Proper Insulation can Help Save Energy

Many households are appalled at their electricity bills, and wish that they could find a way to help reduce their expenses without cutting back on their daily necessities. For example, during hot weather, nobody would want to turn off the air conditioning even if it means energy savings; similarly, in the winter, turning the heater on is a basic given.

Do you know that you can actually realize great savings in energy when your home is properly insulated? Homes are generally already well-insulated to some extent, but there are ways you can make sure you maximize this insulation.

1. First, check your ceiling. Unless you live in the attic or a garage apartment, you will most likely have a good ceiling made of wood. These days, there are Styrofoam ceiling tiles that many people are discovering. These ceiling tiles can be attached directly onto your existing ceiling. Styrofoam is well known to be a better insulator than most materials, so spending a little on this add-on will definitely translate into big savings in the long run. You can even find them in nice designs if you would rather not sacrifice the aesthetic feel of your home. When you have picked your design, you can even opt to install them yourself when you have the right do-it-yourself directions.

2. Check possible entry and exit points around your home. In other words, scour around for holes. This is because these holes will result in the cool air from your air conditioning escaping or the cool air from outside entering your home, putting added pressure on your temperature regulating device. If you find even the slightest gaps between your windowsill and wall, it might be a good idea to fill up the gap with plaster. If you have a broken window pane and are experiencing a draft, it might be a good investment to have that window pane replaced as soon as possible. Likewise, a hole on your roof might irk you when it rains, as you get drips, but it also means air might actually be passing through those holes. As such it is wise to seal them up as soon as possible. A refrigerator that does not seal up properly also works in a similar way of eating up your energy.

3. Ventilation is also closely related to insulation needs: having a few electric fans might give you a much more refreshing feel as it blows the cool air to you instead of just letting it lie dormant. This is especially helpful during hot weather.

These things might seem simple but are actually the most often overlooked aspects of home repair. Now that you understand how critical they are to helping you save energy, you had best get started fixing up these things!

10 Ways To Fortify The Environment For Under $10

America’s beautiful landscape represents the natural brilliance of a nation founded on truth, freedom, and the well-being of all its citizens.

As technology progresses, America’s ecosystem has suffers the greatest toll. Automobiles, industrial parks, and consumer waste have grown in record numbers over the past twenty years. It is essential that we seek to ensure conditions favorable to the renewal of our country’s natural splendor.

Here are ten ways you can fortify your local ecosystem for $10 or less:

1. Don’t litter. It’s just one cigarette butt, pop can, or plastic wrapper out the window – but with over 200 million motorists in America, that can add up to a lot of litter. Repairing existing damage to the environment begins one piece of potential litter at a time.

2. Recycle the basics. Many communities have recycling programs in place, yet some people find it too difficult or time consuming to make use of them. Basics such as aluminum cans or newspapers are easy to sort from the rest of the trash. To locate your community’s recycling pick-up schedule or drop-off locations, see below.

3. Join the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation promotes the preservation and growth of tress, both in national forests and residential settings. A membership is $10 and includes ten free tree seedlings sent by U.S. mail for planting in your yard or community. Donations are also accepted, used for planting trees in America’s national forests affected by fire or insect infestation. Visit the National Arbor Day Foundation web site.

4. Conserve gasoline. Now more than ever, conserving gas should be an easy-to-implement method for both aiding the environment and saving money. Try running errands during a morning or afternoon stroll, or walking to your lunch spot. Not only are the health benefits significant, there is immense natural beauty to be experienced that oftentimes goes unnoticed in the car.

5. Purchase ink-jet or toner refills for your printer. Instead of purchasing new printer cartridges, look for refill kits. Refilling printer cartridges can be significantly cheaper, and require less resources than new cartridges. When purchasing a new ink jet or laser printer, be sure cartridges accept biodegradable inks.

6. Plant a garden. Growing your own fruits and vegetables can be a rewarding, inexpensive experience for yourself and your family. Gardening also saves money at the grocery store, offers fresher produce, and increases the nation’s food supply. If you live in an apartment, consider planting a windowsill herb garden.

7. Participate in Internet banking. Internet banking (and on-line bill payment) is a great way to reduce the amount of monthly paperwork received by U.S. mail. With great progressions in on-line security, Internet banking is a safe, reliable way to review statements and make payments. A free service for many customers, visit your bank’s web site to find out if Internet banking/on-line bill payment is available.

8. Install timers on outdoor lighting. Purchasing and installing timers for outdoor lighting fixtures is an effective, inexpensive way to conserve electricity. Dusk-to-dawn or motion timers will keep your lights from staying lit after daybreak. Timers are also great for indoor lighting and televisions.

9. Replace furnace filters regularly. Although typically a home maintenance reminder, replacing furnace filters every six months can help maintain the efficiency of your furnace, conserving energy. Filters that aren’t changed regularly can become clogged with debris, causing your furnace to operate longer than necessary.

10. Pass this list to a friend. The best way to fortify the environment is to spread of knowledge that will increase efforts to protect it. Share this helpful reminder list with a friend, or e-mail it to colleagues and friends. An increased awareness will ensure America’s future environment is healthy and strong.

