Wind Institute.net » Energy Courses

SUN LIGHTS THE WAY FORWARD

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:08:04 +0000

Global demand for all forms of energy is expected to increase by 54 per cent over the next twenty years, according to forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration.Another long-term forecast from the EIA puts world electricity demand in 2025 at nearly twice what it is now.
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are the source of the majority of the world’s energy.They release energy during burning, but also simultaneously release carbon dioxide into the air. These conventional energy resources are finite and the emissions harmful to the environment, hence the growing urgency to develop renewable energy sources, such as wind, water, biomass, wood, geothermal, photovoltaic and sunlight.
Energy from the sun that reaches the surface of the earth is 6 000 times the amount of energy needed on earth a day. Solar energy has been used by humans to meet some of their energy needs since ancient times, but with growing global concern over environmental issues, it is becoming increasingly prevalent.
Solar power is increasingly becoming a viable alternative to fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas and is predominarly used for heating water and generating electricity.
From enormous sports stadiums and towering skyscrapers to isolated farmhouses and ordinary suburban households, solar power is increasingly becoming the cost-effective energy solution of choice.For eg, the newly finished 55 000 seater stadium in Taiwan is the world’s first stadium to use solar energy technology to produce power.The enormous nineteen-hectare structure was built for the 2009 World Games, and will produce enough power for its 3 300 lights and two huge television screens from nearly nine thousand solar panels on the stadium roof.
That’s solar power on a giant scale.For domestic energy needs on a much smaller scale however, solar power can also provide a cost-effective, low maintenance option.
According to Perth solar power specialists, Solar My World, homeowners will add value to their properties, make a positive contribution to the environment and reduce their power bills by installing solar panels on their properties.Two solar power systems, grid connect and off-grid, are available for property owners in Perth.
A grid connect system will supply solar power to the household via an inverter, and is generally used in more densely populated areas. If the system provides more energy than the property requires, the surplus can be diverted and ‘sold’ to the electricity grid.A standalone system uses a battery bank to store energy until required.This is used mainly in more remote areas where there is little or no access to conventional power supplies.
Solar power systems are versatile and can be designed for both AC and DC and can always be expanded to meet changing needs.
Energy is the largest single contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and there is a growing call for people to reduce their C02 emissions and protect the environment.As discussed earlier in this article, Taiwan’s new stadium is anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions by 660 tons a year by producing power from its solar panels.We have the power to save the world if we switch to solar power in our homes.

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Technorati Tags: renewable energy, solar energy, solar panels, solar power, solar power Perth

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Generate Electricity With a Wind Turbine

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:43:50 +0000

What is a wind turbine? A wind turbine is sometimes called a windmill or wind generator. Although the terms are used interchangeably, there is a small difference. The wind turbine is the device that makes use of the wind power to make mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is either utilized as is or converted to electricity. The windmill can use the energy “as is” for work such as grinding stones or extracting; whereas a wind generator uses the mechanical energy to produce electricity. What are the different types of wind turbines? There are two types of wind turbines, classified by their orientation:

The Simple Build Wind Generator Video

Horizontal Axis Turbines – The turbine blades turn along a horizontal axis.
Vertical Axis Turbines – These turbine blades turn along a vertical axis.

The type most commonly used is the horizontal axis turbine as it exceeds the vertical axis turbine in efficiency. What are the advantages of implementing a wind turbine? Let’s look at some of the benefits of a wind turbine:

Saving Power: Wind turbines utilize a free source of energy – the wind. Thus they are a cost-effective method of producing electricity. And since they don’t rely on non-renewable resources, they are also good for the earth as a whole.
Cost-Effective: After the initial installation expense, all you’ll ever be paying for is maintenence. The “fuel” is free!
Environment-Friendly: Wind turbines don’t give off harmful gases or otherwise adversely impact the environment.
A More Reliable Source of Energy: A wind generator can make you independent of the any utility company. Moreover, you avoid the hurdles of power outages.

