Stirling Engines As Solar Power Generators for Residential And Commercial Electricity Generation

The Stirling Engine is a simple heat exchange engine which was invented by Robert Stirling in 1816 as an alternative to steam engines. This engine works by utilizing compression and expansion of air at two different temperatures. At one end air is heated and while it is cooled down on the other end, which results in air expansion and compression at two ends causing the piston movement.

As Solar Power Generators
Stirling Engines are now used as solar renewable energy generators and the term is called as thermal solar technology. In this technology heat energy from the sun is utilized to run the engine to generate electricity. In practical use, a solar thermal engine has a large parabolic reflector which is known as solar dish, this dish is coated with silver coating or mirrors are used so that it can reflect sunlight into one focal point in the center where a Stirling engine is placed. Stirling engine receives this sunlight and converts this heat energy into mechanical energy to generate electricity. You will end up generating free and clean energy in the form of electricity.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Solar thermal technology is available as alternate energy for both residential and commercial use.

Stirling Engines As Solar Power Generators for Residential And Commercial Electricity Generation

Residential Electricity Generation
As a residential consumer, you can simply buy a small size Stirling solar engine dish according to your requirements. For a small house you might go for a 1-2 Kw model and place it on your rooftop just like you install solar panels for solar power generation. Solar mounted dish will generate electricity during the day and excess electricity will be stored in batteries for night hours use. House owners will receive clean and free solar energy from the Sun. Residential solar technology is getting popular quickly because solar dishes covers less area as compared to solar panels.

Commercial Electricity Generation
On the other hand, commercial level solar thermal dish systems can be quite larger in size and can generate up to 25 kW or even higher. Commercial users simply buy a solar dish according to their electricity usage, as a small company you might end up buying couple of medium size solar dishes. On larger scale such as government, military or electricity generation for grid these dishes are place in the form of large arrays as giant heat collectors also called as solar farms and they create huge amount of clean electricity. The Worlds largest solar facility has 20,000-dish array, 4,500-acre of land and generates 850 MW.

Stirling Engines As Solar Power Generators for Residential And Commercial Electricity Generation

For further reading on solar thermal technology please check Stirling Engines As Solar Generators in residential and commercial use.

One of the best way to understand this extremely simple heat engine is to purchase a small DIY Stirling engine model. For further reading and buying a model please check Stirling Engine History and Basics.

Australian Magnet Generator - A New Choice For Home Alternative Energy

Two inventors in Australia have managed to come up with a magnetic electric generator that actually works! Their invention which is becoming known as the 'Australian magnet generator' produces five times as much electricity than it consumes. This basically means free electricity!

It would seem that the days of solar power as the number-one alternative energy choice are numbered. Although very popular, solar power is limited in the amount of energy that it can produce. Most home solar power setups only produce a minimal amount of electricity.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

The Australian magnet generator on the other hand can produce enough electricity to power your whole house!

Australian Magnet Generator - A New Choice For Home Alternative Energy

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have already built as and have said goodbye to expensive electricity bills.

Notice how I said 'built' and not 'bought'. These magnetic electric generators are not for sale and have to be built yourself. It's not as hard as you may think thanks to the detailed plans that are available to buy on the Internet for as little as .

As long as you have basic DIY experience, it is relatively easy to build the Australian magnet generator within two or three days. All the parts and materials needed to build it can be bought at any good DIY store.

It really is an ideal DIY project. If you haven't built one before I recommend building a smaller version first and testing it out. Once you know that it works you can then build the full-size version and get rid of your electricity supply forever!

Australian Magnet Generator - A New Choice For Home Alternative Energy

Get more information about the magnetic generator and see if it's the right alternative energy choice for you.

Let's face it, who doesn't want free electricity!

Go to http://barkingdolphin.com/magnetic-generator

Parts Needed to Make Your Own Home Solar Panel

Many people think that it is impossible to make their own solar panel at home. The truth is that it is not that difficult to do. You can even produce them for under 0!

Here is a list of parts need to make your own home solar panel and produce enough electricity to power your own house hold loads.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

1. Energy Source- Solar Panels (12 V is fine)
2. Charge Controller
3. Battery
4. Inverter

Parts Needed to Make Your Own Home Solar Panel

This type of system is used to run household loads directly off the inverter.
Here is a description of the parts needed:

PV panels

Otherwise known as solar panels they are a solar-electric system's defining component. PV panels capture the sunlight and create direct current (DC) electricity.

PV panels are rated in watts based on the maximum power then can produce when performing under ideal sun and temperature conditions. You will need to use the rated output of your PV panels to determine how many panels you will need to meet your electrical needs. You can then combine the PV panels in a series, which is called an array.

Charge Controller

A charge controller will drastically increase the life of your battery. This unit will protect the batter from being overcharged. When the battery bank is fully charged, the charge controller will interrupt the charging process. Some charge controllers also stop the battery from discharging at night time.

Deep Cycle Battery

This is the type of battery you should use in your system. This is what will store all of the energy produced by your PV panels. A great source of free deep cycle batteries from is old golf carts of forklifts.

Inverter

The inverter is what turns the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). AC is what most of your household appliances use.

Using these four simple parts you can make enough electricity to run your household appliances off of and rid yourself of that annoying electric bill.

Parts Needed to Make Your Own Home Solar Panel

For more information on how to make your own home solar panel visit:

Home Solar Panel [http://www.myhomesolarpanel.com] Blog

Build a Wind Generator - How to Make Your Own

We figured learning how to build a wind generator was our best option to make power for our off grid home.

We found some great wind generator plans too.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Our choice was a hard one. We could either diversify our Renewable Energy System, a choice between hydro power from our small stream or put up a wind generator. We also had the option to just buy more solar panels. We decided to learn how to build a wind generator and here is why - You may want to build your own too.

Build a Wind Generator - How to Make Your Own

There are times of the year when even a hundred solar panels and 10 times our present battery storage would not run our home. In the fall and winter the sun may not shine for weeks at a time. Thus, no power is produced from the solar panels, no matter how many we would have. We really wanted to smooth out the wrinkles in our charging cycle as well as produce more power for our home, that meant adding more solar panels just wouldn't work for us.

Hydro power is probably the most cost effective option if you have enough running water with an adequate drop to produce power. Water power will produce 24/7, but we had a problem with this option. From November until April our stream freezes solid and in order to produce power we need running water. Unless we could figure out a way to run ice through the hydro turbine that is.

That left us with the wind generator option. A quick assessment of our site told us we had wind energy potential. Open space and a site that was free of obstructions for over 300 yards. We would only need a 40 foot tower to get up to the good wind.

So, we started shopping for a wind generator. The wind definitely went out of our sales, so to speak, when we started looking at the price of new and used wind turbines.

During our search for a wind power turbine a friend of ours suggested why not build one. He had done just that recently with some plans he had downloaded from a website called Homemade Wind Generator. We took a look at the nice job he had done on his wind generator and decided to download our own plans.

We learned how to one that cost us less than 0, including the small cost of the plans (still under ), but compared to the price in the thousands for a new or used wind generator to meet our needs it was a real bargain. The plans were simple and easy to follow and provided sources for all of the material we would need. Isn't it time you built your own.

Once we knew where to look, the DC motor used for a generator was quickly located, as well as the free PVC pipe we used for the blades. Our family is quite happy learning how to build it and It produces about 1000 watts of power at 24 volts. We have plans to build one for the front yard next.

Isn't it time you started now, let's get started,

It really is not that difficult of a project, and just think of the amount of money you will save on that skyrocketing electric bill. Renewable energy is the way to go today.

Build a Wind Generator - How to Make Your Own

Bill Temple Says: for more information look here Build A Wind Generator Website [http://www.living-off-the-grid.com] You will find all kinds of helpful advice on learning how to build a wind generator of your own.

Wood Boiler For Creating Electricity

I will look at the option of the wood boiler for creating electricity and compare it other methods of generating power. So that we can see which is the best option available to you? You probably live in area where there is lots of wood. You are looking at this as an option for providing extra electricity to your house. Just because there is lots of wood available doesn't make it the best option.

Boilers are best utilized as a source of generating heat than electricity. If you want to use them to generate electricity it is possible but very inefficient. A large amount of the heat produced is lost and very little of it turns to usable electricity. They are very good if you want to supply heat to houses, buildings and other surroundings. However using them as a source of electricity is a "no-no".

