Archive for the ‘Alternative Energy’ Category

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Renewable Energy

The Germans have really taken off when it comes to renewable fuel sources, and have become one of the major players in the alternative energy game. Under the aegis of the nation’s electricity feed laws, the German people set a world record in 2006 by investing over $10 billion (US) in research, development, and implementation of wind turbines, biogas power plants, and solar collection cells. Germany’s “feed laws” permit the German homeowners to connect to an electrical grid through some source of renewable energy and then sell back to the power company any excess energy produced at retail prices. This economic incentive has catapulted Germany into the number-one position among all nations with regards to the number of operational solar arrays, biogas plants, and wind turbines. The 50-terawatt hours of electricity produced by these alternative energy account for 10% of all of Germany’s energy production per year. In 2006 alone, Germany installed 100,000 solar energy collection systems.

Over in the usa, the BP corporation has established an Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) to spearhead extensive new research and development efforts into clean burning renewable energy sources, most prominently biofuels for ground vehicles. BP’s investment comes to $50 million (US) per year over the course of the next decade. This EBI will be physically located at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The University is in partnership with BP, and it will be responsible for research and development of new biofuel crops, biofuel-delivering agricultural systems, and machines to create renewable fuels in liquid form for automobile consumption. The University will especially spearhead efforts in the field of genetic engineering with regard to creating the more advanced biofuel crops. The EBI will additionally have as a major focal point technological innovations for converting heavy hydrocarbons into pollution-free and highly efficient fuels.

Also in the united states, the battle rages on between Congress and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). The GEA’s Executive Director Karl Gawell has recently written to the Congress and the Us department of energy, the only method to ensure that DOE and OMB do not simply revert to their irrational insistence on terminating the geothermal research program is to schedule a congressional hearing specifically on geothermal energy, its potential, and the role of federal research. Furthermore, Gawell goes on to say that recent studies by the National Research Council, the Western Governors’ Association Clean Energy Task Force and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology all support expanding geothermal research funding to develop the technology necessary to utilize this vast, untapped domestic alternative energy resource. Supporters of geothermal energy, such as this writer, are amazed at the minuscule amount of awareness that the public has about the huge benefits that research and development of the renewable alternative energy source would provide the us, both practically and economically. Geothermal energy is already less expensive to produce in terms of kilowatt-hours than the coal that the US keeps mining. Geothermal energy is readily available, sitting a few miles below our feet and easy to access through drilling. One company, Ormat, which is the 3rd largest geothermal energy producer in the us and has plants in several different nations, is already a billion-dollar-per-year business—geothermal energy is certainly economically viable.

Want to find out more about for renewable alternative energy, then visit http://www.goenergyefficient.org/ on how to choose the best renewable technology for your needs.

Nearly everyone familiar with the term “going green” knows what a **renewable energy source is. They have heard the terms solar power wind power and perhaps even hydropower because those are the kinds of replaceable energy that are spoken about most frequently. But the majority appear to be ignorant of biomass eco-friendly energy and what quantity of a great replaceable energy investment it might be.

Basically, biomass renewable energy comes from organic materials like animals or plants. These materials contain energy that’s stored from the sun ( plants absorb daylight as energy and when people and animals eat those plants, it transfers to them ). Examples of biomass renewable energy sources include manure, some types of garbage, wood and crops.

Energy is obtained when the biomass renewable energy source is burned, putting out heat. Wood and rubbish are burned as a biomass eco-friendly energy source to released heat or steam to make electricity. The heat can also be used to actually provide adequate heating for homes.

Wood and wood waste is the most common form of biomass renewable energy – in fact, it’s been used even before people had any idea what renewable energy was. Around 150 years back, burning wood was the sole way to supply heat or steam to power the things folks used, and since trees can be replanted, it was actually the world’s first true green power source used.

