Science Horizons

I am sure you have heard a lot about all guides out there that promise to show you step-by-step how to make your own home solar panels and wind generator. One of those guides happens to be “Make Natural Power”. But does it live up to its claims? And is it the your best option? Here is my experience with the guide.

The only thing I liked about Make Natural Power was its cover. Everything else was completely useless. On the outside it looked like it had all the features, but the advice was very limited and not that helpful.

Good Aspects:

You will be able to build a solar and wind power system, but it will take you a very long time, unless you have great technical skills.

Dislikes

* Poor drawings

Not only were the diagrams for both the solar and wind power instructions boring and dull, but they were badly labeled and and not even to scale.

* Useless solar power

The instructions were not easy to follow, and the illustrations did not help either. Because of this, the reader is required to figure things out on their own, resulting in a useless solar panel system, if it ever get finished.

* Incomplete maintenance instructions

Although we managed to build a working wind turbine, it only lasted for about 2 months until it completely seized. It turns out the the maintenance instructions forgot to show us how to weather-proof the wind turbine properly.

* Customer support is really slow

A lot of the time we had to contact customer service for assistance. But they were very slow to respond, and by the time they did reply we had either forgotten what the problem or had figured it out ourselves. On average, it will take over 5 days to get the answers you need.

Conclusion

Make Natural Power at home was obviously created by someone trying to copy Earth4Energy, and it shows in the guide. It was badly written, incomplete, and an absolute waste of our time.

Tim McDonald recommends you rather try Earth4Energy for FREE, if you want to build a quality DIY Renewable Energy system and actually reduce your electricity bill.

Tim McDonald Home Improvement alternative energy, Environment, hobby, home improvement, lighting, make natural power, men, Money Saving Tips, renewable energy, society, solar energy, solar power, Technology, wind power

Admittedly, the immense popularity of solar power nowadays is largely due to the fact that it can save money on your monthly utility bills, although of course this is not the only reason why more and more people are turning towards solar power.

Knowing these reasons can help you see why so many people are choosing to use this type of power for their homes. Here are the reasons why residential solar power is so popular.

One: One of the reasons that residential solar power is a good idea for a lot of people is because once you get it installed, it is pretty much maintenance free. This means that the upkeep of your solar power will be very low.

Two: It’s a well known fact that solar panels rarely need to be replaced because generally speaking, they have a long life span.

Three: Solar panels are made in all different shapes and sizes, which means that no matter what your homes design is, you can pretty much install solar power almost anywhere.

Four: Solar power in recent years has seen great strides, which means that it is becoming more affordable for everyone. Gas and oil prices continue to rise, so more and more people are turning to residential solar power to help them save money.

Let’s face it; the sun can provide us with an endless supply of energy and this energy can then be converted to electrical power thanks to modern technology. Of course this is by far a cheaper and more cost effective way of powering our homes.

While the reasons listed above are for the most part, the most important reasons for most people, they are certainly not the only reasons why solar power has become so popular. Of course, while it does pay to be familiar with these reasons, one also needs to take some other factors into consideration.

First of all, one needs to take into consideration whether of not there is sufficient sunlight. In other words, if you live in an area with a high annual rainfall, or if your house is built in an area where there is much shade, then perhaps solar power may not be the right choice for you.

Considering that the efficiency of a solar power depends almost entirely on how much sunlight the house receives, its vital that you take the weather into consideration.

Two: You have to take into consideration your local ordinances. There are some cities that will not allow you to use solar power. So, check with your neighbors and check the laws regarding this before you decide to use residential solar power.

These are the most important factors to take into consideration before deciding to use residential solar power for your home. Now that you know the reasons that so many people are using solar power and the important factors to consider, you can make an informed decision about whether this is the best choice for you. It is for a lot of people, but not for everyone.

Ileana Limon Environment alternative energy, Environment, green energy, home improvement, photovoltaic solar panels, solar battery, solar cells, solar electric systems, solar energy, solar heating systems, solar kits, solar panel installation, solar roof, solar water heater

Home wind turbines typically do not deliver their maximum rated output.Why is this the case? Simply because surface and near-surface winds are generally neither strong nor consistent enough to rotate the propellers at their “best RPM range” all of the time. Raising the turbine to higher elevations usually increases the average current output because wind strength typically increases at higher elevations/altitudes although wind directions still remain variable.

