Sunday, May 2, 2010

Adventure in Living off the grid



Off grid living is obtainable for anyone and you too can enjoy the life of off grid living no matter where you make your home.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Is a Solar Electricity System Right For You?

If you are thinking about purchasing a solar electricity system for your home or business then you are joining millions of other energy-conscious individuals around the world. Solar electricity systems provide reliable, pollution free energy from a renewable resource better known as the sun. Solar electricity systems are becoming more affordable as advancements are made in photovoltaic designs and construction.

Adding to the affordability, many solar electricity systems are able to participate in net metering in several states. This means that as your solar electricity system generates more power than you are using, your meter runs backwards resulting in an even swap of power that you use at other times when you exceed the power supplied by your own solar electricity system.

Before you invest in a solar electricity system for your home or business, it is best to understand exactly what you are purchasing and how solar electricity is generated. The building block of any solar electricity system is the photovoltaic cells, which are wired together to produce solar electricity modules. The electricity produced from the modules or panels is then passed through an inverter that changes the current from AC to DC, making it usable to power household appliances and the utility grid. It is often a popular choice to include batteries in a solar electricity system to store backup power to be used in times of low sun light and power outages.

It is important to realize that solar electricity systems work intermittently or only when the sun hits them. This is not a problem if you utilize battery backup systems or are connected to the grid. Installing a solar electricity system can also come with an initially high investment cost and it can take years before the system pays for itself. However, with net metering and government funded rebates, many are able to pay off systems much more quickly.

You definitely don’t need to know the physics of solar electricity systems to understand its appeal. A solar electricity system will never run out of fuel nor will it increase our dependency on foreign oil. Stop thinking about a solar electricity system for your home or business and start investing in your freedom by starting your research of solar electricity systems today.

Benefits of Green Solar Energy

To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed. There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light. Thermal energy is considered passive solar. This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building. By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure. The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems. The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity.

The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money. Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business. Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system. In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.

The most important benefit of utilizing green solar energy is completely environmental. With polar ice caps dwindling away and climate changes creating tragic storms world wide, it is increasingly obvious that steps must be taken to decrease global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels. Green solar energy provides a clean energy alternative as it creates little pollution and does not contribute to global warming.

Green solar energy systems can be used by homes and businesses alike. If going solar cannot meet all of your energy needs, it can certainly reduce them. Utilizing green solar energy can save you money, but it’s greatest benefit is to the environment and our future.

Build Solar Electric System: How to Make a Home Made Wind Generator

Build Solar Electric System: How to Make a Home Made Wind Generator

How to Make a Home Made Wind Generator

Free Wind Power Generator Plans Instructions

Can Anyone Live Off The Grid?

When you talk about alternative energy and living off the grid, a lot of people feel instantly that they will have to give up most of their modern amenities to live in such a fashion. Many more think this is an endeavor solely for granola loving hippies, whose modest ways coincide with fewer technologies, TVs, ACs, etc. The truth is, living off the grid is a possibility open to anyone. Granted, you may have a larger investment if you are powering three chest freezers and all high-energy appliances, but this would simply mean you need a larger system.

The increased demand for renewable energy technology has led to the development of more efficient and easy to use components to make living off the grid a reasonable option for anyone willing to be mindful of their energy consumption.

Using renewable energy sources to produce electricity is a fairly simple process. You need a power source-sun, wind or water-from which you will harness a low voltage direct current that is then converted, using an inverter, into usable house current (AC). Excess current generated by your system is stored in battery banks where it can be retrieved during more high demand times or times when the direct energy source is unavailable.

Living off the grid with renewable power resources is almost completely automated as well. Except for the maintenance of your batteries, there is almost no special attention needed, other than monitoring your energy use to make sure you do not exceed your supply with your demand. The key to success in living off the grid is making sure you size your system to meet the demand of your energy needs.

Living off the grid can be an exhilarating experience. The feeling of energy freedom is like no other and you can be proud of your efforts to combat global warming and best of all, you may never have to worry about a power outage again. It is important to conduct your research and determine which alternative energy sources will work best for you in your geographical area, but it is definitely worthwhile to learn how to live off the grid and feel the rush of freedom being off the grid can give.

Generating Solar Electricity: Use The Power of The Sun

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When asked about alternative energy or renewable energy, most people think of solar electricity. Generating electricity from the sun is a technology that everyone knows well. Whether it is your pocket calculator, home, or workshop, regardless of your power needs, solar electricity can get the job done.

