Green Renewable Energy

An organic garden brings a vibrant and colourful touch to any eco home. But instead of just the run of the mill vegie patch out the back, having a garden professionally conceived by a landscape architect can add a unique aspect that highlights your own green passion.

“Landscape architecture is a combination of science and art,” says landscape architect Steve Batley from Sydney Organic Gardens. To Batley, the process of designing a sustainable garden for an eco home involves a world of creativity while employing good practical design that works with nature.

A well designed garden is a living ecosystem that encourages animals and people to interact with nature. Children love connecting with the earth and gardening is a great way to teach them to cherish the environment.

Here are some handy tips to consider for your own organic garden:

Eco Home Tip #12 - Save water - Use Organic water wise plants that are native to the area. Water tanks are also great water saving devices.

Eco Home Tip # 13 - Organic smorgasbord - Mix in your vegies with native plants. Including edibles with native plants is “good for pest management,” says Batley.

Eco Home Tip #14 - Passive solar for the greens - consider passive solar principles in your garden. Make the most of sunnier areas for plants, while shady spots are great for benches and relaxing.

Eco Home Tip #15 - Farmer knows best - Farmers periodically rotate their crops to maximise the use of the soil. You can do the same in your vegie patch, try rotating your vegies through different parts of the garden to make the most of the nutrients in the soil.

With the right planning and care, your garden can be the perfect organic haven for both you and native wildlife. Find more great organic gardening tips in the Green Pages Directory - http://www.thegreenpages.com.au

Lighting a home can be a complex task, since a good lighting system can require different lights for different purposes. One of the things that should be considered in a lighting system is what kind of lights to use around the outside of the home. Right now, the homeowner has three choices: incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, and outdoor LED lighting.

Incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs are currently popular inside, but for outdoor lighting, LED lights hold some distinct advantages. If you haven’t heard much about the advantages of LED outdoor lighting, read on and find out what makes these little devices so great.

LED Saves Energy

One of the advantages to LED outdoor lighting is that LEDs require a relatively small amount of wattage to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent or halogen bulb
. Because of this, LEDs are low-energy solutions for lights that may be on for more than a few hours each night.

What this means is that those who are interested in using less electricity for environmental reasons, LED outdoor lighting will be the solution you’re looking for. And for the rest of us, LED outdoor lighting translates to lower energy bills.

LED Runs Cooler

Another distinct advantage to LED outdoor lighting is that while other kinds of bulbs produce heat energy as well as light energy, LED outdoor lighting only produces light, which means bulbs remain cool to the touch. This makes it safer to put lights in reach of little hands, for households with children. It also means that these lights are ideal for applications such as landscape lighting, where placing light bulbs that run hot near plants could spell disaster.

LED Lasts Longer

LED outdoor lighting will last longer than both incandescent and halogen bulbs, which are another strong selling point of these lights. And even better, when these bulbs do start to go, they will simply start to slowly dim, giving a homeowner a heads-up that they need to change their bulbs.

Compare this to incandescent bulbs, which break inside when they burn out, or halogen bulbs, which blink irritatingly as they start to go, and you’ll see that LED outdoor lighting will be better in the long run.

While mentioning the longevity of LED outdoor lighting, it is good to note that because LEDs are manufactured as one solid piece, with no glass or filaments to break, these lights are resistant to shock, vibration, and impact, which makes them hardier than the average lightbulb. So, for a low-energy, low-head, and long-lasting lighting on the outside of your house, turn to LED outdoor lighting.

Wind power is an excellent weapon for fighting climate change because wind generation produces no carbon emissions at all. When you consider that every unit of energy generated by wind, is a unit of energy free of carbon pollution, wind makes sense. Producing just 10 per cent of electricity from renewables could cut carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes a year.

