Archive for the ‘Green Energy’ Category

Green Energy - Biofuels, the Real Solar Power

Thursday, March 19th, 2009
green energy
drohilm asked:


We live in a world eager for new resources of energy. But despite the huge progress and development of green energy and renewable resources, we did not yet reach the goal of good fossil fuels replacements.

There are several directions of research for new energy sources, but all of them cannot supply enough energy to make a real change. The real “green” resources are wind, waves, hydro and geothermal power, which are good resources, but certainly not sufficient to supply the demands.

The more promising sources of energy are:

1.Solar energy – which is for now very inefficient and expensive.

2. Hydrogen - which is hard to produce right now.

3. biofuels – that can compromise our food supply.

The question is – what is the most promising? – in what resource we should invest?

Before we all start to walk in the solar power road, we first must understand that for now, biofuels are the real solar power supply.

why is that? well, our solar harvesting devices are very insufficient comparing to engines using fossil fuels. but from where these fuels came from? well, these fuels come from ancient plants and animals that were much more efficient in term of harvesting the sun’s energy. I am talking about photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is one of the most efficient processes on earth, maybe the most competent. Cyanobacteria, algae and plants can use almost 100% of the sun’s energy to produce chemical energy. nearly hundred percents of the light captured buy the photosynthesis apparatus, is transformed to electric currents and then to chmical energy stored in sugars and fats. these sugars and fats turn to be our fuels millions of years later.

But today’s plats and algae can still produce this solar energy as good as they did millions of years ago, and we use this energy in our foods to maintain our lives. Agriculture was the driving force that first let humans to control this enormous energy supply, and probably was the main trigger for the development of the human society.

In order the satisfy the ever growing demand for energy in the modern and post-modern society, we must increase a little beat our agricultural skills. Why we need to re-invent new ways to harvest the sun’s fruit, when evolution already sis it for us, and created an amazing machinery in plants?

The real goal of the people who seek for new energy sources should be dramatically increasing the yield of the agricultural production, in order to be able to use plants sugars and fats to produce ethanol, biodiesel and other bio-fuels to use in the modern industry and transportation.

Let change our investments from traditional engineering approaches to bio-engineering, guiding our research toward more proficient production of biodiesel and ethanol, the easily accessible solar power.



The Investment Into Green Energy

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
green energy
James Copper asked:


In the United States, Canada and Australia both commercial and residential consumers can buy green energy from their standard local utility provider of from a provider that specializes in green energy. Many third party suppliers of energy provide green energy electricity that is produced from renewable resources. This energy is delivered to consumers by way of their local electric utility company. The consumer who opts for this green energy course pays a small premium each month on her or his utility bill as the additional cost of the green energy they are getting. The other option is to buy directly from the green energy supplier.

Of course, when a consumer buys the green energy via the local utility company he or she can not know its really green energy in other words, they do not know that they truly got what they paid extra for. It is a matter of trust. The local electric company buys the electricity from the various producers. These can be nuclear, coal, hydroelectric power on a large scale or green energy providers such as solar and wind energy producers.

Must electricity from the local utility company in any country comes from fossil fuels or nuclear power that is not renewable and or pollutes the environment to a high and dangerous level. Green energy is the current provider of a minimal percentage of our worlds electricity. In fact, when utility companies buy green energy for the consumers that request it they generally only buy 25 percent of what they ultimately provide to all.

Consumers who sign up with their local utility provider to pay a premium each month for green energy are not only helping to save their environment but they are also sending a message to the utility companies and the legislature that they are willing to pay extra for healthy air for us all.

There are environmentally conscious, forward thinking countries such as the Netherlands that have committed themselves to matching their consumers purchase of green energy with an equal amount of green energy buy for governmental use. The government of Holland exempts green energy producers and users from its pollution tax. This exemption brings the cost of green energy consumption down considerably.

Several organizations in Europe promote the consumption of green energy, and there are a number of green energy providers, although the high cost of electricity in those countries has kept the use of the less expensive gas and oil the majority provider.

At work now are efforts to distribute cheap renewable electricity in these countries so the average electrical consumer can afford to support the environment and clean air efforts with the use of green energy products. Consumers can install their very own renewable green energy system, based locally.

