Bio fuels - Are they good?

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As the term suggests, bio-fuels are fuels that are formed when biological matter decomposes. The bio-fuels are mostly derived from plants. Bio-fuels exist in all the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Difference between bio-fuels and fossil fuels
Bio-fuels are different from fossil fuels in the following ways:

• Fossil fuels take a million years to build whereas bio-fuels can be made extremely fast, in a matter of days.
• Fossil fuels generate huge amounts of pollution. Bio-fuels are comparatively safer.
• Bio-fuels are renewable sources of energy unlike fossil fuels.

Different types of bio-fuels
Bio-fuels have been categorized into four types: first generation, second generation, third generation, and fourth generation.

The first generation bio-fuels are derived from vegetable fats, starch, and sugar, which are in turn derived from food-crops. The first generation fuels are also derived from animal fats. Biogas, bio-diesel, and vegetable oil are some examples of this type of bio-fuels.

The second generation of bio-fuels is mainly derived from waste biomass, thus making it a more balanced option compared to the first-generation bio-fuels. Different kinds of alcohols and diesel generated from wood fall into the category of second generation bio-fuels.

The third generation comprises of bio-fuels derived from algae. Algae are farmed on large scales for creating these bio-fuels. The algae fuels are extremely environment-friendly as they can easily decompose into the soil without harming it.

The bio-fuels in the fourth generation are derived by a method in which micro-organisms are raised to work with carbon dioxide to generate fuel. 

Advantages of bio-fuels
Bio-fuels prove advantageous in the following ways:

• Bio-fuels lessen the burden on gradually-vanishing fossil fuels.
• Bio-fuels are environment-friendly. They help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
• Bio-fuels, especially, bio-diesel prove to be very cost-effective for consumers.

Disadvantages of bio-fuels
Bio-fuels are not bereft of criticism. Though beneficial for the environment, bio-fuels have its disadvantages, paradoxically in the environmental purview. Bio-fuels have received criticism for many reasons, a couple of which are stated below:

• Economists have long debated on the usefulness of first generation bio-fuels when compared to the lack of food they cause. Generating fuel from food crops makes food crops unworthy of human consumption. Some people believe that being a higher priority than fuel, food should not be farmed for making fuels but for human consumption.
• Making bio-fuels require acres of farming land, thus encroaching upon the natural habitat of plants and animals.

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Off Grid Living - You Can Do It Too

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More and more people are realizing that you can still enjoy modern amenities while enjoying the independence of off grid living.  Being off the grid means being exactly that, off the grid.  No power lines, no electric bills, and being free of utility grid demands, not to mention their ever-rising rates.  Off grid living is environmentally friendly and cost effective and it is an option available to almost any one owning a home.

The principles of off grid living may be applied to any home in the world, even those currently tied to the grid.  From solar panels, hydropower and windmills, there is growing curiosity in off grid living and breaking free from fossil fuel burning power plants.  The technologies have advanced and the costs have dropped greatly.

Even do-it-yourselfers can take leaps into off grid living with many kits, resources and manuals available for instruction.  As energy demands increase globally, those living off grid can rest easy knowing their own energy costs are diminishing.

The idea of off grid living can be scary to some who believe they will have to give up some of their most prized possessions and electronic gadgets to achieve such freedom.  This is very far from the truth.  Off grid living is simply about learning to moderate your use of electricity.  It can be as simple as turning off lights that are not really in use.  Purchasing appliances that don’t use energy when not in use (like clocks on microwaves and stoves).  Learning to unplug, not just turn off.  Things like computers and printers, well anything with the little green light that is always on, these items are stealing precious energy and adding to your bill.  Wanting to become part of the off grid living adventure, doesn’t always mean giving up everything, sometimes it just means getting smarter about the things you have.

Off grid living has gotten so popular that even completely re-locatable high efficiency homes are being produced to meet those needs.  Very similar to mobile homes and travel travelers in layout and definitely only designed for a one or two person dwelling, these housing units use solar power, passive solar design and a small amount of natural gas to provide off grid living that you can take with you when you move.

If you are interested in off grid living, but need more success stories to drive you over the teetering point then start your research on the Internet.  There are tons of great resources available and individuals who took the plunge into off grid living with great success telling their stories.  Imagine, no more gathering around that one little candle when the power goes out, or having the neighbors over to watch their favorite shows when there is a blackout. 

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Can Anyone Live Off The Grid?