Jim D. Ray is a parapsychologist with a diverse background in multiple subject concentrations, including business, psychology and parapsychology, criminal justice, philosophy, education, internet technology, physics, and vocal performance arts.

Wise Choices for Green Living

The increasing concern over helping the environment by cutting down on energy waste has taught people of this generation many helpful habits. This includes being wary about possible exit points of waste energy consumption. Of course, identifying points where your home is losing most of its energy may be a good starting point for living green, but it certainly does not stop there.

Once you have pinpointed these possible causes, prioritizing the issue is an important next step. If you do not know how to proceed, you can ask yourselves the following questions:

1. How much money do you typically pay for energy?
2. Which part of the house incurs the most losses in terms of energy?
3. Can you go about fixing the problem of wasted energy or will you need to hire an expert to fix it for you?
4. How much budget do you have for fixing up these energy wasters?
5. Do you have enough time for the repair and succeeding maintenance?

When you settle these questions in your heart, you will find that there are many ways to reduce electricity use. For example, not only can you learn to conserve on the different parts of your home, you can also opt for small renewable energy systems that can help you make your own electricity and reduce your electricity bill.

Prioritizing green living is not limited to the general, though. Once you have fixed the exit points of lost energy, you can still go a step further and find these tips useful for helping you minimize electricity use in these particular areas:

1. Home Appliances and Electronics

Purchase energy-efficient products and operate them properly. For example, you can turn your refrigerator down while still having it serve you well. Also, make sure that the energy saver mode is turned on. For washing machines, set the water to warm or cold, not hot. Dishwashers also typically come with energy-saving settings; use them. Also use the dishwasher on a full load. When the time comes to replace an old appliance, select the most energy-efficient model.

2. Lighting

Opt for energy-efficient lighting products and operate them efficiently. Alternatively, installing lighting controls such as dimmers can also help reduce energy consumption.

3. Space heating and cooling appliances.

Properly air-sealing your home could spell a tremendous difference in the energy consumption of air conditioners and heaters. Also, learning how to properly ventilate your space can also contribute to the overall effect of air conditioners. For example, many have realized that having an electric fan turned on at the same time can improve the cooling effect without sacrificing electricity costs.

These simple ways allow you to choose the more efficient choices and are a great step towards giving green living high priority on your lifestyle choice. In the long run, this will spell a great savings in your utility bill, and will allow you to say proudly that you live green and are happy about it!

How to Make Recycled Paper

Although there are many pollutants contributing to the problem of global warming, the basic ones are those that even young children can understand and address. This includes the problem of wasted paper, which not only pose a garbage problem but consequently results in more trees being cut down to meet the need for more paper. As such it can be a very rewarding experience to guide young children through the process of making recycled paper so that they can grasp more fully how trees are related to the waste paper problem.

For this project, you will need: used paper, one rectangular wooden frame, a second rectangular wooden frame with screen backing, an electric egg beater, a pail of water, a large basin, blotting cloth, and a heavy weight.

To make the process a way of instilling consciousness of the environment in young children, it would be best if you already started collecting waste paper at least a few weeks in advance. You can compile scrap paper from school assignments that are no longer needed, old newspapers, and table napkins that have been used to wipe down dry areas, among others. Magazines do not work as well because the pages are glossy and are difficult to mesh together for this project. This preparation time can be a great way to hype up the excitement for the project, as they can spend a couple of weekends scouring around the house for possible pieces of paper to use.

You will also need two wooden frames, one of which has a screen backing. If you do not have time to have one made, buying a silkscreen frame can suffice. Make sure the other frame, the one without the screen backing, is slightly smaller, as you will be using it to form the piece of paper.

Step 1. Tear up the used pieces of paper and soak them in the pail of water overnight. Try not to cut them up as the straight cuts of the scissors destroy the fibers. But if you have access to a shredder, shredded paper works best.

Step 2. Use the electric egg beater to mash the soaked paper bits into a pulp. The smoother you make the pulp, the better will be the consistency of your finished product. Remember to clean the egg beater thoroughly after use or else you might find paper bits sticking to your next scrambled eggs.

Step 3. Pour the pulpy mixture into the basin with water. Hold the two wooden frames together, the screen backing meeting the other frame tightly. Submerge them into the basin and bring it back up quickly. You will see the pulp being carried up by the screen. Give the frames a quick shake top to bottom and left to right to settle the pulp pieces.

Step 4. Quickly turn the flat pulp mixture over onto your blotting cloth, and blot behind the screen to transfer the wet sheet. Cover on top with another blotting cloth. Repeat the process until you have set all the pulp into thin sheets, and cover the entire thing with a heavy weight.

Step 5. By the next day or two, you should be able to hang the blotting cloths up to dry, and you can peel off the recycled paper after another day or two. This can make for a great ingredient in crafts project, as little ones will appreciate how the pulp actually formed bonds to form the piece of paper they are now holding!

Eco-Friendly Bathroom Tips

There’s no doubt that the bathroom is where you use and waste the most water. There’s also no question that the most of the soap and shampoo used in the bathroom have harmful effects to the environment. This is not necessary and there are actually many things you can do to convert your bathroom into an eco-friendly one.

