Off Grid For Life

Renewable energy is made from resources that Mother Nature will replace, like wind, water and sunshine. It is also being called “clean energy” or “green power” because it doesn’t pollute the air or the water. It a power source that is not limited, as fossil fuels are.

Renewable energy is considered a very important solution to a problem that has{readmore}grown out of control worldwide. It has been determined to be a clean alternative energy source.

Renewable energy is ready for a global takeoff, and has become the answer for a better tomorrow.

Renewable energy is a broad category of sources that draws from the energy around us naturally. Renewable energy is seen as one of the important components of climate change solution. It is astounding that so much of the worlds fossil fuels have been depleted, and that renewable energy is just now be sought as a viable alternative.

Renewable energy is the main component of eco-energy planning. It is available in a variety of methods of use, which can reduce energy consumption, preclude energy utilization and eliminate our dependence on non-renewable energy sources.

Renewable energy is produced from continuously available natural processes that do not involve the consumption of exhaustible resources such as fossil fuels. Renewable energy is also called “clean energy” or “green power” because it doesn’t pollute the air or the water.

Renewable energy is used for electricity generation, heat in industrial processes, heating and cooling buildings, and transportation fuels. It is assisting America in meeting its energy needs. Renewable energy effectively utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy systems encompass a broad and diverse array of technologies, and the current status of these can vary considerably.

Renewable energy power generated from the nearly infinite elements of nature such as sunshine, wind, the movement of water, the internal heat of the Earth, and the combustion of replenishable crops is very popular with the public and governmental officials because it is an unlimited and environmentally gentle source of power, particularly compared with the supposedly limited and environmentally challenging alternative of reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Renewable energy can help the United States rely on domestic sources of energy, which will eventually eliminate our need for oil or slow the growth of our consumption. Renewable energy can meet our energy requirements while decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable energy can provide significant opportunities for developing countries and rural areas as well as in industrialized countries.



By: David Tanguay

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With the world’s continuing saga of economic crisis, diminishing non-renewable resources, and environmental degradation, it is but imperative to look for means to sustain life through more effective methods of acquiring energy. One such possibility is the utilization of solar/wind energy, aka off grid energy. Apart of being an essential component in the sustenance of life, solar energy refers to the light and radiant heat emitted by the sun. Forever present, that energy can be collected, converted and used to heat the water in your house as well as produce the light and all the electric power you need. Not only that, but by converting the power of the sun into energy we save a great amount of money and gradually get rid of our addiction to oil, coal and other substances that contaminate the environment. Now we live off the grid

Simply put, Living off the Grid means living in a house, or any other dwelling, that is not connected to the electricity grid. One can achieve that by simple means such as burning wood to heat and cook or by, as sophisticated as, producing one’s own energy by harnessing the power of the sun and/or wind. The energy produced by the sun and/or wind can be then stored in batteries. The number of batteries is dependent on the amount of storage capacity that is needed. The more energy you consume the more batteries you will need to store the energy produced.

A number of technologies have benefited from the utilization of the solar energy and since it is one of the resources that account for most of the available flow of earth’s renewable energy, solar energy technologies provide electrical generation by heat engine or photovoltaic means, space heating and cooling, potable water via distillation and disinfection, water heating, thermal energy for cooking and more. The use of solar energy has been proven extremely valuable not only for many industries, but also for use in our homes.

Living off grid is economical, practical and most of all it is the one thing most of us can do to help save the environment. Imagine how, even more, wonderful life will be if you could begin to produce your own energy.

There are different ways by which you can begin to do so: If you can afford it, you can hire a company to build for you a solar/wind System that will do the job. (Count on spending several thousands of dollars). A better, less expensive, way is to do what thousands of people from all over the globe have been doing lately…build your own. Yes, nowadays there are some excellent DIY, (Do-It-Yourself) kits that will guide you, step-by-step on how to build your own solar panels and how to build your own wind generators. And like a magic, in a matter of days, you will finally be able to actually fire your utility company and taste the sweetness of Living Off Grid.

