Posts Tagged ‘energy efficiency’

Build Your Own Solar Panels – Embrace Green DIY Energy

February 26th, 2010

When you are thinking of ways to save money on your energy bills you may decide to switch lights off when you are not in the room and not leave your entertainment appliances on standby. Although these are great ways that you can save energy, there is a way that you are able to save more, and that is through leaning how to build solar panels. This will mean that because you are building them you do not have to cover the costs of overheads.

For many years we have used resources that at the time we did not realise would come to an end, but since we first started using fossil fuels the population has grown incredibly meaning that the demand has risen so much so that in out lifetimes it is more than likely we will run out altogether which is why we need to use resources that are renewable. We can do all of this with the help from the sun.

May of the businesses that supply our energy now use wind power to help boost up the amounts they need, although the money they save is not passed onto us in our bills, we are paying the same if not more to receive what they are getting for free. The only way we can beat such overheads is by building our own solar panels so that we too can benefit.

This may be something that you think is beyond your capabilities, but you can get all the parts and information you need online for an excellent price, as you do not have to cover overheads or cover the costs for the installation.

The kits that are available contain everything you need in order to get your house as energy efficient as possible, plus saving you money in the process. You don’t need training to fit them as you will find that the information you need is included also.

You have a choice when choosing the solar panel kits, both kinds have many benefits. The first kind will turn the suns energy into heat, which means that you are able to have hot water when ever you need it without having high energy bills. If you think of all the appliances in your house that require hot water, such as the bath and washing machine, imagine the savings you could make.

The other solar power panels that I speak of are able to convert the light the sun provides us into energy which means that we can also save on electricity. Anything in your house that needs an electric supply can tap into this renewable source which allows everyone to make a significant saving. It is not all about money though, although this is a big plus side to building your own solar panels, it will also mean that you are taking part in reducing your carbon footprint on the earth that the next generation will lie in, and of course generations after that. It is best to take that positive step as soon as possible as once the fossil fuels are all gone the costs of such kits will rise tremendously.

Join the thousands across the nation who have built their own solar panels and are stickin’ it to the energy companies! Click Here to build your own solar panels and start saving money every single month. Visit http://getyourreviews.com/green-diy-energy for the full scoop on green diy energy.

Build a Wind Turbine and Save Money

January 14th, 2010

Although energy prices fluctuate wildly, recently we have seen a moderation in some of the costs. However, despite the moderation, a good number of homeowners are still looking for ways to save more money on their electric bills as well as helping to save the planet.

One way for you to accomplish both of these goals is by building a DIY wind turbine. With todays alternative energy technology available to the average homeowner, it is possible to build a home sized turbine inexpensively which can supply up to 60% of your home energy your needs. Of course all of this depends on how much wind you get.

One of the most popular styles of home windmills is a vertical windmill which mounts on the end of tall pole anchored in the backyard. You can also build a rooftop style turbine, which in some cases can be quite decorative and easy on the eyes. These energy efficient wind generators are far different from the traditional windmill.

A lot of people think that it can be far too expensive to use a wind powered turbine for the home. If you’re planning on buying one, this may be true. However, you can easily build a turbine that will work just as well as the ones you can buy; yet you may only spend $200 for the entire project.

All the materials required to make your own wind turbine can be found at any home improvement center or hardware store. If you have an available weekend, you can easily have the windmill built and erected without too much difficulty. Whether you decide to build a windmill type or roof mounted turbine, just follow the plans and start making electricity.

A vertical style turbine has the advantage of allowing you to use more blades in the design without making it take up more space. Having additional blades will allow your turbine to be more effective because it will be even more sensitive to less wind.

Is building your own homemade wind power turbine something you can or should do? Get your hands on additional information and then make your decision.

You can learn the details of wind turbine construction for your home with a step-by-step guide available from the Internet. With a quality instruction manual, you can build wind power turbines and start saving money. For more information, visit Build Wind Power today.

