts and estimates

New Jersey makes it easy to go solar. Driven by a programme of advanced, the Garden State has the second PV facilities most after California and kept our solar installers CalFinder hard at work.

But the owners of New Jersey are the real winners. Due to a set of innovative incentives, in New Jersey is now cheaper to go solar.

Estimates for a solar panel is easy and helps you determine if your roof is a good candidate for panels.

To compare prices in your area, click here.

Then, read on to see what is available through solar rebates in New Jersey.

Immediately the bat, most of the owners to the United States to qualify for the residential renewable energy tax credit of 30% efficiency PV and solar thermal installations. The original credit created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 capped of the credit to $2,000.

Resumption American and Reinvestment Act of 2009, however, improved credit to cover the full cost of hand of work and equipment - non-30%. The credit may be carried forward in the coming years if necessary for the purposes of the tax.

Public budgets more of PSE & G, NJ, for a loan program. If eligible, PSE & G loan program funds 40-60% of the cost of installation. They guarantee a fixed minimum SREC, locking of monthly payments for the duration of the loan. ACE, JCP & L and RECCE are regional public services that offer programs of funding and creative incentives for qualifying customers.

Now, we will bring real savings for an average solar system.

Front of incentive: 5,000 watts x $5 per watt = $25, 000State discount 2011: N/a = $25,00030% federal tax credit: $7 500 = $17, 500SRECs: approximately $3,000 first-year = $14, 500Payback to annual SRECs ranging from $3 = before 5 years

SRECs are a class of one-of-a-kind assets designed in 2004, providing a monetary credit for each megawatt generated from solar energy. This unique financial model is the cornerstone of the solar success of New Jersey.

Solar adopters can sell or trade these certificates to the market rates. The dynamics of the market for power system of New Jersey through base offer unprecedented and demand. Payments are measured by total megawatts generated, so that consumers benefit if they use the energy or not.

New Jersey law States utilities must produce 5,316 gigawatts of solar energy by 2026. Utilities buy SRECs on the open market to meet the requirements of the State. The market remains optimistic, because average prices have fluctuated in the range of low $600 in the first quarter of 2011.

New Jersey solar rebate program has gradually the success of the RCS system for residential customers. Renewable energy incentive program (PIAs) are more upfront solar rebate budgets.

Master plan the energy of New Jersey, rich with solar incentives, has experienced an increase of 140% megawatts in 2010, primarily due to the affordable formula for residential adoption. March 31, 2011, had been installed more than 8 900 solar companies and consumer systems.

New Jersey has exceeded the mark of 100 megawatts in 2010, becoming only the second State to perform this Green feat. The powerful combination of Government choirs and the adoption of the consumption pushed the State to the forefront of the U.S. to renewable energy movement.

Traditional energy is very expensive, and the Government believes in parallel systems will reduce the burden of cost per watt for businesses and residents. Also, solar companies follow lawmakers, and New Jersey has proved hospitable for manufacturers, solar installers and creditors compete in the solar industry of still young at the United States.

Photos via Flickr Creative Commons

Posted on May 6 in solar funding in Brittany.

View the original article here

Shiva Rea: Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga

Restore energy, strength, and balance everyday with world-renowned yoga teacher Shiva Rea in the Shiva Rea: Daily Energy DVD. Offering seven 20-minute practices, this program will help you fit yoga into your busy life without having to repeat a workout.

Price: $19.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

OWI Frightened Grasshopper Kit - Solar Powered

An educational robot and mini solar toy. He's small, but he's an attention-getter! Explore the potential of solar power with this neat science item. The Frightened Grasshopper Solar Powered Bug Teaches about forms of alternative energy. Shows how solar energy can be used to generate electricity. Illustrates how radiant energy from the sun can be transformed to electrical energy with a PV cell A motor inside the grasshopper transforms electrical energy to motion Functions best very close to a non-florescent light bulb or in direct sunlight An attention-grabbing display piece related to solar power for a science fair project, class discussion, or just out-of-the-ordinary play.

Price: $14.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Who Killed the Electric Car?

It begins with a solemn funeral…for a car. By the end of Chris Paine's lively and informative documentary, the idea doesn't seem quite so strange. As narrator Martin Sheen notes, "They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust and ran without gasoline." Paine proceeds to show how this unique vehicle came into being and why General Motors ended up reclaiming its once-prized creation less than a decade later. He begins 100 years ago with the original electric car. By the 1920s, the internal-combustion engine had rendered it obsolete. By the 1980s, however, car companies started exploring alternative energy sources, like solar power. This, in turn, led to the late, great battery-powered EV1. Throughout, Paine deftly translates hard science and complex politics, such as California's Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate, into lay person's terms (director Alex Gibney, Oscar-nominated for Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, served as consulting producer). And everyone gets the chance to have their say: engineers, politicians, protesters, and petroleum spokespeople--even celebrity drivers, like Peter Horton, Alexandra Paul, and a wild man beard-sporting Mel Gibson. But the most persuasive participant is former Saturn employee Chelsea Sexton. Promoting the benefits of the EV1 was more than a job to her, and she continues to lobby for more environmentally friendly options. Sexton provides the small ray of hope Paine's film so desperately needs. Who Killed the Electric Car? is, otherwise, a tremendously sobering experience. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from Who Killed the Electric Car? (click for larger image)

Writer/Director Chris Paine Blogs About Who Killed the Electric Car

When Who Killed the Electric Car premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (on the same weekend as An Inconvenient Truth), we wondered whether movie goers were ready for a new kind of 'action film'. Fortunately people jumped onboard and this seems even more true today.

