Did you know that lighting costs account for about 25% of the average American's energy bill? That cost, when multiplied over a year, becomes an astronomical figure.
CFL and LED light bulbs have helped change that. Using energy saving technology, you can reduce your energy bill by 1/3rd to 1/25th of your original lighting costs.
Though LED lights used to be incredibly expensive, breakthroughs over the last few years have brought their cost down dramatically. Today, they're a better value than both CFL and everyday light bulbs.
Here are some of the many benefits of energy-efficient LEDs.
==> Generates Twenty Times Less Heat
Heat energy is dissipated from an average light bulb. That heat energy uses up electricity to generate itself, energy that you're paying for.
In addition, many Americans then have to spend even more electricity to cool their homes in part because of the heat generated from light bulbs.
LEDs on the other hand generate almost no heat - twenty times less than a standard light bulb.
==> Much Longer Lasting
A regular light bulb works by heating up a filament in an oxygen-free environment. Unfortunately, the light bulb dies when the filament burns out.
An LED light on the other hand has no filament. As a result, they last much longer.
A good LED light can last as much as ten times longer than the average light bulb.
==> Reduced Lifetime Costs
The standard light bulb costs five to ten times more in energy than its upfront costs.
An LED light on the other hand costs more upfront, but conserves a lot more energy in the long run.
In terms of total dollars invested over its lifetime, LED lights are better value than standard light bulbs and CFL light bulbs.
==> Better for the Environment
Standard light bulbs are terrible for the environment because mercury is used in the manufacturing process.
The chemical waste problem is compounded by the sheer volume of light bulbs that need to be produced.
Because standard light bulbs burn out so often and need to be replaced, the waste the standard household produces is astronomical.
LED lights are much better for the environment, because no mercury is used in the production process. You also need to replace them much less often, which means less waste.
These are some of the many benefits of energy-efficient LEDs. Replacing the light bulbs in your home is as easy as noting the wattage and going down to your local hardware store to buy LED lights.
There are quite a few choices you can choose from. You can get diffused bulbs, which take the concentrated light and turn it into a more spread out kind of light. You can get high power diffused, which are similar to 100 watt standard bulbs. You can also get them in track lighting, spotlight and floodlight forms.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Passive Solar Windows for Different Climates
Passive solar windows are a one-time investment that can help you save energy over a long period of time. During summer, it can help keep the heat out and the cool in. During winter, it can help keep the heat in and maximize the heating rays of the sun.
Different climates means that people need to position and install their windows differently to take advantage of solar windows' various properties.
==> Passive Solar Windows for Hot and Sunny Climates
In hot and sunny climates, glazed windows should be installed towards the south of the house.
This allows the windows to collect heat when the sun is low in the sky during the day. That means the heat won't overheat by allowing the sun's rays into the house during peak hours.
You can also use a number of shielding devices such as awnings or overhangs to prevent overheating during summer.
Other windows in the house can still be installed, but they should have a shade or glaze installed so they let less light into the house. Having north facing windows in a hot and sunny climate can lead to overheating.
==> Passive Solar Windows for Cool Climates
There are two main strategies for heating up a home with passive solar windows in cold climates: trombe walls and using a greenhouse methodology.
A trombe wall is a big wall, usually painted black, which allows you to absorb heat into the house without heat leaking out.
The main concern with using a big window is that while the sun's rays can come into the home and heat up the air, the glass conducts heat so well that it can all escape back through the glass.
The trombe wall solves this issue by trapping the heated air between the glass and the trombe wall, then circulating it into the house before the heat has a chance to escape through the glass.
The greenhouse approach uses similar technology to a greenhouse to keep heated air in the house. You use a large number of windows to let the sun's rays into your house, then you use a controlled timer to circulate the air within your house in a way that optimizes the heat and reduces the amount of heat that escapes through the same glass windows that let the heat in.
==> Are Passive Solar Windows for You?
Passive solar windows can work for both hot and cold climates, whether there's a lot of sun or just a little bit of sun.
To determine whether or not your home qualifies for passive solar windows, talk to an environmental contractor in your area. Make sure you get several different opinions to get a definitive sense of whether or not it's worth the investment.
Different climates means that people need to position and install their windows differently to take advantage of solar windows' various properties.
==> Passive Solar Windows for Hot and Sunny Climates
In hot and sunny climates, glazed windows should be installed towards the south of the house.
This allows the windows to collect heat when the sun is low in the sky during the day. That means the heat won't overheat by allowing the sun's rays into the house during peak hours.
You can also use a number of shielding devices such as awnings or overhangs to prevent overheating during summer.
Other windows in the house can still be installed, but they should have a shade or glaze installed so they let less light into the house. Having north facing windows in a hot and sunny climate can lead to overheating.