Choosing Solar Panels For Your Home

January 13th, 2010

More of us are now concerned about the source of the electricity we use. There are daily news stories about the consequences of burning fossil fuels that have brought the state of the environment into everybody’s mind. But today most of the energy we use is still produced in power plants that burn coal and oil which add to the amount of greenhouse gas present in our planet’s atmosphere. You can choose to switch to a “green technology” such as solar panels for your home that will not be adding to global warming or climate change.

If you install solar panels there will be immediate benefits felt. Of course the financial savings that can be made are potentially vast; you may no longer need to pay a costly utility bill. Also you should research to find out whether there are any tax breaks or grants that can be given to cover the cost of the panels and the installation. State governments and local authorities now have many schemes to encourage people to turn to alternative energy sources.

Solar panels can also be an excellent purchase if you have a property that is not connected to the national grid or which is in area prone to power cuts and shortages. In this day and age there really is no need for us to rely on our government and utility companies to provide us with a necessity such as electricity.

Even just five years ago photovoltaic cells were not so efficient. This has forever changed as there have been rapid advances in the field of solar technology. Now even on a rainy or cloudy day the cells will be able to produce enough electricity to make a difference.

You can install solar panels that will produce a small percentage of your electricity requirements or it is also possible to fix up a series of panels so that your energy needs are met independently of the national power grid.

There are many companies that can carry out the installation though if you have knowledge of DIY it is not so difficult to build a solar panel or two by yourself.

The price of solar panels is decreasing. To make it even more affordable you can craft your own do it yourself solar panels.

Tips on How To Make Your Own Wind Turbine

November 22nd, 2009

Today the cost of energy is greater than it has ever been. Nobody likes to see their electricity bill sitting in the mailbox. Many homeowners now search for ways to reduce their annual energy costs. Some people do this by cutting back on the amount of electricity that they use, whereas others use alternative sources to create a proportion of their requirements. One of the best and most reliable forms of alternative energy is wind power. It is not so complicated to make your own wind turbine.

You will not only see financial savings but also you will be doing your part in protecting the environment for the generations to come. Wind turbines are preferential over solar panels as they can produce energy twenty four hours a day even in a slight breeze. Also they can be very useful for those people who have a property not connected to the national power grid. You can easily learn how to make your own wind turbine and harness household wind power to generate your own electricity.

To make your own wind turbine you will require some specific materials. These can often be purchased in your local hardware store or you can buy them through the internet. To put all the pieces together should take no longer than a weekend for an individual with experience of DIY.With a little skill and a few readily available materials, you can make your own wind turbine and start saving money on your electric bill before you know it.

Essential parts include a motor that is around 30 volts in capacity, a mounting, a tower, and blades. The blades can be created from a PVC pipe if you understand aerodynamics; otherwise you may need to buy specialist forms. The tower can easily be created from a length of metal pipe, this has to be securely fixed to the ground or mounted to the roof of a building.

It is also essential to have a controller that regulates the supply of energy to the batteries that will store the electricity. Otherwise you can easily damage the batteries. Since it is so simple and relatively inexpensive, ore and more homeowners are learning how to make their own wind turbine. It will help you to save money, reduce pollution and gain independence from the electric grid.

Whenever working with electricity you need to ensure that safety procedures are followed at all times. Any electrical device needs to be protected from water.

A wind generator can reduce your electric expenses by as much as 50 to 90 percent. Why not join the green revolution and learn more about household wind power. Find out how to make your own wind generator and save money by visiting Make Your Own Wind Turbine today!

Use Wind Power Systems for Homes to Save Money

November 17th, 2009

Wind power is becoming a very popular source of renewable, environmentally friendly energy. Many industrialized countries are starting to incorporate wind turbine technologies into their energy and electricity generation strategies. The good news is that you too can use the wind for your home energy needs and produce your own electricity.