Solar electricity has a number of unique advantages over conventional or grid-based electricity. Solar electric systems can be designed for a variety of applications and are extremely beneficial in remote areas where other electric opportunities do not exist. In addition, photovoltaic systems that generate solar electricity have no moving parts therefore requiring minimal maintenance, are easily expandable, and with many smaller units, transportable.

Environmental compatibility is a huge selling point for converting to solar electricity. The fuel for generating solar electricity is a free renewable resource, the sun. Solar electricity offers no noise pollution and actually almost no pollution from their operation. Another appealing factor for many who choose solar electricity over conventional electricity is simply the independence. It is an attractive offer to many rural dwellers to know that when the lights go out due to storms or blackouts, theirs are still working. No longer a slave to waiting on hold to report an outage to find it will be 10 hours before their service will be restored.

The hardest part of converting to solar electricity is the cost of the system. Investing in a solar energy system can be a substantial upfront cost. The value of solar electricity is realized over several years. A professionally installed solar array for an average dwelling (avg. $100/month in electric bills) could pay for itself in 5 years. You could reduce that number by building your own solar panel system or by purchasing a used system. With many solar energy systems in less rural areas and only in some states, you can sell your unused solar electricity back to the electric company. In these situations the return on your investment is realized much more quickly.

Using the power of sun with solar electricity is a benefit to the environment and to your home. Solar electricity is already being used to supplement power for a number of large cities in North America. Take time to learn more about solar electricity and how you can have trade in your electric bill for a carefree life with solar electricity.

Off Grid Living-You Can Do It Too

More and more people are realizing that you can still enjoy modern amenities while enjoying the independence of off grid living.  Being off the grid means being exactly that, off the grid.  No power lines, no electric bills, and being free of utility grid demands, not to mention their ever-rising rates.  Off grid living is environmentally friendly and cost effective and it is an option available to almost any one owning a home.

The principles of off grid living may be applied to any home in the world, even those currently tied to the grid.  From solar panels, hydropower and windmills, there is growing curiosity in off grid living and breaking free from fossil fuel burning power plants.  The technologies have advanced and the costs have dropped greatly.
Even do-it-yourselfers can take leaps into off grid living with many kits, resources and manuals available for instruction.  As energy demands increase globally, those living off grid can rest easy knowing their own energy costs are diminishing.

The idea of off grid living can be scary to some who believe they will have to give up some of their most prized possessions and electronic gadgets to achieve such freedom.  This is very far from the truth.  Off grid living is simply about learning to moderate your use of electricity.  It can be as simple as turning off lights that are not really in use.  Purchasing appliances that don’t use energy when not in use (like clocks on microwaves and stoves).  Learning to unplug, not just turn off.  Things like computers and printers, well anything with the little green light that is always on, these items are stealing precious energy and adding to your bill.  Wanting to become part of the off grid living adventure, doesn’t always mean giving up everything, sometimes it just means getting smarter about the things you have.

Off grid living has gotten so popular that even completely re-locatable high efficiency homes are being produced to meet those needs.  Very similar to mobile homes and travel travelers in layout and definitely only designed for a one or two person dwelling, these housing units use solar power, passive solar design and a small amount of natural gas to provide off grid living that you can take with you when you move.

If you are interested in off grid living, but need more success stories to drive you over the teetering point then start your research on the Internet.  There are tons of great resources available and individuals who took the plunge into off grid living with great success telling their stories.  Imagine, no more gathering around that one little candle when the power goes out, or having the neighbors over to watch their favorite shows when there is a blackout.  Off grid living is obtainable for anyone and you too can enjoy the life of off grid living no matter where you make your home.


Learn To Build Wind Turbines

How would you react if your neighbor told you she was going to build wind turbines? Pretty impressed? The truth is that it is not difficult to build wind turbines and many homeowners are taking the challenge to build their own wind turbines as a cost-effective means to utilizing renewable energies. It isn’t exactly snap-your-fingers easy to build wind turbines either, but with the proper plans and a motivated builder you can be building wind turbines in no time.

It is definitely your best bet, before setting out to build wind turbines, to purchase an instruction manual or guide to follow. Remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to instructions. Make sure you find a manual that is easy to read with detailed instructions. There are also many online resources and forums to help guide you through your wind turbine building process.