This may be solar, wind or even water power. Geothermal heat pumps also provide green energy by tapping a few feet into the earths temperature.

Many U.S. states now offer monetary incentives for those who want to use the more costly green energy electricity sources.



Build a Windmill Your Own and Start Producing Green Energy

Monday, March 16th, 2009
green energy
Abhinav Sidana asked:


If you are looking for some information on how to build a windmill, you can find it here and at the same time if you decide in favor of putting your own windmill in the backyard of your house, you will be doing tremendous job to improve our environment. You can build a windmill your own like many other people’s do and can start nurturing our environment by reducing the pollution caused by conventional electricity being produced by large coal, gas or nuclear power plants.

Building a windmill does not require you to be an engineer or a physicist, however if you can follow simple steps as provided below, you can build a windmill your own and can start producing green electricity. You will not only save your hundreds of dollars per month, but you will also contribute to the environment by making it safe for our next generation. If you build a windmill, you can have a potential of saving huge electricity bills up to the tune of 80 percent per month especially if you get sufficient wind in your area.

If you have decided to build a windmill, you will need to know the details of raw materials required for your windmill generator. Getting a readymade windmill generators from the market is a costly option and you should avoid it as it might cost you above $2000 dollars, however if you build a windmill your own you will have to spend a mare $200 on raw materials and other accessories and can start producing electricity in less than 10% of the market price.

You should prefer to build a windmill with the help of easy step-by-step instructions available at Internet in the form of a guide and once you go through the guide, you can do the job yourself.



Is Your Old Refrigerator Running Optimally? Tips On Saving Energy In The Kitchen

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
green energy
Robin Green asked:


Unless your fridge is so old or worn out that you’ve already chosen to replace it with an energy efficient fridge, you really should do a simple assessment of whether the fridge is running well. Issues such as how often and for how long the compressor motor runs, whether there’s frost in the freezer section, how good your door seals are, and the temperature range of the freezer and fridge sections, can all impact your refrigerator energy use.

Begin by simply trying to remember how frequently you hear the motor going. Does it seem to be going continuously, or is the refrigerator usually silent? Does the compressor seem to keep switching on and off (short periods of running time, then short rests)? During times of the day when the fridge door stays shut (for example overnight), the pattern of energy use for energy saving fridges is typically that of short periods with the motor working, interspersed with much longer periods of the compressor motor resting. If that’s how your fridge behaves, you’re off to a good start.

If the compressor motor is going nearly all the time, there may be issues with the gasket seal, or cobwebs on the coils, or the fridge may be in an enclosed area so that the heat the motor is working to extract from the interior has nowhere to escape to. You may just have an old refrigerator with an inefficient compressor motor, which translates into less heat extracted for a given amount of electricity input, or you might have substandard insulation in the fridge walls, so that more heat flows in through the fridge sides. Or you might have set the temperature too low in either the refrigerator or the freezer compartment.

Next look for ice build-up in the freezer compartment. Fast or heavy frost build-up in a manual-defrost freezer is usually an indication that warm, moist air is getting into the freezer section. You could have a poor seal on the freezer compartment, which allows cold air to escape through the seal, and warm, moist air to enter in its place. It takes more power to extract heat from moist air than from dry air, so you win on two fronts by eliminating air leaks. Even if you have a great seal, you should defrost a manual-defrost freezer regularly. You should never let more than a quarter inch of ice form on the compartment walls, as it makes the compressor motor work harder.

Check your refrigerator and freezer compartment gaskets to make sure you have a good seal. The standard test is the dollar-bill check. Open the refrigerator or freezer door so that you can slide a dollar bill halfway in, then close the door. If the bill stays tightly in place when you pull, the seal is fine in that part of the gasket. Do the same at several other points along the gasket. If at any point the bill slides out, or moves freely, try moving the bill along the seal in each direction until it sticks. That should give you an idea of how big each leak is.

You can sometimes solve gasket leaks by cleaning the gasket to remove any residue that might prevent a good seal. But if there are gaps and the gasket is clean, you really should replace the seal.