In it’s simplest terms, wind power is captured by a wind turbine which then turns that energy into electricity. The same windmills which for centuries have ground wheat, are now being used to make electricity. Thanks to advances in technology, wind power can be used by industry as well as the average homeowner to generate electricity. Many people and businesses are beginning to see the real advantage to this kind of energy. It is free, readily available, doesn’t pollute, and completely renewable. If you look, you will see more small household wind turbines popping up in your neighbors backyards and on the roofs of local businesses.

For many people, spending $600 to $10,000 for a home wind turbine is simply too much for the budget. Even if you were to save a lot of money on your electric bill, it would still take years to recoup your investment. However, you don’t need to give up. The truth is that many homeowners are building their own wind turbines for only a few hundred dollars.

If you are looking to save money you can build a wind turbine yourself. It’s an easy process and you do not need any special training. Thousands of people have done it with no special skills or knowledge, and you can too. It will only take a few days and a few hundred dollars. To build a small home wind turbine you will need some supplies, which will cost around $200, and a few days time. That’s it. Quite simple, indeed.

Since one turbine can be enough to generate almost 60% of the electricity you’ll need for your home, you can start to realize significant savings. Every day your wind turbine is working means another day of savings.

So if you’ve been thinking about ways to cut your utility bill and are intrigued by the idea of using energy windmills to harness wind energy and save some money, you are not alone. Give it a try. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save.

A wind turbine can reduce your electric expenses by as much as 50 to 90 percent. Why not join the green revolution and learn more about household wind turbines. Find out how to make your own wind turbine and save money by visiting Wind Power for the Home today!

Choose Solar Christmas Lights To Brighten Your Festive Season

November 13th, 2009

Almost everyone enjoys the Christmas festive season. It is a time when we can feel happy even though it may be cold and dark outside. The festival is not the same without the installation of various beautiful lights and decorations. Today many people are concerned about the rising cost of energy bills, to help alleviate this problem it is now possible to install solar Christmas lights. These have become very popular over the last few years and are now being bought by many families up and down the country.

At first glance solar Christmas lights appear the same as the usual Christmas lights. The only difference is that you do not need to plug them into your power supply. Instead the energy that is required by the LEDs and bulbs comes from solar cells and batteries.

You may think that in winter the sun does not shine enough to provide power for solar lighting, but today’s solar cells can function even on a cloudy day. As the energy is stored in one or two batteries the lights will shine brightly throughout the night.

There is another benefit to be had from using solar lighting apart from the financial savings. This is the knowledge that they are environmentally friendly; no fossil fuel will be burnt to power them.

Solar lights can be bought in as various designs as the traditional format. They are available in different colors, sizes, and styles that suit every families needs. There are ones that will flicker and twinkle like stars and others that can be on continuously throughout the night. The actual settings of when they turn themselves on and off each day are determined through the easy to use controller board.

The latest solar Christmas lights are safe to use inside and outside the home. If placed outside they can cope with any weather, but the battery and controller board must be kept protected from the rain. Such lights look magnificent when attached to porches and guttering as well as bushes and trees. Also they can be used for any occasions when decorations are needed like an anniversary or birthday.

Most solar Christmas lights can be had in two different forms. There are rope lights in which a string of LEDs are fixed inside a clear plastic tube in a series. This looks beautiful when draped around window and door frames. The other option is string lights; these are very similar to the rope variety except that they are not contained in a transparent tube. This option looks delightful when tied around Christmas trees and affixed to walls.

Before you buy anything online, make sure you check out Steve Schafer’s great free report on solar lights, and solar Christmas lights

Earth4Energy Review – Before You Buy Earth4Energy

October 31st, 2009

The Earth4Energy ebook claims it can help you save up to 80% on your electricity bill, and perhaps even eliminate it completely. So does it live up our expectations? Without a doubt…Yes.

Likes:

1 – Affordable and full of content:

Earth4Energy, although similarly priced to the other guides, was the most complete and comprehensive ones we read. Furthermore, if we were ever stuck at some point in our build, the quick, helpful customer support provided great advice.

