In the home town forum where I live the locals are debating this topic hot and heavy. Both sides show documentation to prove their side of the story and both sides have their share of highly intelligent individuals. Both sides also seem to have their share of well…not so intelligent ones as well. It does make for interesting reading sometimes though.

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Whether or not you believe global warming and or climate change is real or not does not really concern me. What bothers me is that from what I can gather the ones that think it is all a hoax could care less that we are polluting our planet and wiping out tremendous amounts wild spaces. It doesn’t take a lot of research to find out that we are cutting down the rain forest at an alarming rate and polluting our atmosphere just as fast.

Is seems to me that these people that think all of this global warming business is nonsense are continuing to push against green energy programs. Like it or not green energy is the future for our planet. Fossil fuels will indeed run out one of these days and only sustainable energy fuels will be left.

I have a hard time understanding why anyone would push against things so hard that seem to have so much value. I take breathing clean air very seriously. I suffer from asthma and I know first hand what it feels like to not breath well…it sucks.

Green living is slowly catching on and more and more people are trying do their part. Many are finding out that living the green lifestyle saves them a lot of money. Many households are now completely off the power grid and rely on solar and wind power for their electricity. Many more use these two power sources just in part to help lower their monthly power bill.

Myself I build solar panels as a hobby. It is a very fascinating and rewarding hobby. I am even thinking of possibly turning my hobby into a part-time business. So no…I really don’t care if climate change is a hoax or not. But I think we should be doing more to insure the health of our planet just because it is the right thing to do. Our children’s children and all those that come after them will be very thankful.

You might also like…

http://scienceray.com/technology/green-collar-jobs/

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http://scienceray.com/technology/going-green-2/

In 2009, a total of 3042 TWh of electricity consumption in Europe, about 608 TWh (19.9%) were produced from renewable sources. But in terms of new installed power capacity, the percentage rises to 62%. These are the two main data contained in the report “2010 Renewable Energy Snapshots”, written by “Joint Research Centre” of the European Commission.

According to the report, in absolute terms, the greatest contribution was that of hydroelectric energy source (11.6% of total), followed by wind (4.2%), biomass (3.5%) and solar ( 0.4 %).

In terms of new installed capacity, equal to approximately 27.5 GW, 37.1% consists of wind energy, photovoltaic 21%, 2.1% from biomass, 1.4% from hydro power, solar 0.4% , and the remaining coal plants, gas, oil and nuclear waste burning.

If in the future will maintain current growth rates, according to a report in 2020 will be generated from renewable sources up to 1400 TWh of electricity, can be satisfied approximately 35-40% of total electricity consumption of the European Union.

One of the fundamental concepts of Pico Turbine can say: Tell me and I forget. Show me and I could remember some of them. Involve me and I love it. On the basis of that old saying has kits, the company is working with business proposals to meet young people in situations of learning are successful. A proposal of the company is to show how heat by wind power (a specialty of the company can be manufactured) by using a cable “picture” of the heating element. Pico Turbine found that most people think that wind power is to be “cold” energy, and to see a pleasant surprise, as the wind can be used to produce heat in the house. Another project proposal, the company offers is that various groups were separated in the class and then compare their respective wind turbines that have been built. You can see that most, or at least electricity, starting to produce with the need for less wind, and the very young, they are aesthetically attractive.

There is a common core of teachers who Pico Turbine spirit to awaken in their students. Renewable and alternative energy sources, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass and wind energy. If we have more alternative energy sources, reducing our countries dependence on the supply of foreign oil, often from countries that are not really as our “allies” can be. Alternative energy is already cost-effective compared to fossil fuel dependent, are the present day.

