Make The Switch To Green Packaging Materials
March 7, 2010 by Dylan McThomas
Filed under Green Electronics
If you are a business owner looking for better way to pack your boxes to protect your merchandise, now is the time to make the switch to green packaging materials. I will share what those materials are and why it is so important to get on the eco safe band wagon.
Because earth friendly products are becoming so popular these days, there are many new companies that make these types of packaging products. Every product you buy from those companies promise that they can be used over and over again. You will pay a bit more money for this product but the reward is saving our earth.
One of those interesting products would be the foam peanuts, and the foam sheets. Both of which are starched based. If these materials should get wet they will melt right into the earth. The sheets are designed to protect anything made of glass, and keep it from getting scratched or broken.
For those who want to recycle and reuse what you already have is a help as well. Although most of these things are not earth friendly they can still be used. Some of the items that can be used for packing would be newspapers that are crumpled for extra cushion. Torn up cardboard boxes that you can roll up to take up space in the box.
You will have to have some creative thinking with the next material. Most everyone has plastic bottles in their homes in some form or another. Simply using those bottles you are recycling. Be sure to match the appropriate box and bottle size. Once you start doing this it will become habit.
Since we all live on this earth together it is only right to begin to use recyclable materials. For a less costly way to help, use what you have on hand in your home with things such as old newspapers. Although that is not a green product, you are still doing your part by reusing and recycling.
If you work a warehouse and need packaging materials to send and receive, you should find the right supplier. There are a lot of websites that can help you get items such as bubble wrap, boxes and tape.
Need To Know Options Before You Buy Solar Panels
February 28, 2010 by Mike Brown
Filed under Alternative Power
For many years, the only kinds of solar panels commercially obtainable have been crystalline solar panels mounted in a rectangular casing and placed on a roof. That is why most people, as soon as they think of solar energy for their home, imagine this as their single option. Below are a few new advancements in solar power and mounting options you may have never heard of before.
Thin Film Solar Panels – Man Is That Skinny!
Imagine the solar panel you have in a solar calculator. That is a thin film solar panel. Thin film solar panels are used to a great extent in satellites. Thin film technology is now being extended into residential and commercial use and was named one of the best inventions of 2008 by TIME magazine.
Thin film solar panels are flexible, not like polysilicon cells found in long-established crystalline solar panels. These thin film solar panels are being hailed as next generation solar power technology.
Thin film solar panels are more resilient to hail, rocks, and so forth. If a portion of a crystalline solar panel is damaged, the entire solar panel will stop functioning where a thin film solar panel will go on operating.
Thin film panels can also be flexible and modified to lots of surfaces. They can be functional in places conventional crystalline solar panels cannot be mounted against. I have even seen a thin film panel sewed onto a coat that powered a MP3 player.
The draw back to thin film panels is that they do not take in as much energy because they are so skinny. These panels are not nearly as efficient as traditional photovoltaic panels but they cost less. Thin film solar panels are printed onto the rolled backing, eliminating many of the high energy and chemical intensive processes that are normal in conventional PV manufacturing.
Thin film solar panels are low wattage and require more room than traditional solar panels and they are more prone to degradation. In an attempt to counter a few of these competitive disadvantages they have against conventional solar panels, manufacturers offer better warranties for thin film panels.
The largest thin film solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the United States is the Blythe plant located 200 miles east of Los Angeles, California. The 21-megawatt solar power plant uses thin film solar cells constructed out of cadmium telluride. At full capacity, the plant will generate enough electricity to power an anticipated 17,000 homes.
Now let\’s look at conventional solar panels and a few of the mounting options that are available you may well have never heard of before.
Mounting Options For Traditional Solar Panels – It\’s In the Mount
Solar panel mounts come in three main types: pole mounts, roof-ground mounts, and flush mounts. With these mounts, you can install your solar panel onto an RV, on top of or against the side of a pole, on your roof, or even install them as a free-standing unit.
Pole Mounts – No This Is Not Something Santa Claus Needs For His Sleigh
Pole mounts, specially top-of-pole, have been well-liked for awhile now. Top-of-pole mounts are basically a steel or aluminum frame and railing system bolted or welded to a hefty casing that sets on top of a pole with set-bolts to keep it stationary. Side-of-pole mounts are often used when you need to mount to the side of a telephone pole or communications tower. Tracking mounts are similar to top-of-pole mounts, but they also have a technique of automatically aiming the mount to track the sun.
Top of pole mounts (including sun trackers) are one of the simplest mounts to set up. They really only need a single steel pole set in the ground (usually in concrete), and the mount slips onto the top of the pole. Most ordinary sizes use a 2-inch to 8-inch pole, usually around 11 to 13 feet in length. They can go higher if you need to get the panel up higher to avoid shading from nearby undergrowth.
Popular Roof-Ground Mounts
Roof-ground systems can be mounted onto a roof or ground without much change in setup. They are typically created from stainless steel in a grid-like system of supports. Roof-mounted panels for smaller systems are the easiest to mount, using tiny flush-mount brackets which lift up the panels to the most excellent angle for solar collection.
Ground mounts, as the name suggests, are solar panel mounts that are installed on the ground (as opposed to a pole mount or roof mount). They have supporting, variable legs which allow you to optimize their upright direction for solar exposure. Ground mounting systems usually entail lots of steel supports, concrete foundations, and galvanized footings, that can be troubling, when you are trying to keep your system low cost. Ground mounted systems need structural strength to avoid weight bearing failure.
Even though module mounting systems are available for ground and roof installation, roof mount installation is the most popular and cost effective approach. The roof mounted panels are attached to a mounting system typically consisting of an aluminum or steel support structure which attaches the panels to the roof.
The Low Down On Flush Mounts
Flush Mounts are inexpensive and easy to install – these are perfect for single panel installations and smaller solar arrays. Flush mounts are mounted onto a level face such as the top of an RV, a roof, or the top of a boat and are not used for ground installations. These mounts function to separate the solar panel from the mounting surface and permit airflow to go underneath and cool the solar panel for efficient operation. Flush Mounts are usually used with small solar arrays on roof tops and RVs, because the structural design of a flush mount cannot hold up big solar panels.
There are many new options available in the expanding realm of solar technology. To learn how to calculate the number of solar panels you need for your home and other solar power secrets they don\’t want you to know about, go to where can I buy solar panels
How To Be A Mindful Traveler
February 25, 2010 by Adriana Noton
Filed under Green Tips
These days, consumers are becoming more mindful about how their lifestyle affects the environment. For this reason, more people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One such area that is seeing an increase in \’green\’ consumers is the travel industry. More travelers are now becoming more mindful of the environment when they travel.
