Wednesday, December 31, 2008

We Waste Energy and We Cannot Deny It

We waste energy and we cannot deny it. In the UK it is estimated that up to five billion pounds worth of energy is wasted each year, this means that the average household can save a little over two hundred pound each year on their gas and electricity bills. Here are a few simple tips which you can follow around the house which could knock hundreds of pounds off your annual energy bill.

When making a cup of tea or coffee, ensure you only use what you need. Boiling a full kettle will waste more electricity than if you simply covered the element, not only will you save money but you will benefit from a near instant brew.

Defrosting your freezer regularly will reduce the amount of energy it needs to freeze your goods; also, you can save money by closing your refrigerator quicker as it uses a lot of energy when open.

If you turn your thermostat down by one degree you could save on average ten per cent from your annual bill.

Leave the lids on your pans when you cook, this will keep more heat in the pan meaning you can turn the heat down a notch or two.

For each energy efficient bulb you switch to you is saving you an average of 78 for the duration of its life.

Insulate your pipes and purchase a lagging jacket for the hot water tank, you are sure to make your money back within a few months of this extra insulation.



Autor: Barry Loughran Barry Loughran
Level: Platinum
Young author from the UK...

Compare your gas and electricity online to find the cheapest gas and electricity prices out there.


Added: December 31, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, December 29, 2008

Gas and Electricity Tips For This Winter

Staying warm this winter is becoming more of a luxury for many as we delve further into the winter. Gas and electricity prices have soared recently and an increasing number of people are falling into fuel poverty if not fallen already. To be in fuel poverty you have to spend more than ten per cent of your total income on your energy prices for your home.

The average home is now stepping closer to the ten per cent benchmark but it is the most vulnerable who are most affected. The elderly have been hit the most as they try to stay warm this winter, many cannot afford to pay the rising energy prices along with the rising prices of food.

Many homes across the country will be cutting down on their Christmas lights in a bid to reduce their electricity bills in December.

It has become more important now to save money wherever you can around the house; to reduce your bills this winter you can try following these tips:

Turn off any electrical appliances when they are not in use such as night time

Use your appliances more efficiently, items which need to heat up use the most energy so doing all the ironing at once or boiling just enough water you need will save you money on your gas and electricity bills.

Use energy efficient products such as light bulbs as this will not only benefit the environment but also your bank account.

Keep the heat in by closing your curtains and windows. You can also invest in double glazing or carpeted floor which will save a lot of money in the long run.



Autor: Barry Loughran Barry Loughran
Level: Platinum
Young author from the UK...

You can compare your gas and electricity prices online to ensure you find the best deal for either gas or electricity.


Added: December 30, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Using Wind For Electricity - How I Discovered This Amazing Way to Create Power!

Today, most people in the US and all other the world want to live off grid because of the outrageous utility bills they are forced to pay.

One of the easiest ways to do it is to start using wind for electricity.

Many people are thinking about using natural wind power to save money. A small percentage of these people take action because they don't have the right knowledge and think it's way too complicated.

The truth is that the average person can do this. And it won't cost you more than two hundred dollars to start.

How can you create wind electricity for homes?

Free electricity is an amazing concept. I must admit that the first time I stumbled upon this green power method, I was wondering if there was something magical behind this. I couldn't imagine that you could create your own power and say goodbye to your bills. Yes, I did know that living off grid was possible, but the only experience I had was though a trip to Sudan. Since electricity is often cut in some part of Sudan, many people have an "emergency" electricity generator to supply electricity if needed.

But creating your own power with the wind, sun or the water was completely new to me.

There is a couple of things to consider if you want to use wind turbine electricity generators. First, the wind is free and abundant, but sometimes, there is no wind.

Do you understand what I mean? The more wind you can transform into power, and the better it is for you. But when there is no wind flow for a while, this will be difficult for you. Plus those wind turbines rotor blades can be damaged by birds.

Wind turbines also create some minimal noise and may interfere with TV reception in some case. Also, birds have been known to fly into the rotor blades from time to time.

But this way of generating power had also many advantages.

For instance, it contributes to a better environment, and doesn't add to the pollution.



Autor: Franck Silvestre Franck Silvestre
Level: Platinum
Franck Silvestre is an affiliate and Internet marketing expert. He earns thousands of dollars a year writing articles. He is expert at guiding traffic to ... ...