\"Energy Efficiency\"

There are other sources that you could use to create electricity other than opting for the wood boiler for creating electricity. Other methods are available that will not pollute the environment. The wood that you use for the wood boiler will eventually run out or become increasingly difficult to source. The methods I'm talking about; the supply will never run out.

Wood Boiler For Creating Electricity

Instead of considering the wood boiler as a source of electricity you could turn to solar power as an alternative. Solar is very efficient; freely available and in abundant supply. Worried about the cost of a solar panel. No need to. You can build one yourself. You just need to get yourself a god DIY guide and you shouldn't have any problems.

It's quite simple and cheap, about 0. Unlike choosing the wood boiler for creating electricity you don't have to keep getting up to go and throw logs into the fire to keep it going. Just simply wait for the sun to rise and you have electricity. It will easily power most of the appliances in your home.

Wood Boiler For Creating Electricity

Click Here Creating My Electricity for more information and instructional videos you can download.

Alternatively you can see more at: http://www.buldmysolarpower.info

Learn How to Build a Magnetic Power Generator

A new focus of interest now falls in the development of free energy generator known as the magnetic power generator. This system is able to produce more energy than it needs to run by itself, which results in free energy. It can be manufactured easily and capable of producing sufficient energy to support the entire house.

While solar power systems are preferable in locations that have an extensive amount of sunlight and while home windmills are popular at areas with constant flow of wind, the greatest benefit of a magnetic power generator is that you it can function in all weather, in all temperature, does not take up any substantial amount of space and is completely clean and totally free.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Many other benefits of a magnetic generator include:

Learn How to Build a Magnetic Power Generator

o Ease of use
o Cheap to build and cheaper to run.
o Slashes your electrical bills significantly.
o Completely safe for you and your family.

The magnetic power generator harnesses this magnetic force to create continual motion. The generator, once started, runs on by itself and whilst the magnets maintain their polarity, the system will never stop.

If you are concern about how much electrical power is required to be generated for your house - A house of two adults and two children living on all the normal modern appliances that a home generally has including a computer, washing machine, tumble dryer, hot water geyser etc, then you are likely to be able to reduce your electrical bills by up to 40%.

It is speculated that in the same way that solar power systems have become more accepted by the general population, so will magnetic energy and within the next ten years, energy companies will be implementing these systems in many houses around the world. Why wait till the energy companies to catch on when you can be doing it for yourself, cheap and easy.

Learn How to Build a Magnetic Power Generator

Explore more about the new energy focus, the Magnetic Power Generator. Acquire wealth of information on how magnetic generators work, benefits and many other informative tips on saving electricity. Get to know the all the existing uses and benefits of a Magnetic Energy Generator today; Master the true knowledge of generating free energy.

The Most Efficient Electric Heater - 3 Ways to Find the Most Efficient Electric Heater for Your Home

Today, people are concerned with energy conservation or efforts made to decrease energy consumption. Heaters today have so many features that make them convenient and easy to use. However, the one feature that is perhaps needed the most, energy efficiency, is often hidden so deep down in the product description that you have to squint your eyes to find it. Locating the most energy efficient electric heater can be an intimidating task if you let it. There are three ways to find the most efficient electric heater for your home and these ways won't cost you any money. Once you finally put your hands on the appliance that will cut your electric bills in half, you'll have a new found appreciation of heaters that are built strong, sturdy, and energy efficient.

Compare product descriptions of some of the most reputable heaters.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Every brand of heating appliance has a reputation, and you can use that fact to your advantage by getting a good grasp of all of the different brand names that make heating appliances. Some brand names are known for pushing convenience. Their product descriptions highlight easy of use, a lack of cords, shorter cords, or a light weight build. Other brands focus on the "heating experience." Their product descriptions focus on quiet fans, a complete lack of fans, or other moving parts that are known for making a lot of noise while heating the home. Then, there are the brands names that have a reputation for focusing on energy conservation. These brands highlight the benefits of using less energy and electricity without sacrificing heat. Their product descriptions don't just try to persuade you to go and make a purchase, they let you know up front that the brand cares about the planet and saving you money over the long haul. Some brands are known for focusing not just on the their bottom line but on your best interests, and as our world constantly changes and progresses, more brands will play a part in trying to save both the planet and money on electricity.

The Most Efficient Electric Heater - 3 Ways to Find the Most Efficient Electric Heater for Your Home

Consult product reviews

Websites that sell heating appliances are usually full of all kinds of reviews from past customers. Without reviews you would have to depend on getting the majority of your information from someone's whose main goal may only be to sell you something. However, user reviews will give you the hard facts about appliances from customers who have actually used them. Reading reviews will help you to learn whether a product is worth the money and whether it lives up to claims made in the product description. Focus on those products with a large number of reviews so you make your decision based many diverse opinions.

Become educated on energy efficiency.

Know the terms that are most talked about in the heating industry. There are all kinds of products that promise to solve your energy efficiency needs. However, if you become educated about space heaters vs room heaters or central heating systems vs forced air heating systems, you would have more of a solid foundation to work with when making your purchase. Consider that knowledge is power. For more information on heaters visit electric heaters for homes.

The Most Efficient Electric Heater - 3 Ways to Find the Most Efficient Electric Heater for Your Home

Get free information on electric heaters at electric heaters for homes.

Power 4 Home Review - Is it For Real?

Honest Review of Power 4 Home

You may think that Power 4 Home is just another green energy guide. With the number of similar guides out in the market, it is very easy to dismiss this as just another run-of-the-mill imitation of other guides that have come before it. A closer look at Power 4 Home though would reveal one of the most simple ways of presenting the benefits of solar and wind energy and how you can benefit from it. This is probably one of the most organized and easy-to-understand guide on alternative energy sources that has ever been published. No fuss. No confusing diagrams. No highfalutin scientific terminologies If you want a guide on how to make your own solar panels and wind power generators then Power 4 Home is for you.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Benefits

Power 4 Home Review - Is it For Real?

1. This guide tells you exactly how to easily build your own solar panels and wind power generators for less than 0.
2. After completing your project, you can expect huge energy bills savings. In fact, electric companies will even be willing to pay you when you are able to produce your own electricity to power your home.
3. The best benefit of this guide is that it allows you to help save the environment by helping to stop global warming through the use of safe green energy such as solar and wind energies.

Pro

1. A big advantage of this guide over the other green energy guides available is that it includes a section on being a entrepreneur and making money from your making solar panels and wind turbines. This is one area that other guides have failed to point out.
2. This product come with a 100% full money back guarantee so there really is no risk for you if you will order.
3. This guide is created by a real electrician in the person of John Russel so you can be sure that you are getting reliable and trust-worthy information about harvesting green energy. Moreover, Russel has spent years of research and development to perfect the system that you will get to know in this guide.
4. The presentation and organization of information is one of the best among the green energy guides around. You know that plenty of preparation and hard work has been put into making the guide as accessible to the general public as possible.
5. This is designed so anyone who will purchase it can use it an benefit from it right away.

Cons

• The only disadvantage of this product is the relatively poor quality of the videos that are included. If you are looking for excellent videos about making your own solar panels and wind turbines then you are better off with another product.

Power 4 Home Review - Is it For Real?

To save energy at home is to indirectly save money and heavily reduce home expenditures. Read more about Power 4 Home Review for more information about saving energy at home. Learn more about saving energy and acquiring energy efficient homes, by visiting my website: http://www.gosavepower.com/

Magnetic Generator - Free Energy Secrets That Power Companies Hate For You to Know!

So you want to know more about magnetic generators and homemade energy?

Well, the truth is there is a growing movement towards using alternative sources of energy to power homes and offices.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

I know how you feel; during the last blackout I was at a loss and became very frustrated trying to see my way around using candles!

Magnetic Generator - Free Energy Secrets That Power Companies Hate For You to Know!

After that experience I decided it was time to look into backup power generators.

The research I undertook led me to a few guarded secrets.
Information that I will share with you here.

What secrets? Well, first I came to understand that there were a lot of alternative ways to power my home besides the ways the monopolies were pushing.

And I found out that there was good information available on free energy.

Like using magnetic energy to power my home. This is a very affordable way to achieve freedom from energy companies!

Warning! There are a lot of "free" manuals out there that will mislead you about building a magnetic energy motor at home. Don't be mislead! Get a thorough plan from a reputable source. Below are some links to take you to the right places.

