Many of us are searching for ways to reduce our utility bills and to be more self-sufficient through the use of alternative power. All things considered, the benefits don’t stop there; not when considering Mother Nature’s tirade over the past several years. Installing solar panels or a wind turbine means no scrambling for oil lamps and sleeping bags the next time the power grid goes down.
However, no matter how good your intentions are with regards to self-sufficiency, they can leave us feeling sucker-punched when the final estimate is in. It’s understandable. Most of us are struggling to pay for our mortgages while the value of the US dollar plummets into economic freefall.
Not to worry. Thanks to a few good people, do-it-yourself instructions to build your own solar panels or wind turbine are available online for free, and that’s something we can afford.
For now, let’s start with a thumbnail comparison of solar panels vs. wind turbines. I based this research on my homestead cabin and went to a solar/wind turban provider who offered a calculator that asked for zip code to calculate my locations temperature norms and daily sunlight averages. The questionnaire also requested annual kilowatt use. The information is then calculated and recommendations are offered as to whether wind turbine or solar panels are the best solution for your location. Surprisingly, their recommendation showed that my location in northern Idaho had a rating suitable for both solar and wind turbines. Obviously whomever invented this calculator hadn’t been anywhere near north Idaho this winter and early spring. Just two days before Easter, we were blanketed with 3 inches of snowfall overnight and parents had to scramble for a plan B for Easter egg hunts. Placing an egg on the surface of snow, and mixing it with a little daylight, no matter how stingy, and you end up with cute little egg tunnels and not so cute sobbing children. March and April delivered punishing winds that threatened to snap the pine trees on my property that lead to visions of Zeus joining Mother Nature; both bent on using my metal roof for target practice.
It turned out the costs were nearly identical for both solar panels and wind turbine, and as I mentioned, both systems were promised to be good candidates for my area of North Idaho. Based on this past winter and spring, the decision was an easy one: wind generation ruled! For someone living in Toke, Alaska where the sun is missing in action for half the year, going with wind power is a wise decision. But if you live in Phoenix and get sunlight nearly every day—please don’t rub it in--solar panels are the way to go.
Even when your location screams for solar panels, you might want to add Murphy’s Law to the equation because although some solar panels are made with tempered glass and are designed to withstand 1-inch hail and 50 MPH winds, should your area get pummeled by golf ball sized hail every once in a while, look out!
Wind turbines have their own issues. They have moving parts, so with them comes routine maintenance. If you suffer from a fear of heights, better arrange for someone you trust to do the maintenance work.
There is an option of partnering solar panels and wind turbans, and for certain locations, it’s the best approach.
No matter what best suits your geographic location, a portion of energy needs can be reduced with simple restraint. The government is about to take some of our options away by following the lead of other nations who have outlawed the incandescent light bulb, severing a 130 year dependence upon Edison’s contribution to modern life. A ban on higher wattage incandescent light bulbs will begin in the US sometime in 2012.
We can take advantage of tax write-offs by purchasing smaller, energy star rated hot water heaters or energy efficient tank-less models. And for those of us with availability to natural gas, gas hot water heaters might help. I use the word might quite literally. We don’t know where that “glass” ceiling stops with regards to the price of oil. Some warn it will skyrocket to $5.00 a gallon and stay there. I believe them… I wished I didn’t.
We can switch out our refrigerators and ranges for energy saving models, and get into the habit of turning the lights off and unplugging appliances and chargers when not in use.
No matter how we do it, while the economy continues its nosedive, it’s time to find a workable solution to cut the costs of utilities as we navigate our way to long-term solvency.
The good news is there are folks out there willing to help us unplug from the grid who share do-it-yourself instructions to build solar panels and wind turbines. If you chose to either build or purchase an alternative energy source, you can unplug from the grid and breathe much easier.
Visit Survival Diva Blog http://www.survivaldiva.com/ for more information on rural living, gardening, home canning, food storage, and tips on combating skyrocketing food prices.
