You may be wondering where all the figures in your electricity bill go when you’ve done everything to keep your consumption to a minimum. You unplug your microwave and TV as soon as you turn it off, and you keep the thermostat or air conditioner dials to temperatures within the threshold of your personal comfort. If you suspect an energy leak, you’re probably right; but it may not leak out like you expect it to be – maybe you’re wasting energy on appliances which do not comply with energy standards. If you still call your refrigerator an ice box due to its age, now’s as good a time as any to replace it with a newer model. But do take note though that just because an appliance is top of the line, it necessarily follows that it’s energy efficient. How do you determine if it consumes less energy for the same performance in the first place? You look for the Energy Star label.
The Energy Star label serves as the federal government’s stamp of approval, particularly from the U.S. Dept. of Energy and the EPA. It was created to serve as criteria for helping the average consumer identify the best products out on the market, in terms of energy efficiency. An appliance which bears the label generally keeps up and exceeds energy standards by up to twenty percent in most appliances, and up to 110 percent in others. Although the Energy Star logo is the ubiquitous mark of energy efficiency compliance, different appliances follow different standards, so it’s best to get acquainted with them before you shop.
Look for a 90 AFUE rating if you’re buying appliances which consume natural gas products – but do remember that size has an effect on the rating, and bigger isn’t always better in many cases. For air conditioners, look for high EER ratings on room-type units, and a 12 or higher SEER rating for central air conditioning units. Units which bear the label usually exceed the federal standard by fifteen percent, at the very least, but if you’re using a room-type air conditioner for spaces which are particularly sunny, opt for higher capacities (10% or more); if you’re going to install it in your kitchen, increase it by 4,000 Btu/hour.
Dishwashers, clothes washers, and hot water heaters usually follow the EF (Energy Factor) standard. For dishwashers, go for units that consume less water, as these basically cost less to operate. For clothes washers, look for features like suds savers, adjustable spin-cycle settings, larger capacities, and front-loading design. Purchase a water heater which has a thick insulation shell. Refrigerators must also bear an FTC label which indicates the amount of kilowatt-hours the unit will consume within a year; a smaller number on the label means it is more energy-efficient. If you’re purchasing one with a built-in freezer, look for the energy-saving switch, and go with units which have sturdy door hinges (as these ensure a tight seal). Appliances with mobile parts and those which consume energy to alter temperatures take up much of your electricity bill, and going for units which let you save a trifle amount is the wise thing to do if you’re budget conscious.
With the depletion of the finite natural resources that the world relies on like coal and fossil fuel, alternative sources of energy are being sought out throughout the whole world in preparation for the day that we no longer have natural resources to use.
Solar energy is one of the alternative sources of power that is being lobbied in the United States today because of its advantages. In fact, the Department of Energy has launched an ambitious project to convert homes to solar power under its “Million Solar Roofs” Project.
How Solar Power is Harnessed
The sun’s power is the raw energy which is converted to a compatible form of energy to power up a home. This is done through either of these two processes: solar thermal application or photovoltaic action.
Solar thermal application involves the use of liquids, which are heated using the harnessed sunlight. The heat is then used to provide the needed energy for the house. Photovoltaic action, on the other hand, uses photovoltaic cells to convert solar power into electric energy.
The Advantages of Solar Energy Compared to Conventional Sources of Power
In terms of supply, solar energy is advantageous over the other sources of power like electricity or nuclear plants. This is because the sun is a resource that will not be depleted, at least not in a billion years. It is also free, and can be harnessed easily by installing solar panels on the roof which act as collectors of power that are then distributed across your household.
The use of solar energy does not require any chemicals or pollutants. You don’t need to refine solar energy; you just use it as it is. This means that the use of solar power does not contribute to the rising threat of global warming. In this sense, it is beneficial to the environment.
The Cons of Reliance on Solar Power
As it has advantages, solar power has disadvantages. One disadvantage lies in the issue of availability. While it is free and easy to harness, it is otherwise difficult to take advantage of when you are in a location that receives less sunlight than in other regions of the world.
The state of the weather could affect your household’s power supply. When the cloud cover is dense and thick, the light from the sun will be blocked by it and will be unavailable for your solar panels.
The other global phenomenon, called “Global Dimming,” is also a concern in using solar power. Global dimming is caused by pollutants building up in the air and contaminating it. This in turn causes less sunlight to enter the planet, which means less solar power that we can use.
Another – an obvious one – disadvantage to solar energy is during nighttime. There is no sun during night, which means that there should be a way to store solar power as a reserve for the night hours when there is no Sun.
Solar panels are made of very expensive materials, and very expensive and difficult to set up. You would need a professional to set the system up for you, which means more expenses. They say the benefits might outweigh the cost, though.
