About Alternate Energy Sources

Alternate energy is frequently referred to as energy from a source other than the established fossil fuel source like oil, gas and coal. Alternate energy isn't popularly utilized and is commonly environmentally sound. It's likewise often renewable energy. Many alternate energy sources are solar, wind, biomass, wave and tidal energy.

 

Fossil fuels are non-renewable origins of energy, it may run out. Likewise, when fossil fuels are burned, they produce the gas CO2 (CO2). CO2 is called a greenhouse gas as it pins in heat from the sun preventing it from getting out of the Earth’s atmosphere into space. The total of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is increasing. It leads to growing Earth temperature known as global warming. 

 

Alternate and renewable sources of energy are consequently an essential. Renewable energy comes from resources that are regenerative or reform after expenditure. For this reason, renewable energy contrary to fossil fuels doesn’t bring about as many greenhouse emissions. 

 

There are many countries that are offering incentives for the private sector to utilize renewable energy by presenting tax incentives and subsidies. Presently, just fourteen percent of the world’s energy expenditure comes from renewable energy sources. But there's good potential for alternate energy. 

 

Some sources of renewable alternate energy are sunshine, wind, rainfall, tides and geothermal heat. Wind power comes from wind that’s yielded from wind turbines. Wind power is a non-polluting energy source with low upkeep costs although the initial disbursement might be high.

 

Solar power comes from the sun’s rays that get to the Earth. Solar power may be converted into heat and electrical energy. Solar power may be converted to thermal or energy yielded from heat. It may be utilized to heat water and heat spaces like within greenhouses, houses and other buildings. 

 

Biomass energy derives from plants and animal material like wood from trees, waste material from other plants, manure or creature wastes. Biomass energy has many Advantages. It utilizes wastes that are commonly dumped and does away with methane gas (a greenhouse gas). Fuels such as ethanol may be made from biomass and used as an alternate to petrol. 

 

Hydropower capitalizes on the energy the water attains when it drops in elevation. That's why hydropower plants are close to waterfalls or dams. Hydropower has been utilized since the beginning of the electric age but regrettably the value of this energy hasn't yet been highly-developed and maximized. 

 

A different alternate energy source is geothermal energy or energy gained from the underwater heat the world is giving off. Geothermal power stations are unaffected by changing atmospheric conditions. It's likewise price competitive and helps reduce individual’s reliance on fossil fuels. 

 

Alternate energy sources give us a choice for a smart and healthy future. It might something be out of the ordinary but it may likewise be valuable.

 

Solar Power Energy Source

Solar energy is the light and the heat from the sun. Solar power is free and it’s unlimited. There is no air and water pollution induced by utilizing solar power. 

 

Solar power may be utilized on different aspects. Solar power may be utilized in agriculture. Greenhouses (which are entirely different from greenhouse emission) convert solar light to heat to be maximized in heightening the growth of plants and crops. Greenhouses have been around since the Roman times and advanced greenhouses were constructed in Europe in sixteenth century. Greenhouses are still a significant part of horticulture today,

 

Daytime systems are likewise being utilized to maximize the energy expelled by the sun. It's utilized to supply interior illumination replacing the artificial illumination. Daytime schemes include saw tooth roofs, light shelf, skylights, and light tubes. Daytime systems when they're correctly implemented may reduce lighting-related energy use by twenty-five percent. 

 

Solar power may likewise be developed into solar thermal technologies which may be utilized for water heating, space heating, space cooling and processing heat generation. Solar power may also be utilized to distil water and make salty or brackish water potable.

 

Likewise, sunshine may be converted into electrical energy utilizing photovoltaics or PV. PV has been chiefly utilized to power little and medium-sized things like a calculator powered by an individual photovoltaic cell. There are houses powered by photovoltaics. Utilizing solar power for water and space heating is the most widely utilized application of solar power. While ventilation and solar air heating is likewise flourishing in popularity.

 

There are 3 chief ways in utilizing solar power. The primary way of utilizing and converting solar energy is by utilizing the photovoltaic cells. Solar cells convert light immediately into electrical energy. 

 

Meanwhile, solar furnaces utilize a big array of mirrors to concentrate the Sun’s energy into a little space and create very high temperatures. Solar furnaces are likewise known as “solar cookers”. A solar cooker may be utilized in hot nations to prepare food.

