Passive Uses of Solar Energy

Actually, many of us make passive use of solar energy quite often...many times without even being aware of it.

For example, if you open the windows on the sunny side of your house on a winter day, you may actually be heating your home with energy from the sun, thus decreasing your heating costs.

A simpler example is making "sun tea" in a jug on the porch on even a relatively cool day.

Some people take this sort of thing one step further and actually design and build passive solar energy homes. These homes are oriented in such a manner that they can actually make the most effective use of the sun's rays for heating and lighting during the cooler months of the year.

Often, even the landscaping around these homes is planned so as to help maximize, or even minimize, the impact of sunlight on the home in order to achieve results. In this instance, plants may be selected which provide shade on the home in the heat of Summer, and then lose their leaves in Winter so that more sunlight can reach the home.

Sometimes, plants are selected and placed with the positioning of the sun at various times in mind. Again, in the Summer their shadows help keep the home cooler and in the winter, they are out of the pathway the sunlight takes to the home.

Most passive uses of solar energy are somewhat limited simply by the concept of passivity. If all you are doing is letting the sun shine on something in order to heat it up, you are usually only able to use this energy during daylight hours, and only in the form of direct heat or light.

However, much research has been done in the last few years on capturing and using this energy with specifically designed yet passive constructions. One of the more popular methods is to heat water with the sun and then store that heated water for future use. At the very least, available pre-heated water reduces the energy needed to heat the water the rest of the way for use in the home.

Often, to be effective, passive solar energy collection has to be combined with at least some small level of mechanical or electrical assistance. For example, an essentially passive water heating system may need a pump to move the heated water to a storage facility within the home, office, or outbuilding.

As with many aspects of alternative energy production and use, new passive uses of solar energy are constantly being developed, and old ones are being improved.

One drawback of passive uses of solar energy is that the homeowner is still needs connection to the conventional power grid in order to live in comfort year round. Many who get a taste of energy freedom by adding a passive energy system to an existing home, or build a new home with such systems integral to the design of the building decide they want to go "whole hog" and get "off the grid" completely.

In order to do this, they will have to add solar panels and/or wind power generators to the mix.
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MAKE YOUR OWN SOLAR PANELS FOR UNDER $200

Alternative Energy: Can Algae Replace Oil for Our Energy?

By Johnson R Masterson

Anyone who drives a car can see that the cost of gas bounces up and down in the short term but in the end will always continue to move higher as our fossil fuel reserves diminish. This makes the development of alternative fuels an unavoidable necessity in the future. It's vital that we discover cost-effective and economically viable alternatives. Thankfully scientists are hard at work creating alternative fuel technologies that may be practical to implement and better for our environment. There is one alternative fuel source that hasn't garnered as much attention as wind or solar power. This under-appreciated potential new power source is algae. Algae is endlessly renewable and can be grown in basically endless quantities.

Approximately half of algae's weight is comprised of lipid oil which scientists believe can be converted into biodiesel a fuel that burns more cleanly and efficiently than petroleum. In contrast to oil, algae are renewable and ubiquitous. Algae grow almost any spot on earth. Oil does not get replenished. Algae might be grown anywhere so long as it has access to carbon dioxide water and sunlight. Everybody has seen pond scum. This is probably the most know algae and is also probably the most productive form for producing biofuel. Far from depleting the food supply, the parts that are not converted to biodiesel might be used for fertilizer and feedstock.

Big energy as well as agricultural companies around the globe are beginning to see the windfall that algae might represent in the area of energy production. The majority of research in the field is done by private organizations. Many proponents of algae as a renewable energy source are frustrated at the lack of funding and attention directed at research in this area by public institutions. Many people feel passionately that algae is critical to altering our power mix away from fossil fuel and that algae could create most of our electrical power and fuel our vehicles if only more funding and effort were put into the research necessary to perfect the technology. Despite the large amount of interest from the private energy sector compared to the public sector skeptics maintained that oil companies will not easily allow oil to be usurped as the energy source of choice for the world electricity grids and transportation needs.

Oil prices will continue to go up as the basic laws of supply and demand dictate. Oil companies are well-positioned to make unprecedented amounts of profit from this endgame in oil as they can realize much higher margins from turning over less product. The fossil fuel revolution has facilitated a period of unprecedented prosperity for mankind. But it has not come without a price. Because algae can be grown in every corner of the globe it has the potential to be a great equalizer when it comes to the geopolitical implications of energy. Localizing energy production in the form of algae farms and biodiesel fueled electricity plants means local jobs, economic stability, and opportunity for many nations of the world that today lack these things.