There are more methods of getting biomass renewable energy from these sources as well. Certain biomass renewable energy sources can be converted into other forms of energy like methane gas, ethanol or bio diesel fuel because methane gas is the main ingredient in the world’s natural gas. Biogas the pungent stuff produced by rotting rubbish and human waste also release methane gas, which is frequently called biogas. Certain crops, like corn or sugar cane, can be fermented to produce ethanol, another kind of transportation fuel. And even bio diesel can be made using left-over food products like plant oil or animal fats. The best part is, all of these things – crops, garbage, waste – are produced anyway because humans need crops to eat and they then turn those crops into garbage and waste. The other things, like animal fat and vegetable oil, are used and discarded, meaning using them as a biomass renewable energy source is the same thing as recycling!

Clearly, biomass renewable energy is catching on – currently around 3% of the energy used in the United States is in the form of biomass renewable energy.

Alternative Energy

The US military knows that its branches must revamp their thinking about how to engage in “the theater of war” in the new, post-Cold War world of the 21st century. One thing that the military leaders stress is the desire for the forces deployed in the theater to be able to be more energy-independent. Currently the us military has policies and procedures in place to interact with allies or sympathetic local populaces to help it’s forces in the field get their needed energy and clean water when engaged in a foreign military campaign. However, this isn’t wholly reliable, as the United states might well find itself facing unilateral military activities, or have itself in a situation where it is allies cannot help it with the resources it has to conduct its military actions successfully.

United states military is very interested in certain alternative energies that, with the right research and development technologically, can make it energy independent, or at least a great deal more so, on the battlefield. One thing that greatly interests the military along these lines is the development of small nuclear reactors, which could be portable, for producing theater-local electricity. The military is impressed with how clean-burning nuclear reactors are and how energy efficient they’re. Making them portable for the typical warfare of today’s highly mobile, small-scaled military operations is something they’re researching. One of the most prominent thing that the US military thinks these small nuclear reactors would be useful for involves the removal of hydrogen (for fuel cell) from seawater. It also thinks that converting seawater to hydrogen fuel in this way would have less negative impact on the environment than its current practices of remaining supplied out in the field.

Seawater is, in fact, the military’s highest interest when it comes to the matter of alternative energy supply. Seawater can be endlessly “mined” for hydrogen, which in turn powers advanced fuel cells. Using OTEC, seawater may also be endlessly converted into desalinated, potable water. Potable water and hydrogen for power are two of the things that a near-future deployed military force will require most of all.

In the cores of nuclear reactors—which as stated above are devices highly interesting, in portable form, to the US military—we encounter temperatures greater than 1000 degrees Celsius. If this level of temperature is mixed with a thermo-chemical water-splitting procedure, we have on our hands the most efficient means of breaking down water into its component parts, which are molecular hydrogen and oxygen. The minerals and salts that are contained in seawater would have to be extracted via a desalination process in order to make the way clear for the water-splitting process. These could then be utilized, such as in vitamins or in salt shakers, or simply sent back to the ocean (recycling). Using the power of nuclear reactors to extract this hydrogen from the sea, in order to then input that into fuel cells to power advanced airplanes, tanks, ground vehicles, and the like, is clearly high on the R & D priority list of the military.

Want to find out more about for alternative energy, then visit http://www.goenergyefficient.org/ on how to choose the best alternative energy solutions for your needs.

Energy audit training

In older houses in particular, drafts can be more than a nuisance by actually leading to higher utility bills. When air is allowed to leak through the home, it requires the heating and cooling systems to work twice as hard to achieve results. This lack of energy efficiency drives up monthly bills, and wastes electricity and natural power sources. To help combat this, energy audit training gives participants the skills that they need to succeed in this matter. That includes first being able to test for leaks and other cracks in the ventilation system, and then learning more about how to seal these up.

The exterior of the building is known to technicians as the “envelope.” This is the part that needs to be paid extra care, if it has been some time since your house was inspected last by a building official. There are a number of issues that could naturally arise over time, from weather changes to natural warps that occur in wooden frames. These are easily fixable however with the assistance of an expert in energy audit training, who can assess where there are issues in the envelope and how these can be sealed in the most long-term, efficient manner.

Sealing techniques will vary depending on what the issue within the home might be. Caulking the exterior of the home, using HVAC practices, and repairing cracks in old boards are all but a few of the skills that those who have gone through energy audit training are able to perform. While newer homes are built with plywood or other more energy-efficient building materials, the older homes may involve a combination of various types of solid woods that are more prone to the effects of weatherization. That is something to keep in mind when going through a full building analysis of the home.