 

With all the Advantages of utilizing solar power, there's still a downside for this alternate energy source. It doesn't work during the night. The cost of establishing solar stations is expensive, but the advantage of utilizing solar power is so much more.

 

Warming: Alternate Energy Source and Global Warming

Global warming is among the “spiciest” issues today. The current global climate change is the worst yet to happen. Global warming is an overall gain in world temperature which is ascribed to the increasing number of greenhouse gases ensnared in the atmosphere. Exploring an alternative energy source is believed a way of diluting the toxic emissions. 

 

Greenhouse gases may be produced both by natural and industrial procedures. The most abundant greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and chlorofluorocarbons. 

 

There are many roots of greenhouse gases. Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation lead to greater concentration of CO2 in our air. Without the trees and plants to absorb the CO2 let out by burning fossil fuels, natural gas and petroleum products, all of the carbon dioxide let out stays in the air. 

 

Likewise, the utilization of chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs in refrigeration systems and in fire curtailment systems and additional manufacturing procedures likewise step-up the greenhouse content of our atmosphere. While the utilization of non-organic fertilizers in farming also lead to greater nitrous oxide densities, a different greenhouse gas. 

 

Not moderating the greenhouse gas being let loose by human action may increase global climate change the next 100 years that will be much quicker than anything known and recorded in history. There are essential steps to be tackled to control the toxic emission that will soon be defeating us. 

 

Green energy is a different term utilized to describe sources of energy that are believed to be environmentally friendly, which is likewise similar to the renewable generators of energy.

 

There are a lot of ways of yielding electricity and energy from renewable and natural sources that render clean and safe energy. Wind, sun, and heat may yield electricity for less price and less carbon discharge than those of coal and even gas. 

 

Switching the world’s attention to choose fuel source other than banking on fossil fuel is among the solutions in solving the drastic global climate change. 

 

Governments are assuming steps to utilize and tap alternate energy sources as primary source of energy. 

 

Alternate energy source might not be the sole way to reduce the greenhouse gas that human action produces. There are easy ways in which we may contribute in bringing down toxic gas emission and mitigate planetary warming.

 

Make Your Own Green Energy

Wouldn’t it be grand if we may make our own green energy source? If we can do that, we don’t have to pay for electric bills or gas any longer for our autos.

 

Take solar or wind energy for instance. We already understand how to harness and make it. If you wish to make this energy, do a little research online and then frame-up the system yourself.

 

To have solar power, you'll need to purchase an inverter, battery, charge controller, solar panels, some wires and support structure. The only difference with wind energy is that you require a fan. Once you've everything you require, you are able to put it all together. 

 

If you're not skillful, you'll be happy to know that a few companies sell the whole system. By purchasing it from them and having it installed by their experts, you're certain that there won’t be any issues when you switch it on. 

 

There's one more thing you have to have before you are able to utilization one or the two green energy sources. Before you purchase the materials or the system, make certain you've a flat area that's about a hundred square feet or so as it occupies a lot of space. 

 

For those who do not have the space or the budget to utilize these energy sources, another option is to produce your own biofuels. 

 

Biofuels are utilized in many countries and they get it from harvesting corn, sugar and additional crops. Fortunately, you don’t need a farm to make it as you are able to make your own utilizing some recycled waste. 

 

A great example of this is vegetable oil which we utilize for cooking. To turn this into a biofuel, we 1st filter it by warming the liquid and then filtering this with a coffee filter. The following step is to remove the water also by boiling it again at 100 degrees for a short time period. 

 

We have to know the amount of lye present in the vegetable oil and we do this by a process called titration. When we're finished with that, we now mix sodium hydroxide to make sodium methoxide. The process of converting used vegetable oil takes quite awhile and it must be heated the whole time. 

 

By creating our own green energy sources, we make ourselves less dependent upon gas in its various forms to power our heater, home or auto. Why don’t a lot of individuals do it? Well merely because they don’t have the time to make it and would rather rely on somebody else to do it for them.

Auto Powered by Solar

All autos are powered by gas. But with the volatility of fossil oil prices and because it is not a renewable, something must be done before it's too late. Given that solar power, a green energy source is utilized to power a community, you are able to likewise do this on a small scale by utilizing the same principles to build your own auto.

 

However, what do you require to make this work? Many things but the 2 most crucial are the solar array and the batteries. 

 

The solar array is critical as this is what’s used to collect the sun’s rays and then converts this into electricity. There are 2 sorts to choose from in the market namely the prefabricated type and the individual sort which you assemble yourself. 