The following are a number of ways to be a mindful traveler:
1. Make sure that you book a flight on an airline that recycles the refuse left from serving beverages and food to their passengers. To help offset your carbon emissions, consider direct flights to your destination.
2. When you book your hotel, consider smaller accommodations. For instance, a homestay is much smaller and cozier than a large hotel. If you stay in a big hotel, check to see if there are any \’green\’ hotels in the area. Eco-friendly hotels will have implemented such \’green\’ measures as water conservation programs, energy efficient appliances, recycle and composting programs, and energy reducing programs. They will also incorporate \’green\’ practices in guest rooms such as recycling baskets and shampoo and soap dispensers. You can also do your part by using the same towels and linens during your stay and turn off the air conditioner and lights when you are away from the room. As well, consider a longer stay. If you stay in one spot instead of traveling from one hotel or resort to another, you will be reducing your carbon footprint instead of taking more flights.
3. Instead of using a rental car in your destination area, take advantage of public transportation such as a bus or hotel van. Whenever possible, try walking. It is good for your health, the environment, and you can get an up-close and personal look at the community.
4. When you are out in the community, be sensitive, and ask permission to take pictures of the locals. When possible, eat foods that have been grown locally rather than eating foreign foods that have to be imported. Make sure that you do your research before you go on your trip. It will help prevent any misunderstandings and will help show your respect for local customs and dress. It is important to be generous such as giving good tips. Make sure you do not engage in excessive haggling so you do not upset any vendors.
Before you leave home, you can begin your trip being \’green\’ by turning off your lights, turning down the thermostat, and adjusting the air conditioner. During your flight and while staying at your destination, there are many things you can do to be mindful of the environment and people. Not only will you be doing your part to conserve and protect the environment, it will make your trip even more enjoyable and memorable.
Cheapflights is all about providing fast and easy-to-use services to help you find cheap tickets online, such as the Toronto flights. Our airline information pages tell everything you to need to know about booking cheap flights online.
What Is Activated Carbon In HEPA Air Purifiers?
February 23, 2010 by Anthony Davis
Filed under Green Gadgets
Activated carbon in HEPA air purifiers may seem strange to you, unless you own a water purification system which uses carbon or are an aquarium hobbyist. Even so, you may not understand exactly what it is activated carbon does.
What Does Activated Carbon Do In A HEPA Air Purifier?
Choosing HEPA air purifiers is often the first time most people encounter activated carbon. They begin their search because of allergies or asthma, but they have no real idea how these machines work. As they look deeper, they\’ll start to learn that odors and chemicals are what\’s actually causing the vast majority of the issues they\’re trying to remedy. Most quality HEPA air purifiers are designed to eliminate allergens as well as odors and chemicals in the air. This is where the activated carbon comes in.
Activated Carbon Before HEPA Air Purifiers
Activated carbon has actually been around for quite a while, and though it sounds quite scientific, our ancestors have made good use of it for at least the last two centuries. Back then, they already knew of activated carbon\’s extraordinary absorption qualities. In the early 1900\’s, the stuff was produced and sold commercially in the form of a powder. At the time it was only used to remove color from sugar or taste or smell from water. Although we didn\’t know it at the time, that was barely the tip of what this stuff is capable of. In World War I, the military discovered that they could use activated carbon in gas masks, filtering chemical agents from the air for the soldiers. The soldiers also used it for water purification, just like their ancestors. By this point, it was also available commercially as a granular form instead of just powder, which was when it began finding uses in even more situations.
What Does \”Activated\” Mean?
Most people have a general idea of what carbon is – it\’s a mineral. The most basic example would probably be charcoal. Activated carbon is what you get after heat is used on the carbon to drive all of the impurities out, leaving room for more to take their place. Think of it as a sponge, only instead of using pressure to extract the contents, we\’re using heat. Once the activated carbon is full, it can actually be reactivated by re-heating, though this is considered by most to be both impractical and dangerous. So, in this case, activated basically means empty.
Are There Different Types Of Activated Carbon?
Basically, yes. Though there are different types of activated carbon, and it\’s often described in various ways, all activated carbon is nothing more than amorphous carbon-based materials. These materials all have many holes, also known as a high degree of porosity, which cover a relatively large surface area. This is what gives the material such awesome absorbent quality, enabling it to work so extremely well in filtering both air and water.
Want to learn more about HEPA Air Purifiers? Check out HEPA Air Purifiers Info.
Recycling – Aluminum And Steel Cans
February 12, 2010 by Gogreen
Filed under Green Tips
Each and every year thousands of tons of trash is poured into landfills. Though we are in no immediate danger of running short on landfill space, this is expensive in terms of space, time, and energy invested, as well as the sheer waste of materials that will not ever be used again. So, consider the reasons below for keeping your steel and aluminum cans out of the landfill by recycling them.
- Aluminum which has been recycled is used for new projects within 2 months. On the other hand, it would take 200-500 years for that same to break down naturally if were just thrown away.
- Recycling is not just about material savings, but also about energy consciousness. Each aluminum can recycled saves enough energy to run a television for 3 hours.
- Metal cans can be exchanged for cash at lots of places. Various states offer five cents for each can given to them, and some recycling centers offer between fifty cents and two dollars for every pound of cans recycled.
- Recycled steel and aluminum are no different in composition from ‘new’ steel and aluminum. Recycled metals are simply melted down and mixed into lots to make new products.
- Every day, Americans recycle 105,784 cans per minute. The majority of that figure is a result of certain communities working hard on special projects that they set-up, and that is something that you should encourage those in your neighborhood to take up, as recycling can really help with bringing a community together.
- The 100,000,000 ‘new’ steel cans made every day contain 25% recycled materials. That equates to 25 million reclaimed cans versus 75 million completely new cans. If people recycled more frequently, that number would soon jump to 50-50 and a huge amount of energy and resources would be saved.
- The United States presently uses steel which is more than 65% recycled. This is a good start, but there is definitely room for improvement. Significant further progress would be made if more people knew that they can recycle their steel cans.
- There are can crushing machines on the market that can be used to make the job easier, and you can even make a home-made one for free. This removes the a commonly used excuse that recycling cans takes up too much space.
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http://www.cancrusher.org.uk is a site offering information about recycling aluminum and steel cans.