Your refrigerator may pass the dollar bill test even though the gasket is letting in air - if the gasket is cracked. Cracks can open up in the thin part of the gasket where it attaches to the door. Run your finger along the gasket feeling for rips, all the way around each door.

If you’re a DIY type, gaskets can be fairly cheap to replace. I bought a new gasket for my refrigerator five years ago and with no previous instruction had it on the door within a half hour. And an appliance repair person can install one even faster, especially if you tell them to bring a replacement gasket with them when you call them. So if your gasket is leaking or too rigid to provide a good seal, get it replaced.

What are the ideal temperatures for your fridge and freezer sections?

The last thing to look at in your do-it-yourself fridge assessment is the temperature in each compartment of your refrigerator. You can use either a standard glass thermometer or an electronic probe thermometer to do this. Place the thermometer (or the probe portion, for an electronic thermometer) in a jar half-filled with liquid (a pickle jar does nicely), and leave it in the compartment for a full 24 hours. (Make sure the jar is only half filled with liquid for the freezer compartment, so the freezing doesn’t break the jar. Don’t open the unit for at least an hour before you do your 24-hour measurement. Check the temperature on the thermometer. For the fridge compartment, you should strive for 39F or 40F (or 4C). For the freezer temperature, go for 5F (or -15C). If the refrigerator temperature or freezer temperature is lower than this, you are wasting energy cooling your food more than necessary.

Remember that for chest or upright freezers, where frozen food tends to be kept longer than in the freezer compartment of refrigerators, you want a somewhat lower freezer temperature of 0F or -17C.

If the compartment is not at the ideal setting, adjust the thermostat in the appropriate section up or down by just a small amount. Then wait another 24 hours and take a second reading. It’s best to tweak the thermostat a little at a time, until you reach the ideal refrigerator temperature. Once you reach that ideal setting, you can use a permanent marker to draw a line on the thermostat dial, so you have a reference point. It’s not a given that this will always give you the ideal temperature (thermostats can be finicky) but if you subsequently notice that the line is far from the front, you’ll know to measure the temperature once more.

It’s important to measure your refrigerator temperature (both compartments) on a monthly basis, or at least, if you have already checked it and have marked the position of the thermostat dial, to see that the dial hasn’t moved. It’s easy for these dials to get turned inadvertently, or on purpose by little hands, and if the temperature varies far from the proper settings of 40F for the fridge section or 5F for the freezer section, you either risk food spoilage or a higher electricity bill.



Green Energy Revolution: Energy Saving Devices

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
green energy
Carol Oon asked:


World today is experiencing energy revolution. Environmental issues are catching up and with the increased emphasis placed on preserving the environment we all need to play our roles in saving energy. By saving energy, we can definitely take a positive step in fighting the climate change and in preserving non-renewable sources of energy. Let us look at some devices and measures that can help us conserve energy and replace non renewable sources with renewable sources of energy.

Many companies are now providing customer-focused energy equipments like Energy savers, Utility Instruments, Level Controllers, Control Panels and Process Control Equipments etc. Various products that are now placed in the shelves of the store and that help in energy revolution and conservation are:

• Integrated Intelligent Home System:

This provides you with home security, control, automation and communication related features. One can control and monitor their home and office security along with controlling the home appliances and lighting from any telephone, keypad, handheld remote control system, computer or the internet. The products have outstanding remote communication features which can allow you to communicate with visitors when they are still at office doors, you can send them your messages and can also hear their messages. In case there is alarm notification, you can listen to different sounds and the activity present in the surroundings.

• Light and Air -conditioner Energy Saver:

These devices are normally very easy to install and help to save energy directly. They can adjust the temperature by automatically realizing the self-motion adjustment. They do not connect to any circuitry in the AC. They have stable capacities and do not get affected by fluctuations in external temperature. Trouble from these energy saver devices do not harm or affect the functioning of your equipment in any way. The devices are shock proof and help you reduce your power requirement by minimum 20%.