Magnetic power generators use magnets to create continuous energy. This is easily and cheaply built with just a few common items. It will take you a little above an hour to build your first one. Once built it can be placed wherever you want in your home.

Don't let your power company fool you any longer!

Magnetic Generator - Free Energy Secrets That Power Companies Hate For You to Know!

If you are mad about throwing good money away and you're ready to power your home for free, visit

http://www.budurl.com/powerfree and take control of your energy usage!

FREE information on generating free power as well as tips for building your magnetic energy generator!

Why You Will Never See Magnetic Generators For Sale

You have probably already heard about the incredible new alternative energy that is magnetic electric generation. You can forget about solar power as an answer to your home power needs. A magnetic generator can completely eradicate your electricity bill not just heat your hot water! This alone is the reason why you will never see magnetic generators for sale anywhere.

Just think about that moment. Suppose there were magnetic electric generators for sale in every country around the world. You could go into any DIY store and there was a generator ready for you to take home and supply all the electricity you needed.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

One of the biggest industries in the world is the supply of electricity. If everybody had the ability to produce their own electricity the world economy may very well collapse!

Why You Will Never See Magnetic Generators For Sale

It sounds like a conspiracy theory but if you think about it for a moment it makes sense.

There is no way the big electricity companies would ever let that happen.

When the Australian inventors of the most well-known magnetic energy generator first unveiled it to the public, they hoped there would be magnetic generators for sale every where on the planet.

It never happened as they came up against too many obstacles. Instead they decided to sell their plans on the Internet so that anyone can build their own magnetic generator at home and there's nothing the big electric companies can do about it!

They may be able to stop them from being sold but they can't stop you from building your own!

Why You Will Never See Magnetic Generators For Sale

You will never see a magnetic generator for sale, but you can still build one.

Go to http://barkingdolphin.com/magnetic-generator/ and find out how.

How to Build Your Own Solar Power System and Eliminate Your Electric Bills

If you want to build your own solar power system but do not know where or how to start, you need to have someone or something to guide you along. Although there are lots of books written on DIY system to generate electricity from solar energy, not many actually brings you through the detailed steps to building one on your own. What the majority of guides do is give people tons of general information with no specific steps to get you started. Therefore, it is important that you go for a guide that is so simple to follow even for a DIY novice. Here we look at the topics that should be covered to enable you to build your own solar power system.

Essential topics you need to build your own solar power system:

\"Energy Efficiency\"

1. Overview of how the solar energy system works. This will include different components that are used in the system as well as their functions.

How to Build Your Own Solar Power System and Eliminate Your Electric Bills

2. Sourcing of components. Before you even start to think about how to build your own solar power system, the components required for the project has to be ready. A good guide will provide useful information on how one can obtain the parts easily at the lowest costs. In fact, I know of a guide that gives you tips of getting the necessary hardware for less than 0. Read on to find out more.

3. Step-by-step instructions of how to build your own solar power system. Those of you who have done electrical DIY projects before should know that building a power generator entails many considerations and calculations on the current and voltage requirements. It is not as simple as Lego where you simply fix the pieces together and hope that it works. The guide should have all these details.

4. Tracking of the amount of energy the system is producing and storage of excess electrical energy. For such a system to be complete, you need some sort of method to measure the amount of electricity you are producing. Since you will not be using all the electricity you need all the time, there will be some excess and it is important to store it for later use especially at night when the sunlight is not present.

Optional topics that may be useful:

1. How to design off-grid and on-grid system. Designing an on-grid system enables home owners to contribute electricity to everyone else on the same grid. In certain states of US, the energy companies will compensate these homes in monetary reward for doing so. Off-grid system on the other hand, encompasses topics like how to build your own solar power system that you can bring along everywhere you go, like camping for example.

2. Building a wind turbine to generate electricity. Some guides provide this information which is also very useful.

How to Build Your Own Solar Power System and Eliminate Your Electric Bills

George Tho is a DIY enthusiast. Read his review on a complete guide to build your own solar power system with less than 0 even if you are a complete DIY novice.
Author's review website on clickbank products: http://www.clickbankproductreview.com
Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided for the purpose of education and illustration only. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

New Laws on Energy Efficiency Standards Encourage Upgrading Your Air Conditioner and Furnace (HVAC)

You might not know it, but something changed in 2006 that will affect the choice of products available to you when it comes time to replace your Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Don't worry, this affect on the equipment available to you is a good thing. The U.S. government has mandated that the energy efficiency of all HVAC systems installed after January 23, 2006 must meet certain minimum benchmarks. The benchmarks referred to are the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).

In the years prior to this mandate being enacted, many air conditioners only had a SEER of 10, and furnaces had AFUE percentages of as low as 50%. New air conditioners must now have a SEER of at least 13 and furnaces have to achieve an AFUE of 80% or more. That is an increase in efficiency of 30% from air conditioners that were 10 SEER, and an increase of 38% for a furnace that had an AFUE of 50%.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Now, the government is not going to make you go replace your old system to meet the new standard-it only applies to new HVAC installation. If you have one of these older, less efficient systems you may continue to operate it as long as you please, but why would you want to? Many of the systems available today are actually much more efficient than the government has mandated, giving you the potential of substantial savings on utility bills.

New Laws on Energy Efficiency Standards Encourage Upgrading Your Air Conditioner and Furnace (HVAC)

For an average home, the lower utility bills alone could save a household about 0 a year. But there is more-the IRS is providing tax incentives for homeowners who upgrade their home's energy efficiency to meet the government's requirements for the program. This means meeting higher benchmarks for energy efficiency, but these are easily attainable with the equipment available today.

There is something else to consider. It is going to become more expensive to service your older air conditioner. It most likely uses a CFC or HCFC refrigerant, and these have been essentially banned. In fact, after 2010 these will be highly restricted, and your HVAC service company will only be able to purchase these refrigerants at a premium. It will be very expensive to use these to service your old air conditioner. There are replacement refrigerants available, but they are incompatible with older systems and can only be used in newer systems designed for them. You do not want to be stuck in one hot Atlanta summer with an old, inefficient air conditioner that doesn't work and can't be serviced, do you?

Given potential utility savings and tax incentives, plus the issue of sheer serviceability, there is plenty of reason to install a newer, more environmentally friendly system. But, it's also the right thing to do. Heating and cooling amount to approximately 50% of a home's energy use, so by acting to minimize this slice of your energy use, you are taking action to reduce the size of your footprint on a heavily trampled planet.

New Laws on Energy Efficiency Standards Encourage Upgrading Your Air Conditioner and Furnace (HVAC)

Bardi Heating and Air conditioning is an Atlanta air conditioning repair specialist and a trusted name in the heating and air conditioning business. To learn more their services please visit http://www.bardi.com

Building a Magnet Motor to Generate Electricity

Lowering or even eliminating their power bill has been on the minds of millions. With the arrival of the magnet motor, the time has come when anyone can be energy efficient.

Magnet motors are not only affordable, they are effective and can be used by anyone. Many individuals are already learning how to build this amazing system.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Here are some of the benefits:

Building a Magnet Motor to Generate Electricity

1. The energy provided is clean and renewable.
2. Your property value increases with the installation of a magnet motor.
3. For only a couple hundred dollars, the cost of building materials, your house can be run with free energy.
4. It may interest your power company to buy energy from you.
5. The upkeep of this system is minimal.

People interested in building a magnet motor first try to find a place they will put it. Due to the small size of these motors, they can be installed in a garage or even inside the home.

Many find that the garage is the best place to both protect it from weather and other factors that can cause damage. There is no waiting for the sun or wind.

It is possible to buy a pre-made magnet motor, however, the cost may be prohibitive. In this case, doing it yourself is the smarter way to go. Learning how to do-it-yourself will save you money in the long run.

To accomplish this properly, you will need a step by step plan. The following is a step by step plan that builds you a motor and saves you thousands.

Building a Magnet Motor to Generate Electricity

Find out more about the new energy focus, the permanent magnetic generator. Acquire wealth of information on how magnetic generators work, benefits and many other informative tips on saving electricity. Find out how you can use the earth for energy today; Master the true knowledge of generating free energy.

