Alternative Energy

Although it is much less expensive to initially get hooked into the local electric company’s grid than it is to set up and hook into wind turbines, in the long run one saves money by utilizing the wind for one’s energy needs—while also becoming more independent. Not receiving an electric bill while enjoying the advantages of the modern electrically-driven lifestyle is a wondrous feeling.

Electric bills and fuel bills are rising steadily - but the cost of wind turbine energy is zero, and the cost of installing and hooking up a turbine is steadily coming down as demand rises and more commercial success is realized by various companies producing the turbines and researching technologies to make them ever more efficient. In addition, people are moving away from the traditional electric grids and the fossil fuels for personal reasons including desire for greater independence, the desire to live remotely or rurally without having to “go primitive”, political concerns such as fears of terrorist strikes on oil fields or power grids, or concerns about the environment. Again, this motivation to get away from the traditional energy sources is the same one that causes people to seek the power of the wind for their energy, giving more business opportunities to profit from wind turbine production and maintenance, which drives their costs down for the consumers. In nearly thirty states at the time of this writing, homeowners who remain on the grid but who still choose to use wind energy (or other alternative forms) are eligible for rebates or tax breaks from the state governments that end up paying for as much as 50% of their total “green” energy systems’ costs. In addition, there are 35 states at the time of this writing where these homeowners are allowed to sell their excess energy back to the power company under what are called “net metering laws”. The rates that they are being paid by the local power companies for this energy are standard retail rates—in other words, the homeowners are actually profiting from their own energy production.

Some federal lawmakers are pushing to get the federal government to mandate these tax breaks and other wind power incentives in all 50 states. Japan and Germany already have national incentive programs in place. However, “A lot of this is handled regionally by state law. There wouldn’t really be a role for the federal government,” the Energy Department’s Craig Stevens says. And as might be imagined, there are power companies who feel that it’s unfair that they should have to pay retail rates to private individuals. “We should [only have to] pay you the wholesale rate for … your electricity,” according to Bruce Bowen, Pacific Gas & Electric’s director of regulatory policy. However, the companies seem to be more worried about losing short term profits than about the benefits, especially in the long run, of the increased use of wind turbines or wind farms. Head of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies of California V. John White points out, “It’s quality power that strengthens the grid.”

Wind power is taking the energy generated from the wind and using it in more productive ways.  Wind turbines are a machine that can transform the kinetic energy found in wind and convert it into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy works with kinetic energy to balance into the mechanical system. When the mechanical energy is converted into electricity it can be called a wind turbine.

There are two different types of wind turbines; Horizontal axis and Vertical axis.  The most common of these two are the horizontal axis. Horizontal axis features the main rotor shaft and generator at the top of the turbine.  The horizontal axis is pointed into the wind. Most of these horizontal axis have a gearbox that allows the blades to turn quicker to generate more electricity.  The tower is what provides turbulence.  The turbine can be pointed somewhat upward and stand well above the blades.  The blades are made of durable material capable of withstanding high winds.

When you see these turbines in the field you may think that they are no longer helpful but there are several people who believe in using them still. Horizontal axis wind turbines can either turn upward or downward.  If they choose to turn the blades upward, they don’t hold good together for longer periods of time.  They begin to crack and breakdown in high winds.  When the blades are downward facing they stay in line with the wind longer and they can outlast through the high winds without breaking.  Because they are so durable it keeps the cost down as well.

Types of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Windmills Consists of four or more blades, usually short, and can wooden blades. These were used to grind grain.  As the winds picked up it would rotate a mechanism inside allowing it to run the grain through a mill crushing it.

Rural Windmills was originally from Australia but later moved over to the USA.  Farmers found that this type of windmill was good to pump water and electricity to the barns and fields. This windmill had several blades and can still be seen today in fields.  They were constructed of metal usually in order to carry electricity for lights or maybe a radio.

Modern Turbines are what we have now standing in fields.  They feature three blades that are pointed at the ends. The reason for their unusual shape is because they have been proven to exceed wind velocity up to 6 times more, allowing for high efficiency and reliability.

The advantages of this type of wind turbine include stability, tallness, bendable, durable and strong.  The disadvantages my include cannot operate well close to the ground,  hard to transport over sea, difficult to install, not in big demand, there are concerns with how they affect radar, structural damage done with storms and wear.

There are good points and bad points to owning these types of turbines. They have been proven to work and you can have one or thirty one out in your field.  They do help to generate electricity and other great things that we would normally have to go without.

Alternative energy is more often than not a phrase used to describe anything other than fossil fuels-and most of these alternative energy solutions fall into the category of renewable energy. Renewable energy is important to us for two reasons. First, it helps save the environment from future harm caused by fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect. Renewable forms of energy are typically safe for the earth, making them a much cleaner option. Second, renewable energy sources are exactly what their name implies-renewable. Therefore, these sources of energy will not run out or become scarce and expensive, as fossil fuels eventually will. As renewable energy technology is researched and becomes more cost-effective, we may see a switch to these forms of energy from fossil fuels by all the major energy companies in the world.

