Solar Power Efficiency - Understand the Trade-Offs

You may be surprised by how far the cost of solar electricity for the home has come down in the last few years. Even better, tax rebates and other incentives are available from the government if you convert your home either partially or completely to solar or wind energy. If you think that installing your own solar panels is beyond your finances, then an alternative is to obtain your electricity from a green energy supplier -- check out what is available in your area. Such suppliers will provide only green, renewable energy supplies -- such as solar power, hydro-electricity, and wind power. The important point is to ensure you have carefully thought out precisely how much electricity your home needs before you start looking at the different ways of obtaining your own green power -- you may be surprised at how easy it is to build your own solar panels, for example.

The first question is: How much electricity will you need from your green power supply source? The different designs of solar panels will deliver different amounts of power, and you ought to get it right. Try to determine how much electricity you use every day -- look at the bill from your current electricity supplier to find this. You should look through a whole year's worth of bills if possible so that you can determine how much your monthly consumption varies from month to month -- when it gets dark earlier you will need more light, in the winter you will need more heating, when it is hot you will need more work from your air conditioning, and so on.

If you decide to go with solar power you need to understand that different designs and different arrangements of the photovoltaic cells used in solar panes work at different efficiency ratings, and also may have differing warranties attached. A solar panel offering fifteen percent efficiency with a one-year warranty will not be as valuable to you as another offering thirteen percent efficiency but which comes with a lifetime warranty. It's a good idea to talk with friends and neighbors, or even strangers over the internet, to find out their experiences with solar panels, and how the differing solar power efficiency ratings affected their purchasing decisions -- and whether they turned out to be good decisions. Talk also to differing installation engineers and suppliers -- they will be able to provide alternate insights, but beware of their motivations!

The different designs for solar panels for your home also have differing efficiencies, and there are in general three different types of designs for solar panel systems. First comes the grid-ties system, where your own solar panels are tied into your current electricity meter; in this arrangement you will primarily be using electricity from your solar panels, but when there is little sun or you need to use more electricity that your solar panels can supply, then your electric company can provide you with backup. Second is a grid-tie with battery backup: in this arrangement any excess electricity is stored in your batteries, and any excess over that is then fed back to the power company -- you are providing them with electricity! Finally, there is the stand-alone system where again you have a battery but now you are not connected to the power grid.

When you have done your research, you understand the differing efficiency ratings for the differing solar panel designs, and you are aware of the different arrangements for connecting to the power gird (or not), then you are ready to begin shopping. Conversion to home solar power should be thought of as an investment: it will cost to start with, but very quickly it will pay for itself, and then you can begin to benefit from the lower bills from the electricity company -- plus you will be taking steps towards saving the planet!

Autor: Charles Egerton

Are you serious about saving on your electricity bills? Make your own solar panels and relax in the knowledge that you saving money and helping to save the planet -- visit my blog at http://solar-power-efficiency-and-you.blogspot.com/

Added: April 29, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Advantages of Solar Vs Disadvantages of Solar

Solar energy is known to be a very clean and safe power source. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.

Advantages of Solar:

• Solar energy is renewable. This means we don't have to worry about running out of sunlight or using it all up. The sun is a consistent power source.
• Solar energy is pollution-free. Compared to fossil fuels which release greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide, solar power doesn't release any chemicals into the atmosphere.
• Solar panels are very low maintenance. There are no moving parts in a solar cell so you don't have to worry about replacing parts. The only maintenance you might have to worry about it cleaning them every once a while.
• Solar cells make no noise while collecting power. There are no other energy sources that are silent.
• You're not required to connect to the power grid. You can be completely self-sufficient and live off-the-grid. Imagine never paying another power bill.

Disadvantages of Solar:

• Fossil fuel power sources are quite a bit cheaper. But as photovoltaic technology get better, the price of solar panels will decrease.
• Cloud cover or smog can decrease the effectiveness of solar cells. This is more of an issue with older solar components. Newer technologies can overcome these effects.
• Solar energy is only useful when the sun is shining. It still works on cloudy days, but it's not as efficient. However, if you utilize an optional deep-cycle battery array, you can store excess power for future use.
• The location of solar panels can affect performance, due to possible obstructions from the surrounding buildings or landscape.
• The initial cost of the equipment can be daunting. Professional solar systems can cost thousands of dollars. Recent products show the average consumer how to construct their own solar panels for drastically cheaper.