Windmills For Home - How Yard Decorations Can Reduce Your Electric Bill

Windmills For Home-They Don't Have To Be Just Decorations

I started using windmills to scare away deer and crows from my vegetable garden. Then I realized I could use that small windmill to power a marine battery and charge up my electric fence. Then three years later I now have three homemade wind turbines. That garden windmill started my whole adventure to supplementing 48% - 100% of my household electricity, and I'll never go back to the way things were.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Watching That Little Windmill Spin

Windmills For Home - How Yard Decorations Can Reduce Your Electric Bill

Three years ago I would have never thought that a little homemade windmill on top of a garden post would spawn an interest in homemade energy. The whole project was inexpensive, except for a battery mistake, and easy to do. I guess I owe the corn chewing crows and the spinach munching deer thanks. That small windmill still sets a top a garden post, but now it's put to work. It has three bigger cousins who work for me full time too, and I'm eternally grateful for the money they all have saved me, and it's a pure joy to watch them. So why not go from just a yard decoration to something that works for you.

Even Small Windmills For Home Decorations Can Become Generators

Sure it may take a little ingenuity, but even small decorative windmills can become generators that are perfect for charging small batteries for yard lighting. Couple the batteries with some LED lighting and you have a free lighting system that never goes out, even if you have a power outage. That's pretty darn resourceful and a neat idea too. Imagine a power outage in the neighborhood and your yard is lit up, that's kind of a funny thought. How about a trickle charger for you lawnmower battery over the winter, or perhaps a battery backup for under sidewalk heating?.. Ok, that would take a bigger generator, but you can clearly see how this spawns other ideas, and can become quite addictive when put into action. Building wind generators and putting them to work is just plain good ol, DIY fun.

Try Converting A Small Home Windmill - You Might Just Like It

Windmills For Home - How Yard Decorations Can Reduce Your Electric Bill

Here is more information on my Windmills For Home Use.

I learned how to make my smaller home windmills here

Vertical Axis Windmills - A Home Windmill Design That is Quiet and Efficient

The vertical axis windmill may be just the breakthrough needed to make real progress toward bringing wind generated electricity to the average home owner. It is no secret that the cost of just about all forms of energy has been rising at an unprecedented rate. Yet, we are surrounded by so much clean, free wind energy that just goes to waste day after day.

Homemade power plants for generating electricity, whether using vertical axis windmill designs or the more familiar horizontal axis type, are not exactly a new concept. But, one of the biggest reasons that they have not been utilized by more homes is that they are just too expensive. New commercial systems can cost from ,000 to well over ,000 to purchase and install.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

The Make-Your-Own-Windmill Movement Solved The Price Problem

Vertical Axis Windmills - A Home Windmill Design That is Quiet and Efficient

Along came inexpensive and sometimes even free materials including the Low cost DC motors necessary for generating power. This, along with good windmill plans for making simple but effective horizontal axis windmills, has forced the cost down to about 0 with an investment payback range from only a few weeks to a few months. (Horizontal axis windmills look like a large airplane propeller).

Horizontal Axis Home Windmills Are Effective But With Some Public Relation Problems

These horizontal wind turbines are very effective for taking a huge chunk out of electric bills but there are still a few nagging problems that have been left for vertical windmills to solve. Windmills sometimes face resistance in neighborhoods where the homes are relatively close together. So much so that in some cases zoning boards have disallowed these projects. The typical worries have to do with noise, appearance and blade safety in high winds.

Vertical Axis Windmill Designs To The Rescue

The vertical axis windmill is designed so that its wind catching blades spin around an axle that is vertical as opposed to the popular horizontal airplane propeller style of windmills. The Advantages Of The Vertical Windmill Design Over The Horizontal Axis type are as follows:

1. The vertical windmill generates more electricity with less wind. It can be 50% more efficient in generating electricity because it captures wind from all directions with out having to shift to face a change of wind direction.

2. Quieter

3. Safer in high winds

4. More esthetically pleasing because the blades can be designed artfully for blending into the surrounding environment

5. Birds are much less likely to fly into this windmill design

6. Easier and safer to maintain because the electrical generator is located at ground level.

7. Solves many of the typical residential windmill concerns in neighborhoods with homes located relatively close to each other.

It all Starts With A Clear Plan

There has never been a better time for building a home windmill. The need to slash the cost of electricity has never been at such a high level. The necessary strong but light-weight technology in the form of inexpensive or even free materials is readily available. And importantly, there are now some excellent illustrated instruction manuals written by authors willing to share their successful hands-on experience in building horizontal or vertical axis windmills.

Vertical Axis Windmills - A Home Windmill Design That is Quiet and Efficient

Be sure to read my detailed reviews of some of the top homemade windmill plans. Learn which guides are excellent and which ones to avoid. Just follow these links: http://www.wind2electricity.net/Home-Made-Power-Plant-Review.html and http://www.wind2electricity.net/Earth4Energy-Review.html

10 Benefits of Solar Energy

Benefits of Solar Energy:

1. Solar energy is renewable. We never have to worry about running out of sunlight or using it all up. The sun is a consistent power source meaning it's always going to be there every day.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

2. Solar energy is environmentally friendly. Compared to fossil fuels which release greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide, solar cells don't release anything into the air.

10 Benefits of Solar Energy

3. Solar panels are extremely reliable. There are no moving parts so you don't have to worry about replacing anything. In fact, most people generate electricity for 1000s of hours with little or no maintenance.

4. Solar cells make no noise while collecting energy. There are no other renewable energy sources that are completely silent.

5. In the long run, solar electricity is cheaper than buying it from the power company. There is a start up cost, but then it starts paying for itself. Once you break even, everything after that is profit. Compare this to paying a monthly bill and getting no return on investment.

6. There is a huge variety of solar panel systems available. Some can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and some cost just a couple hundred. This means anyone can get into solar, there's an entry point for just about everybody.

7. You're not required to connect to the power grid. You can be completely self-sufficient and live off-the-grid. Imagine never paying another monthly bill or hook-up charge.

8. Sell excess electricity. If you build a large enough solar panel system, you can make your electric meter spin backwards! Most power companies will gladly buy or credit you for this excess electricity. Contact your local power companies for more details.

9. Government tax credits. Most governments will provide some kind of tax credit or incentive for people purchasing solar energy systems. On average, rebates usually cover 20-30% of the system cost. Contact your local representatives for more details.

10. Solar technology is constantly improving. Solar installations are increasing by an incredible 50% every year, most of which are small homemade systems. Learn how to make your own solar panels and use the benefits of solar [http://www.squidoo.com/renewableenergyforhome] energy to your advantage.

10 Benefits of Solar Energy

Click here [http://www.squidoo.com/renewableenergyforhome] to see my reviews of solar power guides. See which are the best value and which ones are a waste of money.

Convert Your Home to Solar Power Using a Government Grant

In this modern era with global warming and green house gases on the rise, it's important that one takes note of the importance of renewable energy resources to reduce carbon emissions and further harmful effects upon the environment. What could be a better way to do this than to start with your own home?

Governments around the world are offering grants, tax breaks, and concessions to those who are willing to convert their homes to use solar power. But sometimes it's hard to find what's currently being offered and how to get them. The best place to start is the "Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency" website. The site provides a map of the United States which allows you to click on the state in which you live, and a host of further links will be presented that will outline the incentives or grants that are being offered at individual state levels, as well as the federal level. Before you start the renovation or implementation of a solar power system, check out this site first. It will show you what you're entitled to and what money you can save. This is the first step to understanding how to get a solar power grant.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Some of the issues that will be presented will be:

Convert Your Home to Solar Power Using a Government Grant

The policy or incentive type, whether it be a tax credit, net metering, or similar program. What sectors are entitled to the benefits, whether it is residential, government or commercial premises. A summary of the grant or incentive. Who is actually offering the grant (state or federal) A link to the website in charge of the offering of the grant or incentive. For what purpose the grant is being offered for, whether it is for the installation of solar power, wind energy, insulation, etc.

Both state and federal governments offer grants, and hopefully this article will point you in the right direction so you can receive them. The benefits can be quite numerous, with the possibility of receiving thousands of dollars or the complete purchase and installation price of renewable energy sources. Both state and federal governments are constantly increasing their offerings to encourage people to go green in order to reduce carbon emissions across the nation.

Convert Your Home to Solar Power Using a Government Grant

I encourage you to visit my Solar Power Grants website for further information and resources.

Building Solar Panels - Where To Buy Solar Cells

One of my biggest problems when I was building my very first solar panel was where to find solar cells at a reasonable price. I had recently learned that you could build a solar panel for hundreds of dollars less than buying them the only problem was I couldn't find any solar cells.