Survival Diva, Barbara’s preparedness book is available August 1, 2011 http://www.survivaldiva.com/ Download for just $3.95
As the dire news continues to leach out of Fukishima, the silver lining in its nuclear cloud is that renewable energy technologies, despite their daunting start-up costs, are receiving renewed scrutiny.
Make no mistake - given the trillions of dollars invested over the last five decades in nuclear energy, the industry and its lobbyists will not go down without a fight, promoting new, "safe" reactor designs, etc. etc. etc.
But the Fukushima debacle has finally bared the industry's darkest secret, it inability to manage its nuclear waste. The six reactor TEPCO Daichi Fukushima stored all its waste onsite, and the spent fuel rods and their lack of cooling have been a major contributor to the high radiation levels observed around the facility. Worse for nuclear power proponents has been the reluctant admission by TECPO that three of the complex's six reactors apparently did in fact suffer a meltdown.
So, what's next?
Hydroelectric facilities are a proven technology, but expensive and take years to construct.
Wind power also has substantial start-up costs, is erratic, and faces environmental opposition.
With the notable exception of bioethanol, little real money has gone into biofuel renewable, particularly in the U.S., where bioethanol produced from corn has a hammerlock on both subsidies and crop insurance, despite rising concerns about shifting land from food to energy production is driving up costs of foodstuffs. The leading contenders for bio-renewables, camelina, algae and jatropha, all are starved for investment as a result.
Which leaves solar energy, whose major dra wback up to now has been its high cost to generate kilowatts.
That however is changing, as research finds ways to lower costs.
DuPont's colorless polyimide film, a revolutionary new material currently in development for use as a flexible superstrate for cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film photovoltaic modules, has established a new world record for solar cell conversion efficiency reaching 13.8 percent using the new Kapton colorless film, leapfrogging their previous world record of 12.6 percent and nearing that of glass. Robert G. Schmidt, new business development manager, Photovoltaics - DuPont Circuit & Packaging Materials commented, "Rather than transporting heavy, fragile glass modules on large trucks and lifting them by crane onto rooftop PV installations, one could imagine lightweight, flexible film-based modules that could simply be rolled up for transport, and easily carried up stairs."
On the other side of the world, according to Huang Xinming, head of a research institute at JA Solar, a large Chinese solar power company, JA Solar has just developed a new technology that could cut the cost of producing silicon, an important material in manufacturing solar panels, by 60 percent.
Cutting raw material costs, raising efficiency and reducing weight and transportation costs - t'would seem the future is lighting up, no pun intended.
And once again, China is apparently out-thinking its Wall Street competition, obsessed with maximizing profits and quarterly balance sheets. In any industrial process, increased production lowers in turn production costs. Rather than wait for entrepreneurs to line up in Beijing, china is apparently moving to make solar energy a component of its foreign policy in Africa as it moves to secure access to the Dark Continent's mineral riches.
According to Sun Guangbin, the secretary-general of photovoltaic products at the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, speaking in a recent interview, China intends to build solar power projects in 40 African nations in a boot-strap effort that will both reduce the continent's reliance on fossil fuels and open a new market for Chinese manufacturers, the biggest producers of solar panels. Sun noted, "China needs new emerging markets to consume their solar products besides Europe, and Africa could be one of them. We'll begin investigating this month in Africa to determine a suitable project in each country, such as installing solar panels on the rooftops of schools and hospitals."
Compare this with today's pronouncement from London that the Conservative government of David Cameron intends "Drastic cuts for large-scale solar power subsidies," according to a headline in the Guardian.
London and Washington are both still wedded to Big Oil and nuclear power. But if the 21st century is going to be about the struggle by Western economies to have access to Third World raw materials, it would seem that Africans, their schools, hospitals and home lighted by solar panels, may well look eastwards.
What would you do if there was a major, major disaster or emergency and you had to be without power for a week or longer? Are you completely dependent on the power company to provide the electricity that you and your family need? What if you were forced to stay in your home for an extended period of time and the power went down? What would you do then? The truth is that a lot of people think about storing up food and water for emergencies, but very few people think about what they will do for power in emergency situations.
