Posts Tagged ‘home and garden’
Home Build Solar Panels
January 23, 2010
Everyone wants to do their bit in looking after the environment and creating a sustainable future. Installing solar panels for your home is a great step towards achieving this, as solar energy is totally renewable and pollution-free. With manufacturing and technological advances, and the help of government rebates, they are also an increasingly viable option financially.
How do they work?
Most electricity plants use turbines, powered either by fossil fuels, air or in some cases by water. Solar panels, which are also called photovoltaic systems, are different. They rely completely on energy to the sun, which is converted instantly into electrical energy. This is achieved by a reaction between the sunlight and the silicon crystals that are in the panels.
Can I convert all my power usage to solar power?
The technology involved in creating solar power is still quite new. Most panels can only convert about thirty per cent of the sunlight hitting them into usable energy. This means that even with a large number of panels, an average household probably won’t be able to make the switch from grid power to being completely dependent on solar energy. However, they can reduce your electricity bill significantly, and maybe even earn you a little cash.
The grid-tie system:
Depending on your situation, you might be able to cut off your connection to the grid supply, and just use a battery when the solar panels aren’t keeping up. The more popular option, however, is to stay hooked up to the main power supply. If you’re generating a little extra juice, that will flow out to join the main power supply. Best of all, you’ll get paid for that power at the retail price!
By the same token, if a cloudy day or high electricity usage at night means that you run out of electricity, power from the grid will flow back in to keep things running in your home. Any electricity coming back into your home is deducted from that power you’ve already given. If you’re careful with your electricity usage, you may find that the amount you give pays for the amount you take, and gives you a little bit of profit!
Tips for lowering your electricity usage:
The way these panels work out best for you is if you’re using less power. Chuck out energy guzzling appliances and get some A++ rated ones instead, replace all your old halogen light bulbs with LED lights, get a water-saving shower head, and fill the empty spaces in your walls and roof with insulation. You’ll be saving power in no time!
You can build your own solar panels and lower your electric bill by as least 50 percent. Why not join the green revolution and learn how to build homemade solar cells for your home. VisitHomemade Solar Panels for more information and to download plans for building solar panels.
Domestic Wind Turbine for Your Home
January 16, 2010
It seems that with every passing month, many of us continue to struggle to pay our ever increasing bills. With costs skyrocketing, the prospect of saving money on our utility bills is extremely attractive. When it comes to your electric bill, one way to save money is to use wind power, an inexpensive and renewable energy source.
One such alternative source of home power is building a DIY wind turbine. Technology has made this not only feasible, but inexpensive and effective at supplying a large part of the electricity your home needs.
Today there are a number of choices available concerning not only the size of the turbine you choose but also the shape. You can use the windmill style turbine that sits atop a pole or a newer, cooler looking, vertical turbine, often found on the roof of the house.
Many people incorrectly believe that it costs a lot of money to build your own wind turbine. However, that simply is not the case. Buying a turbine could be cost prohibitive, and cost upwards of $1,000. Building your own wind power turbine will only cost a few hundred dollars.
You can find all the parts you need can at any hardware store. It should only take you several hours, or one day, at most to build your turbine. Whether you are looking to build a windmill style turbine or a vertical style turbine, you can simply follow the same set of building plans.
A vertical style turbine has the advantage of allowing you to use more blades in the design without making it take up more space. Having additional blades will allow your turbine to be more effective because it will be even more sensitive to less wind.
Go ahead; build a DIY wind turbine. You can do this easily at a reasonable cost without any special tools or skills. And there are several advantages to building your own turbine. You will pay less on your electric bills, and you’ll be helping the environment.
You can learn the details of wind turbine construction for your home with a step-by-step guide available from the Internet. With a quality instruction manual, you can build wind power turbines and start saving money. For more information, visit Wind Power Turbines today.