After I could days of searching I found a couple websites that sold solar cells... the only problem was they were in the /watt range which definitely isn't cheaper than buying a brand new panel! I was pretty depressed at that point.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

We had just recently built a wind generator and I had been wanting to upgrade the hub so I went to our favorite place (eBay) and was looking around for one. After I found what I was looking for I figured I should try a shot in the dark and see if anyone on eBay was selling solar cells. It was probably the happiest moment of my life! There were over 50 auctions of people selling solar cells for under .50/watt (the price has since gone down to under /watt). I quickly ordered 36 so I could start building our first solar panel. The great news is these guys usually throw in a couple extra just in case a couple break during shipping (solar cells are pretty fragile).

Building Solar Panels - Where To Buy Solar Cells

How is it that eBay was offering such cheap prices on cells? Well, cells have a grading system (Grade "A", "B", "C" etc.). The cells I had been looking at were Grade "A" cells which means they are perfect. The auctions on eBay were for Grade "B" cells. Before you start thinking these aren't that great you should know that Grade "B" simply means there's tiny defects in the cell. Nothing major and it doesn't affect the power output. Once your solar panel is built you can't even notice these defects.

If you're just starting your journey to building your first solar panel I strongly suggest you check out eBay. They've got the best prices and you can't even tell the difference when the panel is finished.

Building Solar Panels - Where To Buy Solar Cells

I built my own solar panels and a wind generator and saved well over ,000. I get a cheque from the power company because I produce more energy than I use. If you'd like to learn how you can do the same check out Buy Solar Cells.

How Do Windmills Generate Electricity?

Do you wish to learn how windmills generate electricity, and how you can use them to run your home? As the natural resources needed to create electric power are decreasing every day along with rising electric bills, alternatives like wind and solar energy have started getting a lot attention. It is much more beneficial to create electricity from these renewable sources compared to using fuel.

1. How Do Windmills Generate Electricity?

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Windmills are able to convert mechanical energy into electric energy. Mechanical energy is created when wind blows against the blades of the windmill which then begins to rotate because of the difference in air pressure. Each windmill will have many huge blades that generate a lot of power when rotated.

How Do Windmills Generate Electricity?

Inside the windmill, there is a shaft that is connected to the blades and the generator. The generator is the device that converts the mechanical energy created by the blades into electrical energy for use in the home.

2. Can You Really Run your Home with Windmill Generated Electricity?

Many people still consider this a myth and refuse to believe that this is possible as they are not convinced that it is energy efficient to do this. However, there are already guides and video tutorials online that show people how to run their homes with wind turbines and solar panels. I know that they work because I have purchased them and am running my own home with windmill generated electricity today.

3. How Do You Run your House with Windmill Generated Electricity?

To do this, you should learn how to build your own wind mills. You will be pleased to find out that they are really easy to do and do not require more than 0 to get started. I managed to find all the necessary hardware parts at my nearby store and managed to complete it within a day.

How Do Windmills Generate Electricity?

Want to learn how to build Windmills to Generate Electricity for your home? Download the Best Step-By-Step Home Energy Guides at http://www.renewableenergysystemreview.com first!

The author has managed to reduce his energy bill by more than 80% by building his own renewable home energy system. Check out his website above to find out how to do it!

Free Plans to Build a Windmill

Are you looking for free plans to build a windmill? The internet is full of valuable resources, and by reading this article you're heading in the right direction. Building your own windmill to generate your own electricity is a great way to reduce your utility bills, and also to help the environment. This article outlines some of the advantages, and also some of the other options related to building your own renewable energy system.

First of all, it is important to keep in mind that windmills aren't the only homemade energy options available to DIY enthusiasts. it is just as simple to build a homemade solar panel as it is to build a wind turbine. In many cases, a combination of both systems is the most effective in generating more than enough electricity for the home. It is important to keep your options open in this regard.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

In order to build a good quality, effective, and aesthetically pleasing windmill or solar panel, it is imperative to have a proper instruction manual. Obviously, if you've got a degree in engineering you could make do without detailed schematics, but the majority of people don't have this kind of knowledge. The internet is full of inexpensive and instantly downloadable guides that detail every aspect of DIY windmills and solar panels. At the end of this article is a link to a site with the best online guides available.

Free Plans to Build a Windmill

Once you've obtained a guide and set up your system, there are a number of ways to run your homemade "power plant". The simplest way to get good use out of your system is to connect only part-time appliances to your homemade energy grid. Microwaves, toasters, electric water boilers, and poll heaters are some great examples. This leaves more important things like refrigerators and air conditioning units on the normal power grid, so they don't drain your self generated system.

If you want to generate all of your electricity from homemade renewable energy sources, you will probably need to hire a qualified electrician to run the system into the AC breaker panel. This is very dangerous and sometimes illegal, so you must check out your local laws and regulations. Again, all of the information required to run your entire home off renewable energy can be found in a good quality online guide.

Setting up a complete home renewable energy system take some time and a lot of hard work. however, this pays off a lot over the years, especially considering the rising costs of electricity from the power stations. By generating your own electricity at home, you can even sell your unused electricity back to the power company. This can make for a nice amount of extra income.

Free Plans to Build a Windmill

If you're serious about reducing or eliminating your energy bills with free, renewable energy, check out this Renewable Energy Systems website for some practically free plans to build a windmill.

How Much Solar Power? Determining How Many Watts Your House Needs

Once you've decided to add a system of solar photovoltaic power panels to your house or business or determined that it's time to expand an existing system, the next question is: how much wattage do I need?

To find this out, you will need to know how much power you consume (or how much you plan to consume, for new buildings or for additions that will require lots of power - like a woodworking shop or a hot tub) and how much sunlight you receive throughout the year.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Assuming that you've been at your location for at least a year (so that you have a good feel for your electric needs for each season), take each electricity bill and write down the number of kilowatt-hours (kw-h) that were billed and the number of days in the billing cycle. Then, divide the number of kw-h by the number of billing days to get the average kw-h per day. To make things simpler, some people just assume 30 days for each billing cycle (and not all power companies report the billing days). That's how many kw-h your system will need to generate each day to meet your power needs. Once you've done this for the entire year's worth of bills, you'll know both your average daily consumption and your peak consumption. You may choose to size your system based on either value. If you use the average value (and assuming your power company allows you to sell power back to them, you should definitely check on this first!), then some days you'll make extra power and sell it back to the power company and some days you'll be buying power, but over the course of a year, your net electric bill should be close to

Now, to get the wattage of solar panels that you need, you'll need to know how many hours of direct sunlight that your system will receive. If you've been at your location for several years already, you might have a good idea how many hours of direct sunlight your building receives, either seasonally or on average throughout the year. One way to determine how many hours of sunlight you receive is to take observations several times a day as to whether the portion of your roof where the solar panels are to be installed is sunlit. If you do this every day for a year, you'll have a good idea of how many hours of sunlight your solar panel will receive on a seasonal basis. There are a few problems with this approach: it's very time consuming as it requires you to take measurements throughout the day nearly every day; there will be some days when you just can't take the measurements (you're out of town, working and cannot get to the house to observe the roof, clouds are obscuring the sun, etc.); and, unless you have a solar panel system that tracks the sun, the number of hours of sunlight your roof receives is not the same as the hours of direct sunlight, since much of that light will probably not be coming in at right angles to your roof throughout the year.

Another way to estimate the number of hours of direct sunlight you receive is to assume a value or to use a rule-of-thumb. Often, 5 hours direct sunlight on average throughout the year is assumed. Although this is a fairly common assumption, you might end up disappointed if your solar system generates less power than you anticipated because you get fewer average hours of sunlight than this.

A third method is to look up an average regional value. The Florida Solar Energy Center presented a study in August 2004 at the ACEEE 2004 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings titled "Geographic Variation in Potential of Rooftop Residential Photovoltaic Electric Power Production in the United States." This study simulated the power generation of a 2 kilowatt (kw) photovoltaic rooftop system for 236 locations throughout the US. Depending on the location, they found that this 2 kw rooftop system would generate between 5 and 8.5 kw-h per day on average throughout the year.

Using the rule-of-thumb, a 2-kw system receiving direct sunlight for 5 hours per day would expect to generate 10 kw-h per day on average throughout the year. From the Florida study, the same system would be expected to generate only 5 - 8.5 kw-h per day throughout the year.