There are actually a number of appellations regarding this energy source. In some parts of the world, biofuels are known as bioenergy. In others, the appellations range anywhere from agro-fuel to agri-fuel; to more definitive labels such as: bioalcohol, biobutanol, biodiesel, biogas, bioheat, biohyrdrogen, bio-oil, biomass, green crude, and a host of others.
What Is Biofuel?
Biofuel is a rather broad term that is supposed to mean an alternative and renewable energy source derived from any biological material. Biofuel may come in any state: solid, liquid or gas; however most biofuels available now are made up of plant material. That does not discount the fact that there are biofuels derived the gas emitted from decomposing material; solar wind power; and used (and recycled) vegetable oil.
Is It Really Hype?
People are seriously looking into the possibilities of harvesting more sources of biofuel. So far, our age has seen the most active researches into alternative fuel sources – and unfortunately, this is not hype at all. Scientists from all fields of research, from geology to oceanography to geographic history, are now saying that our planet cannot sustain our fuel need for very much longer. We are already depleting our present sources with severe consequences.
Too much released carbon into our atmosphere (from the burning of fossil fuel to the destruction of the rain forests of the world) is causing global warming. And global warming, in turn, causes almost everything from unnatural season changes, severe atmospheric disturbances and the dying of flora and fauna.
The truth is: biofuel is not the solution to global warming at all. It is only one of many ways to help slow down the erosion of the earth’s ozone layer. There is actually no sustainable way (as of late) to halt the decline of the planet’s health, much less revert it back to a healthy level of life.
Biofuel now is very much studied and placed into practice, but further research is still needed in order to prove that it will not eventually follow the steps we have unerringly taken with fossil fuel.
Biofuel In History
Biofuel is really not a new concept. The truth is: humankind has been utilizing bio fuel since time immemorial. Before the industrialization age, before any civilization, before any onset of civilized religion, man has used the readily available fuel source from nature. The first humans used all manner of plant fibers, animal fat and even animal dung to feed the fires. In some cases, the geothermic heat coming from volcano fissures were harnessed to cook meals and even keep shelters warm. The scorching heat and the dry air were used to preserve food; as with fresh produce being kept for longer periods of time in cool but dry underground caves.
In the coming ages, though, there has been a great need for industrialization. Suddenly, a few logs in the fire are not enough to keep production of all things serviceable to mankind. At first, we have all looked to the use of fossil fuel and have used it extensively. In fact, the world’s economy now is largely dependent on the burning of fossil fuels. But fossil fuel, once seemingly inexhaustible, is slowly eroding.
This is the reason why people are looking for alternative fuel source. If you really want proof of the decline of fossil fuel, just look into major newspapers or news agencies these days and scout out how high petroleum based products are. These said products come from crude oil, which is one form of fossil fuel.
A hydrogen generator is a machine that converts the energy found within hydrogen atoms into something that can be used for power. This is because hydrogen carries energy and does not act as a source of it.
Hydrogen generators are used in a wide variety of applications. They are often used in power plants, or as backup power systems for businesses or buildings. They are also used in cars, the new ones which are being introduced today. Cars that use hydrogen power are called hydrogen vehicles.
Types of Hydrogen Generators
There are three types of hydrogen generators. The first kind is the one that creates hydrogen. The other one is a power plant that is powered by hydrogen, and usually gets the hydrogen from some other source. The last type is a mix of the two.
Generators that Create H2
There are several types of generators that create hydrogen. One type uses water electrolysis to extract hydrogen and inject it into a car’s intake manifold. Another type uses chemicals that have high hydrogen content in order to get the necessary atoms that will then be sent through fuel cells or through an internal combustion engine.
Some of these generators also utilize solar or wind power in order to facilitate their water electrolysis and pick out the needed hydrogen molecules.
Uses Hydrogen Power
These hydrogen generators create electrical power, either small-scale or large-scale. Most of the uses of these generators are in businesses that wish to have their own power plants, or want to keep a backup power supply as a contingency to keep their businesses going despite power failure. They can also be used as power systems for homes wishing to produce their own power in lieu of the supply offered by power companies.
This type of hydrogen generator first converts coal into gas, so that it can pluck the hydrogen atoms from the gas and separate it from the carbon dioxide. The CO2 is then disposed of underground, while the hydrogen is used to generate electrical power.
Advantages of Hydrogen Generator
When a hydrogen generator is used to power one’s car, it can mean great yearly savings on gas. There are people who claim to have saved at least 25% and at most 50% off their total annual expenses on gas.
Contrary to what most people think, hydrogen-powered cars are not independent of using oil as fuel. Instead, the water serves to increase the car’s efficiency in fuel consumption. The water acts as a means for you to increase the distance that you could travel using a single liter of car fuel, so you get to save on your gas expenses the whole year round.
