The National Biofuels Action Plan is released
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) jointly released it’s National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP) in October 2008. The plan was written in response to President Bush’s “Twenty in Ten” goal. This is the president’s goal to cut US gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next 10 years.. The National Biofuels Action Plan is an interagency effort detailing what the federal agencies are doing to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry.
The Biomass Research and Development Board
Responsible for developing the National Biofuels Action Plan is the Biomass Research and Development Board. With USDA and DOE officials at the helm, the Board will coordinate the activities of federal agencies involved in biomass research and development. Nearly a dozen executive branch agencies and the administration are represented by its members.
Biomass to Biofuels: The Right Choice
Because biomass is plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural crop or other biological material, supply is plentiful. Since it can be used as a solid fuel, or converted into liquid or gas form, it’s uses are broad.
Currently, biomass is the only clean, renewable energy source that can help to diversify transportation fuels in the US. This renders the task of the Biomass Research and Development Board as crucial. The Biomass Program must find ways to transform the nation’s abundance of renewable energy found in biomass products. into biofuels The development of biofuels must be cost competitive and offer quality performance.
Additional Resources on Biomass and Biofuels
The National Biofuel Action Plan is available, in it’s entirety, in an easy to read
Adobe Acrobat format. Visit the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s website at eere.energy.gov. Go to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) page, and click on EERE News. There you’ll find a link to download the document.
For additional information about the Biomass Reasearch and Development Board, you can contact the departments that co-chair the Board: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Department of Energy (DOE).
Additionally, there is a Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDi) website which provides information about the Board, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the Initiative. The BRDi website is located at www.birdsolutions.com.
About the Author
Joni Keith is an accomplished writer having had her first work published at the age of eight. Her love of writing has been fueled by her passion to educate people on renewable energy sources. Click Here! to learn more about solar and wind power as renewable energy sources,
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wind Energy: The Use of Wind Power, Past and Present
The Earliest Use of Wind Energy
Wind Energy in American History
Click Here! to learn more about renewable energy.
To visit my website GreenLiving Click Here!
The history of mankind’s use of wind power dates back as early as 200 B.C when rudimentary wind machines were used by the Persians. By the 14th century, the famous Dutch windmills were used to drain the Rhine River delta. The first windmill designed for the production of electricity in the United States was built in 1888.
Wind Energy in American History
Once upon a time, water pumping windmills and small wind electric generators were commonly used throughout the United States. However, the rural electrification programs of the 1930’s and 1940’s replaced these systems. By the 1950’s, the windmills, once used as a primary source of energy on farms, had been replaced by centrally generated power.
Rural electrification is the process of bringing electrical power to rural and remote areas. This program brought lighting to thousands of homes. It also allowed approximately one-fourth of all farms in America to benefit from the mechanization of many farming operations. This program was implemented with the belief that the standard of living and economic competitiveness of the family farm in the US would improve. This was a crucial point in America’s economic history.
Recognizing Wind Energy as a Renewable Energy SourceWhile rural electrification was good for the economy, no one was aware of the problems it was creating for the environment. The power plants fueled by coal to produce the electricity, became major contributors to global warming.
In the 1980’s, as America began to recognize global warming as in issue of concern, Federal and State Government programs and incentives where established to encourage the use of wind power generation and other renewable energy sources.. More recently, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) was signed by President Bush to promote renewable energy sources.
How Wind Energy WorksWind power harnesses wind energy and converts it into a useful form. Wind turbines are used to produce electricity from wind power. They are rotating machines which convert the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy.
A windmill is different than a wind turbine. A wind mill uses mechanical energy directly to operate machinery, such as a pump. A wind turbine, on the other hand, converts the mechanical energy to electricity.
Wind Energy in Today’s WorldThere is a recent revival in the use of wind power as an alternative energy source In a report by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), wind power generation increased by 45 percent in 2007 pumping investments of over $9 billion into our economy. This is the third consecutive year in which such growth has been reported.