We put this DVD together after the release of the film to include a dozen short scenes we couldn't quite fit into our story. My favorite is one with Stan and Iris Ovshinsky who developed the revolutionary battery technology that powered GM's electric car (and today's Prius). These two brilliant octogenarians took our small camera crew on a Willy Wonka style tour of their inventions including the world's largest thin film solar cell factory. As we stood under a football field size machine in Troy Michigan, I blustered "Is solar power back?" Stan exclaimed " What?! Solar never went away... What was back was backward thinking!" And as his machine cranked out miles of solar cells above us, we knew he was right.

I'm especially glad that the optimistic last scene of Who Killed the Electric Car has proven that we weren't just wishful thinkers when we finished our edit. The clips feature the first glimpse of the ultra fast Tesla electric sports prototype as well the Zenn neighborhood electric vehicle. Both cars are starting to roll off production lines today. And while the State of California (and some car companies) are still gambling on hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in cars are proving to be more environmentally efficient and popular. Early adopters deserve a lot of the credit. Oil companies and the internal combustion engine monopoly may have "killed" thousands of electric cars (EVs) in the 1990s, but EVs are coming back. (Stay tuned for next film...)

I hope you'll find our documentary takes you on a wild ride out of the 20th century and into the 21st. --Chris Paine, Writer/Director

Price: $14.94

Click here to buy from Amazon

Use thin layer solar cells to get a much more cheaper form of green power

Solar energy is a well established form of renewable energy. However with the present solar cells being rather thick, the cost of solar energy systems prove to be rather expensive for anyone to invest in, and use.

This is why researchers and experts in Durham University are busy developing thin layer solar cells.

These experts are trying to develop light absorbing materials that can be used for the production of thin layered, solar photovoltaic cells. These cells are used to convert the light energy from the sun into electricity.

This is basically a four year project where numerous experiments have been tried out on different materials to find out the material that is less expensive, but sustainable enough to use in the manufacture of solar panels. Today, the thicker and silicon based cells and compounds with the rare and expensive metal indium, are used to create solar panels.

So in a bid to find cheaper and more efficient materials for efficient energy production, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has funded this research. The research now consists of the development cheaper and more sustainable variants of thin-layer PV cells with the help of materials like cadmium telluride and indium diselenide.

In addition to this, the team is also working on means of manipulating the growth of these materials so that they form a continuous structure that helps in the conduction of energy that is trapped by solar panels before being used for electricity.

With this, it is expected to find an improved efficiency in the functioning of the thin layer PV cells.

The research team hopes that with the development of cheaper thin film PV cells, the cost of solar panels for the domestic market gets reduced while the usage of solar power increases. Today, only one hundredth of one percent of UK’s home energy is provided by solar energy.

With thin layer PV cells used for making solar panels that fit on roofs, homes that have surplus electricity being fed back to the National grid are powered with the necessary power. This leads to cheaper fuel bills and dependence on fossil fuels.

The main reason for this research is to find materials for generating solar energy so that solar energy is made more affordable to the common man. People will definitely buy a system that could be bought off the shelf, and provide even a fraction of their energy needs, if it was economical enough.

When considering the cost effectiveness of the system, you have to consider how many pounds have to be spent for getting a watt of power. So with cheap solar panels, you are sure to get a winning product that many people will want to buy.

And with the nano-scale resolution microscopes that have been funded for the study by the Science Research Investment Fund, it is possible for scientists to find out what limits the performance of solar cells.

Wiring a home for Solar Electric Power

Solar energy is one of the more sought after sources of energy in the market today.

With solar energy, air pollution is reduced as there are no fumes that are emitted while working with solar energy. Moreover, solar energy is available for free; where you only have to pay for the solar energy system, its installation and wiring.

The wiring of a home that is to run on solar electric power has to be done by a skilled person, and with care to ensure that electric devices and appliances in the solar powered home are used safely.

However if you intend to plan or design a solar home, it is better to do so after understanding the process of getting solar power from the solar cells and panels to the outlets and appliances found in your house.

Though homes with solar power and homes with fossil fuel generated power sources use 120 volt alternating current, there are differences in the wiring and additional equipment that is usually used in the expensive electric power grid.

Though you will have to pay some initial expenditure for installing your solar energy power system, this investment pays for itself over a period of years where you in fact, end up saving money you would have spent paying for the costs of increasing traditional power rates.

It is important to insulate your home well when planning a solar home. Buy windows that are not only well sealed, but also double paned. They have to be installed so that there is no seepage of drafts around the window frames and door jams. You also have to be specific about attic and ceiling insulation as the less the amount of heat and cool air that is lost to the outside, the les is the energy required to replace comfort controlled air. With this, there is less demand made on your solar electric power system.

Your solar power generator needs a battery meter and a start-stop switch. You need more electric outlets here than in a non-solar home so that task areas are lighted and not entire rooms. Place a few low voltage outlets to save money in devices using little energy like telephone answering machine, fan and others.

