New and better solar powered panels coming? Thin film is coming. Did yo know I was using this on small applications for the last several years. I will be adding a small panel on my site for you to buy and test shortly.
Solar Power Using An Alloy Film Better Than Silicon
Categories
Energy solutions
Save the environment
Further to: "Off-The-Grid" Right Now here is some great news. Starting with following two articles - a very interesting technology to follow up on.
..."solar photovoltaic technology can be produced in any desired amount, from a few milliwatts to many megawatts, if so desired. It is not necessary to erect large power stations to serve a community with energy from this technology.
A typical middle-class suburban family needs only about 30 square metres (about the size of a living room) of solar panels to supply all of its electricity needs."..
This highly efficient Copper-Indium-Gallium-Diselenide (CIGS) alloy eclipses Silicon and should finally make solar energy possible.
Monday, December 22, 2008
The solar horse riding helmet!
Here it is from Yahoo creative commons a neat horse riding hat!
Solar powered safety lit bike helmet.
Weatherproof, versatile, changeable parts, doubles as a AAA battery charger.
Weatherproof, changable 5 or 10mm flashing LEDs in O ring sealed mounts. Flexible weatherproof solar panel. Panel and batteries are detachable from helmet for use as a AAA battery charger for camping. Removable AAA batteries can be charged in wall if needed, or regular AAAs can be used.
> Charge time: 5-8 hours in full sunlight to charge 4 AA batteries. I used 3 AAA batteries, so it is much quicker. It will charge in bright cloud cover as well.
> Runtime being tested, but so far, seems like several hours.
To me this is a well-suited application of solar powered trickle charge panels. I only ride at night about an hour or so a week, so during the day the helmet can sit in a window and charge. Helmet mounted lights also free me from having lights mounted on my bike that need to be detached to keep from being stolen. It works in the rain and so far is always charged when I need it.
This project could be done in many different ways. The key breakthroughs for me after many trials and errors, were to use a simple soft case Velcro wrapped to the helmet, and to use Black Shoe Goo! I think it's the new duct tape. Also, most of the work was getting an easy rapid prototype idea to work rain or shine for months on end and be versatile with replaceable parts.
Solar powered safety lit bike helmet.
Weatherproof, versatile, changeable parts, doubles as a AAA battery charger.
Weatherproof, changable 5 or 10mm flashing LEDs in O ring sealed mounts. Flexible weatherproof solar panel. Panel and batteries are detachable from helmet for use as a AAA battery charger for camping. Removable AAA batteries can be charged in wall if needed, or regular AAAs can be used.
> Charge time: 5-8 hours in full sunlight to charge 4 AA batteries. I used 3 AAA batteries, so it is much quicker. It will charge in bright cloud cover as well.
> Runtime being tested, but so far, seems like several hours.
To me this is a well-suited application of solar powered trickle charge panels. I only ride at night about an hour or so a week, so during the day the helmet can sit in a window and charge. Helmet mounted lights also free me from having lights mounted on my bike that need to be detached to keep from being stolen. It works in the rain and so far is always charged when I need it.
This project could be done in many different ways. The key breakthroughs for me after many trials and errors, were to use a simple soft case Velcro wrapped to the helmet, and to use Black Shoe Goo! I think it's the new duct tape. Also, most of the work was getting an easy rapid prototype idea to work rain or shine for months on end and be versatile with replaceable parts.
A neat solar engine!
Solar engine
A simple circuit, designed to gather energy from light, store the energy, and then release that energy in bursts to drive a motor, coil, or some other circuit . These are variously called Solar Engines, solarengines, and SEs; in strict electronic terms, they are called relaxation oscillators. The whole purpose of a solar engine is to act like a power "savings account" -- a small trickle of incoming energy is saved up until a useable amount is stored. This stored energy is then released in a burst, in order to drive some useful (if only sporadic and incremental) work.
Various solar engine designs "trigger" (release their stored energy) based any of a number of criteria.
Solar engines have a number of advantages:
* With a solar engine, a solar-powered robot can be made to work (if only sporadically) in even low light levels.
* Solar engines allow solar cell size to be minimized
o Saves money
o Saves weight
o Allows room for the solar cell to be ruggedized.
Four types of solar engines have been defined and built to date, categorized by their trigger mechanism:
* Type 1 - voltage controlled trigger. This is by far the predominant form of solar engine, since they are "efficient enough" for most uses, and pretty simple to build.
* Type 2 - time controlled trigger. These aren't terribly efficient, but are handy for 'bots that need activity at specific times.
* Type 3 - charge curve differentiated, i.e., it triggers when the charge rate of the capacitor(s) slows down. These are (theoretically at least) the most efficient.
* Nocturnal -- These solar engines charge up when it's light, and discharge (i.e., power a load) when it's dark.
For more information, and a whole slew of solar engine designs, see the Solar Engine section of the BEAM Reference Library's BEAM Circuits collection.
A simple circuit, designed to gather energy from light, store the energy, and then release that energy in bursts to drive a motor, coil, or some other circuit . These are variously called Solar Engines, solarengines, and SEs; in strict electronic terms, they are called relaxation oscillators. The whole purpose of a solar engine is to act like a power "savings account" -- a small trickle of incoming energy is saved up until a useable amount is stored. This stored energy is then released in a burst, in order to drive some useful (if only sporadic and incremental) work.
Various solar engine designs "trigger" (release their stored energy) based any of a number of criteria.
Solar engines have a number of advantages:
* With a solar engine, a solar-powered robot can be made to work (if only sporadically) in even low light levels.
* Solar engines allow solar cell size to be minimized
o Saves money
o Saves weight
o Allows room for the solar cell to be ruggedized.
Four types of solar engines have been defined and built to date, categorized by their trigger mechanism:
* Type 1 - voltage controlled trigger. This is by far the predominant form of solar engine, since they are "efficient enough" for most uses, and pretty simple to build.
* Type 2 - time controlled trigger. These aren't terribly efficient, but are handy for 'bots that need activity at specific times.
* Type 3 - charge curve differentiated, i.e., it triggers when the charge rate of the capacitor(s) slows down. These are (theoretically at least) the most efficient.
* Nocturnal -- These solar engines charge up when it's light, and discharge (i.e., power a load) when it's dark.
For more information, and a whole slew of solar engine designs, see the Solar Engine section of the BEAM Reference Library's BEAM Circuits collection.
LED and 110 power in the barn
I went out yesterday and it was about 10 below wind chill and I pulled a chain in the door and one LED light came on, then I walked a bit pulled another chain, then I walked a bit and pressed a button and on came my 110 knights and walked a bit more and turned on another LED light and there my barn was flooded with more than enough light to feed the horse, and put her up.
The cold really affects the florressants but does not in anyway effect the LED lighting.
Just thought I would tell you :) All this is run by one 12 volt 35 amp/hr jell battery and 1-1amp solar panel. Call me if yu have any questions.
The cold really affects the florressants but does not in anyway effect the LED lighting.
Just thought I would tell you :) All this is run by one 12 volt 35 amp/hr jell battery and 1-1amp solar panel. Call me if yu have any questions.
working by my LED solar light
I am up early in frigid KC and once again I am using my 12 volt LED light and I am typing away. No power from the big screw I mean power company being used. Of course I am using 110V for my laptop. My goal one day is to power my entire room by DC/AC power. Recently I read that a small roof top solar system would cost about $20,000 installed...yikes but I will try to save to do this...in the mean time I will try to do it on the cheap :)
I just bought a 1000 watt inverter for my power AC/DC power back up system. I wanted 2000 Watts but money made me compromise. I will use it to power or test power a pc in the office. we will see. I have a 60 amp hour battery and a 1 amp 17 watt solar panel to trickle charge the system and now the 1000 watt inverter. I will buy a nice regulator and put it all together. So my lights in the office and at least one computer will be working on full back up power. I will keep you posted.
I just bought a 1000 watt inverter for my power AC/DC power back up system. I wanted 2000 Watts but money made me compromise. I will use it to power or test power a pc in the office. we will see. I have a 60 amp hour battery and a 1 amp 17 watt solar panel to trickle charge the system and now the 1000 watt inverter. I will buy a nice regulator and put it all together. So my lights in the office and at least one computer will be working on full back up power. I will keep you posted.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
A cool new solar gadget
Global Satellite USA Launches Solar-Powered Laptop Bag
December 17, 2008
[Satellite Today 12-17-08] Global Satellite USA has released the Generator, a bag that produces enough solar power to charge a laptop from less than a day in the sun, the company announced Dec. 17.
