Science Horizons

No matter where you go nowadays, people are always talking about “green” products and ideas. There are also more and more of these coming onto the market and the goal is to help the planet by wasting less energy. As a result, products we never thought would leave are being replaced with new technology. One example is the light bulb.

Since 1879 when Edison first presented the light bulb as an alternative to kerosene lamps, we have marveled at this great invention, never thinking that there could ever be anything better. But as we study the energy draining products of today, the incandescent light bulb is right at the top of the list. An energy guzzling device that emits a distorted yellowish glare, it is still considered the cheapest option on the market.

During the 1920s, fluorescent lighting was used in garages and commercial buildings where it was a good replacement for the regular light bulb. Fluorescent lighting produces up to 75% less heat than a regular light bulb, but it also had its drawbacks that kept it from being a suitable replacement for residential use. The problems with fluorescent lighting were the large tubes filled with mercury, the temperature sensitivity and intermittent flickering, as well as the problems of disposing of the lighting.

During the 1970s, we began earnestly thinking of energy consumption and the tungsten halogen lamp or quartz lamp was designed. This is a great bulb because of the clarity of light that surpasses the incandescent light bulb, the life span is much longer and requires a much lower voltage. Although the benefits and quality outweigh the common light bulb, the public is still resistant to the change because of the increased cost but many people are moving in this direction just to save in energy consumption.

But now, there is an option that we have all been waiting for. The most awesome and creative discovery of alternative lighting was discovered in the 1960s and is known as the LED. This device is made out of a Silicon element that converts electrical energy into light energy without the drawbacks found in other lighting types. Invented by Nick Holonyak, known as ‘the father of the light-emitting diode’, Holonyak has received many honors for his innovation that is changing the world.

The light emitting diode, or LED, is different from all other light bulbs. LED lights are the same as the red indicator lights on electronic devices which show if it is on or off. What makes these lights different is that LED lights give off no heat or distorted tint, they have no movable parts and have a long life. On top of that, they are also very energy efficient.

New technology is running with this great new invention and have designed bulbs to replace street lights, decorative lighting and LCD displays in traditional flat screen TVs. The initial installation cost is still relatively high but the savings and benefits are so great that before long, every light bulb will be replaced with the energy saving LED. Who says you can’t build a better light bulb? It has just been proven that you can.

Interested in learning more about LED light fixture? I suggest you do some reading here on lighting fixtures.

Timothy Forestts Shopping energy, energy savings, green lifestyle, interior decorating, led lighting, light fixtures, lighting fixtures, living green, Shopping

At Green Products, we have come across a product from Cool Earth: Solar Balloons. Cool Earth was created with the mandate of producing electricity using solar power, specifically solar cells. Solar power is not a new concept, but how the sunlight is collected and concentrated is truly unique.

The current installed solar plants use flat-panels. Each panel is heavy, large, easily damaged, and costly to repair. This means the cost to produce a watt of electricity is 5-7 times greater than using natural gas and is not a feasible alternative to fossil fuels. This is no longer true with the Cool Earth solar balloon system.

One side of the balloon is made from reflective silver Mylar plastic. The other half is transparent to allow in sunlight. The silver material is parabolic-shaped to concentrate the sunlight on to a single point to achieve maximum light concentration. This is why high performance solar cells are used.

With the new design comes and the ability to increase sunlight concentration and reduce expensive solar cell material by 300 to 400 times. This cost reduction will bring the price down to a mere one dollar per watt. To give that some context: a typical flat-panel PV(photovoltaic) system on a residential rooftop is about seven to eight dollars per watt.

Each balloon is eight feet in diameter and can withstand over 100 mile per hour winds. The balloons are linked together in series, with the initial installation able to produce 10 megawatts, enough to power 3,500 homes during the day.

One of the areas under consideration is the need to add more peaking power plants, also known as peaker plants. A peaker plant is operational only when demand for electricity is at the greatest, like during the hot summer months. This green product could be used to eliminate rolling brown outages that we have encountered in the past few years.