Self Build Wind Power

What are the factors you should consider prior to installing a wind turbine? Although implementing a wind turbine is extremely beneficial for you and for others, you need to take care not to implement the solution in an incorrect way. Here are some things to consider in deciding whether to install a wind generator. Be sure the following two conditions are met:

A minimum of one acre
Local wind speed must be around 11 mph
Make sure the tower and the base are sturdily built. It is important to foresee the turbulence in the wind before you invest in the wind generator.
Ensure the correct height between the tower, the generator and the cells are achieved

A Domestic Wind Turbine in the Making

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Electronic Book Readers Will Have A Positive Environmental Impact

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:34:09 +0000

The US book and magazine industry was responsible for the felling of 125 million trees in 2008. A lot of publishing firms are environmentally conscious and use responsibly sourced wood pulp for their paper. In plain English, they plant a tree for every one they harvest. However, not all do this and even those who do generally fail to take account of the huge quantities of water and thermal energy used in the paper making process.

The carbon footprint of the average book is 7.5 kg of CO2 during its lifetime. However, if you drive to the bookstore in your car, buy your book, and then drive home again, the carbon footprint of that book is increased by a factor of two. It’s amazing how relatively small actions like this make such a difference.

So it should be no surprise to learn that electronic book readers – such as the Amazon Kindle – are kinder to the environment. Apart from the fact that no paper, ink or water are used in the production of electronic books, the delivery method – download from the internet using either standard connection or 3G wireless technology – is much more environmentally friendly.

Of course, it would be wrong to suggest that e-book readers have no environmental impact. Clearly they consume both energy and materials in the course of the manufacturing process of the reader device. They also need electrical power to work. However, even taking these factors into consideration, they are still much better for the environment than the continued use of traditional printed books, magazines and newspapers.

It is estimated that in 2009, e-book readers will be “carbon neutral” – the CO2 saved by the use of electronic media will almost exactly balance the CO2 used to manufacture and power the devices. In the near future, as usage of e-book readers grows, the manufacture and operating “cost” will be more than outweighed by the savings gained by avoiding the production, processing and distribution of traditional paper based books and magazines.

The majority of people will purchase their Kindle reader based on the fact that it’s convenient, trendy and that it offers a way for them to save money on books. The fact that it’s better for the environment may only be a secondary consideration for many – even so, it will have a very positive impact in the future.

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Can algae oil save us?

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:33:17 +0000

Will algae oil save the planet?

In our green real estate section we usually try to focus on environmentally friendly advice for our homes. If you drive around daily in a car that needs more and more gas and you feel guilty, this article will bring you some interesting information about a new research. One of the essential parts of our daily routine is oil. Nowadays, the inevitable part of a life in the developed world is a car, and nearly everybody owns one. So do I, of course, as a realtor who drives around daily. Without our dear cars, the life would be so much harder. Unfortunately, we all know the two main problems related to driving: unsure oil supplies driving prices up and down and the environmental harm caused by fuel burning and the related carbon dioxide emissions.

The Institute for Genomic Research was established by Craig Venter, an American biologist and a prosperous businessman. Genetic engineering is the main focus of his work, that has provoked a great deal of heated debate by his most recent project.

Algae are known for creating natural oil, which is already part of several experiments with biofuels. But Craig Venter wants to explore more than that. He is trying to adjust the genomic structure of algae in order to create oil, which is almost identical to traditional crude oil. That would be a huge step forward, as we would be able to use the current oil industry infrastructure such as refineries, and even plastics production could use the same procedure and production plants as we are using currently, making plastics from crude oil. It doesn’t surprise us that one of the companies producing the most oil on the planet, Exxon Mobile, gave $600 million for Ventor to go on with his research.

And where is the ecological benefit, you may ask? It’s just there. The oil created by algae could well contribute to dealing with one of the most serious problems of our world. Plants use the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, utilize it in a photosynthesis process to create the oil and then the oil is burned and turned into oxalates. Of course, this miracle solution won’t be available this or next year, but apparently it is a good way to go. The team of Craig Venter are trying to win where others have tried and failed, but this time there is a great chance of success. There are many people out there that want to go easy on the environment, but due to their occupation, it is very difficult for them to stop using cars, just like so many of my fellow Toronto real estate agents can’t.

