Renewable Energy…Make the Sun and Wind Work for You
Mankind is Addicted to Fossil Fuel
As a nation we have had our chances to promote alternative energy in the past. For mostly political and financial reasons ?
we have been left with, petroleum and its derivatives, natural gas, and coal, as our energy choices, with natural gas being the only so called clean alternative. Almost every attempt to break from the grasp of fossil fuels has been met with extreme opposition. From the beginning politics and greed has molded our future in regards to energy.
When Henry Ford’s Model T was first built, it came in a variation that allowed the driver to switch the carburetor to run the engine on farm-made ethyl alcohol. Most farms at that time were equipped with stills so this allowed the driver to refuel when needed. This did not sit well with John D. Rockefeller, who had even backed Ford financially. His Standard Oil Company had a monopoly on gasoline and he wanted all automobiles to run on it. Ford and the rest of the industry just wanted to sell their autos to everyone, and the most readily available fuel was distilled alcohol. What Rockefeller did next was brilliant. His actions however, would change the entire history of not just the United States but the entire world, leading to the energy and security problems of today.
Rockefeller saw an opportunity to take advantage of the Alcohol Temperance Movement that had been trying to limit the use of alcohol for more than 25 years. He gave the equivalent of $60million in today’s dollars to an obscure group pushing for the complete elimination of alcohol called the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Rockefeller took a stand against alcohol and turned what was essentially a local effort to curb consumption into a national movement that eventually led to prohibition. He made sure that the bill included anything distilled, alcoholic or not. Thus making sure that all vehicles would run on his gasoline. His greed has brought us to where we are today.
You Can Harness the Power of the Sun and Wind
Our Future Must Be a Clean One
Today we are finally realizing that the future of the Earth depends on weaning mankind off of petroleum and other fossil fuels. So does alternative energy make sense for the average household? Only you can decide what is right for you. Determine how much your energy bill is and how cost effective a renewable energy system will cost. I can tell you that regardless of what you have heard, or even have been quoted, solar and/or wind is more affordable than you think. I will cover that shortly, but first, let us explore the advantages and disadvantages of installing a workable renewable energy system.
The obvious reason for considering solar is fact that it is a renewable non- polluting source of energy. You should also know that it has no moving parts to break down, and requires very little maintenance. Another very important aspect is that contrary to most contractors? misconception it is not a difficult installation. For those of you who live or are considering living in extremely remote or rural areas if electricity is available it is usually expensive. In those cases solar power is undoubtedly the right way to go. However, even in areas where power lines are nearby, solar may still be a viable alternative to being connected to a power company. An average home has more than enough roof area to produce enough solar electricity to supply all of its power needs. All that is needed is an inverter,? which converts direct current (DC) power from the solar cells to alternating current (AC), which are what most home appliances run on. A solar home, except for the obvious changes to the roof, will look and operate just like any home does when it was connected to the power line.
Small wind turbines are designed for individual homes, farms, and small businesses, and are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free renewable power. They are defined as having rated capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. So if you were thinking that one wind generator will power your house, I?m? sorry but it won?t. Keep in mind that the wind turbine is simply a collector just like a solar panel is. In this case the collector is the spinning rotor, made up of a number of blades that rotate to turn the electrical generator. Small blades result in a small rotor diameter, which translates into a small collector area, which further translates into small amounts of generated electricity.
To properly access? wind flow and generate enough electricity, wind turbines are installed on high towers that rise above any trees or surrounding buildings. Your roof top might not be the right place unless a tower is utilized. It is advisable to get your neighbors permission before installing such a structure. For whatever reason you chose not to have a high enough tower, it won?t matter when it comes to generating adequate energy. It is better not to install a wind turbine in the first place, rather than to not have it high enough. There is simply little energy in low winds that you can convert into usable electricity.
The Cost Cannot Be to Great
Do-It-Yourself and save
The cost of both solar and wind power installation can run into the tens of thousands if left in the hands of contractors. I mentioned a viable option that will save you tens of thousands of dollars. I am referring to making this a do-it-yourself project. There are kits available that will cut your cost in half. Even better than that there are online instructional guides that will walk you through the entire process step by step. For those of you who don?t have either the time or the inclination to do it all yourself, I might suggest that you take advantage of the current work shortage by hiring a couple of competent handymen to construct the entire project. I bet with the right instructions, you could bring it in for a tenth of the original estimate.
My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, for that do-it-yourself wind and/or solar power project you might be considering. Obviously, I can?t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts of this or many other ideas on how to go green at my site Possibly GREEN. There you?ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to convert your car inexpensively, and even find green jobs in your area.
At 57, I consider myself to be a Jack Of All Trades And Master Of Nothing. I was a struggling actor for 25 years. During that time I learned a little about a lot of things, and would like to pass along some of that knowledge. I live in California with my beautiful wife and a menagerie of pets.
Posted: November 2nd, 2009
at 7:38amby budianto
Tagged with inverter generator, power inverters, solar residential
Categories: Wind Energy
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