We have grown accustomed to electricity rates which are quite low compared to what they may become when fossil fuels begin to run out. The promise of an algae driven electricity grid and transportation system is truly encouraging. Although lab results and early field test have shown promise, the technology has a long way to go to be perfected.

Johnson is an energy writer who follows issues and trends that impact Texas electricity rates.

Article Source: Can Algae Replace Oil for Our Energy?

Comparison of Magnetic Power Generator to Other Energy Generation Devices

There are many different sources of alternative energy, but there is a new one which has begun to be noticed...the magnetic power generator.

So, how does this new source of power compare to existing methods?

Compared to windmill power:

To build a windmill one requires the following: a large area, huge investment, maintenance and favorable weather in order to produce energy. The central idea is power generation by wind depends on weather conditions.

Any variations on weather, such as: low wind pressure or bad weather makes the generation system to slow down or stop altogether.

Therefore, the windmill system is an unreliable medium. It is very crucial to maintain the windmill system at regular intervals. In comparison with a Magnetic Generator, we see that Magnetic Generator works without any external help and the weather doesn’t affect its performance at all.

Compared to solar power resources:

Solar power is derived from solar energy (sunlight) and is not very reliable in the cloudy weather. This source of power solely works under sunlight; equally it needs of a large area for installation. The areas where sunny weather is certain throughout the year is the most appropriate for the solar system. So the above mentioned reasons give a vivid contrast between magnetic and solar power.

Compared to normal fuel generators:

In our comparison between the fuel generators and magnetic power generators, there is a huge difference of cost. Fuel generators require a great amount of fuel as compared to the magnetic power generators. Also maintenance, space for its installation, its sound and repairing of the generator (if needed) are other issues. The purchasing price is also too high to handle. You should keep in mind the possible dangers from it and you will have to prevent the children or pets to go near it. However, the Magnetic Power Generator is easy to use and it saves lot of money and fuel as well.

Compared to thermal power generators:

These generators consume the biggest area; need lot of money, man power and constant maintenance. It is based on water steam. Also when we compare it with Magnetic Power Generators we come to know that there is a huge difference in cost, space occupation and fuel consumption. Thus, magnetic power generator wins the comparison again.

Learn more about the magnetic power generator at HoJoMotor.com.

The Alternative Home Energy Guide from Earth4Energy.com

If you are interested in knowing how to generate power and reduce your electricity bills, there are many companies which can help you do this.

Once such company which helps people do this is Earth4Energy.com.

With the ever increasing costs of living and global warming, there might never be a better time to stop throwing money out the window and save some by starting to generate our own electricity.

Whether you want to simply cut your power bills to half or completely eliminate them – one solution is to take advantage of the resources found at Earth4Energy.com.

After all, why should you continue to pay a huge amount to the electric companies for use of their solar or wind power when you can have the opportunity to build your own home made solar system for less than $200.

Only $200?

Well, that's an estimate based on what it costs most people, and the final cost will vary from place to place depending on prices where you are and how well you can follow instructions, but still, it's a real cost.

Sure, there are plenty of guides that promise to teach you everything you need to know about generating your own electricity by using wind and solar power. With the complete step-by-step setup fully illustrated manuals and easy to follow video instructions found in the guide from Earth4Energy.com, you will be able to create renewable energy at home.

Solar and wind power systems which you can buy from the market cost a lot more. However, the guide and the program in it gives you all the information that is required to get the same results at much lower cost.

Once you have learned what you need to know about generating your own energy for your home, and have built and installed your alternative energy supply, you will find that you will save hundreds of dollars on your electricity bill.

You do not need to build a 500 hundred foot high wind turbine to save lots of money on energy. A much smaller unit can be built by following the instructions present in the Earth4Energy home power kit.

The Earth4Energy kit is one of the best, if not "the best" system for people who are looking to save money on their home energy bill and want to build a home energy generator.

There really is no other kit out there in the market like the one from Earth4Energy.com. that explains the steps as clearly with manuals or even videos. One important point if you are reading this online is that the Earth4Energy kit is available online. Many people from around the world can now have access to alternative solar and wind energy.

The Earth4Energy kit also suggests a popular alternative energy device that has been proven to drop home energy costs by 50-80%. The kit also shares information on where to purchase the batteries required for your project. These batteries store the alternative energy you produce, making it also a portable energy source.

You can take them anywhere, for any use!


Eartth4Energy is the best and most friendly system I have found for preparing an alternative home energy system...especially if you are new to all this

So if you are planning to save money on those high energy bills, then you should check out this guide and start learning what you need to know. At it's currently discounted price of $49.97, even if you don't build THEIR system, you will get an education on alternative home power systems that is still worth the cost.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get the complete guide at www.earth4energy.com.