A solar generator is a great alternative energy solution. It is great for the environment and it is extremely easy to set up and use. It runs very, very quietly while producing electricity directly from the sun. This is definitely the kind of thing you would want to have on hand in the event of a natural disaster, a terrorist attack or a pandemic. The following is a description of this unit from Amazon.com....
The Solar Generator from Solutions From Science is the perfect plug and play solution for continuous emergency backup power. The Solar Generator (PS1800) supplies uninterrupted backup power for a variety of household and emergency appliances including lights, computers, televisions, radios and sump pumps. As a true off-the-grid appliance, the Solar Generator is also a great alternative to gas generators, offering clean renewable energy with no ongoing costs. Unlike gas generators, the Solar Generator runs quietly and emits no fumes while producing electricity directly from the sun. Whether it's hurricanes, ice storms, brownouts or blackouts, the Solar Generator offers a reliable source of permanent power. The Solar Generator is also easy to move around and great for a variety of uses away from home such as camping, boating, and providing remote power for construction sites. Easy to use - simply point, plug-in and power up. Provides portable household power wherever it is needed. Product Features 1800 watt inverter with five 120 volt outlets / Digital LED display indicates battery capacity status / High efficiency 90 watt solar panel for fast system recharge / Solar panel cart features wheels for easy placement / Solar panel cart includes summer/winter sun angle settings / Charge from solar panel or AC outlet Product Applications Home Backup Power will operate refrigerators, freezers, sump pumps, fish tanks, home alarm systems, and garage door openers.
So what are you waiting for?
Now is the time to get prepared.
Head on over to Amazon.com and pick one of these solar generators up.
When the time comes, you will be really, really glad that you did.
Today we have a guest post by Stefan Mudry that I think all of you are going to find very interesting....
*****
The company rainforest-invest has been in reforestation since 2006. Currently we are developing a new project at the Finca Bayano in Panama with the idea of a 'second home' and a 'crisis emergency exit' for people who want to escape a collapsing system. Buying a farm with agricultural land on the Finca allows you to create an alternative home avoiding the possible consequences of the crisis like cold, hunger, inflation, violence and war. To feed a family of four, a farm of one hectare is needed. Two years are planned to prepare, hence the name 'Finca Bayano 2012'.
In 1929 people had no chance to prepare for the crisis, because this event could not be foreseen by the majority. Today you still have access to information. Make use of it and prepare yourself! Soon it might be too late. Should the situation continue to worsen, unrest and government restrictions such as control on capital movement, ban on cash transactions and travel restrictions may be expected. Therefore, it is extremely important to secure basic needs, now, because there is not enough land for everyone. Once the majority wakes up it will be too late.
If the crisis will not worsen and the economy recovers, the value of your farm will probably be considerably higher in a few years. However, in case the economy should collapse the value of your investment cannot be quantified, because you will be able to survive on your farm at the Finca Bayano. If you are not ready to emigrate today, you have the opportunity to proceed on two fronts. Why not prepare at home whereas having a farm prepared at the Finca Bayano by rainforest-invest? You might need a second home sooner than anticipated.
Finca Bayano is located 350 kilometres west of Panama City and 500 metres above the sea level. After a long search we gave preference to this area to build a village for 100 residents and their farms with a total area of 30 hectares. The area is hardly populated and there are no tropical diseases like malaria. It has an ideal climate with an average temperature of 25 degrees Centigrade and adequate rainfall. One river, that divides the Finca in two halves, flows from south to north and carries water all year round. The soil is fertile, firewood can be found in abundance and mostly there is a pleasant breeze blowing. There are neither polluting industrial plants nor power stations, active volcanoes or serious earthquakes. Our Panamanian neighbors are very friendly and all of them are self-supporting.
You may visit us in Panama anytime to see how we are working and what progress we make. As soon as your farm has been registered in your name, you can move to the Finca. We will accommodate you in the town house until the completion of your home, which you may build in accordance to your own plan or have it built by us. The cost for home construction is very low, because of easy regulations and because of natural materials that can be used. The management of your farm is included in the purchase price, even if you do not move to the Finca. www.2012.com.pa
There is no Planet B but there is a Plan B: Finca B.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Stefan Mudry
rainforest-invest, S.A.
