Posts Tagged ‘Green Living’


Installing Solar Panels – Information & Advice

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

The use of solar panels by homeowners has soared in recent years. The reason being that the technology has become much more efficient and much more affordable. Whereas once people wanted to help the environment but could not justify the costs involved, now they have no excuse not to use solar energy to power their home. The installation of solar panels is not as difficult as it you might think it to be. You can even do it yourself if you have a technical / electrical background, though, for the most part, it is easier and safer to call in a professional. The planning process, and finding the right solar panels to use, will take a couple of weeks, and the actual installation just a few days. Therefore, if you are really serious about powering your house with solar energy, then you can be doing just that within a month.

The most important decision you will need to make is what solar panels to use and how many of them to install. There are lots of brands and variations available, so this is not a decision to be rushed. The cheaper solar panels tend to be less capable of harnessing energy, and so you will need to buy lots of them to achieve the same amount of power as a few high range solar panels. You will be able to find precise details of all models of solar panels online, so you will have all the data you need to make relevant calculations. In a typical roof installation of solar panels, holes are drilled into the roof and mounts are bolted in. To keep the bolts properly aligned, you need to draw a carefully measured chalk line across the top of the rafters. The mounts should be secured with stainless steel lag bolts, and then have metal flashing placed over them. Metal rails must then be mounted using stainless steel bolts. Having done so, you can then install the solar panels on the metal rails.

For 95% of people, it is highly advisable to find an electrician to help with the installation of the solar panels. As well as being much safer, it can also work out to be cheaper, as you will have to buy various special cables and drills unless you already happen to have them. Bear in mind that this is beyond the scope of what most standard electricians normally do though. Finding one who has past experience of installing solar panels is the best course of action. Try not to be put off by the initial costs that you will face because solar panels are a good mid to long-term investment. You will probably recoup the money you outlay within 5 years as a result of the money that you will save on reduced electricity bills. After that 5 year period, you will then be making ‘real’ savings each and every month.

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Achieve The Green Friendly Mindset And Start A Much Better Lifestyle

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

The Green Friendly way of life may seem a little daunting to new converts initially. There are plenty of ways to choose a green friendly lifestyle, but it all resumes to personal convictions and beliefs. People often tend to associate green friendly products will a lack of individual comfort, and the rawest and most striking example is the ultra brands of toilet paper that feel so soft on the bum. Well, you may not care or know that very soft toilet is made from virgin fiber wood that requires the cutting down of trees. Next time when you consider yourself a green friendly person, be more critical with your daily habits and see whether you really live up to your standards or simply make superficial claims of environmental concern.

You can recognize a green friendly person by the food he/she eats. Whether out of preoccupation for personal health or care for the environment, lots of people buy local food instead of the non-organic products available in hypermarkets. A vegetables garden will produce very nice food that can be kept 100% pesticide free. And here we have an inexpensive way of covering the need for beans, peas, tomatoes, carrots or peppers. Local green friendly farms need all the support they can get from communities in order to sell their products; think about that, next time you go to the hypermarket.

Then, to continue the list of green friendly lifestyle examples we ought to refer to outdoor activities more. How much time does your child spend in front of the computer or watching TV? The choice of the leisure activities should be from those that require spending time outside. Sports like climbing or cycling, family camping and other activities in natural settings will encourage children to seek a nature-oriented life. If more parents thought like this, there would be fewer video-game consoles sold all over the world.

Lots of other elements define a green friendly attitude to life. From the effort to reuse and recycle to the building of a sustainable house, there are many ways to stay environmental. We have got so used to our comfort, to the huge number of ready made items that serve us every day that we not even think where all our litter goes once we dump it in the bin or what happens to the waste water full of household residues. Just think for a second that the fish we serve for dinner may come from the toxic pool that the ocean has become, then, we may be more co-interested in cleaning this larger ‘home’ of ours. green friendly lifestyles, and a safer, more ecologically positive lifestyle, does not have to consume you. Allow it to grow and evolve naturally.

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What World War Two Taught Us About Recycling

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Most people think of recycling as a recent phenomenon of the green revolution, however, there is evidence of recycling from as long ago as 300BC. It was around the mid 1900s though that recycling was first done a mass scale.

During the World War II, resources were hard to come by and Governments ran massive recycling campaigns to make sure that nothing was wasted. Waste was segregated for the following uses:

- Metal and tine were collected for use weapons, tanks and aircraft.

- Kitchen waste provided feed for pigs, chickens and goats.

- Rubber was recycled to make new tires.