The Generator features a 15-watt solar panel and a battery that holds the equivalent of a full laptop charge and also can be charged from a wall outlet.
For each hour in the sun, the Generator extends laptop run time by 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the efficiency of the laptop, according to Global Satellite USA. An hour in the sun also generates enough power to fully charge most phones, MP3 players and small cameras.
December 17, 2008
[Satellite Today 12-17-08] Global Satellite USA has released the Generator, a bag that produces enough solar power to charge a laptop from less than a day in the sun, the company announced Dec. 17.
The Generator features a 15-watt solar panel and a battery that holds the equivalent of a full laptop charge and also can be charged from a wall outlet.
For each hour in the sun, the Generator extends laptop run time by 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the efficiency of the laptop, according to Global Satellite USA. An hour in the sun also generates enough power to fully charge most phones, MP3 players and small cameras.
Solar on the cheap
This a rather long article I found but it is worth the read. I have done some of this and saved and scrounged many solar panels and items.:
t seems that the “green” (or brown) movement is growing faster and faster. It used to be the realm of unwashed hippies, tree huggers and other so called “degenerates” who lived off the grid, in the wild, on the fringes of society.
Lately, I keep reading about how more mainstream people are jumping in, purchasing solar panels, adding passive solar rooms, collecting rain water. I read about people who build $300,000+ green homes, that price doesn’t include the price of the land it sits upon! It’s all fine and dandy for those who have lots of readily available cash sitting around, or worse, they get loans to bankroll their ubergreen homes.I have no complaints about those who can afford the extravagant green homes, if you are wealthy and can afford to do it, then by all means go for it. But what about all of the rest of us, living on fixed or small incomes? Is it possible to live the green dream if you don’t have a cool million sitting in the bank? The answer is YES, you can!
In this article I talk about solar panels, but this can also refer to anything it takes to live off grid, solar power, wind power, water power…
That doesn’t mean you can go out and buy an entire setup of solar panels and everything that goes with it right off the bat. That would just be foolish. It would be even more foolish to buy on credit, there is no point in making this cost more than it has to, and buying on credit, unless you CAN and WILL pay off the balance before the next billing cycle, you will be paying more than necessary.
The way to bankroll your purchases is to do it one step at a time. I am assuming that you have taken the time to educate yourself on solar panels and everything that goes with it. You don’t need to go crazy, just do a little homework, learn what you need, figure out how you can reduce your power needs, the less power you can use, the less you need to spend on your solar setup.
Figure out how much money you have left over at the end of the month, after all of your bills are paid. Take that money, put some of it aside for a “rainy day”, and take the rest and purchase as many solar panels as you can. If that is one, then just get one. Set these aside and add to it each month. You will need more than just solar panels, but this will get you started. You will also need to get deep cycle batteries, there are several different types, again you need to educate yourself. They can be expensive, so buy them as you can. You also need to try to stay with the same size or as close to the same size as possible as well a the same type, you don’t want to mix wet batteries with gel batteries, again, you need to educate yourself. It might even be advisable to make those your latter purchases since batteries generally require some maintenance, they don’t like just sitting idle.
You will need to get at least one charge controller, don’t skimp on this, this one item will insure that you don’t overcharge your batteries, this investment will pay off big time in the long run.
For the solar panels, I have heard many different opinions about how much to spend on them, I find that they don’t have any moving parts, and either they work or they don’t, so if you can find them cheaper, then buy the cheaper ones. Harbor Freight has good prices on a range of solar panels, I find nothing wrong with them. Just a little bit of advice, I used to work in the electronics industry, in general, the sales people tended to disparage the “cheaper” generic items in favor of the more expensive brand name items. The only reason they did this was so their paychecks would be bigger, ie they earned commission on their sales. I even found this trend in a store where no one earned commissions.
I don’t know why they did it other than the bottom line of the store, but it happened, and it happened frequently. It was their perception that the higher priced, name brand products were somehow better than the lower cost generic products. The funny part about it is, usually the generic products were made by the same manufacturers that made the name brand products. These often had a lower price point AND a bigger markup, so if they had been “pushing” the generics, they would have been, in reality, making more money for the store in the long run! Go figure! So don’t get caught up in the “it has to be a brand name” solar panel, buy what you can afford.
If you do this, starting now, within a year you should have a pretty good stash of solar goodies waiting for you to hook them all up. If you think this will take too long, just think of it like this, the time WILL go by whether you are slowly stocking up or not, if you had started this a year ago, how much would you have now? So don’t let the perception of time passing slowly discourage you from getting started, the sooner you start, the sooner you will be in better shape to be off grid. The longer you put it off, the longer it will take for you to become independent!
If you don’t have enough money to purchase an item at the end of the month, then set aside the money you DO have, don’t blow it, just save it and add it to next month’s funds. Anytime you come into extra money, an unexpected raise, a bonus, Christmas or birthday money, put that towards your solar purchases. Try spending less on unnecessary things, instead of eating out, eat at home, bring your lunch to work, stop buying those $4.00 coffee’s, you know what I am talking about! Take the change out of your pocket or purse everyday and put it aside, every little bit adds up. Eat closer to the earth, stop buying all the pre-prepared, over packaged microwave junk foods, your body, mind and pocketbook will be the better for it.
Ladies, do you REALLY have to get your nails done every week? How about shopping at discount stores or even (gasp) second hand stores? I have found brand new clothes, with retail tags still attached in thrift stores, I can buy a pair of good jeans for a few dollars instead of paying $30.00 and up. You can even find deals on some of your groceries if you are willing to shop at salvage grocery stores, just look in the phone book. Also look at the dollar stores for some of your grocery needs, you can get lots of staples at a great price there. Just take inventory of what you are spending each month, decide which things can be trimmed or even cut out all together, what is more important, going to the movies this weekend or becoming free from monthly utility bills?
Do you really need to have 2 cars? Do you really need a NEW car? Buying an older model car can save you thousands of dollars in car payments as well as lower insurance premiums. What do you have laying around collecting dust that you can sell? What can you give up that will save you money, how much are you paying to watch TV? I’m talking about cable and satellite services, how about dropping the service all together, or if you are not willing to do that, how about dropping the premium channels? How much would that save each month? Shop around for internet service, you may be paying too much for your current service. Try this, turn off your modem, turn on your wireless card and see if there is a signal you can “use” to get free internet. Check with your neighbors and see if you can go in with them on an internet connection and share the bill.
If your company has an employee stock plan, or some other type of savings plans, especially if they match your contribution, then GO FOR IT! That’s exactly how I was able to buy my little parcel of land, I worked 10 and a half years at Best Buy, the last 7 years I worked part time. I signed up for the employee stock plan as soon as it was available for the part timers. I gave the maximum that I could, it was 20% of my paycheck. Working part time, that wasn’t much, on average it was about $70.00 per paycheck, we were paid every 2 weeks. I left the money alone, most of the time I didn’t even know how much money I had in that account. Too many time I saw this happen with the other people I worked with, they would get a couple of thousand dollars saved up, then they would cash it in and make a down payment on a new car, or something else that was equally unnecessary. I only became interested in how much I had when I started looking for a place to buy to live off grid. In the 7 or so years that I had participated in this program, I had saved/earned enough to be able to buy my land outright. I didn’t have to get a bank loan, I didn’t use credit cards, I just cashed in one investment and put the money into another investment, my property.
More at the following link: http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/
t seems that the “green” (or brown) movement is growing faster and faster. It used to be the realm of unwashed hippies, tree huggers and other so called “degenerates” who lived off the grid, in the wild, on the fringes of society.
Lately, I keep reading about how more mainstream people are jumping in, purchasing solar panels, adding passive solar rooms, collecting rain water. I read about people who build $300,000+ green homes, that price doesn’t include the price of the land it sits upon! It’s all fine and dandy for those who have lots of readily available cash sitting around, or worse, they get loans to bankroll their ubergreen homes.I have no complaints about those who can afford the extravagant green homes, if you are wealthy and can afford to do it, then by all means go for it. But what about all of the rest of us, living on fixed or small incomes? Is it possible to live the green dream if you don’t have a cool million sitting in the bank? The answer is YES, you can!