Solar power technology is improving all the time. Solar installations are increasing at an incredible rate, about 50% annually.

Autor: Justin R Justin R
Level: Basic PLUS
In case you didn't notice, I'm a big fan of making my own renewable energy. I want to share my successes and failures and let ... ...

Use the advantages of solar power to decrease your power bills or even turn a profit.

Click here to see my reviews of homemade solar power guides and see which are the best value.

Added: April 28, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Homemade Solar Panels - Facts Myths of DIY Solar Power For Homes

There are tens of thousands of smart home owners who use solar energy to power their home appliances, heating and pumping water. Most are slowly becoming 100 percent solar reliant. They use the solar electricity generated to power their notebooks, microwaves, cookers, TVs etc. They power heating and pump water with the generated solar energy. This is a lifestyle change which bespeaks of environmentally friendliness and lots of savings. There are many myths about solar power systems for homes which we shall address today.

Myth 1 - Solar Power Systems Can Spin Your Electric Meter Backwards
Using a residential solar power system can literally turn your electric meter backwards. When you generate excess amounts of electricity and that you are connect to the power grid, the excess energy from your system produces will go to the electric lines to be used by other homes, hence spinning your meter backwards. You will then be given credits reflected in your monthly utility statements for contributing back to the grid. Alternatively, if your excess electricity is stored in batteries, then the excess will be tapped for future use.

Myth 2 - Solar Power Systems for Homes are Very Expensive
Many myths have been spinning in the fraternity that solar panels for homes are too expensive to afford. Well, they are just what they are, myths. Compare a 200 dollar homemade solar panel which functions just as well, if not better, than a 3,000 dollar ready made solar panel in the market, and it is obvious which you will choose. That is the initial investment savings. Now assume that you will save about 60 to 80 percent on your utility bill and that your monthly bill is about 600 dollars. Taking a 70 percent savings on your bill, this constitutes 420 dollars savings monthly, amounting to 5,040 dollar a year for as long as your solar panels work hard for you. And it is good to note that solar panels, if maintained well, can last from 25 to 40 years.

Myth 3 - Very Few Literature Is Produced On How To Do Build Your Own Solar Panels
Yes, it was a mystery only a while ago when solar power systems were dominated by large corporations. Homemade solar experts have slowly become the order of the day. To start you off on the right footing, you will need a good guide detailing the materials required, specific how to instructions. Go for the good one with step by step videos, free access to member forums as well as free lifetime updates. And if you think this is going to be expensive, well think again, as all the above will only cost you less than a good meal.

So if you are ready to save on your electricity bills, start looking for a good guide now, set up your solar panel in half the weekend and start saving tons in no time.

Autor: Joey McKay Joey McKay
Level: Basic
Joey McKay is a full time business consultant and internet marketer with more than 10 years of marketing and business consulting experience....

Join the thousands of families tapping on Free Renewable Energy. Visit SolarWindEnergyDIY.com for Your Complete Solar Power Guide Review. Also Learn More on How to Build Your Own Solar Panels at Homemade Solar Panels and Save 80 percent on Your Electricity Bills.

Added: April 26, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Build Your Own Solar Panels and Become Independent From the Power Grid

Imagine this: No more electric bills. Instead you can get a check from the electricity supplier each month. Well, no bills is realistic, getting a check each month is probably a little far stretched. If you build your own solar panel, you will safe money and have a lot of fun.

Solar power is the main source of energy on this planet. Even if you buy gas, it came to us originally in the form of sun light. Some plants converted it and then the plants got converted and so on.

Why not go back to the original source and fill up directly from the sun so to speak? You would not be reading this article, if you were not basically thinking along those lines. And I guess I don't have to explain to you how all this stuff works. You are more interested in building your own solar panel.

The only thing missing at this point is probably a decent manual or a blueprint of some kind. You just want to get some solar panels on the roof without breaking the bank and without inventing everything from scratch again.

Well not a problem at all. There are several e-books and manuals around about building solar panels. But you may be wondering which one is good and which ones are a waste of money. I did some research and looked into several build-solar-panels-guides. None was really bad.

The differences were basically in the amount of pictures, illustrations and videos and how understandably the subject was laid out.

Autor: Robert Tailor

I have reviewed all the best manuals out there. My personal favorite on how to build solar panels, can be found here: http://www.solarpowermanuals.com. On top of all the quality material that you are getting with other manuals, my favorite also tells how to get the batteries for free. This alone can save you up to $600.