How you proceed depends on your goals. If your goals are to offset your electricity cost, then any of the approaches will provide an estimate of the number of hours of direct sunlight that you receive. However, if your goal is to become energy independent, then using the results of the Florida simulation would provide a more conservative value that would be more likely to provide a system sized for your needs. Take the results of the simulation and a few of your own observations (whether you have a lot of tall evergreen trees on the south side of your house that block a majority of the winter sun, etc.) and you should be able to estimate the number of hours of direct sunlight that you receive.

For example, if you've decided to use the average power consumption value and you use 600 kw-h per month and your billing company doesn't report the number of days per billing cycle (assume 30 days per month), then you consume 20 kw-h per day of electricity (600 kw-h divided by 30 days per month). Using the Florida simulation data and assuming you live in Western Kentucky, you receive approximately 3.5 hours of direct sunlight per day (from the graphic, estimate a value of 7.0 kw-h divided by 2 kw - the study is based on a 2 kw system). Then, your system would need to be sized for approximately 5,700 watts.

. If you use the peak number, then you should be selling power back to the power company almost every day, but your system will cost more than if you sized the system based on the average power consumption.

How Much Solar Power? Determining How Many Watts Your House Needs

How Much Solar Power? Determining How Many Watts Your House Needs

Daniel Peplinski

[http://www.Earthsolarpanel.com/]

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/publications/html/FSEC-PF-380-04

Gas Fireplace Inserts Can Help Energy Efficiency

While we all enjoy the beauty and sounds of a wood burning fireplace, nothing compares to the efficiency of a gas fireplace. They also provide a cleaner burning fire, they are safer to use, and easier to work with.

The question I hear a lot is, "How can I have a gas fireplace, mine is wood burning?"

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Well, there is no need to rip out your existing fireplace and spend thousands of dollars. The answer is to install a gas fireplace insert.

Gas Fireplace Inserts Can Help Energy Efficiency

In simple terms, a gas fireplace insert will fit inside your existing fireplace and change it over to gas. You have the option of installing it directly in the fireplace or getting a ready-made factory unit.

As far as costs go, a gas fireplace insert can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

The design aspects are numerous. These inserts can come with brick and tiles already set in place, or they can be empty, allowing you the opportunity to add your own distinct design. To make things even easier, some units give the ability to simply slide tiles in place without having to permanently install them.

The biggest reason for installing a gas fireplace insert is of course, the energy savings. While a wood burning fireplace looks great, it is not efficient in heating a room without a blower. In fact, they actually suck the warm air out of the room and up the chimney.

A gas unit will allow you to add a metal grille to aid in heating your room. If you only use your fireplace for an occasional fire, you won't need a grille.

So, don't think it will cost thousands, or require you to tear out your existing fireplace to change over to gas. With a gas fireplace insert you can do it quickly and affordably.

All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

Gas Fireplace Inserts Can Help Energy Efficiency

Terry Edwards is the owner of Fireplaces A-z, a website providing great information about fireplaces and fireplace accessories. You can learn more about Gas Fireplace Inserts as well as much more information on all types of fireplaces at http://www.FireplacesA-z.com

Energy Efficiency - Green Your Current Desktop or Laptop Computer

According to the April 2008 edition of PC Magazine flaws in Windows XP's sleep mode may have added up to billion a year to power bills worldwide. Unless you purchased a special energy efficient model, have used third party applications to manage your power management setting or have manually adjusted your power management settings then your current computer is most likely not as energy efficient as it could be.

What can I do to improve my existing computers energy efficiency?

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Unless you are a computer expert, managing your system configuration for optimal energy efficiency may be a bit daunting. For the sake of simplicity to optimize the power management settings in Windows machines I recommend free software such as the CO2 Saver from Snap.com.

Energy Efficiency - Green Your Current Desktop or Laptop Computer

The CO2 Saver

This lightweight computer program manages your computer's power setting when it is idle. By managing your idle power setting the CO2 Saver can save you energy and in turn reduce harmful CO2 emissions and more. As an added benefit of the CO2 Saver clearly shows you what your personal CO2 reduction has been as well as total CO2 reduced by everyone using the program.

How effective is it?

To date Snap's CO2 Saver has prevented 607,206 lbs or 303.6 tons of CO2 emissions. To put that into perspective the total savings provided by this software is equivalent to:

• Not driving a vehicle for 552,005 miles. Why? The average car with a single driver emits 1.10 lbs of CO2 per mile.
• Planting 60,720 trees. Why? On average a tree absorbs 10 lbs of pollutants from the air each year.

Downloading Snap's CO2 Saver

You can download Snap's CO2 Saver free of charge at:

• http://co2saver.snap.com/

Even though this application is currently only available for Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista based computers it has already shown significant environmental benefits. It's easy to install, is free of any malware or spyware and gives you a constant reminder on your desktop of your personal environmental responsibility.

Energy Efficiency - Green Your Current Desktop or Laptop Computer

Sam Greyhawk is an energy efficiency evangelist who works with Cool-N-Save(tm), an Energy Star Partner. Cool-N-Save(tm) is an energy efficiency device for your air conditioner. This improvement in efficiency can reduce your AC electric bill by up to 30%. Saving energy helps fight global warming. Cool-N-Save(tm) is an easy and cost effective way for you to reduce your energy usage dramatically.

Energy Efficiency - Buying a New Plasma, LCD or Flat-Screen Television with Energy Star

Are you in the market for a new television set? Are you considering a plasma, LCD or flat-screen model? Have you considered it's energy efficiency? While most people shop for televisions with specific features already in mind, they rarely consider energy efficiency. Why is energy efficiency important in televisions? According to Energy Star, "today's TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10% of a household's annual electricity bill."

Powering Your TV and it's Effect on the Environment

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Watching television may seem harmless enough, but it's important to realize the environmental impact of the electricity you use. Generating electricity is a dirty business - especially in the United States. In 2006, nearly half (49%) of the country's 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity generated used coal as its source of energy. Why do we still rely so heavily on coal in today's more environmentally conscious world? You can find the answer in a recent MIT report titled The Future of Coal where they state, "Coal is a low-cost, per BTU, mainstay of both the developed and developing world," they continue with the following frightening statement, "its use is projected to increase."

Energy Efficiency - Buying a New Plasma, LCD or Flat-Screen Television with Energy Star

Growing Power Needs

If 10% of your household's annual electricity bill doesn't seem outrageous to you then consider the following, according to Keith Jones of Digital CEnergy Australia, "by 2012, it will be safe to say that televisions will use more power than the average refrigerator in an average household."

Energy Efficiency - A Simple Solution

Thankfully, there is a simple solution - energy efficiency. The more energy efficient your new television is, the less electricity you use and the less pollution you contribute. With the help of Energy Star, finding an energy efficiency television has never been easier. Energy Star rated televisions use about 30% less energy in comparison to standard units. Energy Star also provides ratings on almost every type of television on the market - from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs.

To maximize the energy efficiency of your new television, if possible, I recommend holding your purchase until after November 2008. According to Energy Star, "in November 2008, a new, much more stringent ENERGY STAR specification for TVs will be effective." This new standard will include efficiency improvements for both standby and active modes.

Finding Energy Star Rated Televisions

If you are ready to shop today then you can find Energy Star rated televisions using their free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TV#FAPSearch

The following stores also carry Energy Star rated "Home Electronics" so you should be able to compare Energy Star models personally.

• Best Buy
• Costco
• Sam's Club
• Sears
• Wal-Mart

To find the closest store near you, Energy Star provides the following free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.store_locator

It's important to always remember using energy efficient devices is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only does energy efficiency help save the environment for future generations, it also saves you money each money by lowering your monthly electricity bill. When you purchase your next television, make the environmentally smart choice and purchase one rated by Energy Star.

Energy Efficiency - Buying a New Plasma, LCD or Flat-Screen Television with Energy Star

Sam Greyhawk is an environmental evangelist who spreads the message of reduce, reduce and recycle. Learn about greenwashing [http://www.stopgreenwashing.org/] and how to avoid it by visiting Stop Greenwashing [http://www.stopgreenwashing.org/]. Track interesting environmental stories by topic at Nature Web [http://www.natureweb.us/].

Energy Efficiency - Bicycles Are An Energy Efficient Transportation Choice

In the United States, we live in an automobile based culture. Many people don't think twice about driving their vehicle short distances to run errands - a mile here, a mile there. What many people don't realize or choose to ignore is that driving alone is one of the least climate-friendly forms of transportation.