Pico Turbine notes that wind farms and solar plants are already disappointing their makers enjoy commercial success. Increased in the past two decades, the cost of photovoltaic cells, expressed in terms of per watt of about $ 1,000 for only $ 4! It has been predicted by analysts that by the year 2015, which costs only about $ 1 per watt (in current dollars). Students must also be taught about the hidden costs of fossil fuels: pollution and environmental degradation. The air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels has been through studies showed that increasing the frequency of asthma attacks, enhance the effects of allergies and even cause cancer. The switch to green energy and alternative forms would be clean to prevent air pollution and contribute to improving the environment.

And it would be wise to assume that they are not going to fall back down in 2012 either, especially with Smart Grid technology making an appearance.

This is why people are thinking of their future in terms of alternative energy genertion. Even if you are not an eco-warrior out to save the planet, you can still save your wallet from a serious pounding by switching to an alternative energy source like solar or wind power.

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It’s not like it was 20 years ago, solar power is accessible for the everyday household and in recent times, people have discovered ways to create their own solar power systems which are considerably cheaper to assemble and install. Plans are available that show you exactly how to build solar and wind devices and implement these systems in your own home.

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Increasingly, builders and contractors are offering green building options including solar, wind and other alternative energy sources.

One incentive is that it is cleaner for humans, animals and the environment. But, it also makes you more independent and can save you 80 to 100% on your energy bills.

It is easy to see why alternative energy is an increasingly popular choice for homeowners.

It is a dilemma faced in the Netherlands. The small, central European country, is one of the most populated countries in the world with it’s sixteen million inhabitants divided over just 41.528 km² of living space. They are known for their exceptional achievements in battling the elements and securing a below sea level country from the constant threat of the sea. Innovative as they are the Dutch always know how to deal with the elements.

With an increasing global interest in green energy the Dutch are once again tempted into showing of some skill by using the force of nature as a potential source of energy. Now what do you find the most in a country that is as flat as the great plains and close to the sea? The answer: wind. How do we get energy from the wind? The answer: wind turbines. Lots of wind turbines. Solar energy? No, not in this country with its British-like weather. However, the deception caused by this simple line of argumentation is one of the reasons why the government stopped looking further than wind-induced energy production.

Why does the government invest a huge amount of money (50 billion Euros a year) in wind turbines, while solar energy, even in this country,  has a much greater potential? Let me sketch you what the difference between solar and wind energy means in this country:

The country needs approximately 110 billion kWh each year. With a modern wind turbine providing 7.5 million kWh a year this means you will need 110 billion / 7.5 million = 14667 wind turbines. A wind turbine requires 400m x 400m open space. That’s means 0,16 km2 for each structure. 14667 x 0,16 = 2347 km2 of (cleared) land is required to provide the country with the potential energy of the wind. For solar energy there’s only 368 km2 of cleared land needed and thus seems a much more obvious option for a country that is so populated. But there is more to say about the failure of wind turbines. In the Netherlands, the wind turbines run at an efficiency of only 16% with a government blinded by the potential 100% efficiency. To be pretty straight-forward: 100/16 x 2347 = 14669 km2 of cleared land with 91669 wind turbines on it. There simply is no room for them.

The solution for the limited space problem is to partially move the wind turbines to the sea. The sea where no one is disturbed and where the efficiency is increased due to more wind. But if you want to erect so many offshore wind turbines you will be confronted with the large amount of money such a project will cost. If you compare the investment needed to realize the project plus the long-term investment needed to maintain the offshore structures with the costs of solar energy, you will make an astonishing discovery: Solar energy is cheaper. The initial investment is lower. But that is not the only advantage solar energy has to offer. Since solar energy allows a centralized power station instead of 90000 individual power stations spread over 14669 km2 the costs to maintain a solar power station are significantly lower than those of maintaining the wind turbines.

Everyone can see it. Solar energy is much better for the landscape, the funds to realize the project are more attractive, the time-frame needed to fully supply the Netherlands with green energy is smaller and due to the available space there is a better compatibility between solar energy and this country. The question remains: Why? Why is the government unable to acknowledge they have completely missed the advantages of solar energy?