First of all, you might want to check the bulbs you are using. If you are still using incandescent bulbs to light your bathroom, you should switch to energy-saving fluorescent today. Unlike incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs allow you to conserve more energy. They are also safer to use since they do not convert their energy into heat and increase your risk for fire. There are many energy-efficient lightings available today that even though with low wattage, can provide enough lighting for your entire bathroom.

You might also want to check your faucets for leaks. Each year, millions of liters of water are wasted due to leaky faucets. The worst part is that it wastes your money to water bill as well. To conserve water in the bathroom, get rid of your old model faucets and replace them with ones that can be turned on and off with the press of a button. If you can afford it, have sensor-activated auto faucets on your sink as well. This way, you will be able to control the amount of water you use since water-conserving faucets are designed to shut off at the instant that you release the button or keep your hands away from the sensor.

Aside from water-conserving faucets, there are also dual-flush toilets that give users the option to flush either solid or liquid waste. With conventional toilets, you can use up to 9 liters of water just for flushing. With dual-flush toilets, though, you only use up 7 liters. Today, more and more people are switching to these new types of toilets simply because of their ability to make a bathroom more environment-friendly.

When it comes to using hygiene products such as soap and shampoo, you have to be aware that these kinds of stuff contain chemicals that can be considered toxic to the environment. Aside from that, some of these chemical contents can also be harmful to your health. Therefore, select your bathroom products carefully and choose only those can be considered nontoxic or natural. When choosing soap or shampoo, pick one that does not contain artificial fragrances and mineral oil. Choose instead those that contain essential oil and other natural ingredients. Take note of the packaging as well, and avoid products that use unnecessary packaging.

It’s very possible to help fight the effects of global warming simply by starting with your bathroom. As you have read, while the task may seem to be intimidating at first glance, it is actually something that can be done by any homeowner. You don’t have to remodel your entire bathroom if you don’t want to, but start with the little things like a simple fixture as a faucet and you will realize that even that can contribute a lot in saving the environment.

Tips to Fight Global Warming in the Workplace

Giant companies are starting to realize the significance of helping fight global warming. They now understand that by saving the environment, they are actually also helping themselves save money in the long-run. Even small offices can join in the campaign against global warming. Since an office is one of the busiest places in the world, it is safe to say that it is a major contributor to global warming. And when offices and small business take the step in helping reduce global warming, a significant change will be seen not only in the environment but also in the businesses themselves. Here are a few simple actions you can take for your office to help save the planet:

1. Consider starting a telecommuting program

Telecommuting is one of the best ways to save on transportation and fuel expenditures. Instead of driving all the way to an office, you can have the option to work from the comfort of your own home or from a comfortable location nearby. Studies suggest that we could save up to 1,200,00 gallons of gasoline if ten percent of the people can work from home even for just once a week.

2. Prefer laptops over desktop computers

Laptops are obviously more energy-efficient than old model desktop computers. According to experts, using laptops instead of desktop computers would help you save up to 70 percent on electricity. Laptops also emit less heat, which means less work for your air-condition.

3. Use real plants as decoration

If you want to put plants as decoration inside the office, you might as well get the real ones. Fake plants may be easier to maintain since they don’t need constant watering and pruning but they don’t have the benefits that live plants provide. Aside from adding beauty to a room, live plants also release oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide at the same time.

4. Give the air-conditioner some time off

The air-conditioner can use a lot of energy in keeping a whole room cool, so if you feel like the temperature is downright freezing, you might want to give the A/C a break. You might not realize it but an increase in the room temperature can help save up to 8 percent of energy per degree.

5. Impose a lights-out rule

Electrical appliances will continue to use energy even when they are turned off but still plugged to the source. Encourage workers to turn off and unplug computers and other appliances when they are not in use. If they will leave the desk for a few minutes, ask them to put the computer in hibernate or sleep mode. This way, you can save both on energy and electrical cost.

It may not seem to be a big deal to most people, but even the little things and the simple steps they take can actually go a long way in the fight to reduce global warming. Demonstrate your concern for the environment by applying these tips in your workplace.

Prince Of The Environment Chills His Palace

Climate change has been a much talked about subject in royal circles since Prince Charles started to use his position to push it up the agenda.

But a new royal has entered the debate, and Monaco's Prince Albert recently joined Prince Charles at his innovative Poundbury village in Dorset.

The significance that it was Charles' 58th birthday wasn't overlooked by a Monaco travel guide, YourMonaco.com

'Since Albert came to power he has made the environment his number one priority. And just as Prince Charles has become known for his views on everything from architecture to climate change, so has Prince Albert. Of course Albert's position isn't as important as Charles' as future King of England, but where he can he tries to champion the environmental cause'.

In April 2006 Prince Albert made a trip to the North Pole to highlight the issue of global warming, and since then has taken part in other initiatives to try and push the environment up the political agenda of fellow world leaders, including involving Monaco more at the United Nations and for the first time calculating the tax haven's GDP, which will allow Monaco to commit money towards developing countries.

'As soon as he came to power he signed Monaco up to the Kyoto Treaty designed to cut the world's greenhouse emissions', add yourmonaco.com, 'and he has established his own foundation to promote better understanding of the issues of the rise in sea levels and quality of water'.

