Alternative Fuel Choice

Archive for the ‘Alternative Fuel’ Category

The very life of every living thing on Earth is dependent on the Sun. Without the Sun, we would not have animal or plant life, which provides us with food and companionship. Without the Sun, we would have died out in earlier days, without the Sun these days, we may last a while, but it would not be much of a life.

The Sun offers us much more too. What we now refer to as ‘alternative, sustainable energy’ was the only form of energy available to the world for thousands of years. Really, nuclear and even oil generated energy should be called alternative, but we have forgotten a lot. Especially in the West.

It is not essential to go back to the habits of our farming ancestors and get up and go to bed with the Sun, although it is still the way of life of the majority of the world’s population. No, we have technology and we should use it. At the moment, we use sophisticated technology to find more lakes of oil and dig ever deeper in more and more unreachable places to remove it from the Earth. Or worse still, we go to war to steal or guarantee supplies resulting in the death of thousands of young soldiers and the desolation of millions of ordinary, innocent citizens.

We have to use our fantastic advances in technology to produce electricity out of thin air. Literally. We already have the technology to produce solar panels and wind turbines in order to create millions of kilowatts of electricity from the Sun and the wind. There is other technology that can make use of the movement of the seas and the natural high temperature of the Earth itself, although some of these are only accessible in some areas. For example, wave power can only be taken advantage of, if you live on the shoreline.

However, solar and wind power can be utilized in any part of the world with differing levels of success. A permutation of the two varieties of power generators is perhaps best for most regions. These technologies have been developed more or less chaotically. What if we had spent our war chests of billions of dollars on advancing these technologies, instead of using them to level cities and kill people?

However, the technology is there to produce enough electricity to power a household. It is clear that we cannot wait for our governments to do much more for us. Their viewpoint is different, they do not want to harm big business. And the big electrical providers would be damaged if a significant number of people generated their own electricity and came off the grid.

The rich guys in government are stuck between a rock and a very hard place. They recognize that oil is running out; they know that much more electricity will have to be generated from the wind and the Sun, but they do not want to harm the share value of big industry.

Imagine, what a hard time the energy producers would have explaining why the cost of electricity had to go up because he Sun or the wind had increased its charges. Whereas it is easy to defend when they say that OPEC has increased the price of oil. But, we are in OPEC, aren’t we?

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with a favourite subject – alternative power sources. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.

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Electricity created from wind powered turbines is one of the most prevalent forms of energy from alternative sources and it is the fastest-growing variety too. Wind turbines are turned by the natural strength of the wind, so make electricity without ‘burning up’ any fossil fuels in the procedure. The faster (harder) the wind gusts, the more electricity is produced.

Therefore, wind turbines are best placed where there are prolonged periods of high wind. The coast line is often a good place to site wind turbines. In fact many coastal towns and cities are supplementing their existing conventional electricity supply with electricity created from wind turbines.

You can still produce energy from wind, even if the wind does not blow very hard where you live, but the return will be less. It may still be adequate, but maybe you should check out solar panels too. For example, it may suit your location to have a wind turbine for the winter and a couple of solar panels for the summer and winter back up.

Making a wind turbine is not rocket science, most people who are good with their hands can assemble a wind turbine with the aid of a good set of DIY plans. The real trick is to get all the components that the plans say you will need before you start. That way, you can focus on following the plans without having to nip off every now and again to get a part.

One valid point is that you should not be worried about creating too much electricity, because many the energy companies in many countries are required to buy your surplus electricity back off you nowadays. This is not a difficult process, you just have to stay plugged into the grid and your surplus electricity will flow back into the grid changing the numbers on the meter automatically.

In this instance your meter is read monthly or quarterly as usual, but you will be given a refund rather that a bill. The more wind turbines and solar panels you set up, the bigger a reimbursement you are likely to receive. In some cases, the units of electricity that you sell back are worth up to twice the units you use from the same electricity company.

Apart from the fact that you will not be receiving an electricity bill every month or that your bill will be hugely reduced, a very important point is that you will be one of the very, very few people who is not badly affecting our planet. You will not be so accountable for the greenhouse gases that are created by making standard electricity.

