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Archive for May, 2009

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If you want to a more environmentally concious or green home to help protect the earth, it might not be as expensive or difficult as you believe. With just a couple of small changes to your daily routines, you can easily make a positive environmental impact. One of the best areas to start is your own home. Try to get your hands on an efficient shower head. Unfortunately, old shower head use twice the amount of water than newer efficient ones. Another good idea is to get a dishwasher or washing machine with a four or five star energy rating. This rating means the machine does a great job of minimizing water and power use.

Anyone who wants to become more environmentally and ‘go green’ only needs to follow a few simple steps. The first thing to do is look at improving the efficiency of your household appliances. If you are able to get a more efficient shower head then you should definitely do so. New shower heads use less than half the amount of water as old ones, and this is a great saving. Also it is a good idea to purchase energy efficient whitegoods like dishwashers and washing machines. There is a star rating in most countries that will tell you how energy efficient an appliance is.

Trying to go green and improve your environmental footprint really is not too hard. All you have to do is look around your house and change a few simple everyday appliances. The first thing that needs to be changed in most houses is the shower head. In the old days shower heads wasted a lot of water, but their modern equivalents have the amount lost. This is a great saving and the first thing you should do. Next, you should try to upgrade your washing machine and dishwasher to the most energy efficient models on the market. You can normally judge the efficiency of a model by a star rating on the side of the unit, five stars being the most efficient.

Solar energy panels are once again on the minds of consumers. More and more homes are looking to install solar energy panel systems to combat rising cost of fuel. Be cautious if you are considering doing it for your home. Do your research and read reviews. Electricity is dangerous. Ensure you get a kit that is made by certified professional. The last example of this specific phenomenon was apparent was in the early 70’s, when there was a crude oil trade embargo and hence, no gasoline. Substitute energies began to pop up here and there with many people jumping on the band wagon. As gasoline became plentiful again in the marketplace, alternative energy resources dropped off the radars of the average consumer once again. Now that 2009 is here, the common consumer is once again experiencing rising costs of oil and realizing that global warming will have a direct impact on their wallets. Renewable energy is back on the minds of the average consumer and, perhaps, this time for good.

Where did solar go?

Solar power for the home was a big seller during the energy crisis of the 70’s. Many houses found tri-pods of solar panels on their roofs gathering what power they could. These units were soon found across the world but were initially popular in Arizona where the consumers are environmentally sensitive. Unfortunately, the solar power cell of the 70’s just wasn’t all that cost-effective and cost quite a bit to put in and maintain. Demand for solar cells dropped during a time of large energy consumption as fossil fuel returned to the marketplace. However, the concept of solar energy was a solid one and the early adopters of this technology knew that it was way ahead of its time. Solar panels never went away; they just slid back into the laboratory to await solar panel 2.0.

Solar is back and ready

Today’s solar panel is not your father’s solar panel. Depending upon which type of energy you care to generate, electricity or hot water, today’s solar panel has come a very long way in the form of photovoltaic’s and will go further still. These cells, when combined into panel form, turn the suns rays (so-to-speak) right into power ready for use. They have also become more economical, environmentally sound, and extremely efficient. Today’s solar panel will sit almost anywhere and is quickly finding itself being turned into a panel the thickness of a nano particle. The technology of solar power is evolving at an aggressive pace and driving down costs to a more economical level.

Who are the people using solar energy panels?

As discussed, it will take a change in the purse strings to affect a change in consumer buying behavior. With a technology and paradigm shift on the order of solar panels it requires a solid leap forward in panel efficiency, costs of panels , associated elements and an increase in existing costs of fuel. When these factors reach a critical point, then solar panels will be found not just at the consumer level but at the corporate and industrial levels. This is simply because business moves its money where the costs-over time-are less. This is just good business. Solar panels are now, as in this past two years, become more cost effective for industry to use then to not use them over time.

Why solar panels now?