Heating Water using Solar Power

Once you have decided to convert your main power source over to solar power you will need to make some adjustments to the appliances that carry the power source. Your water heater is one of these appliances.

When you opt for alternative energy and choose to use solar power to heat your water you may find that you have to purchase a solar powered water heater specifically designed to do that. You might be able to make adjustments to your existing one but whatever steps you take to turn it into a solar powered appliance, it will be worth it.

There are several ways you can choose to heat your water using solar power.

You can even make your own solar power source.

The water entering your home runs through pipes before it actually comes into the home.

Heating water using solar power will generally occur before the water gets into your home as it passes by or through the solar source that attracted the light. You may also haveto have a tank to store the water in that can then heat the water up. In order to heat your water successfully you will need to have both a solar collector and a storage tank.

A flat plate collector is the most common collector used.

It is designed as a thin, flat rectangular box that has a see through cover and it can carry some sort of fluid to be heated. This fluid could be the water itself or it may be a solution, such as antifreeze, that will prevent the water from freezing. In the next step, the water moves through the tubes to an absorber plate. This plate is surfaced with black paint to attract and absorb the heat from the sun. Once the collector gets hot, it will heat the fluid that passes through the tubes. As the water passes through the tubes it goes into the storage tank. The storage tank holds the heated water. It is usually pretty well insulated so the water will stay warm longer.

Then the water flows into the home on demand.

Solar water heating systems are divided into two groups: Active and passive.

When the heating systems are active, that means that they rely on the pumps or other mechanical device that can move the water between the flat plate collector and the storage tank. Active is the most common because it is quicker and more efficient as it uses a mechanical means to tranport the water. The passive system relies on gravity to feed the water from the flat plate collector to the storage tank. This may be slow at times and may not be sufficient enough to keep up with the demand.

Both ways are logical and are a choice or preference for you to make. Another thing that you need to consider is that if your flat plate collector and your storage tank is not angled right it may be hard for the gravity to feed the liquid through.

Heating water using solar power is a very affordable and relatively cheap "off the grid" option, and most systems can be installed with minimal effort and expense.

Choosing to heat your water using solar power is a wise choice and a first step in making a choice to help preserve our environment. We know how easy it is to use solar power to do a lot of things, including heating our water.

European Union Orders Stress Tests for Nuclear Plants

Events in Japan the last few days has caused the EU (European Union) to order nuclear plants tested in member countries. The 27 nation members will begin testing plants to see how well they would hold up under natural disasters such as the earthquake in Japan. Germany has already moved to switch off seven older reactors for the moment, with one of them being taken off-line permanently.

Many nations in the EU have been working on alternative energy sources, and the current events may spur even more research and development in this area.
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GET OFF THE GRID - MAKE YOUR OWN ENERGY

Japan Nuclear Crisis Wake Up Call for Alternative Energy?

I guess if you are trying to make lemonade out of a lemon, Japan's bad news may be good news for the rest of the world...in some respects at least.

On the other hand, it may be bad news.

Depends on where you stand on energy, pollution, climate change, and a lot of other issues.

It is sure to raise worldwide interest in alternative energy options. However, it may cause the public to demand the older, less frightful, but more polluting sources of power, such as coal.

"'The accident in Japan is not a death sentence for nuclear power,' stressed Jean-Marie Chevalier, an economist and energy expert at the Universite Paris Dauphine, pointing to the hundreds of billions of dollars invested in existing reactors and plants under construction."
-SOURCE: Yahoo News

Since the 1986 Chernobyl accident, nuclear power has begun to make a comeback and overcome the fears of the general population. Japan's nuclear power problems in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami are probably going to cause a major setback.

While alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power are growing and provide an ever increasing amount of the world's energy, it will be a long time, if ever, before such methods will provide the majority of the world's energy needs.

Societies will have to balance the need for power, real or imagined, and the drawbacks of the possible sources of that power.

--Donovan Baldwin

New Alternative Energy Jobs

Poland, one of Europe's most coal-dependent nations has decided to make a big move into the green revolution. They are tranitioning from coal to green energy and are on line to create 350,000 new green jobs related to alternative energy by 2020.

Even better news for the country at large is that the number of these new green jobs is nearly double that of those currently in the coal-mining industries.

Poland presently relies on coal powered energy for 94% of its energy needs. This move towards the use of alternative energy is intended to eliminate as much as possible of Poland's nearly total dependence on fossil fuels as part of the EU's climate package limiting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Geothermal Power - An Alternative Energy Source

More and more people who are concerned about the energy future of the world are arriving at the idea that someone should be doing everything possible to develop geothermal energy technologies.