The ultimate way then that the heating and cooling systems that have been installed in the home are able to function will depend greatly on these various factors. Insulation and ventilation come heavily into play, and with energy audit training, the experts are able to break these systems down to figure out how to improve the overall efficiency levels of the home. This could lead to great savings down the road on costly energy and utility bills, which no one wants to pay. Getting started is simply a matter of learning how to evaluate the home.

Biomass as Renewable Energy?

Nearly everyone familiar with the term “going green” knows what a renewable energy source is. They have heard the terms solar power wind power and perhaps even hydropower because those are the kinds of replaceable energy that are spoken about most frequently. But the majority appear to be ignorant of biomass eco-friendly energy and what quantity of a great replaceable energy investment it might be.

Basically, biomass renewable energy comes from organic materials like animals or plants. These materials contain energy that’s stored from the sun ( plants absorb daylight as energy and when people and animals eat those plants, it transfers to them ). Examples of biomass renewable energy sources include manure, some types of garbage, wood and crops.

Energy from Biomass Renewable Energy

Energy is obtained when the biomass renewable energy source is burned, putting out heat. Wood and rubbish are burned as a biomass eco-friendly energy source to released heat or steam to make electricity. The heat can also be used to actually provide adequate heating for homes.

Wood and wood waste is the most common form of biomass renewable energy – in fact, it’s been used even before people had any idea what renewable energy was. Around 150 years back, burning wood was the sole way to supply heat or steam to power the things folks used, and since trees can be replanted, it was actually the world’s first true green power source used.

Other Biomass Renewable Energy Sources

There are more methods of getting biomass renewable energy from these sources as well. Certain biomass renewable energy sources can be converted into other forms of energy like methane gas, ethanol or bio diesel fuel because methane gas is the main ingredient in the world’s natural gas. Biogas the pungent stuff produced by rotting rubbish and human waste also release methane gas, which is frequently called biogas. Certain crops, like corn or sugar cane, can be fermented to produce ethanol, another kind of transportation fuel. And even bio diesel can be made using left-over food products like plant oil or animal fats. The best part is, all of these things – crops, garbage, waste – are produced anyway because humans need crops to eat and they then turn those crops into garbage and waste. The other things, like animal fat and vegetable oil, are used and discarded, meaning using them as a biomass renewable energy source is the same thing as recycling!

Clearly, biomass renewable energy is catching on – currently around 3% of the energy used in the United States is in the form of biomass renewable energy.

What is a Solar Water Heater?

A solar water heater makes use of the thermal component found in sunlight and can heat all the water your home normally needs with only simple sunlight for fuel. Solar power has many uses and while most people think of it as a excellent way to produce energy, it can also be used to heat the water in your home.  A solar water heater is a very economical way to reduce your monthly energy bills and is simple to install.

Containing only a few components, solar hot water systems can be installed on your home in an afternoon. The main component in the system is the solar collector and this is typically mounted on a southern-facing roof. The solar collector looks very similar to a solar panel used in a typical solar power system, but is essentially different in every other way. Inside the solar collector is a netting of thin pipes that are mounted inside its weatherproof enclosure. These thin pipes are all connected to an entry and exit plumbing fixture and will guide any water passing through the collector into this netting. During the day these thin pipes become very hot when exposed to sunlight and can quickly heat up any water that is passing through them. You can use this thermal collector to heat the water you use for bathing and cooking by linking this solar collector to your home’s hot water system. The best part is this system can be very passive and will use the water pressure in your home to circulate the water through the collector naturally.

In colder climates or on larger homes that need more sizeable quantities of hot water a slightly more advanced solar water heater system is used. These varieties of solar hot water systems use a small circulating pump to force a specialized liquid through the solar collector and back down into a thermal holding tank. This circulation system is a closed loop and the same liquid makes the round trip through the collector several times each day. The home’s hot water plumbing is also passed through this thermal storage tank and as it sits in the container, it is warmed by the hot solar plumbing. The home’s water never touches the liquid passing through the solar water heater; it is simply heated through contact with the pipes.