With the threat of rising sea levels, it's easy to see that Monaco could be affected as it sits on the shores of the Mediterranean. The world's second smallest country, and the best known tax haven, Monaco has in the past increased her size by reclaiming land from the sea, resulting in area where the district of Fontvieille now stands, and one of the best known Monaco hotels, the Columbus, is situated.

But there is a danger that by championing the environmental cause that Prince Albert could turn off his people before he turns off the warming of the planet.

'Monaco is home to the world's wealthy', say the travel guide, 'And it's a place of fun. The Monaco Grand Prix, the casino and the fact that it's the most sought after tax haven in Europe might not sit comfortably with heavy politics. Happily the environment is an issue that has moved from the fringe to mainstream, and is something that nearly everyone is concerned about. Luckily for Prince Albert he has identified himself with an issue that is just as important to the tax exiles and business people who bring their money to Monaco as it is to everyone else. In the past Prince Charles has been slightly ridiculed with his views on the environment and organic farming, but now with hindsight a lot of people think he was ahead of his time.'

Referring to Monaco's tax haven status YourMonaco.com add 'Prince Albert needs to be careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Monaco is to start asking businesses in strict confidentiality for finance figures so Monaco can do more at the United Nations and on environmental issues. If he looks down from his palace and sees the wealth surrounding him he might be tempted to tap into it for environmental causes as he believes in it in such a genuine and sincere way. There have been press reports of some of his staff leaving, and if true it can only be hoped that it wasn't over fiscal matters. From the European royal families on environment issues we would view Charles as the king, and hopefully Albert will be the prince!'.

Monte Carlo Map

Prince Albert's father, Prince Rainier, was Europe's longest reigning Monarch until his death in April 2005. Known affectionately as the 'builder prince' he transformed Monaco into the world's favourite tax haven and ensured the Monaco Grand Prix became one of the best known annual sporting events. The Principality Albert succeeded to was a country known throughout the world for money and glamour, and the Monte Carlo casino only added to its legendary status.

Albert has continued in his father's footsteps with a plan to develop an island off Monte Carlo, and like his father with the reclaimed land in Fontvieille the Monaco map will change again.

In keeping with his stance on the environment, it is thought that a successful bid to build the island will need to be seen to be environmentally friendly, with the possibility of lower rise buildings than some parts of Monaco have endured to create more living space.

Monte Carlo has long been associated with glamour, heightened throughout the world in 1956 when Prince Albert's father married his mother, US actress Grace Kelly.

Speculation was rife earlier this year that Prince Albert would be announcing his own engagement to South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.

'Things have gone quiet recently on the Charlene front', comment YourMonaco, 'Monaco is all about glitz and glamour and perhaps a surprise announcement will be made soon. But it's possible that Albert is more interested in environmental affairs than affairs of the heart'.

Monaco has been making the news recently as Monaco real estate prices have escalated, and are on a level with London and New York.

Even the cheapest studios are edging towards the million Euro level according to Monaco property specialists Tribune Properties.

'Increasing taxes elsewhere in Europe, especially in the UK, have seen inquiries increase significantly over the last twelve months,' they say, 'and it's not the weather in Monaco that's drawing buyers, but the income tax free status of being a resident, and the security that goes with living in Monaco. There's one policeman for every one hundred residents and has to be the safest country to live in Europe'.

The 2007 Monaco Grand Prix, the possibility of a royal engagement and Prince Albert's continuing campaign for the environment make the year ahead an exciting one for residents and visitors to Monaco alike.

How to Save Energy while You are Away

You can be in complete control of your carbon footprint when you’re at home, but when you’re going away for a vacation, that could not be the case. However, there are certain things you can do to at least reduce your use of energy while preparing for a long trip. Leave your house without worrying about using up excessive amounts of energy while you’re enjoying a vacation by following these eco-friendly vacation preparation tips:

1. Unplug Unused Appliances

Electrical appliances sap energy whether or not they are turned on as long as they are plugged into the main line. Before leaving for a vacation, make sure you turn off and unplug any appliance and gadget you have at home. In the living room, make sure you unplug the television, DVD player, stereo, computers, printers/scanners, fax machine, and other appliances you might be using there. In the kitchen, unplug appliances like the oven, microwave, blender, food processor, coffee maker, toaster, rice cooker, and refrigerator. If you don’t want to turn your refrigerator off, you can raise the temperature up to 38 degrees.

2. Shut off your Heating and Cooling Systems

You can save tons of energy simply by shutting your heating and cooling system off. You won’t actually need any of these while you’re away, unless you have someone staying to take care of your house for you. Otherwise, you would want to turn down your thermostat or completely shut it off. You would also want to turn off all your air conditioning units, in the living room and in bedrooms. Unplug and turn off ceiling fans as well.

3. Use Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights

People who do not have anyone to watch their homes for them while they are away would usually leave the outside lights on 24/7 to discourage potential intruders. The thing is that you don’t need these outside lights during day time, and leaving them on 24 hours a day is a real waste of energy and money. To solve this problem, install some motion sensor outside lights, so that the lights only turn on at nighttime. There are many types of lamps and lighting fixtures like these that do not even need to be plugged into the main line since they run on batteries.