You have nothing to lose by learning more about creating your own electricity, coming off the grid and doing your bit for the natural world. The very least that can take place is that you read the information and become wiser on the subject and you may not implement you knowledge that you have learned. This would be a real pity, but not a big financial loss.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with a favourite topic – alternative power sources. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.

categories: energy,global warming,climate change,alternative,sustainable,solar power,wind power,home,health,technology,science,other,uncategorised,fuel

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Many people are sick to death of the rising cost of electricity, but they do not know what they can do about it. They have switched lights off; they have not turned lights on; they have unplugged devices on stand-by and they have turned the central heating down and the air con up and it has only saved them coppers. Yet still the electricity bills go up on a regular basis. It is very exasperating.

We have all heard of alternative and sustainable sources of energy, but the question is: how can average people instigate these technologies into their own homes? One phone call to a professional solar power installation company will persuade anyone that solar power is only for the well-off.

Similarly with wind power generation. A single device, which may or may not satisfy the electrical requirements of one average family will cost in the region of $45,000 and it is thought that, if it meets aspirations, that it will pay for itself after ten years time. $45,000 is too much money for most individuals, but having to wait ten years to realize that investment is too long for most people too.

So, at first glance, it looks like the average person is at the mercy of the oil companies and the electricity generators. However, it does not have to be like that. There are other ways of tackling the problem and extricating yourself from the control of energy providers. The first method would be to buy the solar power units and install them yourself. That would save you a lot, perhaps up to 50%. But you could go a step further and make the solar panels yourself as well, which would save you a great deal more money.

The fact is that the more of your own labour that you can put into the scheme, the more you will save, because the labour constituent in any task usually amounts to about 50% of the costs. We all know how costly it is to call a plumber in to fix a leaking pipe or a roofer to replace a slate. $100 for a slate? $100 for a dribble of solder? No, it is the tradesman’s time and the same is true of solar panel fitters.

The way out is to learn how to make the solar power units and install them yourself. It is not difficult. Any teenager can learn how to do it and so can you. Take it from me, learning how to assemble and install solar panels is not difficult. Just try it and see for yourself. You will amaze yourself and your friends. You may even turn it into a business!

The thing to do is get a reliable kit or a plan from a trusted source. This could be a neighborhood hardware or hobbyist store or from a specialist website on the Internet. Once you have your plan, you can buy the components. They are commonplace and on hand in most DIY shops. Then it will take you about a day to construct a solar panel that will supply about 100 watts.

This may not seem like much, but it will power many types of small machines or two average light bulbs. The trick is to keep adding to your stock of solar panels until you are entirely free of the electricity grid or even selling electricity back into it.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with a favourite topic, renewable energy advantages. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.

categories: energy,global warming,climate change,alternative,sustainable,solar power,wind power,home and family,health,technology,science,other,uncategorised,fuel

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I do not know whether it has ever occurred to you, but you can get off the grid. The electricity grid that is. Is it anything that you are interested in? For some people, getting off the grid is the Holy Grail of modern life. We all feel that we are being squeezed dry by the energy firms and our soldiers are being killed on a daily basis to safeguard the West’s supply of fossil fuels.

If the same amount of money was invested in developing alternative technology, we would not need to import so much oil, but that would mean less profits for the energy bosses as well. So the average guy on the street loses out to the rich oil tycoons and people are milked for money and people die on both sides.

You cannot rely on these people to help you use less energy, it is not in their interest. The only thing you can do is take the bull by the horns and sort yourself out. Get yourself off the grid, save yourself money in the long term and help save the planet and our soldiers too.

It is often assumed that self-sufficiency in energy is only for nerds, but this is not true, it is now within the reach of every family or household. If you have plenty of money, a solar or wind powered system will cost you about $45,000 and it will take about ten years to recover your investment by getting off the grid. However, you can have the same apparatus for much less than half that sum.

The fact is that technology has progressed rapidly in the realm of solar power, as it has in every other technological sphere. Scorching sunshine is no longer necessary to create a steady flow of electricity and prices have dropped. However, labour prices have risen and over-compensated for this fall. Herein lies your opportunity.

It is not hard to make your own solar panels and the components are readily obtainable in even small towns. The same holds true for systems that will create electricity from wind or water. The trick is to get a detailed diagram from which to build your solar panels or other equipment.

These plans are readily available online from specialist web sites and the components are available from DIY or hobbyist stores. Once you have crafted your sustainable energy resources, they are virtually maintenance free, although you may have to top up the batteries with sulphuric acid or distilled water.

Living off the grid is a wonderful feeling. Knowing that you are out of the clutches of the oil barons brings more freedom and the next time there is a power cut or a price hike, you can just give a smile and forget about it, because you will be living off the grid.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with a favourite subject, renewable energy advantages. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.