- Boiled bones were recycled to make glue for aircraft or turned into glycerin for explosives.

People were also encouraged to repair belongings, such as clothes, rather than buy new. Campaigns like ‘Make Do & Mend’ advised people on how to recycle textiles and patch up their worn out clothes. As a result, knitting soared in popularity around this time.

Families had to plan meals carefully so as to minimize wastage. With no fridges or freezers, perishable food had to be bought in small quantities and meals were made with some interesting substitutes. Meat fat was commonly saved to make pastry, and even the cream from milk was collected in a jar and shaken to make butter.

It is a shame that it took people such a long time to acknowledge the importance of recycling, and also that it took such unfortunate circumstances to draw it to our attention. Nowadays, we realize the importance of recycling to preserve the Earth’s resources, save money, reduce pollution and help combat climate change.

Even so, we are still failing to recycle a lot of items that are recyclable. Though we are aware of what we should be doing, and though it is not difficult for us to do it, there is still a very much laid back attitude to recycling. Too many people simply cannot be bothered to recycle, and that is undoing the good work being done by those who do take the little time and effort required to recycle.

The uses of recyclable materials may be different now from what they were 60 years ago, but we can still take inspiration from our grandparents. If they could recycle, then why can’t we recycle too? We should all be taking action now, and not be waiting around for a major crisis to kick-start us into action again.
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Ware 4 Recycling Bins Ltd have been promoting cost effective recycling bins, trolleys and waste containers for over 5 years.

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Green Living In The Home-What Kinds Of Solar Panel Kits Are Offered To Shoppers?

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to make solar panels, make homemade windmills, and go green at home.

It seems like the recognition of using solar power is growing each day.  And folks are becoming more interested in how they can add solar energy to their lifestyle in affordable ways.  That is why solar panel kits are now accessible for a wide variety of solar applications.  Here are a few of the solar panel kits that you can get.

One of the most affordable kinds of solar panel kits to buy is a 45 watt model, for around $200.  It is big enough to run general home electronic equipment, like TVs and desktop computers, and even to power lighting.  It will even charge a 12v battery so you can store its electricity for use at nighttime.  The technology is now sophisticated enough that the PV cells can generate electricity even on overcast days.  And its petite size (about 36inches square) makes it uncomplicated to find a fitting location.  Kits frequently include the panel or panels, mounting hardware and wiring.  Some kits may include an inverter; otherwise you will have to acquire that separately.

Other kits expand on that basic concept of assembling the panels, mounting hardware and wiring for more specific applications. For instance, solar kits for boats may include solar panels, and array and mounting hardware that is made from stainless steel or other materials that endure exposure to salt water.  They may also include tracking equipment that will position the panels according to the sun’s position.

Kits intended for cabins may consist of the basic solar panels and wiring.  But they may use a post mounted array and hardware so that the panels can be located in a clearing away from trees.  And the kits might additionally include a battery back up system for cabins that will be off the grid.

Solar panel kits designed for campers start off with a straightforward set up that provides basic power for lights and trickle charging the battery.  Yet luxury RVs that contain a lot of electrical gear, ranging from built-in GPS to home theater systems, might need a system as detailed and complicated as an off grid home.  And there are kits accessible for these extremes as well as many recreational vehicles requirements in between

There seems to be a kit available for virtually any solar panel you can think of for home, commercial or recreational use.  The best way to acquire them is to explore online.  And the best way to choose one is to evaluate their features and customer service.

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Using Wind Turbines To Power Your Home

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

The first thing to look at, before you ever consider converting to wind power, is the area where you live. A windmill solution obviously requires wind. More specifically you want wind speeds that exceed 8MPH on average. Even 8MPH is considered a low-wind-speed area for wind turbines. 12MPH average is ideal.

To start, take the time to look at the wind speed charts that fit your area:

If You Live in the USA: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/wndspd.txt

If You Live in Canada: http://www.wunderground.com/global/Region/CN/WindSpeed.html

If You Live in the UK or Europe: http://www.xcweather.co.uk

If you live in Australia: http://www.wunderground.com/global/Region/AU/WindSpeed.html

Assuming that the average wind speed in your area is above 8MPH, then continue on to the other considerations listed below. If you don’t live in a suitable area, then you should consider a solar power conversion instead.

Wind Turbine Considerations

Once you’ve determined that wind power is suitable for your area there are a few other things you need to consider. Really this is just about asking some questions and then answering them. Taking the time to do so will ensure you choose a wind power system that fits. Especially if you are planning to live off the grid, you should take the time to answer these questions before you start.