Added: April 25, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Solar Grants - Grant Money For Solar Panels

Getting grant money for solar panels is a great way to get started with renewable energy, and solar grants are very easy to find in almost all western countries including the United States and Canada.

Like most government funds it is available, but rather hard to find though. If you have been looking at the possibility of installing solar or wind energy for your home we have found an excellent resource to help you with the process.

The U.S government just announced major grants available for homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and that is sure welcome news, but how do you get started?

• First find the right grants available in your state
• Federal, state and municipal grants are available
• Get some help with the rather complicated process of finding the grants
• Fill out the forms to get started.

For a couple months we tried to locate the grants that would apply to us and we searched everywhere but it was a difficult process. We wanted the money to get started right away on our own wind and solar system to power our home.

We searched online, we searched magazines and newspapers, and tried to hunt through the maze of government bureaucracy that we found, but it was hard going. After a while we realized we needed some help.

What we needed was a directory of solar grants and grant money for solar panels, but where would we find that. After much searching we found a great website that helped us with our search. They had actually done testing of several families to see if the grant were real and how much they would get too.

Most families received over $10,000 of the 10 families who applied. We thought that was great so we gave it a try. And we are sure glad we did, it only took a little over 5 weeks for our application to be approved and our check to be sent to us, that was great.

Did you know that electric rates are expected to double this year? We thought our bill was quite enough and decided to do something about it. Isn't it time you got started too?

The best place to start

Solar Grants - Grant Money For Solar Panels

Our family has our own solar panel system installed now for almost a year, and it would not have been possible without the solar grants available to us, get started today.

Autor: Les J Oke

Our family began living off the grid in 2001 and we have never looked back. Solar grants have helped us to make those dreams come true

Added: April 23, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Solar Power For Houses - Cheaper Than You Think

When discussing renewable or alternative energy, the first form that comes to mind for most of us is solar power. We have all seen solar panels in use, even if they are small versions on a pocket calculator; but solar power for houses can provide for all of your energy needs.

Electricity generated from solar energy has several clear advantages over normal electricity provided by electricity companies over the national grid. In fact, there are some areas where solar energy is just about the only viable option for providing electricity. Furthermore. solar panels made from photovoltaic cells are extremely low maintenance because they have no moving parts. If you need more electricity you simply have to add further solar panels; and the smaller panels are extremely portable.

Solar energy is also great for the environment, and anyone converting to solar power can justifiably feel they are taking some steps towards saving the planet: the source of the energy is the sun -- a free renewable resource; there is no noise pollution and the only pollution is minimal from their manufacture. Besides being kind to the environment, you will also be independent of the whims of the power company, and during blackouts and power cuts your lights will still be on.

The final point to consider with solar power for houses is the cost of the solar panels and the supporting infrastructure. The initial outlay for a solar power system can be substantial, but this cost becomes worthwhile over time: if you have a professional come and install your array of solar panels into a typical home then it could have paid for itself within five years. Even better, you can build and install your own solar panels for a substantial saving in cost. Not only that, but in some areas of the USA you can generate more electricity than you need and sell it back to the energy company and actually make money from your solar panels, and you will make your money back even quicker.

So using solar power and solar panels to generate your electricity will benefit the environment, your home, and your pocket; building your own solar panels will also give the satisfaction of a job well done as well as being cheaper than a set that you buy. Learn about electricity from solar power and you will find out how you dump your electricity company and make your own power from sunshine!

How Would You Like To UNPLUG Your House From Your Electrical Company, Knowing That You Are "100% Powered By Nature" With Renewable Energy? Check Out This Site, Featured in the New York Times, CNN, and Elsewhere, For Full Information How to Do It!

Autor: Charles Egerton

Are you serious about saving on your electricity bills? Make your own solar panels and relax in the knowledge that you saving money and helping to save the planet -- visit my blog at http://solar-power-for-houses.blogspot.com

Added: April 21, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Make Your Own Solar Energy at Home

With the situation of the current climate, the running out of resources and the never ending global warming issues across the globe, more and more people are looking to invest in renewable to help save money and significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

Even so, the most eco-friendly person cannot pursue this way without adequate financial backing. This is because the professional design and installation of solar panels are within the thousands and so, only a small niche can achieve this.

But now, it is possible to completely build your own solar panel within your very own back yard! The down-fall is that these panels, when purchased from certain companies, are significantly small and don't even produce the necessary power to turn on a lamp...