Do you want to save power at home by creating your own electricity? Discover how to quickly and easily build your own solar panel at my: Build Solar Panels website.

Discover how to create your own electricity now when you visit: Create your own energy


Added: December 28, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Solar Energy - Clean and Cheap Source of Power

Conservation of power is one of the major calls for the nation today because of the many problems that we are facing today on energy consumption and other issues related to it. Global warming, energy crisis, pollution, high cost of commodities is just few of the issues that are seen on news reports and other kinds of media such as the Internet. Concerns in the shortage of non-renewable sources of power generation poses future power shortages. This is due to the huge and fast consumption of electricity.

It is true that we have responsibilities on the environment that if we try to be more involved in that responsibility, we can attain better results such as cleaner environment, lesser energy consumption of non-renewable sources, and more savings in your personal budget. This can be possible by using an alternative source of energy which is cleaner and safer than any other sources.

Solar energy is one of the most suggested sources of electricity that the government has been suggesting. Aside from the fact that it is environment-friendly, it can also be the easiest to install at homes. Since the main source of its power come from the sun, it will not harm the environment and you can even save much by cutting your electric bills if you use it as an alternative source.

Anyone can follow the guides of installing these solar panels used to capture sunlight and generate electricity. Solar panels can be erected in gardens or they can be positioned on the rooftops or garage roofs.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

For more information about this article try to visit Solar Energy

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 27, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Early Advantages of Solar Energy

The sun is powerful enough to light the earth and give thermal energy to it. The sun's rays can be anywhere and even ancient people worship it a god. The sun as we know is one of the life-giving factors and also a potential source of energy. Solar energy has always been there and it has been studied by millions on what other advantages and disadvantages that the sunlight can give the people.

If we look back in history, sun has played big parts in the culture of some people which involve religious rituals and important festival events. Aside from religious matters, the sun has also benefited early people in measuring points and in building designs of their structures. It was also used as passive solar energy which involves the structure's architecture to get light from the sun to give light and heat to some parts of the building.

Great people in the past such as Socrates commented on the benefits they get from the sun. Greeks and Romans strategically make their houses face southward in order to take advantage of the sun's heat during winter. They even use the principle of passive solar power in their building architectures to warm the water in bath houses. Until now, some buildings use this kind of solar power architecture in order to save energy. If they are able to use solar energy to save wood and fuel that they use, people today can also take advantage of the energy given by the sun to cut the cost of electricity and help conserve the fuel used in electric generation.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

For more information about this article try to visit Solar Energy

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 25, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Certain Benefits of Using Solar Energy

Sunlight is everywhere therefore solar energy is accessible. With these free energy all around us, it is just right that we take advantage with this renewable kind of energy. People have taken advantage of sunlight in different ways. Basically, it is a source of energy which makes our bones strong. In homes, it can be used to warm water we use for bathing and also used to dry our clothes and anything that we need to dry such as fruits and fish. Aside from these practical uses, solar energy can give its maximum potentials by being one of the sources of electrical power.

Sunlight is an infinite source of energy if we only focus on using it as our primary source. With all the environmental concerns that we are facing today together with the rapid consumption of electricity powered by fossil fuels, solar energy can give the finest solutions regarding these issues.

Solar energy is a source of power that can give no harmful residues to the environment. It is smoke-free, free from harmful gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and also pollutant-free. This is because of its clean source, which is sunlight, and its clean process of generating electricity which doesn't involve burning or combusting but charging of sunlight particles to create energy and store it into energy storage.

By using solar panels or solar cells to collect sunlight, anyone can have their own solar power generator in their homes to have their own source of electricity. These solar panels are just easy to install with an easy-to-follow guide.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

For more information about this article try to visit Solar Energy

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 23, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Multiple Benefits of Using Solar Energy

You might be concerned about the high electric bills you are paying each month. Even if you do energy-saving measures, the charge for electric bills is just too costly that you are not enjoying your other electrical devices that much. You must also be concerned about the environmental issues that you watch on the television and you need to take your part in helping save the environment. By saving energy, you can also help save the environment though you also have to enjoy using electricity. There is a solution in this problem and it is called solar energy.

Solar energy has been the best solution that will simultaneously cut the cost of your electric bills and help you save the environment. The government has been promoting the use of this alternative energy source because of the advantages that it can give to the environment and the people.