Your Power Needs

The first thing that needs to be considered is your power needs. Are you simply looking to reduce your power bill with a single small windmill? Or, will you want to power your entire home?
If you’re looking to power your whole home, you should take the time to calculate your actual power requirements. If you take the time to download Earth 4 Energy, their guide comes with a calculator and instructions on how to do this (you’ll need this guide anyway).

Storing Power from Wind Turbines

From the answer to your first question you then need to consider building a storage system for your wind turbine. A simple array of batteries can be designed to store as little or as much power as needed.
If you’re only building a small wind power solution to reduce your power bills then this is likely less of a concern.
On the other hand if you’re looking to live off the grid, you will need to consider energy storage. You should use your calculation for your power needs to design this part of your system. Take into consideration how much power you will need to store and for how long.
If you have weeks where there is less wind than usual, ensure that you have a large enough battery array to compensate (or better yet work to reduce you energy needs by using high efficiency bulbs and appliances).

Having a Backup Plan

Finally, for those who plan to live entirely off the grid, you should consider your backup plan. For most of us consistent power is a requirement. Ensure that you design your wind turbine solution with a backup plan. Generally a small gas generator is enough to ensure you have power if something goes wrong.

Find ways to build your own solar panel and save on your electric bill.

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12-Volt Portable Solar Panels-What They Are And How Can You Make Use Of Them Along With Your Electronic Gadgets

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to make a homemade solar panel, make a homemade windmill, and go green at home

One of the most popular types of portable solar panel systems is the 12 volt (12v) system. But just how much energy does 12v give you? Not enough to heat your house, but enough to run some of your portable devices, or recharge their rechargeable batteries.

These portable panels function like large solar panels, but generate a lesser amount of electricity due to their smaller size. Like their larger cousins, they operate best under direct full sun conditions. The majority of them will work on cloudy and drizzly days, but it will take longer to generate the electricity to charge your device. Most will not operate with indoor lighting, but there are solar panels being developed that will be able to make use of indoor light. They’re projected to reach the consumer market in another 4 or 5 years.

Good portable panel systems have built-in regulators, meaning they’ll automatically modify the amount of energy they produce to the amount that the device requires. So be sure that the portable panels you buy have this feature, otherwise there’s a danger of overcharging (or “frying”) the device that you’re trying to recharge.

Most portable solar panels fold into sizes tiny enough to fit into a large pocket or purse. But you can’t fold the cells themselves. Think of a weight belt. It’s foldable and flexible when compared to a barbell. But it folds because small weights are sewn into a flexible fabric, not because the weights are foldable. It’s the same with the foldable solar panels: they fold due to the fact that the solar cells are small enough to be mounted on foldable material.

So even though portable solar panels are advertised to be long-lasting and waterproof, you still need to be careful when handling them. If you fold or crease the solar cell itself, you’ll probably break or disable it. So do not fold the cell, or put the portable panels in the washing machine, or poke them with sharp objects. Your weight belt will survive that kind of treatment, but your portable solar panel won’t.

One more word of caution: the portable solar panel can’t recharge regular batteries. It can only charge rechargeable batteries. This may be obvious to you, but you’d be surprised how many people try to recharge regular batteries.

You will need extra connector equipment in order to use the portable panels, so plan for the additional expense. You’ll need connectors that fit with the recharging plugs on your portable devices. And if you intend to use your portable solar panels to trickle charge your car, boat or snowmobile battery, you might need a set of battery clips.

“Trickle charging” can keep your vehicle’s battery fully charged. Here’s how it works: position the portable solar panel on a surface where it receives the most sun; then plug it into the cigarette lighter socket, or attach the clips to the vehicle’s battery. This can be a great help in really chilly climates where temperatures drop below freezing, and you have to keep your car parked outside all day.

Portable solar panels are still relatively costly compared to using grid electricity at home or in the office. But they make sense if you spend a lot of time camping, climbing or working from your automobile. And they’re fantastic backup systems for times when the power goes out.

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Solar Shingles – Are They A Realistic Substitute To Solar Panel Arrays?

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to build a solar panel, build homemade windmills, and go green at home

You can now obtain solar shingles that look like your existing asphalt shingles. They have a comparable matte finish and are the same size. The big dissimilarity is that they are covered with thin film solar cells that collect sunlight and turn it into electricity. The thin film technology means you won’t have to build a large structure (an array) on top of your roof to hold solar panels. And the solar shingles will collect the same quantity of energy as a solar panel array, but are much less visually intrusive.