4. Be Creative in Other Eco-Friendly Ways to Prepare

There are also other ways you can save on energy while preparing for a long vacation. Since you’re probably going shopping along the road, you might also want to take your own shopping bag with you to eliminate the use of too many plastic bags. In the same manner, bring your own water just so that you won’t have to buy bottled water when you need to get a drink.

These are very simple eco-friendly tips but there are too many people who do not practice them. If you can apply them personally, you will be amazed at the end of the month at how much energy and money you have saved.

Educating Your Children about Global Warming

Most people do not realize this but it is our children who will be most affected by the effects of global warming today. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every parent to educate their children about global warming so that they will not commit the same mistakes that the past generations have committed. It may seem difficult at first especially when you do not have any idea where to start, but the truth is, you can start educating your children straight from your home. There are many causes of global warming that come from activities you do at home, so it is just impossible for you not to find any way to teach your children concerning the subject.

1. Explain Global Warming Using Simple Words and Illustration.

While the subject on global warming may be too complicated for a young kid’s mind, there are many ways to help children understand it using simple illustrations. Children as young as four years already have the capacity to understand the concept of cause and effect. Explain to them the things that cause global warming and what their effects to the people, plants, animals, and the entire planet are, using terms they will easily grasp. For example, instead of explaining global warming using scientific terms, tell them that when the earth gets too hot, plants, animals, and even people will die. At the same time, encourage them by telling them that a huge problem as global warming can be solved.

2. Teach Them What They Can Do as Children to Help Fight the Problem.

Once you’ve explained global warming to your children and make them understand that there are many solutions to such a problem, show them next what these solutions are. At the same time, explain to them that as young as they are, their simple contribution can make significant changes that will help save the environment. Some of the things you can teach your children that will help combat global warming include:

A. Encouraging Them to Ride a Bicycle. Let your children know that learning how to ride a bike is more than just learning a hobby or a skill, but is actually something they can do to help minimize the need for riding cars when travelling near distances.

B. Teaching Them How to Plant Trees. Every kid will learn how to plant a tree at some point in his or her life, but not all will understand its real significance. Teach your kids that one of the causes of global warming is deforestation and one way to solve that problem is by planting trees today.

C. Teaching Them the Importance of Recycling. Most families would simply throw unused objects at home, but in your case, teach your children that recycling and reusing old objects such as clothes, plastic/paper bags, and electronic gadgets will have a significant impact on the environment. Explain most especially what will happen if people will keep on using and throwing plastic materials.

Keeping your children informed is one of the best ways to fight global warming and give them the bright future that they deserve. It doesn’t matter if you start small as long as you can start today, your efforts will go a long way.

Biggest Industrial Polluters Cause Trillions in Damage

A UN study released earlier this year proves once again what many of us have long known—that big companies are not being held accountable for the environmental damage they cause. Industry tends to earn immunity from judgment based on the fact that they produce jobs, and because penalizing them would supposedly be bad for the economy. But according to this report, the reality is that there are financial ramifications for these companies’ actions, and right now they’re skipping out on the bill.

Meanwhile, another report released more recently argues that the world would benefit by nixing subsidies to the biggest polluters and imposing taxes upon companies that can’t get their act together.

The first survey looked at 3,000 of the biggest companies in the world, including many that are household names and prominently placed on major global stock markets, and found that they were directly responsible for $2.2 trillion dollars’ worth of damage in 2008 alone. To put that figure in terms that are easy to understand, $2.2 trillion is roughly the gross domestic product of the U.K. This is a very big deal.

The damage caused by the 3,000 biggest companies is roughly equal to a third of their profits, which inspires at least marginal sympathy for the notion that these companies can’t afford to make the necessary changes on their own.

In the study, the financial damage caused by industry came in the form of global climate change, air particulates (which contribute to cancer and respiratory disease), and water pollution. The study didn’t even take into account factors that are harder to quantify in financial terms—for example, widespread migration caused by pollution, not to mention long term-effects that haven’t yet been discovered.

To be fair, many of the companies in the top 3,000 have been conscientious about reducing their environmental damage over the last few decades, but even more companies have continued with their pollution going all but unchecked. The biggest culprits tend to be power companies, companies that process waste, and companies that process and produce plastic and metals. In terms of companies that produce purchase-ready consumer goods, drink manufacturers and clothing companies cause the most damage.

Naturally, reports like this tend to raise alarms across all kinds of industry. Many company officials complain that any legislation resulting from these findings is going to significantly cut their profit margins. Of course, it is to be expected that industry officials won’t like these findings, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not true, or that change is not needed.

In fact, industry’s ambivalence to studies such as these makes it all the more apparent that change needs to come from without. Companies that make a profit from messing up the environment aren’t going to change on their own, so we need to have government organizations step in and set limits. Unless we can find the political will to make changes like this, global climate change is only going to get worse.

Renewable Energy - The Power of Wind

The power of wind can be used to provide energy for people across the world, no matter where they live.

You see a sailboat gliding across the ocean pushed by its harmless wafts, you get some relief on a hot day from it's gentle breeze and a pinwheel starts spinning to a youngsters delight from it's puff of air. There are also cases of umbrellas being turned inside out, shingles being blown off rooftops and tornados causing ruins from its strong gusts. By using it to our advantage, we can turn it into a renewable source of energy, which will not cause pollution and will produce a clean energy alternative to harmful fossil fuels.