Driving Alone

\"Energy Efficiency\"

How bad is driving alone relative to other forms of transportation? According to the Sightline Institute with a single driver, you can expect an average of:

Energy Efficiency - Bicycles Are An Energy Efficient Transportation Choice

• 1.57 lbs of CO2/Mile in a "Sport Utility Vehicle" (15 MPG)
• 1.10 lbs of CO2/Mile in an "Average car" (21.5 MPG)
• 0.59 lbs of CO2/Mile in an "Economy car" (40 MPG)

Obviously filling your vehicle to capacity helps, just consider this:

• 0.37 lbs of CO2/Mile in an "Average car" (21.5 MPG) when Carpooling with three people

While filling to capacity can help for short errands it isn't always an option. So what can you do?

Riding a Bicycle

Riding a bicycle isn't just good for the environment with a net 0 lbs of CO2/Mile, but it's good for you too. Short errands are just one of many uses you'll find for your bicycle - once you start riding again. While you may miss your trunk space at first a quality bicycle grocery bag, panniers or even a basket can reduce this stress. Which one you choose is up to you based on your own personal needs but for the average grocery hauler I would recommend one the following three products:

• Jandd Grocery Bag Pannier
• REI Grocery BagREI Novara 'Round Town panniers
• Cobbworks Oyster Bucket Panniers

If you expect to be hauling lighter loads then you may be a good candidate for a removable handlebar mounted basket - these can often double as a "reusable shopping bag" too.

How Energy Efficient is a Bicycle?

Did you know calories are actually a unit of measurement for the amount of energy that your body can extract from foods . With many new biofuel technologies available today, many of the foods we eat can also be converted into fuel for our vehicles.

According to World Watch Magazine the average automobile burns 1,860 calories per mile per passenger. How does that compare to the average bicycle? The average bicycle and rider burns 35 calories per mile.

Why are bicycles so much more efficient? The key to the energy efficiency of the bicycle is simple - a bicycle and rider are extremely light compared the average car. In a 2 ton vehicle with a 170 lbs driver the driver is only 4% of the total weight. On a heavier 30 lbs bicycle that same driver will be 85% of the total weight. In a vehicle 96% of the energy used each mile is used moving the vehicle itself - not the drive. On a bicycle only 15% of the energy used moving the bicycle itself.

Bicycles are so efficient in fact that under the right conditions a rider can ride faster then a cheetah. In 2002, Canadian rider Sam Whittingham reached 81 mph using a recumbent bike called the Varna Diablo II. That is 11 mph faster than a cheetah which over short distances can attain a top speed of 70 mph.

It's often said you never forget how to ride a bike so why not take advantage it. Riding a bike is not only one of the most energy efficient modes of transportation, it is also one of the most relatively inexpensive. Do you part to fight global warming by taking your bicycle out for a ride.

Energy Efficiency - Bicycles Are An Energy Efficient Transportation Choice

Sam Greyhawk is an energy efficiency evangelist who works with Cool-N-Save(tm), an Energy Star Partner based in Huntington Beach, California.

Cool-N-Save(tm) is an energy efficiency device that can instantly reduce the cost of operating your air conditioner. Installed in ten minutes with no tools required the Cool-N-Save(tm) is an Energy Star Partner [http://www.coolnsave.com/cool-n-save_is_an_energy_star_partner.html] and has been scientifically proven by Tulane University [http://www.coolnsave.com/scientific_analysis_of_cool-n-save.html] to improve air conditioner efficiency by up to 30%. Saving energy helps fight global warming. Cool-N-Save(tm) is a low cost way for you to dramatically reduce your air conditioners energy usage.

Energy Efficiency - Purchasing an Energy Efficient Room Air Conditioner

Are you in the market for a new air conditioner? Have you been considering a room air conditioner instead of a central air conditioner but aren't sure what you should be looking for? Purchasing an air conditioner of any type should be researched before hand simply due to the amount of electricity your air conditioner could potentially use. If you purchase the wrong unit you may end up with extremely large monthly electric bills and inefficient cooling.

As a consumer you definitely want to find the best performing unit for you. You want to find a unit which is very energy efficient because not only will it save you money in the long run, it's better for the environment as well. Energy efficiency is about making the best or most efficient use of energy in order to achieve a given level of comfort and convenience.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

What is a Room Air Conditioner?

Energy Efficiency - Purchasing an Energy Efficient Room Air Conditioner

A room air conditioner is an air conditioning system designed to cool a room or rooms instead of the entire house. Do you live in a smaller home, townhouse, condo or even apartment? Would you prefer or do you require a non-permaneant air conditioning installation? If you answered yes then a room air conditioner may be a good matched for you. In comparison to central air conditioners, room air conditioners are dramatically less expensive to operate - even though they are often less efficient.

While central air conditioners often need higher voltage connections a room air conditioner can often be plugged into any 15- or 20-amp, 115-volt household circuit. If you have a larger room air conditioner you may need a dedicated 115 volt-circuit. In only the most extreme cases will you ever need a dedicated 230-volt circuit.

Room air conditioners are often vented or window mounted so they can effectively expel hot air out. Be wary of any room air conditioner that does not offer proper ventilation.

How are Room Air Conditioners Rated?

If you are familiar with central air conditioners you may be already familiar with the SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Room air conditioners are rated not on in SEER but rather in EER or Energy Efficiency Ratio. The EER of a given room air conditioner is calculated by dividing the cooling capacity in British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour by the power input in watts. You can find room air conditioners offering a range of cooling powers from 5,500 BTU per hour to 14,000 BTU per hour.

While the national appliance standard requires that any room air conditioner built after 1990 to have an EER of 8.0 or greater, and the latest Energy Star standards require in some cases an EER of 10.7 or greater I support the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) recommendations. The ACEEE recommends at least an EER of 11.6. Why? This will guarantee your unit is energy efficient throughout the year and when it is needed most - the hottest summer months.

Selecting a Room Air Conditioner

Once you've decided to purchase a room air conditioner make sure you look for the Energy Star label. If every room air conditioner sold in the U.S. were Energy Star qualified, we could prevent 1.2 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions to put that into perspective that is equivalent to the emissions from 100,000 cars. Energy Star room air conditioners use at least 10% less energy than conventional models.

In the room air conditioner game Energy Star isn't the only certification to be looking for. You should also look for Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers or AHAM Certified units. Why? AHAM Certified room air conditioners have their EER ratings verified by an independent laboratory.

Getting the Right Size

Room air conditioners like all air conditioning units are rated by the number of British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat they can remove per hour. Another common way of rating air conditioners is by the "ton," some example are 5,500 BTU per hour or 14,000 BTU per hour.

Getting the right size room air conditioner for your application is crucial. If you get the wrong size you can easily waste large volumes of electricity. The size of your air conditioner depends upon:

• How large is your home and how many do you have?
• How much shade do you have? Do you have shade on your home's windows, walls, and roof?
• Are the ceilings and walls of your home insulated properly?
• Do you have air leaks?
• How much heat do you, the occupants, and appliances generate?

Remember the key to any air conditioners efficiency and performance depend on you properly matching the size of the AC unit to your specific application.

If you find this a bit confusing then you can always use the free AHAM tool. AHAM offers a handy online tool which can help you calculate your air conditioner (or evaporative cooler) needs.

• http://www.cooloff.org/sub_cool.html

Installing your Room Air Conditioner

When you install a new room air conditioner you should try to locate the air conditioner in a window or wall area near the center of the room. It is also beneficial to install your air conditioner on the shadiest side of your house. Try not to let your installation increase air leakage - you can minimize this by fitting the either the room air conditioner or its ventilation snugly into its opening and sealing gaps with a foam weather stripping material.

Are Room Air Conditioners my only non-permeneant cooling option?

If you live in a drier climate, somewhere with a relatively humidity level below 50%, then you may be well matched for an "Evaporative Cooler" sometimes referred to as a "Swamp Cooler." An evaporative cooler cools by using a fan to force air through moistened pads. As the hot air passes through the pads, the pads absorb the heat and cool the air in some cases as much as 15-20 degrees.

Evaporative coolers are not for everyone. In the wrong climate, in the wrong conditions an evaporative cooler can create conditions of high humidity in the air which in turn can cause condensation and even corrosion.

