The uses for solar outdoor lighting are virtually the same as anything that is currently being lit standard today. This includes not only household outdoor lighting units such as around the porch and yard pathways, but streetlights, in parking lots, at bus stops, and even to illuminate billboards. This is being seen in cities in California and Florida as they are constructing solar panels atop buildings to then shed light when the sun goes down and provide themselves power.

To light up roadway signs there are being put in place small black boxes on top of these signs that are in fact solar
lighting units. These units collect the light of the sun during the day, convert it into usable energy, store it into
a battery, and then turn on when it becomes dark.

For crews that are working construction during the night or in dark areas, there has been created the GreenTow, and
other similar solar powered generators that are able to be moved from site to site. They are able to replace previous
generators running on fossil fuel, and the solar panels are then brought to the areas that need illumination in a
more eco-friendly fashion.

Yet solar lighting is being used in more creatively inspired ways as well; in Adelaide, Australia these solar lights
are being turned into works of art as is the case with the Solar Mallee Trees. Adelaide has incorporated them into
the city since 2005 and in doing so they are able to more efficiently light the streets and buildings and put those energy savings to other uses. Each tree will only consumer 125 kWh when in use while simultaneously produce 864 kWh.

Australia isn’t the only place that artistic solar lighting has taken off. In both Vienna, Italy and Pittsburgh, PA
residents have become accustomed to these charming flower and tree inspired solar lighting fixtures. Not only do they
add adornments to the streets and outlying areas but at the same time they are reducing the amount of energy the towns consumes and helping to create power to be later used by the city in other ways.

In reducing the amount of electricty a city consumes it is not only going to save money, meet necessary standards and
goals, but also ensure that usual businesses and events can continue as such. For this reason much of the efforts to
cut back are inspired by the people living in these areas; coming together to make their towns and homes more energy
efficient.

Due to system and component differences, estimates vary on how many kilowatt hours a computer left on will use in a year. A reasonably efficient system like an iMac G5 with a 20″ screen draws approximately 105 watts an hour. When used two hours a day, five days a week or 520 hours a year, the system consumes 55kwh. At the average national cost of $.12 per kwh, that’s $6.60 total. However, an older inefficient system left on 24 hours a day 7 days a week can consume as much as 2891kwh or $346.92 annually. Obviously the potential savings in this area are enormous.

An additional factor that runs up office electrical bills is the phenomenon of “vampire power,” units like printers, copiers, appliances, and gadget chargers that draw on “idle current” when they are not in use and often when they are actually turned off. This hidden energy consumption will rapidly escalate the number of kilowatt hours used per year.

To begin to get a handle on energy waste in your home office, audit all the equipment. Make a list of everything that’s plugged in, including all chargers. Next, measure the amount of electricity each device uses over a 24-hour period. P3 International makes a line of “Kill A Watt” products, including power strips, that will tell you exactly how much electricity each item on your list is using. Ranging in price from $21 to $67, these Kill A Watt devices will quickly pay for themselves and can be used elsewhere in the home to measure and curb excess energy use.

Next, check the labels. Is all your equipment Energy Star certified? The Environmental Protection Agency certifies these devices to be 70% more efficient than other models. Check with your accountant. You may qualify for tax deductions or rebates for replacing old, inefficient equipment. (Remember, if you do get rid of any electronics, recycle them responsibly!)

Find out how many auxiliary components like printers, scanners, and copiers are on stand-by power while not in use. Consider plugging these machines into power strips like those made by Bits Ltd. Their line of Smart Strips employ intelligent circuits that read how much power a device uses while in operation. When the device is in standy-by mode, the strip shuts off the idle current. Company literature suggests these units, priced from $32 to $45, can save the average consumer 73% in electrical costs annually.

These intelligent power strips can also be used for chargers, like those that juice up cell phones and laptops. Most people unplug the device from the charger, but leave the charger in the power socket where it continues to draw electricity. (The same is true for home entertainment systems and small kitchen appliances.) Once you’ve used a Smart Strip or similar product, you’ll find multiple uses for them throughout your home.