 

The battery is crucial as this is where the solar energy will be stored. Your choices for this are lead acid, lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium. Just how many you require will depend upon your motor’s voltage. 

 

So, you know how much juice is left in your batteries, you'll likewise need to install instrumentation similar to the heads-up display console on regular autos which tells you your speed, fuel consumption rate and gas. 

 

The only cars that utilize solar power so far are the ones only used in races especially the one held in Australia from travels from the northern part of the country all the way to the south. If this has helped individuals realize that renewable energy is truly the key to the future, the big automakers ought to try tapping this technology rather than relying of still relying on gas.

 

But aside from solar power as a green energy source, biodiesel is a different alternative. This is a combination of alcohol like methanol and a chemical change that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. This may likewise be done utilizing corn and sugarcane.

 

While these are not renewable, these are yet considered as a green energy source because it's cleaner than conventional gas. This means you don't release harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide into the air which causes harm to the environment. So, if you can’t construct a solar powered auto, consider another fuel choice.

Solar Power Green Energy Source

Solar power is a green energy source as it is a renewable and it doesn't cause any damage to the environment. This is accomplished by converting the sun’s rays into electrical energy with the assistance of solar cells. 

 

There are 3 basic approaches to use this sort of green energy source namely passive, active and by utilizing photovoltaic cells. 

 

When we refer to passive solar power, nothing is converted. What occurs is the building’s design helps avoid heat loss and gets the most out of day light. 

 

Such a technique may be utilized in homes as studies have shown that this may reduce the heating requirements by as much as 80% with minimum cost. This means you don’t have to switch on the air condition or heater that frequently and if everybody does that, we don’t consume that much electrical energy from non-renewable resources. 

 

The 2nd approach which is active solar power is the first way of converting sunshine into heat. You ought to know that there are particular limits to this one and all it can do is make certain you've hot water. 

 

The 3rd approach is the big scale version and it may power an office or a whole house. This is done with the help of solar cells that convert sunshine into electrical energy. The littlest ones around may be seen in calculators and watches with big ones planted over huge acres of land. The sole limitation to this green energy source is the fact that it may only generate power when the weather is good and the sun is out. If it rains, then nothing is collected and converted. When this occurs, the auxiliary system is switched on till the weather improves. 

 

Did you know a kilowatt of solar power may produce 5.5 hours of electrical energy per day? If you've more solar cells in place, naturally you'll be able to produce enough power to last many days. 

 

Solar power is just one sort of green energy source around. Through the years, we have learned to tap additional resources and these examples include wind power, geothermic energy, hydroelectricity and biogas. These are all safe and by utilizing these more often, we don’t have to depend upon oil which is a nonrenewable resource. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing Green Energy

Nowadays, we're now aware of the effects of global warming. Luckily, it’s not too late and we may still change which is why several are pushing for green energy sources. The advantage of utilizing green energy sources is that it's clean so it doesn't emit anything noxious into the air which has an effect on the environment. It's likewise renewable which means we'll never run out of it unlike oil which is expected to dry up in a decade or so. 

 

While green energy facilities are expensive to build, it calls for less maintenance so you don’t have to dispense a lot of money to operate it. It may likewise bring economic Advantages to certain areas even boost tourism. 

 

While green energy sources may produce electricity, how much it can generate isn't consistent. This is because we have no control of the weather so if a particular area relies on solar power and there's a weather disturbance, it won't be able to convert sunlight into electricity. 

 

Constructing these facilities likewise requires much land so we might have to cut on farmland which is what many are concerned about if more wind turbines are to be provided. 

 

A few of the green energy sources can't be installed in particular areas of the planet. For example, wave energy may only be utilized if the waves coming from the ocean reach at least sixteen feet. Geothermal energy may only be done in geologically precarious parts of the planet.

 

However, if you look at such arguments, places that can't use one form of green energy source may be substituted for another. If wind turbines require more space, they may be installed near the coast rather than putting these on land. A study shows that you are able to generate more electricity when these are in the ocean.

 

The point is that there are ways around the arguments by particular individuals which discourage the utilization of green energy sources. As a matter of fact, research is ongoing to try and harness additional means to generate the power we require. 

Tips for Buying Used or Discount Solar Panel

One of the main drawbacks of solar panels is their cost. Recouping their cost can often take as long as twenty years. That means that you'll essentially have earned zero profit in twenty years - you only start saving money from that point forward.