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When you talk about alternative energy and living off the grid, a lot of people feel instantly that they will have to give up most of their modern amenities to live in such a fashion.  Many more think this is an endeavor solely for granola loving hippies, whose modest ways coincide with fewer technologies, TVs, ACs, etc.  The truth is, living off the grid is a possibility open to anyone.  Granted, you may have a larger investment if you are powering three chest freezers and all high-energy appliances, but this would simply mean you need a larger system.

The increased demand for renewable energy technology has led to the development of more efficient and easy to use components to make living off the grid a reasonable option for anyone willing to be mindful of their energy consumption. 

Using renewable energy sources to produce electricity is a fairly simple process.  You need a power source-sun, wind or water-from which you will harness a low voltage direct current that is then converted, using an inverter, into usable house current (AC).  Excess current generated by your system is stored in battery banks where it can be retrieved during more high demand times or times when the direct energy source is unavailable. 

Living off the grid with renewable power resources is almost completely automated as well.  Except for the maintenance of your batteries, there is almost no special attention needed, other than monitoring your energy use to make sure you do not exceed your supply with your demand.  The key to success in living off the grid is making sure you size your system to meet the demand of your energy needs. 

Living off the grid can be an exhilarating experience.  The feeling of energy freedom is like no other and you can be proud of your efforts to combat global warming and best of all, you may never have to worry about a power outage again.  It is important to conduct your research and determine which alternative energy sources will work best for you in your geographical area, but it is definitely worthwhile to learn how to live off the grid and feel the rush of freedom being off the grid can give.

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Its Easy to Learn How to Make Solar Panels

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Plenty of people have been looking into installing solar panels in an effort to combat rising energy costs.  When most of these people see the prices of the professionally installed panels they realize it may not be a luxury they can afford.  There is an easier, more cost efficient way to harness power from the sun and that is to learn how to make solar panels for your self.

Any motivated do-it-yourselfer can learn how to make solar panels for their home, workshop or business.  When compared to the cost of purchasing and installing a pre-made solar energy system, learning how to make solar panels for your energy needs and the materials you need to execute the project are far less.  By learning how to make solar panels for yourself, you have greater control over the size and design of your system as well.

Once you have a quality manual and you have learned how to make solar panels, the supplies are fairly simple to find.  Most can be found at your local hardware store like, plywood, sheets of glass, and a roll of copper wire.  It is also easy to locate inexpensive solar or photovoltaic cells to use in your project.  Many are available over the Internet or you may have a retailer available locally.  One you’ve learned how to make solar panels and you have your supplies, it usually takes about a day to assemble a 100-watt panel.  This is the perfect amount of electricity to operate small appliances or a small workshop. 

The most important step is finding a quality manual with detailed instructions for learning how to make solar panels.  In many cases you get what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars on a well-reviewed instruction manual.  Overall, the cost of the making your own panels is so low, the price of the how to guide is minimal-you will still be paying way less learning how to make solar panels on your own than purchasing a professionally installed system. 

With a little bit effort, you can be on your way to learning how to make solar panels to meet your energy needs.  Then sit back and bask in the pride the next time the power goes out on your block.  Your lights will still be on because you learned how to make solar panels and your energy supply is still in your battery bank.

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Reduce energy usage

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The most difficult day of every month is when time comes to pay bills and mostly the enormous electricity bills that we get. It’s high time and we need to take serious measures to reduce the power bill. Do not worry. We will share some key tips and will make you reach your goal.

Make sure to discuss with family member about the importance of saving electricity. You can reward them a treat if their participation has led to savings. Suggest them some tips like switching of the lights when they are not present there and attending a call in another room or having dinner at the dining table. Make sure to switch off all the appliances even if you are sure to be back in five minutes. Yes, that will help a lot. Every drop of water makes an ocean.

We may prefer to switch off the television set or turn off the fan, but not the tube light. We need light at the time of night but see that the usage is required in all the rooms or not. Taking care of such these small precautions will surely leads us to savings in the long run by reducing the bills of the power demon.

One should plan to invest smartly on power. Replace all the incandescent bulbs present in the house with compact fluorescent light or those CFL bulbs. These bulbs consume less electricity as they consume less power.

Buy the energy saver gadgets that are available in the market. Such gadgets will monitor the intake of the entire power supply in your house and makes you take decision on how to control the usage.

Most of us assume on the fact that the rise in electricity bill is due to the vast number of electrical items present at home. But the truth is that the electricity bill is not directly connected or affected due to the number of gadgets, but by the way one uses them.

Take a step forward to avoid using those typical items regularly that consumes lot of power -

• The washing machine should be used only when there is a bucket full of clothes.
• The geyser should not be kept on for maximum amount of time.
• The air-conditioner should be kept at minimum high or low temperature.
• Take note to switch off the computer monitor when not in use. It consumes maximum power and it just takes a second to switch it again.