Don’t forget to place a few electric outlets outside so that the solar electric power system can be used for powering tools and for any outside activities. Remember that you get lots of extra free power in summer where you can think of using an electric lawn mower or fountain pump. You could also consider providing lighting for a shed or garage for power tools and emergency battery charger to start your car with.

You could also install special 12 volt DC motion sensor lights at the entrance of your home so that it lights up even if the inverter is in idle mode. Remember that solar powered homed don’t allow for 220 volt AC appliances operating from 240 volt AC section of wiring.

If you need such appliances, you will have to depend on traditional power to use them. However it is better to buy appliances using 120 volt models as most equipment are available this way. With this, you will be able to use all your equipment with solar power in your solar power home and thus save lots of money in the fuel costs of your home.

Scientists work on converting Solar Energy to Fuel

Solar energy is an efficient source of renewable energy that arises from the sun, and is available aplenty around the world. Solar energy does not cost any money, and neither does it cause any pollution to the atmosphere as no gases are emitted when using it.
This is why solar energy is a preferred source of energy that does not worsen global warming.

Solar energy is presently used in the form of solar cells and panels where solar energy is converted into electrical power to supply power for homes, offices and even for use in consumer products like calculators.
This is why a team of scientists are working on a means of converting solar energy to fuel.

Once it is possible to use direct conversion of sunlight into chemical fuels, it will help overcome the problem of the greatest disadvantage and problem of solar energy; day and night variation of solar energy. With solar fuel, it will be able to use solar energy even at night when there is no sunlight. In addition to this, it also helps by providing solar derived energy that can be used in transportation, industrial and residential applications.

These scientists at Yale and 12 other institutions will share 12.8 million in funds over the next three years to try and develop cheap, robust and efficient photo catalytic cells having visible light power with water cleavage that produces chemical fuels using both sustainable and economical viable resources.

This goal or idea in solar energy research is not something new as the idea has been in force since the past three decades. The main aim of these researchers lies not in converting solar energy to fuel, but in the maximum use and improved efficiency of solar energy utilization.

These scientists aim to reach their goal by attaching manganese complexes to titanium dioxide nanoparticles. With this, they intend to develop a type of system that has the capacity of efficiently producing renewable fuel with the help of solar energy.

According to these scientists, the research that they are conducting is part of their aggressive basic research in physical science which is more often referred to as ‘transformational science’. With this form or branch of science, they aim at achieving a new generation of breakthrough technologies which has the capacity of pushing the cost effectiveness of renewable energy sources to such levels that can be compared with the levels of petroleum and natural gas sources.

With this research, this team of scientists from Yale expects to find a comprehensive molecular level understanding of both the dynamical and structural principles of solar energy. With this, they expect to achieve breakthroughs in achieving efficient photo catalytic devices to be used for harnessing solar energy.

It is expected that the focus on solar energy become rather significant in the future years as more and more devices are developed for converting solar energy to electricity. And with solar energy soon getting converted into fuel through the efforts of these scientists, it won’t be long before solar energy rules the world.

Thin Solar Cells for cheaper Green Power

The increase in the amount of harmful gases from the burning of fossil fuels has led to an increase in global warming of the earth.
This is why people are now turning to alternative sources of renewable energy that can be harnessed to provide for the electricity and energy needs of mankind. One such source of energy is solar energy.

Though solar energy is available for free and aplenty around the world, the costs associated with setting up a solar energy unit proves to be too expensive for everyone to use solar energy to power their homes.

This is why scientists are looking for new ways of harnessing this solar energy so that it will be cheaper for everyone to use solar energy to power their homes.

Scientists have now working on developing light absorbing materials that can be used in the production of thin-layer photovoltaic (PV) cells. These PV cells are used for converting light energy into electricity. This research involves the scientists conducting experiments while using different materials that are less expensive and more sustainable for the manufacture of solar panels.

Presently, most of the solar panels are manufactured using thicker silicon based cells with compounds that contain indium which is a rare and expensive metal. As this is thick and is manufactured from a rare metal, this is an expensive option for producing solar energy. Researchers are therefore working on developing thin layered PV cells with the help of materials like copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride.

Research is going on for the development of cheaper and more sustainable variants of these materials for producing solar energy.

In addition to this, researchers are looking for means of changing the growth of these materials so that they form a continuous structure. Having a continuous structure is essential for conducting energy trapped by solar panels, before this energy can be turned into usable electricity. With this, there is an improved efficiency in these thin-layered PV cells.

Researchers hope that the development of more affordable thin filmed PV cells will lead to a decrease in the cost of solar panels in the domestic market. With this, it is envisioned that the use of solar power is increased while the dependence on fossil fuels, reduced.

At present, only one hundredth of one percent of the home energy needs in UK is provided by solar energy.

With the new thin layered PV cells, solar panels will be made and fitted to roofs to help power homes. Any surplus electricity in a home will be fed back to the National Grid, for safety purposes. With this, cheaper fuel bills are also envisioned in the future.

So with the cost of the materials required to start harnessing solar energy being rather expensive, its uptake has slowed down considerably.

So researchers hope these thin solar cells will make it cheap enough for a consumer to be able to buy a solar energy system off the shelf, to use for their energy needs in the future.

Solar Power in Cars

Solar energy is one of the many renewable sources of energy that is used for fueling vehicles, running consumer products and for the efficient running of homes and business establishments. Solar power is harnessed with the help of solar cells and solar panels which are placed in the item that has to be powered.