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Everyone these days is conscious of the issues of climate change, or as the boffins used to call it, global warming. It appears that even those people who call themselves experts do not know what is taking place. It is not very encouraging. However, what everybody does know, even without so-called expert advice, is that: the rate that we are using fossil fuel up is untenable; that that means that prices will rise and that it looks like the West is on the slippery slope.

So, what can we do about that? People are looking for guidance and help to reduce their dependency on traditional sources of energy like the national power grid and the petrol station, but the people that are in charge of these resources are loathe to give any real advice in case they lose their grip on society. People are starting to want to make themselves less dependent on the traditional power suppliers and would like to go it alone. Regrettably, most people do not know where to turn for guidance, but they have some vague notion about putting up their own solar panels.

However, without any easily understandable government subsidy or recommendations, people are left to do their best alone. And the fact is that the professional installation of your own solar panels is expensive. It costs thousands of Dollars, Euros or Pounds, wherever you are, which is why some people are looking into a do-it-yourself (DIY) solar energy system.

Sadly, without the appropriate guidance, home-made solar panels will barely run a low energy light bulb in the midday sun. A better way is to buy a self-assembly kit from a decent company and put it together yourself, following their instructions. After all, we all know that the labour constituent of any job is often equal to or more than the cost of the components being fitted. These kits come with everything you have to have to install your own solar panels.

These self assembly solar power packages are well put together and the instructions are normally well written and easy to follow. However, it is worth buying from one of the better known, big companies like GE, but you can do this from a web site that specializes in home sustainable energy systems.

You might like to turn the assembly of a few of your own solar power units into a family project, because that will teach the younger members of the family about how worthwhile energy conservation is and introduce them to electronics.

These home solar panel systems are completely expandable, so you do not have to deprive yourself of that new dishwasher, although the fact is that modern appliances are using less energy than their older counterparts did.

Just imagine if you had a bank of your own solar panels and you became 50% independent of the national grid. And then you put in a few more panels when you had the time and eventually became totally independent of the grid! And then you started adding a few more and were in point of fact selling electricity back into the grid. It is all possible with your own solar panels.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with a favourite topic, renewable energy advantages. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.

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Have you ever thought about building your own wind turbine? It is not as simple as making your own solar panels but it is not hard either. Making your wind turbine look attractive is a bigger problem than making electricity from it. The first thing you need to do is get a set of plans to make a wind turbine and then set about buying all the parts.

Assembling the pieces of equipment is easy. The bits and pieces can be picked up cheap from car scrap yards and your local DIY store. Just think of being even only 50% self-sufficient in electricity? Add in a few solar panels or a second wind turbine and you could soon be off the grid completely.

Everyone knows about the continually increasing cost of electricity and that it would be a good idea to generate energy from the wind and the sun just for the cost of the generators – the wind turbines and the solar panels – so you may be asking yourself why it is not a good idea to just go out and buy what you need from a professional installer.

Well, the answer to that is expense. Professionally installed wind turbines can cost tens of thousands of dollars and it can take 20 years to recover the cost. On the other hand you can make your own for between $200 and $500.

If the turbine saves you $200 a month then it is obvious that you will have recouped your costs within three months maximum, if you assemble the turbine yourself. This is a very good incentive as with a little regular maintenance it will last you 15-25 years. Let’s just say 15 years or 180 months at at least $200 per month. That is $36,000 or an 7,200% return on capital.

Wind generated electrical power is very green as it takes practically no fossil fuels to make it. I say practically none, because it may require a little engine oil to keep the blades turning smoothly. And that is it. You may have to replace a bearing from time to time, but that is the scope of your maintenance routine. It is not severe. You will also have to put some water in the batteries from time to time as well, unless you buy the sealed units, which you cannot top up.

It really is not so difficult to build a wind generator. The average DIYer can complete this project with everyday tools. There are detailed instructions and drawings available on the Internet or at DIY stores to build a wind generator in your workshop at home.

So why not start to make yourself a wind turbine today? Fix it on a roof or a pole and start generating your very own free electricity. You could be off that grid more quickly than you know it and you will be doing more than your bit to help the planet too.

If you want to read more about home-made wind turbines and solar panels, there is plenty of advice on the Internet.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with a favourite topic – alternative power sources. If you are interested in Sustainable Energy At Home, please click through to our site.

categories: energy,global warming,climate change,alternative,sustainable,solar power,wind power,home,health,technology,science,other,uncategorised,fuel

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