The same wind supply inconsistency makes wind power inappropriate as a fixed, demand-driven source of energy unlike coal- or diesel-burning power plants that can be turned on or off according to consumer needs. This situation should change, however, if superconducting charge (or current) storage devices become cheaper. Very large-capacity battery banks, or very large batteries, or super capacitors should also be designed for the purpose of storing large amounts of electricity.

Small wind turbine generators have been available in the US since the 1920s. The Jacobs Wind Electric Company consistently sold 1- to 3-kW wind turbines to farmers in North America and around the world till the US rural electrification grid came fully online in the late 1940s, thus reducing the demand for independent energy supplies.

Because wind turbines are based on old technology they are especially reliable and rather easy to keep up for anyone who is even a reasonably good mechanic.Don’t let a fear of the technology stop you from considering wind turbines to provide at least part of your energy requirements.

A Jacobs wind turbine unit was installed at the South Pole by members of Richard Byrd’s Antarctic expedition in 1933. Jacobs wind turbines are still available for purchase in the US today. Wind turbines should be viable alternative sources of energy for domestic or commercial end-users. Denmark currently sources about 20% of its national electrical energy supply from offshore wind farms.

Kathy Nelson Family alternative energy, electricity, Family, green power, home improvement, save money, wind turbines

As the world reaches its energy crisis we need to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and start generating renewable energy on a massive scale.

Currently there are 4 major types of renewable energy available at our disposal: solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, and geothermal energy.

From The Wind:

Wind energy has been used for thousands of years. Initially windmills were built to tow boats, grind flour and pump water. But as industry developed, wind turbines were put into operation to generate electric power.

Some people still imagine windmills as the ornate ones found in the Netherlands, or the small wind pumps on farmland, but wind power technology has come a long way. Today, massive windmills, better known as wind turbines can generate millions of watts of electric energy, and smaller ones can be used at home as a substitute to grid-tied power.

Solar Energy:

The sun is the most readily available form of energy there is, so we should be using it to a larger extent. And as technology advances, households are provided with a number of ways to harness the power of the sun. These ways include solar electricity, solar heaters, solar dryers and solar cookers.

Passive solar design, solar power and solar heating are some of the the best ways to reduce your power consumption at home – these systems need very little upkeep, and they are also great for the environment. Solar cooking is a healthy alternative to using an oven or stove – the food is cooked slowly so more minerals and vitamins are retained, and no electric power is needed. This makes it ideal for camping and outdoor cooking in the summer months.

Water Power:

Initially hydro or water power was used industrially in rivers and waterfalls to power waterwheels that would then be used to move water for irrigation or grind flour.

In modern times the power of water is mainly used in to generate hydro-electricity. This is mainly done is large dams, where water is stored and released through small channels. The force of the water through these channels is extremely strong and capable of spinning large turbines, that then generate electric power. An example would be the Hoover Dam that is used primarily to supply Las Vegas with electricity. Over 90% of our renewable energy is generated with hydro-electric dams.

Many environmentalists and socialists are against hydro-electric dams, since they affect the natural forna and flora and can cause the forced removal of entire cities.

Geothermal Energy:

Geothermal power is typically produced in areas with ongoing volcanic activity, where magma is relatively close to the surface. One such area is Iceland, where a large proportion of its power is produced from volcanic geysers.

Where this lava comes into contact with water, it super heats it and causes large volumes of steam to burst to the surface through geysers. The pressure from this steam is diverted and passed through turbines to generate electricity. Once the steam has passed through it is sometimes cooled, turned back into water, which is then pumped back into the geyser to make more steam. This makes it everlasting cycle…

Now that you have read this brief outline of the various types of renewable energy, you can learn more about each type by visiting our website in one of the links below.

Tim McDonald Home Improvement alternative energy, Environment, hobby, home improvement, lighting, men, Money Saving Tips, renewable energy, society, solar energy, solar power, Technology, types of renewable energy, wind power

Yes solar energy for your home is very expensive but if you compare what you spend every month on electricity the cost will even out due to your saving. Residential homes are rearing towards solar power and realizing that eventually we will have no more resources available to supply the full load of electricity needed.