There are many different types of renewable energy, including solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, and tidal. Each has great benefits when it comes to protecting the environment, because no harmful byproducts are produced. Solar energy refers to power from the sun. We see this in everyday life as solar covers are placed on swimming pools to help then gather and retain heat. We can even feel the effects of the sun’s energy-wear a black shirt on a sunny day and you will soon be overheated. Solar power takes this heat and turns it into useful energy, which we can use to heat our homes and power other electronic devices. Wind energy is one of the oldest forms of alternative energy, along with water power, Windmills and waterwheels were used as early as the middle ages to produce energy, and are still being used in many countries today in refined forms. By converting their power to useful electricity by using generators, windmills and waterwheels, although ancient technologies are still very useful. Geothermal energy taps into the heat from the earth, by using geological hotspots such as volcanic sites, to produce energy. Biomass is also a very earth-like way of producing heat. This form of renewable energy refers to the use of once living organisms to produce heat and other forms of energy. Tidal energy works by harnessing the power of the ocean’s tides and currents, in much of the same way energy is gathered from waterwheels and windmills. The ocean can also be used for it’s heated surface temperatures and cool deep water temperatures to convert heat energy into useful electricity.

Overall, the only drawback to using renewable energies in place of fossil fuels is the current cost. However, as these technologies are further researched, cost of production is sure to go down, making these forms of energy production more efficient. Solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, and tidal energies are just a few of the renewable alternative energies being studied today. Critics agree-fossil fuels will not last forever, and so, it is time to begin looking for healthier and less expensive means of producing energy to run the world.

Now, it is quite possible to make your house safe, warm, quite and very comfortable, on one hand; whereas saving money on the second hand. You might be wondering how this is possible. Yes, this is possible by making energy efficient renovations giving you additional benefits. Energy-efficient homes are considered as healthy homes. There are some old homes with serious problems on your health. They have cracks and gaps allowing the pollen and germs to reside inside, the cold floorings makes you feel uncomfortable and the chilly rooms cause sniffling, dry and itchy skin due to uncontrolled ventilation in the winter.

These areas of trouble can be replaced by using energy efficient renovations to enjoy your home in a perfect way. By using energy efficient renovations in your house, you will be benefited from the following:

* You can experience relaxation and a feeling of comfort because now your home cool in summer and warm in winter.
* The resale value of your property can be increased by these energy efficient renovations.
* You can enjoy better health by eliminating the different health problems like drafts, chills and pollen and pollutants.
* There is no need for scrubbing the doors and windows hard with a brush. The airborne dust and dirt will be kept away from your house and thus maintaining your home will become an easy and a simple task.
* You can save considerable amount of energy and money to live comfortably. Thereby, lowering the energy costs by using less energy.
* You are also desirable for the cash sent to you directly by the government

A home renovated with energy efficiency has a greater impact on the way you feel it. It improves the quality of your work space. Every house has their particular needs for saving energy. You van take advice from experts to make the energy efficient renovation for your house. No doubt, that upgrading this energy efficient equipment may be costly, but you can offset it by reducing its operating costs. Sometimes, you may need to hire a contractor for making the necessary changes in your mechanical systems.

We already know that the use of electricity, gas and coal are all resources that we may eventually run out of.  These are the non-renewable resources that we rely heavily on today.  We use these non-renewable resources to do many things, including supplying us with power, heating our homes, businesses and schools and more. When we use all the non-renewable resources up and there are no more to gather, then what? How will we go without the convenience that we are so accustomed to? It’s nice to flip a switch to get power and it is even better when the latest technology allows us to press a button to do all the things that women and men had to work for hours to accomplish.  We are fortunate to live in a world with so many modern gadgets.  Unfortunately when we lose it we may be so accustomed to the modern perks that we will not know what to do when we don’t have them any longer.

What we have to rely on in the future is renewable resources. These resources are all resources that offer us an abundant supply and will never run out. They recharge and allow us to enjoy them again and again.  The renewable resources consist of Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydrogen, Geothermal, Ocean, and Hydropower We need all of these and right now we have access to each one of them.  What do they do and how do they help us with solar power? Let’s find out.

Solar refers to the solar energy that we get everyday either directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar energy can be used for several things, such as heating, electricity to home, schools, businesses, or buildings, heating water, cooling and ventilation.

Wind helps the suns heat down to earth. When the wind combines with the heat of the sun, it causes evaporation.  When the water turns into precipitation it produces energy that can then be captured by hydropower.

Hydropower takes energy from flowing water and captures it turning it into electricity. Hydropower is very complicated and requires a great deal of technology in order to successfully accumulate energy from water.

Biomass is an organic matter that can help to make up the plants. It can be used for the production of electricity, transport fuels or chemicals.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element found on earth, usually with other elements. If hydrogen is found alone it can be burned or converted into electricity.

Geothermal looks toward the inner parts of the earth for heat and can be used for power, heating, and cooling.

Ocean produces thermal energy using the heat from the sun. It can also use mechanical energy for the tides and waves.

As you can see the renewable resources are all around us.  We know what they do and how we can use them.  There are so many benefits to using renewable resources. If we don’t use them now we may not have a choice later. The knowledge we learn from today will help us use the energy more wisely.