In this article I talk about solar panels, but this can also refer to anything it takes to live off grid, solar power, wind power, water power…
That doesn’t mean you can go out and buy an entire setup of solar panels and everything that goes with it right off the bat. That would just be foolish. It would be even more foolish to buy on credit, there is no point in making this cost more than it has to, and buying on credit, unless you CAN and WILL pay off the balance before the next billing cycle, you will be paying more than necessary.
The way to bankroll your purchases is to do it one step at a time. I am assuming that you have taken the time to educate yourself on solar panels and everything that goes with it. You don’t need to go crazy, just do a little homework, learn what you need, figure out how you can reduce your power needs, the less power you can use, the less you need to spend on your solar setup.
Figure out how much money you have left over at the end of the month, after all of your bills are paid. Take that money, put some of it aside for a “rainy day”, and take the rest and purchase as many solar panels as you can. If that is one, then just get one. Set these aside and add to it each month. You will need more than just solar panels, but this will get you started. You will also need to get deep cycle batteries, there are several different types, again you need to educate yourself. They can be expensive, so buy them as you can. You also need to try to stay with the same size or as close to the same size as possible as well a the same type, you don’t want to mix wet batteries with gel batteries, again, you need to educate yourself. It might even be advisable to make those your latter purchases since batteries generally require some maintenance, they don’t like just sitting idle.
You will need to get at least one charge controller, don’t skimp on this, this one item will insure that you don’t overcharge your batteries, this investment will pay off big time in the long run.
For the solar panels, I have heard many different opinions about how much to spend on them, I find that they don’t have any moving parts, and either they work or they don’t, so if you can find them cheaper, then buy the cheaper ones. Harbor Freight has good prices on a range of solar panels, I find nothing wrong with them. Just a little bit of advice, I used to work in the electronics industry, in general, the sales people tended to disparage the “cheaper” generic items in favor of the more expensive brand name items. The only reason they did this was so their paychecks would be bigger, ie they earned commission on their sales. I even found this trend in a store where no one earned commissions.
I don’t know why they did it other than the bottom line of the store, but it happened, and it happened frequently. It was their perception that the higher priced, name brand products were somehow better than the lower cost generic products. The funny part about it is, usually the generic products were made by the same manufacturers that made the name brand products. These often had a lower price point AND a bigger markup, so if they had been “pushing” the generics, they would have been, in reality, making more money for the store in the long run! Go figure! So don’t get caught up in the “it has to be a brand name” solar panel, buy what you can afford.
If you do this, starting now, within a year you should have a pretty good stash of solar goodies waiting for you to hook them all up. If you think this will take too long, just think of it like this, the time WILL go by whether you are slowly stocking up or not, if you had started this a year ago, how much would you have now? So don’t let the perception of time passing slowly discourage you from getting started, the sooner you start, the sooner you will be in better shape to be off grid. The longer you put it off, the longer it will take for you to become independent!
If you don’t have enough money to purchase an item at the end of the month, then set aside the money you DO have, don’t blow it, just save it and add it to next month’s funds. Anytime you come into extra money, an unexpected raise, a bonus, Christmas or birthday money, put that towards your solar purchases. Try spending less on unnecessary things, instead of eating out, eat at home, bring your lunch to work, stop buying those $4.00 coffee’s, you know what I am talking about! Take the change out of your pocket or purse everyday and put it aside, every little bit adds up. Eat closer to the earth, stop buying all the pre-prepared, over packaged microwave junk foods, your body, mind and pocketbook will be the better for it.
Ladies, do you REALLY have to get your nails done every week? How about shopping at discount stores or even (gasp) second hand stores? I have found brand new clothes, with retail tags still attached in thrift stores, I can buy a pair of good jeans for a few dollars instead of paying $30.00 and up. You can even find deals on some of your groceries if you are willing to shop at salvage grocery stores, just look in the phone book. Also look at the dollar stores for some of your grocery needs, you can get lots of staples at a great price there. Just take inventory of what you are spending each month, decide which things can be trimmed or even cut out all together, what is more important, going to the movies this weekend or becoming free from monthly utility bills?
Do you really need to have 2 cars? Do you really need a NEW car? Buying an older model car can save you thousands of dollars in car payments as well as lower insurance premiums. What do you have laying around collecting dust that you can sell? What can you give up that will save you money, how much are you paying to watch TV? I’m talking about cable and satellite services, how about dropping the service all together, or if you are not willing to do that, how about dropping the premium channels? How much would that save each month? Shop around for internet service, you may be paying too much for your current service. Try this, turn off your modem, turn on your wireless card and see if there is a signal you can “use” to get free internet. Check with your neighbors and see if you can go in with them on an internet connection and share the bill.
If your company has an employee stock plan, or some other type of savings plans, especially if they match your contribution, then GO FOR IT! That’s exactly how I was able to buy my little parcel of land, I worked 10 and a half years at Best Buy, the last 7 years I worked part time. I signed up for the employee stock plan as soon as it was available for the part timers. I gave the maximum that I could, it was 20% of my paycheck. Working part time, that wasn’t much, on average it was about $70.00 per paycheck, we were paid every 2 weeks. I left the money alone, most of the time I didn’t even know how much money I had in that account. Too many time I saw this happen with the other people I worked with, they would get a couple of thousand dollars saved up, then they would cash it in and make a down payment on a new car, or something else that was equally unnecessary. I only became interested in how much I had when I started looking for a place to buy to live off grid. In the 7 or so years that I had participated in this program, I had saved/earned enough to be able to buy my land outright. I didn’t have to get a bank loan, I didn’t use credit cards, I just cashed in one investment and put the money into another investment, my property.
More at the following link: http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/
Friday, December 12, 2008
Can you afford residential solar?
This is a neat article by Eric Duncan
by Eric Q. Duncan
The economy is not getting any better. This means most people are still limiting their spending any way they can. Many are thinking about alternate sources of energy to use at their residence to save money on a long-term basis. Residential solar panels are a good choice for saving money and this source of energy does no harm to the environment.
It is a common belief that the only way to have green renewable energy is to purchase a system through an alternative energy company and have it professionally installed in your home. This is out of reach for most people, as they cannot afford it. What they do not know is they can build their own solar panels for a reasonable cost at home.
Your own homemade solar panels can be connected to your utility company’s grid in such a way as to feed your unused power back through their lines. They are obligated to pay you for the excess power you produce. This means not only can you lower your bills; you may also receive a check from the power company.
The solar panels depend on sunshine to produce power to your home. What will you do at night or on rainy days? Here are three options for you to think about.
A system of batteries can be set up to store power for use when you need it. When your solar panels are not getting enough sun to work, your batteries will take over to provide power to your home. Once you have the battery back-up system in place you will not be dependent on the electric company for power. You can have your power from them shut off.
This means your home is producing all its energy needs from your homemade solar panels. This is referred to as living off the grid. You are running your lights, air, heat, or anything else you use electricity to power without using the services of the power company.
You can also build your own wind power system and use it as well as your homemade solar panels. It will kick in when the sun is not shining and power your home. It is easy to construct your own wind system from simple inexpensive products from your local supply company. But then again sometimes the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.
For this reason, it is still wise to hook up to the power grid or invest in a battery bank to ensure you never have to go without power. However, by using both types of green energy you provide more energy to your home and very rarely have to depend on your back up methods for power.
The third method is to simply be hooked to the grid. If you ever are in a situation where the sun is not shining you home simply draws power from the grid. Usually it only costs you a few dollars per bill and often times due to the power the grid has used from your solar panel you break even.
It is time to do all you can to cut the cost of living and having your own residential solar panels is a good way to do it. The environment needs help and this green alternative energy source will not harm the earth or atmosphere in any way. Anyone can make and install their own solar panels with the right guidance.
by Eric Q. Duncan
The economy is not getting any better. This means most people are still limiting their spending any way they can. Many are thinking about alternate sources of energy to use at their residence to save money on a long-term basis. Residential solar panels are a good choice for saving money and this source of energy does no harm to the environment.