Despite some study and development in the area of geothermal energy, this is still a largely untapped area of tremendous alternative energy potential. What is great about this potential form of power is that it simply taps into, and makes use of, the energy being naturally produced by the Earth itself.

Think about it: Vast amounts of power are present below the surface crust on which we live as we worry about where our energy will come from in the future.

All we need do is tap into it and harness it.

Earth at High Temperature Provides Steam Energy

Within the Earths' core, far beneath our feet, the average temperature is 60 times greater than that of boiling water. This tremendous amount of heat creates pressures that express themselves as near to us as only a couple of miles below the surface.

These areas of pressure include huge amounts of energy.

Superheated fluids in the form of magma, in which we can see the power and energy of whenever there is a volcanic eruption, are ready for our use. These fluids also often trickle to the surface as steam and emerge from open vents in the earth's surface. We can even create our own vents, and we can create our own containment chambers for the magma and convert all of this energy into electricity to light and heat our homes.

The Geothermal Power Plant

In the creation of a geothermal power plant, a well would be dug where there is a good source of magma or heated fluid. Piping would then be fitted down into the source, and the fluids then forced to the surface to produce the needed steam. The steam would turn a turbine engine, which would generate the electricity.

The Critic's Argument

There are criticisms of tapping geothermal energy which could prevent its being implemented on the large scale which it should be.

For example, there are critics who say that study and research to find a naturally productive area is too costly and takes up too much time. Then there are those who point out the great expense needed to build a geothermal power plant, with no promise of the plant turning a profit. Some say that geothermal sites, once tapped, might possibly be found to not produce a large enough amount of steam for the power plant to be viable or reliable. And finally, we hear from the environmentalists who are concerned that bringing up magma can bring up potentially harmful materials along with it or have other negative aspects on the environment.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Criticisms?

However, the great benefits of geothermal energy may possibly trump these criticisms if only we would explore it more.

While critics are right that we don't yet know all we need to know, we will not ever know the answers unless we follow the natural course of exploration and experimentation.

A few years ago, critics scoffed at the idea of hybrid cars, while others scoffed at the idea of gas prices being as high as they are now!

The fact that geothermal energy is merely the energy of the Earth herself means that it does not produce any pollutants...at least as we know now. The effects on the environment can already be studied to some extent at natural vent sites.

The Benefits of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is extremely efficient. The efforts needed to channel it are relatively minimal after a site is found and a plant is set up.

Geothermal plants, furthermore, will not need to be as large as electrical plants, giant hydroelectric dams, or atomic energy facilities. As a result, the environment would be less disrupted.

Needless to say, it is an alternative form of energy. Using it would mean we become that much less dependent on foreign oil and/or domestic coal. Perhaps most importantly of all, we are never, ever going to run out of geothermal energy while the earth is habitable by humans, and it is not a commodity that should continuously become more expensive in terms of real dollars as time passes, since it is so available and easy to obtain.

Geothermal energy would be, in the end, very cheap, after exploration, experimentation, investigation and power plant construction costs are recouped.
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Not Hybrid Cars, but Alternative Fuels

Alternative Fuels Now
By Tom Tessin

The fact that our economy is in a downward spiral and the oil is basically being produced overseas is causing many people to wonder if we should discontinue use of oil based gasoline and look for alternative fuels. The ecosystem has brought out the fact that gas burning vehicles are harmful to the atmosphere and to human beings. We need to be better concerned about earth and what we are doing that is causing it to become destroyed. Some consumers are crying for us to use our own oil instead of continuously going abroad for what we need. The problem with that is we would have to destroy the natural habitat of certain wild animals as well as the earth. We would have to drill in the wilds of Alaska which is our last frontier when it comes to earth's beauty and abundance of all natural environments. What price should we pay in order to drive our gasoline fueled vehicles? Many people are greatly concerned and feel that an alternative fuel would best suit our needs.

There are now many alternative fuels that could provide our vehicles with power and save our eco system. Farther, it has been discovered that some alternative fuels are being made from crops such as corn or oats which makes them environmentally safe and helps the American farmer. There are some alternative fuels that come from emissions let loose from landfills. We need to look to the future care of the earth and start maintaining our ecosystem. We cannot exist without earth it is our home and as human beings we have no other place to go. It may sound foolish to think that a few gasoline driven vehicles could upset the balance of nature but it is not. When we upset the balance of nature then we indeed risk destroying our world and all the inhabitants.

