RenewablePowerFocus

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

By Editor

Benefits Of A Homemade Wind Turbine

Small domestic wind turbine generator mounted on a vertical frame against a clear blue skyMany property owners find it difficult to save money because of their energy bills. With the rates going up, energy resources depleting and a general push towards natural options being considered, a homemade wind turbine is the way to go. Most people will have heard of these energy producers, but what are the real benefits of going down this road? Are they worth it in the long term? Here are three of the most important benefits associated with wind turbines and why everyone should be considering them.

Efficient Amount of Power

One of the key benefits that come along with wind turbines would be the amount of power that is created. A highly functional and well built wind turbine is able to sustain the production of 1300 kilowatts of power every single month. Most homeowners will only require around 600 kilowatts on a monthly basis. This demonstrates how the wind turbine is more than enough to keep the home running without any glitches that a lot of people end up being afraid of.

Wind turbines are excellent regardless of where the property is located.

Save Money

This is the biggest benefit and the sole purpose for most homeowners that are looking to make a change in how their finances look at the end of each month. Energy bills can take a toll on one’s budget and it is definitely time to make a change. What better way to do this other than putting up a wind turbine?

When it is homemade, money can also be saved that would go into having a professional do it. Not only this, but the long term savings are immense. Some people claim to save hundreds of dollars a month.

Low Maintenance

Many people wonder whether it is hard to sustain or if there are going to be significant maintenance requirements along the way that could deter one from making the investment? The benefit of this particular option has to do with the low maintenance that comes along with it. You will not have to continually fit a lot of money to keep it running and that is the beauty of this energy option.

In a way, it certainly does not make sense to avoid saving a significant amount of money and potentially receiving state benefits (dependent upon state) as well. It is a true win-win situation for a lot of people that is not being taken advantage of. For those who are willing to make an investment and get going in the right direction with regards to their finances, this is an option that is going to help. The positives far outweigh the negatives when it comes to making a homemade wind turbine and using it to run an entire property throughout the year. It does not matter where a person lives because these wind turbines are money savers.

Filed Under: Wind Turbines Tagged With: wind power, wind turbine

By Editor

What Is Alternative Energy?

Conceptual illustration showing many different types of power generation including nuclear fossil fuel wind power photo voltaic cells and hydro electric water powerThe term “alternative energy” is really about how energy is produced as opposed to actually describing anything about the energy itself and is almost always used to describe energy that is not produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas.

Alternative energy is any type of energy that is produced from resources that are readily replenished. Normally this refers to ways electricity is produced, although when referring to motor vehicles the term generally refers to vehicles that are not powered by petrol or diesel. In regular use, alternative energy is the term used to refer to a group of generating methods such as solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal power, heat pumps and even nuclear power.

There is some debate when it comes to nuclear energy and whether it should in fact be described as alternative energy although generally speaking, its use is accepted although when many people talk about alternative energy with respect to environmental concerns, they may not include nuclear.

It’s important to understand what is alternative energy because this is a topic that easily becomes political or environmental, but it’s critical for the future of our economy and the advancement of society. Energy needs continue to grow while gas and oil are finite supplies.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is one of the least commonly used alternative energy sources, in large part because on a large scale you need volcanic or extreme natural heat from the Earth for it to be viable on a large scale. Places that have access to that type of flow can use geothermal as a natural, clean, and powerful energy source for environmentally-friendly electricity.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is another extremely popular option with several US states and even some European countries receiving anywhere from 20% to 50% of all their energy from wind sources. These are the giant white windmills that you may see in fields or even lined up in rows out in an ocean. The motion generated by the wind becomes electricity. In many areas, this is one of the fasted growing forms of alternative energy.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is probably the most well known out of all the alternative energy options, and as the technology is getting better and better, solar energy is becoming inexpensive and more efficient. Many homes have individual solar panels to supplement power, and there are even backpacks and street signs/lights that have little solar panels helping to power them throughout the day.

The sun’s rays are always going to come back – so it makes sense to look at solar power as a long term option.

When you want to know what is alternative energy, that’s what people are talking about. Energy that is environmentally friendly and comes from sources that can be renewed. Think non-fossil fuel sources for electricity and you’re on the right path to more fully understanding the alternative energy movement. This is a shift that is going to continue for the long term.

