Learning how to build wind generators was one of our top priorities when we moved off the grid a couple years ago. We already had some solar panels but after building our own home we were pretty short on money to invest in a bigger Renewable energy system.

What kind of options did we have?

· We could buy an expensive wind generator

· We could learn how to build solar panels (which we did later)

· Or learn how to build wind generators

First off we figured we could perhaps buy a wind generator but that option went out the window when we saw the huge price tag of $3200 for the 1000w model we needed.

We did learn how to make solar panels but that was after this project. It cost us a bit more per watt of production power for the solar energy but it did work out well. We decided the wind turbine was the best place to start.

For the same money it takes to produce 100 watts of power with solar panels you can make a 1000 watt home wind power machine. Solar energy is good in that it works well in clear weather when the wind doesn’t blow usually.

So, it turned out that learning how to build wind generators was our best option to start with.

We found some good plans to get started that promised an inexpensive yet good looking turbine.

We had seen some pretty ugly home made wind generators in our travels and we wanted ours to look good. That was very important since it would be up there for all of our visitors to see.

The PVC wind turbine blade design is what convinced us that this was the best route for us to take. The PVC is cut on a bit off center to capture the wind more effectively and work more efficiently, and the colored pipe looked professionally built (and we got it free from a construction site).

That’s another great point to make, most of the parts are available free if you just know where to look for them and that is explained in the plans.

The only real investment we had to make was a DC motor for wind generators. It cost us about $36 but it was shipped directly to us which was nice.

The tower we salvaged from our neighbor, his old TV tower was just sitting there and he let us have it for free.

This was probably the fastest way for us to produce Renewable Energy with the least investment.

And it looks good with PVC pipe blades and a stainless steel body, all shiny and colorful; all of our visitors say it looks like we bought it.

There is little doubt that more people are getting interested in renewable energy sources to provide the energy needs both in their homes and portably. One such system that fits into this category is solar power. This article will cover the pros and cons of using solar power.

Solar thermal and light energy can be used to provide our homes with power. Solar light energy is used in many portable devices. A major advantage of such systems is that they are clean systems. The energy comes from the sun, so there is no need to excavate and process the raw materials to create a usable energy resource.

Using such systems also cuts down on pollution. It does not contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions. It does not pollute the water supply.

Solar power systems can be expected to last a long time. They are tough-wearing and sturdy. They have to be built to last so that owners can recoup their investments. It turns out that solar power systems last much longer than that.

The costs for maintaining a solar power system are very low. Some components of the system may last decades without any maintenance at all. Solar panels are often warranted to maintain 80% of their efficiency for up to 25 years. Other parts will need to be replaced sooner, but if all goes well there should be no maintenance costs at all for the first five years.

A solar power system is neither too dangerous nor too complicated for most people to run. It requires no supervision from the government or any other agency because it poses no risks. The cost of running the systems is also very low.

There are certainly a few negative aspects of using solar power. Before consumers can have any solar power, they have to make a large investment on the equipment and installation. They will make up this investment over the life of the solar power system but this large up front sum can deter many people. There are more grants and incentives being introduced to minimize this deterrent to getting solar energy.

However the biggest issue with solar power is it’s reliability. Ideally you need a location that gets plenty of sun throughout the year. If you get plenty of cloudy days then your supply may be interrupted or decreased. And it doesn’t work at night. There are ways round this, like storing power in batteries or having a back up system however reliability will always be an issue until solar cells can be made more efficient.

To this extent, many governments are not keen on large scale solar energy plants to power towns and cities and see nuclear power as a better option because it is viewed as more reliable (which many people may dispute).

Given that efficiency of solar cells should increase and the costs will come down, it makes a lot of sense to get a solar panel for your home. There should be a fall back system because of the reliability issue. Most people go for a grid tie system whereby they keep grid power and sell their solar power to the utility company, thus getting a discount or cheaper utility bills. This is a stress free way of using solar power.

Are you in the market for a new television set? Are you considering a plasma, LCD or flat-screen model? Have you considered it’s energy efficiency? While most people shop for televisions with specific features already in mind, they rarely consider energy efficiency. Why is energy efficiency important in televisions? According to Energy Star, “today’s TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10% of a household’s annual electricity bill.”

Powering Your TV and it’s Effect on the Environment

Watching television may seem harmless enough, but it’s important to realize the environmental impact of the electricity you use. Generating electricity is a dirty business – especially in the United States. In 2006, nearly half (49%) of the country’s 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity generated used coal as its source of energy. Why do we still rely so heavily on coal in today’s more environmentally conscious world? You can find the answer in a recent MIT report titled The Future of Coal where they state, “Coal is a low-cost, per BTU, mainstay of both the developed and developing world,” they continue with the following frightening statement, “its use is projected to increase.”

Growing Power Needs

If 10% of your household’s annual electricity bill doesn’t seem outrageous to you then consider the following, according to Keith Jones of Digital CEnergy Australia, “by 2012, it will be safe to say that televisions will use more power than the average refrigerator in an average household.”