• Green Energy Products

Today, you would find an array of Green products in the market. Green products and appliances include energy saving appliances and devices for your office and home, windows/doors utilizing solar energy and household products built out of eco-friendly materials. Fluorescent light bulbs are another light saving devices utilizing minimum amount of electricity per watt. All these energy saver products positively influence the environment and reduce the energy and electricity costs. They also reduce the emission of pollutants in the long-term.

Other products like energy saving remote control made out of plastic are also available for saving energy in your day to day use.

Benefits of using Energy saving & Intelligent Products:

• Uses 75% to 80% less electricity.

• Cost less and work too well

• Reduce dependence on coal and petroleum

• Help to address concerns of global warming

• Reduce the gasoline and electricity bills

• Reduce the green house gas emission levels

Overall, reduced energy usage means that the need to go for building new transmission lines, infrastructure and other related devices can be delayed and prolonged. Hence, one can defer the environmental concerns and issues, if not have complete removal. All the energy saving programs and devices will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions made by coal utilizing power plants. Emissions up to an average of around 2.1 billion pounds per year can be saved for around 20 years

So, when we are aware of these things, why not head on the way to conserving energy!



Bristol Channel Proposals Look to Solve Green Energy Issue

Saturday, February 21st, 2009
green energy
Andy Adams asked:


In these days of increased energy costs whether it’s Gas, Oil or Petrol many governments around the world are looking for an alternative that is both cost-effective and kind to our environment.  The green issue seems to be the latest concern of the government in the UK and with oil prices skyrocketing they are keen to levy their dependence on these fuels.

Alternative energy sources have already been introduced sporadically in the UK with wind turbines being placed in windy areas of the country such as just outside Barnsley in South Yorkshire.  The idea has caught on with many wind farms being situated all over the country, much to the ramblers and country folk’s disapproval.

One new proposal involves yet another alternative energy source derived from nature, tidal power.  In January of this year the Welsh Assembly and UK Government launched a study into whether using the Severn estuary to capture href=”http://www.moneysupermarket.com/utilities/cheaper-gas-electricity.aspx”>electricity through tidal power was possible.  After all the River Severn has the second largest tidal range in the world.

There are two different methods being tested for feasibility, being Tidal streams and Tidal ranges.  Tidal streams generate electricity by having large free standing turbines turned by the force of the water, this works in a similar fashion to wind turbines and is considered to have a lower environmental impact.

Environmental impact is a big concern for the initiative as the area is a vital feeding ground for many wading birds and any major installations would disrupt the local wildlife.

The other tidal method, ranges involves a large chain of devices which take advantage of the large difference between low and high tide, and stores water to be released when the tide is low passing it through a turbine which generates the energy that will be used to create href=”http://www.moneysupermarket.com/utilities/cheaper-gas-electricity.aspx”>electricity.  Engineers believe this to be the best method for the Severn estuary but it is much more invasive to local wildlife.

Whilst it is admirable that we are looking to renewable energy and natural means of getting href=”http://www.moneysupermarket.com/utilities/cheaper-gas-electricity.aspx”>electricity it is important that we consider all the implications such as wildlife when we start putting up wind farms and water turbines.



Tips On Improving Your Energy Conservation At Home

Friday, February 20th, 2009
green energy
Jamie Green asked:


With rising energy costs and depleting fossil fuels becoming more apparent, as well as the increased impact of global warming, many people are starting to look for ways to reduce energy usage.  While some things, such as turning off appliances when not in use, are standard knowledge, there are many things consumers can do that may not be apparent to them.  Today we will look at some of the various ways to conserve energy within the home.

In addition to adding proper insulation to your home, there is much you can do to increase your energy efficiency.  One small and inexpensive step that consumers can take is to replace carbon filament light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  They fit into existing sockets and generate equivalent light while generating only a fraction of the electricity.  Caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows is another excellent way to reduce energy use.  In many homes, especially older homes, a great deal of heat or cool air is generated in an attempt to compensate for air entering the home through drafty windows and doors.  By preventing this airflow, you greatly reduce your energy use.

When it comes to heating and cooling devices, the use of an energy efficient model is the best way to save on energy use.  Taking care to not overheat or overcool your home is another excellent energy saver.  Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 55 at night is the median temperature for winter energy efficiency, and the median summer temperature is 78 degrees in summer.  By replacing the air filters as needed in your heating and cooling system, you can also raise energy efficiency by as much as five percent.