But through many intense months of testing, we have discovered that the most effective way to produce power from the sun, when you can't afford to hire the professionals, is to purchase your own solar power kit. These Solar Power kits come with everything you need in order to successfully build your own solar panel in the comfort of your living room, or the garage may be a wiser choice. What a fantastic way to help reduce your energy costs!

Astonishingly, these kits are now not very difficult to locate. Several large companies like GE are producing these solar panel sets and are very affordable and offer quicker return on your investment. This is a lot more risk-free and reliable than purchasing and professionally hiring experts to install your solar energy system. Why pay someone when you can do it yourself?

Autor: Ben Little Ben Little
Level: Basic
Owner and Author of TheDietingDoctor.com...

Find out more at HomeForEnergy.com

http://www.HomeForEnergy.com

Added: April 19, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Rooftop Wind Turbine - The Future is Nearly Here

One of the main disadvantages of wind power for the homeowner is that most of us live in urban settings, and with current technology the ideal conditions for generating electricity with the wind occur outside our cities. This is because wind current is affected by obstacles, and wind close to the ground becomes very turbulent after contact with trees, buildings and other obstacles. The turbulent wind is not only unreliable as a steady power source, it can wreak havoc on the mechanics of most wind turbine designs.

The way around this problem is to raise wind turbines high into the air, generally on poles or trusses. In order to get to the steady airflow, a turbine must be at least 30ft above the highest obstacle. The higher the turbine, the faster the airflow and the more efficient the energy output.

Unfortunately, our cities are less than ideal for this kind of system. Other than the higher office buildings, getting height above obstacles is tricky and installation becomes an expensive affair when considering small ground space, power lines, trees and other objects. Also, there is the problem of city and town ordinances, most of which will have some provision against erecting towers in ones yard. Wind turbines still have a bad rap in many places, even though the designs have improved significantly over the last few decades and many of the old arguments against them are now moot.

That is the situation such as it is right now. However, small wind turbine designs are capable of generating enough electricity to at least augment a household or, in the case of an extremely efficient home, run it completely. Rooftop wind turbines are slowly becoming a reality, and as homeowners strive for independence from power utilities, more designers will put their efforts into coming up with viable designs for residential applications and not just for mega-projects like giant wind farms.

Currently there are only two small rooftop wind turbines available (or nearly available) on the market: the Swift Wind Turbine and the Helyx Urban Turbine. The Swift's main selling point is that it is very quiet and it can be rooftop mounted, without vibrations running through the household. However, it also has a blade span of seven feet, which means it is no small thing to install a unit of that size onto an ordinary residence.

The Helyx Urban Turbine is a much more interesting unit. It is specifically designed as a rooftop unit, and measures only 52 inches in height. It is a vertical axis unit, which means the blades spin around the upright pole perpendicular to your roof. Generally this is a less efficient design, but in a rooftop application it may be exactly what is required to overcome turbulence and still achieve a high enough speed to generate electricity. The company that manufactures the Helyx is hoping to sell them at $2000, which puts them in range of most homeowners. The design is in beta right now so we will have to wait and see how well the Helyx Urban Turbine performs.

For the do-it-yourselfer, the options are many. There are plenty of designs all over the internet, and some guidebooks for sale that can show you how to make your own wind turbine that could potentially be rooftop mounted.

Autor: Hess Marten

Learn the secrets of how to build your own wind generator and cut your power bills in half!
For more information on Residential Wind Turbines, please visit WindUrbia.com

Added: April 18, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Portable Solar Power Can SAVE You Money

A step ahead from the fixed systems, portable solar power systems are now the new wave of noiseless, environmentally friendly power generation systems. Compared to their forerunners, they use photovoltaic systems to convert solar energy into electricity. The innovative point about the systems is that you can truly take them wherever you want. The future of renewable energy is in the systems that bring you the freedom and independence from other conventional power plants. Not only do they avoid the use of fossil fuel, but they are also free from pollution, and free from emission gases and greenhouse effects.

The opportunities for using portable solar power systems are wide and varied. Trekking into the wilderness or expeditions into the Amazon forests are just two examples of where portable solar systems can be of significant value. In areas like this where no grid system or electrical supply distribution exists, portable solar power systems bring renewable and storable energy when and where you need it.

Portable solar systems are ecologically friendly at the same time as being highly convenient. Mounted on trailers, they do not require fuel, maintenance, or contribute to any pollution, and they are also completely silent.