Some of the more interesting aspects of this solar power station are how simple the design is and how multiples are pulled together to produce a solar power plant. Check it out.

Michael

Michael Flum Family Air Pollution, alternative energy, energy, energy conservation, energy savings, Environmental, Family, general, global warming, green planet, renewable energy, solar energy, solar panels, solar power

Solar power is good for supplying energy but will it work for heating a hot tub? A hot tub needs constant energy to keep the water warm and so if you live in a place where there is a lot of sun, perhaps the sun could be used to heat it. Unfortunately, while this sounds like a good idea, in practicality it doesnt work too well.

In order for a solar hot tub to work, you would have to live somewhere where there is a lot of sun. Also, since it is best to keep the water warm all the time, at night there would be no sun power to do the job. Therefore an alternative source of energy would have to be found for nighttime heating. Solar hot tubs could probably be made but for the little demand they would have, it is probably not worth it for manufacturers

If you wanted to you could buy solar panels and figure out a way to connect them to the power source for the hot tub. Solar panels are not cheap though, and the energy savings that you would realize may not be enough to justify the project. Likewise, if manufacturers did make hot tubs that ran on solar power they might cost more than people are willing to pay. Everything has to be done on a supply and demand basis and it is just not cost effective to make solar hot tubs.

One thing you might want to buy is a solar hot tub cover. Every hot tub needs a cover because it will help keep the energy in and keep the water hot. A cover with a solar panel on it will work better than just a regular cover and keep the water warmer. Solar hot tub covers are available online at certain places but they are hard to find at real brick and mortar stores.

The low demand means that hot tubs powered by solar energy may never find their way on to the market. Even though it is a great idea, if money cant be made by it then no manufacturer will go forward with the idea. If you are interested in solar energy for any type of appliance, right now about the only thing you can do is to by solar panels and find a way to attach them to the power source.

Jason Stlotnik Shopping diy, energy, energy savings, Home, hot tubs, Science, Shopping, therapy

The production of energy is the main contributor to the quantity of Carbon Dioxide in our air. We all take electricity for granted – we flick a switch and the lights, television and dishwasher turn on. But do you ever stop and consider just where that power is coming from? By not giving it any thought, you probably don’t even realize that today’s energy needs are being met through the use of coal and fossil fuels. It is because of the highly toxic carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere by these two energy sources, that scientists are expressing their ever-growing concerns with the poisonous impact they are having on our environment.

Because the rate at which we are using our current energy sources will see them depleted before too long, we must find clean, renewable, sustainable sources of energy to replace them. Of course the all-important reason for being in pursuit of these alternatives is because what we currently are using is harming our climate. People need to become more aware of how their normal everyday usage of electric is causing this harm and become motivated to look for alternatives.

Energy companies today are on the lookout for alternative forms and are experimenting with solar and wind power more and more. In parts of the country where there are lakes and rivers that can be contained, dams are great sources of hydro power. The same is true for wind power which becomes harnessable when there are consistently moderate winds gusting. There are many, many geographic areas that don’t fall into either of these categories and the ones that do may not be able to produce enough of these energies to meet their power needs.

These days globally, researchers are actively engaged in finding alternative energy forms. Because it does not send carbon dioxide into the air, the most common, though controversial, is nuclear power. However, concerns over the dangers of melt downs and contamination are the main points keeping nuclear power from being developed on a larger scale. Although nuclear energy is a clean form of energy, it has other downsides than the ones already mentioned. It produces nuclear waste which is harmful and takes milleniums to break down. These wastes must be stored and we have just so much land on which to do that.

Until such time as a discovery is made that can help reduce our current energy problems, what we can all do to lend a helping hand, is to consistently cut back on our energy usage. Studies have shown that if we take the time to turn off the lights we are not using, it would reduce by up to 25%, the total amount of energy being consumed.