Anyone can have access to the free solar energy given by the sun. It means that we all have the ability to collect ample enough of sunlight and convert it into useful solar energy used in heating water, cooking, and electricity. This is possible by having affordable solar panels that will enable anyone to conveniently collect the energy from the sun and convert it into power. This may sound technical but it is actually easy to implement. Any household can easily install the solar power system in their houses and create their own solar power source. By doing this, they can save lots of bucks from their monthly electric bills and at the same time, they can cut their worries on possible harming the environment.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

For more information about this article try to visit Solar Energy

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 22, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Understanding Solar Energy Panels

When building your own solar power source at home, you need to install solar panels strategically where the sun smiles the brightest. These solar panels are the key to have utmost solar energy collection you will use as electricity.

Solar panels are the grid-like devices which are used to collect sunlight and make it useable for energy conversion. The amount of solar energy collected by the solar panels is converted into electrical energy that is stored in storage as direct current (DC) as in batteries. Electricity is created from solar energy when charged particles react when hit by certain amount of sunlight and then stored in as energy. The direct current electricity will pass through an inverted which will then convert it into alternating current which is known as the regular electricity that we generally use in our homes.

Solar panels are considered as photovoltaic, or in other words, a device which has the ability to capture light and convert it into electricity. Photovoltaic devices are usually placed in rooftops or open areas in the house such as gardens and yards, obviously, to collect sunlight better. Anyone may check for any possible government grants where you may avail help in paying and having free installations.

Nowadays, you can get solar panels anywhere either at your home improvement shops, electronics stores, or the Internet. Aside from its affordability, installation of solar energy panels is also easy to do.

Having solar power source in your homes can really be rewarding especially in cutting your electric bills and helping the environment.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 20, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Friday, December 19, 2008

Advantages of Having a Convenient Solar Energy at Home

Solar energy is now known to be useful not only for drying your clothes but also in heating your water fast, cooking, desalination, and producing electricity. It is obvious that using solar energy can cause no problem to the environment since the whole process of generating power from this energy source produces no harmful elements.

Compared to the regular electricity that we pay as utility bills, using solar energy can be cheaper. Not only it is a cheap source of electricity but also by using it as an alternative to the regular electricity that we pay for, we can cut our electric bills and save even more bucks.

People in urban areas are not the only one who can take advantage of the solar energy as source of electricity. People from rural areas, who have no access to the regular electric lines, will be very happy when they discover about this technology that can give them a cheaper and environment-friendly source of electricity. The fact that it can be installed by anyone at their own homes is enough to consider solar-powered energy source as a convenient way of having your own electricity.

Solar water heaters are now used in heating water fast just by using solar power from sunlight. Some also use it for cooking and desalination of water in areas where drinking water are not that clean. With all its usefulness and its presence as a free and unending source of energy, everyone should have solar panels installed in their homes.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles.com
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 19, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Useful Facts About Home Solar Energy

Having your own solar power generator system in your homes can be very beneficial. With its apparent benefits in helping the environment away from any kinds of pollution, it can also be a cheap and convenient source of having your own source of electricity. In having a solar energy system, you must at least know how each of its components work.

The primary component of a solar energy system is the solar panels, which are also known as the photovoltaic (PV) modules. These are the components that collect the solar energy and then convert it into electricity. Another is the charge controller, an electrical device that is responsible in preventing the batteries to overcharge and also to control the electricity. Batteries or storages are the components that store the electricity produced which is also the reason why we can use solar energy at night. The inverter, on the other hand, is the one responsible in converting the stored energy in batteries to become readily-usable electricity that comes out in our house plugs.

For most households with average use of electricity, a one kilowatt home solar energy system can be sufficient. It can provide homes with about 1,600 kilowatts in a year with a sunny climate while it can still provide 750 kilowatts in year even with a cloudy climate. A one kilowatt home solar energy system may only require ten to twelve solar panels which can fit in 100 square feet of area perfect for rooftops and backyards. Also by using home solar energy system in a year, you can save the environment loads of waste and pollutants from burning coal that is normally consumed!