Ethanol Biomass – Things You Need To Recognize In Our Era
February 8, 2010 by Gogreen
Filed under Alternative Power
Ethanol fuel biomass may be defined such as plant substances or vegetation employed to generate kerosene or sustaining energy. More precisely this is a biological origin that is extracted from a living material. Ethanol has made its sustainable energy coming from plants for instance corn, switchgrasses, hemp, willow and sugar cane and also additional plants which manufactures or have all kinds of sugar. The majority of plant life either contains sugar or carries a few ingredient inside it that may be converted to sugar. That sugar is necessary for ethanol production that is carried out by fermentation, distillation in addition to dehydration. Non-renewable fuels usually do not fall under this classification. They aren’t polar solvents as is ethanol, as a substitute they’re hydrocarbons.
Breaking down cellulose from specific plant life like the corn is usually a tough process. Cellulose consists of a unit of strands that contain sugars along with all these sugar have to be extracted to be able to make the carbs required to create ethanol. The method applied is combining heat with pressure and a number of basic acidic ailments. A chemical substance must be used in order to break up one of many chains of sugar and attaches on the freely end of the chain and works its manner through the sequence extracting units of sugar (glucose). The last stage is to break down the sequence straight into not one but two molecules and ferment it into ethanol. That is a very expensive solution to reach ethanol. Experts have offered a way of biochimically engineering a bacteria that would break down the substance required to create ethanol biomass.
Ethanol biomass is a controversial subject especially in the process of biologically engineered microorganisms as well as the fear than it escaping into the atmosphere. On the other hand, there is extensive controversy with using ethanol within the us. Hot debate is just not always a deterrent to continue whether or not it’s industrially or scientifically. We all look at controversy as nothing more than thoughts and we might need views in order to improve all of our views, adjust the system to do something and most of all as a means to advance forward, to progress. After all bioethanol is essential for the future of our planet.
Review Of California Solar Energy
January 27, 2010 by Lee Torrence
Filed under Green News
About solar energy:
People are now attempting to turn solar energy into something we could apply everyday. This energy comes from the sun and is captured by people. Some of the cars and some homes are already using it.
Issues that could arise:
What happens when the sun goes down? This is a major problem with using this type of energy. Our house will not stay lit without it. So now we have to thing about energy storage for later. Here is another one, the electric companies feel as if we should still pay a bill. How can they continue to charge us for electric we are not using?
Why not help out.
Well for now when the sun is out we can use that energy instead. More cars and houses in California are using this type of energy. It helps the resources on the earth so we may have more. Think about it less gas being used the cheaper it may get.
Put money back into your pocket.
This could be the only times you could get help from the government. Take advantage of it. There are different rebates to install them and tax credits that could be taken. And at the end of the year there are some property tax reductions that can be applied.
How much am I spending?
In the beginning you could end up paying more. At the most before rebates or credits that you may receive you could pay from $12,000 – $28,000. The average family uses about 1.5 watts to 3.0 watts in one household. With your electric company you are paying about $8 – $10.
Synopsis of it all:
California solar energy should be used across the nation. This type of energy will help save on bills and save on resources. It could be a pain to install or more money then you have right now, but think about the effects it will have on this earth.
Learn more about San Diego solar energy. Stop by Lee Torrence\’s site where you can find out all about solar panels and what they can do for youour
Cruise Ships Strive To Be Environmentally Friendly
January 24, 2010 by Gogreen
Filed under Green Holidays
Cruise lines have recently come under a great deal of pressure from governments to clean up their act and make cruising a more sustainable and environmentally friendly activity. Cruise ships have long been known to be one of the more ‘unclean’ modes of transport, which is an image many cruise lines are keen to move away from. Add to this the fact that many governments are now charging cruise companies extra in tax for high carbon emissions, and cleaning up cruises suddenly seems like a good idea to companies. Here are 3 of the latest ‘green’ cruising developments.
Improved Ship Efficiency. Old ship designs really didn’t have their environmental impact in mind, but the latest ships are built from sustainable materials and put together using eco-friendly techniques. The materials are getting lighter so less energy is needed for propulsion, soft sails are often being included, and a company in Ireland have pioneered a biogas-powered engine, set to soon be used by Cunard Cruises. The very same Irish company are also working on hydrodynamic hulls that actually convert wave energy into forward momentum.
Hybrid Boats. Automobiles that rely on both fuel combustion and battery power have been around for a little while now and have proved very popular. Now ship builders such as those making boats for Silversea Cruises are getting in on the action and making boats that couple the traditional diesel power with electrical power. When a ship comes into harbor it is connected to the shoreside power source and gets a quick charge up of its huge batteries
Cargo-Pooling. A great idea being trialled by Oceania Cruises is ‘cargo sharing’. If a cruise ship has not filled all its spaces, it can offer to carry commercial cargo for other companies sending things to the same place, for a small commission of course. The cruise company wins as they get money they would otherwise not have got, the cargo company does not have to charter its own boat, and energy is saved that reduces carbon emissions.
Was The Ionic Breeze Air Purifier Nothing But A Big Fat Lie That Eventually Took The Sharper Image Down?
January 19, 2010 by Wilma Perkins
Filed under Green Gadgets
You remember the original Ionic Breeze air purifier, don\’t you? They were all over the TV with infomercials, and made brief appearances at Radio Shacks as well as The Sharper Image\’s retail stores, if you could find one. Then they were suddenly gone, and it seemed as if The Sharper Image went with them. Search the web and you\’ll find tons of negative commentary about how The Sharper Image supposedly lied in their claims about the Ionic Breeze. Yet, if you can actually find any reviews written by people that used them, they all have good things to say about the Ionic Breeze. We\’ll take a look at both sides of the coin and get to the truth of the Ionic Breeze air purifier.
It\’s Been Said That The Ionic Breeze Air Purifiers Is Not Effective
True, the Ionic Breeze is not as effective as a True HEPA purifier, but no one ever said it was. In fact, The Sharper Image never made direct comparisons with HEPA air purifiers except in terms of maintenance. Consumer Reports says that the Ionic Breeze silent air purifier only cleaned 30% of the pollution that passed through the machine. Consider that all of the air in the room will pass through the machine multiple times. If you clean 30% of something multiple times, you eventually end up close to, though not quite 100%. So, basically, an ionic air purifier is slower than a HEPA machine at the same job. It\’s also cheaper to buy, run, and maintain, so it\’s a trade-off. Also consider that these comparisons were made against True HEPA air purifiers, not HEPA-type machines. HEPA-type air purifiers don\’t have any particular standard to adhere to, and True HEPA machines are extremely expensive.
The Ionic Breeze Actually Makes The Air Unhealthy
This comes from the idea that ionic air purifiers produce a dangerous amount of ozone when doing their job. This simply is not true. The confusion comes from ozone generators, which work in a fashion somewhat similar to ionic air purifiers, but produce far more ozone. In fact, Consumer Reports even said that the Ionic Breeze air purifier produces under 50ppb of ozone, which meets HEPA guidelines. For what it\’s worth, the original Ionic Breeze air purifier passed every HEPA guideline, except for efficiency.