Wind energy has existed through time. Ancient peoples used it for sailing ships, grinding wheat and pumping water. Today, wind energy is the world's fastest-growing energy source and we are able to use it to produce electricity. This source of energy is a renewable resource that became popular during the oil crisis of the 70's.

Wind energy is captured through the use of wind turbine machines. There are two types that are available. The horizontal axis machine consists of propellers with three blades. It is usually around 20 stories tall and 200 feet wide. The vertical axis machine consists of blades that go from bottom to top. They are 100 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Propellers on wind turbines are large so as to capture a great volume of air. They can be angled or turned to face the wind for maximum effect.

The machines work by using the blades to hold the wind's kinetic energy. The wind turns the blade. The blade is connected to a drive shaft that turns a generator to produce electricity. Wind turbines need wind speeds over 12 miles/hour to be successful. When winds get too high the turbines are able to keep the blades from being damaged and turning too fast through the use of a brake.

Wind power plants consist of about a dozen wind turbines machines and are called wind farms. These farms are owned and operated by businessmen known as Independent Power Producers. The electricity produced on a wind farm is collected and transmitted through long distance high power lines. It is important to locate these farms in ideal areas where the most wind can be captured. This is why you will find them located in high altitudes and open areas such as hilltops, open plains and shorelines.

The advantages to wind power are many. It is a clean form of energy that is non-polluting and does not produce global warming effects. Although large, it allows for land use under the wind turbines for farming. Some disadvantages are it can have a damaging effect on the wild bird population. Also, some people consider them eyesores.

As new technologies emerge, wind power will become a more cost effective source of energy. The government currently issues tax credits for its use and there are green pricing programs available. There is also a renewed concern for the environmental damage that the uses of fossil fuels create. As we search for an alternative to fossil fuels, the answer to our energy problems may just be blowing in the wind.

Solar Energy: The Real Facts

Most power plants in all over world are using fossil fuels to operate and generate electricity. Fossil fuel has been used as an energy source as long as man has learned to generate power. Fossil fuel has been around for ages and when man started using this energy sources no one though about the consequences. Fossil fuels will run out and there will be a shortage of it in near future. This shortage in fossil fuel will have its affect on our daily live and various industries. Today we see some of these affects already, fossil fuel prizes are raising and electricity is becoming more expensive. Although fossil fuels are more scares, to need for fossil fuels will still be here and will not decrease in near future. To solve this shortage of fossil fuels we will need to look for other possibilities for our energy demand.

Fortunately, alternative energy sources are growing in interest. For instance, locations with high water falls are experimenting on building a hydro-electric power plant, which turns out to be successful. Other locations with high wind speed make use of a power wind mills that can convert wind power into electricity. Also thermal and tidal powers are good alternatives.

Solar energy is also one of the energy sources that is gaining in interest. Solar energy has steadily been growing. Today solar energy is widely used in the US and the advantages are numerous. Our solar energy source, the sun, its life span is estimated to be another 4.5 billion years. It is fair to say that this energy source is almost endless.

Rate of Energy from the Sun

The sun’s radiation reaches a certain unit of area in space in the region of the Earth’s orbit and is estimated to be at 1,400 watts per square meter. Out of this, photovoltaic cells (also known as solar cells) can capture 19 to 56 watts per square meter (for 15% efficiency) or an equivalent of 0.45 to 1.35 kilowatt per hour (kWh) in an annual day and night average.

Therefore, if there would be more area that will be covered by several solar panels, these panels can produce slightly more energy in the form of electricity than what is currently available from oil, gas, and other sources of energy combined (assuming 8% solar cell efficiency).

Conversion of Solar Energy

There are two ways of conversion of solar energy. First is the direct solar energy which involves only one conversion into a usable form. For instance:

• Sunlight hits the solar cell, converting it into electricity.
• Sunlight hits the absorber surface of a solar thermal collector, converting into thermal energy which can be used to heat homes during cold season.

The second is the indirect solar energy which involves more than one conversion to reach a usable form. For instance:

• Plants use photosynthesis to transform solar energy to chemical energy, which can be burned later as fuel to generate electricity (also known as bio-fuel technology).
• Hydroelectric dams and wind turbines are indirectly supplied by solar energy through its interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere.

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Just like any other types of energy resources, solar energy has its ins and outs.

Pros:

• Pollution-free.
• Solar facilities can be run with little extra input or maintenance.
• It is abundant. As mentioned earlier, most of the inhabited areas here on Earth can be reached by sunlight.

Cons:

• Although it is abundant, non-tropical locations can receive little sunlight. Thus, power that will be produced in these locations is a minimum.
• Only during daytime thus not available during night time.
• Photovoltaic cell technologies generate direct current (DC) power which needs to be converted to alternating current (AC) power used in distribution grids.

Once massive development of the use of solar energy is materialized, expect that every household or industry in the world will now be powered by solar energy. It is not just a dream, it will be a dream come true.