The solar car is something that is envisioned to materialize in the future, with some countries already having solar cars racing across countries.
With this, it is proven that it is viable to indeed produce and manufacture solar power cars in bulk, in the near future so that everyone will soon own a solar power car.

Of course, once solar power cars are manufactured, it does not implicate that all other fuel sources for cars on highways will be removed. All that is done in solar power cars is the supplementation of traditional fuel with solar energy so that you save not only on your economy, but also save the environment in more ways than one every year.

The solar power cars that are used in races today run only on solar power, and thus look odd in appearance. This is because these cars are designed in such a way that they can collect maximum solar energy with which it is possible for the car to gain the required speed and desired efficiency.

The solar cells used in solar power cars are large, and usually cover the entire vehicle. However in case of commercial uses, solar cells are much smaller and designed so that the vehicle not only looks attractive, but is also efficient in its functioning. Solar cars can be used for short commutes in town as these cars can work only on solar energy.

The batteries found in the vehicle stores excess solar power so that this power can be used when solar power is not available on demand like on cloudy days and at nighttime. The engines found in these solar power cars are very much like the engines found in electric cars found today. In addition to this, the cars are lightweight, so that solar power can be used more efficiently.

At present, there are many types of solar power cars in the development stage today, which are also available for sale. However as these cars are in the developmental stage, the car is not available to the general public. With so many benefits found in solar power cars, its cost will not be much higher than the cost of the traditionally powered vehicles of today.

Another benefit of solar power cars is there is no hassle of stopping at gas stations for gas nor is there the need of getting worried of rising gasoline costs. With a solar power car, you save on the money that you would have otherwise have needed for buying fuel to run your car. In addition to this, with solar power cars you will be doing your bit in stopping global warming problems as there are no fuel emissions from solar power cars.

Solar cells can put power stations in space

The dwindling supplies of fossil fuels that the earth is facing with modernization and increased use of electricity has lead to researchers and scientists looking for alternative sources renewable energy.

These alternative sources of energy have to be competent enough to provide the required energy not only for consumer products but also for use in vehicles and for powering homes and commercial establishments.
One of these sources of energy is solar energy which is found aplenty around us.

Though solar energy is already being harnessed today to provide electricity to homes and establishments, research is being carried on to build and use large scale solar power stations in space.

These power stations will be able to able to beam electricity to not only earth, but also to the moon and other planets. With this, there will be no need of people from earth depending on the dwindling supply of fossil fuels for their energy needs.

Scientists are working at developing these next generation solar cells that work wit th help of advanced technology that has the capacity of placing a solar power system in earth’s orbit. In fact, these researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology have just been awarded a three year, $200,000 grant to develop nanomaterials that will be used in these solar power stations for efficient utilization of solar energy.

These nanomaterials are basically materials which are no bigger than a billionth of a meter in size and are to be used in this space solar power program. Though this idea of space solar power has been around since the 1970s, nothing much has been used to implement it.

However scientists and other visionaries have always remained intrigued by the idea of creating space solar power systems. They had ideas of a football field sized ‘blankets’ made of solar cells that has the capacity to generate tremendous amounts of power for use on planet earth.

With this idea, these scientists are working at creating a new and improved solar cell that is competent enough to produce electricity for the whole earth. These solar cells are thin, light and efficient in producing electricity.

The solar cell used here are thin film devices that sandwich tiny granules of semi-conductor material known as Quantom dots and carbon nanotubes. Moreover, to put such large sized arrays in space, these products will have to be both lightweight and flexible. In addition to this, these solar cells have to have the capacity of withstanding the rigors of space.

Though today’s technology is not sufficient to make this happen, there are many theoretical possibilities that are offered by nanomaterials that makes it possible for this idea and vision to become a reality soon.

Solar cells are cheaper with its boost in efficiency

Increased number of vehicles, consumer products and homes all require an increased amount of electricity. However the dwindling supplies of fossil fuels in the world today has made it necessary for scientist and researchers look for alternative sources of energy.

Solar energy is one source of renewable energy that is found aplenty in the environment and is harnessed for the supply of electricity.
However though solar energy is available for free, the installation of a solar energy system requires a sizeable investment, which makes it not feasible for everyone to use and depend on solar energy for their electricity needs.

This is why a group of scientists from UNSW are working on a breakthrough to boost the efficiency of solar cell technology where the price of an installed solar system for a house falls from about $20,000 to $15,000.

The main reason for the high cost in about 45% of the existing solar cell technology is attributed to the high cost of the silicon used in these cells to convert sunlight to electricity.

The reason silicon is used in the electronics industry is because it is stable and non-toxic. However though silicon has these advantages, it is basically a poor absorber of light.
So to reduce costs in its production, scientists are now using cheaper, thin film cells that have less silicon than the expensive thick silicon wafers that are usually used in solar cells.

However there is a disadvantage to these one to two micron thick films of solar cells where they have the capacity of converting only 8 to 10 percent of incoming sunlight into electricity. This is in comparison to the 25% efficiency of the thicker, but more expensive silicon wafers used in solar cells.

This is why scientists are looking at ways of boosting the efficiency of thin film technology, while keeping costs as low as possible.