Small wind-electric systems can provide electricity to remote sites, or to houses that are also connected to the utility grid. But the prices! A small turbine can cost $US 2,000! A medium turbine $3,000! A large one can cost $8,500 - and that’s without the rest of the equipment you will need, and installation costs! Although wind systems require some attention, if you build a strong system, following a proven design, wind-electric systems make great economic and environmental sense.

How much FREE electricity will I get? There seems to be a myth that wind power produces little power. Strange, when a 1.8-megawatt turbine produces enough power for 1,000 homes.

More realistically for the DIY wind turbine maker, a small wind turbine, with a rotor diameter of 7 feet (2.1 m), and a swept area of 38.5 square feet (3.6 m2) will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph - 80 KWH! This is enough power for a low-energy home, yacht, or business. A medium sized wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 10 feet (3 m) and a swept area of 79 square feet (7.3 m2) will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph - 130 KWH! This would be suitable for a medium-energy home, business, or school. A large wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 12.5 feet (3.8 m), and a swept area of 120 square feet (11.2 m2), will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph - 230 KWH! This is for big energy consumers. A huge wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 56 feet (17 m), and a swept area of 2,462 square feet (229 m2) will produce, per month, at average wind speeds of 10 mph - 5,060 KWH! These power large farms, very high-energy businesses, villages, islands, and massive heating projects.

Smaller turbines can be built for boats, caravans, cabins, or where only a small amount of electricity is needed. But for significant amounts of energy, you need a large enough rotor, as this is the wind turbine’s ‘energy collector’. When sizing a wind-electric system, you don’t add windmills in as you need them, as you can with solar panels. Because wind is more cost effective as you increase in system size, most people put up only one wind turbine, big enough to significantly slash their electric bills, or to fulfill all of their energy requirements for the foreseeable future.

System Components: The turbine is only one component of a wind-electric system, and very often is not even the most expensive component. You need all of the necessary components to have a functional system. Plan ahead to buy quality components properly matched to each other and to your energy use.

A complete wind-electric system includes: • Turbine—blades + hub = “rotor,” which is the “collector” of the system. • Tower—supports the turbine, getting it up out of the turbulent zone created by trees and buildings, and exposes the turbine to more wind • Wiring and conduit—carries the electricity down the tower and to power-conditioning equipment • Controller/Electronics—controls charging of battery or input to inverter • Batteries—used for storage in off-grid systems or grid-tied systems with battery backup • Inverter—converts direct current (DC) electricity from batteries or rectifier to alternating current (AC) for home use or “storage” on the utility grid • Metering—allows user to understand and manage system operation.
Small wind turbine: needs a controller or inverter, and is suitable for battery less grid-tie or 12, 24, 48 VDC battery charging
Medium sized: needs a controller or inverter, and is used for charging 12, 24, 48 VDC batteries Large: needs controller, dump load, and inverter. Suitable for battery less grid-tie or charging 48 VDC battery.
Huge: suitable for battery less grid-tie

How does a wind turbine actually produce electricity? The rotating blades convert the wind’s kinetic energy into rotation in a shaft. The rotating shaft turns an alternator, which makes electricity. The electricity is transmitted through wiring, down the tower, to batteries, or an inverter. The blades are designed to intercept wind and capture its energy. Most modern wind generators have three blades, to compromise between the highest efficiency possible (one blade) and balance (multiple blades). The blades must turn to face the wind, so a yaw bearing allows the wind turbine to track the winds as they shift direction. A tail directs the rotor into the wind. In small-scale designs, the rotor is connected directly to the shaft of a permanent magnet alternator, which creates Alternating Current. This wild, three-phase electricity means that the voltage and frequency vary continuously with the wind speed. The AC output is used to either charge batteries or feed a grid-synchronous inverter, which turns it to steady, usable Direct Current. In small designs, the rotor is connected to the alternator, eliminating the need for gears. In larger systems, a gearbox is used to increase alternator speed from a slower turning rotor. A governing system limits the rotor rpm and generator output to protect the turbine from high winds. A shutdown mechanism is also useful to stop the machine during an extreme storm, or when you want to service the system. Understanding the Ratings Wind turbine rating is difficult because rated output is pegged to a particular wind speed, and different manufacturers compare different wind speeds to better promote their particular model. To understand the real power of wind, cube its speed. For example, 10 kph of wind, gives 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000 watts. Or, a 10% increase in speed gives a 33% increase in power. This means that very small increases in wind speed create huge increases in power. This also means that a turbine that produces 1,000 watts at a wind speed of 28 mph, might produce only 125 watts at a wind speed of 14 mph - so half the wind produces 1/8 of the power. So ignore the rated peak output of a turbine, and look for the monthly (or annual) energy production you require (from your energy audit), estimated for the average wind speed at your site. After all, long-term energy is what you’re after, not peak output! If, for example, you know your home has 10 mph winds, and you need 400 KWH per month, you know what turbine to build. Knowing a turbine’s swept area may also help you calculate the annual energy output for the wind turbine. Jim Green at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) developed a formula: annual energy output (AEO) in KWH = 0.01328 x rotor diameter (ft.) squared x average wind speed (mph) cubed. Easy!