Beverly Clarke Environment alternative energy, alternative sources of energy, carbon footprint, energy savings, Environment, global warming, green living, hydro electric power, lifestyle, news, nuclear power, save energy, Science and Technology

There are a lot of folks looking into installing solar panels in an effort to reduce outrageous energy costs. When these folks see the cost of the professionally installed panels they realize it may not be something they can afford.

Acquiring the knowledge of building solar panels is something you will enjoy, if you like to mess around with things. The amount of money you will save building your own system is quite substantial. Your friends and neighbors will also be quite impressed with your new found skills. They will think “boy that guys a genius”.

When you compare the cost of purchasing and installing an already made solar energy system to learning how to make them and buying the materials, the solar units are far less. By learning this skill, you have greater control over the design and the size of your energy system as well.

As far as the material that you will need for your project, most can be found at the local hardware store. Some common items needed are plywood, glass and copper wire. Inexpensive Solar or photovoltaic cells are also needed, but don’t worry about this because they are easy to find also.

All that is needed, once you have the supplies, is a top notch manual that guides you through the process step by step. Wait, I almost forgot. You will need to have about a day to build a panel that will power a small shop.

Avoid being scammed by other guides that are very vague and get your heart pounding. You want this to be fun and that is why I think getting the right manual is crucial to you building your freedom machine. Savings in energy costs will come so you want to invest in an awesome guide. Look for good recommendations and you will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Make sure that once you have the material and manual in place that you put it to good use. Don’t just set it aside and say “I’ll get to it when I get a round tuit”. Schedule a day for you and your family or friends to get the system in place. I would like to see your face the next time the power goes out and you are the only one with the front porch light on.

Did this article help to get you excited about generating your own power? Hope So. Go save yourself some money and have fun doing it.

Matt Lachman Hobbies Build your own solar panel, eco friendly products, energy savings, free solar panels, green home products, green products, Hobbies, solar panel, solar panels, solar panels cost, solar pannels

Are you searching for energy saving products and maybe considering solar panels? I know you probably looked into it and found that it is out of your budget, especially in the economic conditions that we are facing.

Learning how to make solar panels for yourself is a much cheaper way and one that is quite fun as well. Anyone who likes to get there hands a little dirty can acquire the skills to build there own solar panels that will power there homes, office etc.

When you compare the cost of purchasing and installing an already made solar energy system to learning how to make them and buying the materials, the solar units are far less. By learning this skill, you have greater control over the design and the size of your energy system as well.

As far as the material that you will need for your project, most can be found at the local hardware store. Some common items needed are plywood, glass and copper wire. Inexpensive Solar or photovoltaic cells are also needed, but don’t worry about this because they are easy to find also.

So you have a good idea of what is needed to build your solar system. You just need someone knowledgeable that will guide you through the correct steps. I forgot to add that you will need about a day of fun for you and your family or friends to build your panel.

Building your project the right way the first time is a very important part of the process. You don’t want to hate doing this if you want to build many of them. You want it to be totally enjoyable and for that reason I believe that getting your hands on the best manual is very important. Since the amount of energy that you will save is so great you will want to get a great guide to setting it all up

Now you know that you need a good manual and hopefully you have one so that you can get stated. Once you put the system in place you will actually look forward to when the power goes out. Wouldn’t it be cool to look down the street and see total darkness except for for your house.

Hopefully you are as excited as I was when I figured out that I could make my own energy power plant. Now it’s time to get started saving some money and protecting our planet.

Matt Lachman Hobbies Build your own solar panel, eco friendly products, energy savings, free solar panels, green home products, green products, Hobbies, solar panel, solar panels, solar panels cost, solar pannels

While we may be looking forward to the warmer weather of Spring and even the hotter Texan Summer months, this is the right time to prepare by managing the electricity account a little more closely than you usually do. Although most people would expect that more electricity is used in Winter, the truth is that in Summer people use the air-conditioner a lot, so it makes sense to start to reduce your electricity account before your energy use will increase as the weather heats up.