 

Instead of buying retail-priced solar panels, a great way to get more bang for your buck is to invest in used or discount solar panels instead.

 

Here are a few tips for finding and acquiring below retail rate solar panels.

 

Talk to Realtors in High Net Worth Areas

 

Look for areas where there are many homes with solar panels. If you can find homes for sale that have solar panels on them, so much the better. But even if you can't, talk to realtors in the area anyway.

 

Make them an offer to purchase any solar panel that's on a property they're trying to sell. Realtors often find that prospective buyers don't want solar panels on their home because of aesthetic reasons, or they just don't want the extra cost.

 

It's a burden on selling a home, which means it can often convert into prime opportunity for buying a cheap panel.

 

Look for Out-of-Date Models

 

Another method for finding used solar panels is to contact manufacturers and distributors directly and ask for older models of their products.

 

Often times when a manufacturer updates their product line, they'll try to sell off all their old products at discount prices.

 

In fact, if you can find a distributor or manufacturer who still has solar panels from two models back, chances are you'll be able to get a steep discount on those solar panels.

 

Join a Discount Buying Group

 

Buying just one set of solar panels can be quite expensive. However, if you're buying ten to twenty sets of solar panels, you can get a much better deal.

 

Naturally, you're not going to buy that many solar panels on your own. However, if you join a solar panel buying group, you can often buy these panels together instead and get a nice discount off the price.

 

Always Get the Panel Tested

 

Before you pay for a used or discount solar panel, make sure you have a trained professional test it out. Often times the manufacturer or installer will be happy to administer the test for you for free.

 

Also check the solar panels for any clear damage. Check both the front and the back of the solar panels. In some panels, damage to the back is actually much more important than damage to the front, so don't make the mistake of only checking the front panels.

 

Seriously consider buying a warranty for any used or discounted solar panels.

 

Finding discounted or used solar panels isn't as easy as buying retail, but you can save a lot of money doing so.

The Benefits of Energy-Efficient LEDs

Did you know that lighting costs account for about 25% of the average American's energy bill? That cost, when multiplied over a year, becomes an astronomical figure.

 

CFL and LED light bulbs have helped change that. Using energy saving technology, you can reduce your energy bill by 1/3rd to 1/25th of your original lighting costs.

 

Though LED lights used to be incredibly expensive, breakthroughs over the last few years have brought their cost down dramatically. Today, they're a better value than both CFL and everyday light bulbs.

 

Here are some of the many benefits of energy-efficient LEDs.

 

Generates Twenty Times Less Heat

 

Heat energy is dissipated from an average light bulb. That heat energy uses up electricity to generate itself, energy that you're paying for.

 

In addition, many Americans then have to spend even more electricity to cool their homes in part because of the heat generated from light bulbs.

 

LEDs on the other hand generate almost no heat - twenty times less than a standard light bulb.

 

Much Longer Lasting 

 

A regular light bulb works by heating up a filament in an oxygen-free environment. Unfortunately, the light bulb dies when the filament burns out.

 

An LED light on the other hand has no filament. As a result, they last much longer.

 

A good LED light can last as much as ten times longer than the average light bulb.

 

Reduced Lifetime Costs

 

The standard light bulb costs five to ten times more in energy than its upfront costs. 

 

An LED light on the other hand costs more upfront, but conserves a lot more energy in the long run.

 

In terms of total dollars invested over its lifetime, LED lights are better value than standard light bulbs and CFL light bulbs.

 

Better for the Environment

 

Standard light bulbs are terrible for the environment because mercury is used in the manufacturing process.

 

The chemical waste problem is compounded by the sheer volume of light bulbs that need to be produced. 

 

Because standard light bulbs burn out so often and need to be replaced, the waste the standard household produces is astronomical.

 

LED lights are much better for the environment, because no mercury is used in the production process. You also need to replace them much less often, which means less waste.

 

These are some of the many benefits of energy-efficient LEDs. Replacing the light bulbs in your home is as easy as noting the wattage and going down to your local hardware store to buy LED lights. 

 

There are quite a few choices you can choose from. You can get diffused bulbs, which take the concentrated light and turn it into a more spread out kind of light. You can get high power diffused, which are similar to 100 watt standard bulbs. You can also get them in track lighting, spotlight and floodlight forms.