A portable solar power system with accompanying batteries can supply all the electricity required for appliances and portable I. T. This is true as much in African game reserves as in the distant flood disaster zones.

It is a truly marvelous sign of progress to be able to noiselessly change solar energy into easily usable 120 volt A.C. power simply by flicking a switch. The solar panels with their charge controllers and battery inverters combine both modern technology and design. Being maintenance free, they require relatively little or even no maintenance in any case. With battery backup systems, they bring numerous advantages including the instantaneous supply of electricity in isolated areas where there is no connection to the power grid.

Because of the way the portable solar power generators are designed, any of electricity that is surplus to requirements because the generator is producing more current than is needed, is automatically stored in the battery bank for later consumption. The design of portable solar systems is relatively simple and comprises three basic parts. The first part consists of the PV panels to generate electricity from solar radiation. The second part concerns a charge controller which runs the electricity into a bank of batteries. The third part is an inverter to retrieve the electrical power from the batteries to deliver a sine wave 120 volt A.C. current when required. People are often surprised by the simplicity and the effectiveness of the design.

You don't have to go to the Amazon rain forests to use a portable power supply. They are also available for homes, ranches and farms where they can power anything from blenders to pumps. The smaller portable solar power appliances can be carried in your truck or car to your holiday home or placed in recreational vehicles or boats. In short they can be made available for any site, which has not yet been equipped with access to the national electricity grid.

Portable solar power generators producing solar electricity use the same principles as their fixed type counterparts. In the same way, protons striking the solar cell panels as part of the sunlight become absorbed by the panels and provide the energy to generate electricity. The PV panels for portables act in the same way as the fixed versions.

With portable solar power generators quickly replacing traditional diesel propane generators, it's possible to predict a future where conventional and polluting generators are no longer used. Perhaps very soon, the only way to see a fossil-fuel power generator will be to visit a scrap-yard or a museum.

There are considerable financial benefits as well as environmental ones for solar power. Knowing how to install and wire such a system can be both easy and safe when you have access to the right information. A good manual will also tell you where to get batteries and other parts inexpensively, sometimes even for free. All of this will let you put your solar power system into action efficiently and securely, while respecting all required safety precautions.

Autor: Jim E. Martin

Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy". Jim has written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More about Jim Martin s Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Solar Power

Added: April 16, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

We Need New Energy

Electricity is the most widely used form of energy in the world. It is an energy that is primarily obtained by burning coal in the United States. It is a well known fact that this process of making electricity leads to global warming and other environmental changes.

Solar power is one of the best renewable energy sources available. Solar panels are no longer considered experimental or science fiction. New construction homes are incorporating solar power into its electrical grid. It is easily possible for anyone to use solar panels in their own homes.

Solar panels for home use have many benefits. Below are a few:

- Reduce or become completely independent from utility companies.

- Federal and some states have tax rebates that helps to pay for a portion of the installation.

- Solar panel electrical power can actually make your meter spin backward, which means that... KACHING the power company owes you!

- Solar power is better for the environment and helps to combat pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing our use of fossil fuels.

- Solar panel systems are easy to install and do not require maintenance.

- Solar panel produced electricity is not affected by power outages.

These are but a few of the many advantages of home solar panel use. I will have to get back to you with disadvantages of using this renewable source of energy. The only one I can come up with is the initial cost. Obviously there are no outages because if the sun stops shinning, we would have much bigger problems at that point.

Isn't it time to save money and use solar panels for home electricity today!

John A. Hrivnak

Autor: John A. Hrivnak

Solar power news as well as information to obtain solar panel "How To" manuals can be found at http://www.WeNeedNewEnergy.com

Added: April 14, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Saving the Planet and Saving on Utilities Using Solar Power

Clearly human society must eventually be powered by the renewable energy sources, wind, solar and its derivatives. Finding ways to save on your electricity costs and energy usage, also leads to lower your carbon footprint. The oil, gas and coal that power human activity are, in reality solar energy that was captured and stored millions of years ago, just as plants today continue to capture and store it. These sources of energy pollute the environment, creating hazardous conditions to human, plant and animal life.

Truth is, switching to cleaner sources hasn't been easy and cost-effective. Both solar and wind energy can be converted to make your life easier. Not long ago, thinking about using solar panels or wind power generators to save on the utilities bill, was out of any household budget. If you also considered of adding your contribution to "saving the planet", was just plain expensive.