Many pocket devices can also be kept operational by small solar panels like the Sunny Flower Solar Charger. This is an especially good option if your office has a convenient window sill with strong morning or afternoon light. You can set the device to be charged and the Sunny Flower on the sill so the battery will be topped off with clean, free solar power while you work on something else.

Any efficient office requires planning and organization and a consideration of the upfront costs. Electrical usage, however, can be one of those hidden costs that wreck a budget fast. With a little careful monitoring and the implementation of cost-saving technology, this is one expense that’s easier to tame than people realize.

One such law that benefits those businesses and individuals that have built either one or a few turbines on their premises is the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA. Through this act, nearby utility companies are then required to purchase any extra wind energy created from these residential wind turbines to then return to the grid.

Under PURPA, businesses and residences that are selling back their wind energy will create an agreement with the utility companies. Through what is most commonly done as net-metering those selling their energy will be able to run their meter forward and profit and also earn back credit towards any bills for power that they are charged for in the future from the utility companies.

President Obama has as of February 2009 enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which then lifts the cost caps put in place on any rebates for renewable energy sources. Those that qualify for rebates from their renewable energy sources, such is the case with wind turbines, are then offered a return on their taxes for 30 percent of the amount of all of their investments. While they won’t be getting cash directly back they will have the amount deducted off of their federal taxes each year.

The start up costs for a residential wind turbine are often high and in order to promote individuals and businesses to erect them there are low-interest loans and other cash rebates that are extended from not only local banks and agencies, but utility companies, and the state governments as well. While the specifications and amounts will vary between states and cities they are generally all on a basis of first, first serve in order to give those who invest first added their wind turbines the most benefits. One example is that there may be a fixed fund in which to work from and this will reward those leading the way in wind energy.

The states of Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon have a unique system put in place to promote wind energy, known as Green Tags. Through Green Tags residences that are resupplying the grid through their wind turbines are issued credits that can then later be sold to bigger businesses looking to reduce their own amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. These credits are known as RECs, or renewable energy green credits.

Because the market for renewable energy sources is growing and it is highly encouraged by the government in order to meet new goals for renewable resources, those that are on the leading forefront of the movement are going to be offered great rewards for their efforts. This will come in the way of not only the Green Tags system and rebates but
also the low interest loans for start up costs, tax credits, and even cash payments.

Large, commercial wind farms supply enough energy to power thousands of residences. Consumers, however, generally work with small turbines that produce 100 kWh or less. These units, which are specifically designed to provide back-up power or reduce electrical costs, are a manageable introduction to the benefits of wind energy.

First, analyze your property. You must have more than one acre of land that receives a fairly constant supply of wind. Municipal zoning regulations may limit your ability to install a turbine; find out before you start buying equipment. Also, realize that the turbine will not instantly pay for itself in energy savings. This is a long-term investment whose full return will not be realized for several years.

Average wind speeds greater than 10 mph (16 kph) year round are the minimum required to make a residential wind turbine economically feasible. Lower wind speeds will not product sufficient electrical power to allow the owner to recoup his original costs.

Also, remember that even in optimum locations, wind speeds vary over a 24-hour period, making it impossible for a turbine to consistently generate electricity. A 10 percent drop in wind velocity will bring a small turbine’s generating capacity down by 25 percent. On the other hand, if wind velocity doubles, the same turbine will produce 8 times more power.

Discuss the potential of implementing net billing or net metering with your electric utility. This set-up allows your turbine to put power back in the grid to lower your electric bill. Essentially, it makes your electric meter roll backwards, raising the real possibility that at the end of the month, the electric company will owe you money.

In positioning the residential wind turbine on your property, remember that adjacent structures and natural objects like tree lines will obstruct the flow of wind. The best wind speeds are cultivated on the tops of hills, on the shores of a body of water (lakes or seas), and in any area with no adjacent obstacles. The goal is cleanly flowing wind with minimal turbulence.

Above all, inform your neighbors in advance of your plan to install a residential wind turbine. In order to avoid conflict, keep the turbine at least 250 yards away from adjacent homes. If you live in a development governed by a homeowner’s association, make sure you are allowed to install the turbine before proceeding.