Geschäftsführer
As the price of oil continues to rise, and as more people than ever wake up to what we are doing to the environment, solar power is rapidly becoming more popular than ever. In fact, one might even say that a revolution is taking place. An increasing number of people are finding value in becoming self-sufficient, and solar power is one of the top choices for those who desire to get "off the grid".
Not only that, but according to that same survey 31% of Americans say that they are at least "somewhat likely" to use solar power in their homes in the next five years, and 13% say that they are very likely to do so.
Those are very encouraging numbers.
The cost of implementing a home solar power system is coming down at a time when more Americans than ever are viewing solar power as a practical alternative.
If you are in need of some inspiration, just check out the following video report about what one couple living in the Herefordshire countryside is doing with solar power....
Of course solar power is not the only alternative energy source that is good for the environment. There are others who are turning to wind power and geothermal methods of producing renewable energy. But solar is probably the most prominent at this point, and it certainly holds a lot of promise.
If you are looking for a way to help the environment and to become more self-sufficient, we encourage you to check out solar power as a possibility. We believe that you will be glad that you did.
Tune_in: to the MICROLINK FR160 by Etón For the calm of a sailboat, the curves of a bike trail, the midst of a hurricane, for baseball fans tuning into a game, a bevy of kids camping in the backyard. For everyday adventure, Etón corporation is there to keep you connected, empowered and informed all year round, 365 days a year. Sleek and portable MICROLINK FR160 helps you define your adventure Radios for Everyday Adventure The Etón MICRO (more...)
Alternative energy is energy that is renewable and naturally occurring. Alternative energy does not produce pollution and is a safer, cleaner and less destructive method of obtaining energy than using fossil fuels.
Alternative energy, by its very nature, is not harmful to the Earths environment. Due to increasingly high gas prices and concerns over damage to the environment many people have begun looking for an alternative energy source to meet their needs.
Fortunately searching for an alternative energy source has never been easier than it is now, and finding a provider for an alternative energy source is much easier now than in times past as well.
One very common alternative energy source is wind power. Winds are produced by the uneven heating of the Earths atmosphere and surface by the sun. Wind is free and is readily available in most locations around the world. People have been using windmills for centuries to generate electricity and power.
Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the whole world. And has the potential to supply about 20% of the demand for electricity in the United States at an affordable and economical rate.
Wind power also helps to offset toxic emissions of carbon dioxide. Wind generators are easy to maintain and due to the small amounts of moving parts on them and they are designed to last for years. A windmill is an excellent investment as an alternative energy source as they will pay for themselves in 6-15 years in most instances.
Solar energy is another alternative energy source that is both cost efficient and effective. Solar power is obtained by photovoltaic panels which can be installed on the roof of a home.
There are many skilled professionals available to install the photovoltaic panels and offer advice on there care and upkeep. There are also smaller, portable solar panels available for powering batteries and running small electrical devices.
The photovoltaic panels used for solar power converts energy from the suns rays into electricity. The sun is a constant source of power and heat and solar energy as an alternative energy source is renewable and clean.
Solar energy is a free natural resource that is abundant and inexhausteable. In the United States alone there are more than 10,000 homes that are being powered entirely by solar power as an alternative energy source.
Finding an alternative energy source can a very educational experience that is very rewarding and has positive lasting effects on the Earth and our environment. There are many state and federal financial incentives available to anyone who wants to use an alternative energy source to help save money when buying and installing their alternative energy source.
The inscription on a granite obelisk in Beaumont, Tex., claims: On this spot on the tenth day of the twentieth century, a new era in civilization began. On that scrubby mound of dirt gushed a fountain of oil that sprayed for days, tripled U.S. oil production overnight and set off a frenzy that revolutionized the industrial age. Previously, crude oil and its derivative, kerosene, held little more value than cheap ways to heat and light homes, but as wildcatt (more...)
As the dire news continues to leach out of Fukishima, the silver lining in its nuclear cloud is that renewable energy technologies, despite their daunting start-up costs, are receiving renewed scrutiny.
Which Is Better: Wind Turbines Or Solar Panels?