It is a common belief that the only way to have green renewable energy is to purchase a system through an alternative energy company and have it professionally installed in your home. This is out of reach for most people, as they cannot afford it. What they do not know is they can build their own solar panels for a reasonable cost at home.
Your own homemade solar panels can be connected to your utility company’s grid in such a way as to feed your unused power back through their lines. They are obligated to pay you for the excess power you produce. This means not only can you lower your bills; you may also receive a check from the power company.
The solar panels depend on sunshine to produce power to your home. What will you do at night or on rainy days? Here are three options for you to think about.
A system of batteries can be set up to store power for use when you need it. When your solar panels are not getting enough sun to work, your batteries will take over to provide power to your home. Once you have the battery back-up system in place you will not be dependent on the electric company for power. You can have your power from them shut off.
This means your home is producing all its energy needs from your homemade solar panels. This is referred to as living off the grid. You are running your lights, air, heat, or anything else you use electricity to power without using the services of the power company.
You can also build your own wind power system and use it as well as your homemade solar panels. It will kick in when the sun is not shining and power your home. It is easy to construct your own wind system from simple inexpensive products from your local supply company. But then again sometimes the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.
For this reason, it is still wise to hook up to the power grid or invest in a battery bank to ensure you never have to go without power. However, by using both types of green energy you provide more energy to your home and very rarely have to depend on your back up methods for power.
The third method is to simply be hooked to the grid. If you ever are in a situation where the sun is not shining you home simply draws power from the grid. Usually it only costs you a few dollars per bill and often times due to the power the grid has used from your solar panel you break even.
It is time to do all you can to cut the cost of living and having your own residential solar panels is a good way to do it. The environment needs help and this green alternative energy source will not harm the earth or atmosphere in any way. Anyone can make and install their own solar panels with the right guidance.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
If you are using batteries for solar use remember this
One thing I have noticed, do not let yur battery charge go below about 12 volts. if you let the voltage drop too far almost no amount of solar trickle charge will work and you will have to use a commercial battery charger to bring you back up to then allow the solar panel to keep you up to snuff.
Working in the early morning with only 12 volt and 110 solar power
Yes it was one of those mornings and my eyes just popped open and away I went. I went into my office and I turned on my 12 volt light and also my 110 inverter light and my room was awash in very bright light. I say this because I often just use that light to work by. I will tell you that the inverter light is very bright but it does suck some juice. Unless you have a big battery, be prepared for a few hours of light. I will experiment and buy a much more powerful battery and gauge its performance. Bottom line...with 12 volt LED lights you can work a long time on a little battery but the light is not quite the same. On an inverter light, you can get as much light or more than your household light but only for so long. Bottom line is you have to balance your needs.
Samsung is going solar
Like it or not here it comes
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — With growth in flat-panel TV sales declining, LCD makers at Samsung are seeing solar and immersive displays as two of the most promising drivers of future demand. Meanwhile, the company is shifting its LCD business into survival mode for the downturn with a new focus on cost-effective products.
A Samsung executive said the company's move into large scale production of solar photovoltaic panels may be "almost inevitable." Samsung saw industry growth in flat-panel TVs—the biggest market for LCDs--trending down to single digits even before the economic downturn in September.
"It may be even worse now," said Jun-Hyung Souk, executive vice president of Samsung's display R&D center. "We have to do something for 2010 and beyond to create the next growth engine," he said speaking at an annual Samsung tech forum here.
Over the last 18 months, Samsung has assembled a large R&D group for solar panels. The company may start by producing bulk crystalline panels because newer thin film technologies may require another two years or more of research.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — With growth in flat-panel TV sales declining, LCD makers at Samsung are seeing solar and immersive displays as two of the most promising drivers of future demand. Meanwhile, the company is shifting its LCD business into survival mode for the downturn with a new focus on cost-effective products.
A Samsung executive said the company's move into large scale production of solar photovoltaic panels may be "almost inevitable." Samsung saw industry growth in flat-panel TVs—the biggest market for LCDs--trending down to single digits even before the economic downturn in September.
"It may be even worse now," said Jun-Hyung Souk, executive vice president of Samsung's display R&D center. "We have to do something for 2010 and beyond to create the next growth engine," he said speaking at an annual Samsung tech forum here.
Over the last 18 months, Samsung has assembled a large R&D group for solar panels. The company may start by producing bulk crystalline panels because newer thin film technologies may require another two years or more of research.
Solar Power is growing
This is a neat article I saw in the Kansas City Star. This is much bigger in scope than anything we sell but it can be taken down to a smaller level.
Solar systems powering more Calif. agribusinesses
By STEVE LAWRENCE
Associated Press Writer
Jessica Lundberg, who chairs the board of directors of the Lundberg Family Farms, is seen near a solar power panel at the farm in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations
Rich Pedroncelli
Jessica Lundberg, who chairs the board of directors of the Lundberg Family Farms, is seen near a solar power panel at the farm in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations
Rice seed runs through a separator at the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms, which has been growing rice since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations. While it gets 10 percent to 15 percent of it's power from solar panels, installed on the farm in 2006, the Lundberg Farms also buys renewable energy credits that enables the company to say that it gets 100 percent of it's electricity from renewable sources. Rice seed is poured into a hopper that will be mixed with other ingredients to make rice cakes at the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms, which has been growing rice since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations. While it gets 10 percent to 15 percent of it's power from solar panels, installed in 2006 , the Lundberg Farms also buys renewable energy credits that enables the company to say that it gets 100 percent of it's electricity from renewable sources. A solar power panel is seen with rice storage bins at the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations Jessica Lundberg displays a variety of rice grown by the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations.
For more than 70 years, California's abundance of sunshine has enabled the Lundberg family to grow rice in the Central Valley north of Sacramento.
Now the sun is helping the family churn out myriad rice products, from chips to cakes to pasta.
Lundberg Family Farms, which bills itself as the nation's largest producer of organic rice and rice products, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations.
"It made sense from an environmental point of view and a business point of view," said Jessica Lundberg, whose family has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937.
There's no count of how many growers have invested in solar, but Bernadette Del Chiaro, a clean energy advocate with the group Environment California, said she has seen an increase in agricultural companies installing solar panels over the last five years.
That's particularly true among wineries and packing plants that have high refrigeration and air conditioning costs.
"We're seeing a lot of wineries go solar, and it's not just to green their image," she said. "It's because they can actually save money."
More than 960 California companies have applied for rebates through the state Public Utilities Commission since Jan. 1, 2007, for installing solar panels, but there's no breakdown available on how many of those applicants are in agriculture.
Besides the rebates, companies that install solar panels can qualify for a federal tax credit on the purchase and installation costs. They also can get credits from utilities for any unused solar-generated electricity they send to the power grid.
Ron Martella said his family's walnut processing company, Grower Direct Nut Co., took a long look at the potential economic benefits before deciding to install solar panels this year.
"We're in one of the cheapest electrical districts in the state," said Martella, a director of the company in Hughson, about 80 miles south of Sacramento. "We came to the conclusion that with the tax credits and rebates, the money we'd save on electricity would be a positive thing for our company in the long run."
He expects the $3.5 million project to be paid off in about eight years.
Lundberg Farms won a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this year for its use of renewable energy.
Besides the power it obtains from its solar panels, the company buys renewable energy credits that help develop wind power. That enables Lundberg Farms to claim it gets 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
The EPA said Lundberg's energy program was the "the largest U.S. renewable energy commitment by an agribusiness." The company also won the award in 2004.
Lundberg traces her family's interest in renewable energy to her grandparents' experiences farming in the Midwest during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s.
"They had seen what happens ... if you don't take care of your resources," she said. "When they came to California and had a chance to start again, they took it really seriously."
Her father and his three brothers started the rice mill in the 1960s and began growing rice without chemicals. Now a third generation of cousins and their spouses has moved into positions at the company, which grows 17 varieties of rice on about 15,000 acres.
It turns 45 million to 60 million pounds of rice a year into more than 150 products, including varieties of rice chips, rice syrup, rice pasta, rice cakes and one- and two-pound packages of rice. It also sells rice in bulk quantities.
Company officials figure their solar panels will be providing them with electricity for the next 30 to 40 years.