The most common turbines are essentially traditional windmills with vanes at the tail to steer the unit on a horizontal axis into the wind. Turbines outfitted with a vertical axis will work regardless of wind direction, but they are larger and must be outfitted with longer guide wires than those required by the horizontal configuration.

All of these factors must be weighed before going forward with the installation of a home wind turbine. The units are a green and practical source of clean energy for the home, but the decision to install one must make good economic sense in each unique instance and the location must be appropriate for the cultivation of wind power.

Your in home heating and cooling systems will constitute the greatest factor in how much energy you use, nearly half,
and after you tackle that you can work your way through to the other devices, lights, and appliances in your home and
amend your current habits. The general amount of energy used by a single home is 10,000 kWh annually and to cut back
your usage and thus lower your electric bills, there are plenty of easy adjustments that can be made.

In order to make sure that you are not unnecessarily making your air conditioner or heater work more than it has to
keep your home in the right temperature you should make certain that your house is not harboring any air leaks. You can have your home inspected for leaks, some utility companies will be able to do that for you, but you can also check for yourself. The prime points of contention are around doors and window, around the chimney where it meets the wall, as well as the dampers and flue.

Once you have sealed any air leaks around your home you can further install other items that will make your house more
energy efficient. This includes double-paned windows, insulation, air filters, and then you will want to get a
thermostat that is programmable. In addition you want to make sure that everything is clean and readily replaced as
they are worn out, such as air filters, so that they are running and working most effectively.
When you are then looking to identify the appliances and electronics around your home that use the most amount of
energy, you can turn to the Kill A Watt, which is a device that will read and then gauge just how much electricity
each item consumes. This will then give you an idea as to where you can best focus your efforts to cut back how much
energy you are using.

Not everyone has access to such products as a Kill A Watt, but you can still find out the main culprits for an
inflated energy bill by checking their stats online. Websites such as EnergySavers.com and carbonfootprint.com will
supply you with general amounts of electricity different appliances and units consume around your home and how you can
cut back on that amount.

As your older units are then needing to be replaced and you are looking to invest in ones that are more energy
efficient you can find that the Energy Guide Label will assist you in making the best decision. This label comes with
many home appliances and will give you a reading of the amount of energy the unit uses as well as how it compares to
other units. You can then shop around to find the best model for your optimal savings. Unfortunately this label
does not come on everything, such is the case with many electronics.

There is however the Energystar program that has taken to rating and certifying numerous different electronic devices
and household appliances that have met their standards to be deemed more energy efficient than standard models. Another benefit of choosing and Energystar appliance is that you may qualify for not only rebates but also tax reductions as well.

Outside of the appliances around you home, you can significantly cut back the amount of electricity you are using by
swapping out your old, standard light bulbs for those that are more efficient. These include both LED and CFL light
bulbs, and then you will want to adhere to energy saving habits such as turning them out whenever your lights are not in use. In addition to this you can opt for solar outdoor lights as well as those with a motion sensor that will make it easier to cut back the amount of electricity you consume.

Information is the key to curtailing the amount of energy your home consumes. By identifying the devices and personal
habits that are costing you the most and implementing some simple energy conservation tips, you can then work to counteract high energy bills. There are plenty of newer, energy efficient appliances and websites that are making it easier for you to find out ways you can both reduce your overall energy usage and save money off of your utility bills.

Learn the secrets of how to save electricity.

To benefit from solar energy you need to install solar panels to your home. This can be done relatively easily by purchasing a residential solar panel kit. Inside each kit you will find the necessary equipment you need, including panels to be installed to your roof, an inverter that will change the DC energy the solar panels collect into AC power which will in turn be able to grant power to the devices and items in your home. In case of a power outage and also to keep a reserve or excess power there will also be a back up battery.

Less Than Sunny Conditions

The back up battery will be used in times where there isn’t a decent amount of available natural sunlight, such as when it is overcast and during the night time hours. What will happen is that when there is plenty of sunlight the amount of energy that is collected from the solar panels will be stored in the battery. This extra amount of energy will be enough to give you the necessary energy needed for everything in your home to run at night and on overcast days.