Take advantage of these offers and save an incredible amount of money. If you are building your home from scratch you will be able to install as many panels as you need and extra for the times when the energy cells are low. This will be a double take for you as you will save both ways in that you won’t be paying high electricity bills and you won’t need to take a loan for installation fees.

The instruction and tips is user friendly in that they give you step by step instructions. You will have to have the correct measurements firstly in order to establish the size of the solar panel you will require. You will also need to calculate your current electricity bills and what your savings would be as opposed to the use of solar cells.

Let’s explain how a solar panel works. Solar cells are needed and these are made up of semi conducting materials. They then require sunlight which shines onto the cells and in turn create electrical current generating electricity. The cells which range from about sixty are assembled together which form a solar panel.

You are able to take full advantage of rebates and incentives provided by your local governments once you have installed your system. The system has many environmental benefits in that you are contributing to the world’s electricity security. This technology has also opened a new avenue for those that are unemployed and strengthens world economy.

No pollution or hazardous materials are generated from solar energy. It does not require any gas or liquid substances to make it functional, it only needs sunlight to become functional and sunlight is free and guarantees you power. The solar energy cells will also guarantee you when all the other supplied have exhausted their supplies. These solar panels have been used with great success in the Ant-arctic (the sun doesn’t shine there) where run ways have been lit for safe landings. So this tells us that solar energy cells can be used literally anywhere in the world.

It has been noted that in some countries that after installing a solar energy system the value of your home will immediately increase and in some cases tax exemption is granted to the owners. This is a bonus due to the inflation and cost of housing in these deflating times. Houses that have the system have a better change of selling as the new owner won’t have high electricity bills to pay.

Solar energy is not only important to our homes but to everything that exists on the planet. We will save the natural resources like coal and natural gas supplies in the long term. And having solar energy in the home ensures that you can still cook and bake or watch your TV without interruption or spend hours with no electricity in the long term due to load shedding. We are also helping to eliminate toxic pollutants, and make the environment safer for future generations to come.

Bob Hobson Environment alternative energy, energy, Environment, Environmental, home energy, renewable energy, solar energy

Solar energy for your home is working towards a green future as well as the future of generations to come. Buy installing solar energy you are not only saving for the home but for the coming years. Not only are we using renewable energy but we will be assisting with the global warming crisis.

I know you are asking yourself what happens on days when there is no sun and it is cloudy. Well you will still have energy but less than normal. The sun still emits its rays even on over cast days. Not only will this be an improvement to your home you will reduce the consumption of electricity as well as carbon footprint.

A complete installation of solar energy to you home will then cost you nothing. The money you used to spend on power can now be saved towards something needed. And by having a grid connection; local electric services actually pay you for power used from your home.

After you have done some reading and research you can then decide whether you can do this yourself or maybe you need a contractor to do the job. As well as installing solar energy to the inside of your home you can also install outside. You can use solar energy to heat your pool, as well as replace the geyser. Solar energy will provide both heat and cold which is a bonus in Africa.

Depending on the type of solar energy system you have chosen you must make sure it will be sufficient for your home requirements as these panels work on a measurement basis – for instance we are looking at electricity generated per square meter. You must look at the maximum capacity it can generate.

The panels are installed either on the south facing side or the north facing side of your home. This depends where in the world you are residing. They are mounted on a swivel rack which allows the panel to catch the sun rays in all directions. Similar to the weather cock method.

It is becoming a standard practice when new homes are erected as well as other building structures a solar panel is automatically part of the structural plan. When it comes to old structures and homes, the panels can still be installed but will have to be included on the original plans and passed by the local authorities.

There are also DIY solar energy kits available, if you have someone that can install the system for you and save you a lot of money in the short term. Although in some countries the governments are giving clients and home owners a long term subsidy to install solar cells. Browse around first and find good deals and the right option to suit your needs when purchasing your solar energy for your home.

Bob Hobson Environment alternative energy, energy, Environment, Environmental, home energy, renewable energy, solar energy

How do you compare different solar panels? You measure the wattage power per panel. number of Watts Output when it is illuminated under standard conditions of 1000 Watts/meter2 intensity, 25C ambient temperature and a spectrum that relates to sunlight that has passed through the atmosphere.

Solar modules has dropped from around $27 Watt Peak (Wp) in 1982 to around $2.49 Wp today and can be expected to dive much further in the future. At $1 Wp, grid parity will have been achieved and Photovoltaics (PV) will be able to compete with the prevailing price of electricity.