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Solar Power – Do The Energy Savings Outweigh The Costs?

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:42:42 +0000

If you are thinking about adding a solar electric system to your home, the expense and the savings are significant factors.. First, there is the initial cost of purchasing and installing the solar panels. But you will also save money in many ways, from the immediate reduction in energy costs, to saving against the increasing cost of fuel, as well as raising the value of your home.

Here’s A Method To Cut On Energy Bills

Since so many factors are considered when putting in a solar electricity system, each house needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis. The pitch of the roof and the direction it faces, and the placement of shade trees or structures that might block sun from getting to the panels must all be evaluated. And a thorough assessment is very important in ensuring each system will work at maximum efficiency. Qualified installers can provide accurate prices for the supplies and installation for your particular site.

Your initial cost reduction will be influenced by whether or not your local power company participates in net metering. Net metering refers to a program for solar panel owners in which some utility companies will buy back the customers’ surplus electricity. If your company has this program, your power costs can be significantly reduced. Some customers actually owe nothing on their monthly bills because their solar energy system generates enough power for them plus extra that goes back into the grid. But even if your electric utility does not offer net metering, your electric bills will still be less than they were before. All day while the sunlight is shining on your solar panels, your appliances are powered with your own solar energy, not electricity from the power company.

Take A Look At The Guide To Making Your Own Solar Panel

It’s probable that, in the near future, houses with solar electric systems will be considered to have added value. As the cost of fuel continues to rise, so does the realization of the benefits of alternative energy. If you can show a potential buyer a history of energy savings, that may be just the added value they need to choose your home over another. And your solar power system can be a real hedge against inflation if the cost of fuel continues to increase as it’s forecast to do. A solar electric system also means that your house won’t be affected by brownouts and complete loss of power that can happen during bad weather or simply due to grid overload.

What If You Could Also Build Your Own Solar Energy Panels Thereby Reducing Costs Dramatically!

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An Essential Tool to Monitoring and Digging Wells – Environmental Drilling

admin — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:42:29 +0000

Environmental Friendly Kitchens

A drill is a part of a tool that bores holes. It is typically a long pointed piece of metal placed into a machine and rotated at high speed. It is often employed in areas where boring of hard substances such as metal, wood, masonry and rock is needed. One of the important industries where a drill is used is called environmental drilling.

This uncertainty is mainly due to an initial lack of knowledge of the environmental baseline conditions on the development site. As the project progresses, site knowledge increases gradually and new costs may emerge while some risks may reduce. Particularly in the current economic climate, there is a need to have a clear understanding of the costs and the risks of the environmental impact assessment at an early stage in the project.

The first step to effective cost management of an environmental impact assessment is to carry out a thorough EIA scoping study. The outcome of the EIA scoping study should be a clear understanding of the basic site characteristics and the likely environmental risks and sensitivities. It should also provide a clear programme on how to address the issues that have been identified in the further environmental impact assessment.

Now, from a purely divining perspective, one can use the immediate environment as a most remarkable tool. As in the tarot or the runes or even good old tea leaves, one would sit and think upon a question and allow the Universe to then flow through the medium of the environment.

This author has had on many occasions remarkable episodes with this form of divination. From seeing a highly specific sign written on the side of a truck driving by, or a bill board as I have been driving or the sudden laughter of a baby as I ask the question “am I on the right track?” All of these experiences show that the Universe and the Universal Source is always listening and always waiting eagerly to give you the gifts that are your birthright. Gifts of abundance, prosperity, fulfilment and pure happiness. So next time you are sitting in the park, for example, mulling over a particular question, just stop and silently scan your environment. Allow your self to be open to anything.

Suspend judgement and allow the Universe to speak directly to you through the symbolism of the place in which you find yourself. The rewards gained by this simple method are indeed immeasurable. The interpretation of the signs and symbols will be through your feelings and emotions. When you know that you have been given an indicator you will be moved. There will be an experience of “ah-ha” or a gut feeling of relief as you align yourself automatically with the very workings of the Cosmos.