2 – Quality customer support

Our support questions were replied to very quickly, very helpful advice. Also, after we requested that they add video instruction to help us see the systems being built in real-time, they did. Now it is the only diy energy guide that offers video instruction for both the home solar power and home wind turbine!

3 – The best solar power plans

The solar electric system instruction were well laid out and detailed. And with help from the step-by-step videos, they were by far the easiest to follow. The estimated costs to get all the parts was spot on. Michael Harvey, the man behind Earth4Energy, claimed we could source everything for under $150. We ended up spending only $137.88. That is amazing, if you think it would of cost us thousands of dollars to get a professional solar power system!

Another great thing about the Earth4Energy ebook solar plans, is that they explained how to make the system portable – which we used to power our RV.

The problems we found:

1 – You need to scale up to start saving:

This is one of those problems we found with all the diy energy guides. Yes, it is very possible to save up to 80% on power by following these plans, but it will take you more than one system to get there. So, depending on how much power you want to make, and where you live, you will have to scale up your systems, and obvious spend more than the claimed $250 or so to see the desired results.

Conclusion:

With comprehensive plans, step-by-step diagrams, supplementary videos, excellent customer support, and regular updates to meet the growing needs of its users – the Earth4Energy ebook and videos will set you well on your way to making your own renewable energy at home. It’s no wonder this guide has out-performed it closest rivals by over 500%! (based on number of satisfied customers)

And what’s even better is that you can now get a FREE sneak peek of Earth4Energy, before deciding to make your own Home Solar Power and save thousands on your electricity costs.

Is Homemade Energy A Scam?

October 28th, 2009

Homemade Energy is guide that supposedly teaches you how to make your own solar and wind power. Written by Bill Ford – a scientist, researcher, inventor and energy consultant – the guide claims that even someone with limited technical know-how can build the systems. But does it really work? And how does it compare to Earth4Energy?

The Advantages of the guide:

1 – It was an enjoyable experience:

We found the instructions for the wind turbine very well laid out and explained. They were easy to follow, and we really had fun putting the wind generator together. Also, when it was finished, it actually worked, and our neighbors did not believe us when we told them we had built it ourselves.

2 – Cheapest option

Homemade Energy is the cheapest guide out there. Okay, it is only $2 cheaper than say, Earth4Energy, but every dollar helps when you are trying to save on costs.

3 – Easy for anyone to follow:

It was very apparent to us that Bill Ford wanted to produce a guide that anyone could follow, since it was so easy to understand. Thought we did have a small problem with the diagrams, we still ended up with a working wind turbine.

The Problems With the guide:

1 – Not as complete as the other guides

At only 43 pages long, we found the guide a little short. Yes, it may have been to the point, without being filled with random information, but we would rather have spent the extra $2 on one of the other guides, and received more facts and advice.

2 – Needs to be revised:

We are not sure about other customers of the guide, but we sometimes found the solar plans a little confusing. The diagrams did not tie in well with the the advice, and we had to email Bill for support numerous times while building our solar panels. He may have been helpful in his response, but we think it would make more sense if he updated the guide with the right solar power advice for everyone to use. If he wants to offer free lifetime updates, then he should actually update the guide every now and then.

Overall rating:

Home Made Energy is a guide for beginners that are willing to learn as they go along. The instructions and advice are sound, which is crucial any diy guide. However, Bill needs to keep up with his rival, Earth4Energy, and add more value to the guide, such as providing videos and maintenance instructions, which we – as customers – so desperately need.

Tim McDonald has been making his own home wind turbine and solar power since June 2008. If you are serious about making your own power, reducing your electricity bill and becoming more energy conscious, then he recommends you get the Earth4Energy Sneak Peek – before buying any energy guide.

A Practical Look At Solar Electrical Panels

October 10th, 2009

Bred from a worldwide panic of global warming, some have chosen to harness the energy of solar electrical panels for all of their electricity needs.