All you really need to do is to take note of all those areas in your home or office that use electricity. Once you have done that the next step is to see which areas you can reduce. In this way you can prepare for when your energy use will actually increase. It comes down to awareness and once you are aware of your particular energy usage you can then set about finding ways to lessen your energy consumption, thereby leading to a reduction of your energy bill come the end of the month.

The great news for consumers is that Texas has made it possible for different energy companies to exist. This means that these companies are all competing for our business and the best way to attract customers is to not only offer them great service, but also great prices. Before Spring has even arrived you should take a closer look at which company will supply your energy requirements at the best price for you. This is another way to keep your bill down in preparation for the hot Texan summer months.

There are a number of appliances that we all have in our homes that we leave running on a constant basis. Computers are often left on and even though they use less electricity in their sleep mode than they do when fully on, off is a much better choice. Simple adjustments like turning off appliances when they are not in use and unplugging those electric appliances that continue to consume energy even when they are not powered on.

It is certainly advisable that you take the time to make a list of all the items in your home that use energy. Then identify which of those items can be switched off when not in use. Besides doing your bit for the planet, you will lessen your electricity consumption and the savings that you will then enjoy will be useful to go toward paying for the electricity that your air-conditioner will be using during the hot Texan Summer months.

The smart electric consumer is the one that will do the research and plan for the extra energy expense during the spring and summer months. Taking advantage of all the options that are available to you will make the summer months a cool breeze to get through. Visit some of the websites that are available that will give you the information that you need to get through the summer without raising the cost of your Texas electric bills. You will be glad that you made these changes in your home.

Jerry Dyess Finance electric, electric bill, electricity, electricity saving tips, energy, energy saving tips, energy savings, Finance, green energy, texas electricity

As the seasons turn toward spring, we can all look forward to the warm spring days and eventually the hot summer nights in Texas. Now is the time to prepare for the hot weather by managing your electric bill. You may be using more electricity than in the cooler months when you run your air conditioner, so this is a perfect time to find a way to lower those bills before you have to increase your energy use.

All you really need to do is to take note of all those areas in your home or office that use electricity. Once you have done that the next step is to see which areas you can reduce. In this way you can prepare for when your energy use will actually increase. It comes down to awareness and once you are aware of your particular energy usage you can then set about finding ways to lessen your energy consumption, thereby leading to a reduction of your energy bill come the end of the month.

Texas has now made it possible for different electrical companies to provide your electricity needs. This means that those companies will be competing for your business and that translates into savings for the consumers. You now have the excellent opportunity to choose between electricity suppliers and Spring is a great time to do that. Investigate the companies out there so that you can find out which one will be the most cost effective one for you and your electricity requirements before Summer has arrived.

There are a number of appliances that we all have in our homes that we leave running on a constant basis. Computers are often left on and even though they use less electricity in their sleep mode than they do when fully on, off is a much better choice. Simple adjustments like turning off appliances when they are not in use and unplugging those electric appliances that continue to consume energy even when they are not powered on.

It is certainly advisable that you take the time to make a list of all the items in your home that use energy. Then identify which of those items can be switched off when not in use. Besides doing your bit for the planet, you will lessen your electricity consumption and the savings that you will then enjoy will be useful to go toward paying for the electricity that your air-conditioner will be using during the hot Texan Summer months.

By doing a little bit of research and by making a little effort, you can enjoy the warmer months in your air-conditioned home or office with peace of mind. Find out other ways that you can reduce your energy consumption by taking a look at some energy saving sites on the Internet. You should be able to find quite a few helpful hints and tips that will help you to manage your electricity bill and also enjoy the savings you will incur. So put in a bit of time and effort and then reap the rewards.

Jerry C. Dyess Finance electric, electric bill, electricity, electricity saving tips, energy, energy saving tips, energy savings, Finance, green energy, texas electricity

As the seasons turn toward spring, we can all look forward to the warm spring days and eventually the hot summer nights in Texas. Now is the time to prepare for the hot weather by managing your electric bill. You may be using more electricity than in the cooler months when you run your air conditioner, so this is a perfect time to find a way to lower those bills before you have to increase your energy use.

