Power of Storms on Our Side for a Change

Wind Turbines are becoming more popular as alternate energy source. Many experts believe that wind energy can supply around 20% of the world’s need in energy. Besides being a cost effective source of energy, wind energy is also a cleaner more green source of energy.

There are many economic reasons to support the growing shift to wind energy. First, it revitalizes rural communities. Wind turbines can add a new tax base to rural economies that before had collected nothing. The wind turbines also collect property tax revenue as well as lease payments to land owners. Payments made to lease land which the turbines are placed tend to stay in the community. Adding thousands of dollars to a rural economy just in lease payments can make an overnight difference.

The price of wind energy is also stable: While the price of oil fluctuates greatly resulting in daily gas price changes, the price of wind energy is consistant. Wind is free and always will be free. The only costs are in the infrastructure and maintenance of the turbines.

Wind turbines also support agriculture: The turbines can be installed in agricultural fields without interfering in the output. They also give local ownership to the turbines. Because small number of turbines can be placed in rural areas, they are affordable by local landowners. The energy output means less natural gas and oil being imported from out of the area. This allows local dollars to stay local.

More green benefits of the wind turbines are cleaner water and air: Turbines do not create emissions that can get into water sources such as lakes and streams. Wind energy is pollution free, so there is no smog associated with them. In the burning of fossil fuels, the air can become polluted. Wind turbines keep the air fresh.

Uitilizing wind energy is also important for energy independance. A good percentage of oil is imported from the Middle East region. Volatility in that area of the world means highly fluctuating oil and gas prices. By utilizing wind energy, we are less dependant on foreign oil. Wind energy also means less nuclear power plants. There is no fear of a meltdown of terrorist attack when using wind turbines.

Jeffrey Marshall is a writer working toward obtaining his gis certificate to help with city planning.

Compare Solar Power To Traditional Energy

When we consider the many advantages of Solar Energy compared to traditional energy sources, the flexibility of setting up a photovoltaic system wherever the sun shines seems to be the biggest benefit. Freed from dependency upon a power grid, the installation will make solar power available to consumers in any location.

The Need For Renewable Energy Sources

With awareness of renewable resources on the increase, both domestic and industrial users have begun to take a fresh look at solar power. Once the initial costs have been met, and the users provided with a system, they can also benefit from government grants for grid-connected solar systems. Setup costs have also fallen over the past few years.

Energy In The Industrial World

In industrialised countries the majority of energy comes from coal, gas and nuclear energy, while solar power still accounts for less than 1% of total production. The costs of gas and coal extraction and their eventual contribution to pollution are of increasing concern, whereas solar energy remains clean, free and unlimited.

Solar Energy Set Up

The technical requirements for setting up a photovoltaic system are firstly a survey to see if your property is suitable for conversion, with a roof orientated towards the sun and strong support for the weight of the panels. Domestic solar systems produce between 2 and 5 kilowatts of energy which will be supplemented by the home’s grid supply if this is not sufficient. On a sunny day the output can exceed the consumption of the home and this excess wattage will be channeled back into the grid. The expense of setting up the system will soon be absorbed by its productive lifespan (typically 25-30 years).

Why You Should Consider Installing Solar Energy?

Owners will receive a Micro Generation Certificate Scheme to permit you to apply for rebates from the government, essentially to pay you back for any extra energy your system feeds back into the system. The disadvantages of solar power include its high initial setup costs, the lack of reliable generation in less sunny climates such as the UK, and the fact that it won’t generate at night. Traditional energy sources may keep the lights burning until the wee small hours, but solar power is the only source that pays its users to consume it.

Increased innovation and development have led to reduced installation costs for the consumer, and this technology also extends to solar water heating (which is also subject to the same limitations on daylight exposure as solar panels). Interested users should approach a reputable solar energy supplier for a survey. The Department of Energy & Climate Change can provide information on the financial incentives for users of solar energy. With solar power now providing a realistic alternative to traditional sources for consumers all over the world there are now greater options for access to solar energy – backed up by governments worldwide.

Solar professionals Solar Contact provide advice on the benefits of turning to green energy, and its advantages and disadvantages compared with more traditional sources

Top Tips For Being Green In The Kitchen

In this day and age there is a lot of pressure on people to be more aware of how their actions, big or small, can affect the environment in a negative way. To be “green” you must follow the idea that we should all be doing more in order to cut down on the negative effect we’re having on the planet, and a great place to put that into motion is in your kitchen.