Getting Started: Consider: Is it your aim to slash your bills, or to be completely independent? Are you going to be stand-alone, or will you still be connected to (and adding into/taking from) the grid? If you’re staying connected to the grid, will your local power company pay you for the electricity you generate?

First you need an energy audit of your home. Go to www.njcleanenergy.com for an accurate home energy audit, and great ideas on saving electricity and money. Sit down with your family, work out how many kilowatt-hours you all use, and find out where the waste is. But be realistic, reasonable, and think laterally. Just because you are now horrified at how much electricity your plasma TV uses, doesn’t mean the kids are never allowed to watch it. You may consider a smaller, more efficient TV for weekly use, and save the plasma for the weekend family movie.

Next, work out your location’s average wind speed, at a website like www.awea.org for the USA. When you know how much energy you need, and how much your wind will provide, you will be able to see the size of turbine you will need.

Now that you have a good idea of what you’re after, check out the DIY Wind Power Kits at EarthEnergyPlus.Com These kits have been selected with the DIY novice in mind, and include all the information you will need to build your own electricity-producing windmill! Detailed lists of the tools, parts, and where to get them. Video instructions you can play over and over. Great back-up from dedicated designers! Build your own wind power system this weekend, then sit back and watch your home-built wind generator turn a summer breeze into FREE electricity!

The environmental movement and the general feeling toward environmental responsibility has been gradually increasing for the past 10 years and has increased dramatically in just that past 4 years. Renewable energy, pollution control, environmental responsibility are all becoming mainstream concepts and goals.

As people become more conscious of the environment and are motivated to save money by using renewable energy by the ailing economy, a new type of lifestyle seems to be emerging; living green. The term “green” is now a mainstream term that indicates environmentally responsible or pollution free, or energy efficient.

Living green or “being green” has become such a high profile issue, that it has actually become a defined lifestyle that for many people living it, feels very good on a number of different levels. Someone who is living green:

Usually spends much less money on utilities, food, and fuel. Being green usually means that one drives a hybrid vehicle, or at least a vehicle that gets superior gas mileage. They don’t spend as much money on gas.

Being green means that one most likely has a renewable energy system in their household such as solar or wind power that saves them an amazing amount of money in electric bills.

Being green feels good because they tend to eat healthier than the average person. Many people living the green lifestyle ear many all natural and organic foods that contain no toxins, preservatives and have little or no saturated fat content. These people are eating significantly healthier than the average person, and in many cases are spending less money on their foods.

The green lifestyle has an emphasis on exercise and outdoor activity. Many people being green have gardens in which they grow their own organic or all natural vegetables to eat. This not only saves money but is a good past time that provides exercise.

In short, being green feels good for health, financial, and social reasons. The green lifestyle is inherently connected to health and well being, so people living green will exercise more and eat healthier. Being green usually means that ones household is as energy efficient as possible, which by definition means that they are saving a ton of money in utility bills.