==> Passive Solar Windows for Cool Climates
There are two main strategies for heating up a home with passive solar windows in cold climates: trombe walls and using a greenhouse methodology.
A trombe wall is a big wall, usually painted black, which allows you to absorb heat into the house without heat leaking out.
The main concern with using a big window is that while the sun's rays can come into the home and heat up the air, the glass conducts heat so well that it can all escape back through the glass.
The trombe wall solves this issue by trapping the heated air between the glass and the trombe wall, then circulating it into the house before the heat has a chance to escape through the glass.
The greenhouse approach uses similar technology to a greenhouse to keep heated air in the house. You use a large number of windows to let the sun's rays into your house, then you use a controlled timer to circulate the air within your house in a way that optimizes the heat and reduces the amount of heat that escapes through the same glass windows that let the heat in.
==> Are Passive Solar Windows for You?
Passive solar windows can work for both hot and cold climates, whether there's a lot of sun or just a little bit of sun.
To determine whether or not your home qualifies for passive solar windows, talk to an environmental contractor in your area. Make sure you get several different opinions to get a definitive sense of whether or not it's worth the investment.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
What You Need To Know About DIY Solar Panels
Building and installing your own solar panel can help you save a lot of money on electricity, without extravagant upfront costs. Getting a solar panel installed professionally will usually cost you five figures. Doing it yourself, however, can cost just a few hundred.
Here's an overview of how the buying and construction process works.
==> Buying the Solar Cells
There are a few ways you can buy solar cells. You can buy them as part of a group, in which case you'll be able to buy from a wholesaler directly. Though this is perhaps the cheapest way to do it, it's much more difficult to organize.
The easiest way to buy solar cells is to use eBay. EBay has several sellers providing solar cells, which means the competition keeps the price down to inexpensive levels.
==> Constructing the Solar Panel
A solar panel is basically a series of solar cells joined together. The electricity generated from the cells flows together until there's enough electricity generated for actual use.
To construct the panel, you need a wooden container of some sort to put the cells in. You need wire cutters, strippers and soldering equipment.
All you need to do is wire the cells together to create a panel. You might also want to install a diode to make sure that energy doesn't flow from the battery back into the panel when sunlight isn't hitting the panel.
==> Inverters and Batteries
Energy generated from a solar panel comes in the form of direct current (DC) power. However, in order for your home electronics to be able to use the power, you need the energy to be in alternating current (AC).
Also, unless you plan on immediately using the energy generated by your solar panel in your home, you'll probably want a battery so you can store the energy.
Inverters and batteries can cost quite a bit of money. Again, eBay can come in handy when acquiring low-cost or second-hand supplies.
==> Passing Inspections
The final step to installing your solar panel is passing inspections.
While it's possible to create a solar panel and run it without passing inspections, you're leaving a lot on the table.
First of all, you can't qualify for the many tax incentives that come with owning a solar panel if you don't pass an inspection.
You also can't wire your solar panel to the grid without passing inspection. If you get permission to attach your panel to the grid, you can "sell" energy to the grid and actually have your electric meter flow backwards while your panels produce energy that you aren't using.
That's a basic overview of the entire buying and construction process. Building your own solar panels takes a lot of dedication, but the process can be immensely fun and save you a lot of money at the end of the day.
Here's an overview of how the buying and construction process works.
==> Buying the Solar Cells
There are a few ways you can buy solar cells. You can buy them as part of a group, in which case you'll be able to buy from a wholesaler directly. Though this is perhaps the cheapest way to do it, it's much more difficult to organize.
The easiest way to buy solar cells is to use eBay. EBay has several sellers providing solar cells, which means the competition keeps the price down to inexpensive levels.
==> Constructing the Solar Panel
A solar panel is basically a series of solar cells joined together. The electricity generated from the cells flows together until there's enough electricity generated for actual use.
To construct the panel, you need a wooden container of some sort to put the cells in. You need wire cutters, strippers and soldering equipment.
All you need to do is wire the cells together to create a panel. You might also want to install a diode to make sure that energy doesn't flow from the battery back into the panel when sunlight isn't hitting the panel.
==> Inverters and Batteries
Energy generated from a solar panel comes in the form of direct current (DC) power. However, in order for your home electronics to be able to use the power, you need the energy to be in alternating current (AC).
Also, unless you plan on immediately using the energy generated by your solar panel in your home, you'll probably want a battery so you can store the energy.
Inverters and batteries can cost quite a bit of money. Again, eBay can come in handy when acquiring low-cost or second-hand supplies.
==> Passing Inspections
The final step to installing your solar panel is passing inspections.
While it's possible to create a solar panel and run it without passing inspections, you're leaving a lot on the table.