Solar panels are now being used primarily because fuel costs are just too high to ignore in favor of a new technology that is worth checking out. Companies have available empty roof space and the choice of trying something on a larger scale to see if it works versus continuing to pay higher fuel bills and environmental costs. The whole concept is extremely self serving. This does not involve environmental consideration. Companies that choose to not use solar energy panels face air clean-up costs as well as fuel expenses. They put the solar energy panels through testing to see if they work now. If they do, the company can; commit to a full solar panel program with even more efficient solar panels, significantly reduce fuel costs and almost eliminate air cleaning needs along the way. There is not much environmental about it. It’s simply excellent business sense. Consumers will jump on the solar energy panel bandwagon after demands starts to skyrocket because only then will the costs drop dramatically.

Ralph Somers

Contributor to Ralph’s Green Energy Guide

The thought might be crossing your mind saying green web hosting?  Do I get a green label for my site?  Do I get a green banner-Is their going to be a green banner?  No green web hosting is just like any green product is good for the environment. You might be trying to think how green web hosting is able to help the environment.

Web hosting requires a lot of energy to use.  There is a certain amount of energy each server will require.  The energy costs are higher because these servers have to stay cool since they are never turned off.  To do this these servers use larger amount of electricity.  Many web hosting companies have 100’s to 1,000’s of servers in one location.  This will keep the electrical bill permanently high. 
When mentioning green web hosting it is the way they get their energy is what we are talking about.  Many companies are starting to move over to earth energy sources to protect the environment.  With earth friendly energy sources I am referring to solar, wind and other natural sources of energy.  Companies can this energy by their own equipment or purchasing energy from different greens sources.

By using green hosting you will be helping out the environment.  None of the technical issues will change with your website.  Using green hosting is a choice for each web master.  While there will be no improvements because of green web hosting you won’t see any negative issues.  You are probably thinking that it will cost more to use green hosting.  Fortunately that is not the case as these sites will provide hosting for comparable rates.

For all your SEO and hosting services

Basically, climate modification is the excessive heating of the planet which is causing dramatic climatic changes. So, are there ways to prevent climate modification? Yes! When you choose to build a wind generator for your household’s source of clean energy, you are making one of the most significant choices possible to help prevent climate modification. Because of the changing societal conscience about renewable energy, more and more homeowners are looking to do-it-yourself kits to build a wind generator. Wind has been harnessed for for centuries for many uses including as a powerful souce of energy. There is growing consensus amongst scientists and researchers that when moving air is harnessed properly, wind can be a powerful and effective source of renewable energy.

A common question asked when you build a wind generator is how can wind be converted into energy? The answer is using a wind generator. A wind turbine is really just like a huge fan that can take the kinetic energy available in the wind and convert it into mechanical energy. When this mechanical energy is used by any type of machinery like a pump then such a machine is known as a windmill. But don’t just do this without a kit created by a certified professional. Use the wrong kit and electricity can be very dangerous. Make sure you read reviews if you build a wind generator for your home.

In many ways, the climate modification debate is benefiting from the current highly volatile issues concerning energy. Coal and oil have powered the world’s industrial revolution. While coal is available in many countries, oil is not. Circumstances being what they are, the largest concentrations of oil are found in areas with significant political and armed conflict. All you have to do is look at the circumstances in Iraq to understand this. Now that China is exploding in the world economy, there seems to be a growing consensus that alternatives to oil are needed.

Maybe it’s karma but almost all of the alternatives to oil are favorable ways to slow down the rate of climate modification. All of the alternative sources of power such as hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, and yes, even nuclear energy, produce significantly less pollution than energy derived from fossil fuels. There is one very simple reason why less pollution is the key.

A major byproduct of using fossil fuels for energy is the much discussed greenhouse gas. Whether using oil to produce electricity or just to gas up the car, the use of this medium produces carbon dioxide. One of the major greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide. A reduction in quantiity of it in the atmosphere will help to mitigate the greenhouse effect. As our energy production evolves away from oil, we should see improvements in the atmosphere. The bigger issue, of course, is whether we will get around to this anytime soon.