Solar Energy and Heating

When you are instead using the solar panels to generate heat for you home or water supply instead of just electricity around your home the method will be basically the same. However instead of the solar energy being used right away it will directly be stored, similar to the instance of the back up battery, and then turned into heat through a method that heats up the air and water collected.

There are specific solar devices that can be used as your home’s central heating. These are called solar liquid systems that have a collection tank; and once the sunlight is collected it will heat up the storage tank. From there this storage tank will transfer the heat into the forced air system to then heat your home.

Less effective as liquid solar systems are solar air systems, and while they will generate energy later in the day and in the early morning they won’t make as much. There are those that are smaller and can work for a single room but in terms of an entire house they are not that efficient.

To build your own solar air heater for a single you room you can follow the directions at SolarSponge.com. These devices are coined Solar Sponges.

If you are looking to conserve energy and save on their utility bills, harnessing the sunlight of the sun and converting it into usable energy through a solar energy system is doable and logical. After you have opted to cut your reliance on the more standard electrical company options you have are to purchase a kit that is already made or even make your own.

Understanding the Basic Elements of Residential Solar Energy

For decades, scientists have been interested in superconductors because they lack any kind of electric resistance. Electrons can travel freely through materials that are superconductors, which means they can carry large quantities of electricity for a long time without losing much heat energy.

Hydrogen in metallic form is a great superconductor at high temperatures. Scientists from the State University of New York and Cornell University found that when you add small amounts of lithium to a hydrogen substrate and apply sufficient pressure (one million times what’s found at sea level), hydrogen becomes a superconductive material that’s metallic in form. One million atmospheres is only 25% of the pressure needed to make pure hydrogen turn into a metal. The scientists presented their findings at the National Academy of Sciences and were financed by the National Science Foundation.

Lithium Hydrogen (LiH) is formed when lithium and hydrogen interact. This forms a non-metallic compound that’s stable. Extreme pressures are needed to create LiH, and scientists have been using shock wave computer modeling to study whether they can use LiH to create a superconductor.

Scientists have not been able to actually reproduce LiH in the laboratory, but this study gives them hope. The greatest potential for success is LiH6, which combines 6 atoms of hydrogen for every one lithium atom. They found the reaction forms a stable metallic hydrogen substance under extremely high pressures.

Scientists also expect LiH6 in the future to keep its metallic form at normal pressures. Currently, it will decompose and form H2 and LiH2.

Standard scientific knowledge about atoms and molecules are being challenged by new molecular combinations, like LiH6. If it can actually be reproduced in the laboratory, it will boost the use of clean energy and remove some of the obstacles that have limited the wide-spread use of alternative energy.

Alternative Energy News: Lithium Hydrogen Superconductors

For Future Superconductors, a Little Bit of Lithium May Do Hydrogen a Lot of Good

Lithium and Hydrogen Compounds Are a Hot Topic in Alternative Energy News

Next, if you belong to a homeowners association or neighborhood association, you’ll want to go over the rules of your area with a fine toothed comb. Since residential wind power technology is still fairly new, you may notice that there is nothing expressly forbidding it, however, you should not take this as a sign to move forward. Wind technology can be expensive and you don’t want to purchase everything only to find out that your association has ruled against it. Always ask and be prepared to show that your generation system isn’t going to be an eyesore or cause a lot of noise.

You may also want to research nearby homeowners associations that have allowed home wind generator technology to be built and used. You should prepare to speak to your homeowners association like you would prepare to present a court case. The more evidence you have and the more research you can present, the better off you’ll be. There is a very good chance that if you are allowed to build your home wind generator, more and more homes in your area will follow suit, especially when they see how much you are saving each month on your power bill.

Finally, it is important that you don’t give up. If you are shut down by your neighborhood association, try to investigate what other kinds of renewable energy you could add to your home that would be acceptable. Although solar panels are still pricy, they are falling in price as demand skyrockets. Many European countries like Germany are way ahead of the curve when it comes to producing affordable renewable energy, so if you can’t find what you need in the US, check abroad. Residential wind power can make a big difference, but you need to work within the rules.