Electricity produced by renewable energy sources is becoming more readily available to consumers through Green Power programs. Currently, 500 electric companies in 34 states offer such programs. These programs sell power produced by wind energy and landfill gas-to-energy projects.
The current production tax credit and tax incentives for renewable energy technology are due to expire at the end of 2008. However, the Senate Finance Committee is including extension of these credits as part of it’s stimulus package.
Wind Energy Goes Full CircleSeemingly, mankind has always recognized the advantages of wind energy. Throughout time, man has learned to harness that energy for his own use. Technology has allowed for vast improvements in producing electricity using wind energy.
Experience has dictated our need to use alternative renewable energy sources to meet our electricity needs. Wind energy has a solid past and a promising future in filling those needs. Wind energy has always been the appropriate decision for the environment and now seems to offer economic potential as well. Wind energy is a win-win solution.
Click Here! to learn more about renewable energy.
To visit my website GreenLiving Click Here!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Biomass in Plain English
How Biomass is Made
The process of plants absorbing the sun’s energy is called photosynthesis. As animals and humans eat the plants, that chemical energy is passed on. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals and contains stored energy from the sun.
Biomass is renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy that occurs naturally. In addition to biomass, solar, wind, tidal, wave and hydro-electric power, that hasn’t been derived from fossil or nuclear fuel, is also biomass. Examples of biomass fuels are wood, crops, manure and rotted garbage.
There is more than one way that biomass can be used to produce energy
When it is burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat. When you burn wood in your fireplace or wood burning stove, that wood is biomass fuel. This is the most common use. But, biomass can also be converted into other viable forms of energy such as methane gas, ethanol and biodiesel.
Methane Gas
The principal component of methane is natural gas. Methane derived from biomass is a renewable energy source. A primary source of methane gas is landfills. A vast amount of methane is created naturally as the waste in landfills decomposes. This gas can be harnessed and used by gas-to-energy plants to fuel engine or turbine driven generators of electricity reducing fossil fuel dependency.
Ethanol
This alcohol fuel comes from sugars found primarily in grains such as corn and wheat. Ethanol is a transportation fuel made from biomass materials. Currently, most of the ethanol used in the US comes from corn. The process of distilling ethanol from corn is considered costly. Scientists continue to seek alternative methods of making ethanol by using all parts of plants and trees. This would help reduce cost. Also, ethanol is a renewable energy source.
Biodiesel
In the United States, biodiesel is rapidly growing as an alternative fuel. Unlike diesel fuel made from petroleum, biodiesel is a renewable fuel source. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or grease. Maybe you’ve seen one of those diesel trucks attach a hose to McDonald’s and wondered what they were doing. They are actually collecting the grease to be recycled into biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel fuels are becoming more popular because:
A Better Understanding
A shift from fossil fuels to biomass fuels cannot be accomplished overnight. It is an environmentally wise decision, however, to promote the use of biomass fuels. The most important reason is that biomass is a renewable energy source rendering it a wise alternative in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
About the Author
Joni Keith is an accomplished writer having had her first work published at the age of eight. Her love of writing has been fueled by her passion to educate people on renewable energy sources. Click Here! to learn more about renewable energy sources.
The process of plants absorbing the sun’s energy is called photosynthesis. As animals and humans eat the plants, that chemical energy is passed on. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals and contains stored energy from the sun.
Biomass is renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy that occurs naturally. In addition to biomass, solar, wind, tidal, wave and hydro-electric power, that hasn’t been derived from fossil or nuclear fuel, is also biomass. Examples of biomass fuels are wood, crops, manure and rotted garbage.
There is more than one way that biomass can be used to produce energy
When it is burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat. When you burn wood in your fireplace or wood burning stove, that wood is biomass fuel. This is the most common use. But, biomass can also be converted into other viable forms of energy such as methane gas, ethanol and biodiesel.