Why To Use Solar Christmas Lights To Decorate Your House
November 15, 2009
Almost everyone enjoys the Christmas festive season. It is a time when we can feel happy even though it may be cold and dark outside. The festival is not the same without the installation of various beautiful lights and decorations. Today many people are concerned about the rising cost of energy bills, to help alleviate this problem it is now possible to install solar Christmas lights. These have become very popular over the last few years and are now being bought by many families up and down the country.
At first glance solar Christmas lights appear the same as the usual Christmas lights. The only difference is that you do not need to plug them into your power supply. Instead the energy that is required by the LEDs and bulbs comes from solar cells and batteries.
You may think that in winter time the sun is not strong enough to create enough energy to power even a small light but this is not true. Modern solar cells are very efficient even on an overcast day and as they transfer the energy to a battery you will have enough power even during the darkest nights.
There is another benefit to be had from using solar lighting apart from the financial savings. This is the knowledge that they are environmentally friendly; no fossil fuel will be burnt to power them.
Solar lights can be bought in as various designs as the traditional format. They are available in different colors, sizes, and styles that suit every families needs. There are ones that will flicker and twinkle like stars and others that can be on continuously throughout the night. The actual settings of when they turn themselves on and off each day are determined through the easy to use controller board.
Solar Christmas lights are safe to be used both indoors and out, and in any weather. You can place them on Christmas trees, guttering, porches, and throughout the garden. If you are going to put them inside your house then you must remember to place the solar cells outside! Also they can be used for other events apart from just Christmas. When you are hosting a birthday part or anniversary party they can make excellent decorations.
There are two main types of solar Christmas lights. There are the rope lights that have a row of LEDs contained in a transparent plastic tube, these look delightful when hanging from a door frame or window. The other option is string lights; these are better suited for trees and walls. All can add to a beautiful display that improves your Christmas experience.
Go to solarlightssite.com for more solar Christmas lights ideas and other ways to use solar lighting for your home or business.
Harness the Power of the Wind with Household Wind Turbines
November 12, 2009
Getting electricity from wind to power our machines is hardly a new concept, after all windmills have been around for centuries. The difference is that today we have the technology to convert that energy into electricity far more efficiently than ever before. Not only have industrialized countries harnessed wind power, but the average homeowner can now produce electricity using their own wind power.
Converting wind energy into electricity is done with a wind turbine. You’ve probably seen these behemoths in fields across the country. Recent advances in the technology have made it possible to downsize the turbines and make them viable for home use. If you’ve been noticing funny looking ‘wind mill’ things popping up in your neighborhood, you may have wondered if your neighbors have lost their minds or if they just know something you don’t. The truth is that there are wind turbines made especially for home use which are small enough to be mounted in the backyard or on a roof.
If you are considering installing your own turbine you should know that if you choose to buy one it can cost upwards of $600, and in many cases, even as much as $12,000. At this price it could take years to realize a return on your investment. However, you can easily build your own household wind turbine in just a few days for far less, and still realize the same level of savings.
If you are looking to save money you can build a wind turbine yourself. It’s an easy process and you do not need any special training. Thousands of people have done it with no special skills or knowledge, and you can too. It will only take a few days and a few hundred dollars. To build a small home wind turbine you will need some supplies, which will cost around $200, and a few days time. That’s it. Quite simple, indeed.
Although you may not be able to completely power your home with one wind turbine, the good news is that even a smaller sized turbine can still generate up to 60% of the energy the average homeowner needs for their household energy consumption. This is a tremendous savings.
So if you want to save yourself some money while doing your part to help out the planet, you should consider building and installing your own home wind turbines. You can easily and inexpensively build a wind turbine in just a few days, and enjoy the savings for years to come.
A wind turbine can reduce your electric expenses by as much as 50 to 90 percent. Why not join the green revolution and learn more about household wind power. Find out how to make your own wind turbine and save money by visiting Wind Power for the Home today!
Information on How To Make Your Own Wind Turbine
October 26, 2009
Every year the cost of energy increases dramatically. Most of us are surprised by our electricity bills when compared to just a few years ago. A lot of homeowners are looking for methods to reduce their energy costs. There are two ways to do this. You can either reduce the amount of energy that you consume or you can find a way to create a proportion of your energy needs through alternative sources. Many people now use wind turbines as these give free energy. It is not too difficult to make your own wind turbine.