Lastly we suggest that for reducing the electricity bill by taking benefit of reading the energy saving guide like Earth4Energy that has some of the best solutions to generate energy at home and providing free electricity to some of your home appliances. In this way we can save power that is facing a huge shortage because of the large demand in the global countries. Try to reduce the requirement of those electrical wires and sockets for home and use the renewable energy extracted from natural resources like wind, sun, tides at a lesser price but having a long term returns.

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The Components of Your Solar Power Solution

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When beginning a solar energy DIY home conversions project, one question many people have before they start is: What will I need to complete the conversion?

Of course before you start with anything, you should get a good DIY solar guide, and you’ll be walked step by step through the process of setting up your solar energy solution. Aside from that though, let’s cover the basics of what you’ll need to go solar! 

There are 7 main components you’ll need when wiring up a solar energy solution for your home. It should be noted here that we’re talking about converting a home, and not just creating portable solar energy solution (in which case you’ll only need 4 components). 


Convert Your Home Today: 
 
Before you install your home energy solution, you’ll need the following components. 
These are listed in the order they will be wired into your solar energy system. 

1. Solar Panels – In most DIY applications these will be built by you. You order discount photovoltaic cells, and assemble those into 50W, 75W, or 100W Panels. 

 2. Array DC Disconnect – This simple device is basically just a switch. It allows you to cut the DC power from your solar panels should system maintenance be required. If you shop around you’ll likely pay less than $25 for this component. 

 3. Charge Controller – Most home systems will be built with a battery backup. The charge controller ensures that a consistent amount of power is sent to the batteries, and that the batteries don’t discharge at night. Again, if you shop around for this component, it won’t be a large expense.    

4. Deep Cycle Batteries – To store the power from your solar panels, you will need deep cycle batteries. If you find reconditioned batteries, these can be obtained for fairly cheap. Better yet, you can get old batteries for free and recondition them yourself. 

5. System Meter – This component is actually optional, but it is suggested so that you have a clear way to see how much power is being fed into your home from the solar panels. 

6. Converter – Since your solar panels produce DC power, and your home runs on AC power, the converter makes the solar energy usable by your home. A 1500W converter likely won’t cost you more than $50. 

7. Backup Power – Most systems will also include some sort of backup power. In an off grid application this would generally be a generator. In a city or town, the power grid itself provides the backup. 

 From there the system gets wired into your home breaker box. At this stage, unless you are qualified, you might consider getting a qualified electrician to install the system. At any rate, you now have an idea of what will be needed to get your home running on solar energy. 

If you haven’t done so yet, you should also consider downloading a copy of one of the top guides to teach solar panel DIY. 

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Alternative Renewable Energy Source

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This energy source is the most famous technique from our days. There is a new enthusiasm over an incomplete battle with radiant Nicola Tesla's energy. This radiant energy is a brand new competitor in this commerce that is actually on the rise. In this article we are going to evaluate if this radiant energy is capable to generate sufficient electricity for our energy supplies. 

We are going to discuss also about how we can tap this radiant energy and how will this power up our homes. Why is this energy source so important and how does it vary from solar and wind force? Here is the answer for this question. This solar energy production is done through a collection of solar panel cells that will convert the sunlight into electrical energy.

Wind force is produced from the power of the wind that will rotate the turbine generator blades or a wind rotor generator. Radiant energy obtains its force from electromagnetic waves. This wave is actually undetectable in the naked eye. It is as well recognized as energy from the space. These electromagnetic waves are most of the times all around us. 

This energy could come up from the sun's emissions or from the soil. At present, there are many homes making use of the solar power to generate the electricity, as well as that technology develops, the prices reduce & use as well as approaches to the alternative energy sources (like implementing solar energy plans in new and current build), will become realistic option for the people who would like to save some money, decrease carbon emissions & use clean green source of the power.

One more choice energy source that comes from the wind energy that is as well increasingly to be used by people that are worried about decline in the fossil fuels as well as rise in the domestic utility bills. Currently there is increased demand for installation of the wind energy systems to give greener, and cleaner living. Contrary to the famous belief, and wind doesn’t need to constantly blow for power homes with the wind energy. Like with the solar energy, huge benefit of the wind power is wind is clean, green as well as you may make that in your back garden. And out of all renewable energy resources that are accessible, wind power has best potential for development and growth.

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WHY PAY MONTHLY ELECTRICITY BILLS?