Healthy Home Habits for the Environment

Sometimes the thought of being eco-friendly appears to be such a conscious effort that some people think it is only for the serious environmental activists. But do you know that there are actually habits you can develop in the home that does a lot of good to the environment while also being beneficial to you on many counts? These practical habits in the home are easy to develop and impart to kids, and can contribute a lot to the environment in the long run:

1. Make sure to turn faucets off all the way

Sometimes, it is mere carelessness that makes us waste water. It may not be a leaky faucet, but a person who fails to turn faucets off all the way may cause a constant, though appearing minimal, dripping. When combined, these drops of water can become a whole chunk over the course of, say, a month or a year. Conserving water not only helps the environment, you also save on your water bill.

2. Unplug all electrical appliances when not in use

This is as much for safety as it is for electricity conservation. Experts show that many appliances, such as TVs and DVD players, consume as much energy while plugged in and in sleep mode as they do when they are in use. Also, they pose a fire hazard. As such it would be to your benefit too to make it a habit to unplug all electrical appliances after every use.

3. Turn off all lights when you are not in the room

Again, this is both for energy conversation as it is for practicality. Perhaps you have the habit of leaving every light on in your entire house even though you actually spend the whole time cooped up in your room. Do yourself a favor and switch off all unnecessary lights. You might think it’s minimal, but multiply the energy wasted by 365 days a year and you might think differently. Besides, you could use the extra cash that you don’t spend on your electricity bill, right?

4. Schedule air-conditioning and heater time instead of running it all day

In times of extreme temperatures, we are tempted to keep the air-conditioning or the air heater on the whole day. But if you can actually stand up to temporary lulls, you can schedule them, for example, a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the afternoon. For example, instead of turning on the air conditioning, you can spend some time in front of a fan turned full speed. In the case of cold weather, a manually burning fireplace might do wonders to your electric bill.

These habits may sound simple and automatic, but oftentimes they do not come as naturally at first. As such it is important to start to do them consciously at the start, and pretty soon it will become just like second nature. That way, you will be doing your fair share for the environment while also keeping a good hold on your electricity bill.

How to Make Recycled Paper

Although there are many pollutants contributing to the problem of global warming, the basic ones are those that even young children can understand and address. This includes the problem of wasted paper, which not only pose a garbage problem but consequently results in more trees being cut down to meet the need for more paper. As such it can be a very rewarding experience to guide young children through the process of making recycled paper so that they can grasp more fully how trees are related to the waste paper problem.

For this project, you will need: used paper, one rectangular wooden frame, a second rectangular wooden frame with screen backing, an electric egg beater, a pail of water, a large basin, blotting cloth, and a heavy weight.

To make the process a way of instilling consciousness of the environment in young children, it would be best if you already started collecting waste paper at least a few weeks in advance. You can compile scrap paper from school assignments that are no longer needed, old newspapers, and table napkins that have been used to wipe down dry areas, among others. Magazines do not work as well because the pages are glossy and are difficult to mesh together for this project. This preparation time can be a great way to hype up the excitement for the project, as they can spend a couple of weekends scouring around the house for possible pieces of paper to use.

You will also need two wooden frames, one of which has a screen backing. If you do not have time to have one made, buying a silkscreen frame can suffice. Make sure the other frame, the one without the screen backing, is slightly smaller, as you will be using it to form the piece of paper.

Step 1. Tear up the used pieces of paper and soak them in the pail of water overnight. Try not to cut them up as the straight cuts of the scissors destroy the fibers. But if you have access to a shredder, shredded paper works best.

Step 2. Use the electric egg beater to mash the soaked paper bits into a pulp. The smoother you make the pulp, the better will be the consistency of your finished product. Remember to clean the egg beater thoroughly after use or else you might find paper bits sticking to your next scrambled eggs.

Step 3. Pour the pulpy mixture into the basin with water. Hold the two wooden frames together, the screen backing meeting the other frame tightly. Submerge them into the basin and bring it back up quickly. You will see the pulp being carried up by the screen. Give the frames a quick shake top to bottom and left to right to settle the pulp pieces.

Step 4. Quickly turn the flat pulp mixture over onto your blotting cloth, and blot behind the screen to transfer the wet sheet. Cover on top with another blotting cloth. Repeat the process until you have set all the pulp into thin sheets, and cover the entire thing with a heavy weight.

Step 5. By the next day or two, you should be able to hang the blotting cloths up to dry, and you can peel off the recycled paper after another day or two. This can make for a great ingredient in crafts project, as little ones will appreciate how the pulp actually formed bonds to form the piece of paper they are now holding!

Home Solar Power System

In these days of high electricity consumption, it has become possible to save money on electric bills as well as increase the value of one's home and also make the world a little bit cleaner by using a home solar energy system to meet the electricity needs of the home.

It involves setting solar modules on or near the home to collect free and clean as well as safe energy from the sun and converting the sunlight into electricity which is instantaneous in the case of the home solar power system, since there are no mechanical parts involved.

To convert the DC power into AC power one would need an inverter and the home solar power system sends excess electricity to the local utility for credit and the home electricity meter actually reverses when the home solar energy system generates more electricity than is consumed by the home.

Reputed manufacturers are selling their own home solar energy systems and finding one should not be a problem what with big names such as BP making such products. Using such systems means that the solar power system is automatic - very much like the savings it affects.

