Go Greener Tips

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Getting home solar electricity is more affordable today than 10 years ago. In fact, many state governments are currently offering tax rebates to persons that choose to convert to home solar electricity. If installing a photovoltaic system to supply your home solar electricity is too far out of your financial abilities, there are also programs available to purchase your utilities from an accredited green energy supplier. Green energy suppliers offer only utilities fueled by renewable resources, such as solar electricity, hydroelectricity and wind generated electricity. However, if you made the decision to switch to solar electricity for your home it is important to determine your electricity needs before you start shopping.

The first thing to determine is how much power you will need from your home solar electricity system. Different arrays and solar panel set-ups offer different wattage outputs. Take the time to determine your average daily electricity usage. You want to achieve a number that includes the entire year and affords for the different amount of energy used during winter and summer months (more lights, heaters, air conditioners).

When shopping for the right photovoltaic system to supply your home solar electricity definitely research the quality of the product. A product offering 13% efficiency and a lifetime warranty will be far more valuable than the panel offering 15% efficiency and a one-year warranty. Ask neighbors, friends and even strangers currently using home solar electricity, to learn more about the differences in systems. Sufficient time should also be spent interviewing installers and researching manufacturers as well.

A final decision needs to be made as to what kind of system you would like to use to supply your home solar electricity. There are generally three types of solar panel systems used to supply home solar electricity. The first type is a grid-tied system in which your solar panels are tied into your current power meter. You are using both electricity supplied by your panels and your supply is then backed by electricity from your electric company. The second available solar panel system for supplying home solar electricity is a grid-tie with battery backup. With this system you are collecting electricity from you panels, filling your batteries for emergencies and then the excess is sent back to the electric company through your meter. The final system is a stand-alone system. Very similar to the grid-tied system with battery backup except that you are completely disconnected or maybe never connected to a major utility provider for your area.

Once you educate yourself on providing your home solar electricity, you are probably ready to start shopping. Remember that converting to home solar electricity is an investment and you will reap the rewards over time. And don’t forget the pride you will have with reducing your carbon footprint by converting to home solar electricity

ENERGY STAR qualified home electronics products help you save energy and money, while protecting the environment. You get all of the features and content you desire, while using less energy. Using less energy preserves energy resources and helps reduce the risks of global warming while saving money on energy bills.

Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

* ENERGY STAR qualified audio products use about 6% less energy than standard models.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution.

By choosing ENERGY STAR, you are helping prevent global warming and promote cleaner air without sacrificing the product quality and performance you expect.

When asked about alternative energy or renewable energy, most people think of solar electricity. Generating electricity from the sun is a technology that everyone knows well. Whether it is your pocket calculator, home, or workshop, regardless of your power needs, solar electricity can get the job done.

Solar electricity has a number of unique advantages over conventional or grid-based electricity. Solar electric systems can be designed for a variety of applications and are extremely beneficial in remote areas where other electric opportunities do not exist. In addition, photovoltaic systems that generate solar electricity have no moving parts therefore requiring minimal maintenance, are easily expandable, and with many smaller units, transportable.

Environmental compatibility is a huge selling point for converting to solar electricity. The fuel for generating solar electricity is a free renewable resource, the sun. Solar electricity offers no noise pollution and actually almost no pollution from their operation. Another appealing factor for many who choose solar electricity over conventional electricity is simply the independence. It is an attractive offer to many rural dwellers to know that when the lights go out due to storms or blackouts, theirs are still working. No longer a slave to waiting on hold to report an outage to find it will be 10 hours before their service will be restored.

The hardest part of converting to solar electricity is the cost of the system. Investing in a solar energy system can be a substantial upfront cost. The value of solar electricity is realized over several years. A professionally installed solar array for an average dwelling (avg. $100/month in electric bills) could pay for itself in 5 years. You could reduce that number by building your own solar panel system or by purchasing a used system. With many solar energy systems in less rural areas and only in some states, you can sell your unused solar electricity back to the electric company. In these situations the return on your investment is realized much more quickly.

Using the power of sun with solar electricity is a benefit to the environment and to your home. Solar electricity is already being used to supplement power for a number of large cities in North America. Take time to learn more about solar electricity and how you can have trade in your electric bill for a carefree life with solar electricityhref=”http://zootown.homemadeen.hop.clickbank.net/”>solar electricity.

The Recycle Guys are in the supermarket helping you learn to minimize the amount of waste your produce in this :30 second video. The Recycle Guys were created by SC DHEC.

We all want to improve our environment, and especially now, we want to be more conscientious of how our actions affect our planet. Taking simple steps in your place of business is no different than making steps at home. It is all a matter of paying attention to what you have and how you will use it or even dispose of it. This is especially true for IT departments that are faced with recycling computers, printers, telephones and other electronic equipment that can be hazardous to the environment.

