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Living Free from the City Power Grid

2009-08-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

With the worries of power shortages, brown outs, and the fast use of non-renewable energy resources, there has been more and more demand for alternative energy sources. The daily warning heard on the news and from scientists about the impending environmental disaster that can occur through inaction has been more than alarming for some people. So, if you're wondering what you could do to help the environment, one of the most effective things you could do is live independent of the power grid. Living free from the use of city power using alternatives like solar or wind energy is not only good for the environment, but also good if you like to save money. If you were able to get power from sources besides from the city, you could save several thousand dollars in energy bills per year.

What are some of the advantages of living off the power grid?

• One person/home and one step closer to being less dependent of non-renewable energy resources. Each every person that uses a home solar power system instead of city power helps further the world's goal of being green.

• No more inconvenient power outages. How many times were you doing something really important or were having a party and the power goes out? How awesome would it sound if you didn't have to deal with power outages?

• Freedom to use and spend electricity as you please. During those hot summer months, if you're living off the power grid, you could have your air conditioning blowing at full blast. You wouldn't have to worry about that month's electricity bill because all that power is made for free by you. Using the natural power sources like wind and solar energy can do precisely just that.

• Reduced cost of living. Why should you have to worry about having to pay for your electricity bill every month? How often did you get a bill in the mail at a time when you just didn't have the money to pay for it? What if you made those bills disappear? Choosing to use alternative energy and getting off the power grid will not only eliminate those electricity bills but begin paying you back with those reduced energy costs.

If you think that to live off the grid is impossible would be too expensive or impractical: think again. You could get started for less money than you think (a lot less). Visit this site for more information about how you can live free from electricity bills by using alternative energy.

World Energy Crisis: Step Towards Alternative Energy

2009-08-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

Each day we come closer to the moment where we run out of fossil fuels and non-renewable energy. Each day, mankind's demand on those fossil fuels increases exponentially as more and more countries become more developed and industrialized. Before we know it, the day will arrive where mankind's energy usage will come to a reckoning. Our use of oil, gas, power, and even fresh water is taken for granted every day. Each of these things have limited availability and without proper preparation, can run out on us. We need to do something about these problems and by "we" I mean you and me.

The world energy crisis is a very real thing. Some people are ignorant of the crisis or say it's not as bad as it seems. But by looking at the "whole picture" you can see that it really is as bad as it's portrayed. If oil resources became very scarce, millions upon millions of people will probably die in conflict over those last few drops. This energy crisis will not simply go away, the only way to solve the problem is finding alternative sources of energy.

Imagine how much you are paying for oil and gas for your car. Think about those rising oil prices and how much money it takes to fill up your car every week. Now imagine what it would be like to use a renewable resource that is "free" like solar, wind, or water. Technology will soon be available to use in cars for such a use, and it's up to you, me, and the common people to encourage change over from oil to these renewable sources.

So what is the world trying to do to avert the energy disaster? What can you and I do to help? The number one thing we can all do is to begin to appreciate how much energy benefits and impacts our lives. We need to understand that energy is vital to society just like our heart is vital to our bodies. If we fail to see energy as something that can't be frittered away, we'll be dooming ourselves and our children and our children's children. Next, we should live our lives in a way that shows our concern of the energy crisis. We should avoid wasteful resource habits. Finally, we should spread awareness of the energy problem. Don't be those annoying people on the street corner with a sign yelling and screaming, instead, be the guy who offers to start a car pool at work. Be the guy who turns off the lights when he's not in the room. Spread awareness through action--not words.

Another great thing you can do to show your responsibility is to explore alternative energy solutions for yourself. Instead of relying on the government to make a switch to renewable resources, you should make the switch yourself. Employing alternative energy resources yourself will save money on your electricity bill as well as send a message that you're doing your part.

For information on how to make an affordable switch to alternative energy go to Earth4Energy. The information found at this link will save you thousands of dollars.

Cost of Solar Panels

2009-08-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you've been thinking about having solar panels installed on your home or another location (perhaps a remote cabin), you could be looking at quite a hefty bill if you want to get completely off the state electricity grid. At this moment, the cost of solar panel cells is about $10-$12 a watt or about $15,000 to $20,000 for an entire home.

Depending on where you're planning on having the solar panels, the cost may or may not be worth it. For example, if you're planning on putting solar panels on a building in remote location where it's difficult to be connected to the grid, having solar panels installed may be a worthwhile decision. If, on the other hand, you're in a city and the electricity bill isn't too bad, jumping into solar planel may not be a good idea.

One thing to keep in mind is that $15,000 cost for solar panels is for professionally installed, commercial panels. If you're able, you could make your solar panels yourself at the fraction of that cost. Through following very simple instructions and videos, you could get your entire home powered by solar power for only a few thousand dollars (now that's a number that's nice to think about). If you're paying about $100 to $150 a month on electricity, you could see a 100% return in your investment in only 1 or 2 years. Plus, once the solar panels are installed, your home's value will skyrocket if you ever decide to move and sell it.

GreenDIYenergy.com is a recommended resource for do it yourself solar panels. For a fairly low price, you can get all the information, resources, and tutorials to do your solar panels yourself. I bought a kit myself and I can say it was well worth the money. I haven't quite yet put up my solar panels but I plan on doing it when the weather gets a bit cooler. If you're anything like me and serious about saving money on your energy bill and doing your share of being "green" I recommend grabbing a solar panel kit today.

How do Solar Cells Work?

2009-08-17T10:31:00.001-07:00

Solar panels are one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. Harnessing the power of the sun itself, solar power could have the ability to power 100% of the world's energy. Each year, the technology of solar power progresses in the capacity and lowers in price. Within only a few short decades, we could see the lights of world being powered by solar power.

You're probably wondering how solar cells actually work. How does a simple metallic looking strip convert the energy of the sun into electricity we can use? The solar cells found on homes, calculators, and even satellites use solar technology called photovoltaic cells. In groups where they are electrically connected they're referred to as photovoltaic modules. While these modules used to be only be used in space for satellites, they're now being used to power your home.

These photovoltaic modules are created using a superconductive material like silicon. When light hits the surface of the silicon and bounces off, a portion of that energy is absorbed into the material. When the energy is absorbed, the metal contacts found on both sides of the photovoltaic cells draw that solar energy out. How that happens is electric fields direct the electrons knocked free by the absorbed energy to flow in a desired direction (known as the current). In the case of solar panels, the electric field directs the electrons to the metal contacts.

And that is really the basics of how solar cells work. Depending on the strength of the electric field and current generated by the electrons you'll see different levels of wattage generated.