Let’s start with activist groups like Greenpeace. Since activists only know how to roar – not to think – they have encouraged the government to invest in what appeared to be the most obvious green source of energy. Due to the earlier mentioned ’simple line of argumentation’ they were blindfolded by the illusion of a great compatibility between wind and the Netherlands. After a few sessions of intensive and convincing shouting the Dutch government – as usual – relented. And now we’ve come to the point where the government tries to represent the interests of the activists rather than those of the citizens. Wind turbines are not only built to supply the country with green energy, but also to show the governments’ good intentions towards the activists. It’s a matter of keeping them happy and in order to do so the companies that run and maintain the wind turbines even make sure they keep running in no-wind conditions by adding energy instead of producing it. That is actually the explanation why efficiency is that low. However, by doing so they can keep the activists happy while exploiting their ignorance.

The last reason is mainly an employment issue. Since building and maintaining wind turbines is significantly more labor-intensive than building and maintaining a centralized solar power system there is a great opportunity to involve numerous companies into the project and thus to support them. It sounds good in this time of financial instability. But the only organisation that has the ability to make the country gradually recover from the crisis is the government itself. Since they act as the operator it’s unwise to spend more than absolutely necessary on the green energy projects and wise to avoid an even greater public debt. But the project has already been started and many companies are now involved and started to focus on building and maintaining wind turbines. Companies that are devoted to wind turbines have a great interest in their existence and do everything to prevent wind turbines disappearing from the scene: Nepotism, bribery and deceit included.

The irony of the timing is compounded by the recent calls from public figures in the last election to “drill baby drill” to solve the problem of America’s dependence on foreign oil. The fact that it would take numerous years to see the results of that drilling and that the gains would be offset by increasing demand never seemed to make a dent in the calls for drilling. The appeals to more production solving America’s needs were cynical and intended solely to get votes – oh and to please industry also.

George Will on a Sunday morning show stated that more birds would be killed by wind turbines in a year than by the oil spill. In 2002 a single bird was documented to have been killed by wind power. In the same period, cats killed a thousand birds. It would seem that the excuses for the oil industry have started before we even know how big the disaster is, and still facts are not getting in the way of the industry boosters.

Earth Day and the ecology movement were formed to fight the worst excesses of industry. At the time our environment was seriously degraded, and getting worse all the time. The efforts of the environmentalists got a number of laws passed – doing away with the use of DDT (at least domestically), cleaning up waterways, cutting back on air pollution, etc., b

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

ut now we seem to have taken a giant step backwards. Industry is again trashing our natural environment and the refrain always seems to be “jobs or ecology but not both.” 

Proposals for a greening of America through the use of more sustainable energy, farming techniques, preservation of waterways, and reducing air pollution  have been bouncing around for a while now. We do have enough technology to at least begin to move away from fossil fuels – if Tesla can make electric cars then why cant Ford? Manufacturing, installing and maintaining wind, and solar power would produce a lot of jobs, especially if we require American suppliers for all major parts. Perhaps this disaster can be redeemed somewhat if we use it as a clarion call to change our ways. Right now New Orleans smells like a giant gas station, according to people there. Lets hope we can change before the rest of America smells that way.

United States produces a large amount of geothermal energy. Geothermal Education Center stated, “The United States alone produces 2700 megawatts of electricity from geothermal energy, electricity comparable to burning sixty million barrels of oil each year.” Over the last year, geothermal projects in America grew even further. According to the American-German Business News, “Geothermal power projects grew 46% in 2009.” American-German Business News also stated that geothermal powering is being used by, “include Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nev.; ACT based in Iowa City, Iowa and NASA’s new Ames Research Center in the San Francisco Bay area.” Geothermal is just one alternative power source being produced by America.

United States is also a large producer of hydroelectric power. USGS described the top hydroelectric power generating countries as, “China is the largest producer of hydroelectricity, followed by Canada, Brazil, and the United States.” Currently, the United States produces about 7% of its energy from hydroeclectric power; however, hydroelectric power is still largely untapped. USGS explained that 2/3 of the United States hydroelectric capacity has yet to be tapped.