A second major way to prevent climate modification is to stop deforestation. Vast forests, such as the one found in the Amazon River Basin in South America are being clear cut. This has a devastating impact on climate modification. Nature has a natural way of filtering toxic gases like carbon dioxide from the air. It does this through photosynthesis with plants. Dense, huge forests are the biggest and best filters of carbon dioxide. By cutting them down, we reduce the ability of the planet to filter out the bad gases while we continue to pump more of the gases into the atmosphere. Any way you measure it, it is a formula destined to cause trouble.

Can you help to prevent climate modification? Yes. We need to kick our oil habit and stop wiping out our forest areas.

You can absolutely help! Start with education and make the choices that will prevent climate modification like choosing to build a wind generator for your source of power.

~Ralph Somers

Moderator of Ralph’s Green Energy Guide
 

Harnessing the power of the sun’s ray to create energy to power our place is really appealing.

But the issue is, Is everything about solar energy good? having a look at the present cost of fossil fuel-based electricity, it is sort of unreal to convert into solar energy system. However, with the heightening concern on the state of the earth, there’s actually a requirement to find other ways of energy except for what power plants are using at the moment. Where do you place yourself? Whether you are a supporter of clean energy or just care about where your financials go, taking a look at the pros and cons of home solar energy system will help you decide as to whether to convert or not. Pros Solar energy is free. Do you know the earth soaks up 174 pettawatts of solar radiation? This implies that we’ve got more than enough source of free energy to power each house on the planet. Unfortunately, almost all of our energy is still drawn from oil, gas and coal. But in latest years, there’s a smooth increase of requirement for alternative and renewable energy like solar power. It is predicted that the requirement for alternative sources of energy will rise by 53% between 1999 and 2020.

Solar energy is clean, renewable and sustainable. As the energy made from the sun’s rays does not produce byproducts like those from fossil fuel power plants ( sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury or CO2 ), it doesn’t make a contribution to pollution. Accordingly, the rise in the employment of solar energy and other alternative forms of energy will decrease the clamor for greenhouse gases-producing power plants. The cost of photovoltaic cells is continuously decreasing. The clamor for solar panels has risen by 57% in the U. S. In 2007 and is continuously accelerating on an once a month basis. The demand increase results to the improvement of solar technology in total. The costs of photovoltaic cells have decreased on average of 4% each year during the last 15 years. Solar panels can be installed on most rooftops, dumping the problem of finding an appropriate place for installation. Solar panels need almost no upkeep.

The first photovoltaic cells technology is employed for most satellites orbiting our earth today which are not maintained at all. Many solar panel makers give twenty-five to forty years guaranty on their products. Because most areas of the country receive an important quantity of daylight across the year, solar panels can be installed anywhere. Many states in the country give tax breaks and deductions to homes who desire to install solar energy system.

Check with your state legislature the price of these motivations.

Cons

Whilst the costs of PV cells are in constant decline, the price of installation is significantly high compared to the present electrical cost.

But the good thing is, after your 1st money out, you do not have to pay each month on electrical bills for the remainder of your life. On areas towns and areas with heavy pollution problem, solar energy may not work as fine. Weather can also have an effect on the potency of solar energy. If it is raining, overcast weather or if there’s a hurricane, the solar panels’ potency is reduced. You are only manufacturing energy during day time. These are general pros and cons you may encounter when considering the conversion to solar energy system. It might be best if your call relies on location, cost, budget, discounts, tax allowances and practicality.

Let’s face it, living off-grid, in that you don’t receive electricity from regular power supply companies, is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, while it may sound a little strange at first, more and more people are striving to become totally independent, not only with regards to power, but also with regards to other utilities and services.

Off-grid living allows you to be independent and as such, you get to be in control of your own life. Of course, the downside to this is, you’ll need to accept full responsibility for providing your own utilities and services for which you’ve become accustomed to paying others for. However, if this seems like an acceptable trade off, it may very well be an ideal solution for you.