The purchase and use of energy saving appliances is highly recommended for all homeowners and renters, as these appliances can use less than half of the energy needed by older models.  Other ways to save money on appliance usage include such things as washing clothes on the cold or warm cycle rather than using hot water.  Heating water is one of the biggest users of energy within a home.  Turn down the thermostat on your water heater and wrap it in an insulating jacket.  This simple change can save significant amounts of energy.

In truth, there are many ways to conserve energy from within your home.  The two most important things to do are to block outside air from entering your home and to turn off appliances when they are not in use.  These two things result in large amounts of wasted energy annually.  When combined with energy efficient appliances and appliance settings designed to use minimal energy, you can significantly lower both your environmental impact and your energy costs.  Following these tips can reduce your annual carbon dioxide emissions by thousands of pounds, which makes a significant change for the better in the environment.  As more people begin to take these steps, we can begin to truly move forward in our fight against global warming.



Green Energy: Its Time to Use it Now

Sunday, February 15th, 2009
green energy
Joseph Toth asked:




Green Energy: Its Time To Use It Now



At the present time when electricity and other utilities are skyrocketing, this is the perfect time to stop talking about green energy and start using it.

Here in Wisconsin, we have a new windmill project that is already up and running in Dodge county and Fond Du Lac county. These windmills stretch for miles and miles and aren’t nearly as unsightly as some people might say.

Wisconsin is currently looking at a project to put windmills out on Lake Michigan. I say ‘great’ ‘go for it’, but on the other hand there are people who don’t want it to happen. This is wrong. The wind mills don’t produce any pollution to hurt the lake. They will be placed in a area that doesn’t interfere with the traffic of large ships going back and forth across the lake. Most importantly, we can benefit from having them.

Windmill farms and solar panel farms are two resources I would like to see more of. This is free energy given to us by mother nature that doesn’t involve any land mining for coal.

That’s another thing; These people that stand in the way of the clean operating windmills, … where are they when we mine fore coal which involves stripping the land and giving coal workers lung problems from the coal dust. Then the pollution created by train exhaust to use the railroad to haul the coal to a power plant where it will be burned, needing the use of ‘huge smoke stacks at the power plant where the coal is burned.’ Smoke stacks that send their discharges into the air we breathe! The loud mouths apposing windmills don’t look at this entire picture. They just want to be heard complaining.

Something else we can do to conserve electricity is start converting our household light bulbs to the new cutting edge L.E.D. light bulbs that just started coming out. Compact fluorescent bulbs save a lot of money over the old incandescent bulbs. However, the new L.E.D. bulbs blow the compact fluorescents right out of the water as far as savings in electricity. These bulbs cost just coins per year to operate, a minimum of three times the savings of using compact fluorescent bulbs.

Another benefit to L.E.D. bulbs is they don’t have the dangers of CFL’s or incandescent. CFL’s contain mercury, not recommended for homes with children where lamps and bulbs can get broken. Mercury is a element that can kill human beings. Mercury is absorbed through the skin and then enters the blood stream.

Additionally, CFL’s and incandescent bulbs produce razor sharp broken glass when broken. The new L.E.D. bulbs don’t do any of these things. In fact, if dropped they won’t shatter because they are made of plastic and there are no dangerous chemicals or gases inside.

Reporter Joseph Toth

Washington Micro Bank BBS



Passive and Proud: Green Energy Ideas for your Home

Monday, February 9th, 2009
green energy
Carolyn Gjerde Tu asked:


Solar energy comes from the sun. A biology class will tell you that in addition to affecting climate and weather, sunlight provides the energy that sustains most life on earth. It also can be harnessed to provide heating, lighting and electricity. Solar power has become a hot topic lately, but this technology is nothing new – Native Americans, people in China and even the early Greeks have historically turned their buildings to the sun for heat.

These early architects were using what is known as passive solar energy. This technique makes the best use of regular building materials to trap heat with no additional mechanical equipment used. Floors, windows and roofs play a role in attracting (or deflecting) the sun’s rays.