To start making improvements to your IT department, you may want to create a baseline report demonstrating your current carbon footprint. By starting with a baseline you can then make decisions regarding priorities and cost. In creating your baseline report you can follow these steps:

1. Energy Consumption Report – How much energy does all of the electrical equipment in your department use on an annual basis? You can find industry averages through the Department of Energy.

In addition to the energy consumed when operating the PC, take into account the heating, cooling, and ventilation requirements necessary to operate your network. This can account for a major source of green impact. According to IDC, 48 cents of every dollar spent on a new server goes to power and cooling.

2. Disposal Practices – What are your current hardware disposal practices? Does your organization utilize a certified PC recycler, who ensures toxic and hazardous materials inside the PC or monitor are disposed of properly? Do you participate in the server manufacturer’s disposal program where parts are returned to them for reuse whenever possible? Account for resale or donation programs as well in your catalog.

3. Hardware Lifecycle and Acquisitions – The final step in creating your baseline is to catalog your acquisition and PC lifecycle practices. Understanding the average lifespan of a PC in your organization will help to determine how to consider the environmental impact of manufacturing a PC. Note the average refresh cycle of your organization’s desktop, as well as the current lifespan of servers. Include any significant upgrade or replacement plans in the next 12 to 24 months. In this step also take note of any consideration your organization gives to green manufacturing practices during the purchasing process.

Once you have created your baseline report, you can begin to outline objectives on how to improve your department. On objective may be to replace desktop units with those that operate with more energy efficiency. In the past IT has been faced with an either-or decision regarding PC power management.

Desktop managers needed access to networked PCs for general maintenance and urgent security updates. Inconsistencies between
operating systems and software applications or network security issues made waking machines from a lower power setting such as sleep or hibernate inconsistent and unreliable. Conservative estimates put wasted energy consumption of unused computers at a third of the overall consumption.

Second, ensuring proper disposal and recycling of the insides of your IT hardware is an important environmental tactic. More than
1,000 chemicals used during electronics production are considered health hazards or toxins. According to a recent e-Week article, these toxins, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and other illnesses.

Third, using battery free or rechargeable batteries in your mice can also help with this disposal problem. Each year, Americans throw away 84,000 tons of alkaline batteries. These AA, C and D cells that power electronic toys and games, portable audio equipment and a wide range of other gadgets comprise 20% of the household hazardous materials present around the country in America’s landfills.

Last, reviewing your current recycle and disposal program to ensure that all recyclable parts are returned to the manufacturer, and that equipment bound for disposal is not sent to countries with less-stringent regulation is another green strategy that has significant impact and is easy to implement.

Any of the above steps or objectives along with objectives you might discover that will help your IT department become more environmentally conscientious will be of help, no matter how large or small. It just starts with a plan.

Many homeowners today are looking into integrating green energy sources for developing more energy efficient homes and businesses. A green energy source is power generated through renewable resources, such as the sun, wind and water. The other benefit of green energy sources is their low contribution to global warming, pollution and other environmental issues.

The most popular of green energy sources is the sun. Energy captured from the sun is called solar energy. Of the green energy sources, solar energy is the most popular because it offers multiple options for use. It is possible to harness electrical energy from the sun using solar panels consisting of photovoltaic cells that convert energy from the sun into electricity you can use in your home or business. There are also solar hot water collectors that use the heat of the sun to produce hot water. These solar green energy sources are readily available and increasing in popularity as most homes and businesses can have them mounted on their roof and they can take advantage of lowered utility costs.

The most efficient of green energy sources is wind. Wind has been used to power water pumps for centuries, but has grown in popularity as a way to supplement home and business electricity needs. Wind is the safest and cleanest of the green energy sources as it produces no pollutants and does not contribute to global warming. Wind energy is harnessed by erecting a turbine that spins in the breeze generating electricity. Unlike the sun, which can be found almost anywhere, in order to utilize wind as a green energy source, you must live in an area where wind is readily available.

Water is also a viable participant of green energy sources. Water is less widely used as a green energy source for homes, as not all homes have an available stream to produce the needed electricity. The Amish have used water to power entire shops using conveyer belt systems, so it is an old practice, but it is still being used successfully today. As with solar and wind energy, energy harnessed from moving water is almost completely pollutant free and is generated from a renewable resource.

Green energy sources are available for use to combat global warming, our dependence on fossil fuels and to lower our monthly budget. Investing in green energy sources for your home and business needs can add dollars to your wallet and years to the life of our Earth.

Norma Connolly looks at efforts by inventor Lucien Gambarota and California Fitness to help make the gym become more environmentally friendly. Mr Gambarota has modified cardio machines at California Fitness, with the aim of turning energy that goes into burning calories into real energy that can be used to power lights and other electricity consuming devices.