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Wind Power: A Gust of Renewable Energy
In 2006, wind-driven electricity powered almost 3 million households in the United States, and this renewable and plentiful green energy source has enormous potential for more. Large-scale wind farms generally [more…]
Confronting Nonrenewable Resources
Planet Earth has useful but finite resources. Green living means using Earth’s nonrenewable resources as sparingly as possible. Fossil fuels, the energy-rich organic substances traced back to the remains [more…]
Seeing to Energy-Efficient Lighting
Lighting the average home accounts for about one-third of its energy use. You can conserve energy by changing to CFL (compact fluorescent) or LED light bulbs, maximizing sunlight [more…]
Harnessing the Energy of Flowing Water
Hydroelectric power installations harness the energy contained in flowing water to produce electricity. Hydroelectric power is considered a renewable energy source because the water isn’t consumed during [more…]
Digging Deep for Geothermal Energy
One way to draw renewable energy from the earth is to literally draw energy from the earth. Geothermal energy takes advantage of the fact that the deeper you go into the earth’s crust, the warmer things [more…]
Overconsuming: Mother Nature’s Laws of Supply and Demand
Everything you consume comes at a cost to the planet — energy uses finite fossil fuels, even food depletes land, water, and light resources. Living a green lifestyle means looking at the resources you [more…]
Conserving Water at Home
A mere one percent of the planet’s water is drinkable, so conserving this valuable natural resource is vitally important. The easiest way to lower water use is through conservation. And conservation begins [more…]
Keeping Your Refrigerator and Freezer Eco-Friendly
The refrigerator is pretty essential in today’s world, but it doesn’t have to be an energy guzzler or an environmental hazard. Try these strategies for making the most of your fridge [more…]
Creating Energy with Biomass
Biomass is any organic material. Converting biomass to sustainable energy is a carbon-neutral process because, although burning or otherwise processing the material releases carbon, new organic material [more…]
Avoiding Energy Waste with Ovens
It takes a lot of energy to heat up an oven, so anything you do to either reduce or optimize your use of this appliance can help you live a greener lifestyle. These measures are tried-and-true ways to [more…]
Looking to Hydrogen as the Future of Renewable Energy
The potential of hydrogen as an alternative clean energy source, not just for vehicles but also to generate electricity, is still being explored. But because hydrogen can be produced from almost any form [more…]
Understanding Diesel Fuels
Diesel fuel is more efficient than gasoline because it contains 10% more energy per gallon than gasoline. But there are a few kinds of diesel fuel: Just as gasoline is rated by its octane, diesel fuel [more…]
What Is Ethanol?
All cars used to run on the same type of fuel, but now gas stations offer not only unleaded gasoline but alternative fuels, such as ethanol, diesel, biodiesel, and others. Ethanol in particular has started [more…]
Do You Get Enough Wind for a Wind-Energy System?
Analyzing your wind resource (your site's average wind speed, measured in miles per hour) is one of the hardest jobs you face when selecting a wind-electric system; no single method gives you exact numbers [more…]
Verify Energy Claims from Wind Generator Professionals
Many wind generator inventors, manufacturers, and installers make claims about how much energy you can get from their idea or product, but how can you know whether those energy claims are realistic, ambitious [more…]
The Major Parts of a Wind-Energy System
When it comes to power, a wind generator by itself will do absolutely nothing for you. You need a wind-energy system, which consists of most or all of these components: [more…]
Assess Your Energy Usage to Determine Your Wind-Energy Needs
Doing a usage assessment to determine how much energy you need is a vital step toward getting a successful wind-electric system that meets your power expectations. These steps help you calculate how much [more…]
Wind Power For Dummies Cheat Sheet
After you decide that your home is a good candidate for wind power, you need to understand the basic parts of wind-electric systems and how they fit together. In addition, you need to evaluate how much [more…]
Staying Safe when Installing a Photovoltaic System
Installing a photovoltaic (PV) system often means you're working on a roof or other high place and definitely means electricity is involved. PV systems convert solar energy into electricity —and electricity [more…]
Major Components in a Photovoltaic System Design
New to photovoltaic (PV) systems (solar panels)? Haven't a clue what their major components are? Here's your chance to discover what goes into both grid-direct and battery-based PV system designs. [more…]
Designing Photovoltaic Systems: Site-Survey Tips
The best way to prepare to design a photovoltaic (PV) system is to conduct a site survey. This survey helps you get familiar with the client's property so you can better evaluate which location is best [more…]
What Are the Financial Benefits Using Solar Power?
Powering your home with solar energy is about as green as you can go. The benefits to the earth are well known, but there are some financial rewards to replacing traditional carbon-based power with solar [more…]
The Costs of Solar Installation and Upkeep
Going solar requires an upfront expense. When you go solar, you get a good payback on your investment, but you do have to put out cash upfront. Banks have become very selective about loaning; in general [more…]
What Are the Benefits of Solar Power?
Using solar power in your home is inexpensive after the initial start-up costs. It also benefits the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. Here are some more reasons to consider investing in solar [more…]
How to Decrease Your Energy Use
To find out how you can green up your lifestyle and reduce your utility bills, you can inspect your house for leaks. After performing this inspection, you can plug up leaks and reduce your energy cost [more…]