Considering this, here’s a couple of tips on how you can become greener in your kitchen

Buy Quality

Although it might costs more to begin with, buying quality cookware will ensure its longevity and reliability over cheaper options. Not only will this potentially save you money in the long term, but will also create less waste which is much better for the environment.

Getting a stainless steel sink and kitting your kitchen out with other high quality pieces of equipment is also a great idea.

Make a few changes

It’s surprising how making only a few little changes to your everyday doings can drastically alter how you effect the environment. Look at fitting energy saving light bulbs in your kitchen and possibly your whole home. They use less heat in the creation of light, so they use less energy which equals less waste.

Another thing you can do is replace the bags you use when shopping for food. If you tend to use the plastic bags the supermarket provides, consider bringing your own instead. Either reuse old plastic bags or invest in a large cloth bag.

Control the quantities

Start by only buying what you need. Anything extra is going to be a waste, not only of food but also of your money. If you’re cooking up something that could be kept for a few days, make a few portions of it and put it in the oven all at once.

You’ll use less energy by making more of it together, as you won’t have to keep heating the oven up each time to make it. There are even some foods that taste better if they’ve been left for a few days, certain kinds of soup for instance.

Manage your waste

Begin by recycling whatever you can, there’s lots of food packaging that you can now recycle rather than send to a landfill. Not only does recycling cut down on the amount of non-biodegradable materials made each year but it cuts down on those same non-biodegradable materials ending up in a landfill where they will damage the environment for longer than we’ll be around to see.

You don’t even necessarily have to send your waste to a recycling centre in order for it to be used again. You can reuse the bottles and jars in your home straight away yourself.

It isn’t just non-biodegradable materials like plastics that damage the environment in a landfill, but food waste can also cause problems as it degrades. If you’re interested in helping out the environment more consider something like an insinkerator for better disposing of your food waste, avoiding adding to the landfill.

Next time you’re in the kitchen or out shopping, consider some of these points. You might not just be making your life a bit greener, but also (especially in the long term) saving yourself some money too.

Article written by Amy Fowler on behalf of The Kitchen Appliance Centre; distributors of stainless steel sinks and the insinkerator.

How Would We Survive Without Electricity?

A service we all take for granted, many of us switch on the lights in our home without sparing a thought for the electricity we are using. In fact, many of us are largely unaware of how electricity is generated and could not imagine a life without it.

Yet, a time without electricity did exist and whilst its invention remains largely unknown, the names of Thomas Edison and Luigi Galvani are now synonymous with it. For those of us who have grown up alongside this convenient service, imagining a time where lights don’t turn on at the flick of a switch is something hard to contemplate – but does that mean we couldn’t survive without electricity?

Homes without power

Of course, whilst not having electricity would be a huge shock we would soon adapt and find ways to cope with the change. Whether this involved reverting back to former sources of light (such as traditional candles) or creating new ways to power our electrical devices (such as through solar power) the end result would still be survival.

In truth, the idea that we may one day be left without electricity is somewhat far-fetched. It is reasonable to assume that the source of our electricity might change but electrical power of some description would still exist.

What are the alternatives?

For those wondering what I mean by this, the development of solar power could be the energy source of the future. The Government is already subsidising solar panels to homes willing to try the technology and a widespread roll-out of solar panels is something many people see as inevitable.

Solar panels would harness power for our electrical goods in a more environmentally friendly manner as it is a renewable source of energy and does not cause unnecessary damage to the environment. Traditional electricity, on the other hand, relies on the consumption of fossil fuels and emits harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Solar energy facts

Solar energy offers households a number of benefits – including reduced energy bills and lower carbon emissions. For those interested in what this power source has to offer, here are some facts you should know:

- Solar energy is responsible for 20% of energy use.

- Consumers who fit solar panels to their home can save as much as 800 pounds (about C$1000) a year through Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) which were introduced in April 2010 to offer a rebate on energy costs to these customers. Regardless of what source you use for your household electricity, those interested in reducing their bills can compare different tariffs and electricity prices to find the best deal.

- High profile scientists such as Albert Einstein were familiar with the concept of solar power. In fact, Einstein won a Noble Prize for his work with photovoltaic cells back in 1921

Fern Rodgers is an environmental preservationist and frequent blogger. Responsible for researching the benefits and uses of renewable energy sources, Fern offers regular advice on how to make your home more efficient. She also evaluates electricity prices and tariffs to find the best deals for consumers.