Being green is a lifestyle choice that has a positive impact on the general environment, which helps give many people a positive sense of purpose that sustains them and gives their lives added meaning. As the economy has grown worse, many people have adopted the green lifestyle out of desperation to save money and to become more efficient.

Many people will pick up the principles of being green for purely financial reasons and will then become enamored with the entire lifestyle and will adopt the idealism of the entire green movement in general. Being green is becoming a powerful force for change in this country, on a social, financial and environmental level. As more and more people adopt the living green lifestyle, the economy and the environment will gradually improve.

After long wait, the supposed energy “crisis” just might force politicians to finally get us off the Middle Eastern tit of oil. I am going to put myself out on a limb here and say that I actually think the high gas prices are a good thing. While they do leave a pain in the wallet of most American families - mine included - the reality is that the way we Americans seem to learn best is through the wallet.

Take cigarettes, for example. When the cost of a pack of cigarettes became so high that buying them became more than a thoughtless expense, the consumer demand for smokes started going down. How many remember all those surgeon general warnings and studies showing that smoking was bad for us? All the warnings in the world weren’t enough to get people to put out their smokes. It wasn’t until the cost started to rise that people finally took notice. The point is that money talks when it comes to getting us to make a change, and I firmly believe that the same holds true when it comes to making an energy change.

It didn’t take the Japanese long to figure out that Americans make decisions with their wallets. That is precisely why they are building more economical automobiles while providing the level of quality American consumers demand. Thanks to the better leadership of Japanese companies and their desire to invest in energy saving technology, a growing number of Americans are making better energy choices with their wallets. While it may take awhile for us to make the transformation from gas to hybrid technology to sensible ethanol, biomass or hydrogen technology for our transportation, there are choices that Americans can already be making right now in their own homes that can help with the “crisis” we are currently facing.

The facts are simple. The vast majority of electricity comes from coal fired plants, followed by natural gas, nuclear and hydroelectric plants. In the future, we can hope that biomass technology will also contribute substantially to electrical production. At present, there are also many wind and solar projects in the works, but there is still a need for a greater amount of change.

Experts agree that most consumers realize global warming is occurring and are at least somewhat aware of the importance of shrinking their carbon footprints
. Most think this involves having solar panels on their house and using fluorescent light bulbs. While both are certainly helpful, getting green power is an easier and more effective step to take.

Unfortunately, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that only 700,000 out of 122.5 million American households are buying green power. While it is true that not all households have access to green energy sources, only about 1.8% of those with access to green energy are participating in these programs. Some areas of the country, such as Palo Alto, California in Silicon Valley, are ahead of the curve when it comes to switching to green energy. In fact, the participating rates in this part of the country are at about 20%. Palo Alto is somewhat of an anomaly in that the city is home to a highly educated affluent populace that is receptive to change and innovation. Nearby Santa Clara also has stellar participating rate of about 8.7%.

But, the real question is why aren’t more people taking advantage of these programs? The answer is simple: many are not aware that they can actually buy green power.

The Green Power Network, which is run by the department of energy, makes it easy for you to see whether or not you can purchase green power through your local utility company. While there is a small premium for choosing green power, most can easily make up for the extra cost by foregoing their daily super latte from the coffee shop.

Currently, 44 states offer green electrical power to their customers. In order to participate in one of these programs, you simply buy and pay for green power from your usual supplier. For most Californians, this would be either Pacific Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison. Your supplier then applies the amount of power you purchase to the grid system.

Most power companies also sell green “renewable energy certificates,” or RECs, separately. RECs represent one megawatt hour( MWh) of renewable energy, which may be produced from solar, wind or other renewable sources. Each MWh you purchase means that one less MWh of the polluting coal variety needs to be produced.