Some Say The Ionic Breeze Air Purifier Killed The Sharper Image
Yes, The Sharper Image did file in 2008, but lack of sales was not their downfall. The Sharper Image failed because they were a publicly traded company, and their stock prices dropped like so many rocks once their reputation had been so thoroughly tarnished. Although they had a ton of debt by the time they declared bankruptcy, they still had around $50 million in equity, not to include cash on hand. Unfortunately, however, their investors apparently didn\’t look the whole picture.
Are New Ionic Air Purifiers Any Better?
As the technology is quite simple and effective, there really isn\’t much room for improvement, even in the newest ionic air purifiers. The more fans you add, the faster and better it cleans the air, but even without fans, ionic breeze air purifiers eventually do the job. And although you may have a hard time finding the original Ionic Breeze, there are newer versions with The Sharper Image name on them (they got bought and resurrected), and also the Ionic Pro air purifier which is pretty similar to the original.
Want to learn more about the Ionic Breeze Air Purifier, as well as the alternatives? Visit Ionic Air Purifier Info.
Las Vegas Strip Going Green
December 1, 2009 by Gogreen
Filed under Green Tips
Because of the short supply of resources and our ever rising needs many individuals and corporations are trying to go green. The Las Vegas strip is in fact leading the pack. Las Vegas Boulevard sits in the heart of the desert. In normal years they only get four inches of rain a year, but they have been in a drought for many of those years.
They rely heavily on limited resources. Most of the city depends greatly on oil and natural gas to keep the city going. In July of this year the city sucked up 5,586 megawatts. These are huge numbers and Vegas can’t use non-renewable resources eternally. The city itself already gets all its water from Lake Mead. In October 1999 water at Hoover Dam was 1,213 feet deep but now it’s only 1,093 which means the water level has gone down by 120 feet.
This city soaks up huge numbers of energy and it can’t keep doing that. Consequently the city has made some changes which will allow the city to stay the same while supporting a sustainable model. The city is making efforts to go green step by step.
Harrah’s Entertainment owns both Caesars Palace and Paris Las Vegas has previously spent $60 million on conservation projects in the last six years. There have even been joint projects like a multi-resort laundry facility which has slashed water use by 30 percent despite the 40 percent increase in capacity and a cogeneration plant that can generate enough electricity to power one of the hotels two towers.
They have also started building new casinos that are kinder to the natural environment. City Center, MGM Mirage’s 67-acre resort complex was developed green enough that they received an LEED Gold Certified award from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the second highest qualification. The casino will reduce the use of electricity by using a cogeneration plant, glass and sunshades that let light in but reflect the heat and low-flow fixtures which trim down indoor water use. Plus the excess heat will be used to warm the resorts water supply.
Even though the new hotel is massive, the builders really challenged themselves. They decided to make a bigger building that was very green over a smaller building that was semi green. The designers pushed themselves on green designs and are happy that they received a LEED award.
Las Vegas will still have the casinos, the shows, and the dazzling lights. a retreat for visitors that want to let their hair down and have a great time. Everything will stay the same, because . Going green is vital to protecting the earth and it’s notable that Las Vegas has started to lead the pack.
About the Author Info
Diane Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about current events, politics, &LINK2%, online education, and the office. Her work gives her plenty of chances to educate others about online college classes
Energy Deregulation And The Consequences!
November 29, 2009 by Jeremiah Bradshaw
Filed under Green News
With just about the entire world looking for a resolution for the energy crisis, energy deregulation was inspired. Hoping the it would bring about rapid change in prices, most people were disappointed.
Since it has become more prevalent, energy deregulation has introduced the necessity of clients learning all of the language of the average energy insider. Without knowing this extended vocabulary there would be little possibility of any being able to, or willing to negotiate their own energy rates. It used to be that you really had no say in what your energy costs were, but now you have almost complete control over whom you pay and how much.
Since deregulation has taken place in much of the nation, you must be aware of energy rates from a variety of sources, to ensure you get the best rate possible. Not to mention the fact that if you are bound by a contract, then if the prices go down, you will have a hard time adjusting your contract to allow you to take advantage of that drop in prices.
The one good thing about being in such a contract is that if energy costs do increase, you are protected from it because of the terms of the contract. Without that you may have had to pay more.
Dealing with energy brokers is a new practice for most energy customers, since deregulation began. If you didn’t know that it probably cost you due to the fact that they are not exactly known to just give you money if they don’t have to. However, if you do point out that your can just keep looking if they do not give you a great rate, they will work with you.
Any and every market thrive on competition. That is why communism failed. Without competition there is little inventive for innovation or invention. Add competition into the mix and people are made to analyze, when they previously may not have. Or they are pushed to rethink ideas that they had no previous motivation to so. Competition is necessary to drag stagnant markets into creating new ways to solve old problems, and energy deregulation will bring about some major changes over the coming years.
The author enjoys writing articles about electricity providers in texas & texas electricity provider. Click on the links above to learn more about these topics! Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
LED Holiday Lights and other Green Decorating Ideas
November 27, 2009 by Tom Miller
Filed under Green Holidays
Your Christmas decorations can be green and energy efficient. Christmas is almost here so it is time to put out the Christmas lights and put the home in a festive mood. There are lots of different holiday lights you can choose from. Here are some ways you can decorate your home and still be green.
Use natural holiday decorations: There are lots of holiday decorations that do not use electricity at all. You can make your home festive with live evergreen wreaths and other winter plants like holly bushes and mistletoe. Natural decorations are environmentally friendly, will not end up in a landfill and add an sophisticated touch to any house’s decor.
Use light-emitting-diode Christmas lights: LED (light-emitting-diode) Christmas decorations cost a little more to buy but they offer huge energy savings over incandescent light bulbs. You can save up to 60% on your electric costs for Christmas lights if you switch to LED decorations. Remember that there are many things to think about when buying LED Christmas lights. Some Christmas stores are trying out Christmas decoration trade-in programs to help entice people to switch to LED holiday lights.
Reuse lights you already own: By using holiday decorations again and again you are keeping lots of plastic out of your local landfill and being wise about using resources. Try to skip purchasing all new Christmas lights each year. One of the greatest ways to save money is to go shopping in your own closets!
Many of these green decorating ideas will put more “green” in your pocket that you can spend on holiday gifts! With a little thought you can decorate for the holidays and still be green. Remember that your actions now can be a perfect gift for tomorrow’s generations.