Now there are new developments, many of which come from individuals like you and I, not necessarily from 500 Fortune corporations, hi-tech R&D departments. Some average Joe starts playing around with solutions for his own home. Every weekend he fiddles with ideas, sketches and gadgets, most of them purchased at the hardware store. After months, even years, some creative solutions are born.

That is exactly what happened with Michael Harvey. Michael, now 57, has been playing with alternate and clean sources of energy for over 15 years. His solutions to cut power bills by 80% or more, have helped many households to face these times of recession, using simple materials and designs. I have been an enthusiast of eco-conservation and believe that we owe our kids and the coming generations, a better planet to live in. It's just that every time I turned to clean energy sources, commercial solutions, being good and appropriate, were beyond reach.

We have been playing with Michael Harvey's designs, and boy, they work like a charm!. I will further write on this subject, since, somehow I am getting so excited and enthused that this is not about saving on our power bills anymore.

This is becoming an adventure, and I am all fired up. In our Florida based firm, Gaventerprise Group, we are committed to help some initiatives in third world countries. We have been involved, as volunteers, in the process of reeducating and re-socializing ex-combatants, both guerrilla and para-militaries.

Energy conservation on-a-budget may be a great alternative for these fellows, who are attempting to build new, meaningful lives. Since their income is very low, anything we can do to help them get inexpensive electricity, would be welcome. The fact is we can and should us solar panels to generate clean and renewable electricity for our homes.

The best example of the importance of solar energy to provide electricity in remote locations can be found on satellites. For many years, satellites have been using solar panels to catch the suns rays, in order to provide power to the equipment onboard. Using solar panels is a great way to generate clean and renewable electricity to power remote appliances, or even the average home. In the United States, solar power production is maximized while we all sweat under the summer sun, but wind levels are fairly low. Conversely, solar production is low during winter while winds tend to be at their highest. As the technologies surrounding the use of photo voltaic systems improve, we are likely to see a much greater, widespread use of solar cells.

Solar and wind are the future of alternative energy sources. Well, it's about time, we start finding ways to save on your electricity costs and energy usage, so we may contribute to save the planer, by lowering our carbon footprint.

Autor: Luis Gaviria Luis Gaviria
Level: Basic
Luis is an author, inspirational speaker, proud father and grandfather. Flies medical missions in South America. He has appeared in a number of TV and ... ...

Luis Gaviria, Ph.D. is the president of Gaventerprise Group, a business consulting firm based in Florida.
http://gaventerprise.com/solarpower

Added: April 12, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wind Turbines For Electricity

Are you suffering from the growing prices of energy bills? Are you paying much money to power your home? Are you searching for something effective for to save your home electricity and reduce the power bill? I have a great solution for you. Building a wind turbine for home electricity is the most effective solution to reduce the power bill by up to %80 or even eliminate it completely.

Wind is a great energy resource that can be used in any place all over the world to produce electricity. There are many great advantages with wind energy like it is a renewable energy that can't ever be depleted, it is also a free energy resource. Wind is going to be used widely in the very near future.

But wait, I have no idea on building wind turbines for electricity, can I build it myself without having any experience on building such systems? Yes, only a simple step by step guide could be enough to learn how to build your own wind turbine in minutes, there is no need of any experiences at all and you just need to spend about $100 to buy some cheap tools for the installation process.

As you see, there is no need to lose your money for home electricity, only one wind turbine unit can easily reduce your power bill by up to %80 which means a great saving of money. Don't buy electricity anymore where you can make it, take this step today to save your money as well as the environment

Autor: Sean Shahin Sean Shahin
Level: Basic PLUS
I'm writing on home improvement techniques, home online jobs, healthy and green living. I'm the owner of HealthyLivingBooks.net , EnvironmentalProblems.us and HomeOnlineJobs.net websites. Don't forget ... ...

Learn how to build a wind turbine, step by step guides reviewed:
http://www.Squidoo.com/DIY-Wind-Turbine
Benefits of building a wind turbine:
http://TipCatch.com/Article/Benefits-Of-Building-a-Wind-Turbine/7

Added: April 11, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Window Shades Help Consumers Control Energy Bills

Roller shades help manage electric bills, and are a very versatile decorator accessory. There are several different styles of roller shades that can help reduce electric bills by aiding in temperature control in rooms. These are the main types sold today that can help with energy costs:

1. Blackout Roller Shades - These opaque window shades will totally block incoming light from outside. By keeping the sunlight out, room temperatures are reduced, so you do not need to run your air conditioner as often or as long. In winter, the dark window shades can provide some insulating effect, keeping warm air inside the room instead of diffusing out through the window glass. The heavier the material, the better the insulating effect, for cooling or heating.