There has been some success in this avenue with researchers at UNSW’s ART Photovoltaics Center of Excellence reporting a 16 fold enhancement in the light absorption of 1.25 micron thin film cells, for light having a wavelength of 1050nm. In addition to this, the scientists have reported a 7 fold enhancement in light absorption in the more expensive wafer type cells having light wavelengths of 1200nm.

At present, most thin film solar cells are between 8 to 10 % efficient. However with this new technique, it will be able to increase the efficiency of the solar cells to about 13 to 15%. This is a considerable improvement in solar cells as if these cells are below 10% efficient, it is not affordable to install them in your homes. This is because they take up too much of roof area to power the house.

In fact, once its efficiency approaches 15%, then it will be considered to be commercially viable to use it for homes. This is because an average home will have sufficient energy for its home with a solar system with panels covering 10 square meters. However this does not include the consumption of energy for cooking and hot water heating. With this new procedure and technique, more homes are expected to depend on solar energy for their energy needs in the near future.

Solar Energy. The future source of energy

The concept of harnessing solar energy for the use of production of energy has been around for a long time.
However as this is and was an expensive option for many people, it was rather impractical for people to invest and bank on solar energy for the provision of their energy needs.

However today with the advancements made in technology, solar technology is now being made available at lower costs and with improved efficiency.
With these advancements made in solar technology, pretty soon consumers will be able to buy consumer products that run on solar energy like cell phones, automobiles, computers, office buildings and homes.

The present research that is being done on improving solar products includes the discovery of ‘plastic’ solar cells that has grown very much in popularity.

With the new ‘plastic’ solar cells, there are some chemical modifications done to the titanium oxide layers which are slotted to improve the solar efficiency to about 15 percent in the near future.

So far, plastic solar cells have been developed that produce efficiencies between 5 to 6 percent, which is considered to be amongst the highest found to this date, for this type of solar cell. With these developments, there is to be a wider use of plastic solar cells which are low cost, efficient and a long lasting source of solar energy.

Another group of professors in Switzerland have developed a form of dye-sensitized solar cells that very efficient in its functioning. This is one of the many types of thin film photovoltaic devices that are being developed today that show promise as a low-cost source of energy. These new cells have an ultra thin film of semiconductor crystals that are nano-sized.

These cells have been proven to show efficiencies of 11 percent in laboratory studies. This is in contrast to other new solar cells that have efficiencies that range between 4 to 5%. These cells can be coated on glass windows so that it is possible to supply electric power to homes and businesses.

They can also be used as coating on tents to provide power for soldiers on the field and campers on a trip. These cells are easily engineered into inexpensive, flexible sheets and are expected to be used in consumer applications in two to three years’ time with an unlimited number of ideas for its applications.

Yet another group of researchers for solar energy have found a new and promising means of boosting the efficiency of solar cells. In their research, carbon nanotubes were engineered into the structure of semiconductor solar cells that results in a doubling of the photo conversion efficiencies of the cells.

With this, the efficiency of solar cells jumped from 5 to 10% in some cells because of the carbon nanotubes. These carbon nanotubes can also be used in other types of solar cells like dye-sensitized solar cells and organic solar cells that are used based on conducting polymers so that there is a similar or stronger boost in efficiency.

 

Using horse muck as a form of energy

Horse owners own horses for many reasons like for transportation, as a hobby or for racing purposes.
However not many people have really known that horse waste can be the base for an invaluable and renewable source of energy too.

With the need for new sources of energy to fuel vehicles and provide electricity growing everyday, researchers have found some good news in being able to produce energy from horse muck.

It is the company Global Greeven Solutions Inc., and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association that have been conducting negotiations to start the company Florida Greensteam Equine Energy LLC.
This is proposed to be an energy producing company that converts horse biomass into energy with the help of straw and wood chips. The resultant energy that is produced from horse muck is used to form electrical energy that can be sold in the local grid of Florida for its use.

However there have not been any definitive agreement signed upon for the government of the formation and operations of the joint venture of Equine Energy.
This is because the current agreement that has been signed only reflects the intention of the two parties, and nothing more than that.

It is the Global Greensteasm’s high-efficiency cyclonic burner and its heat recovery steam generator that have been specially designed and formulated. This speical formulation is to ensure that the burner and generator can handle and generate energy from horse muck.

In fact, the chief operating officer of the company states that the ecotechnology used in the Global Greensteam process helps in generating renewable energy.
This energy that is produced from horse muck is actually produced while complying with the most stringent of air quality regulations.

The main reason the generation of energy from horse muck takes place in Florida is because Florida is a state that has over 600 thouroughbred horse farms and training centers for horses. With so many horse farms and training centers, there are quite a few horses found here, which tend to generate much more animal waste that can be eliminated and taken care using normal means.

So instead of letting all this waste go to waste, researchers have found a means of using this humongous amount of horse muck in creating energy, and electricity that proves to be useful to the people of Florida. According to records, there are about 50,000 thoroughbreeds and other breeds found in the Ocala region that produce more than 400,000 tons of animal waste in a year.

Though most of this horse muck; about 60 – 70% can be land applied or composted to get rid of it. However there still remained a need of finding out an earth-friendly method of effectively removing the remaining 30 – 40% of horse muck from the surfact of the earth.

And this is, and how horse muck and straw or wood chips have been used to help in creating a new, and renewable source of energy that the world is looking for.