Want more great holiday decorating ideas and tricks? Check out our site for all sorts of diy home project articles for Christmas or any time of the year!
categories: LED,LED Christmas lights,christmas lights,energy saving,environment,christmas,decorating,holidays,green,money saving
Should We All Be Using Bamboo In The Future?
November 21, 2009 by Gogreen
Filed under Green Tips
Ok, so Bamboo PC’s were just gimmicks. The laptop version of the bamboo PC launched last March at a computer fair in Hanover. It featured a laminated bamboo casing which was around a standard laptop, meaning that no less plastic was needed in making it.
Although the bamboo computers won’t make a huge difference to the environment, it did prove how versatile material really is.
Bamboo must be the only raw material that can be used as food, clothing and building materials. One of the early light bulbs created by Edison used bamboo. Due to bamboo being so strong and cheap, it has become a widely used product for scaffolding in parts of Asia. The fibres of bamboo poles have high strength both in tension and compression. It’s compressive strength works out around twice that of concrete, bamboo also has the same tensile strength to weight ratio as steel. Now there’s even a bamboo laptop!
Bamboo ticks lots of boxes for anyone buying eco-friendly home furnishings. For a start, it’s a highly sustainable raw material. There are a number of bamboo species that are able to grow over a metre each day. The locals that live near this amazing species of bamboo can cut down as much as they want and still have the same sized forest at the end of the year as they had at the beginning. As for the global warming problem, because bamboo is a plant, all products made out of the sustainable material contains a large amount of atmospheric carbon. However, the plastic equivalent to a bamboo products actually adds to the atmospheric carbon levels, rather than taking away!
Another point is that because bamboo is a plant source, there are many variations between two plants, these variations make it a difficult material to use in a mass production process. What this means is that you can be almost positive that a skilled craftsman has built the bamboo product you buy. If you choose to buy from a reputable source, you’ll also have the peace of mind that the craftsman has earned a fair wage from their work and not been exploited. Finally, you’ll know that your product won’t have accumulated any air miles during its journey to your home.
With eco credentials as strong as these, it’s amazing how beautiful bamboo products are. Picture a skilfully made bamboo box, lovingly lacquered with 15 layers of natural shellac. All natural and really stylish. I myself bought a fantastic, hand-crafted bamboo knife block and am now seriously considering investing in some other bamboo bamboo knife block such as salad bowls. Stylish and ethical. Win.
Texas Energy Customers Should Know This!
November 19, 2009 by Zandra King
Filed under Green News
Electricity rates in Texas have a complex mix of factors effecting them. Given that hydro-electricity is very difficult to get in Texas most of the energy is petroleum based in one way or another. Factor in the fact that Texas is baked every summer with temperatures that range as high as-0 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can see how tough it would be to keep the grid going strong.
The main influence in Texas electricity rates is the fact that most of the electricity in the Texas power grid is generated from coal powered generators. Natural gas prices effect power prices in Texas because the generators which kick in to add to the power available to the grid are powered by natural gas. This added demand on the grid does overflow to effect electricity prices in Texas, and frequently in a negative way. With the majority of the price fluctuation passed on to the end user, the effect on energy costs may end up hurting the consumer financially.
With a high population, high summer temperature and a huge amount of geography to cover the Texas power grid can be under extreme duress at certain points of the year. With a power pole every so many yards, electrical cable and wire in between and clients that may be hundreds of miles apart, Texas presents some very unique and difficult hurdles to overcome.
When you factor in those things, you can see that Texas electricity rates are effected by a complicated network of issues that are not too common. With solar power being such an obvious resource, many ecologically centered people in the U.S. are eager to usher in the next era of the power generation evolution.
Never before has the consumer had the tools at hand that we do now, so make sure to use this information to your advantage.
The author enjoys writing articles on cheapest business electricity and retail energy provider. Click on the above links to learn more!
Creative Ways to Use Boxes After Moving
November 6, 2009 by Adriana Noton
Filed under Green Tips
So, you’ve reached your new home, you’ve unpacked and now you’re stuck with dozens of moving boxes. Boxes, even when flattened, can take up a lot of space. Unless you’re planning to move within the next few months again, it’s not worth it to keep them around. So just what can you do to use those boxes once you’ve finished moving?
There are a number of things you can do with those boxes, but whatever you do, don’t throw them out! Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Sell them. How did you get hold of these moving boxes? Chances are, you either bought them from a moving company or else spent a lot of time scavenging suitable ones. It’s hard and expensive to find good, sturdy moving boxes, so it stands to reason that others will be looking for the same thing you did just a few weeks ago. They’re often willing to purchase boxes that have been used once, at a lower price. You get rid of the boxes and earn a bit of cash and the new buyers gain all the boxes they need for their move at a savings in time and money.
Turn them into storage. While you can certainly leave some things packed in the basement, attic or garage, there are other methods of storage. For example, you can cover the boxes with nice contact paper and stack them to form cheap, sturdy shelves in a child’s room. If you do stack them, offsetting is best for stable shelves and you should use something to hold them together. You can either remove the flaps, or screw in door handles to the two that close horizontally and use a hook to hold them shut.
Make a tunnel. This works particularly well for a child’s birthday party, but has also been used as a fundraiser. Take all the boxes that you have and open the flaps on both ends, taping them to elongate the box. Now start taping them together to form a long tube. You can actually create a maze this way. To form intersections, you’ll need to cut some boxes open and use them to cover the open areas where two or more tunnels meet. This works very well when it’s dark, since people can actually become semi-lost inside the box tunnel. The tunnel should hold up for some time, particularly if you’ve used sturdy tape, like duct tape.
Insulate a garage or attic. Cardboard works well to help insulate, which is actually why many street people use it as bedding. However, you don’t need to be poor in order to make very good use of those insulating powers. Use the flattened boxes to cover the roof or walls in a drafty garage and keep things warmer, or use it to lower the temperature a bit in your attic.
Whether you decide to use your moving boxes in your home or sell them and make some extra cash, don’t just throw them out. They’re still incredibly useful.
Recycled boxes are strong candidates for moving boxes. If you’re considering of shipping boxes, these boxes offer the protection that you desire. You can also utilize the used moving boxes in many different ways; for example, build small furniture for your child.
How to Have a Green Holiday this Year
October 30, 2009 by Mickey Jacks
Filed under Green Holidays
A mountain of Christmas gifts and goods make their way out of and into homes each Christmas season. Regrettably, not long after the festivities subside, many of those well-meaning gifts move rapidly on to mounds of landfill.
Slowing the migration is as easy as setting your family the Green Christmas Challenge to send as little as possible to landfill this Christmas. Inspired by the target of a approximately empty wheelie bin, you will all make decisions that generate less waste.