Resource Author Francisco R. Higueras
Understand How to Make Money Without Money Today
Todo sobre Juegos para gente que le gusta jugar
Encontrar un Trabajo – Empleo es fácil si sabe dónde buscar

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How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:40:56 +0000

If you have been feeling weighed down by the large electricity bills you have been getting, there are things that you can do about it. You can reduce your electricity costs by following some very easy steps.

Below are some actions you can implement to lower your utility costs.

Limit Electricity Use:: When you leave a room, shut off any electrical appliances as well as lights. Even if an electronic is not on but is plugged in, it is using electricity. Unplug all chargers and seldom-used appliances.

How Can I Reduce My Power Bill?: Find The Solution Here

Smart investments: Use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs in place of the regular incandescent ones. These bulbs are great energy-saving tools, and can save you about $60 a year. Buy an energy-saving tool such as The Power-Save. For your showerheads, get the low-flow kind. Buy a water heater insulating blanket/jacket, especially if the water heater is in a part of the house that is not heated. Replace air/heat filters as recommended and keep A/C coils clean. Make sure your home is adequately insulated. Replace your windows with the newer, more energy-efficient ones. If this isn’t possible, at least check your existing windows for escaping air and correct it.

Home Appliances:

• Use the washer only when there is a full load of clothes.
• You’ve heard it before: Use less water!
• Raise the thermostat temperature in summer and lower it in winter. Even a couple of degrees can help.
• Turn your computer monitor off when you’re away from the computer. It only takes a second to switch it back on.
When using the oven, don’t preheat or open the door more than necessary.
Use the dishwasher only with a full load and use the air-dry function. Using the no heat function saves 20% of the dishwasher’s total power use.
Use cold water as much as possible when you wash your clothes.
Make sure your appliances are the energy-efficient type.
Twenty percent of the home’s electricity is used by the refridgerator. Make sure your fridge and freezer are sealed well when closed. Set the fridge temperature to 37 degrees or as close to that as possible.
Turn down the temperature on the water heater to about 120 degrees F.

You Can Easily Learn How To Make Solar Panels: Then You Can Really Begin Saving Money!

Many local power companies provide free home energy audits. This can help you see where and how your home is energy inefficient.

Help the world and future generations by conserving energy and lowering your utility costs.

Reduce or even eliminate your utility bill by using solar and wind power to produce your own electricity. Get our comprehensive guide at:

The Three Top Domestic Solar Energy Projects Get It Here

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What Are Your Aquatic Weed Control Options?

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:11:07 +0000

There’s very little people enjoy more than a bit of plant genocide, particularly in their backyard pond, or even their fishpond wherein it would make huge issues for both the fish, and for you. Fish don’t like navigating through a massive underwater forest just like any other creature, therefore it is best to control the plants on the bottom of the pond, before one of them turn into the carnivorous plant from Jumanji.

An excess of aquatic plants may cause issues ranging from watercraft motors being jammed, to undesirable results while fishing, to children experiencing a horrible time trying to swim in your water. None of these are things you want, so it is better to eradicate the source of this issue before it even begins if you can.

You have a few choices available to you, options which go from biological control, which is to say the use of fish which naturally control the aquatic life population, to covering the whole pond with a plastic lining…that would be a rather drastic measure, but you know, do whatever suits you.

So let us go over a couple of your choices, and then you may decide which one is suited for you, just keep in mind that the following are only a very small selection of options, and you should speak with other pond owners, or experts to discover each and every method available to you.

Harvesting – Getting rid of the plants through manual labor, is definitely a great choice. Of course, if this plant life isn’t on the shoreline, or {isn’t}~is not sitting on the top of the water, you may discover yourself buying some scuba equipment to swim down there without drowning. If you do not have knowledge of the dynamics of diving, or just can’t stop breathing for a long time, it is advisable for you to get a hold of the professionals. Believe it or not, there’s companies that specialize in cleaning the bottom of bodies of water, so you’ll be pretty well off.