Are you tired of paying hefty sums to your electric company just for your household energy requirements? Do you wish there were a way to avoid this expense without reducing your use of energy? Actually, there is a way; in fact, there are several ways by which you can get enough electricity for your home without paying any money as monthly charges. Sky 4 Energy systems provide you with a multitude of equipment and techniques that enable you to harness free energy from a variety of sources around you. With proper installation and use of these devices, you could even end up making money by selling electricity to your electric company.

How do the Sky 4 Energy systems works? These systems garner energy from any of a number of free energy sources around you. Electricity can be generated from the TV and Radio signals present in the atmosphere. Though the primary purpose of these signals is not to be utilised as a source of energy, with proper equipment and technique, they can be a very desirable source for the generation of electricity. Usable current electricity can be generated from static electricity. Solar and cosmic radiation, ever present around us, provides us with an inexhaustible source of energy that could be converted to electrical energy without any recurring expense. And there are several other methods as well.

In fact, energy enthusiasts all around the world have been developing and improving free energy systems for years. The Internet is full of information on such technology. With knowledge, training, testing, and verification, you could employ any of these systems to provide free energy for your home. Sky 4 Energy uses a few methods, that it considers the best among these alternatives. Sky 4 Energy has improved and evaluated the systems, and offers you the most efficient, dependable, and cost effective methods to generate electricity for your home. These systems are also very easy to set up by the users. With just a little training, you could install the system in your home.

If you are interested in saving money on your monthly electricity bills, maybe it is time to wake up to the fact that there are several alternative, inexpensive methods for generation of energy, available to you. Click here.

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Benefits of Green Solar Energy

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To truly understand the benefits of green solar energy, you must first understand how solar energy is harnessed.  There are two types of green solar energy-thermal and light.  Thermal energy is considered passive solar.  This type of green solar energy is harnessed through the design and materials used to construct a building.  By integrating south facing windows and materials that retain heat, like brick and stone, you can lower your energy needs and build an energy efficient structure.  The thermal energy produced by green solar energy is also used to heat water for solar hot water systems.  The rays of the sun also produce light and radiation that can be captured by solar panels to create electricity. 

The most popular use of green solar energy is for saving money.  Although green solar energy systems can come with a large initial investment, they generally pay for themselves in a few years by providing either supplemental electricity or all of the electricity to your home or business.  Building your own solar panels, participating in government refunds and net metering, in which you sell unused electricity back to the power company, can reduce the cost of implementing a green solar energy system.  In addition, green solar energy systems require little to no maintenance after installation, as most have no moving parts.

The most important benefit of utilizing green solar energy is completely environmental.  With polar ice caps dwindling away and climate changes creating tragic storms world wide, it is increasingly obvious that steps must be taken to decrease global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels.  Green solar energy provides a clean energy alternative as it creates little pollution and does not contribute to global warming. 

Green solar energy systems can be used by homes and businesses alike.  If going solar cannot meet all of your energy needs, it can certainly reduce them.  Utilizing green solar energy can save you money, but it’s greatest benefit is to the environment and our future.

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Living The Green Energy Home Dream

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With all the advances in green energy technology, it is easier than ever to start converting your home into a green energy home.  A green energy home utilizes renewable resources to provide electricity, hot water, heat and peace of mind. 

There are several ways to implement your green energy home plan.  The first is solar energy.  In a green energy home you can install solar hot water panels which heat and store water for use and you can install solar panels, which use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. These systems can be pricing if purchasing them and having them installed by a professional, but there are many great resources available to build your own solar panels and solar hot water systems that can reduce the cost greatly. 

 If you are just building your home, a great way to make it a green energy home is to implement passive solar design during construction.  This means taking advantage of south facing sides of the house for heating and cooling.  By installing lots of highly efficient windows and heat retaining bricks and stone on your south facing areas, you are taking advantage of passive solar techniques to develop your green energy home.

Another addition to the green energy home would be a windmill.  Windmills are used to generate electricity from the renewable resource wind.  Windmills can be installed on rooftops or in yards and offer pollution free electric.  Windmills can be purchased from retailers or there are a wide variety of affordable kits available for the motivated do-it-yourselfers to handle the implementation of their own green energy home plans.

If you have a stream on your property, you may also add to the efficiency of your green energy home with hydroelectric power.  This is also a great pollution free option that is easy to maintain and works as long as there is water available. 

The ultimate green energy home would combine all of these resources.  By using wind, water and solar to generate electricity you are looking not only at huge savings and possible profits from your electricity usage, but you would truly be green as each of these options contributes little to global warming.  To further combine passive solar design and solar hot water systems, you are reducing your energy needs exponentially and truly living the dream of going green.

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