Many actions help with celebrating a green Christmas, like opting for locally-grown foods to reduce food miles, switching to LED eco Christmas lights and donating gifts to charities. The massive amount of food, plastic and non-recyclable waste is the chief environmental problem, but it is a simple one for households to take on.
Sit the team down before Christmas and speak about methods of reuse, reduce and recycle. Here’s some ideas to get you started
Good for the environment plastic-free picnics
Disposable plastic plates and cups are created from petrochemicals, so pollution is made in their manufacture and when thrown-away they sit in landfill forever. Select reusable plates that you wash up or use palm leaf plates, a stylish plant alternative. They add a chic good for the environment style to your festive table and can be put onto your garden as mulch, instead of in the bin.
Trim a living tree When Santa arrives in his carbon-neutral sleigh, surprise him with a live Australian Wollemi pine tree. This recently discovered prehistoric tree is now for sale in nurseries. A potted Wollemi can grow with your family to be trimmed year after year. Or, why not a tradition to find a lovely Eucalyptus branch that can be composted when the Christmas festivities are over.
Wrap it again
A fantastic stretch the budget and save piles of waste is to wrap presents in newspaper, magazines and even junk mail. For kids use the comics, for car lovers use the motoring pages. wrapping, place gifts inside reusable shopping bags, or sew cloth bags from festive Christmas material that your family can re-tie with ribbon every year. For an extra special Green Christmas touch, Earth Greetings make pleasurable post consumer waste wrapping paper with Australian Christmas designs printed with vegetable inks.
Detour past the bin
Ask, is this Christmas gift end up in the bin within a few weeks? If yes, opt for something else. The old saying quality not quantity is a good friend of the planet. Even the cheapest items use the planet’s limited resources, energy and water to manufacture. Instead of buy a risky gift, consider a gift voucher or make a donation to a charity on behalf of the person. Should you receive an unsuitable gift, pass it straight on to a charity like the Salvos.
A green Christmas gift for your garden
Food scraps make up a huge portion of rubbish and once in landfill they generate methane, a concentrated greenhouse gas. Compost at home instead and turn leftovers into fertiliser for your garden. The Bokashi composting bin is a popular system that sits conveniently in your kitchen.
Packaging-free paradise
Picture a paradise where Christmas morning is free of mounds of discarded plastic packaging. It just takes a little bit more thought and effort. Locally made and hand-made Christmas gifts are to be over-packaged. A trip to the local Farmer’s Markets will also assist you stock up on fresh festive food with minimal packaging.
Rather than talking rubbish; this Christmas, your family will soon be asking is this for landfill, recycling or composting? And the joy of attaining your challenge will bring good tidings to all.
Biome Eco Stores is a chic retail outlet with a conscience. Firmly committed to eco friendly principles, Biome offers a unique and meaningful green Christmas collection for gifts and decoration.
Wind Power: Good For The Environment, Great For Your Wallet
October 21, 2009 by Arnold Thompson
Filed under Alternative Power
There are a lot of good arguments for using wind power to meet our needs for electricity. Since producing this energy from fossil fuels is so harmful to our environment, it only makes sense to start exploring the possibility of using other means to provide the electrical power we need.
We all know by now how important it is to preserve our environment as well as to protect our limited natural resources. This awareness has led to a greater interest in using wind power to generate the energy we need. Installing a wind generator lets you use less energy from your local utility which is produced using means which are not environmentally friendly.
Of course, while you should have no problem generating a lot of power, you will not want to cut off your connection to the electric company. The electric company can serve as a back up source should your wind generators not provide enough power for you during some non-windy times.
When there are good winds, you’ll make more power than you need; this excess can be sold to your electric company. You won’t become a millionaire this way, but it’s one way that your wind generators will more than pay for themselves (and you can watch your electric meter turn backwards – how cool is that?).
Now you have seen that it can be extremely good for the environment, it is time to see why it is worth your time. Even though there is going to be an upfront expense to the installation of the wind generators, it is important to know that it is worth it in the end. In the end, the clean energy does pay for itself.
There are programs which reimburse homeowners for part of the cost of installing wind generators offered in various states and cities. Even if these programs are not available where you live, installing a wind generator is still a wise investment which will pay for itself many times over.
The installation itself is fairly simple and can be done on your own. Some people think that installing a wind generator is difficult or complicated and should be done by a contractor. Of course, hiring a contractor can get pretty expensive, which keeps many from considering this renewable energy source. However, the fact is that this is an easy project which you can do yourself.
All you need are some tools which you certainly have already and a good set of instructions. You can find plenty of good guides to installing a wind generator online which go through the procedure step by step. These instructions make it easy to install your wind generator and have it up and running generating electricity for you in no time flat!
Want a guide that can teach you how to build your own residential wind power easily and quickly? This is a great place to start. You can learn to build wind generators in your yard to save your hard earned dollars.
DIY Wind Turbines as an Affordable Energy Alternative
October 17, 2009 by Arnold Thomas
Filed under Alternative Power
The cost of maintaining your household can be staggering. One of the larger expenses for any home is of course the cost of electricity. Many people find themselves budgeting carefully for this expense and trying as hard as possible to conserve energy to keep pace with the increasing cost of energy.
There are some bills which you really can’t do too much about; your mortgage or rent aren’t going to decrease and you most likely need your cell phone and internet access too much to cut back on these bills. You can save in a lot of ways, but many expenses are simply unavoidable.
One of the important utility bills that most people fail to lessen are the electric bills. Even if you spend additional time unplugging unused devices to save electricity or force yourself to switch of the lights when you don’t need them, you can still get tired with the efforts that need to be done. It also becomes tough to follow if you live with other people who may not be as interested to conserve electricity.
However, you can use all of the electricity you need if you can find an alternative source of energy to use other than what is supplied by your local utility company. Renewable alternative energy sources exist which you can use to keep your electricity costs down; and in some cases, you may even be able to sell excess electrical power to your utility company!
Solar and wind are the most popular alternative energy technologies. You probably know the basics about solar power already. It’s a great non-polluting energy source. Wind power is something you’ve probably not really considered for your home, thinking you’d need a huge wind farm in order to get the electrical power your home needs.
Actually all you need are small wind turbines that you place on your rooftop. You don’t need to worry about figuring out where to get them because you can actually make them yourself if you have the necessary materials that you can acquire online or in the junkyard.
If you live in an area which tends to get strong, steady winds, you may be able to generate the bulk of your own electricity! The more turbines you have the more power you’ll produce and the less you’ll have to pay your utility company for each month.