By installing a wind turbine you will be helping to protect the environment for future generations as well as saving yourself money in the long run. It is often noted that wind turbines are a better source of renewable energy than solar panels and cells as they can produce power around the clock, even in a light wind. If you have a building or property in a remote location where it is not possible to be connected to the national grid then they are an ideal source of power. You can easily learn how to make your own wind turbine and harness household wind power to generate your own electricity.
The first step in making your own wind turbine is to gather the necessary materials. These are easy to source through specialist websites or even in your local hardware store. For an individual that is experienced in DIY you can easily put a wind turbine together over the course of a weekend.With a little skill and a few readily available materials, you can make your own wind turbine and start saving money on your electric bill before you know it.
The required parts include a motor, blades, a mounting, and a tower. The size of the turbine will depend upon your requirements. For most people a 30 volt motor will suffice. The blades can be created from a piece of PVC pipe cut to size or specialist blades can easily be purchased. Many people choose a metal pipe as a tower, this needs to be securely fastened to the ground.
It is also essential to have a controller that regulates the supply of energy to the batteries that will store the electricity. Otherwise you can easily damage the batteries. Since it is so simple and relatively inexpensive, ore and more homeowners are learning how to make their own wind turbine. It will help you to save money, reduce pollution and gain independence from the electric grid.
As always when working with electricity, safety is of paramount importance. You need to ensure that any electrical equipment cannot be affected by precipitation.
You can easily learn the details of wind turbine construction for your home with a step-by-step guide available from the internet. With a quality instruction manual, you can build your own wind generator at a reasonable cost and start saving money. For more information about building your own wind generator, visit Wind Power Systems For Homes today.
categories: wind energy,wind power,alternative energy,energy efficiency,renewable energy,home improvement,home remodeling,environment,do it yourself,DIY,diy,home and garden,environment,home repair
The Technology of Indoor Solar Lighting
October 25, 2009
How much do you know about solar lighting? Most people don’t realize that it can be used both indoors and out. While many of us may not have considered using solar power to provide indoor lighting, it is becoming a growing trend world wide. It is a great way to save both money and energy.
Although history records the use of solar power as far back as the 7th century BC, indoor solar lighting technology is still in its infancy. In the United States, however it is being used to light small buildings in parks and other locations as well as for more industrial applications. These locations are ideal due to their lack of close proximity to sources of conventional electricity. A small number of commercial buildings in America have also installed solar lighting and we are seeing more every day.
Currently most industrial indoor solar lighting is a combination of solar powered lighting and light tube technology. Light tube and solar powered lighting are being used in areas like prisons and other security sensitive applications. The ability of light tubes to be of a small diameter while still transferring significant amounts of natural light indoors makes them ideal in these types of situations. When combined with backup solar powered lighting this hybrid system becomes the most effective and efficient lighting alternative available.
Indoor solar lighting can be used in many situations to illuminate your shed, garage, gazebo, and the inside your home. Of course there is no need for an electrical source which has many benefits in and of itself. Additionally, you will not need to replace light bulbs or worry about power outages, providing that you receive some direct sunlight during the day. Solar lights are very easy to install and are almost completely maintenance free.
Many of us have buildings like garages and sheds that are far away from an electrical source making it difficult and expensive to provide a source of power. Indoor solar lighting can easily solve that dilemma and is very cost effective. You can also use products like solar skylights and track lights in your home.
With so many applications currently being made available, indoor solar lighting is showing a rapid increase in popularity. Peruse your local hardware store and you are sure to find lots of these “green” lighting products. As the technology becomes more advanced, more applications will be discovered for indoor solar lighting. The best part is that with the addition of indoor solar lights to your project, you will be saving money and the environment!
Need an easy solar lights project? Go to easysolarlighting.blogspot.com. If you want some great info on solar technology, try solarlightssite.com.