Methane Gas
The principal component of methane is natural gas. Methane derived from biomass is a renewable energy source. A primary source of methane gas is landfills. A vast amount of methane is created naturally as the waste in landfills decomposes. This gas can be harnessed and used by gas-to-energy plants to fuel engine or turbine driven generators of electricity reducing fossil fuel dependency.
Ethanol
This alcohol fuel comes from sugars found primarily in grains such as corn and wheat. Ethanol is a transportation fuel made from biomass materials. Currently, most of the ethanol used in the US comes from corn. The process of distilling ethanol from corn is considered costly. Scientists continue to seek alternative methods of making ethanol by using all parts of plants and trees. This would help reduce cost. Also, ethanol is a renewable energy source.
Biodiesel
In the United States, biodiesel is rapidly growing as an alternative fuel. Unlike diesel fuel made from petroleum, biodiesel is a renewable fuel source. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or grease. Maybe you’ve seen one of those diesel trucks attach a hose to McDonald’s and wondered what they were doing. They are actually collecting the grease to be recycled into biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel fuels are becoming more popular because:
- Biodiesel fuel can be used in vehicles that already use diesel fuel made from petroleum.
- It can be stored and transported.
- It is clean burning and easy to use
- Biodiesel fuel is cost efficient
- Biodiesel fuel is a renewable energy source
A Better Understanding
A shift from fossil fuels to biomass fuels cannot be accomplished overnight. It is an environmentally wise decision, however, to promote the use of biomass fuels. The most important reason is that biomass is a renewable energy source rendering it a wise alternative in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
About the Author
Joni Keith is an accomplished writer having had her first work published at the age of eight. Her love of writing has been fueled by her passion to educate people on renewable energy sources. Click Here! to learn more about renewable energy sources.
Monday, October 27, 2008
There's a New Greenhouse Gas in Town
Move Over Carbon Dioxide - There's a New Greenhouse Gas In Town
As we know, carbon dioxide is public enemy number one on the list of deadly greenhouse gases. But there's a new gas in town we must keep a watchful eye on. The name of the gas is nitrogen trifluoride. And actually, it’s not really new. We just underestimated how potent it really was.
The techniques formerly used to measure this gas in our atmosphere provided us with inaccurate numbers. Nitrogen trifluoride emissions are not covered in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 because it was believed that emissions were not significant. The Kyoto Protocol is the global agreement signed by 182 countries in a united effort to reduce greenhouse gases.
Through new research funded by NASA, the actual amount of nitrogen trifluoride presently being emitted is now reported to be at least four times more than that which was originally stated. And worse, it appears to be increasing at a rate of eleven percent each year.
Even more frightening, please brace yourself, nitrogen trifluoride is 17,000 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide making it a substantial greenhouse gas contributor. At one point in time, we believed the emissions of nitrogen trifluoride were so low they weren’t even considered to be of any significant contribution to global warming.
So where do you find nitrogen trifluoride? It is one of the numerous gases used in the manufacture of liquid crystal flat-panel displays (LCD flat-panels). In other words, that big flat-screen TV you just upgraded to so that you could enjoy football season in all its glory. It is also used in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and microcircuits.
Based upon the inaccuracy of the previous readings, nitrogen trifluoride became the preferred replacement for perflurocarbons, another greenhouse gas. This was based upon the theory that only two percent of the nitrogen trifluoride actually escaped into the atmosphere.
With this new report, scientists are recommending that nitrogen trifluoride be added to the list of greenhouse gases that the Kyoto Protocol should regulate. It has triggered growing concerns in the scientific community as one of the greenhouse gases of which we know very little.
As you’ll hear me say, time and time again, knowledge is power. With this new found knowledge, it seems we need to reexamine our techniques in seeking answers. We desperately need to find ways to reduce global warming. We cannot haphazardly seek short term solutions with long term negative effect. We must start finding and implementing sources for renewable energy and drastically reduce the greenhouse gases we emit.