The way that a wind turbine works is simple – the kinetic energy generated by the rotors moving in the wind is converted into electrical energy which you can use in your home. Best of all, your wind turbines generate power day and night; unlike a solar panel. Excess energy can be stored in batteries and used later.
Wind turbines won’t be able to supply every home with all of the energy they need – since not every home has the space to build several turbines. However, even people in big cities can take advantage of this alternative energy source and lower their electric bills with their own clean, renewable energy. Cheap and easy to build and install, wind turbines are the answer to meeting your energy needs on a tight budget.
Check out how you can make diy wind power for you home and save money on your power bill. Building your own wind power generators can save you thousands on the cost of buying one at the store as well and still make lots of power.
Using The Sun’s Energy In A Stirling New Way
October 15, 2009 by Michael Edwards
Filed under Alternative Power
During the process of researching an article about green products on photovoltaic cell systems (solar panels), I came across another way to convert the sun’s light into electricity. So let’s take a look at another type of solar energy system.
The Stirling engine goes back to the early 1800’s, when steam was the order of the day. Steam was used to power factories, trains, and many types of work that required lots of horsepower. However, with steam came the danger of a boiler blowing up when something went wrong. Robert Stirling saw a different approach. His invention still used fire to heat the hot chamber but instead of steam, he used the heat to move pistons.
The Stirling engine has many different designs, some more efficient than others. Some designs use the two cylinder Alpha design, some the Beta single cylinder design and some the Gamma design (a variation of the beta for use in multiple cylinder applications). The beta Sterling design has a single chamber with two pistons and uses a highly efficient regenerator gas as the thermal conductor.
To operate the Stirling engine only an external heat source is required, which could be anything from solar heat to the heat produced by decaying plants. In one model, the heat from a human hand powers a small version of the Stirling engine!
The basic operation of this thermal engine is really quite simple. The engine has two chambers, one hot and one cold. When an external heat source is applied the hot air expands moving a piston and flows to the cold chamber. A flywheel is attached to maintain movement.
The Stirling engine is ideal for use in a solar power generating system. With one of the hottest heat sources available (sunlight), the hot chamber will continue to operate without external fuels as long as there is daylight. This makes it ideal for use as a peaker type power plant when the demands for electricity are at there highest.
With better-designed engines and new types of material, a movable (tracking) parabolic mirror, and a single Stirling engine you can produce 25 kilowatts of electricity.
In a future article about green products I will list the different solar technologies and how they compare to the competition.
Michael
Michael Edwards writes great stuff about our world. Get more of it at green living
Putting Wind Power Turbines in Residential Areas
October 12, 2009 by David Sullivan
Filed under Alternative Power
Looking to reduce your power bill or start living without buying power from the power company? A great way to do it is to invest in residential wind power.
So why don’t you and your neighbors go out and buy some turbines? Because commercial ones can retail for exorbitant prices – $2000 to $6000, even. They are still worth the money because they last for a long time and in a year or two they have paid for themselves, but there is an alternative.
If you have the right plans you can build your own, in fact. And it’s not complicated, and it’s not expensive. you can do it for around $150-$300 depending on the amount of power you want to produce.
What will you need to make your own wind generator?
You’ll need a work area, good blueprints, basic tools and four to seven days.
The components you’ll build:
Four main parts in a generator are the blades and hub, the body with a DC motor, the tail and the tower. The blades will be the toughest part to build of the whole machine. They are still fairly easy with a good guide to move you along.
You will have to order the motor for the wind generator. Your plans will tell you where to get the motor, what size you need and all the technical stuff you need to know to be sure you get what you need. It is the most important part as it is what converts the wind power into electric to power your home.
For the body it is best to use double walled stainless steel like that from a chimney pipe or wood stove. It is very cheap and easy to get and will last a long time.
The tail is simple and can be made from wood or plastic. You’ll need it so that the turbine is always pointing in the direction of the wind.
For the tower, you can either build it from scratch too out of piping or recycle something like an old TV tower. People who have them in their yards may actually pay you to take them away.
Now that you know some of the basics, you can see that it’s not that complicated or expensive to have your own residential wind power system to run your household. All you need now are the plans to get started.
Toyota Adopting A Cautious Approach
October 12, 2009 by David Nunez
Filed under Green News
For a substantial number of years now, Toyotas Prius has been the primary hybrid automobile in the auto business and continues to remain the champion in popularity and turnover in spite of the multitude of competitive makes quite easily purchasable. The trend in Europe, America and particular Asian countries like Japan and Korea has been gradually gravitating to totally electric makes and this industry has witnessed a massive flood of funding from both the private sector and governments. But Toyota appears to be stalling while other car makers are galloping ahead with the debut of cars like the Chevrolets Volt and Nissans Leaf.
Toyota officially became the biggest auto producer on the globe in early 2007, beating the US automobile giant General Motors, who had previously maintained the principal rank from the early nineteen thirties. A car that once embodied the intrusion of Japanese cars in America has performed enormously well in the contemporary US Consumer Assistance Recycle and Save Act of 2009 or as more regularly renowned, Cash for Clunkers. The stimulus was offered to auto buyers who were well disposed to trade in predetermined cars for new, more fuel effective, environmentally friendly vehicles. Toyota came out the leader with two of its models in the top three makes sold in this program, highlighting the automobile buyers confidence in Toyota as a green auto producer.
The Prius has perpetually been the incarnation of Toyotas dedication to engineering fuel-economical and environmentally friendly vehicles. The name is suitably adopted from the Latin word denoting in front and when it was inaugurated all through the globe in 2001, the Prius speedily became an symbol of the fresh generation of automobiles to come. Regular middle income households to Hollywood actors acquired the car as an demonstration of their zeal to the cause of a safer world. However, it took more than ten years after its development and original introduction to earn profits from this inventive project.
In the present economic crisis, Toyota has had its decent share of misfortunes. In spite of ensuing deficit in the preceding couple of years, it has performed somewhat better compared to other auto companies. However, in tumultuous days like these, Toyota appears to have subscribed to a safe road to the new electric car technology and focus their attention primarily on the top performing models, trying to gain as much as manageable out of the tested and well-liked hybrid technology. Toyota has learned effectively from its countless years of achievements in the automobile business and though skeptics appear to worry that Toyota will lose the race when the technology ultimately becomes commercially sustainable, I genuinely doubt Toyota has much to be alarmed about.