Furnished from silicon, these incredible tools literally take in radiation from the sun and turn out usable electricity. Seems simple enough right? Well, here’s a short version of what actually happens.

There is an incredible amount of energy generated when photons strike the surface of the panel. This has enough force to break electrons free of their orbits and into one direct current of power. After the free electrons are moving in one direction, the whole unit begins to resemble the normal process of dispersion to your various electric requirements in your home or office. Then there you have it… It’s electricity.

Why solar energy? When posed with the current state of our ozone, many folks are thinking “green” and coming up with truly inventive ways to change how things have been done for a very long time. Coal energy is still one of the most used resources to provide electricity, and to some, it stands to be the most destructive as well. There is no argument that the current methods (with the exception of wind and solar power) for attaining consistent electricity have very damaging effects on the environment.

So why should you go with solar electrical panels? For starters, its more cost effective than putting a giant windmill in your front yard, and slightly more aesthetically pleasing. Of all the energy producing routes to take that benefit the environment this might be the most cost effective.

Do not be mistaken, solar energy for the time being, is not cheaper than conventional electricity sources. While the cost of these sources continues to increase annually, for the time being, solar energy edges them both for the highest initial cost. For an average 3 bedroom home, an adequate system would cost between thirteen and twenty seven thousand dollars for equipment and installation. This system may pay for itself without the need for monthly electric bills, and therefore might not be a bad option for those who can afford the start up.

For the most of us, coughing up between thirteen and twenty seven thousand dollars is not a simple undertaking. So its safe to assume that for most people who have these units, their love of the environment is enough to afford the installation.

Solar electrical panels are conduits for individuals to help the environment and release their dependence on environment damaging norms for their electricity needs. While it may require a little more start up to install and maintain, the overall pros of solar energy greatly outweigh the cons. So what’s stopping you?

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Install Solar Electrical Panels

October 9th, 2009

It’s hard to go anywhere these days without hearing about how you can “go green.” There are a million things that you can do to change destructive norms and essentially save the Earth. One way you might shine a light on this issue is through solar electrical panels.

These incredible pieces of silicon can literally transform radiation from sunlight into usable energy to power our electrical needs. The silicon panel itself is made up of several solar cells, that, when exposed to sunlight reacts in a very powerful way.

Photons found in the sunlight collide with the surface of the panel itself in such a violent manner that it creates a lot of energy. This energy is enough to set nearby electrons out of their orbit in their electron fields and float off freely. The solar cells infused in the panel then direct the free floating electrons into one path, or current, and send it into your home and to its desired end.

Why solar energy? When posed with the current state of our ozone, many folks are thinking “green” and coming up with truly inventive ways to change how things have been done for a very long time. Coal energy is still one of the most used resources to provide electricity, and to some, it stands to be the most destructive as well. There is no argument that the current methods (with the exception of wind and solar power) for attaining consistent electricity have very damaging effects on the environment.

But why should I be considering solar energy? Well, assuming that you are seeking out safer, “greener” method of attaining your electrical needs, it beats having a giant windmill in your front yard. Of all the environment conscience electricity sources, solar energy is the most cost effective for the individual.

Do not be mistaken, solar energy for the time being, is not cheaper than conventional electricity sources. While the cost of these sources continues to increase annually, for the time being, solar energy edges them both for the highest initial cost. For an average 3 bedroom home, an adequate system would cost between thirteen and twenty seven thousand dollars for equipment and installation. This system may pay for itself without the need for monthly electric bills, and therefore might not be a bad option for those who can afford the start up.

So it’s safe to say those who have taken on solar panels for their energy requirements have more passion to change the effects on the environment than saving that money in their bank.

Solar electrical panels give people a chance to free themselves from a monthly bill, as well as do something that vastly effects the environment for the better. So if it’s the ozone’s fragile condition that drives you, or you just want to get rid of another monthly bill, you might want to consider solar energy.

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