First of all, you can't qualify for the many tax incentives that come with owning a solar panel if you don't pass an inspection.
You also can't wire your solar panel to the grid without passing inspection. If you get permission to attach your panel to the grid, you can "sell" energy to the grid and actually have your electric meter flow backwards while your panels produce energy that you aren't using.
That's a basic overview of the entire buying and construction process. Building your own solar panels takes a lot of dedication, but the process can be immensely fun and save you a lot of money at the end of the day.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Types of Green or Renewable Energy
If the human race is to survive, we're eventually going to have to switch over to completely renewable energy. At the moment, most of our energy comes from natural gases, coal and oil based energy sources. These energy sources are both dirty and unsustainable.
What other alternatives do we have? These are the five main different types of green energy.
==> Hydropower
Hydropower is currently the largest producer of green energy, accounting for over 70% of our renewable energy production.
The way it works is that special installations are placed underwater, where strong currents of water will push through a mechanical instrument known as a penstock.
This "push" is then converted into electricity and fed into the energy grid.
==> Solar PV
Solar energy is another common type of green energy. There are two main types of solar power: solar power for homes and solar power plants.
Though solar PV has gotten a lot of press in recent years, there are a lot of problems still.
First of all, though the production of energy is more green than oil, the process of creating the materials solar PV is made of is quite toxic.
Also, to make your money back from the savings of a solar panel may take as long as ten to twenty years.
==> Wind Power
Wind energy is a stellar renewable source of power. The key to wind power is to place these energy generators in high altitude, high wind velocity locations.
The return on wind power is quite substantial. The only downside is that aesthetically they block the view from just about any angle because of their size.
That said, wind power is more cost-efficient than solar and easier to construct than hydropower.
==> Geothermal
Geothermal energy isn't applicable everywhere, but when it is the amount of energy generated can be very substantial.
Geothermal works by tapping into the earth's intrinsic heat. It turns that heat energy into power and uses that as electricity.
In order to use geothermal, a high-heat underground spot must be identified.
==> Biomass
Biomass is primarily the conversion of manufacturing by-products into electricity.
These by-products can include wood chips and fragments, leftover sugar, animal manure and anything else that's burnable.
Biomass can also include materials produced specifically for the production of energy (e.g. corn ethanol).
The biomass is burned and the heat energy is turned into electricity. Biomass is a great way of disposing of products that might otherwise become waste; but is unlikely to become a primary producer of our world's energy needs.
These are our primary sources of renewable energy. Of course, there are many other fringe sources of energy that are being researched all the time.
However, in order for a renewable energy to truly make sense, it needs to be both scalable and financially sustainable for investors. For the time being, the five listed above are the main sources of renewable energy.
What other alternatives do we have? These are the five main different types of green energy.
==> Hydropower
Hydropower is currently the largest producer of green energy, accounting for over 70% of our renewable energy production.
The way it works is that special installations are placed underwater, where strong currents of water will push through a mechanical instrument known as a penstock.
This "push" is then converted into electricity and fed into the energy grid.
==> Solar PV
Solar energy is another common type of green energy. There are two main types of solar power: solar power for homes and solar power plants.
Though solar PV has gotten a lot of press in recent years, there are a lot of problems still.
First of all, though the production of energy is more green than oil, the process of creating the materials solar PV is made of is quite toxic.
Also, to make your money back from the savings of a solar panel may take as long as ten to twenty years.
==> Wind Power
Wind energy is a stellar renewable source of power. The key to wind power is to place these energy generators in high altitude, high wind velocity locations.
The return on wind power is quite substantial. The only downside is that aesthetically they block the view from just about any angle because of their size.
That said, wind power is more cost-efficient than solar and easier to construct than hydropower.
==> Geothermal
Geothermal energy isn't applicable everywhere, but when it is the amount of energy generated can be very substantial.
Geothermal works by tapping into the earth's intrinsic heat. It turns that heat energy into power and uses that as electricity.
In order to use geothermal, a high-heat underground spot must be identified.
==> Biomass
Biomass is primarily the conversion of manufacturing by-products into electricity.
These by-products can include wood chips and fragments, leftover sugar, animal manure and anything else that's burnable.
Biomass can also include materials produced specifically for the production of energy (e.g. corn ethanol).
The biomass is burned and the heat energy is turned into electricity. Biomass is a great way of disposing of products that might otherwise become waste; but is unlikely to become a primary producer of our world's energy needs.
These are our primary sources of renewable energy. Of course, there are many other fringe sources of energy that are being researched all the time.
However, in order for a renewable energy to truly make sense, it needs to be both scalable and financially sustainable for investors. For the time being, the five listed above are the main sources of renewable energy.
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