The main barrier in the commercial triumph of electric vehicles is the giant alteration in infrastructure essential to support these cars. Electric cars can presently manage fifty to sixty kilometers with no recharging, critically impeding the travel distance. Additionally, there is no one accepted charging approach in place, with numerous choices like plug in recharge and battery replacement being worked upon. Experts assess that it will take nearly ten to fifteen years before a satisfactory support system is obtainable for a large magnitude of these vehicles to be efficiently used for daily utilization.
The tale of the turtle and the rabbit would be an relevant analogy in this situation. In spite of Toyotas capability to introduce an electric car in a considerably brief period of time, it has decided to take the guarded path and consolidate its primary spot with prevailing technologies. After all slow and steady did win the competition, and the race has far from ended.
Residential Wind Generators
October 8, 2009 by David Sullivan
Filed under Alternative Power
Looking to reduce your power bill or start living without buying power from the power company? A great way to do it is to invest in residential wind power.
Why not just go out and buy one? Well, for starters if you are thinking of creating your own power then you are also thinking of saving money. The last thing you will do if you purchase one is save money as prices for these start at about $4000 dollars for a commercial one.
If you have the right plans you can build your own, in fact. And it’s not complicated, and it’s not expensive. you can do it for around $150-$300 depending on the amount of power you want to produce.
What will you need?
You’ll need a work area, good blueprints, basic tools and four to seven days.
What are the parts of a wind generator?
The wind generator consist of four parts, the blades and hub, the body, tail, and the tower it sits on. It takes longer to build the blades and hub than it does the rest of the system, so it’s best to get that over with first. It is very easy but takes some time.
You will have to order the motor for the wind generator. Your plans will tell you where to get the motor, what size you need and all the technical stuff you need to know to be sure you get what you need. It is the most important part as it is what converts the wind power into electric to power your home.
For the body I recommend double walled stainless steel, which will last a long time and is very cheap. You can get it from a chimney pipe or a wood stove pipe.
The tail is simple and can be made almost any way you like and decorated anyway you choose.
You can buy the tower or build your own out of piping. The best thing to use is old TV towers, which many people don’t use anymore and may actually pay you to take them down.
These are some of the basics of building a wind turbine (and believe me, it doesn’t get much more complicated). All you need now is a manual to get you started saving money and the environment.
Wind and Solar Power Energy Solutions
October 5, 2009 by Mike Sullivan
Filed under Alternative Power
Power and fuel costs are just starting to skyrocket, and they are only going to get higher as the shortage of oil gets worse and demand goes up. Conserving energy is our next priority as a nation, but we can also go one step further to ensure that we never face an energy crisis again – start to create our own renewable energy. Solar power and wind power at home is becoming a common thing and it is becoming very cheap, especially if you create your own solar and wind power generators.
These solutions can help you combat power outages, reduce your electricity bills, and also help the environment.
Wind power solutions work best when the following conditions are met:
- You have a house or farmhouse spread over a big area. Typically, wind power solutions are employed in areas that spread over an acre.
- The average wind speed in your area is around 11 miles per hour. If you stay in a place that has little wind flow, your system will not work. Consult an expert before installing the wind power solution at home.
- Your house needs an uninterrupted power supply. This is true for most houses, of course. With wind power, you can always have power on hand just by charging batteries you’ll keep on your property.
A wind power turbine generally consists of a tower, a body with motor, and blades that spin in the wind. The height of the tower depends on the height of surrounding objects and on the distance from them. If you are in a low-wind area you may need a larger tower, and a shorter one if you live in a high wind area.
The motor inside your wind turbine will convert the spinning energy of the blades to electrical current. This electricity can be used to power electrical devices in your home, even if there is a blackout. If you choose to remain connected to your electrical company, they will pay you for electricity that you generate and don’t use.
Cheap Wind Power Generators To Power Your Whole Home
October 2, 2009 by David Sullivan
Filed under Alternative Power
With rising fuel and energy costs, many people are looking for their own alternative energy sources. Wind power generators have been use on farms for many years in varying degrees, before electric power became so readily available.
You can build your own wind power generator for your home. The ideal situation is an area that is 20ft higher than the nearest obstacle or building, and about 250-400 feet away. The average wind speed in North America is about 9-10m/s, which is great for using wind power.
Wind power is a cheap, clean alternative energy source, especially cheap if you do it yourself. They can generate much more power compared to an average solar panel so the cost per Watt is much less.
To turn the rotational energy of the turbine into electricity, the actual power generator is the DC motor. You will have to pick one up or order one – they can cost $50 on up depending on size.
You will also need a wind power generator tower; some people have found free, old, TV antenna towers, as long as it meets the height requirement. Finally, you will need the plans for making the entire project to start generating wind power.
Many people have bought guides and made their own 500 watt turbines from scratch using PVC piping, a DC motor, TV tower recycled and a grid connector unit. This can be done in less than a week and for less than $300. On the other hand the same turbine might cost $1500 or $2500 commercially.
The concept of wind power has been around for the long time but hasn’t much been implemented. It is fairly easy to build one yourself, and you’ll find that they work fantastically for your own home.
Anybody that has over a half acre of land, some PVC, a motor, some batteries, and either a tall TV Antenna, or some 2 or 3 inch steel to build a tower, can put together their own wind power generator, with basic tools.
How to Build A Wind Generator At Home
September 30, 2009 by David Sullivan
Filed under Alternative Power
In the future, all of our energy will come from renewable sources. With traditional gas and energy costs skyrocketing, it is apparent that we need to find new ways to make energy production which are sustainable. We need to change our thought process about how we use the Earth and begin to convert our old energy grid into something sustainable.
There are some people who have already started thinking this way. New scientific breakthroughs in renewable energy are allowing us to create sustainable energy at lower and lower costs.
Using the right set of plans even homeowners who don’t know anything about construction or electricity can build their own alternative energy sources right in their backyards, such as wind power generators.
Homebuilt wind turbines can make as much power to reduce the average household’s power bill by 60-70%. The right advice can show you how many people make their wind power generators for as little as $200 US.
They can be built with basic tools and parts from a local hardware store. You can estimate the amount of power a generator creates using the following formula:
Power(Watts) = (Wind Speed)^3 * (Blade Diameter)^2 * 0.00478
The speed of the wind makes the most difference because its value is cubed, then the blade diameter because its value is squared. Example calculation using a decent wind speed of 10mph and an 8 ft blade diameter:
W = (10*10*10) * (8*8) * 0.00478 = 305 watts/hour – x 24 hours and you can calculate 7.3 kWh generated per day by a wind power generator.
If you have an average home, you probably use about 12-20 kWh of power every day. Even if you don’t have great wind speed in your area, an initial investment of about $200 to build a wind turbine is small compared to the savings you will get in free electricity for your house. Wind power generators are very good investments, indeed.