Filed Under: Alternative Energy, Renewable Energy Sources Tagged With: alternative energy sources, renewable energy

By Editor

Tips On How To Make Solar Panels

A hand is seen feeling the solar panelSolar energy is an option many homeowners consider in order to save money with increasing rates being attached to electricity. It is not as feasible to not make a change as it used to be in the past and making a positive decision towards a renewable source of energy is the way to go. Yet, what does an individual have to do in order to get the most out of solar energy? It will take a bit of research and the use of the tips mentioned here to learn how to make solar panels in an optimal manner.

Build The Frame First

A template is certainly the first step because it sets the foundation for how the process is going to unfold. The frame that is going to be constructed with the help of plywood should be firmly in place before moving forward. Those who do not spend time on this part of the process will have solar panels that are close to falling apart rather than staying together.

Be patient and truly fit the panels together from the ground up, meaning the frame should be sturdy and able to withstand a significant amount of damage.

Solar Cells in a Series

The placement of the solar cells is a big component of the process. It is important to firstly know how much energy is going to be produced from the solar panel in the first place. Only from there can one begin to pinpoint how many solar cells are required. Each solar cell is able to give around 1.75 watts of energy. This means, it is important to fit the panel accordingly. Make sure the positive and negative sides are aligned one after another or the wiring will be out of place.

Always Align Cells Before Making Holes

It is a common mistake people make and it ruins the entire solar panel. There are holes that have to be made in the solar panel’s frame to ensure everything fits together and so it can be placed wherever it is going to be placed. The holes should align with the entire frame including the solar cells that are going to be tucked inside to accumulate energy.

It is best to take the solar cells and align them first before drilling in. This helps with the process and ensures the solar panels looks perfect and does not fall apart at the first sign of trouble.

Learning how to make solar panels is going to be a bumpy road because each home is unique and has its own requirements. Yet, the tips that have been listed here should help in getting off the ground in order to get running. The best solar panels are those that are customized for the property in question and are able to crank out an optimal amount of energy every single day for the rest of one’s time at the property. It is quite the investment in the short term, but will pay significantly down the road for those who spend their time and effort on it right now.

Filed Under: Solar Power Tagged With: building solar panels, solar panels

By Editor

Finding Our Way Past Non Renewable Energy

Dump of the coal mine and withmachineThere are all kinds of choices in energy sources in the world today. Thanks to modern technology and development most consumers in developed nations can choose between renewable energy sources and non renewable energy sources to provide the power they need in day to day life.

Renewable energy sources include solar, geo-thermal, wind, hydroelectricity and biomass. These types of energy are termed renewable because they come from infinite sources such as the sun and the wind, running water and the burning or decomposition of various types of waste. These types of energy are endlessly abundant and do not take a toll on the earth.

Non renewable energy sources include coal, oil, natural gas and other products that are available only in finite amounts wrested from the earth. These products are fossil fuels. They took thousands of years to develop far beneath the surface of the earth. Once they are used up, there will be no more.

This very basic comparison should make it easy to see why energy sources that are not renewable are a bad choice. The fact that they will be used up one of these days in the not-too-distant future is a very big negative. Add to that the fact that sourcing these materials is horribly damaging to the only habitable planet in the known universe and it is easy to see that continuing to choose non-renewable sources of energy is a very foolish choice, indeed.

Coal mining is a horribly destructive practice. This is especially true of mountaintop removal coal mining in which entire mountaintops are simply blown to smithereens to get to the coal that lies inside the mountain. When this is done, the mountain is destroyed along with all life on the mountain. Streams that may run from the mountain are polluted and destroyed. Entire towns lose their source of water. Illness from the fallout of the destruction often ensues.

Traditional coal mining in which miners go underground to mine coal is also horribly destructive and very dangerous. Miners are always in danger of cave-ins and they inevitably develop lung cancer and other occupational illnesses, the longer they work in the mines. Mining is a debilitating job and many miners spend the vast majority of their hours underground slaving away in the mines.

Drilling for oil and gas is also horribly destructive. Wast areas of land are despoiled and the air surrounding wells is polluted by the heavy machinery used to make the wells. Heavy equipment also destroys roads all around the wells, and most often the gas and oil companies are not held accountable for the destruction.

Fracking is a practice that is used to break up deep deposits of shale to get at formerly inaccessible sources of gas and oil. This practice wastes millions of gallons of water and pollutes aquifers. It is rapidly destroying sources of water in all areas where fracking is performed.

an off shore oil platform california coast Oil spills from tankers and pipelines poison the earth and every living thing upon and beneath it. The destruction they wreak in the ocean is well-known.