Rebates and tax credits covered about half the cost of the $3.5 million project. They expect to make up for the rest of the cost in eight to 10 years.
"We're still carrying the cost of installation, paying them off," Lundberg said. "But we think it was a good business decision. It's just so satisfying to be able to contribute like that, to have something tangible we are able to do."
Solar systems powering more Calif. agribusinesses
By STEVE LAWRENCE
Associated Press Writer
Jessica Lundberg, who chairs the board of directors of the Lundberg Family Farms, is seen near a solar power panel at the farm in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations
Rich Pedroncelli
Jessica Lundberg, who chairs the board of directors of the Lundberg Family Farms, is seen near a solar power panel at the farm in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations
Rice seed runs through a separator at the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms, which has been growing rice since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations. While it gets 10 percent to 15 percent of it's power from solar panels, installed on the farm in 2006, the Lundberg Farms also buys renewable energy credits that enables the company to say that it gets 100 percent of it's electricity from renewable sources. Rice seed is poured into a hopper that will be mixed with other ingredients to make rice cakes at the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms, which has been growing rice since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations. While it gets 10 percent to 15 percent of it's power from solar panels, installed in 2006 , the Lundberg Farms also buys renewable energy credits that enables the company to say that it gets 100 percent of it's electricity from renewable sources. A solar power panel is seen with rice storage bins at the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations Jessica Lundberg displays a variety of rice grown by the Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. The Lundberg Family Farms,which has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations.
For more than 70 years, California's abundance of sunshine has enabled the Lundberg family to grow rice in the Central Valley north of Sacramento.
Now the sun is helping the family churn out myriad rice products, from chips to cakes to pasta.
Lundberg Family Farms, which bills itself as the nation's largest producer of organic rice and rice products, is among a small but growing number of California growers and processors who are turning to solar power to help them run their operations.
"It made sense from an environmental point of view and a business point of view," said Jessica Lundberg, whose family has been growing rice in the Richvale area since 1937.
There's no count of how many growers have invested in solar, but Bernadette Del Chiaro, a clean energy advocate with the group Environment California, said she has seen an increase in agricultural companies installing solar panels over the last five years.
That's particularly true among wineries and packing plants that have high refrigeration and air conditioning costs.
"We're seeing a lot of wineries go solar, and it's not just to green their image," she said. "It's because they can actually save money."
More than 960 California companies have applied for rebates through the state Public Utilities Commission since Jan. 1, 2007, for installing solar panels, but there's no breakdown available on how many of those applicants are in agriculture.
Besides the rebates, companies that install solar panels can qualify for a federal tax credit on the purchase and installation costs. They also can get credits from utilities for any unused solar-generated electricity they send to the power grid.
Ron Martella said his family's walnut processing company, Grower Direct Nut Co., took a long look at the potential economic benefits before deciding to install solar panels this year.
"We're in one of the cheapest electrical districts in the state," said Martella, a director of the company in Hughson, about 80 miles south of Sacramento. "We came to the conclusion that with the tax credits and rebates, the money we'd save on electricity would be a positive thing for our company in the long run."
He expects the $3.5 million project to be paid off in about eight years.
Lundberg Farms won a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this year for its use of renewable energy.
Besides the power it obtains from its solar panels, the company buys renewable energy credits that help develop wind power. That enables Lundberg Farms to claim it gets 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
The EPA said Lundberg's energy program was the "the largest U.S. renewable energy commitment by an agribusiness." The company also won the award in 2004.
Lundberg traces her family's interest in renewable energy to her grandparents' experiences farming in the Midwest during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s.
"They had seen what happens ... if you don't take care of your resources," she said. "When they came to California and had a chance to start again, they took it really seriously."
Her father and his three brothers started the rice mill in the 1960s and began growing rice without chemicals. Now a third generation of cousins and their spouses has moved into positions at the company, which grows 17 varieties of rice on about 15,000 acres.
It turns 45 million to 60 million pounds of rice a year into more than 150 products, including varieties of rice chips, rice syrup, rice pasta, rice cakes and one- and two-pound packages of rice. It also sells rice in bulk quantities.
Company officials figure their solar panels will be providing them with electricity for the next 30 to 40 years.
Rebates and tax credits covered about half the cost of the $3.5 million project. They expect to make up for the rest of the cost in eight to 10 years.
"We're still carrying the cost of installation, paying them off," Lundberg said. "But we think it was a good business decision. It's just so satisfying to be able to contribute like that, to have something tangible we are able to do."
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Another day using solar
Once again today, I went downstairs and this time I walked over to my inverter and turned on my 110 back up power lights and lit up my whole very nice sized basement for over 1 hour. If we have a bad rain or ice storm I am ready and can at least for a time provide myself with safe and affordable back up power.
By the way the panel has been up over 6 years and the battery going for about 5 years!
By the way the panel has been up over 6 years and the battery going for about 5 years!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Working out under 12 volt light
This morning I went down to the basement and instead of turning on the light, I turned on my emergency 12 volt 10 watt emergency lights and worked out for 1 hour! No juice flowing from our power company, just the power from my battery.
I will admit when I was done, I left the basement and turned on the regular lights upstairs until I reached my office. In my office I turned on my 12 volt light over my desk and then turned on my 110 volt AC inverted light. My office has more than sufficient light to work for hours! Again I must say I am running my computer with wall juice but my laptop could go for about an hour on its own then I can hook it in to my 110 emergency back up system!
This is not fantasy and it does not cost thousands of dollars to do. Look at my products and or call me at 913-244-6132 for more information.
I will admit when I was done, I left the basement and turned on the regular lights upstairs until I reached my office. In my office I turned on my 12 volt light over my desk and then turned on my 110 volt AC inverted light. My office has more than sufficient light to work for hours! Again I must say I am running my computer with wall juice but my laptop could go for about an hour on its own then I can hook it in to my 110 emergency back up system!
This is not fantasy and it does not cost thousands of dollars to do. Look at my products and or call me at 913-244-6132 for more information.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Turn night into day!
This morning on a dreary November day at about 6:00 Am I sat down in my office and did something I often do when I can, I did not turn on the lights in the office. yes let me say that again, I did not turn on the lights in the office , instead I turned on my own solar 12 volt and solar/inverter fed 110 volt lights an worked until about 9 Am with no interruption. I took a break from work, had breakfast and then went back to work and turned my lights back on and here I am. What I am saying is it is possible to have at least to a point your own energy sources. If you have a power outage and do not want to drag out your generator and all the hassles, just push the button on an emergency system that I have working in my office, in my basement and in my barn! I have used little or no power in my barn now for several years! If I have a power outage for any reason I can promise you I will have lights and for more than a few minutes. My 12 volt system 10 watt kit sold on here ran 24/7 for 14 consecutive days until I manually shut it off! I was running three LED lights and I will tell you they will light a path for you easily! Try one of our kits or pay me for my guidance and I will tell you how it can be done! I hope to hear form you soon.
Joe R
Joe R
Friday, November 7, 2008
A wire guage calculator
In creating or using a solar panel or project I have always wondered about wire sizes. The bottom line people size does matter :) Go follow this link it is a cool web site and it will tell you what size wire you should use: http://www.freesunpower.com/wire_calc.php
Thursday, November 6, 2008
testing 12 volt lights
I must admit I have started to change my views on emergency lighting at least on a small scale. I have worked with 120 volt inverters and it has been fun, exciting and also a knowledge expanding experiment. Inverter based emergency lighting works well and provides access to cheap light bulbs. The light generated at times beats the glow from the household AC! The down side is that the inverter really sucks the battery fast. An inverter typically will draw 1 to 2 amps when it is working and unless you wire it correctly will draw a small current even when the system is off. The plus to an inverter is it is multi functional, you can drive lights, a fan, a drill and other appliances that are AC based and this really works especially in short bursts. In a power outage situation it is great. As long as the sun comes out and shines to replenish your battery you are in decent shape. The down side is again is that the inverter draws chunks of juice so you had better have a good solid battery bank and a good sized solar trickle charging solar panel.
With that all said I have been experimenting with 12 volt lighting applications using LED lights and I must say I am impressed. I will write more soon.
See you next time
Joe
With that all said I have been experimenting with 12 volt lighting applications using LED lights and I must say I am impressed. I will write more soon.