Click Here! to learn more.
As we know, carbon dioxide is public enemy number one on the list of deadly greenhouse gases. But there's a new gas in town we must keep a watchful eye on. The name of the gas is nitrogen trifluoride. And actually, it’s not really new. We just underestimated how potent it really was.
The techniques formerly used to measure this gas in our atmosphere provided us with inaccurate numbers. Nitrogen trifluoride emissions are not covered in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 because it was believed that emissions were not significant. The Kyoto Protocol is the global agreement signed by 182 countries in a united effort to reduce greenhouse gases.
Through new research funded by NASA, the actual amount of nitrogen trifluoride presently being emitted is now reported to be at least four times more than that which was originally stated. And worse, it appears to be increasing at a rate of eleven percent each year.
Even more frightening, please brace yourself, nitrogen trifluoride is 17,000 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide making it a substantial greenhouse gas contributor. At one point in time, we believed the emissions of nitrogen trifluoride were so low they weren’t even considered to be of any significant contribution to global warming.
So where do you find nitrogen trifluoride? It is one of the numerous gases used in the manufacture of liquid crystal flat-panel displays (LCD flat-panels). In other words, that big flat-screen TV you just upgraded to so that you could enjoy football season in all its glory. It is also used in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and microcircuits.
Based upon the inaccuracy of the previous readings, nitrogen trifluoride became the preferred replacement for perflurocarbons, another greenhouse gas. This was based upon the theory that only two percent of the nitrogen trifluoride actually escaped into the atmosphere.
With this new report, scientists are recommending that nitrogen trifluoride be added to the list of greenhouse gases that the Kyoto Protocol should regulate. It has triggered growing concerns in the scientific community as one of the greenhouse gases of which we know very little.
As you’ll hear me say, time and time again, knowledge is power. With this new found knowledge, it seems we need to reexamine our techniques in seeking answers. We desperately need to find ways to reduce global warming. We cannot haphazardly seek short term solutions with long term negative effect. We must start finding and implementing sources for renewable energy and drastically reduce the greenhouse gases we emit.
Click Here! to learn more.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
How Electricity is Produced
Electrical energy was one of man’s greatest discoveries. It has helped build new civilizations and made our lives more comfortable in countless ways. The large amount of electricity produced in order to meed our current demand has its source in fossil fuels, nuclear fission, water, and wind. This article will explore the different methods of electricity production.
Electricity is churned out by enormous turbines. These turbines need to turn to produce electricity. There are various methods employed to support the movement of these turbines:
By burning fossil fuels: Electricity is produced when the blades of a turbine are moved by enormous amounts of vapor. This vapor is generated by heating a lot of water in huge furnaces. The water is heated by burning fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. This method releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, thus severely polluting our atmosphere. It is imperative we turn to alternate methods of electricity production for long-term benefits.
By water: Dams are constructed to produce electricity. This is a popular method of producing electricity. A water dams actually serves two purposes; restricting water bodies and producing electricity. Water dams use the force of a river's water to move turbines, helping them to produce electricity. Electricity generated in this way does help control air pollution, however, this method of electricity production adversely affects the ecosystem in the water bodies. Water accounts for 90 percent of the world’s electricity generated through renewable resources.
By wind: Electricity is produced when wind energy is converted to electrical energy. Wind mills or wind turbines are used to churn up enormous amounts of wind energy which is then converted into electrical energy. The latest in wind energy advancement tells us that wind energy is helping create portable cell phone chargers.
By nuclear fission: Yes, nuclear fission does not only make atom bombs, but also helps produce electricity. Nuclear fission causes a chain reaction where the element Uranium is bombarded by neutrons causing it to split. Every time a Uranium nucleus is split, more neutrons are released, causing more splits in the already split Uranium nuclei. The resultant chain reaction generates a lot of heat which is used to heat water, the vapor of which eventually moves turbines to create electricity.