Preparing for an increased energy use for your air conditioning system could mean saving on other appliances in your home to minimize the effect on your monthly bill. Take a look at all of the other energy use that you have in your home and begin to find ways to minimize your use. It is as simple as being aware of the energy that you are using and finding ways to cut back.

Texas has now made it possible for different electrical companies to provide your electricity needs. This means that those companies will be competing for your business and that translates into savings for the consumers. You now have the excellent opportunity to choose between electricity suppliers and Spring is a great time to do that. Investigate the companies out there so that you can find out which one will be the most cost effective one for you and your electricity requirements before Summer has arrived.

Another effective way of reducing your monthly electric bill is to take a look around your home and make note of all the appliances that you tend to leave plugged in even when you are not using them. Perhaps, like millions of people who own a mobile phone, you leave the charger plugged in all the time. Also, if you own your own computer, remember that it still uses up energy when it is in sleep mode. So consider switching it off when it is not in use. You might be pleasantly surprised just how much this one precaution can positively impact your energy bill.

As you can see, taking note of which electrical items in your home or business can be switched off when not being used, can add up to a nice saving on you monthly energy bill. Coupled with the other practical steps we have already seen, you will be amazed at how much of a reduction you will see in your energy usage and this will mean that your increased use of the air-conditioner in the summer months will not cause your bill to rise by much.

The smart electric consumer is the one that will do the research and plan for the extra energy expense during the spring and summer months. Taking advantage of all the options that are available to you will make the summer months a cool breeze to get through. Visit some of the websites that are available that will give you the information that you need to get through the summer without raising the cost of your Texas electric bills. You will be glad that you made these changes in your home.

Jerry C. Dyess Finance electric, electric bill, electricity, electricity saving tips, energy, energy saving tips, energy savings, Finance, green energy, texas electricity

In summer many people make use of their air-conditioners and this results in increased energy use. Because of this most of us are suddenly confronted with a much higher electricity bill that we got used to in the winter months. That is why, when Spring arrives, it makes good sense to begin to prepare for your energy consumption during the hot Texan summer. The whole point is to keep your energy bill the same or only minimally higher once you are using the air-conditioner more regularly.

Preparing for an increased energy use for your air conditioning system could mean saving on other appliances in your home to minimize the effect on your monthly bill. Take a look at all of the other energy use that you have in your home and begin to find ways to minimize your use. It is as simple as being aware of the energy that you are using and finding ways to cut back.

Texas electricity means that you will have a choice when it comes to your electric service provider. Texas has made the decision to deregulate and it has given consumers a whole new way to look at their electric bill every month. No longer will you be forced to stay with a company that is charging you rates that are too high. Companies are now going to compete for your business and that means better rates for you. Spring is a good time to take a look at the Texas electric companies to find ways to prepare for the coming hot weather.

Another effective way of reducing your monthly electric bill is to take a look around your home and make note of all the appliances that you tend to leave plugged in even when you are not using them. Perhaps, like millions of people who own a mobile phone, you leave the charger plugged in all the time. Also, if you own your own computer, remember that it still uses up energy when it is in sleep mode. So consider switching it off when it is not in use. You might be pleasantly surprised just how much this one precaution can positively impact your energy bill.

As you can see, taking note of which electrical items in your home or business can be switched off when not being used, can add up to a nice saving on you monthly energy bill. Coupled with the other practical steps we have already seen, you will be amazed at how much of a reduction you will see in your energy usage and this will mean that your increased use of the air-conditioner in the summer months will not cause your bill to rise by much.

It definitely pays to be wise about your energy consumption. If you take the proper steps and precautions you will find that you are more than prepared for your electrical needs come Spring and Summer. You will find a whole host of information on the Internet that will give you tips and advice on how to keep your Texas energy bills at a manageable level and you will be greatly impressed by the savings you can achieve with just a small amount of research and effort.

Jerry D. Finance electric, electric bill, electricity, electricity saving tips, energy, energy saving tips, energy savings, Finance, green energy, texas electricity