See you next time
Joe
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
How I light my barn!
It is getting that time of year and my barn a full 2 acres from the closest electrical outlet needs light and more. I put up a plastecs 1 amp 20 watt solar panel and installed several energy saving lights and a battery and a 100 watt inverter and guess what? I light my barn very well thank you with no help from the local utility. Two weeks ago I added two led solar lights that allow me to mix and match 110 and 12 volt and again it really throws the light. In teh barn I have a radio and I have watched tv and next up I intend to build a solar heater and put it in the barn and see if I can raise the temps in the barn during the winter a few degrees. For more information just call me at 913-244-6132 and I will give you all the details!
what solar can do for you!
Here is a good example of what solar can do for you!
Family credits solar system with providing half their power needs
By MARCY NOVAK mnovak@ktbs.com
Created: August 19, 2008 01:41 PM
Modified: August 19, 2008 03:34 PM
Share This Story: Email to Friend
A DeSoto Parish family is crediting solar energy with providing more than half their home's electricity needs.
The Niten family got a solar panel system three weeks ago. The rest of the home's energy needs will come from the electric utility company.
Tommy Niten said solar power is a "clean" type of energy that doesn't require traditional generating sources like coal or natural gas, so it helps lower his carbon "footprint."
"I like it; it is saving the environment and it is producing power for me," Niten said. "I possibly plan on adding to the solar system later on and upgrading it to produce more of my power."
The energy that is not used can be sold back to the utility company.
There are also federal and state tax incentives if you purchase a complete solar panel system that produces over half of your monthly energy use.
The Niten family has lived in DeSoto Parish for eight years. They became the first homeowners in the parish to install a solar panel system. Their system has 24 solar panels.
Family credits solar system with providing half their power needs
By MARCY NOVAK mnovak@ktbs.com
Created: August 19, 2008 01:41 PM
Modified: August 19, 2008 03:34 PM
Share This Story: Email to Friend
A DeSoto Parish family is crediting solar energy with providing more than half their home's electricity needs.
The Niten family got a solar panel system three weeks ago. The rest of the home's energy needs will come from the electric utility company.
Tommy Niten said solar power is a "clean" type of energy that doesn't require traditional generating sources like coal or natural gas, so it helps lower his carbon "footprint."
"I like it; it is saving the environment and it is producing power for me," Niten said. "I possibly plan on adding to the solar system later on and upgrading it to produce more of my power."
The energy that is not used can be sold back to the utility company.
There are also federal and state tax incentives if you purchase a complete solar panel system that produces over half of your monthly energy use.
The Niten family has lived in DeSoto Parish for eight years. They became the first homeowners in the parish to install a solar panel system. Their system has 24 solar panels.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
BioDiesel is not as clean as you think!
I know again this is not solar but a cool article from Digg:
Oil prices are through the roof and the planet is getting hotter. We are facing an energy crisis and many truckers, and other professional drivers, have been forced to stay parked until the prices come down.
With no relief in sight a lot of “green” advocates are jumping on the biodiesel bandwagon. After all it’s a cheaper, cleaner burning fuel and most diesel engines need little or no modifications to start using it*. However, recent studies suggest that biodiesel might not be the “green” solution many are hoping for.
Biodiesel is heralded as an alternative, cleaner burning cousin to diesel. It’s made through the processing of various forms of vegetable oil. It is then blended with conventional diesel or used alone. Biodiesel can be manufactured using waste vegetable oils, like those thrown out by fast-food restaurants. However, a rising demand has lead to the cultivation of farmland for the sole purpose of growing crops for the manufacture of biodiesel fuel.
Approved and toted as a “clean air” fuel, even a 20% biodiesel mix creates a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The way biodiesel burns is not a point of concern. The way that it is currently being produced, may raise an environmentalist eyebrow or two.
The well respected Science magazine released two reports this year calling attention to the destruction of essential rain forest and other vital natural habitats and eco-systems due to the increased demand for palm, soy and other vegetable oils for bio-diesel production. (Report 1) (Report 2)
These studies warn that biodiesel may not be as green as it seems here’s why:
More Green House Gases
According to the studies the process of clearing grasslands, rain forests, and other land for farming actually releases more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than would be saved by the fuel that the land produces. Not to mention the natural CO2 absorption that is stopped when this dense growth is destroyed. Considering farm land absorbs less CO2 and produces less oxygen than the rain forest or other growth it replaces, the farming and production of oils for bio-fuel arguably does more to harm the environment than to help it.
Of course this “clearing” of farmland for bio-fuels also lends to other problems:
Killing Endangered Species
In Borneo, by 2020 most of the rain forest will be gone. It is home to thousands of unique species of insect and animals, including the endangered Sumatra and Borneo Orangutan, the Sumatra Tiger, Asian Elephant and Sumatran Rhinoceros. In fact the conditions are so dire in Indonesia and Borneo it is estimated that if we continue at the current rate of destruction, the Orangutan will be extinct in 10 years. (www.redape.org)
Creating Dead Zones In the Gulf of Mexico
A “Dead Zone” is an oxygen starved patch in the ocean. These “Dead Zones” occur all around the world and are caused by decomposing algae which depletes the oxygen and suffocates marine life. According to the June edition of National Geographic, the main cause of the rise in “Dead Zones” in the Gulf of Mexico is runoff of fertilizer that comes down the Mississippi. With farmers growing more corn for biodiesel, more fertilizer is being used resulting in the death of marine life.
The World Food Crisis
The world is already experiencing a global food shortage. The price of wheat has doubled in the last year, and palm, soy, and other food prices are rising across the board. If more crops are grown for fuel less will be grown for food. Tearing down the rain forest for farmland is bad enough, millions of starving people is even worse.
By the end of this year, Europe wants all diesel fuel to contain 5% biodiesel. By 2012 20% of all diesel fuel must be biodiesel. The only way the world’s farmers can keep up with rising demands is to clear more land for farming.
The allure of cheaper, cleaner burning fuels can cause many uninformed “greenies” to applaud the advantages of biodiesel fuel; however there is one buzzword that must be remembered in any conversation about new energy: sustainability.
The facts are clear. We cannot continue to abuse the ecosystem to support our accustomed lifestyle. Fortunately, world leadership is starting to take notice, and people are finally starting to look for new sustainable energy answers. Unfortunately, however, bio-diesel may not be the perfect solution everyone was hoping for.
Oil prices are through the roof and the planet is getting hotter. We are facing an energy crisis and many truckers, and other professional drivers, have been forced to stay parked until the prices come down.
With no relief in sight a lot of “green” advocates are jumping on the biodiesel bandwagon. After all it’s a cheaper, cleaner burning fuel and most diesel engines need little or no modifications to start using it*. However, recent studies suggest that biodiesel might not be the “green” solution many are hoping for.
Biodiesel is heralded as an alternative, cleaner burning cousin to diesel. It’s made through the processing of various forms of vegetable oil. It is then blended with conventional diesel or used alone. Biodiesel can be manufactured using waste vegetable oils, like those thrown out by fast-food restaurants. However, a rising demand has lead to the cultivation of farmland for the sole purpose of growing crops for the manufacture of biodiesel fuel.
Approved and toted as a “clean air” fuel, even a 20% biodiesel mix creates a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The way biodiesel burns is not a point of concern. The way that it is currently being produced, may raise an environmentalist eyebrow or two.
The well respected Science magazine released two reports this year calling attention to the destruction of essential rain forest and other vital natural habitats and eco-systems due to the increased demand for palm, soy and other vegetable oils for bio-diesel production. (Report 1) (Report 2)
These studies warn that biodiesel may not be as green as it seems here’s why:
More Green House Gases
According to the studies the process of clearing grasslands, rain forests, and other land for farming actually releases more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than would be saved by the fuel that the land produces. Not to mention the natural CO2 absorption that is stopped when this dense growth is destroyed. Considering farm land absorbs less CO2 and produces less oxygen than the rain forest or other growth it replaces, the farming and production of oils for bio-fuel arguably does more to harm the environment than to help it.