You can learn about two of the best kits available by visiting: http://ProduceOwnEnergy.com/Review



By: D. More

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Making your own power and living off the grid is actually much easier than most people think. For some reason just the promt at the mere idea of an undertaking of such a project seems to imply complexities to most. There are several methods for creating off grid energy all of which are very easy to implement. The only really important component is the power source itself. Important and very necessary. The methods that will be discussed in this article uses the wind and the sun as the power sources. These power sources are considered renewable power sources because they are continuous and everlasting and don’t need any type of interaction from man to work.

The most common type of sun activated energy source is very familiar to most people. Solar energy is the energy source being referred to. Solar energy is created from photovoltiac cells which are activated when the sun’s rays are directly on them. Each one of these cells producess very little energy alone and would do very little by way of making enough energy to power a home, however when many of them are grouped together, making up what is better known as solar panels, the energy created is astounding and creates enough energy to power appliances, lights, and just about anything else that a home owner or outdoorsman wishes to operate. Solar panels while are expensive if purchased from a retail store are not all that difficult to build at home and at a very small fraction of the cost of retail solar panels.

The second energy source is wind energy. Wind energy is the most popular type of renewable energy and it is used to turn a propeller which activates a generator that creates electricity much in the very same way as an automobile creates power to keep it’s battery charged. In order to use this method in a living off the grid setting the generator is mounted 50-60 feet off the ground for the best results inside a shell with a propeller on it’s exterior to catch the wind. A wind generator is not at all complicated to make and instructions on what you need for parts and how to figure out  out just what you’ll need comes with kit plans. The parts for generators are few and are easy to come by. The entire procedure may take an average person a couple of days to do after all parts are rounded up with most set ups.

For the novice or anyone, for that matter, who wishes to build their own homemade wind generator to start producing their own off the grid energy there are plans available that are very specific that  also have easy to read text tutorials and or video tutorials that will allow you to build your own generator. Usually there is some type of support in place to ensure that your build goes without a hitch. Living off the grid energy is fast becoming the way of the future for powering homes and large factories too. It is a great way to help the environment, save tremendously on power bills, gives home owners incentives like tax breaks by way of tax credits and rebates, and they are a good way to increase property value.

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By: Donald Whitehead

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These days we are experiencing a growing awareness to the fact that our energy resources, as they have been used in the last few years, are probably not going to last for long and that the energy markets are exposed to more and more rapid changes, some due to political reasons and others because of the changing climate of the planet.

Solar energy is a renewable free source of energy which is sustainable as it is not inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels which are finite. It is also a non-polluting source of energy and it does not emit any greenhouse gases when producing electricity. The solar electricity that is produced can supplement your entire or partial energy consumption. Using solar energy means reducing your energy bills and saving money. Also having solar PV panels adds value to your home, they are low maintenance and unobtrusive. Germany is the global leader for solar-generated electricity.

Why choose solar energy?

Australia is the luckiest country in the world. Our geography gives us the opportunity to use the most natural, sustainable and clean energy in our homes – the energy from the sun.

Solar thermal applications are the most widely used category of solar energy technology. These technologies use heat from the sun for water and space heating, ventilation, and many other applications.

Solar energy is not a new concept, it has been properly introduced to the global public many years ago and successfully implemented in different parts of the world in different ways, so we can say that solar energy is known to most people, but it is still not as popular as it should be, as a cheap replacement for other sources of energy. The energy of the sun, from its direct sun rays that are projected directly at the earth or by giant wind turbines are free fro us to use, to manipulate for our needs, and this can be done by almost anyone in any place, it just needs to technology and the know-how.



By: Energy Matters

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To many people, the differences between “alternative energy,” “renewable energy,” and “clean energy,” might not be obvious. But each term is unique and has its own individual definition. These three terms are not all exactly the same.

Alternative Energy

When we speak of alternative energy, we refer to sources of usable energy that can replace conventional energy sources (usually, without undesirable side effects). The term “alternative energy” is typically used to refer to sources of energy other than nuclear energy or fossil fuels.