Chemicals – There are chemicals at your disposal to rid yourself of this annoying plant life. A few chemicals are Fluridone,2,4-D, Glyphosate, Diquat, Endothall. Naturally though, it is not suggested that you use any kind of chemical to kill off your plant life, which is not unlike the reason it’s not recommended for you to throw an electrical current into a lake to catch your prize fish. Using chemicals can be deadly to fish, as well as any other life you may have residing within your pond. Use such things carefully, or even better, don’t utilize them period unless you absolutely have to.

Dye – You can buy a huge selection of chemicals that will color the water, and thereby reduce the amount of sunlight for any sort of aquatic plants. It’s best to do this at the beginning of spring for a better turnout.

Lining – Lining the bottom of your body of water with a type of plastic is also a viable option, this would stunt the development of any aquatic plant life. Don’t forget that it may become expensive, so take into account the volume of the pond, as well as how much plastic you will require. Naturally that is a viable choice for compact fish ponds, though maybe not so much for an entire lake in your backyard.

Don’t forget that there’s tons of methods to stop aquatic life from invading the water, and to find the technique which is good for you, consult a specialist or get together with some other pond keepers.

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Technorati Tags: aquamog, aquatic harvesting, aquatic weed control, cattail removal

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Aren’t all the people telling us to save energy are lyers?

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:06:07 +0000

You might have missed the buzz around the world on the reason we need to preserve electricity. We all hear so much on this and we can’t plainly disregard the truth any longer, the facts of depleting energy sources, increasing energy rate and global warming. They are all coupled together and impacting one another.

So energy saving is a must.

The primary step in this is simply collect information and become more knowledgeable. If you desire to help to resolve this, you need to recognize something about the problem. So read, surf the internet and read additional articles about energy saving . You can also speak with friends, attend conferences and watch for people in your surroundings that are taking active measures about this. Once you know, you can start searching for solutions

It may seem like a giagantic task for one person. The fact is that you can do a lot!! Individuals influence their families, their neighbors, their co-workers and so on until there are enough to make a difference. Be proactive and influence others to contribute. Involve them right from the start and begin with your close people like your family and children.

If any of us would have made tiny step of lowering our home needs and make some home energy saving the problem would be much smaller. You can reduce up to 25% of our daily electricity use by applying easy steps. For more information watch for electricity saving tips all around you. Use of renewable energy sources can assist you to cut it even further. This may seem complicated but the truth is that everyone with some basic DIY skills can build such a system and with less than $200 you can save plenty of money later on your monthly electricity bill

One last thing – don’t think about yourself or our age. Think about your kids and your grandchildren and in what environment you see they grow. If we want them to grow in a clean, less polluted world, we all need to take action now.

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See you Next Year Summer

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:09:32 +0000

Do you know what I was thinking of today? The summer holiday months are nearly over and Autumn is almost here. I was looking through a mag when I noticed the face of Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh. Yes thats right it was because of the 2009 X Factor starting soon. I mean the year has literally gone so quick, it only seems as though the X Factor just finished. And we all come to realise that the X Factor signals the start of the cold months. So what has happened to the summertime. I have to say that I really did not experience any of it.

Let us briefly cast our minds back, I believe it was in June when we had about a weeks worth of sunshine, but I unfortunatley was not around to experience it on that occasion. We then had a great deal of rainfall and then abruptly another immense heat wave hit which lasted for around five days and whIch I did experience. Since then it has been a constant flow of rain and drizzle.

Well it seems to be all over now as we head into the Autumn, so instead we have to think about switching on and checking the Heating Oil. There are a variety of things that you need to look at doing to keep your costs down this winter.

First of all you should order any kind of warming oil you need at once, you may still be able to get some cheaper prices while you get in their ahead of time, secondly is to plan the winter. I know that a lot of people just switch the heaters on when they feel it getting a bit chilly, but this is entirely the wrong thing to do. I mean its not cold every day of the winter, so why run up your bills?

Order Heating oil

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Technorati Tags: bills, heating, oil, summer

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