Energy Efficiency Tips For The Office

Many companies are utilizing energy efficient products for their business to save money on power bills and to make their buildings greener. Every year there are new developments on old products that make them more energy efficient than the last product such as hot water heaters, air conditioners, and windows. Greener products are easier on the pocket book and all around better for the environment.

Heating and Air Conditioners

During the summer months it can get incredibly hot and can drastically increase electric bills to keep the office cool. Many people turn their lights down in their homes to decrease the amount of heat generated in their home, however, this is not possible to do in an office setting. Old air conditioning systems may be sucking up all the electricity to run. A new air conditioning system will actually use 40% or less electricity than an older style. Heating units can have the same problem if they are old or outdated. An upgraded furnace can make a huge difference on the next power bill.

Windows and Commercial Skylights

Even with an updated air conditioning unit, a room or office may have trouble cooling down because of inefficient windows. Single pain windows and windows that do not seal will let heat in from outside. The same problem will arise in the winter months. Cold air will leak through the window and the office will have to run the heater more than should be needed. Increasing the thickness of the window by installing a dual pain window will provide more insulation. During the summer the office will stay cooler and the building will remain warmer in the winter months. Many business install commercial skylights into their building to allow more light in the office without having to turn on the lights. Commercial skylights are energy efficient and they can give the office a clean and professional look.

Tips for Employees

Employees can also help minimize the amount of electricity that is used around the office. After using office equipment such as copy machines, fax machines, computers, and coffee makers employees can turn them off or even unplug them. Computer screen savers do not actually reduce energy use. Turning the monitor off is better than leaving it on when the computer is not being used. There are energy efficient laptops and desktops that can be purchased to save money in the long run. Battery chargers for cell phones and laptops should be unplugged when they are not in use because they still use energy even if they are not charging anything

PHP Systems/Design is the source for commerical skylights. Commerical dome skylights are engineered for flat rooftops with code-compliant designs and high integrity.

8 Ways To Make Your Office Greener

Living in today’s eco-conscience world often comes with double standards. At home we diligently sort our metal, glass and paper into special bins for eventual recycling, while at work, everything gets tossed into the garbage. If you think about it, most things in the office are also recyclable. Everything from snack packages to coffee grounds, to used paper and ink cartridges, has a designated place in the world of recycling. Unfortunately many offices simply do not utilize the opportunity.

Combine this lack of recycling with continually running computers, one-sided report printing and stale air filers and it’s easy to see there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to making the office greener. Here are eight eco-suggestions that you may want to try so you too, can make a difference.

Print double sided

If there is a massive report in your future that requires a full print out, make it a double-sided printout. Every modern piece of technology today has the ability to print double-sided with a quick adjustment. This will lead to an enormous decrease in wasted paper.

Stock the office with recycled paper

There are numerous companies these days making new paper from old paper – another reason to recycle your old paper products. Not only will you save millions of trees from a dreadful fate, it is also an efficient way to cut costs on office supplies.

Shut it all down

When you leave the office for the night, shut down all running electronics. If flipping a dozen switches is inconvenient, plug everything into one power strip. At night, turn everything off with the flip of one switch and in the morning, it can all come back to life with a reverse flip. This use of phantom power consumes about 10 percent of unnecessary power usage throughout the world.

Change air filters

Changing air filters may not be on your top ten list of being environmental however, it is not uncommon for many office filters to remain in place for years without being cleaned or changed. If nothing else, changing office air filters makes for cleaner air and a healthier breathing environment.

Add greenery

Adding plants is a great way to make your office greener. Not only will it contribute much needed life to a fluorescent, sterile environment, plants also help to absorb pollutants from the air.

Remove smelly scents

Whether you hang it from your car mirror or you have it tucked away in a drawer, scented products contain volatile organic compounds. These smelly products contribute to respiratory diseases and asthma. If you must scent your office environment, do so with non-toxic cleaning products.

Recycle your own items

The easiest way to begin recycling is to start with your own personal consumption. If you’re a coffee drinker, buy a recycle cup that you can reuse instead of tossing disposable cups. Extend this habit to your desk with a plate and cutlery instead of tossing plastic ware each time you snack.

Other changes

If possible, switch to an Energy Star laptop instead of using a desktop computer. Energy Star laptops use up to 90 percent less power than standard desktop computers. Replace office bulbs with LEDs. Not only do they use of the electricity, they also last 10 times longer. Create a designated space where bottles, cans and paper can be recycled in the office. Installing light motion sensors can also help to save electricity. Every bit of effort helps make the office a greener place to be!

Yang, Events Organiser at Chillisauce Ltd, who specialise in organising corporate events.

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