Of course this “clearing” of farmland for bio-fuels also lends to other problems:
Killing Endangered Species
In Borneo, by 2020 most of the rain forest will be gone. It is home to thousands of unique species of insect and animals, including the endangered Sumatra and Borneo Orangutan, the Sumatra Tiger, Asian Elephant and Sumatran Rhinoceros. In fact the conditions are so dire in Indonesia and Borneo it is estimated that if we continue at the current rate of destruction, the Orangutan will be extinct in 10 years. (www.redape.org)
Creating Dead Zones In the Gulf of Mexico
A “Dead Zone” is an oxygen starved patch in the ocean. These “Dead Zones” occur all around the world and are caused by decomposing algae which depletes the oxygen and suffocates marine life. According to the June edition of National Geographic, the main cause of the rise in “Dead Zones” in the Gulf of Mexico is runoff of fertilizer that comes down the Mississippi. With farmers growing more corn for biodiesel, more fertilizer is being used resulting in the death of marine life.
The World Food Crisis
The world is already experiencing a global food shortage. The price of wheat has doubled in the last year, and palm, soy, and other food prices are rising across the board. If more crops are grown for fuel less will be grown for food. Tearing down the rain forest for farmland is bad enough, millions of starving people is even worse.
By the end of this year, Europe wants all diesel fuel to contain 5% biodiesel. By 2012 20% of all diesel fuel must be biodiesel. The only way the world’s farmers can keep up with rising demands is to clear more land for farming.
The allure of cheaper, cleaner burning fuels can cause many uninformed “greenies” to applaud the advantages of biodiesel fuel; however there is one buzzword that must be remembered in any conversation about new energy: sustainability.
The facts are clear. We cannot continue to abuse the ecosystem to support our accustomed lifestyle. Fortunately, world leadership is starting to take notice, and people are finally starting to look for new sustainable energy answers. Unfortunately, however, bio-diesel may not be the perfect solution everyone was hoping for.
Veggie Google power
I know this is not solar but it is green related and I use Google Adwords!
Green Machines
Veggie Wheels uses Google AdWords to reach a national customer base and drive 95% of its business.
Time for an oil change
One moment you’re in a major motion picture, the next you’re running a business at the forefront of the alternative energy revolution. Sound like something out of, well, Hollywood? “I had a role in the movie ‘Because I Said So,’” explains Nate Petre, founder and CEO of Veggie Wheels. “The director had a car that he’d converted to run on vegetable oil. I became fascinated with it. As an alternative to gasoline, vegetable oil is renewable, biodegradable, and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent. So I researched the process and decided to convert my Mercedes.”
Nate was so pleased with the result that he began to think vegetable oil could be the secret ingredient for a successful business. So in August of 2006, he traded in his headshots for headlights and set up shop in Venice, California. “There was just one downside to my new profession,” he says. “Converted cars smell like a deep fryer. People get a whiff of my garage and wonder where the fast food joint is. I cooked my way through acting school, so it doesn’t really get to me, but let’s just say dieters should keep their windows rolled up.”
Elbow grease
Nate knew that even the mouthwatering scent of piping hot french fries wouldn’t be enough to get customers through the garage door. Veggie Wheels needed a marketing plan. “I’d never been a marketer – never even played one on TV,” says Nate. “But I knew we needed to get our message out there. We’re a green company, so wasting paper on flyers was out of the question. Online advertising was a natural fit. When I was researching vegetable oil and biodiesel, I searched the Internet, so it made sense to me that others would do the same.”
Two months after opening Veggie Wheels, Nate signed up with Google AdWords™. He chose to use Starter Edition, a simplified version of AdWords that lets new advertisers create a basic account quickly and easily with a one-page signup form. “I got up and running right away, and inquiries started coming just a few days after I launched the campaign. Now I use Standard Edition, which provides more features at no extra cost.”
AdWords offers a range of options for targeting by location, and Nate chose to show his ads throughout the U.S. “Alternative fuels are big here in California, but there could be interest in other states as well. And sure enough, we started getting emails and calls from Philly, Texas, Washington – you name it. Since we offer delivery, we’re able to serve those customers – and AdWords gave us the chance to reach them.”
Much to Nate’s surprise, AdWords connected him with diesel car owners looking to sell, rather than convert, their vehicles. “That was something we didn’t foresee,” Nate explains. “We’re able to track down and sell hard-to-find models all over the country without lifting a finger: they come to us. So in a way, AdWords ended up changing our business model.”
It’s easy being green
To cast the widest net possible, Nate runs ads for Veggie Wheels alongside the search results on google.com as well as on the Google Content Network, which includes millions of news pages, topic-specific websites, and blogs. Nate’s ads appear on targeted web pages that relate to the keywords he selected, including sites like www.biodiesel.com and www.fillup4free.com and pages about biodiesel and vegetable oil on sites like www.sciencewatch.com, www.ehow.com, and www.howthingswork.com.
“The content network has been just as effective as search in terms of bringing us leads and customers,” says Nate. “Customers tell us they were doing research or reading an article, saw our ad, and clicked over to Veggie Wheels. They weren’t necessarily considering getting a converted car at that point, but they were already interested in the technology. With the content network, we expand our reach while still targeting our very narrow audience.”
“We always ask our customers how they found us,” Nate continues. “About 95 percent of them clicked on an AdWords ad on either the search or the content network. We couldn’t get as much business or traffic any other way – especially for under $100 a month. Once I saw the results from AdWords, there was no question that I would spend the majority of my advertising budget on it.”
Fueling the future
Nate now spends his days converting cars, installing diesel engines into all types of vehicles, and collecting used cooking oil from local restaurants. With a major career change behind him and gallons of vegetable oil in his garage, Nate has no regrets. “Acting is all about you,” he says. “I’m much happier doing something that benefits others – not to mention the environment. Wondering how you can do your part to make our cars greener?” He smiles. “Keep eating those onion rings.”
As Veggie Wheels expands and launches new services, Google AdWords will continue to drive its growth. “AdWords brings together people who want to green their machines with the experts who know how to do it,” Nate explains. “In our business, we definitely provide the oil, but Google provides the grease.”
Green Machines
Veggie Wheels uses Google AdWords to reach a national customer base and drive 95% of its business.
Time for an oil change
One moment you’re in a major motion picture, the next you’re running a business at the forefront of the alternative energy revolution. Sound like something out of, well, Hollywood? “I had a role in the movie ‘Because I Said So,’” explains Nate Petre, founder and CEO of Veggie Wheels. “The director had a car that he’d converted to run on vegetable oil. I became fascinated with it. As an alternative to gasoline, vegetable oil is renewable, biodegradable, and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent. So I researched the process and decided to convert my Mercedes.”
Nate was so pleased with the result that he began to think vegetable oil could be the secret ingredient for a successful business. So in August of 2006, he traded in his headshots for headlights and set up shop in Venice, California. “There was just one downside to my new profession,” he says. “Converted cars smell like a deep fryer. People get a whiff of my garage and wonder where the fast food joint is. I cooked my way through acting school, so it doesn’t really get to me, but let’s just say dieters should keep their windows rolled up.”
Elbow grease
Nate knew that even the mouthwatering scent of piping hot french fries wouldn’t be enough to get customers through the garage door. Veggie Wheels needed a marketing plan. “I’d never been a marketer – never even played one on TV,” says Nate. “But I knew we needed to get our message out there. We’re a green company, so wasting paper on flyers was out of the question. Online advertising was a natural fit. When I was researching vegetable oil and biodiesel, I searched the Internet, so it made sense to me that others would do the same.”
Two months after opening Veggie Wheels, Nate signed up with Google AdWords™. He chose to use Starter Edition, a simplified version of AdWords that lets new advertisers create a basic account quickly and easily with a one-page signup form. “I got up and running right away, and inquiries started coming just a few days after I launched the campaign. Now I use Standard Edition, which provides more features at no extra cost.”
AdWords offers a range of options for targeting by location, and Nate chose to show his ads throughout the U.S. “Alternative fuels are big here in California, but there could be interest in other states as well. And sure enough, we started getting emails and calls from Philly, Texas, Washington – you name it. Since we offer delivery, we’re able to serve those customers – and AdWords gave us the chance to reach them.”
Much to Nate’s surprise, AdWords connected him with diesel car owners looking to sell, rather than convert, their vehicles. “That was something we didn’t foresee,” Nate explains. “We’re able to track down and sell hard-to-find models all over the country without lifting a finger: they come to us. So in a way, AdWords ended up changing our business model.”