Throughout the course of history, “alternative energy” has referred to different things. There was a time when nuclear energy was considered an alternative to conventional energy, and was therefore called “alternative energy.” But times have changed.

These days, a form of “alternative energy” might also be renewable energy, or clean energy, or both. The terms are often interchangeable, but definitely not the same.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is any type of energy which comes from renewable natural resources, such as wind, rain, sunlight, geothermal heat, and tides. It is referred to as “renewable” because it doesn’t run out. You can always get more of it.

People have begun to turn to this type of energy due to the rising oil prices, and the prospect that we might one day deplete available sources of fossil fuels, as well as due to concerns about the adverse effects that our conventional energy sources have on the environment.

Of all the different types of renewable energy, wind power is one which is growing in its use. The number of users who have some form of wind power installed has increased, with the current worldwide capacity being about 100 GW.

Clean Energy

“Clean energy” is simply any form of energy which is created with clean, harmless, and non-polluting methods.

Most renewable energy sources are also clean energy sources. But not all.

One such example is geothermal power. It may be a renewable energy source, but some geothermal energy processes can be harmful to the environment. Therefore, this is not always a clean energy. However there are also other forms of geothermal energy which are harmless and clean.

Clean energy makes the less impact on the environment than our current conventional energy sources do. It creates an insignificant amount of carbon dioxide, and its use can reduce the speed of global warming – or global pollution.

As you can see, alternative energy, renewable energy, and clean energy are very similar. But it is important to know that there are differences.

There are many actions which can be taken, to help reduce the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Some of these steps can be taken in your own home. Many clean energy solutions can can be easily installed, and some kits are quite affordable.

Carbon emissions and other forms of pollution are not only created by heavy industrial factories. They are created in the common household as well. Energy efficiency has become an important aspect of our lives.

It’s important to start making changes now; if we want to save our planet for our children, for the flora and fauna of the Earth, and for the future of mankind. Clean energy, to be exact, can make a big difference.



By: Anna

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As new concepts and theories for residential energy production emerge, many sceptics voice their opinions claiming these new ideas simply don’t life up to the hype. Solar power is one such idea which has generated a considerable amount of cynicism.

With this article I aim to shed some light on some of the common misconceptions regarding the use of solar roof panels as a viable means of residential energy production.

“Solar panels will take too long to pay for themselves”

Year after year we are seeing our energy bills going up by ever increasing percentages. The promise of cheaper fuel bills from nuclear power never came to fruition so the need to consider renewable energy sources such as solar power is now a viable alternative. In the current economic climate, investment in cheaper bills for the future is a sound financial idea as remaining reliant on non-renewable energy sources such as coal, gas and oil can only become more expensive as they become scarcer and therefore more expensive.

On average UK homes consume around 3000 units of electricity each year and typical solar energy panels will produce around 1500 units each year (estimated average under UK conditions) which is half of the average yearly consumption. It’s difficult to state exactly how long it would take for residential solar panels to pay for themselves as many variables are involved. These variables include the initial cost of each solar panel, the type of installation plus the cost of installing the system, the price your electricity supplier charges and whether or not your energy supplier will pay you for any extra units which are fed back in to the grid. It is also worth checking with your local council as many grants are available which could cover up to 50% of the cost of installing home solar panels. What we do know is that non-renewable energy prices will continue to rise. It is no longer a question of ‘can I afford solar panels?’ It’s more a question of ‘can I afford to not have solar panels?’

“Britain is not sunny enough”

This is a common false statement regarding the use of solar panels in the UK. Most people assume solar energy panels need direct sunlight in order to function. In actual fact they only require light from any source rather than direct sunlight as they absorb the electromagnetic radiation found in photons. This means that a solar roof panel will even work at night by absorbing photons from star light and street lighting; however, this happens on such a minimal scale you’d never notice. The output of each solar panel is considerably higher on sunnier days as strength of light (or the shear amount of photons) is a major factor, as is the angle the solar panel to the sun.