For more information about this article try to visit Solar Energy



Autor: Aritha Campbell

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles.com
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 17, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Additional Facts on Solar Energy Use

You must have done your research and must have read many facts about having a home solar energy system. But still, you may need more information and you need to verify the facts that you have read to know which of them are really true. Here are some additional facts that you need to know when using a solar energy system:

Solar energy is a kind of energy that is renewable, meaning, it is everywhere and it will not end. Of course, it is temporarily absent at night but will go back during the day.

Use of solar energy, especially in its conversion to useful electrical energy, will neither emit radioactive particles nor will it produce toxic wastes and harmful gases that might harm people and the environment.

Solar energy is useful in heating water, warming swimming pools, drying clothes, power appliances, and power water pumps and cars.

Solar energy peripherals may cost some expensive amount in the first installation but with a whole year's use, you will realize the cost you saved from your electric bills.

The surplus power you have generated from the solar energy system can be sold to a utility company where you can even earn while you use the system.

The level of efficiency and the amount of energy produced by the solar energy home system depends on the number of solar panels and the amount of sunlight in a certain area.

By using a solar energy home system, you can save a lot from gas and regular electric bills. By loyal use of this system, you won't even need to use gas and electricity from your utility provider.



Autor: Aritha Campbell

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles.com
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 16, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Monday, December 15, 2008

Solar Energy and Passive Solar Power

The kind of energy drawn from the sunlight is called solar energy. Nowadays, solar energy is modernly used as a source for power to some cars and electronic devices and now used as a source of electricity. This kind of energy has long been used since civilization has been created. Basically, it is used to heat water and other objects. In some parts of the world, sun is the major way that they can dehydrate fruits and dry fish for preservation especially during food shortage. Another classical use of solar energy in homes and buildings is what you call the passive solar power system.

Passive solar power was done long time ago and now the technique was improved. Solar powered devices used to heat water and power small appliances are strategically positioned where ample amount of sunlight can be collected and power the photovoltaic devices. By using this kind of architecture in homes and building, savings in the cost of maintenance and electricity is definite. One thing more, having this kind of architecture is also clean and 'green'.

This kind of professional design is very earth-friendly and energy-efficient that is the reason why many people are planning to build these kinds of houses nowadays due to alarming environmental issues and climate changes. If you are planning to build a house, it is better to have a posh home with certain function that will help save the environment. Plus you can also install solar panels where you can have your own source of electricity and save a lot from your regular electric bills.

For more information about this article try to visit Solar Energy



Autor: Aritha Campbell

Aritha Campbell
Author at EzineArticles.com
Also at Solar Energy


Added: December 15, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wind Powered Electricity - Advantages and Disadvantages of Creating Electricity From the Wind!

Are you thinking about switching to wind powered electricity?

Aren't you tired to lose all your hard earned money paying your utility bills? You could be doing much better things like spending more time with your family.

Before you start to think about going off grid, you will need to learn how to generate wind electricity. Don't worry, there isn't a really big learning curve. In fact, creating your power is much easier than you may think. You do not need to have any special degree or being an engineer.

Do you know what are the advantages of wind electricity for homes?

First, it doesn't contribute to the pollution.

Secondly, you don't need to worry about this kind of power availability. The wind is here to stay.

It's easy to install. As I said above, anyone can do it. In fact, you will be able to build your own windmill with the whole family, or your friends if you prefer.

And finally, it is cost effective. You will reduce your power costs for good.

Now that we know some of the advantages of using home wind turbine for electricity, let's have a look at the disadvantages:

The disadvantages are not so big, but I wanted you to know about them before you start.

The first thing you need to know is that sometimes, the nature of wind turbines will create a little problem. For example, birds can be stuck into the rotor blades.

Another thing is the noise. It's not a big deal, but you want to see if you will be able to bear it.

As you can see, the disadvantages are almost nonexistent. However, for some people, this will be something to think about. What is insignificant for you can be a real problem for other people. For this reason, I recommend that you do your homework to see if a small wind turbine for residential home electricity is what you and your family need.



Autor: Franck Silvestre Franck Silvestre
Level: Platinum
Franck Silvestre is an affiliate and Internet marketing expert. He earns thousands of dollars a year writing articles. He is expert at guiding traffic to ... ...

Discover how to create your own Wind Power Generators when you visit: Wind Power Generators

Learn more secrets to save power at home by creating your own electricity? Find out how you can do it too at the: Renewable Energy website.


Added: December 15, 2008
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/