 

Sunforce 86115 Solar Garden Lights pack of 10

Sunforce 10-pk. of solar garden lights with bright LEDs automatically turn on at night to illuminate yard or garden. Application: Outdoor, Light Type: LED, Power Source: Solar, Light Color: White, Batteries Required: Yes, included, Lights Included (qty.): 10

Price: $49.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

The manufacturing process of Windmills

Windmills are used to harness the power of the wind to produce electricity. Usually windmills are erected using pre-made parts, on site. The basic fan type windmill consists of the tower, gearbox and fan.

Tower parts are usually made of galvanized steel using a roll of coiled sheet metal that is put on a de-spooling device to be fed to the production line.
The sheets are run under a straightener to remove twists and kinks and then cut to the right size and shape.
sometimes the pieces may be placed on a machine to roll and weld seams wherein its ends are passed under a crimping machine to be moved to the finishing station.

Holes are drilled in the metal parts of the finishing station at specific places, as per the windmill design.

These parts may be painted or coated before being fit into a windmill.
The gearbox of the windmill has various gears, rotors, wheels and axles found in it which are die cast and assembled by hand. These parts are placed in a weather resistant housing that is built to accommodate the gearbox parts and the attached wheel and tail assembly. The fan of the windmill is made of a metal rim that is attached with curved blades.

A hole is drilled in both ends of the rim which are connected with a small screw and clamp, to which the fan blades are attached.

The rim is then connected to a center axle, and attached with five pairs of evenly spaced spokes. The fan blades and tail of the windmill are cut from a sheet of metal and run through a machine to give them a curve.
They are then attached to the metal rim using small bolts and metal clamps so that they can be raised or lowered depending on the wind.

The site the windmill has to be placed has to be an area with a prevailing wind of at least 15 mph. the area has to be cleared of trees and other structures that block wind. Sometimes, a dirt mound or concrete base is build to raise the windmill so that it catches more wind.

When assembling the windmill, the main body parts are connected first, to be bolted on the ground and then raised vertically. Connecting rods are used to join other poles while clamps are bolted at joints for stability. Once the tower is raised, it is loosely bolted to the base wherein stay wires are strung from the ground to the tensioners and ground anchors.

When leveled, the bolts are tightened and its integrity tested.
Sometimes a ladder is built in the design for easy access and maintenance at the top. then the fan wheel, main shat and gearbox are attached where the gearbox is first clamped and bolted to the top of the tower.
Then the main shaft is inserted into the bottom of the gearbox wherein the fan and its axle are connected to the gearbox.

This is when the tail section is attached to the gearbox wherein the pump is hooked to the main shaft to make the windmill operational.

Xantrex Technologies 851-0178 XPower 175-Watt Micro Inverter

The Xantrex Technologies XPower Micro 175-watt inverter transforms your vehicle's electricity so you can power your electronic devices while on the road. Compact and lightweight, it simply plugs into the 12-volt DC outlet in your vehicle to power cell phones, camcorders, small portable stereos, laptop computers, 13-inch TVs, portable work lights, and more. It includes an automatic shutdown feature to protect against overload, over-heating, and high/low battery condition. This durable plastic unit is just 1.9-by-2.9-by-4.8 inches in size and weighs 0.38 pounds. It is covered by a 1-year warranty.

Price: $44.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Using fat to make biofuel

The engineers from North Caroline State University have developed a new biofuel technology to turn any fat source into fuel that can be used for powering jet airplanes.
Any form of oil can be used for the production of fuel like vegetable oils, animal fat and even from algae.

The technology used here in the creation of the fuel is called Centia which means “green power” in Latin.

NC State has received provisional patents for the process of converting fats into jet fuels and for additives in cold weather biodiesel fuels.

Researchers of the process claim that besides being “100 percent green” this technology has its advantages over other biofuel projects as any lipid based feedstock or raw material with a fat source can be used for converting into fuel.

Even the low quality feedstock like cooking grease can be used for producing fuel. This low quality feedstock reduces fuel production costs by 30% when compared to using corn or canola oils to make fuel.
Moreover this form of fuel production does not compete with the demand for creating sufficient food supply to be used for fuel production.

Another benefit of Centia in creating fuel is that the resultant fuel burns cleaner and is better for the environment.
With Centia, what other biodiesel processes throw away, is put to use. In other biodiesel processes, a low value commodity called glycerol is obtained as a by-product. This is usually discarded in other biodiesel plants while NC State engineers burn it to provide the necessary high temperatures required in Centia.

Creating a fuel fit for rockets has to be done by a rocket scientist, especially if it is to be done from oils or agricultural crops. This is because the chemical and physical properties of other biodiesel fuels don’t match the requirements of jet fuels. This is because jets travel at 25,000 to 35,000 feet with temperatures that reach 70 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. This is why jet fuels have to be able to flow better in cold temperatures.

There are four steps to the Centia process where the first one consists of engineers using high temperature and water pressure to rid the accumulated feedstock of oils and fats from free fatty acids.
Then the free fatty acids are placed in a reactor for the decarboxylation step where carbon dioxide is taken off the free fatty acids.

With this, scientists are left with alkanes or straight chain hydrocarbons of 15 or 17 carbon atoms, depending on the feedstock that is used in the process.
On the completion of these two steps, any fuel can be prepared; this is why the last two steps of the process changes according to the fuel output that is required.

