Living Green

Living Green
Feeds for Living Green [Living Greener Lives means no longer living under the control of the major power companies. Use alternative energy resources to save money on your electricity, and living a greener and healthier lifestyle. ]

1. Living Green

Living Green

Alternative Energy Many homeowners are turning towards alternative solutions to meeting their energy needs because of the rising energy costs sweeping the country and the world. Solar power for the home is one way a lot of people are saving money. Having solar power for the home installed may be a very expensive undertaking if performed by an expert. A lot of people, however are not aware that they can put in solar panels by themselves. If you 'do it yourself', you the homeowner, will enjoy all the benefits of solar power without paying installation fees. Living green is more, and easier than you think. Living green is a mindset that let's you explore alternative energy resources, and moving away from slavery of the major energy companies. It is easier than you think to make your own solar panels. You don't have to be either a whiz-kid or an engineer in order to create a solar power system for your home. You can make yourself energy independent with a little patience and free time. Creating and then installing solar power for the home may actually be an entertaining and instructive exercise for youngsters, particularly teens. The big advantage to building and installing your own solar power for the home is that you will save a large amount of money. Some installers will charge thousands to install only a few panels. By implementing a solar system at the very least you will be able to power number of small appliances and save money on your electric bill each month. Small solar panels can be utilized to power appliances for the home like DVD players, TVs, computers, and even coffee makers. If choose to put solar panels on your roof, you can even power your entire house. The only things limiting you are time and creativity! In order to properly build and implement your solar panels, it's important to make sure you have a high quality manual or instructions before you begin. You'll be able to find instructions and diagrams to help you build solar power for your home on numerous websites or in local stores. However, make sure you are purchasing one that is efficient and reputable. There are several different kinds of companies that say they provide solar power for the home guides, however their directions are too convoluted and do not contain real insight. Be certain to invest in good quality instructions; it will definitely pay off in the long run. The materials to make solar power for the home are very reasonably priced. You can purchase lumber, copper wiring and pains of glass from a local hardware store. You can buy the photovoltaic components on their own, either via the internet or from a local store. The short amount of time it takes to build solar power for your home is often the best part. An average person with a little bit of knowledge in building small objects like birdhouses, can build and install a 100-Watt solar panel in less than a day. That solar power will supply sufficient energy to power a small appliance or if you want you can even power tools to build more solar panels. After you construct your personal solar power for the home even on a minor scale, the power conservation starts to accumulate. You can reinvest your cost savings into additional solar panels until you are eventually living off of the grid entirely. Before you begin the process of putting solar power in place you need to decide what kind energy saving results you're looking for. It is best to educate yourself as much as possible and to make a game plan ahead of time. A simple location to begin is in a garden plot or on a patio. These spots make prime candidates because the photovoltaic cells will have the ability to accumulate more energy in the open. You can power lighting or other devices without raising your energy bill. To reiterate, the most crucial notion in constructing home solar power is to have the correct directions, tools, and capability to go through with the idea. You are making a long-term investment for the future. Both the environmental future of the planet and for your own personal well-being. Besides the financial benefits of installing solar power for the home, you will also reap the rewards of thinking ahead. You will sleep well when you know the solar panels can power everyday necessities in the event of a blackout until the power company brings back electricity. Living Green is an economical and cost effective goal. The greener you think, the greener you live, the more money you save! Learn More About Green Living with Solar HERE...

2. Living Greener Lives

Solar energy comes from the sun. A biology class will tell you that in addition to affecting climate and weather, sunlight provides the energy that sustains most life on earth. It also can be harnessed to provide heating, lighting and electricity. Solar power has become a hot topic lately, but this technology is nothing new – Native Americans, people in China and even the early Greeks have historically turned their buildings to the sun for heat.

These early architects were using what is known as passive solar energy. This technique makes the best use of regular building materials to trap heat with no additional mechanical equipment used. Floors, windows and roofs play a role in attracting (or deflecting) the sun's rays.

There are a number of ways to take advantage of solar radiation, starting with the house's placement. Having the house face the equator (we'll assume we're in the Northern Hemisphere, thus the house should face south) means that it gets the day's sunlight. Window orientation is also important – for optimal efficiency, most windows should point within 30 degrees of due south. Maintaining a small percentage of north facing windows will ensure that your home is comfortable year round (and not cooking in the summer).

Rock or stone tile floors and brick walls will absorb the solar radiation and continue to give off heat after the sun is gone. While common windows allow heat to escape, special windows with low-e coating, multiple panes, inert gas fill, and/or insulated frames can reduce heat loss 50 to 75 per cent. By sealing your building envelope and insulating well, you will ensure that the heat stays in the house. It can then be distributed through the house using a regular ceiling fan.

Direct sunlight is not the only important light to think of when considering energy use. By using overall daylight to light a space you can cut down the need for electrical lighting and the heat that's created by it. Artificial lighting has only been the main source of illumination since the 20th century. And using natural light may have added benefits for your physical and mental health. In addition to windows, daylighting makes use of skylights, light pipes (also known as light tubes), atriums, and light shelves to illuminate the interior. This is best considered when building, but with a few small renos your house can be much brighter, naturally!

Passive cooling is another way to cut your bills and become more energy efficient. This is especially useful in warmer climates, where air conditioning can be a major power consumer. Passive cooling refers to using things for shading, to absorb the heat, and goes hand in hand with passive solar energy. It can be accomplished using exterior landscaping choices – trees and other vegetation – or interior/exterior building options, such as shades, blinds or special glazing on windows.

Whether you are building a new home, looking at doing some renovations or just want to cut your energy bill, passive solar energy and cooling techniques are an easy way to incorporated green ideas into your home. With the rising interest in environmental issues, they make an excellent selling feature and they'll save you money.

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