There are a number of ways to take advantage of solar radiation, starting with the house’s placement. Having the house face the equator (we’ll assume we’re in the Northern Hemisphere, thus the house should face south) means that it gets the day’s sunlight. Window orientation is also important – for optimal efficiency, most windows should point within 30 degrees of due south. Maintaining a small percentage of north facing windows will ensure that your home is comfortable year round (and not cooking in the summer).

Rock or stone tile floors and brick walls will absorb the solar radiation and continue to give off heat after the sun is gone. While common windows allow heat to escape, special windows with low-e coating, multiple panes, inert gas fill, and/or insulated frames can reduce heat loss 50 to 75 per cent. By sealing your building envelope and insulating well, you will ensure that the heat stays in the house. It can then be distributed through the house using a regular ceiling fan.

Direct sunlight is not the only important light to think of when considering energy use. By using overall daylight to light a space you can cut down the need for electrical lighting and the heat that’s created by it. Artificial lighting has only been the main source of illumination since the 20th century. And using natural light may have added benefits for your physical and mental health. In addition to windows, daylighting makes use of skylights, light pipes (also known as light tubes), atriums, and light shelves to illuminate the interior. This is best considered when building, but with a few small renos your house can be much brighter, naturally!

Passive cooling is another way to cut your bills and become more energy efficient. This is especially useful in warmer climates, where air conditioning can be a major power consumer. Passive cooling refers to using things for shading, to absorb the heat, and goes hand in hand with passive solar energy. It can be accomplished using exterior landscaping choices – trees and other vegetation – or interior/exterior building options, such as shades, blinds or special glazing on windows.

Whether you are building a new home, looking at doing some renovations or just want to cut your energy bill, passive solar energy and cooling techniques are an easy way to incorporated green ideas into your home. With the rising interest in environmental issues, they make an excellent selling feature and they’ll save you money.



A Home for Every Green Heart

Saturday, January 31st, 2009
green energy
Paige Green asked:


According to the Australian Burean of Statistics, around 56 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the home. While it is important that we pressure business and government for sustainable initiatives, some of the easiest changes can be made in our own dwellings. From simple lifestyle changes such as adopting the Green Pages Top 50 tips to a more substantial investment in your home’s design features.

For many, building a sustainable home may seem too challenging, too daunting or just not feasible. Many people claim ‘we can’t afford it’, ‘I already own a home (and am still paying it off!)’, or ‘I’m renting’; these are all ready made excuses that make even the most die-hard greenie resistant to making a more substantial investment in a sustainable home.

‘Money is always one of the major impediments to investing in a sustainable home,’ says Julien Laclave, renewable energy promotions officer for Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZES). A green home can save a family thousands of dollars a year. ‘We can’t force people to invest in a sustainable renovation or a new home, but we can show them that it really pays off.’ Reduced energy bills from renewable energy sources and more comfortable living conditions that don’t require artificial heating or cooling are just some of the benefits of a sustainably designed home.

Lacave is also the project manager of the ANZES Sustainable House Day, a nationwide event that showcases a number of sutainable homes to the public. This year, over 100 homes were on diplsay and visitors could speak directly with the owners and get first hand information about the home and its sustinable features. Lacave finds taht many attendees come to sources ideas for their own projects. ‘People who visit the homes find it very inspiring. It’s very unique to be able to talk wiht the residents,’ he says.

So what’s behind good green design?

Essentially, building a ‘green home’ is to ensure a house is as ’self sustaining’ as possible. Key features include minimising energy use, rainwater harvesting, managing waste water disposal and even sustaining its inhabitants with a lush green garden. Renowned celebrities such as Csate Blanchett have brough popularity to green residences. Sustainable home design is reaching the mainstream. People are realising eco homes make good sense. Households can lower their energy bills by as much as 50 per cent and save on their water bills. Green homes stay comfortable throughout the year without the aid of artificial heating and cooling, which make them a real pleasure to live in. ‘A sustainable house is just a house that is well designed and cleverly thought out’, says Lacave.

For more information:

www.thegreenpages.com.au