Excluding hydroelectric energy, only about 3% of our nation’s energy currently comes from renewable energy sources. In California, the figure is more like 11% and new legislation mandates that utility companies produce 20% energy of their energy from renewable sources by 2010. As you can imagine, the companies are scrambling to sign contracts with renewable energy producers. The reality is that there may not be enough capacity for them to meet the goal by 2010 but, if you ask me, the goal should be higher and the state should be shooting for having 33% of its energy being from renewable sources by 2020. Now, that is a goal that can make a real difference.

Going green, also known as eco friendly living, is a growing trend around the world. Now more than ever, people are beginning to realize the impact their actions and decisions have on the world around us. Every time we get in a car, ride on a plane, or make a purchase at the grocery store, we know that energy is consumed, greenhouse gasses are created, and landfills get a little fuller. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the vastness of it all, but relax and take a step back. No one of us has to save the world alone. But what we can do is each take a few small steps every day. Small changes make a big difference in the grand scheme of things. With that in mind, we’re going to discuss a few easy things that you can do at home to make a big difference in the world around you.

1. Recycle. Experts agree that recycling is one of the best and easiest ways to make a difference. If every person on the planet recycled, we could reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gasses in a very significant way. Most communities have recycling programs in place already, making it easy to participate. If your city doesn’t, inquire with local officials about starting a program.

2. Don’t throw it away! We have a tendency not to think about items we throw away. They disappear from our sight, so they are out of our minds. But all those things that the garbage truck hauls away every week do have to go somewhere, and that place is a landfill. Landfills are a major cause of greenhouse gasses and ozone depletion. So next time you get ready to throw something away, ask yourself if you could possibly use the item in another way or donate it.

3. Turn off the water. U.S. householdswaste thousands of gallons of water every year. A significant amount of this water goes down the sink while we are brushing our teeth, washing our hair, or soaping up in the shower. Turning off the water during these activities can save a huge amount of water, which not only helps the environment, but also saves you money.

4. Ride your bicycle. For short trips around town, air up the tires and ride your bike. It will save you gas and give you some good exercise. If you don’t have a bicycle, you can walk, ride rollerblades, or even a skateboard.

5. Install low flush toilets and showerheads. This is another way to consume less water in the bathroom. Even better yet, if you’re getting ready to put in a new toilet fixture, look into composting toilets. These fixtures are clean and odorless, and will save you a significant amount of money in water and sewer costs.

While the suggestions above may seem like really small things, don’t underestimate the impact these changes can make. If every person in the United States made a conscious effort today to turn off the water while brushing their teeth or shampooing their hair, think how many millions of gallons of water would be saved! Now multiply that over the course of fifty years, and the result is astronomical. So what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to jump on the going green bandwagon by recycling, saving some water, and using less energy. The environment will benefit, and in many cases, your pocketbook will, too.

Home made windmill

Before all the crude oil will be used up to provide electricity for us, we might as well search for a renewable power resource. A very concrete example is wind power in which the wind generator can easily be installed at your home.

Switching to wind energy as power source is a more environment-friendly and cost-effective choice. A wind-powered house is advised to have solar panels as well for a more efficient combination.

Taking in these steps, you will be able to save the environment, spend little or none in the later part, and combat power outages.

What then are the things that you should consider if you are planning to place a wind generator at your own home?

First, your house should be on a big area. Wind power turbines work best when spread over an acre of land.

Second, check to make sure that the average wind speed in your area is 11 mph. If the winds in your area are intermittent, you can’t run the system efficiently. It is best if you consult an expert about the perfect wind power solution.

The wind turbine does not only produce energy but it has the power to draw water from the outside also.

The wind power generator is perfect if your house needs uninterrupted supply of power. As long as there is wind to turn the turbine, there is electricity.

A common wind power system consists of five blades and one tower. The length of the tower is dependent on your location. Towers need to be shorter when by the beach or loner if you are placed in a low wind zone. The power collected from the wind generator can even be saved for later use. So if you are into the savings and work efficiency, a wind power generator is best for you.