With technology continuing to advance rapidly, getting off-grid has never been as easy as it is today. The vast majority of people who seek this type of life usually choose remote areas but unfortunately, such opportunities are fast disappearing. However, innovative people are continuously discovering ways which will afford them the lifestyle they long for without having to move so far away. Living completely off the grid still remains a challenge for those living in cities, but that’s not to say it can’t be done.

Wind power and solar power are currently the most popular choices for those looking to live off-grid. The effectiveness of these depends largely on the location of your home. For example, solar power won’t be much good to those who live too far north as they don’t receive enough direct sunlight. Likewise, wind power will only be a viable option to those who live in areas that gets consistent winds. If for example you only get wind when there’s a storm, it won’t be sufficient to power your home and in fact, high winds only serve to damage the generators, rather than generate extra power.

Ideally, you need to first determine which options are viable in the area where you live. Once you have determined this, you need to establish how good a system you can buy with your available budget. Even with an ideal system you are at the mercy of breakdowns and emergencies and as such, you need to cost in for back-up batteries and fuel.

Remember, batteries are in fact the most costly aspect of any system but then again, they do determine how much power you are capable of storing. Once you go off-grid, you’re on your own, with nothing to fall back on. On the other hand, if the power goes down in your area, you’ll be one of the few who couldn’t care less.

The good news is, the costs involved with regards to going off-grid can be reduced to a certain extent. You will be make savings over a period of time but for the most part, it takes quite a while before a system pays for itself. For this reason, some states are offering tax credits. While these certainly don’t cover all the costs of living off-grid, they certainly do help.

Steven C. Jones writes about renewable energy on his blog. Go and read more on solar power, wind power and living off grid.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_C._Jones

Simazine, a chemical used in Australia to help clean their swimming pools and stop Algae from growing in them has received calls to be banned. Simazine has been banned in the United States since 1994 after it showed it had links to causing cancer, but is still used in Australia. A report from the Australian pesticides and veterinary medicines authority (APAVM) makes claims that the levels of the chemical are far higher than the recommended allowed daily intake (ADI) health limit.

While the report didnt show that children exposed to the chemical have any lasting health problems, supporters of the ban are claiming with the levels over the ADI, the effects in later life for children could be dangerous. The company Wobelea, who manufacture the products containing the chemical are claiming that this is nothing more than a witch hunt. ‘For arguments sake, you would have to drink all the water in an Olympic pool, say 500,000 litres, to get anywhere near a toxic dose’.’

The investigation will determine if any new information has come to light reguarding the effects of the chemical, but while this is happening products containing Simazine will still be made available, which has angered campaigners. The chemical is banned in the United states and not used at all in European countries, which asks the question why are questionable swimmming pool chemicals still used in Australia? The Australian government is said to be watching events over this unfold with interest and have said they will take action if the chemical is found to be harmful.

Recently in Tasmania this chemical, along with other harmful chemicals such as Altrazine were found in the drinking water supplies, promoting an uproar from the public in the local area. The amount of these chemicals found in drinking water is said to be very minute, but the point is that it should not be in drinking water at all.

Need pool accessories or swimming pool solar heating? Look no further

recycling program

The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is one agency that you should not take for granted. Thanks to this agency and their work on protecting the environment, we can rest easier knowing that industries can no longer just dump their chemicals into our water systems. Farmers can no longer use deadly pesticides on our food. Without their work, the United States would be in far worse shape than some third world countries.

You can thank the EPA for a variety of environmental laws and the movement to stop global warming in its tracks. Without this very valuable agency, many of today’s world laws regarding pollution would not be respected. Take for example the Kyoto Protocol, which dictates how much green house gas emissions a country can emit, according to its population and industries. The Environmental Protection Agency is the governing body in the United States that enforces these laws.