Advantages of a Solar Water Heater

The advantage of this sort of system is that it can be used in colder climates where water would freeze if it were passed through the solar collector directly in the winter months. By using this specialized liquid you can enjoy all the benefits of a solar water heater without the threat of freezing. The other advantage is by using a thermal storage tank you will always have a good source of hot water for use. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of a solar water heater through the evenings when the sun is no longer able to heat the water.

These sorts of systems have also been adapted for heating the water in pools. The solar collector is linked to the circulatory system for the pool’s water and heats it with the sun in this variety of system. This offers a very economical way to keep your pool at a comfortable temperature for swimming without spending any money on fuel.

For More information regarding the benefits of a Solar Water Heater check out: © MyDIYGreenEnergy.com

Wind Energy News

InfoGrok Energy, a leading Energy industry news and intelligence website is reporting that Vestas, the Denmark-based wind energy company have received a substantial order from Devon Wind Power Ltd, a subsidiary of ESB Wind Development UK.

The order is for delivery of 22 units of its V90-3.0 MW wind turbines to its large scale Fullabrook Wind Farm.

Fullabrook Wind Farm, which is situated between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon area.

The order that has been received has an overall capacity of 66 MW. All the wind turbines ordered as part of the deal will be installed at the site.The delivery of the turbines is scheduled to be completed by a deadline of April 2011. The contract includes (1) supply; (2) installation and; (3) commissioning of the wind turbines. It is estimated that once the wind farm is fully operational, it will provide sufficient electricity for nearly 30,000 domestic consumers in the UK.

Klaus Steen Mortensen, President of Vestas Northern Europe is quoted as saying, “We are very pleased to announce this order.” “When completed, the Fullabrook will become the largest onshore wind farm in England, and it is a landmark in both the development of ESB as one of our key accounts and in their strategic goal of investing EUR 4 billion in renewable generation projects. Vestas looks forward to playing an active role in the achievement of this target.”

When put into full production, Vestas predicts the wind turbines will save the environment from an annual carbon emission count of more than 91,000 tons of CO2 compared with the average generated energy sources such as oil, gas and nuclear in the United Kingdom.
This move will further strengthen the UK coalition governments green credentials amongst environmentalists, the general public and also work as a test bed for future growth of the wind energy industry in the United Kingdom.

LEED Training

When it comes to moving up in the world of building design and construction you have to constantly be on the cutting edge. This can mean certain things to certain people. No doubt, depending on the industry your client is in, you may want to consider many different structural options. One concern, however that applies to all businesses, be they movie companies, coffee shops, or retail stores, is energy efficiency. The reason is because energy efficiency is not just a concern of the business, but it is a worldwide human concern. Conserving energy and resources is something that all businesses strive to do. It is not only good for the environment, but it is also essential for saving money. This is why you need LEED training.

You are probably wondering about the basics of LEED training. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It was first introduced to the building and design world in 1993 by the United States Green Building Council. Today, there are over 120,000 certified professionals in the building industry. Considering how long these standards have been in place, this is a very good rate. As you can tell, LEED is picking up in popularity and is showing no sign of slowing down.

When you go for your LEED training, you will be studying the ins and outs of the rating system. You will have to memorize all of the terms. You will also have to understand much of the science and practice behind the LEED standards and rating system. Once you have gone through the training and contributed 30-40 hours of studying, you should be ready to take the first LEED exam. This exam, if passed, will get you to the Green Associate level of certification. This means that you have shown a basic knowledge of the LEED rating system. To go further, you can take the second tier exam for your LEED AP specialty certification.

You can sign up for LEED training online today. Remember that anyone can get this training. It will take the place of much of the project experience that is required and which is hard to get if you haven’t already worked in the industry. By getting LEED certification, you will be helping your career and also the world by helping to make your industry a place where energy efficiency is the rule. This training is essential for all design professionals who want to be on the cutting edge.