Simple Improvements for a Greener Home

Want to make your home greener without having to spend too much time and energy on it? There are a few simple things you can do that'll make your home more green literally overnight with very little effort.

 

Here are a few simple improvements you can make for a greener home.

 

Invest in Auto-Off Lights

 

Getting a light switch system that automatically turns off is a great way to save energy and help the environment.

 

This is an especially good idea if you have a hard time remembering to turn off the light or have children who aren't in the habit of turning the lights off.

 

Purchase Energy Saving Light Bulbs

 

Energy saving light bulbs use much less energy than the typical light bulb. They generate less heat and produce just as much light as your typical light bulb.

 

Yes, they are slightly more expensive than a run-of-the-mill light bulb. However, if you care about going green, this is a really simple way to do so.

 

Water Conserving Shower Heads

 

Water conserving shower heads are very affordable, easy to install and can help you save a lot of money on your water bills.

 

Essentially what they do is inject air inside the streams of water. It still feels like you're getting a full blast of water on your body when you shower, but you're actually using a lot less water.

 

Improve Your House's Insulation

 

Improving your home's insulation can save you a lot of energy in the long run. It might take a bit of upfront investment, but it'll easily pay for itself.

 

Insulation will help you keep the heat in during winter and the heat out in summer. It'll help you reduce both your air conditioning and heating bills.

 

Different kinds of homes and different climates work best with different kinds of insulation. Talk to a local expert to figure out your exact cost to benefit ratio.

 

Use Green Products Wherever Possible

 

There are many places you can opt to go green in your house. You can buy green dishwashing soap instead of commercial detergents. You can buy organic soap in your local Whole Foods instead of mass produced soap.

 

You can buy biodegradable plastics instead of plastics that clog up landfills. You can buy products made from recyclable products or which are themselves recyclable instead of products that contribute to our unsustainable waste growth.

 

These are just some of the many ways you can go green. Just about every room in your house can benefit from going green. Often times going green means not only helping the environment, but also saving money. It takes a little bit of effort in the beginning to set up your home properly, but the rewards more than justify the effort.

Making Green Energy Affordable: Steps towards the Future

Making green energy affordable and scalable is going to be one of the most important topics of the next century. Fossil fuels will run out - it's only a matter of time - and we need to be prepared for that eventuality when it happens.

 

How do we make green energy affordable? Let's take a look at the primary challenges, possible solutions and what you personally can do to help.

 

The Primary Challenges

 

The primary challenge of green energy is its cost. At the moment, energy invested into green sources yields a return that's anywhere between three to ten times more expensive than fossil fuels.

 

That's why there's so much more money to be made in fossil fuels than green energy. The return on capital is much higher.

 

The intermittent nature of green energy is also a big challenge. For example, wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine, making wind and solar power difficult to handle consistently.

 

In order for wind and solar power to be competitive, there needs to be significant breakthroughs in battery technology, both in price and in storage capabilities.

 

Working Towards a Solution

 

How does one overcome these challenges?

 

Green energy venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has looked at the issue as a matter of experimentation. 

 

In order to make green energy scalable, a new technology that's as profitable (or close to as profitable) as fossil fuels and coal needs to be discovered.

 

As long as green energy is only profitable when subsidized by governments, it won't take off to the scale of fossil fuels. The reason fossil fuels is such a huge industry is because so much money can be poured into it profitably. In order for green energy to get the same amount of investment, it needs to offer the same level of profitability.

 

Khosla views getting green energy to that level as a matter of stepping up to the plate and doing as many ambitious experiments as possible. 

 

The assumption is that nine out of ten experiments will fail and only one will succeed. But the one that succeeds can have a big impact on the planet. 

 

What Can You Personally Do?

 

Chances are, you're not a banker or scientist who's actively working in the green energy industry. How can you personally help progress our future?

 

There are a couple things you can do.

 

The first is to get involved in local politics to get more green energy subsidies. Yes, it's true that energy subsidies are not a scalable way to grow green energy. 

 

However, the more money the green energy earns as a whole, the more money they'll have to experiment with. Subsidies might not be scalable, but they'll help companies get themselves to scalability.

 

Another thing you can do is to vote with your wallet. Buy energy-saving light bulbs, invest in home solar panels and buy a hybrid car rather than a gas guzzler.

 

Getting our planet to a green future doesn't happen overnight. It'll take major breakthroughs, but it'll also take a collective effort on all of our parts.