Some homeowner associations will not permit solar panel arrays to be built on a rooftop or in a back yard. And even if you still have to get your homeowner association to allow you to install solar shingles, it will be much easier to persuade your neighbors (and board members) to say yes to solar cells that look just like the shingles on their roofs.

Solar shingle systems can be off-grid or tied to the grid. These means they can be used with a solar energy system that is self contained (off-grid) or that is tied into the public utility system (tied to the grid). The thin film technology works fundamentally the same way as the larger panel systems. Sunlight is still being captured by photovoltaic cells and converted into energy. but the materials used in manufacturing the solar shingles are smaller. Developments in solar technology have allowed improvements that decrease the size needed to produce the same amount of energy. The smaller shingle-sized cells are now efficient enough to produce the same amount of energy as the larger arrays.

Besides the visual appeal, another good feature of the solar shingles is that they can be replaced as easily as traditional shingles. They’re made to last for more than 20 years, depending on the manufacturer. And they’re built to withstand harsh weather like hail and high winds. But if they do need to be replaced, it’s as straightforward as replacing traditional asphalt shingles.

Still, these solar shingles are comparatively new on the market, so you may have to do some research to find a supplier near you. You’ll also need to find a respectable installer who is familiar with the product. your best bet is to search online for solar shingle manufacturers and suppliers. they will e able to refer you to a professional installer in your area.

While solar shingles may not be the right choice for every homeowner, they can certainly offer an attractive alternative to traditional solar panel arrays.

A source of energy that should not be overlooked is wind power. Many homeowners have reduced or eliminated their electricity bill by building their own windmills. More information can be found at www.GreenLivingRocks.com

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Fabricate Your Own Solar Panels: How Difficult Can It Be?

Friday, June 26th, 2009

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to build solar panels, build homemade windmills, and go green

Your utility bills are getting higher every month, so you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels on your house. You know how to use a screwdriver and drill, and you’re wondering…how hard could it be to put together your own solar panels? This article will give you an outline of the method so you can make a good choice.

To make clear, we’re talking here about building solar panels that will deliver electricity to your dwelling. (These are not the same as “solar energy” devices that will heat water, but won’t deliver electricity). The most widely used solar panel designs for generating electricity are photovoltaic arrays. They convert sunlight straight into electricity.

There are at least two common ways to build do-it-yourself solar panels. First, there are solar panel kits. These are straightforward designs and can be built by anyone who has reasonable handy-man skills. Second, there are built-from scratch-solar panels. These are a bit more complex, and are better projects for more adventurous people who don’t mind experimenting.

Solar Panel Kits:
You can obtain these from various local or online suppliers. Use yahoo to look for “solar cell kits”. You’ll find hundreds of websites that offer books, online videos or DVDs of plans and instructions, along with the supplies you’ll need.

The kits basically supply you with the photovoltaic cells, the wiring, the assembly hardware and the mounting devices. They’re somewhat like putting together a computer desk kit from the hardware store. But you’ll need to check your local building codes to verify whether or not you need permits and a licensed installer.

Build Your Cells From Scratch:
This is an inexpensive, but labor-intensive way to construct your solar cells from scratch. It uses raw copper sheeting, like the copper flashing available at hardware stores, and a heat source. You need to heat the copper for about a half hour, or long enough to cause the chemical reaction that produces copper oxide on the surface of the copper sheet.

After the copper panel is cooled properly, combine it with other similar-sized non-oxidized copper panel, add salt water solution and encase all of the components in a shatterproof glass panel. Add wiring and mounting components after the panel is assembled. This produces a low-voltage panel. You’ll need to make many of them in order to have an array that produces enough electricity to power household devices.

Building your solar panels from scratch is relatively cheap, but takes a lot of time and space. Solar kits are a fine solution if you like to work on projects around the house, but don’t have the time for building solar panels from scratch. Either way, be sure to check your local building codes for installation requirements. And be sure you really have adequate time to complete the project. You don’t want to leave it half finished and leave yourself with no electricity during a hot summer or a cold winter.

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A Brilliant Future For Solar Energy: An Alternative Energy Source

Friday, June 26th, 2009

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to make a solar panel, build homemade windmills, and go green at home

I was first introduced to solar energy in the motion picture, “Race the Sun” with James Belushi and Halley Berry in the lead. It was a tale about low- income and under achieving Hawaiian students encouraged by their teacher to join the Solar Car contest. In the movie, a car shaped like a cockroach and covered with solar panels used the sun’s rays as an alternative energy source to run the auto.