Two types of solar panels are manufactured, expensive crystalline silicon types and proprietary thin-film solar panels. Thin Firm CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) is a direct band gap semiconductor, which enables it to convert solar energy into electricity more efficiently (i.e., more watts per kg of material) than the indirect band gap semiconductor materials used historically.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado to recognize CdTe’s (Cadmium Telluride) potential for achieving the lowest production costs among current thin film technologies. Because of thin film technology, mass-production of solar panels through the use of machines similar to a printing press, will aid in cutting cost for watt produced.

Thin Firm CdTe (Cadmium Telluride) modules to generate relatively more electricity under high ambient (and therefore high cell) temperatures. Which means it is more efficient should there be high temperatures.

Some sixty companies have announced to start thin film production by 2010. Thin-film solar cells consist of layers of active materials about 10 m thick compared with 200- to 300-m layers for crystalline-silicon cells. The technology allows for more flexible and robust shapes and is more cost effective.

A crucial metric that most look at is the measurement of kilowatt-hours per kilowatt installed. Find the wattage produced by your solar panel into watts per dollar. Most likely, when you are reach $0.15/kWh or better, you are competitive with your electric company.

There are cabling costs battery banks and inverters to consider. Calculating solar output, use an average of 5 hrs per day of sun. Eg. 4 x 80w panels produce 320 watts x 5 hrs should produce 1600 watts or 1.6 Kw per day. A 1000w system would produce about 4 Kwh per day. Most families use between 3-10 Kwh per day. Harness your very own experience with a do it yourself solar panel kit and discover this energy saving technology.

Use the sun’s free energy to create solar power for homes and to generate your energy needs. Look over wind power kits and when you make more power than you use the electricity company will pay you for the power!

Sherman Sherrill Technology alternative energy, home and family, home improvement, solar energy, solar power, Technology

Nigeria is the 6th largest supplier of oil to the United States. The U.S. people consume 500,000 barrels of oil a day from Nigeria.

When U.S. companies found oil in Nigeria, they told the Nigerian people how much better life was going to be for them with the millions of dollars flowing into their country from the sale of oil.

This was a lie told to the Nigerian people so that oil companies in the U.S. could profit. What most U.S. consumers dont know is that their consumption of oil is killing Nigeria.

Oil companies have known for years what is happening in Nigeria and yet they still spend tens of millions of dollars a year buying Congressmen and having them prevent solar power development in the United States.

The video below shows how the oil trade has benefited oil companies and politicians in the U.S. and Nigeria while killing ordinary Nigerians.

The Nigerian government is demolishing average Nigerian homes and churches to make room for luxury housing for rich oil executives and their American workers.

A Nigerian pastor tries to comfort a screaming woman as his church is demolished in the name of the oil trade. The pastor says, “The oil boom has turned into the oil doom.”

A woman who has just had her home demolished, in the name of oil, clutches her young children and begs, “I need help. I need help.”

Bible thumping Republicans who think that business is good and government is bad need to pull their heads out of the sand and watch this video and educate themselves about the evil oil trade with Nigeria in the name of business.

Business has one purpose and one purpose alone, to maximize profits at any cost. In some regards, the national health care debate in the United States is another example of business going after maximum profits at any cost. How many people have the rich Health Insurance companies in America killed because they denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition? How many young people who work in the fast food and restaurant industry in America are not being provided with health care by these greedy insurance companies? How many hard working families, where both couples work, are being charged $700, $900 and even a $1,000 a month or more for health insurance?

This is what America has become after 8 years of unchecked Republicanism where government is seen as evil and business as good.

By Lance Jensen. When are you finally going to tell the big oil executives not in my name and not in the name of oil? Find out how to stick it to Big Oil visit solar power for homes

Lance Jensen Environment alternative energy, energy, Environment, Home, solar, solar power

Has a dumpster diver created a DIY solar system that brings affordable energy to all?

A Worldsnest writer created a DIY homemade energy system by digging in a garbage can. He has made a 6 kwh solar power system for under $5,000. A 6 kwh solar power system with PV panels and professional install costs about $70,000.