“Solar panels are useless during the short winter days”

Although there is some truth to this statement, residential solar panels are far from useless during the winter months. The daylight hours are significantly shorter meaning each solar panel will generate less power over the course of a full day. The truth of the matter is that hour for hour; each solar energy panel is on average equally as efficient as it would be throughout the summer. Prior to the installation of solar panels one should consider how much sun light will be hitting their solar panels during the winter months. Your roof may be in the shadow of nearby trees or a chimney stack may reduce the efficiency of the solar panels by leaving all or part of the solar panel in permanent shade whilst the sun is lower in the sky.

“If I don’t generate enough solar power, I’ll have no electricity”

This simply is not the case. Your home will still be connected to the national grid, so anytime you need more electricity than the solar panels are providing, you’ll get it as normal from the mains. It is unlikely that a household will be able to produce 100% of it’s electricity as a result of installing solar roof panels as we have become far to reliant on electrical appliances. Saying that, it has been proven in the past that once a household begins generating its own electricity using solar panels, its occupants become far more conscious of the way in which they use it and day by day will use far less electricity.

“It takes more energy to manufacture a solar panel than it will ever put out”

The energy payback of solar panels varies depending on which type of solar panel is fitted. Currently, the microcrystalline-silicon solar panels have an estimated energy payback of less than 4 years where as the ‘thin-film’ solar panels have an energy payback of around 3 years. Future developments in renewable solar energy coupled with increased production are expected to halve the energy payback time of both microcrystalline-silicon PV solar panels and thin-film solar panels.

“Modern solar panels are still not efficient”

Solar energy has come along leaps and bounds since the development in the production of the first practical solar cells in the 1950’s. These had a sunlight energy conversion efficiency of around 6%. By the late 1980’s scientists had developed solar cells with an efficiency of 17%. By 2000 solar cells had an efficiency of 24%, rising to 26% in 2002, 28% in 2005 and 30% by 2007. Increased efficiency coupled with lower production costs means residential solar energy systems are cheaper and more efficient than ever before.

You may ask yourself one question regarding the above figures, “If solar panels are getting more efficient and cheaper year after year, maybe I should wait a few more years?” Although there is some logic to this idea, the truth of the matter is waiting a few extra years could well prove to be a false economy. At the moment the British government are offering a variety of grants to financially assist those seeking to run a greener home, including the installation of domestic solar panels which could save you up to 50% of the installation costs. Government grants like this may not be available a few years down the line.



By: PXR5

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Solar energy can be used to create electricity, central heating, heated water, cooking, and even for producing salt desalination. Solar energy comes from the suns rays. Solar energy is known to be very environmentally friendly. However, when the suns rays move into the earths atmosphere it is quite dilute.

Although solar energy is known to be very environmentally favorable it does not only have advantages, but some disadvantages, as well. Lets hash out some of the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.

Why don’t we start with the main advantage of solar energy. Solar energy is clean. To develop electricity or heat with solar energy you need only the sun rays. There is no need for fossil fuel in conjunction with sun rays to produce electricity or heating. You simply need a solar energy collector or solar power panels in order to collect the suns solar energy.

Solar energy is less expensive than traditional electric heating. That’s another prime reward of solar energy. Just by utilizing solar energy you can save a lot of money on heating. In return you will realize smaller electric bills and it also means that you dont have to maintain heaters or furnaces.

If you live in a rural area where there are no power-lines solar energy can be your solution. There are rural areas where power companies have no means to access your home. Solar energy is a great alternative because it provides you with everything from heating water, a supply of electricity, and even cooking, and that pretty well covers all of the bases.

Another great use of solar energy is for desalination in regions where fresh, potable water is scarce. Solar energy evaporates brine and leaves the salt crystals in the bottom of the basin. The water in turn condenses into another basin where it is now potable.

While all of the above-mentioned is very useful, solar energy does have some disadvantages. These disadvantages also need to be talked over to paint a complete picture.