Solar energy is the light and the heat from the sun. Solar energy is free and its supplies are infinite. There are no air and water contamination caused by using solar energy. But there is still some impact on the environment, although indirect.

Photovoltaic cells used to convert sunlight into electricity uses silicon and also produce some waste materials. There are also large solar thermal farms and these farms can also be harmful to the environment and desert ecosystems if not properly managed.

Solar energy can be used in farming. Greenhouses (which is entirely different from greenhouse gas) convert solar light to heat to be maximized in enhancing the growth of plants and crops. Greenhouses have been around since the Roman times and modern greenhouses were built in Europe in 16th century. Greenhouses are still an important part of horticulture now.

Daylight systems are also being used to maximize the energy released by the sun. It is used to provide interior illumination replacing the artificial lighting. Daylight systems include sawtooth roofs, light shelf, skylights, and light tube. Daylight systems when they are correctly implemented can reduce lighting-related energy consumption by 25 percent.

Solar energy can also be developed into solar thermal technologies which can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation. Solar energy can also be used to distill water and make saline or brackish water potable or drinkable.

The solar water disinfection or SODIS involves exposing water-filled plastic polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles. This process takes a long time, since the exposure time varies on the weather conditions. It requires a minimum of six hours to two days during days with overcast conditions. Presently, there are two million people in developing centuries use SODIS for their daily drinking water needs.

Also sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics or PV. PV has been mainly used to power small and medium-sized things like a calculator powered by a single solar cell. There are homes powered by photovoltaics. Using solar energy for water and space heating is the most broadly used application of solar energy. Ventilation and solar air heating is also growing in popularity.

There are three main ways in using solar energy. The chief way of using and converting solar energy is by using the solar cells. Solar cells convert light directly into electricity. Solar cells are also called photovoltaic or photoelectric cells.

Meanwhile, solar furnaces use a huge array of mirrors to concentrate on the Sun’s energy into a small space and produced very extraordinary temperatures. Solar furnaces are also called “solar cookers”. A solar cooker can be used in hot countries to cook food.

With all the benefits if using solar energy, there is still a downside for this alternative energy source. It does not work during night time. The cost of setting up solar stations is expensive, but the benefit of using solar energy when accumulated is so much more.

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Solar Panels – Is It Possible For Renters To Go Green?

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

By Jason Livingston-the operator of GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to build a solar panel, build a homemade windmill, and begin living green

You know about the energy benefits that are achievable from switching to solar energy from time-honored power-plant energy. Maybe you’d like to live off-grid because you worry about the environment and desire to reduce your carbon footprint. But there’s a problem…you live in an apartment, so you’re not about to invest several thousand dollars into solar panels for your home. What are your options?

Here are three ideas that can help you accomplish your dream of using solar power:

1) Invest in your own moveable solar panels for your small appliances. If you have a window, patio, deck or terrace that gets enough sunlight during the day, you can get a portable solar charger that will collect the sunlight and store enough of it to recharge your laptop or power your TV. These portable systems will only provide an hour or two of use, though. And the cost of portable panels isn’t yet cheaper than running your laptop and TV off the grid. But they’re a good backup power source if you live in a place with frequent blackouts. And they’re a good way to keep your rechargeable batteries fully charged.

2) Talk your landlord into installing a solar panel system for the whole building. You might be able to get together with some neighbors and make a presentation to your landlord. This approach can be especially effective if your apartment building is located in a city or town where solar energy is popular and already being used. You’ll have to gather some information from the local utility company to find out what their policy is on buying back energy from solar installations, and how much money your landlord might save from installing solar panels. Do some research on state and local tax credits for installing solar energy systems. Also, find out if there are any other apartment complexes in your town (or even nearby towns) that use solar energy, and ask them how they market that fact to their future renters. The plan is to show your landlord that he can save money on utilities, and reduce vacancies because renters would rather live in energy efficient apartments. With a little research, you can come up with a presentation showing your landlord that solar panels are a good business decision.

3) Make a point of seeking out apartment buildings and complexes that already have solar panels installed. You might be amazed to find out that there are apartment communities in your town that are ahead of the curve on solar energy. This is especially likely if you live in the “Sunbelt” area of the US, or if you live in a progressive-minded college town, or if your state or city offers attractive tax benefits for solar energy installations.

Even if you can’t live your off-grid energy dream immediately, take heart. Solar energy technology is under rapid development right now around the world. That means your dream of better solar technology for lower prices is not far away.

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