Now keep in mind that the powers that be in America want you to think that after 10 years of research and hundreds of millions of dollars spent, they still cant come up with such a system. Yeah right. Exxon, Chevron, GE, and the U.S. Department of Energy dont like these kinds of DIY solar power systems because they cant make money off it. The big oil companies want a solution that involves keeping you as a paying customer. The government wants a system they can tax. Both only want a solar solution that enriches them at your expense.

The billionaire oil executives in America will not let a DIY homemade solution hit mainstream America. They do not want you empowered and able to produce your own electricity simply by pulling it from free light.

But this is only the beginning of the levels of evil big oil is willing to do to in the name of profits. Nigerian people are being killed over oil. Oil executives are telling the Nigerian government what neighborhoods to bulldoze so that they can build luxury housing for oil executives and American workers. Entire neighborhoods are being destroyed. Churches are being destroyed.

In Burma, U.S. oil corporations financed and assisted the Burmese military junta with the torture and murder of villagers during construction of a pipeline. As the United Nations Security Council condemns the Burmese military junta, calls are increasing for foreign multinational companies to stop working with the Burmese military government. In the United States, much of the criticism has been focused on the California-based oil company Chevron. Chevron is one of the largest foreign investors in Burma and is the only remaining major U.S. corporation with a significant presence there. A Burmese citizen said, “Until the pipeline came, there were no soldiers in the area. In our village we were planting rice. When the pipeline arrived, we had to work for the white people more and more. The soldiers were forcing us to be slaves. If we refused to work, they said they would kill us. Because of the white people, our village was destroyed and we had to flee. They shot at my husband and he ran away in the jungle. I waited for him with my children. A soldier hit me with his gun. I fell and hit my head on a stone and lost consciousness. When I woke up, I saw my baby in the fire. She couldn’t even cry. Her body was so burned and all black.”

So is this average American that built this DIY homemade solar system really smarter than scientists at big oil companies and even the U.S. Department of Energy? I do not think so. I think they have known about this technology for years but are blocking it from hitting mainstream America because they can not tax it or profit from it. Also, an investigation should be launched into why the U.S. Department of Energy has been giving big oil millions of dollars in the name of “alternative energy research” and they have come up with nothing. During the Bush Administration and Republican control, the U.S. Department of Energy was staffed with big oil executives and their lobbyists. Is it any wonder that they have come up with nothing after all these years? I think this is a valid argument after we have proof that a man without any kind of research budget whatsoever pulled parts out of a trash can and came up with a better, cheaper solution than they have.

Here is the video. Prepared to be blown away.

Lance Jensen Environment alternative energy, Education, energy, Environment, Home, home improvements, resources

The present economic scenario and the ever-shrinking state of the global oil reserves is not good news for anyone. But on a positive note it drives us harder to investigate alternative energy sources that can become the solution we need. We need to cut back on energy consumption, particularly in terms of fossil fuel usage like oil. It has now become more and more economical to build homemade solar panels. Homemade solar panels utilize deep cell storage batteries and produce electricity upon demand which reduces the individual’s dependence on the countrys energy grid.

Who in the entire world does not wish to have their energy bills reduced by 80% or more? Many of us would jump at the chance to take advantage of such a great deal. You can make your own homemade solar panels and install a system for less than $200. Earth4Energy sells a step by step guide that shows you how to do it.

The features of the guide are: Full and detailed instructions which can be easily understood by a layman or the unskilled for how to make a solar panel, exactly how to obtain the components available in your neighborhood hardware store for building the homemade solar power system, detailed instructions on how to construct a wind power generator that is not available anywhere else, and a money back guarantee if you are not saving hundreds of dollars per month on your energy bill after using the system for eight months.

There are also detailed instructions explained by videos.

It still seems incredible to me that anyone can follow this guide and build a homemade solar panels and wind power system and save 80% off their monthly energy bill. I think the reason we do not hear about this in mainstream media more is because of special interests blocking this kind of technology. Think about it. The big energy companies hate you for producing your own energy and the government hates you because they can not tax it.

I am proud to say that I have my own homemade solar power system in place. When I tell my friends that I built it, the first thing they ask me is if I can build them one and they will pay me for it. I could start my own homemade solar power business and I just might do that in the future. Of course I do not tell them about the easy guide I bought, I would rather have them think I am a genius.

Pete Weinhart Environment activism, alternative energy, Education, energy, Environment, green energy, resources, solar power, wind power