The main disadvantage of solar energy is that its dilute. Which means that you need to have a bunch of solar collectors installed around your house. Solar energy may be very cheap but the solar collectors are relatively expensive and require regular upkeep in order to work properly and efficiently. If you decide to go with solar energy you will need to calculat your return on invested capital in order to know if the investment makes sense.

One big disadvantage is that you need the suns rays to make use of solar energy. If you are situated in a part of the world where there is not much sun light then you could have a bit of a problem. In other parts of the world, the suns rays are almost always covered in clouds making solar energy collectors less efficient. You should first know if the sunshine in your area is abundant for the most part of the year. Of course if you live in desert areas like in Arizona or New Mexico the sun produces a lot of sunshine for the majority of the year and is ideal for solar energy collecting.

Finally the sun only shines during the day. Therefore if you need electricity or hot water during the nighttime, like many of us do, it can be a problem. You will need a backup system like the local electric company or you will need to store the electric for later use. There are battery systems available, that can store electric for later use.

Solar energy is very clean and an substitute to conventional heating and electrical systems. this is true it is also good to mention the disadvantages of solar energy. If you are thinking about applying solar energy you should read this first to make a informed decision.

The advantages of renewable energy definitely outweigh any disadvantages. If you’re like me, and sick and tired of paying electric bills, that just keep doing through the roof, visit us at www.energymoneysavings.com



By: Bob Lindner

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You must be well aware of the word ‘solar system’. Our solar system consists of 9 planets and a sun. The earth on which we are living is a part of solar system. The energy which we receive from sun is called as solar energy. It is taken by the earth in many different forms like it is used by plants to grow, evaporation of water bodies, heating up of air and in several other ways. Solar energy is called as a renewable source of energy as we can never use it fully. When solar energy is used to heat up something then it is called as thermal energy and when it is used to produce electricity then it is called as photovoltaic energy.

 

There are several advantages on solar system which one can avail.  By using solar energy one can easily save a big amount of money. Solar energy is environment friendly also, so by using appliances which work on solar energy you can reduce the percentage of environment pollution. There are several appliances available in the market which runs with the help of solar system. If you want to use solar appliances for saving your time and money, you can visit SolarCellDepot.

 

By visiting SolarCellDepot you can avail the benefit of biggest selection of solar powered appliances. This company can provide you a wide range of appliances which works with the help of our solar system.

 

There are several benefits which one can get by opting for solar powered appliances. Take a look on some of the factors which will insist you to visit SolarCellDepot.

 



Current efficient: these solar powered appliances are very efficient in saving the electric current. As they work on solar energy which they take from the solar system, they can help you in reducing your electricity bills. You can surely notice a change in your electricity bills by opting for these solar appliances.



 



Reliability: this company is very reliable and you can surely rely on the solar products and appliances provided by this company. This company is not new to the market and is in the field of solar powered appliances since a long time.



 



100% customer satisfaction: SolarCellDepot offers complete customer satisfaction guaranty. They have a team of professionals which are always ready to help you in time of need. In addition, they also provide you a sound advice about any of the solar appliance.



 



Wide range of selection: this company has also earned its name for its wide range of selection. They facilitates the customers with almost every solar powered appliance which includes solar ventilators or fans, solar powered battery chargers, solar panels, solar water pumps, solar lights and several other products which works with the help of solar system.



 



Reasonable prices: SolarCellDepot also provides you all these solar appliances at a very reasonable price. You will never feel that you have been cheated or have been caught up in a wrong deal. All you will get from this company is a great deal and a happy face.



 



Instant service: Another advantage that you get while shopping at SolarCellDepot is that to have the pleasure of instant service. You can have all just at the touch of a mouse.



 



By: Vikram kuamr

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Yes you may say but how does solar energy works. Keep reading about how does solar energy works in the following paragraph.