2. Solar Roller Shades - These work by allowing diffuse lighting into a room, while keeping the harsh glare outside, and they provide privacy without eliminating light as blackout roller shades do. These protect furniture against ultra violet sunrays that can damage or fade materials and wood. Solar roller shades are ideal for any sun facing room where you want to have some sun control and heat reduction capability. Like all roller shades, they are adjustable, so you can have full window views whenever you desire.

Roller shades help manage electric bills by giving you options for both room lighting and heat management. Thick material on these window shades helps insulate rooms from drafts and leaks around windows. By mounting the window shades fully outside the window frame you have maximum coverage. You can even encase them in side runner boxes for additional control. Keeping sunlight out of a room during hot summer weather helps keep rooms cooler, so you do not have to run fans or air conditioners as much. This will affect your electric bill significantly. Since you can adjust the window shades up or down, you can allow as much light into a room as you want during the day.

Using the translucent solar shades will provide the air insulation factor plus allow greater levels of light into rooms. The glare free light is best for media rooms, where glare can interfere with television or computer monitor viewing. Because the material in solar shades is thicker, they also provide some protection against airflow and draftiness even though they allow diffuse light into the room. They are very useful for allowing light to enter a room where the outdoor view is less than desirable.

There is another type of roller shade you can purchase, that is a screen type for sun control. These allow you to still see the view outdoors, but provide minimal privacy and insulation, still better than bare windows.

Roller shades are available in decorator fabrics, at higher cost. Materials can be fabric coated with vinyl, PVC coated polyester, and woven fabrics. The fabric coated vinyl sleep (blackout) shades are the least expensive, and do not pin hole, crack or break like the old styles used to do. All roller shades come with either a standard hem bar or a decorative bottom bar to lend durability to the shade in use. Woven fabric window shades are light filtering, and can add to the decorative theme of your room.

Although it is possible to find lower price roller shades in discount stores, the true and better value comes from higher priced and custom roller shades. Materials are better quality, and have better durability and protective qualities than inexpensive roller shades. Roller shades can be used alone or combined with decorative window treatments. They are attractive and energy efficient. It is easy to see why roller shades help manage electric bills, reduce air conditioner wear and tear, and add flair to a room.

Autor: Judith Persit Judith Persit
Level: Platinum
Judith Persit has only been writing professionally for a few years. However, she is a real expert when it comes to home decor and the ... ...

On a trip to the store to buy roller shades, homeowners will often wish that they had purchased their window shades at the site where Judith Persit works as a designer. Ms. Persit writes at Blindsfactorydirect.com, and that is where she sends her friends.

Added: April 9, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Solar Panels For Home - Stimulus Package Makes Installation of Residential Solar Panels Much Cheaper

If you've been holding out on installing new solar panels for your home, you may want to rethink your decision. Buried deep within the omnibus stimulus package is a certain provision that allows for a new tax credit of thirty percent on the installation of any new home solar panels. Solar panels for home suddenly got a lot cheaper, and much more appealing.

What this means is that you can now get an immediate reduction in your payback time of thirty percent. If that wasn't enough, you can also combine this tax rebate with any other rebates that are available to you. So by combining both federal, state, and local tax credits and incentives, it's now possible to lower the cost of your solar power system by fifty percent or more depending on your location and available incentives.

This is great news for anyone that's been on the fence about going green. The United States government's most recent study shows that a typical home solar panel system has a payback that is 4 years or less. If you factor in the expected cost increases of electricity from your local power providers, and then take into account the new tax credit from the stimulus bill, you can see that a payback of much less than 4 years can easily be achieved.

And if you needed any further incentive to install solar panels for your home, keep in mind that every watt of power that you generate helps to lower your carbon footprint, and in turn helps to fight global warming. As you're probably well aware, the earth is quickly approaching a tipping point. If we don't do all that we can now, we may never be able to stop or reverse the problems that are coming our way. And while it may not cause problems for us in our lifetimes, our children are sure to suffer because of it. The time to go green is now.

Autor: D. R. Smith

Here you'll find some of the best commercially available Home Solar Panels, and the best plans on how to build your own home made Residential Solar Panels

Added: April 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Reducing the Heat of Your Conservatory

One of the first extensions that people consider making to their home is a conservatory - generally this is by far the cheapest and simplest extension that is well known to add value to your property. It is relatively easy to get planning permission and there are a lot of choices and styles available within your local area to choose from.