By bio-waste: With technological advancements, electricity is also being produced by bio-waste. Bio-gas is a typical way of generating electricity in rural areas in countries like India. In fact, a new technology evolved in Bihar, India uses human waste to generate electricity. Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at www.earth4energy.com
Click Here! to learn more!
Electricity is churned out by enormous turbines. These turbines need to turn to produce electricity. There are various methods employed to support the movement of these turbines:
By burning fossil fuels: Electricity is produced when the blades of a turbine are moved by enormous amounts of vapor. This vapor is generated by heating a lot of water in huge furnaces. The water is heated by burning fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. This method releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, thus severely polluting our atmosphere. It is imperative we turn to alternate methods of electricity production for long-term benefits.
By water: Dams are constructed to produce electricity. This is a popular method of producing electricity. A water dams actually serves two purposes; restricting water bodies and producing electricity. Water dams use the force of a river's water to move turbines, helping them to produce electricity. Electricity generated in this way does help control air pollution, however, this method of electricity production adversely affects the ecosystem in the water bodies. Water accounts for 90 percent of the world’s electricity generated through renewable resources.
By wind: Electricity is produced when wind energy is converted to electrical energy. Wind mills or wind turbines are used to churn up enormous amounts of wind energy which is then converted into electrical energy. The latest in wind energy advancement tells us that wind energy is helping create portable cell phone chargers.
By nuclear fission: Yes, nuclear fission does not only make atom bombs, but also helps produce electricity. Nuclear fission causes a chain reaction where the element Uranium is bombarded by neutrons causing it to split. Every time a Uranium nucleus is split, more neutrons are released, causing more splits in the already split Uranium nuclei. The resultant chain reaction generates a lot of heat which is used to heat water, the vapor of which eventually moves turbines to create electricity.
By bio-waste: With technological advancements, electricity is also being produced by bio-waste. Bio-gas is a typical way of generating electricity in rural areas in countries like India. In fact, a new technology evolved in Bihar, India uses human waste to generate electricity. Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at www.earth4energy.com
Click Here! to learn more!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Bio Fuels - Are They Good
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. There is a huge 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-fuelsBio-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-fuelsBio-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.Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at http://www.earth4energy.com/
Click Here!
• 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-fuelsBio-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-fuelsBio-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.Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Get our complete guide at http://www.earth4energy.com/
Click Here!
Friday, October 24, 2008
How to Get the Electric Company to Pay You for Using Electricity
Energy usage is a hot topic these days. We are all concerned with the effect that energy costs are having on our planet as well as our pocketbooks. I’ve always believed that knowledge is power, and this article is going to provide you with the knowledge you’ll need to understand your electricity consumption, how that consumption is billed by your electric company, and one alternative that is available.
Understanding Electricity Usage
Let's start with the lingo. A watt measures the rate of electricity being used in the moment. In other words, a 60 watt light bulb is using 60 watts while it is turned on. Everything that uses electricity has a label with the watts listed on it.
A kilowatt hour (kwh) is the number of watts used in one hour. So a 1000 watt air conditioner that is on for 1 hour uses 1 kwh. An average home uses approximately 20,000 kwh’s per year.
Understanding How Electricity is Billed
Currently the average cost of electricity is $0.11 per kwh. Of course this varies based upon where you live. So it seems that you should be able to predict your electric bill by knowing how many watts and how many hours of usage your household consumes. Well, it’s not that simple.
First of all, your electric company is billing you a usage charge. That’s right, you're paying them just to use their service. Secondly, you must consider that you’re paying multiple rates per kwh. The base rate is for a limited number of kwh (which we all exceed.) Then there is a higher rate for the kwh past the base amount, and then an even higher rate during the peak months from May thru October when everyone is running their air conditioners.
As if that’s not enough, some companies impose “demand charges”. A demand charge is based upon, you got it, the amount of electricity you demanded at any given point throughout the day. In other words, if you have the washer, the dryer, the dishwasher and your blow dryer running at the same time all the lights in your house are on, you are placing a high demand on your electricity and will pay the high demand charge for that usage period.