Using alternative fuels like hydrogen, propane, natural gas, ethanol, electricity and the many other sources is much more desirable than that of destroying the world that we live in. We need to think of not only today but we need to think of the future that our children and their children will have living on earth. Many auto manufacturers are seriously considering changing the engines in the new vehicles to operate on alternative fuels rather than the continuous use of gasoline. Many economists are afraid that if we stop using the gasoline based engine that our economy will go even farther in the red causing another great depression. The truth is that we can survive not using oil based gasoline for our vehicles and that by using alternative fuel we might save our economy. We no longer would have to depend on foreign countries for our energy supplies. This would increase our own economy production of fuel based products making our country that much stronger financially.

Start saving on gas today with gas credit cards at FINDgascards.com, where you can find more of Tom's work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Tessin
http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternative-Fuels-Now&id=1983418

Hybrid Cars and AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Generating Homemade Energy

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have started a new blog called Generating Homemade Energy.

This blog was originally intended to cover hybrid cars and alternative fuels, such as E85 and Biodiesel, and began to evolve to cover all things related to energy, including solar and wind power, and I felt it was beginning to range too far afield. In an attempt to rein it in a little I started my new blog, Generating Homemade Energy. which will concentrate more on alternative forms of energy for the home.

This blog will retain its focus on hybrid cars and alternative fuels, and automotive technology such as electric cars, hydrogen cars, and compressed air cars.

Oxford, TCU, and FPL do Wind Study Project

Texas Christian University and Oxford University are working with FPL, a leading clean energy provider with natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants in operation across the nation, on a wind study project.

Research areas will include the extent of wind energy as an alternative to fossil fuel energy, carbon emissions, and the effects on environment, particularly birds and bats, who might be affected by spinning turbine blades.

2008 appears to be a good year for the investigation into, and development of, wind energy, as billions of dollars have been set aside for these types of projects. In the coming year, it is estimated that wind farms will generate a little over 1 percent of the nation's supply of electricity.

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Alternative Energy - Japan

Let's talk about alternative energy development in Japan

Alternative energy usually requires one resource that Japan is a little short on...space.

Japan, as small as it is geographically, is a densely populated country and that puts space for installations at a premium. This makes the Japanese market for alternative energy sources a bit more difficult when compared with most other markets.

However, if we consider use of near-shore installations or even offshore installations in the future, that will give us the possibility of continued use of wind energy and possibly solar energy for Japan as well.

If, however, we try to build offshore, it's more expensive because the construction of the necessary foundations is expensive. On the other hand, we often find that the wind is stronger offshore. That could offset the higher construction costs. Also, the equipment for wind power is getting more and more competitive from a cost point of view. The price, if you measure it per kilowatt-hour produced, is going down, due to the fact that turbines and other necessary components are getting more efficient.

So, there is increased interest in wind energy for Japan.

If you compare it to other renewable energy sources, wind power is possibly the most competitive alternative energy source today. If we are able to use sites close to the sea or at sea with good wind power machines, then the price per kilowatt-hour is very competitive against other sources of energy.

These are the thoughts of Svend Sigaard, who is president and CEO of the world's largest wind turbine maker, Vestas wind systems, located in Denmark. Vestas is heavily involved in investments of capital into helping Japan expand its wind turbine power generating capacity. It is seeking to get offshore installations put into place in a nation that it says is ready to reap the fruits of investment into alternative energy research and development.

Having learned from history, the Japanese know that they can never again become subservient to the energy supply dictates of foreign nations. World War II taught them that, as the US decimated their oil supply lines and crippled their military machine. They need to produce energy of their own, and, being an isolated island nation with few natural resources that are conducive to energy production as it is presently defined, are very open to foreign investment and foreign development as well as the prospect of technological innovation that can make them independent. Allowing corporations such as Vestas to get the nation running on more wind-produced energy is a step in the right direction for the Japanese people.

Other souces of power:

The production of alternative energy through what is known as microhydoelectric power plants has also been catching on in Japan.

Japan has a great many rivers and mountain streams, and most of these are ideally suited places for the erection of microhydroelectric power plants, which are defined by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization as 'power plants run by water which have a maximum output of 100 kilowatts or less".

Just for a quick comparison, “minihydroelectric” power plants can put out up to 1000 kilowatts of electrical energy.

In Japan, the bothe mini- and micro-hydroelectric power plants have been regarded for some time as being suitable for creating electricity in mountainous regions, but, with refinement, they have also come to be regarded as excellent alternative energy sources for Japanese cities as well. Kawasaki City Waterworks, Japan Natural Energy Company, and Tokyo Electric Power Company are but a few of the organizations which have been involved in the development of small-scale hydroelectric power plants within Japanese cities.

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