Energy Efficiency – A Simple Solution

Thankfully, there is a simple solution – energy efficiency. The more energy efficient your new television is, the less electricity you use and the less pollution you contribute. With the help of Energy Star, finding an energy efficiency television has never been easier. Energy Star rated televisions use about 30% less energy in comparison to standard units. Energy Star also provides ratings on almost every type of television on the market – from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs.

To maximize the energy efficiency of your new television, if possible, I recommend holding your purchase until after November 2008. According to Energy Star, “in November 2008, a new, much more stringent ENERGY STAR specification for TVs will be effective.” This new standard will include efficiency improvements for both standby and active modes.

Finding Energy Star Rated Televisions

If you are ready to shop today then you can find Energy Star rated televisions using their free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TV#FAPSearch

The following stores also carry Energy Star rated “Home Electronics” so you should be able to compare Energy Star models personally.

• Best Buy
• Costco
• Sam’s Club
• Sears
• Wal-Mart

To find the closest store near you, Energy Star provides the following free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.store_locator

It’s important to always remember using energy efficient devices is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only does energy efficiency help save the environment for future generations, it also saves you money each money by lowering your monthly electricity bill. When you purchase your next television, make the environmentally smart choice and purchase one rated by Energy Star.

With increasing energy costs plaguing the nation and global warming on thoughts of millions across the world, adding residential solar panels to your home would be a wise thing to do. With the low investment to install these solar cells you will benefit greatly from the amount of money you will save in energy costs in the long run. The residential solar cells of today are much better looking and more appeasing to the eye than solar panels of the past.

Solar panels don’t have to be used to heat and power your entire home although it is certainly possible. You can save money and use solar cells in other smaller uses for your household. Use them for smaller rooms only or for your outdoor gardens or greenhouses. Apply them to heat your pool in the winter months or to light up your sidewalk or driveway at night.

Buying new residential solar panels can cost thousands of dollars which may cut deep into the pockets of most low and middle income households. There is a way around this, a small solution per say. One way to do this would be to buy used residential solar panels. Used solar panels only lose about 10% of their efficiency even after 20 years.

You can try to contact large industrial locations or businesses to inquire about using their old solar panels. Large industrial corporations invest in new solar cells often so as not to lose any production from old solar panels. Much of the time these solar panels are hardly used at all and they may still give them to you for free or at least a very low discounted price.

If you choose to buy used solar panels, there are a couple of things to look out for. First of all you need to examine each panel very carefully. Check each one for any cracks or breaks. It’s also important to look for any condensation inside of the panels along with the cracks which are all signs that the solar cells most likely will not work so well. Any repairs you have to make to the panels will be costly and not worth the investment of buying the residential solar panels used.

Besides saving money from energy costs around the house, the government also provides large tax discounts and benefits to those installing residential solar cells. Check into this carefully before you buy used panels because the tax breaks may only be for those who purchase new ones. With this in mind, it only makes sense to do the math and see which type of investment would be the smartest and most efficient way to go. Also keep in mind that buying new residential solar panels will probably come with warranty’s which will cover any breaks along with the tax breaks.

Whichever route you choose residential solar panels new or used will save you money in energy costs and will help save the environment.

There are many affordable ways to stay cool during the hot summer months without running your air conditioner 24 hours a day. Keep reading for 7 alternative tips that are sure to save you money this summer.

1. Get shaded.

Installing sun-blocking blinds and shades will keep your rooms from heating up in the hot afternoon sun. An opaque roller shade will keep out about 80 percent of the heat gain, while standard Venetian blinds can block about 45-50 percent.

2. Use a ceiling fan.

A ceiling fan set to turn counterclockwise will help cool air rise, pushing it up off the floor. Using a fan instead of an air conditioner can save a lot of money. If it’s too hot during the day, try relying just on a fan at night.

3. Don’t cool the house when you’re not at home.

If you’re going to be away from your home for more than a few hours, turn your thermostat back up and close the blinds. You’ll save more energy turning your air conditioner off than the amount it will take to cool the house back down when you get home.

4. Isolate your thermostat from heat sources.

True story – my air conditioner ran constantly and my house was freezing. I couldn’t get it to read the right temperature until I realized the thermostat was on the other side of the wall from my refrigerator. The heat being thrown off by this giant appliance was totally skewing my thermostat readings. Keep heat-releasing devices away from your thermostat.

5. Clean your air conditioner’s condenser.

The condenser unit in your air conditioner is the part that sits outside your house. It needs to be clean to work efficiently. Before you start cleaning, shut off the electricity at the unit’s disconnect switch and on your main switch panel (and inform other home members not to touch it until you turn it back on!). Once the power is off, remove the access panel. With heavy gloves on, clear out any loose debris inside the unit. Finally, use a hose and soft brush to wash the outer fins and coils. Turn the fan with your hand and make sure it rotates smoothly.

6. Close the registers in your basement.

Most basements are naturally cool, being insulated by soil, and often dark and shaded. Closing the registers in your basement vents will make more cool air available to the rest of the house and save you money.

7. Recycle your air conditioner refrigerant.

Having the refrigerant in your air conditioner recharged and recycled at least once every two years can dramatically increase the efficiency of your unit. Always consult an HVAC professional when attempting to do this.