You also get to prolong your engine life with a hydrogen generator, as it actually causes smoother and quieter engines.
Hydrogen generators do not cost much to build and install. The parts are easy to obtain, because they can be found on hardware stores. Plans are also not hard to obtain, as you could find them in abundance in the Internet.
A Swiss scientist and researcher has developed an inexpensive method for creating a green eco-friendly power station capable of producing hundreds of megawatts: massive floating “Islands” of solar panels at sea. Thomas Hinderling, the CEO of a privately held Swiss research and development company has already secured $5 million to fund construction of the huge floating power stations.
Hinderling’s idea is brilliant in its simplicity; the plan is to create huge floating solar islands, many miles in diameter and loaded with solar reflecting mirrors. The heat reflected from the mirrors will evaporate into steam which in turn drives a large turbine creating a near endless supply of clean energy.
Of course, the idea of massive solar generating plants isn’t new. “Fields” of solar panels have been used on land for many years, but new research is suggested that creating floating islands of solar panels at sea has many benefits and can potentially produced much more energy.
For example, a floating solar island can be easily turned to align its solar panels with the position of the sun, and maximize the efficiency of the panels. There are other big benefits as well.
For example, placing solar panels on land prohibits the land owner from planting crops or grazing livestock on the same plot of land. But because two thirds of the earth is covered with ocean, there are literally thousands of square miles of unused “area” that is currently going to waste. And even though the solar islands could potentially be massive in size (as big as 20 or even 40 square miles), the seas are so vast that there is virtually no chance of them interfering with shipping lanes or fishermen.
Researchers say that it might even be possible to combine the floating solar islands with ocean-based wind farms, maximizing the potential energy that could be a harnessed.
Although it sounds like a great idea, critics point out that there are still unanswered questions about Hinderling’s proposal. Specifically, a practical method of transmitting power from the middle of the ocean to the mainland must be obtained.
Although land-based solar energy generation encounters the same problem, the floating islands will also have to contend with storms at sea, shifting wind currents and waves, making it potentially more difficult to transmit the energy to where it is needed.
But assuming Hinderling and his research team can find a practical and inexpensive method of transmitting the energy, gigantic floating “islands” of solar-energy receptors could soon the dotting the seas of the world.
Global warming is indeed a major environmental concern nowadays. At present, it does not simply pose a threat for us to finally be more aware of the environment. It can really be felt all around the world in many different ways. Heat strokes are becoming more rampant especially in tropical countries, and other natural occurrences are also experiencing a major shift. With all of these in place, people really have to be more aware when it comes to protecting the environment. One of the major contributors in accounting for global warming is electrical concerns.
The usual type of electricity being generated to power up the face of the planet is one of the leading causes of global warming. However, we cannot simply put off using it because the whole planet thrives because of it. Through the constant advancement of science, we are now offered with different alternative energy sources apart from the traditional one. All of these alternative energy sources have their own particular features and ways of being obtained. And all of them also promise a more environment friendly way of being produced.
Solar Energy – This type of electricity or energy is generated through the use of solar panels. And as the solar name implies, it greatly relies on the heat of the sun for it to produce energy. Actually, the use of solar energy is nothing new as it was already being used centuries ago and was a major proponent of the industrial revolution that occurred in human history. The solar energy that was used is mostly utilized by solar power plants in steam production so that their machines can be operated and used.
It was also during the industrial revolution when solar energy was discovered as a means of obtaining electricity. This process is also known as the photovoltaic effect. Through the use of solar cells, a total of ten watts in every square foot can be produced. Usually, these solar cells are mounted on the rooftop of the establishment or structure which uses electricity by means of solar energy. However, the amount of energy that can be produced through this process is largely dependent on the rooftop’s sun exposure.
Wind Energy – This particular source of energy makes use of wind turbines in order to generate power. The energy produced is guaranteed to be very environment-friendly and the energy is also considered to be renewable. In addition, energy obtained from wind power is also usually very cost effective yet it can really provide substantial results in terms of generating electricity.
Geothermal Energy – As the name “geo” implies, geothermal energy is obtained right from the earth and the heat temperature which it emits. Usually, geothermal energy makes use of the natural heat temperature which the earth constantly emits throughout the year. Then this natural heat will be pumped with liquid in order to convert the energy into electricity. As the reservoirs of hot water are eventually tapped and made to move, geothermal energy can be used to operate an electric generator. The emissions coming from the electric generator is the electricity that gets dispersed.
Saving energy is not about being a miser, but being caring enough to save this planet from the effects of Global Warming. Our elders were more conserving than we are; they lived during the wars when resources were scarce. However, the post war generation, especially in western developed countries, became a very consuming society, where the motto was “live for today.” The result was that in the last 20 to 30 years, the ‘greenhouse gases’ that causes global warming have increased to an alarming level and a natural phenomena that made life possible in this planet, became a crisis, threatening the planet.