To familiarize yourself with the basics, before you get started on your project to build wind turbines, there are four basic components to wind turbines. To build wind turbines you must be familiar with the towers, the batteries, the turbines and the tail and propeller assembly. The tools generally required to build wind turbines are simple as well, you will need wrenches, a saw and a drill. There may also be a need for additional tools depending on how of the wind turbine you will be building yourself.

One part that you will probably be ordering when you decide to build wind turbines is the motor. The motors on wind turbines do require regular maintenance and oiling for continued efficiency, but this is a small price to pay for the excellent energy these systems provide. In addition to the motor, you are definitely going to need a good-sized workspace. Depending on your target energy output, your propellers or blades could get up to 8 feet in diameter (4 ft blades).

It takes a little work to build wind turbines, but there is really nothing overly complicated about the process and generally the process can be fairly inexpensive once you are operational and your electric bills are dropping each month. Building wind turbines is also a fast growing occupation worldwide as technicians are tough to find. So learn how to build wind turbines for yourself and take advantage of the opportunities free electricity and know how can provide.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Build solar:How to Use Your Roof As a Solar Space Heater

Click Here and stop paying high electric bills


How to Use Your Roof As a Solar Space Heater


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Use your existing roof and insulation membrane to supply solar heated air to your home. Whenever the roof is heated by the sun the air trapped underneath is naturally heated ,it then rises to the highest point where you can collect it to heat your home. Most metal roofs and some other types of clad roofs have an insulating membrane underneath them,it becomes a very simple, inexpensive, project to automatically harvest this warm air to heat your home at almost zero cost.

  Steps


  1. Access the roof space of your house and make sure that your roof has an insulation membrane under the roofing sheets.
  2. Locate the top two purlins either side of the roof ridge
  3. Now tidy up any excess insulation. Use a hand tacker staple gun to neatly secure the insulation to the purlins along the whole length of the ridge.
  4. When finished each side of the roof should now have insulation running from the gutter to the height of the top purlin.The space between the purlin should be open to the underside of the metal forming the ridge.
  5. Cut strips of insulation wide enough to fix across the underside of the top two purlins and long enough to run the length of the ridge.
  6. Fix this insulation to the underside of the top two purlins with your hand tacker, thus forming a header between them. The air between the roof sheeting and the insulation will be heated by the radiation of the sun.It will rise toward this header and collect there.
  7. Near the center of the ridge fit a suitably sized duct outlet.( if you intend to use a six inch ducted fan then you should use a matching 6 inch duct) Fix it to the underside of the purlins. Seal to the foil using silicone or similar product , making sure that the portion of foil directly under outlet is removed to allow the heated air to flow from the duct.
  8. Fit a ceiling duct outlet to the ceiling of the area you wish to heat.
  9. Fit a suitably sized ducted fan somewhere between the duct from the ridge and the duct to the ceiling.Best practice would entail suspending the fan from the roof structure using a heavy duty spring . This will prevent vibration from the fan if it becomes out of balance due to dust building up on its blades)and will insure quiet operation.
  10. Measure cut and fit two lengths of foil ducting.One to connect your ridge duct to the fan and one to connect the fan to the ceiling duct.
  11. Fit a thermostatic switch near the duct at the header and position the sensor bulb inside the header near the duct opening. Secure the bulb to the perling.
  12. Wire the fan to the thermostatic switch so that the fan will only run when the temperature of the air in the header, exceeds the control temperature of the area to be heated.
  13. Move to the outside of the roof and seal any air gaps between the ridge of the roof and the roof sheeting profile.( you could use expanding foam or a proprietary profile seal.)
  14. Your heater is ready to use at this stage and it will contribute many hours of free heat during days where the sun shines despite the air temp being cold.
  15.   To really get most benefit the top meter or so of the ridge should be covered with a clear plastic cover. this how to will be amended to include this option.

  Tips


  • A building incorporating this simple inexpensive and reliable system will provide opportunistic heating, cooling, and ventilation throughout the year and every future year ; turning itself on /off automatically for the cost of running a 60 watt fan .
  • This system can be upgraded at any future time by providing part or all of the upper roof surface with a transparent cover of any description, but even without a cover there is significant heat to be gained at no cost.

  Warnings


  • You will need an electrician to connect your fan and thermostat unless you can access a low voltage ducted fan

  Things You'll Need


  • Some foil insulation
  • Six inch ducted fan
  • Foil ducting
  • A hand tacker
  • Thermostatic switch
  • A thermostatic switch to control at room temperature
  • length of roof profile seal

  Related wikiHows



  Sources and Citations




Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Your Roof As a Solar Space Heater.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.