United States’ geography also makes it ideal for producing wind power. United States contains large mountain ranges that lead down into valleys and plains. Such geography is great for producing large amounts of wind. In fact, one United States city is run exclusively by wind power. Rock Port Missouri is the first United States town to be run completely from wind power. Science Daily reported, “Rock Port Missouri, with a population of just over 1,300 residents, has announced that it is the first 100% wind powered community in the United States.”

Discussion about alternative energy sources is only beginning. As scientists learn more about global warming and dwindling oil supplies, the need for alternative energy sources will only increase. Often, alternative energy discussions turn to developing new sources such as biofuels. However, the discussion should also include fully tapping into current alternative energy sources. Alternative energy sources such as geothermal, hydroelectric power, and wind power are not fully tapped. These sources can make further contributions to ending the global energy crisis.

About the Author:
Bruce Ziebarth is publisher of Home Made Energy Today. A website that helps people build their own home made energy systems. Visit Home Made Energy Today to learn how to break your energy addiction, save money, and our planet.

References
Consumption (most recent) by country. NationMaster.com. Retrieved on March 16, 2010 from http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption
Rock Port, Missouri, First 100 Percent Wind-Powered Community In U.S. Science Daily. Retrieved on March 16, 2010 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715165441.htm
Hydroelectric power water use. USGS. Retrieved on March 16, 2010 from http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html
Geothermal Power Projects Grow 46% in 2009. American-German Business News. Retrieved on March 16, 2010 from http://americangermanbusinessnews.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/geothermal-power-projects-grow-46-in-2009/
Geothermal Energy Facts. Geothermal Education Office. Retrieved on March 16, 2010 from http://www.geothermal.marin.org/pwrheat.html#Q8

You will be able to make the money, but also be happy knowing that you are able to help the economy. If you are able to rely less on the natural resources of oil, gas, and coal you will be able to find nuclear power. You will find many advantages of nature, but you can find other natural ways to help power energy.

You will want to use some alternative energy for your home or business so that you can be able to lower your heating and electrical bills. Because you are forced to use less electricity from major power plants, generating your own through the use of do-it-yourself kits in your home or professional installed devices in your business or office can save you a bundle.

You may find a lot of start up fees and maintain fees, but you will be able to use the resources and soon they will begin to pay off. You can use alternative energy for lighting, heating, and a variety of other electrical needs. Research this topic further to find out if alternative energy sources in your home are right for you.

For those in the Midwest, alternative resources are plentiful. As wind technology is being researched further, the government and other organizations need land on which to build windmills. When it comes to the windmills, you will find that the government will pay for you to rent them the land and you’ll be able to use most of your other land, since they don’t take much of your land up.

Windmills are just one of the many projects that the government is funding, however, you will find that the electric companies and other resource companies are starting to come up with their own plans as well. Overall, this is good for the community.

Not only is the environment healthier, but you have more jobs available for everyone in the community, and better electricity options at a lower cost. Did you know that for every windmill that is made, there are two or three jobs created to maintain them?  This can benefit the lower classes greatly.

However, you will want to use these alternative energies so that you can put some money into your pockets, but so that you can help do a greater good for the community. You will find that by supporting this research or development, you will be able to make a better future for all Americans. You will want to learn more about this alternative energy options and you will also want to contact your local government so that you can show them your support.

Solar:

The key to a cleaner world

By Ben K. Wilbur

       Solar is the future; the sun could provide enough energy to fulfill the energy needs of the ever-growing world with tons to spare. All life depends on the sun, without it the plants would die all the other animals would no longer have a source of food, nor oxygen. And yet, we could still provide all the energy we could possibly need.