LEED Certification

In today’s world of building and design, there seems to be a serious gap between those who understand how to do things the old way, and those are pushing forward to design buildings according to new standards. In other words, if you are looking to make an impression in the world of building construction and design, you are going to have to be a part of this new wave of professionals who are changing the way buildings are being looked at. Instead of being concerned solely with issues such as price and convenience, more and more companies want designers and builders who can help them to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient. This is why you need LEED certification if you want to be taken seriously in the field.

So what is LEED certification and how can it change your career? Let’s start with the basics. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a rating system that was first introduced in 1993 by the United States Green Building Council. Now there are over 120, 000 professionals in the country who are certified. They are the future of the design industry. These professionals are designers, but they are also lawyers, real estate professionals, and individual consultants. Basically, any person who wants to get involved in building and design needs this certification.

LEED certification is what sets apart one professional from another. In other words, if a building firm is trying to put together a team and they are having trouble deciding who to choose because they both have similar credentials, knowledge of the LEED rating system will be the element that sets the chosen professional apart from the one who is left behind. Companies want to know that they are working with builders who have their best interest in mind. There is no better way to do this than with a LEED certified professional onboard.

If you are thinking of getting your LEED certification now, then you have made the right choice. Keep in mind, however, that this is only for dedicated professionals. Getting certified is no easy matter. You will first have to go through training. Once you get through training, you will have to decide how far you want to go. There are different levels or tiers of certification. Once you have your certification, however, you will be able to know that you are part of the new face of building construction and design, and you will be a sought after professional in the field.

Solar Energy – New Discoveries

The day may not be far off when the use of solar energy becomes a norm. There is now a deep conviction among experts that given a few years time, solar power will be in high demand that the cost will go down, inexpensive enough to undercut the prices of oil-generated electricity.

Previous predictions that it will still happen in a decade may no longer be true. The anger generated by the recent prices in oil and its vulnerability to market forces and other events may have already been enough to polarized people, governments and scientific communities into seriously considering a reliable alternative energy source.

You can not get a source more reliable than the sun. Even today homes that uses its power does not only benefit from the silent, energy generating, inexhaustible power of the sun, it also spikes up the prices of their homes. Those that have solar powered homes are even reimbursed for the surplus power that they supply to the power grid.

Presently, heliostats, photovoltaic cells and plate collectors are being used to collect the solar energy by focusing these panels towards the sun or constructing and installing the panel’s on spots where the sun shines most. Development in technology as we all know often has a snowball effect. It never stops rediscovering and reinventing that the speed of development could often be surprisingly fast.

Flexible Solar Energy

Today, a polymer foil, thin as a sheet of paper and lighter by 200 times when compared to the regular glass collecting plates, are being developed. Chances are, these new inventions and discoveries could very well have a great potential for mass production. Previously, the glass-based materials used for heat collection need expensive substrates and require additional support for mounting due to its weight. The polymer foil, being very light could now be attached even to the walls of a structure.

So confident are scientists in the development of this technology that while the polymer foil is being developed, a plastic solar cell, based on nano technology is gaining breakthroughs. This plastic material can collect the power of the sun even on a cloudy day through harnessing the infrared rays is believed to be five times more efficient than the current technology.

While plastic materials for harnessing the power of the sun are not new, it is only recently that this plastic composite could harvest the infrared portion. Previously, only the visible rays are generated, the infrared part, which is half of the power of the sun, is invisible.

Currently, the best plastic solar cells could only harness 6% of the suns energy, with further study and development, this new plastic solar cells are expected to harness 30% of the suns solar power.

Scientists and researchers alike agree that ultimately, solar farms will be harnessing all our energy requirements and costs of power will drop. Today the price of solar powered energy is about 3 to 4 times per kilowatt hour compared with conventional electricity. That could change dramatically through the development of the existing technology and recent discoveries.

The roller pressed flexible plastic materials and the polymer foil are only two of the best hopes in arriving at a cleaner, greener and safer environment that could ultimately free the planet from its dependency on the depleting supply of oil.

More Solar Energy Resources

http://greener-living-online.com
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Affordable Solar Power
Solar Energy for Homes
Making Solar Energy – Articles
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