The sad fact is that most people do not use their conservatories. Why is this? Well very simply because of the high temperatures these glass rooms create. In the winter a conservatory is often the coldest room of the house - being mainly a summer room you would think that as the warmer weather increased, a conservatory owner would use their conservatories more and more. However as the weather warms the heat in your conservatory multiplies into almost unbearable levels very quickly.

Most people who have invested in this type of extension quickly realise that they need some protection from the heat and glare and the obvious solution is conservatory blinds.

Conservatory blinds come in many styles and colours though they keep away the glare and offer a degree of shade they do not do a great job of keeping the heat out. The heat is still created as the sun hits the glass.

A perfect solution to heat reduction is to use external conservatory blinds. Modern fabric technology has allowed for a special type of fabric that is designed to reflect up to 95% of the suns heat away before it hits the glass, still allowing light to pass through though taking away the glare.

These exterior conservatory blinds offer huge heat reductions in the conservatory bringing the temperatures down to standard room temperature - even on the hottest of summer days.

Being these conservatory blinds are mounted externally an electric motor powers the blind on opening and closing. This allows simple temperature control as, at the press of a button, you can open, partly open or close the blind allowing more or less sunlight to hit the glass.

When not in use the exterior conservatory blinds retract back into a small housing that is hardly noticeable. In it's cassette it can remain protected from adverse weather elements and kept looking as smart as it did on day one!

These conservatory blinds are often not cheap, certainly if you are looking at quality, though the benefits of a room you can use often outweighs the cost implications.

Autor: Olly Fallon Olly Fallon
Level: Platinum
Olly has a passion in life for Music - primarily the guitar. Combined with a good understanding of computers and the internet, Olly can work ... ...

Nationwide Home Innovations offer high quality Conservatory Roof Blinds for the UK as well as high quality Sun Awnings.

Added: April 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

What Makes a House Eco Friendly?

More and more people are showing interest in making their homes eco friendly. When a home is eco friendly, it is environmentally friendly and you are able to save some serious cash on energy. You would be surprised some of the small and large things that you can do to make your home more eco friendly.

Below are some of the ways you can make your home a friend of the environment:

More and more individuals are installing solar panels in their roofs so that they can draw solar energy. This requires the home to use less electricity, which can save a lot of money on the power bill.

When installing new countertops and cabinets in your kitchen, you can install countertops and cabinets that are recycled. It is much better to use recycled materials than new materials. By doing this, you're giving the materials a second chance to be something great and they will last for a long time. You don't have to worry about the items not being made as sturdy as something that is new. The quality is just as high.

Rooftop gardens are another hot item. They insulate the home naturally. The garden can also be constructed in a way that drainage of rainwater is successful. Many skyscrapers and other structures are implementing these systems because of their cost-effectiveness in the short-term and the long-term.

When building a brand new home, it is important that the home not be built from wood that has been acquired through deforestation. Wood can be acquired through other means that don't involve cutting down trees. There is plenty of wood found in nature that isn't planted into the ground.

New homes can also be built facing the sun so that the home can be heated naturally. This will reduce your heating bill and keep some money in your pocket. You can also add more windows to the home on the side that faces the sun. You want to let in as much heat as possible. Even in the winter, you can pull heat into your home.

There are also a variety of little things that you can do, especially if your home is an existing structure and there really isn't anything you can do with the structure. You can do such things as implement a recycling program within your home. Any time that you do repairs or remodeling, make sure you use environmentally friendly materials. If you have to use chemically-based substances, make sure they are safe for the environment. You can also check your drainage system to make sure dangerous materials are not being swept into the groundwater. A good French drain is a way to really accomplish this.

When building a new home, the location of your home can also have an impact. Perhaps you build close to a store that you can shop at. If you do, you will not have to drive your car there. You can walk or ride a bicycle when you don't have to buy very many items. The less you drive, the more you are helping the environment.

So there are many things that you can do to make sure your home is eco friendly. You can only work with what you have, but you might be quite surprised at what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. Don't think that just because your home is already standing that you can't make it an eco friendly home. Doing something as planting a garden makes your home more eco friendly. So do it and feel good about yourself.

Autor: Amy Nutt

Ontario's new home building company, Industry Leader. Visit us in our Guelph Homes location.

Added: April 4, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/