Many of us are searching for ways to reduce our utility bills and to be more self-sufficient through the use of alternative power. All things considered, the benefits don’t stop there; not when considering Mother Nature’s tirade over the past several years. Installing solar panels or a wind turbine means no scrambling for oil lamps and sleeping bags the next time the power grid goes down.
However, no matter how good your intentions are with regards to self-sufficiency, they can leave us feeling sucker-punched when the final estimate is in. It’s understandable. Most of us are struggling to pay for our mortgages while the value of the US dollar plummets into economic freefall.
Not to worry. Thanks to a few good people, do-it-yourself instructions to build your own solar panels or wind turbine are available online for free, and that’s something we can afford.
For now, let’s start with a thumbnail comparison of solar panels vs. wind turbines. I based this research on my homestead cabin and went to a solar/wind turban provider who offered a calculator that asked for zip code to calculate my locations temperature norms and daily sunlight averages. The questionnaire also requested annual kilowatt use. The information is then calculated and recommendations are offered as to whether wind turbine or solar panels are the best solution for your location. Surprisingly, their recommendation showed that my location in northern Idaho had a rating suitable for both solar and wind turbines. Obviously whomever invented this calculator hadn’t been anywhere near north Idaho this winter and early spring. Just two days before Easter, we were blanketed with 3 inches of snowfall overnight and parents had to scramble for a plan B for Easter egg hunts. Placing an egg on the surface of snow, and mixing it with a little daylight, no matter how stingy, and you end up with cute little egg tunnels and not so cute sobbing children. March and April delivered punishing winds that threatened to snap the pine trees on my property that lead to visions of Zeus joining Mother Nature; both bent on using my metal roof for target practice.
It turned out the costs were nearly identical for both solar panels and wind turbine, and as I mentioned, both systems were promised to be good candidates for my area of North Idaho. Based on this past winter and spring, the decision was an easy one: wind generation ruled! For someone living in Toke, Alaska where the sun is missing in action for half the year, going with wind power is a wise decision. But if you live in Phoenix and get sunlight nearly every day—please don’t rub it in--solar panels are the way to go.
Even when your location screams for solar panels, you might want to add Murphy’s Law to the equation because although some solar panels are made with tempered glass and are designed to withstand 1-inch hail and 50 MPH winds, should your area get pummeled by golf ball sized hail every once in a while, look out!
Wind turbines have their own issues. They have moving parts, so with them comes routine maintenance. If you suffer from a fear of heights, better arrange for someone you trust to do the maintenance work.
There is an option of partnering solar panels and wind turbans, and for certain locations, it’s the best approach.
No matter what best suits your geographic location, a portion of energy needs can be reduced with simple restraint. The government is about to take some of our options away by following the lead of other nations who have outlawed the incandescent light bulb, severing a 130 year dependence upon Edison’s contribution to modern life. A ban on higher wattage incandescent light bulbs will begin in the US sometime in 2012.
We can take advantage of tax write-offs by purchasing smaller, energy star rated hot water heaters or energy efficient tank-less models. And for those of us with availability to natural gas, gas hot water heaters might help. I use the word might quite literally. We don’t know where that “glass” ceiling stops with regards to the price of oil. Some warn it will skyrocket to $5.00 a gallon and stay there. I believe them… I wished I didn’t.
We can switch out our refrigerators and ranges for energy saving models, and get into the habit of turning the lights off and unplugging appliances and chargers when not in use.
No matter how we do it, while the economy continues its nosedive, it’s time to find a workable solution to cut the costs of utilities as we navigate our way to long-term solvency.
The good news is there are folks out there willing to help us unplug from the grid who share do-it-yourself instructions to build solar panels and wind turbines. If you chose to either build or purchase an alternative energy source, you can unplug from the grid and breathe much easier.
Visit Survival Diva Blog http://www.survivaldiva.com/ for more information on rural living, gardening, home canning, food storage, and tips on combating skyrocketing food prices.
Survival Diva, Barbara’s preparedness book is available August 1, 2011 http://www.survivaldiva.com/ Download for just $3.95