Energy from the sun, wind, water and constantly renewable materials that must be disposed of does not destroy the earth. These forms of renewable energy do not pollute water. Jobs in renewable energy are interesting and healthy and growing in number by the day.

When comparing non renewable and renewable sources of energy, it should be quite clear that only infinite and renewable choices have the ability to carry us safely into the future.

Filed Under: Nonrenewable Energy Tagged With: coal mining, nonrenewable energy, oil drilling

By Editor

Ten Interesting Wind Turbine Facts

Ecological direction, wind turbines farm and trees on the hillHarnessing the wind to produce energy is not a new concept. For hundreds of years, windmills have been used for grinding grain and pumping water. Today’s industrial windmill is called a wind turbine and is used to generate electricity.

The blades of the turbine sit on top of a tower so they may capture the most wind. These towers are often more than 100 feet above the ground and at this height can take advantage of less turbulent and faster winds. There are typically two or three blades mounted on a shaft and forming a rotor. These blades catch the wind, turning the rotor to create energy which is later converted t electricity.

There are many wind turbine facts available to help understand just how wind energy works. There are proponents and opponents of wind energy, but the reality is that this is a good, renewable energy source and it is growing in popularity.

Here are ten wind turbine facts that will demonstrate just why wind energy is gaining such popularity.

  1. The fastest growing source of electricity production in the world is wind energy.
  2. Wind made up more than 36 percent of all new electricity generating capacity introduced between 2008 and 2012.
  3. The largest renewable energy company in the United States relies on more than 10,000 net megawatts (MW) of wind annually. This wind is produced by more than 100 farms and produce more than 57 percent of the utilities entire energy production.
  4. There is also a great deal of wind blowing offshore of the United States, creating more than 4,150,000 MW of wind each year.
  5. Even though they are growing in popularity, wind turbines are not without their problems. Opponents talk about operational problems. These include fires, explosions and even, collapses.
  6. The largest wind farm in the United States is located in Oregon. Shepherds Flat Wind Farm produces 846 MW, providing all of its electricity to Southern California Edison, Edison International’s utility company servicing southern California and providing electricity to more than 250,000 homes.
  7. There are major corporations investing in wind energy. These include Google, which owns a 37.5 percent stake in a wind farm off of the Atlantic shore and Wal-Mart, which uses electricity produced by Duke Energy’s wind turbines. Duke’s wind accounts for more than 1,000 MW of wind and more than 15 percent of the energy requirements for 350 Wal-Mart stores in Texas.
  8. Google also bought Makani Power, a start-up energy company. This company is perfecting the floating wind farm, a process capable of capturing high altitude winds. These winds churn out a great deal of energy, valued at more than $0.03 per kilowatt hour.
  9. With wind energy production continuing to grow, General Electric offers more than 11 different types of wind turbines. Energy companies may purchase these turbines which start at 1.5 MW and 120 foot blades to an offshore model that produces 4.1 MW and comes equipped with 185 foot blades.
  10. Wind power is expected to increase exponentially over the next few years. With the recent Congressional vote to extend the wind energy tax credit, wind is perfectly placed to become the next big renewable energy source.

These wind facts demonstrate that even though there is still much to be learned about harnessing the wind to produce electricity, it is clear that wind power is here to stay. Much will depend upon environmental regulations, available tax credits, technology advancements, and how competitive wind remains against other renewable energy sources.

Filed Under: Wind Turbines Tagged With: renewable energy, wind power, wind turbines

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Like Us On Facebook!

Categories

  • Alternative Energy
  • Nonrenewable Energy
  • Renewable Energy Sources
  • Solar Power
  • Wind Turbines

Recent Posts

  • Benefits Of A Homemade Wind Turbine
  • What Is Alternative Energy?
  • Tips On How To Make Solar Panels
  • Finding Our Way Past Non Renewable Energy
  • Ten Interesting Wind Turbine Facts
  • Is Nuclear Energy Renewable And Safe
  • What Is Wind Energy And How It Is Used
  • Tidal Power Could Be The Renewable Energy Of Tomorrow
  • Solar Energy Pros And Cons To Consider

Tags

alternative energy alternative energy sources building solar panels coal mining nonrenewable energy nuclear energy oil drilling renewable energy solar energy solar panels tidal energy tidal power wind energy wind power wind turbine wind turbines

Copyright © 2023 · Log in