The straight chains are broken up into molecules with branches in the last two steps. This makes the chains more compact while changing its chemical and physical characteristics.
A mixture of molecules of 10 and 14 carbon atoms are required for producing jet fuel and biodiesel fuel while gasoline needs only eight carbon atoms.

Scientists control the process to get the fuel that they require and then with chemical tweaking, they create the final desired fuel. Comparatively, animal fats are harder to work with, but cost wise, they are better.

However the resultant jet fuel from these fats proves to save lots of money in the budge of the aviation industry.

 

Use your booze as your future fuel

Till date, all types of alcoholic drinks, or booze as they are commonly called, are produced only with the intention of drinking for socializing, fun, recreation and to drown one’s sorrows.
However the researchers of Abertay’s School of Contemporary Science have found a different and more beneficial use for alcoholic drinks.

The researchers here have been awarded the prestigious Carnegie Trust Research Grant to help them in the investigation of turning the residues that are found in the production of beer and whisky, into a form of renewable biofuel.

This is anticipated to be a project that takes about a year to find new methods of turning the spent grain of these drinks into an efficient biofuel, bioethanol.

Bioethanol is a much more environmentally friendly alternative to the present fossil fuels you find around you.
The reason it is considered better to using bioethanol, instead of traditional fuels for your fueling purposes is that it is CO2 neutral. It is also produces 65% less greenhouse gas emissions because it burns at temperatures that are at a much better level for fire safety.

With the supply of fuel being predicted to be finite, with half of the world’s oil supply already having been consumed in the passed 200 years, scientists are looking for simple and cost effective means of producing more biofuels from low value and waste products. there is a race going on for finding environmentally friendly alternatives to fuels for the future of the world, and this is why spent grains of alcohol and beer manufacture are considered to be a safe and efficient option for this.

Today Brazil and USA together produce over 70% of global supplies through the creation of bioethanol from sugarcane and maize starch respectively.
Though the US has beaten Brazil in its production, Brazil is still the largest exporter that sends about 3.2 billion liters of bioethanol in the last year alone.

Like all things in life, there are some negative aspects to this method of generating fuels. Both these countries tend to create an increased demand for land to grow the energy crops they require for generating bioethanol. In fact, in countries like Brazil, the safety of tropical forests too is threatened where even the benefits of using biofuel too may be cancelled out.

This is why researchers are considering using the waste products received from the manufacture of alcohol for creating biofuels. This may be a more complicated process of turning waste products into bioethanol. However it is a perfect example of a second generation biofuel.

The products used for the creation of this biofuel is usually disposed of or at the most, used for processing animal feed.

Instead of this, using them to produce fuel would be an attractive means of using this resource. However presently, there are many technical challenges and hindrances that have to be overcome to help in converting waste biomass into fuel.

And the search is still on for a more efficient and cost effective process for producing biofuels from alcoholic wastes.

 

Solar Powered Battery Charger with Meter Charges 2 "D" - "C" - "AA" - "AAA" Batteries

Brand New Universal Solar 11-in-One Battery Charger with Meter
Charges 2 "D" - "C" - "AA" - "AAA" Batteries
Designed for charging most popular types of rechargeable batteries: D size (UM-1), C size (UM-2), AA size (UM-3), AAA size (UM-4) and 7 different size GUM (Prismatic) Batteries!

Description: This is the most versatile battery charger available on the market today. The solar panel is incorperated into the hinged cover which can be angled for maximum sun exposure. It goes beyond ordinarily employing the sunlight strength to charge your Ni-Cad batteries. Its in-built meter shows you the following conditions:
-The strength of the sun
-The strength of the current out-put from the solar panel
-The time required to fully charge the different types of batteries


This battery charger incorporates a built-in blocking diode to prevent reverse flow of electricity from charged batteries during storage. It is environmentally safe, cost efficient and trouble free. The polycarbornate transparent cover makes the charger weather resistant. This charger is an ideal gadget for camping, fishing, boating, and picnics. It is equally suitable for home use. It is designed to charge 11 different types of batteries: 7 different thickness "GUM" (prismatic) rechargeable batteries and the 4 more common batteries: "D," "C," "AA," and "AAA" size batteries. The table below shows more detail



Regular Batteries GUM (Prismatic) Batteries
D-Size (UM-1) 1500mA 5.6x16.4x66.2mm 600mA
C-Size (UM-2) 1000mA 5.6x16.4x66.2mm 720mA
AA-Size (UM-3) 500mA 6.1x17x67mm 650mA
AAA-Size(UM4) 180mA 7.8x16.4xx66.5mm 850mA
8.3x17x67mm 900mA
10.5x17x67mm 1200mA
10.7x17x67mm 1750mA


Specs
Voltage (VOC): 5V (maximum in full sunlight)
Current (Isc): 140 mA (maximum in full sunlight)
Dimension: 19 x 8.7 x 4cm
Weight: 260 Grams

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Quick Start Energy Program

Victoria's Secrets! Perfect Program For Men Or Women! Natl' H & F Celebrity's Diet Program For Unlimited Energy!

Check it out!