Seeking Alternative Energy Sources
The power companies make electricity by burning fossil fuels. This, as we know, is a nonrenewable source of energy. Eventually we will run out. Before that happens though electricity will become a much sought after commodity. Rationing will probably occur as prices skyrocket. Imagine having no electricity to power your daily existence.
There are, however, several alternative energy sources already available to us. The one I’d like to discuss is solar power. Aside from the initial cost of setup, the usage cost is minimal saving you anywhere from 80 percent or more annually.
Solar power has been around for awhile but unfortunately lacked in popularity due to huge upfront costs. Time, technology and demand, however, has changed all that. Solar panels can produce enough power during sunlight hours that you have more electricity than you need. You could actually sell the excess power to the electric company. That idea just tickles me.
Converting to solar power has become easier. You no longer have to purchase an expensive solar power system. There are companies that rent systems, or you can build the solar panels yourself. The government also offers rebates to encourage going solar.
You know you’re probably not going to drastically reduce the number of kwh’s your household uses by running around turning off lights. And you know the electric company is not going to reduce their charges in this lifetime. But if by going green, you could save some green, why not go solar? Wouldn’t it be nice to charge the electric company a usage charge?
Click Here!
Understanding Electricity Usage
Let's start with the lingo. A watt measures the rate of electricity being used in the moment. In other words, a 60 watt light bulb is using 60 watts while it is turned on. Everything that uses electricity has a label with the watts listed on it.
A kilowatt hour (kwh) is the number of watts used in one hour. So a 1000 watt air conditioner that is on for 1 hour uses 1 kwh. An average home uses approximately 20,000 kwh’s per year.
Understanding How Electricity is Billed
Currently the average cost of electricity is $0.11 per kwh. Of course this varies based upon where you live. So it seems that you should be able to predict your electric bill by knowing how many watts and how many hours of usage your household consumes. Well, it’s not that simple.
First of all, your electric company is billing you a usage charge. That’s right, you're paying them just to use their service. Secondly, you must consider that you’re paying multiple rates per kwh. The base rate is for a limited number of kwh (which we all exceed.) Then there is a higher rate for the kwh past the base amount, and then an even higher rate during the peak months from May thru October when everyone is running their air conditioners.
As if that’s not enough, some companies impose “demand charges”. A demand charge is based upon, you got it, the amount of electricity you demanded at any given point throughout the day. In other words, if you have the washer, the dryer, the dishwasher and your blow dryer running at the same time all the lights in your house are on, you are placing a high demand on your electricity and will pay the high demand charge for that usage period.
Seeking Alternative Energy Sources
The power companies make electricity by burning fossil fuels. This, as we know, is a nonrenewable source of energy. Eventually we will run out. Before that happens though electricity will become a much sought after commodity. Rationing will probably occur as prices skyrocket. Imagine having no electricity to power your daily existence.
There are, however, several alternative energy sources already available to us. The one I’d like to discuss is solar power. Aside from the initial cost of setup, the usage cost is minimal saving you anywhere from 80 percent or more annually.
Solar power has been around for awhile but unfortunately lacked in popularity due to huge upfront costs. Time, technology and demand, however, has changed all that. Solar panels can produce enough power during sunlight hours that you have more electricity than you need. You could actually sell the excess power to the electric company. That idea just tickles me.
Converting to solar power has become easier. You no longer have to purchase an expensive solar power system. There are companies that rent systems, or you can build the solar panels yourself. The government also offers rebates to encourage going solar.
You know you’re probably not going to drastically reduce the number of kwh’s your household uses by running around turning off lights. And you know the electric company is not going to reduce their charges in this lifetime. But if by going green, you could save some green, why not go solar? Wouldn’t it be nice to charge the electric company a usage charge?
Click Here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