How Is Energy Consumption Related To Global Warming?
Energy we get today is mostly by burning fossil fuels like, coal or petroleum. They release CO2 which is the leading ‘Greenhouse gas’ to affect global warming. Therefore, saving energy will lead to less consumption of fossil fuels and reduce the emission of CO2.
How Do We Do It?
Every big journey begins with a small step; so start saving energy in your home first. Look around; almost every electrical equipment that you use has an energy saving feature, so use it. The traditional light bulbs consume huge electricity, but give less light; so change them to CFL lights. In fact, some countries are banning the making of traditional bulbs. Switch off light, fans, and other electrical application when not in use. During winter, wear worm clothes indoor, so that less room heating is needed. Make sure that you have closed the windows well before switching the air conditioner on. Do not use hot water to wash even ordinary everyday clothes. Turn off the taps, when not needed, to save water. While watering the plants, use sprinklers instead of garden hose. Walk small distance and try to use lead free oil. Use car pool for same destination and take public transport whenever possible. Cars do the biggest emission of CO2.
Another most important thing to save is “paper” as trees are cut down to make paper. Utilize a paper to its fullest. Go for recycled paper whenever possible. In office, try to use as less paper as possible. If you think that paper you subscribe are sending you unnecessary papers, write to them.
Speak Up
Just doing your part won’t be enough, speak up when you think that energy is being wasted. See to it that those streets light in your area are turned off during daytime. Ask the government to enforce carbon emission reduction seriously and persuade the authorities to use alternative energy source, whenever possible. Only then can we reduce global warming and save our future. Remember, if we do not act today, we will leave a world full of war, famine, and misery for our future generation to inherit.
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A lot our conventional energy sources are non-renewable. For quite some time, this has caused so much fear on people. Amazingly, this same fear instigated a major upheaval in the research arena for other alternative energy sources. Some people may not be aware, but more and more items which you could consider garbage or useless can now actually be considered as an energy source. The strange thing is that as more and more people make use of the energy from well-developed sources, there are also more potential alternative energy sources that spring up, like a well of possibilities that waits to be tapped by the willing scientific and enthusiastic fingers that will discover it. And this present age has indeed, generated more scientific and enthusiastic hands aided with the best of what technological advancements have to offer us.
One of the most amusing examples of this at work is the use of cooking oil as gasoline. There’s this truck that goes all over the United States and collects grease from deep-fried foods in restaurants and bars who will allow them. Most are more than willing to oblige them with all the used cooking oil they could give since the grease is often useless. This engine was built, and even if the truck smells like chicken, the car works solely on the grease and diminishes the need for petroleum gas.
In Missouri, a plant has been created that converts animal body parts to oil. Apparently, turkey is the most popular animal of their choice. Not only will the turkey make for a good Thanksgiving dinner, it will also now provide you the energy that you will have more reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving for! Also, aside from the bones and other hard parts, the fatty parts which we do not eat are now also being used to develop biological fuel. Vietnam is known to be doing this to their cat fish these days, and other countries are also following suit.
Even flowers can now be used as an eco-source. This incredible new research shows that there is still hope to extract something useful from wilted flowers. After the novelty of receiving that bouquet has worn off and it is beyond pressing the petals in between book pages Medieval style, you can now convert those flowers into something that can provide the energy that people need more these days. Wildflowers in Scotland when properly mixed with other plant species are actually competent enough to beat the amount of bio fuel that can be taken from corn and soy beans. Corn and soy beans are also budding alternative energy sources, but based from what this groundbreaking research revealed, there is more to the wildflowers than meets the eye. You can also include prairie grass because it has also been mentioned in the wildflower bio fuel research as potential sources of energy.
Aside from these bio fuel sources, the most high end alternative energy source that has been discovered in recent researches involves hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen fuel is lighter and much easier to produce. In fact, chocolate factory waste when mixed with e coli can actually produce this hydrogen gas. However, feasible as it may be, production of hydrogen remains to be too expensive for mass production, although it is already being groomed as a top alternative energy source to nuclear and petroleum. Hydrogen is so much cleaner than the latter two, since its only byproduct is water, as opposed to harmful risks entailed by using nuclear energy.
The ongoing researches all over the world on the subject of alternative energy sources have been very promising. While it’s true that the demand for energy has grown considerably higher over the past few centuries due to the change of demands in energy to be taken for technology, devices and day-to-day living, it is also true that in this present age, there is infinitely more resourcefulness and creativity that enables people to look for value even in the most unimaginable places. Despite differences in methods and techniques, combining all these new discoveries on alternative energy sources together, there may come a day that when we run out of non-renewable sources, we will be able to have enough fallback to maintain a pleasurable and energy-filled quality of living.
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