          How much energy do we get from the sun? Less than 0.1% of the U.S.’s energy is from solar, and why isn’t that number higher? First, there is very little competition, the solar industry is small and the few solar panel producers keep the prices high. Also, our government doesn’t support this sustainable form of energy. In addition, wind energy while also sustainable, but less efficient, is cheaper and will have to plateau before solar gets the spotlight. Fossil fuels are obviously an obstacle, but they will in all likelihood, run out eventually.

          Photovoltaic solar energy is the most commonly referred to type of solar. It works in a simple in concept, but complex and expensive to make. When photons, or light particles, hit the silicon on the panels it pushes electrons from silicon molecule to silicon molecule, thus creating flow electricity. Other types of solar use mirrors to concentrate the heat of the sun to heat a substance which then transfers its heat to water. The water turns to steam and turns turbines to generate electricity. Some people run piping onto a sunny area over a black board that reflects the heat so that they have hot water.

          All forms of solar are sustainable and every second we waste drilling for oil and other nonrenewable sources is throwing away a chance to capture the energy constantly put of by the sun.                                                      

The better system they are so terrified of is one that we, each and every one of us control. If we all could produce our own power, fuel, and energy, where oh where would they be? Although this sounds like a pipe dream, maybe you should read this article on some serious truths about renewable power.

Obviously diverting the economy from the big tycoons and turning it over to the population would be catastrophic, at lest for the tycoons. Big oil, gas, and power providers pay their scientists to do everything they can to discourage the use of renewable resources by using lies, deception and deceit. Smugly grinning they push more and more propaganda to the public in the form of deceptive public service announcements and misleading ads exaggerating their efforts to find better cleaner ways to use fossil fuels when the true secret to OUR success is producing what we need on our own.

As for creating technologies that would make your home a power plant, check this site out. This whole house prototype is only one of many technologies in development to insure the demise of fossil fuels and provide a better future for us all.

One concern for many is how to make money from renewable resources. Well lets start with landlords renting out apartments with all utilities included, and not having to pay for the utilities. Not to mention selling power back during months of over production.  Major steps towards this achievement are already underway as shown in this report, and upgrades such as air conditioning and other amenities will be coming soon. Even if all you own is your own home, think about not paying any bills, unless you have a mortgage that is. Lastly wouldn’t it be nice to GET a check from the electric company instead of having to send them one?

The only question that remains is, what are we waiting for. In a world where the population is expanding more rapidly than the planet can accommodate. High rises, apartments and land ownership, not fossil fuels, will be one of the truly profitable ventures of the future.

Necessity has often been named the mother of invention, and it is necessary to change the way we power the world. Every day I read half a dozen articles relating to advancements in the field of renewable resources. Soon new solar panels, more powerful generators, and less expensive systems will be available making the transition away from fossil fuels even more lucrative than it already is.

To bad for all those folks who are depending on us to continue to rob our planet of all its resources so they can continue to fill their pockets and insure the prosperity of themselves and their generation to come. I am sure their efforts to discredit the entire alternate energy field will not only continue but increase in frequency as well. It is their job to insure any transition away from fossil fuels happens as slowly as possible.

I know I certainly would do everything I could to insure my entire way of life was not destroyed and would do everything in my power to hold on to it. You can be sure that no one in the oil, gas or any other industry that depends upon natural resources wants to see us all convert to solar and wind power.

Seriously, if you were selling bacon, would you want to promote turkey because it is better and healthier? NO! Companies that depend on the sale of fossil fuels do a good job of pretending to care about the environment, working on developing alternate fuels and power sources with their propaganda ads and their feigned concern, but the bottom line is if we stop using fossil fuels THEY ALL GO BROKE.

No one is going to help destroy their economic security and anyone who believes differently is simply not very bright. The time to begin converting to renewable power is more than past due. Every day the technologies get better and prices get lower. What is it going to take to get us to start embracing our own financial futures and stop promoting the financial success of those lucky few that control the limited resources of our planet.