Perhaps the greatest contact the American citizen has with the Environmental Protection Agency is the recycling program found in local cities and towns. There are laws governing the illegal dumping of hazardous waste into the environment. They push for corporations and businesses to join a recycling program to benefit the environment and serve as an example, with regard to the serious nature of pollution and overflowing landfills.

The Environmental Protection Agency covers endangered species, as well as air, water, land and hazardous waste pollution. They help to protect the environment in more ways that you could possibly think one agency is capable of doing but they manage to get it done. Without this agency regulating the industry and helping people get into a recycling program, this country would be in an appalling condition.

Visit www.epa.org for more information on how the Environmental Protection Agency works on a daily basis. You can give back to your community and help show others that recycling is not that hard. You can keep landfills free of recyclables and start a grass roots campaign to get more cities on track for recycling. Just doing your part is one small step in keeping more useable garbage out of your local landfill. Consider it your civic duty to help start a recycling program in your area and teaching others that big changes start with the efforts of all concerned. Do your part and you will begin to see others taking those small steps as well.

In the past several years, it certainly seems like the amount of natural disasters has increased dramatically. We’ve all watched the forecasts for the deadly hurricanes that slowly approach the shorelines and pray that they don’t strike with too much fierceness. We’ve seen the aftermaths of the tornadoes that seemingly appear out of the sky without any warning and destroy everything in its path. The entire world stared in wonder at the unrelenting tsunami that struck in the Indian Ocean years ago and took 150,000 lives as its souvenir. At the current moment, a volcano in Hawaii is showing its glory and attracting thousands of tourists to witness one of the most spectacular of all natural disasters.

Tornadoes can be discovered a few moments before they hit but most of the time, there is not much forecasters can do to warn the people ahead of time. It happens so fast that often times, people barely have enough time to make it to shelter.

Right now, we’ve learned about natural disasters more than before. Thanks to the people who are willing to risk their lives to do research for the sake of everybody. As of now, no one knows how to prevent them but at least we know how they happen and why. Natural disasters throughout history have been studied and yet, there is something about it that will keep them somewhat of a mystery.

Natural disasters have had major impact in every corner of the world. It is nature?s way of saying that it has control over the planet. It cannot be prevented but it can be forecasted at times and enables us to survive the outcomes. With the help of modern technology, we can see hurricanes before it causes devastation. People can prepare for what is about to happen and take necessary actions to lessen the damage it will cause.

Early planning saved a lot of lives but additional planning could have prevented the mass amounts of destruction. No matter if you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, learning safety tips and having a plan of escape is always a good idea. There are lots of sources online for tips and information about being prepared.

Article by Chris B, you can find more about him on his profile.

This post will discuss different solar powered products available for use in the home.

Solar heating systems:

Putting a solar heating system in your home helps cut down your electricity bill and it helps save the world’s quickly-exhausting power. If you are worried that a solar heating system will turn your lovely home into a gadget filled house or that it will be too expensive , your concerns are not necessary. Companies that provide solar power solutions for homes make sure that they put in attractive looking heating systems in your house. As far as the cost, investing in a solar heating system is smart because you get a return on your investment fairly quickly, and then the service is free.

Solar Lighting

A solar home lighting system converts solar energy into electrical energy . This is done by using solar charged cells.  Therefore, the house is lighted from the  energy stored from inside the solar cells. Once you install the solar home lighting system in your house you do not have to be concerened about the electricity bills.

Solar Cooking Technology

Did you know that you can cook using solar power? A solar cooker is a cooking appliance that uses  no fuel. You can make food for a family of 5 in the cooker.  If you think that using a solar cooker will make your dinner less diverse, you will be surprised to learn that you can roast and bake , as well as boil food in the cooker.The only downside to the solar cooker is that it takes more time to cook. However, when you consider the free source of energy it uses, this is a great option for reducing those high electricity bills and saving  energy.

Would you like to know more about using alternative energy in the house to eliminate your electric bill. Check out our blog at www.EnergySolutionsInfo.com