Solar energy can reduce your electric and heating bill by and incredible amount leaving you with the savings to enjoy life a little and save for the future. Solar energy is about a technology that converts the sun energy into electric current with the help of solar panels. The mechanics behind solar energy is the work of the all mighty God; the sun’s incredible energy is produced thanks to the help of hydrogen through nuclear fusion that travels directly to the earth. The receiving solar panels convert the rays into electric current that are stored in batteries.

Heating by solar power is a free way of heating. When you heat using solar power you use a source that will direct the heat from the sunlight during the daytime to your solar source. A solar source is a device that you use to attract and trap the heat from the sun. Just like a car out in the parking lot gets hot when it faces the midday sun and the windows are rolled up. The seats can become very hot, too hot to sit on. These seats are a solar source because they trapped the heat inside and didn’t want to let them go. When this happens the seats will still be warm long after the sun quits shining directly on that car.

Once you understand how solar power works and how solar energy works, we must realize that cleaning up the environment will enable us to take advantage of the sun for solar energy, the thick layer of pollution around our planet puts limitation in the concentration and *********** of sun rays to the earth. How does solar energy works is no mystery to the scientist, solar energy is used around the world and even the space shuttle uses solar energy.

One thing is certain, the benefit of knowing how does solar energy works and how it is used to help people live better around the world, is a positive step in the right direction in the cleaning up of our planet.



By: John Tahan

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You are contributing to a cleaner environment by upgrading to solar generated electricity. You are also taking a step toward energy independence when you begin using solar power in your home.

To better understand solar electric systems and how they work, you first need to understand the technical components making up a residential solar energy system.

New solar rental services are emerging that offer solar power in new and simple ways. There are a number of solar panel rental offers now on the market. They offer energy efficiency in your home, better control and tracking of home power, and make a home’s electricity services more reliable, and renewable.

This article explains, defined, and illustrates the parts and pieces going into a residential solar energy unit.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels

The primary components of a home solar system are the Solar (PV) panels. These panels utilize solar cells to convert sunlight directly into home electricity. A group of solar cells hooked together make a solar panel. A single solar panel can produce 250 watts (w) of electricity when the sun is shining at maximum capacity. The panels then route power through an inverter where a controller determines how to distribute the power throughout your home.

Solar Energy Controller and Inverter

The controller is the device that monitors and manages the distribution of electricity produced by a residential solar energy system. Its capability extends even further by monitoring and managing the flow of energy between the house, the solar (PV) panels & system, and the local utility company. Often these controllers also have the ability to manage secondary storage through the use of batteries for more flexibility and control.

Coupled with the controller is the brains of the operation; the inverter. An inverter is in essence an electronic circuit that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). An inverter allows the 12 or 24 volt DC power produced from solar panels to supply AC power to operate all of the electrical needs around your house.

Solar Array Mounting and Connection Components

Connection components are made up of electrical wiring and the rail mounting structure. Several solar panels are arranged into a grid, secured by a rail mounting device, and connected together to make a solar (PV) array. Electrical wiring is needed to connect the solar panels to the controller, then to your meter box, and then to your utility company via the existing electricity grid. Little additional solar energy equipment is needed, other than the panels, controller and inverters, wiring, and the roof mounting system.

The mounting rail is another simple structure that secures your solar (PV) array to your roof with the little need to drill holes through your singles. It is constructed with sturdy materials and engineering, allowing for quick assembly of the solar panels.

Rental Options for Residential Solar Energy Systems

Homeowners now have the ability to generate electricity right at home in safe, simple, and environmentally conscious way. Residential solar energy systems convert sunlight (i.e. photons) directly into usable home electricity. Residential solar energy systems, now offered to homeowners on a rental basis, provide a new source of reliable electricity and they enhance electric services without expensive investments in solar purchases.

In a future article, we will continue this series related to residential solar energy systems. We will explain in common terms how to measure the power of the sun. One objection often voiced by homeowners researching home solar power relates to the quality of the sunlight.

Is too cloudy? Is it too foggy? How does snow effect solar cell output? We will show how to calculate your sunlight hours and to determine if your part of the country gets adequate sunlight hours to have a solar system make sense.



By: Daniel Stouffer

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