In the right conditions and climate, evaporative coolers, can provide cost very effective cooling. When compared to air conditioners, evaporative coolers use an average of 75% less electricity. Evaporative coolers are very energy efficient.

If you think you are a good candidate for an evaporate cooler you can use the free AHAM tool referenced earlier to calculate the proper size for your specific application too.

In many parts of the world air conditioning can seem like a life saver, but it comes at a cost - first in dollars spent for electricity, and second in carbon dioxide pollution from the generation of electricity. According to the the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) we create an astounding 140 million tons of CO2 cooling our homes. You can easily save electricity by purchasing a correctly sized Energy Star rated room air conditioner. By saving electricity you are doing your part to fight global climate change.

Energy Efficiency - Purchasing an Energy Efficient Room Air Conditioner

Sam Greyhawk is an energy efficiency evangelist who works with Cool-N-Save(tm), an Energy Star Partner, based in Huntington Beach, California.

Cool-N-Save(tm) is an energy efficiency device that instantly improves the efficiency of your existing air conditioner. Installed in ten minutes with no tools required, Cool-N-Save(tm) is an Energy Star Partner [http://www.coolnsave.com/cool-n-save_is_an_energy_star_partner.html] and has been scientifically proven by Tulane University [http://www.coolnsave.com/scientific_analysis_of_cool-n-save.html] to improve air conditioner efficiency by up to 30%. Saving energy helps fight global warming. Cool-N-Save(tm) is a low cost way for you to dramatically reduce your air conditioner energy usage.

What's the Difference Between Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation?

Simply put, energy efficiency is a technological concern. Energy conservation is a human concern. For example, you can make furnaces and air conditioners more efficient by improving the technology that governs their operation. But people are responsible for turning the thermostat to 68 degrees instead of 75 degrees.

Yes, this is an oversimplification. But it makes an important point. Technology can take us only so far as we attempt to keep energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions down. People have to take responsibility for using the technology wisely.

\"Energy Efficiency\"

The focus on energy efficiency and energy conservation has been around for quite a while, at least since the 1970s when the oil crisis had gasoline and heating oil prices skyrocketing and cars lined up at the pump. A physicist named Amory Lovins introduced the idea of negawatts, which contradicted the notion that, to meet energy requirements, you have to generate more energy. He thought you could meet those needs by using energy more efficiently, not just providing more.

What's the Difference Between Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation?

From the technological point of view, making homes more energy-efficient is hugely important in reducing energy consumption. The steps toward greater efficiency can be pretty simple. For instance, you can exchange an incandescent light bulb with a fluorescent bulb and get the same light output for 13 watts that before required 60 watts.

Of course, your furnace and air conditioner use the most energy in your home, so they make good targets for action that can improve energy efficiency. One way to improve heating and cooling efficiency is to make sure your furnace and air conditioner are inspected each year and necessary repairs are made.

Another solution is to exchange your older-model furnace and air conditioner for a newer version. Today, manufacturers are producing units of very high efficiency that are able to pay for themselves in energy savings in a remarkably short time.

You can easily find out how energy-efficient a new furnace or air conditioner might be.

Air conditioners are rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The SEER is computed from the cooling output in British Thermal Units (BTUs) during a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the season. The higher the SEER rating the more efficient the air conditioner.

Furnace efficiency is measured in the percentage of fuel - for example, natural gas - that is turned into usable energy - that is, heat. Thus and 80 percent energy efficiency rating is better than a 70 percent energy efficiency rating.

Keep current furnaces and air conditioners in good condition and, when the time comes, replace them with high-efficiency models to save energy and money.

What's the Difference Between Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation?

In addition to models of the Sure Comfort air conditioner and the Sure Comfort furnace, Midwest HVAC Parts also sells Sure Comfort parts.

Kids, Energy Efficiency - Fun

Energy Efficiency can be boring, can't it? Especially for kids. Boring or not, it's important. Make it fun and children are more likely to form positive habits they will pass on to their children. So, how can parents make Energy Efficiency fun...

Integrate Energy Efficiency Into Your Children's Favorite Activities

\"Energy Efficiency\"

1. For younger children who like coloring try some coloring books with an Energy Efficiency theme. Sioux Valley Energy's website has some on its kids page.

Kids, Energy Efficiency - Fun

2. For children who like animals, explain how Energy Efficiency reduces pollution and helps protect the habitat of their favorite animals from cuddly Pandas to slimy slugs. Any activity with animals becomes a fun Energy Efficiency activity too.

3. Use the internet. Chances are your children use the Internet at home, at school, at the library, somewhere. Some government websites have interactive pages for kids of all ages that teach Energy Efficiency. Try the Energy Information Administration's Kid's Page and the US Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's kid's page.

Talk About Energy Efficiency

If Energy Efficiency is a consistent family conversation topic, it becomes more natural so talk about it. Talk with your kids or talk among yourselves when your kids are around. Did you do anything at work that helped save energy? Have you or any of your friends done any Energy Efficient Home Improvements? Are any local schools doing projects on Energy Efficiency? Whether kids are involved in the conversation or listening in on you, they will hear about saving energy. No lecturing required.

Challenge Your Kids!

Is the family in the market for a new appliance? Make the children part of the process and have them research the Energy Efficiency of each product. Let them contribute to the decision making process. Make it even more challenging and give them a target price range.

What about a family challenge? See how much energy your family can save each month. Add bribes, uh, rewards for additional motivation. Reviewing energy bills with older kids helps them understand how much energy really cost.

Parents- You Can Do This!

As a responsible parent you already have so much to think about and Energy Efficiency is definitely worth your time and effort. Teach your children early to save energy and they will thank you later when they are paying their own energy bills!

Kids, Energy Efficiency - Fun

www.MakeYourHomeEnergyEfficient.com where you will find both big and small Energy Efficient Home projects you can share with the children. Be sure and take a look at our Games for Kids page too.

Energy Efficiency - Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Home With Energy Star

As the cost of electricity continues to rise more and more people are looking for effective strategies to lower their monthly utility bills. Taking steps to make your home more energy efficiency can help you reduce expensive monthly energy bills. If your home is showing it's age with some common home problems then renovating green may even help you appreciate your most valuable asset.

Why is Green Remodeling for Energy Efficiency Important?

\"Energy Efficiency\"

Green remodeling for energy efficiency is important because it reduces the amount of energy your home will consume. Generating electricity is a major source environmental pollution. While it is possible to generate electricity in many "green" ways, the number one source of US electricity is coal. In 2006, we generated 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity and 49% of the electricity generated came from dirty coal. The pollutants released from power generating plants are known to contribute to acid rain, smog and global warming. Thus, the less energy we use in our homes, the less pollution we create.

Energy Efficiency - Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Home With Energy Star

What are some of the "Common Home Problems" green remodeling can help with?

As homes age a number of common problems occur as various systems within your house breakdown. You may encounter:

• Drafty rooms
• Excess dust
• Ice dams
• High energy bills
• Moisture on window panes
• Mold or mildew
• Peeling paint

If you are experiencing any of these common problems then it may just the right time for some green remodeling. You can handle these common problems and more with some simple green renovations. Not only will you have improved energy efficiency, but you will also make your home more comfortable to live in as well.

Analyzing the Energy Use of your Home

Energy Star offers a free web-based tool, the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick, that can provide energy saving recommendations and compare the energy efficiency of your home against similar homes across the nation. In order to use this tool you will however need your last twelve utility bills. Once you have collected your bills you can find the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_yardstick.showStep2

While this tool is obviously not as comprehensive as a home energy audit completed by a professional, it can still go a long way to get you started on the road to energy efficiency.

By understanding where you home is today relative to the home energy yardstick you can start to plan energy efficiency upgrades for your home. Saving money through energy efficiency isn't just good for your wallet, its good for the environment too. Help fight global warming by getting started on your green remodeling today.

Energy Efficiency - Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Home With Energy Star

Cool-N-Save(tm) is a brand new energy efficiency add-on for your existing air conditioner. It can be installed in 10 minutes or less, with no tools required. In the hottest months, your air conditioner can be responsible for up to 90% of your monthly electrical bill. Cool-N-Save(tm) has been scientifically proven by Tulane University to improve air conditioner efficiency by up to 30% - which translates into real monthly savings for you. Saving energy helps fight global warming and (tm) is a cost-effective way to reduce your energy use. The Cool-N-Save(tm) is a cost effective way to instantly improve your air conditioner efficiency.