It’s easy being green
To cast the widest net possible, Nate runs ads for Veggie Wheels alongside the search results on google.com as well as on the Google Content Network, which includes millions of news pages, topic-specific websites, and blogs. Nate’s ads appear on targeted web pages that relate to the keywords he selected, including sites like www.biodiesel.com and www.fillup4free.com and pages about biodiesel and vegetable oil on sites like www.sciencewatch.com, www.ehow.com, and www.howthingswork.com.
“The content network has been just as effective as search in terms of bringing us leads and customers,” says Nate. “Customers tell us they were doing research or reading an article, saw our ad, and clicked over to Veggie Wheels. They weren’t necessarily considering getting a converted car at that point, but they were already interested in the technology. With the content network, we expand our reach while still targeting our very narrow audience.”
“We always ask our customers how they found us,” Nate continues. “About 95 percent of them clicked on an AdWords ad on either the search or the content network. We couldn’t get as much business or traffic any other way – especially for under $100 a month. Once I saw the results from AdWords, there was no question that I would spend the majority of my advertising budget on it.”
Fueling the future
Nate now spends his days converting cars, installing diesel engines into all types of vehicles, and collecting used cooking oil from local restaurants. With a major career change behind him and gallons of vegetable oil in his garage, Nate has no regrets. “Acting is all about you,” he says. “I’m much happier doing something that benefits others – not to mention the environment. Wondering how you can do your part to make our cars greener?” He smiles. “Keep eating those onion rings.”
As Veggie Wheels expands and launches new services, Google AdWords will continue to drive its growth. “AdWords brings together people who want to green their machines with the experts who know how to do it,” Nate explains. “In our business, we definitely provide the oil, but Google provides the grease.”
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Solar news
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008
Solar panels to go in 30% of houses by 2030
Kyodo NewsThe government will aim for 30 percent of all households to have solar panels installed by 2030 as part of its efforts to fight global warming, officials said.
Under the target, the number of solar-powered households would increase to 14 million from the current 400,000, and the capacity of such generation would expand 30-fold from the current 1.3 million kilowatts, the officials said.
The target will be incorporated into a program for innovative technologies to cut greenhouse gas emissions to be announced in July at the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido, they said.
In a bid to develop new, low-cost solar panels so ordinary households can install them, the government plans to set up a research institution in fiscal 2008, and is seeking ¥2 billion for the project in the fiscal 2008 budget, they said.
A standard panel for 3.7 kw of solar power would produce enough energy for a family of four, but existing equipment for home use is priced as high as ¥2 million and a price reduction, including generation cost, is now a major challenge, the officials said.
Although Sharp Corp. and other Japanese manufacturers produce about half the world output of solar power equipment, their products are mostly for overseas markets. Generation in Japan, including by businesses, totaled 1.71 million kw in 2006, much less than that of No. 1 Germany.
The new panels would have several times higher energy efficiency and reduce the generating cost from the current ¥46 per kw to ¥7 by 2030, which is almost the same level as the cost of thermal generation, the officials said.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Just saying hello
Hello my name is Joe and this my blog. My goal is to tell you more about me and my company and share ideas and product information. I have been involved in alternative energy since 1986. I have experimented with solar and wind primarily but in the near future I will begin to look at fuel cells. I will tell you that fuel cells are expensive but I believe that this area will start to be more competitive in the near future.
Speaking of competitive, look for better solar pricing in the future. I will be adding more products to our website as we grow. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Solar Joe Rossini
Speaking of competitive, look for better solar pricing in the future. I will be adding more products to our website as we grow. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Solar Joe Rossini
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The cell phone years go on and on...
Neat article about cell phones... How times have changed!
Wireless wonks celebrate 35th anniversary of first cell call
When Motorola abused Bell Labs
By Cade Metz in Las Vegas → More by this author
Published Wednesday 2nd April 2008 20:48 GMT
Improve IT Culture and employee satisfaction in your business - Sign up for the latest RegCast here
CTIA Wireless April 3 marks the 35th anniversary of the world’s first cellular phone call, and to celebrate, former NFL hero Steve Largent has presented a priapic monolith to the man who made that call back in the spring of 1973.
Largent is now the president and CEO of the CTIA wireless association, and this morning, at the association's annual trade show in Las Vegas, he took industry insiders on a trip down mobile memory lane.
"As many of you know, this October, we will celebrate the first commercial wireless phone call - quarter century of commercial wireless service in America," Largent told the gathered crowd. "But this morning, we want to focus your attention on another wireless phone call - one that occurred 35 years ago. On April 3, 1973, a team of engineers at Motorola realized their professional dreams: the completion of the first ever portable cellular call."
Then Largent introduced Martin Cooper, the Motorola team member who actually dialed the phone. He was strolling down the streets of New York City at the time, and the person on the other end was Joel Engel, then head of research at Bell Labs.
"While many of us would probably have used that historical call to get in touch with our mom or dad or spouse, Marty took a different route," Largent explained. "Marty chose to use his portable cellular phone call to make a call to his chief competitor at Bell Laboratories to tell him he had beaten him to the punch.
"With that call, 35 years go, the fierce competition that exists in the wireless industry was born," Largent added. But more on that later.
Martin Cooper used the anniversary of his historic call to spout a cliche. "It has really been 35 years, but our industry really is in its infancy. We have only in the past few years learned how to make a reliable wireless phone call and we're just learning how to deliver data."
He also congratulated the major American wireless carriers for finally announcing open access to their networks. But he did not comment on whether any of these carriers will play fast and loose with the word open.
Cooper then presented Steve Largent with an exact replica of the first portable cell phone, while plugging two companies he now runs. And Largent gave Cooper a large piece of clear plastic.
Seven months after that first cell call, Cooper and his Motorola team filed for a patent on their "Radio Telephone System," and two years later, it was granted. ®
Wireless wonks celebrate 35th anniversary of first cell call
When Motorola abused Bell Labs
By Cade Metz in Las Vegas → More by this author
Published Wednesday 2nd April 2008 20:48 GMT
Improve IT Culture and employee satisfaction in your business - Sign up for the latest RegCast here
CTIA Wireless April 3 marks the 35th anniversary of the world’s first cellular phone call, and to celebrate, former NFL hero Steve Largent has presented a priapic monolith to the man who made that call back in the spring of 1973.
Largent is now the president and CEO of the CTIA wireless association, and this morning, at the association's annual trade show in Las Vegas, he took industry insiders on a trip down mobile memory lane.
"As many of you know, this October, we will celebrate the first commercial wireless phone call - quarter century of commercial wireless service in America," Largent told the gathered crowd. "But this morning, we want to focus your attention on another wireless phone call - one that occurred 35 years ago. On April 3, 1973, a team of engineers at Motorola realized their professional dreams: the completion of the first ever portable cellular call."
Then Largent introduced Martin Cooper, the Motorola team member who actually dialed the phone. He was strolling down the streets of New York City at the time, and the person on the other end was Joel Engel, then head of research at Bell Labs.
"While many of us would probably have used that historical call to get in touch with our mom or dad or spouse, Marty took a different route," Largent explained. "Marty chose to use his portable cellular phone call to make a call to his chief competitor at Bell Laboratories to tell him he had beaten him to the punch.
"With that call, 35 years go, the fierce competition that exists in the wireless industry was born," Largent added. But more on that later.
Martin Cooper used the anniversary of his historic call to spout a cliche. "It has really been 35 years, but our industry really is in its infancy. We have only in the past few years learned how to make a reliable wireless phone call and we're just learning how to deliver data."
He also congratulated the major American wireless carriers for finally announcing open access to their networks. But he did not comment on whether any of these carriers will play fast and loose with the word open.
Cooper then presented Steve Largent with an exact replica of the first portable cell phone, while plugging two companies he now runs. And Largent gave Cooper a large piece of clear plastic.
Seven months after that first cell call, Cooper and his Motorola team filed for a patent on their "Radio Telephone System," and two years later, it was granted. ®
100 most often mispelled words!
This is a cool link and I can not tell you how many times I have missed many of these common words! Read and enjoy!
http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/misspelled.html
http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/misspelled.html
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