Casio Men's GW530A-1V G-Shock Atomic Tough Solar Watch

For a modern look, the Casio Men's G-Shock Atomic Tough Solar Watch #GW530A-1V features an easy-to-read digital-gray dial face, which is protected by a mineral dial window. A day-date-and-month calendar brings at-a-glance readability. Other details include a world-time-zone tracker, a stopwatch, and a 4-daily-alarm-with-snooze option. The stylish band is made of black resin for a sleek look, and it comes equipped with a secure buckle closure. The watch also features a stationary resin bezel and 46.3-millimeter stainless steel case. Designed to accommodate your many needs, this handsome timepiece ensures highly reliable technological precision. It is powered by solar movement and is water resistant to 660 feet.

Price: $130.00

Click here to buy from Amazon

Ultimate Energy Savings Guide: Secrets to Reducing Your Energy Bills!

Guide to preventing home energy loss and drastically reduce energy bills. Full of strategies, tips and tricks.

Check it out!

The concept of Spray on Solar Power Cells

Solar energy is one of the many renewable sources of energy that is today used for providing electricity and for use in many consumer products. Though solar energy does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere; it has a drawback that it works only in the presence of sunlight.
So in a bid to overcome this default of solar energy, scientists have now invented a plastic solar cell that has the ability of turning sun power into electricity even on cloudy days.
These plastic solar cells work based on nanotechnology and is the first solar cell that can harness the energy found in the sun’s invisible and infrared rays.
With this finding, theorists predict that plastic solar cells are basically five more times efficient than the technology that is presently used for solar energy.
Making these plastic solar cells is easy as the composite just has to be sprayed onto the material to make it be able to use solar energy. In other words, with this composite, you have a sort of portable source of electricity.
With a sweater that is coated with this composite, you will be able to power a cell phone or any other wireless device.
Similarly, a hydrogen powered car that is painted with the composite helps in converting solar energy into electricity, which in turn can be used to continually recharge the battery of the car.
With this idea, scientists and researchers envision a ‘solar farm’ to develop in the future where the plastic material is rolled across deserts so that the solar energy found here is harnessed to generate sufficient energy to supply power to the whole planet.
It is a known fact that the sun power that reaches the earth delivers 10,000 times more energy than is consumed by man today. so scientists infer that if at least0.1 % of the earth’s surface is covered with very efficient, large area solar cells like this composite material, it is possible to replace all the other energy sources on earth with a single source of power that is not only clean but also renewable.
The concept of plastic solar cells is not new; however the material that was used so far only harnesses the sun’s visible light.
It is only half of the sun’s power that is found in the visible spectrum; the other half lies in the infrared spectrum. It is this new material that is the first plastic composite that has the capacity of harnessing this infrared portion of the sun.
All things that are warm radiate heat; even people and animals. This is because there is some power remaining in the spectrum, the infrared portion that is emitted even when it is dark outside.
Specially designed nano particles called quantum dots are combined using a polymer so that the plastic detects energy in the infrared energy of the sun.
In the future, with further developments, it is predicted that this new plastic will be able to harness a maximum of 30% of the sun’s energy, in comparison with the 6% of solar power that is harnessed today in the best plastic solar cells.

Technicalities of windmills

The wind found in all parts of world has its own wind energy; and in a bit to not let this source of energy go to waste, people have been using windmills to harness this energy.
In fact, it is because traditionally wind energy was used to grind grain into flour that it the word ‘windmill’ had come to mind.
The windmill is machine that converts wind into energy with the rotation of a wheel of adjustable blades. Though skilled craftsmen design windmills, it is possible to construct windmill on site using hand tools.
It was in the 18th century that windmills attained maximum prominence in Europe. However they were largely replaced as energy producing structures with the use of steam power in the nineteenth century.
Today there is a large renaissance in windmill technology as it promises to be a feasible alternative to fossil fuels in the future. You can find two types of windmills that are used for harnessing energy; windmills with a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.
It was during the early development of the windmill that the vertical axis design grew popular. However with its inefficiency in operations, researchers came up with the horizontal axis designs in windmills. There are numerous types of horizontal axes versions of windmills that include the post mill, fan mill, tower mill and smock mill.
The post mill is the first design in horizontal axis windmills which was named so for the large and upright post where the body of the mill is found. It is possible to turn the windmill to catch maximum wind, depending on the direction of blowing wind. There is a support structure that is built to keep the post stable while it is elevated from the ground with brick or stone to prevent its rotting.
There are four blades fitted to a central post in a post mill. Its horizontal shaft is connected to a large break wheal that interacts with a gear system called the wallower. This wallower in turn rotates a central and vertical shaft which in turn is used to power water pumping or grain grinding activities.
The smock mill is similar to the post mill, with some improvements. Its body looks like a dress or smock, and so the name. in this mill, the top of the mill is moveable, and this allows the main body structure to be permanent while the rest of the body is adjusted to collect wind, no matter which direction the wind blows. As the main body does not move, it is larger and taller than the power mill.
This larger body permits more equipment to be housed in the mill, and the use of taller sails to collect more wind. Though most smock mills are eight sided, it can vary from 6 to 12.
Tower mills are more improved than smock mills which have rotating caps and have a permanent body of brick or stone. This makes it possible for towers to be rounded, which allows for taller and larger towers.
These towers also make the windmills more weather resistant. All these windmill designs service entire towns, while fan mills are meant for individuals.
March 10, 2011 | Filed Under Articles, Renewable Energy