Residential Wind Power

The first wave of compact fluorescents were criticized in supplying you with a harsher light that was less inviting than that of the sun. However as technology has increased they have been able to adapt their light supply and while they still need a couple of moments to heat up after they are first turned on they will save you about $30 per bulb when compared to a standard one from your utility bill. This is due to the fact that they are able to save 75 percent of the amount of energy a traditional bulb would.

When you are looking for a CFL bulb you will find a comparison chart that will give you its equivalence to a standard bulb. The scale is rated on a Kelvin one and those that are on the lower end, 2700 to 3000, they will be most comparable to what you are already using. The CFLs that are between 3500 and 4100k are going to appear a brighter white in hue and it is not until the level reaches that of 5000 to 6500k that you will find a more normal, warmer color. The main cause for concern with compact fluorescent lights is that they have mercury and if the light bulbs are not disposed of in the correct manner when they are done the chemicals could leak and pose a health and environmental risk.

At this time CFL lights are more expansive than the traditional ones, but what you pay more for up front you will save over the long haul from your electric bill. While you can buy a standard 100 watt light bulb for about $1.52 and the cost of the same watt CFL will run you about $2.67 each, it is expected that as lighting technology progresses their costs will go down as well. Add that to what you will save in electricity and you will come out ahead.

LED light bulbs

Light emitting diode light bulbs have built upon the concepts of CFLs and have seemed to solve their short comings. Not only do these LED lights lack any mercury content, but they also boast a higher amount of energy savings. These lights have a lifespans of about four and one half years should they be kept on continuously, which equates to over 40,000 hours. They will need anywhere between 2 and 10 watts less than CFLs, which is markedly better than any standard bulb.

The main drawback to LED lights is that because they don’t produce any heat and also function off of a much lower wattage, 60 watts at the most, they have been noted to cast a bluish tint. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have their uses as they are great for night lights and in accent lighting, but you won’t be gaining a particularly vibrant illumination should you use them in your home for everyday use. The way the LEDs work is that they will not create light near the bottom of the bulb, which means that their best purpose would be in casting light downward.

Yet as with anything there are always those looking to improve what is already available. To solve the problem of a dimmer light source the new Sharp LED light bulbs have been touting that you can adjust the amount of color tone issued from the bulb by a remote controller. This would make it possible to still use the bulbs for downward lighting and night lights, but would then broaden their functions to those of more standard lighting methods. These bulbs are much more expansive, anywhere from $30 to $52 a bulb, and are only being sold in Japan right now, but you can bet that they will eventually become more widely available and less costly. Even taking into account the price of the bulb you will still find that over the reported four or five years of their life span you can save about $50 from your electric bill. So when it comes then to LEDs versus CFLs it is most likely that LEDs will be the go to choice for a more economic light bulb.

Low energy bulbs are just one of many tips to conserve energy, but they are one of the least expensive to implement and provide one of the best returns on investment.

If you really want to kick your energy savings up a notch, think about replacing old appliances for ones that have been certified energy efficient. While things like a new refrigerator, stove and freezer can really cut down on your energy consumption, the one appliance that really hogs the juice is the washing machine. Not only does this water guzzler go through gallons with every cycle, older models use a ton of power. Keep an eye out for the Energy Star sticker that graces energy efficient appliances. You’ll lower your electric bill immediately.

If you live in the Southern United States, you likely already have ceiling fans adorning every room in your home. If you don’t, you may want to think about installing a few. Ceiling fans use very little electricity on their own and they do a fantastic job of circulating air and evening out both cooling and heating. In this case, you are actually using a bit more energy to save a ton of energy over the long term. Not only will your air conditioning and furnace run less frequently, your home will likely be for more pleasant and you can enjoy lower electric bills, as well.

When most people think of greening their home, they think of massive projects like installing solar panels, when, in reality, living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle begins with the smallest improvements. If you can spend a few dollars on greening your home, however, the above energy conservation tips are a great place to start.