Sunwize Residential Grid-Tie Systems

This home solar energy system supplies reliable power for the home using top quality UL listed products and includes solar modules, UniRac SolarMount mounting structure, inverters, cables as well as all necessary hardware and electrical components. These systems are modular and so one can combine multiple units together and the SunWize grid-tie systems are NEC code requirement compliant that meet US safety standards and come with a twenty year warranty on power output as well as a five year system warranty.

Before deciding on a home solar energy system, one should determine beforehand how much power is required to be used in the home and for this one may need to list all the loads that are planned to be run, along with the amount of voltage and the daily hours of operations.

Once these parameters have been arrived at and quantified they can be compared with the different home solar power systems to determine which would be most suitable.

Using a home solar power system would greatly reduce the power bills as well as help in keeping the environment free of pollutants and very often, it helps in generating excess electricity that exceeds the electricity needs of a home and is thus an economical solution to high priced utility services.

How to Host an Eco Friendly Party

People think that living an eco-friendly life is boring, but do you know that you can actually have fun while helping save the environment at the same time? Going green is exciting contrary to what most people think. Whether you’re trying to hold a tree-planting activity or host a party at home, there are plenty of things you can do and contribute to help fight global warming. Try these tips in case you decide to host a party that’s both fantastic and eco-friendly:

1. Use recyclable paper for your invitations. Instead of spending some cash on invitation cards, why not make your own out of recyclable paper? They’re free and will have your own personal touch in them. There are probably a lot of old newspaper and magazines in your shelf that you can use. A little creativity and you’re good to go. Alternatively, you can take advantage of modern technology and send out your invitation using the internet. There are plenty of sites out there that allow people to make electronic invitation cards that you can send to your invited guests. Most people do not like this idea, claiming that it lacks personal touch and can be cold way of inviting someone. However, if you really want to minimize paper waste, this option is probably the best.

2. Take advantage of nature. Perhaps the best place to host an eco-friendly party is no other than your lawn. There, you can advantage of natural lighting and decors that you would otherwise have spent upon in case you decided to hold the party inside a building. In an open space like a garden, you can also take advantage of the natural ventilation that will help you save on air conditioning and other electrical cost.

3. Use biodegradable utensils. Utensils will surely make up 90 percent of your garbage, so to limit waste disposal, use biodegradable plates, cups, spoons, and forks. Paper plates and cups will only add to your garbage, and using your China will only encourage the use of dishwashing liquids that contain harmful chemicals.

4. Serve organic food. You may not realize it but do you know that there are actually eco-friendly foods available today? Yes, from children’s treats to organic wine, you can actually enjoy the party serving not only eco-friendly but healthy dishes as well. There are also tasty cakes and cookies made from organic ingredients such as spinach and broccoli that you can serve during dessert.

5. Encourage car pooling. When the day of the event comes, hire someone or ask a friend to pick up all your guests in a spot that is accessible to everyone. Sure, there will be guests who would drive their way to the venue, but there would also be some who would be glad to enjoy a free ride as long as the pickup spot is near their house. By doing this, you will minimize the need of people to drive and spend on fuel and even transportation.

Is Your Next House A Money Maker

Owning a home should be one of your priorities in life. Having your own home has many advantages. The main reason to own your own house is to gain financial wealth. By owning your house you will have financial responsibilities. You will not only pay for your house (mortgage) but for your utility bill as well. The cost for electricity and water can be (very) expensive.

Today there are houses on the market which are well-furnished and have a very low monthly energy cost. These houses are installed with the latest state-of-the-art energy saving lighting and heating systems.

These houses are sold as a solar-powered residential unit (SPRU) or commonly known as a solar home. The monthly energy consumption costs are much lower and are energy efficient compared to traditional homes.

First we will discuss the traditional homes. Traditional homes are filled with lighting and energy equipment that is conventional in nature. 45 percent of the energy consumed in almost all households around the world is reserved for heating and cooling. 55 percent of the conventional energy used in homes is accounted to the use of electricity.

Most of this conventional energy is generated through burning fossil fuels. Because of the higher demand of fossil fuel usage, there is an increase in the prices that is carried to the monthly electric bills of a regular household consumer. That is why there is an increase both in the generation and distribution charges of electric utility companies.

When we look at the features of these solar homes it can be said that they are build to capture energy from the sunlight and transforming it into a highly efficient source of energy. Thus, the home will more efficient with the consumption of electricity, water heating, space heating in winter, and space cooling in summer. This will lead to a lower electricity bill and that our aim.

Let's briefly explain how the SPRU System Works

The sunlight will enter the solar panels which will be converted into DC electricity. This DC electricity that is produced enters the inverter and turns it into 120-volt AC electricity that is the standard voltage needed by home appliances. AC electricity will be entering the utility panel of the house and distribute it to electricity loads such as appliances and lighting equipments.

When there is excess solar energy generated, it can be stored in the battery as DC electricity. This can be used to supply your house electricity in case of a power failure or at night time.

The SPRU Components

Using the energy generated from the sun is relatively economical and at the same time environmental in nature. However, before you experience the comfort of a modern solar home, you need to be familiarized with the components that will be used. These are briefly discussed in the preceding items.

* Photovoltaic cells- it is the capturing element of your solar home. It generally consists of a small cell which holds a silicon substance under glass. When the rays of the sun hit the cell, the silicon initiates an electrical reaction that produces a charge. This charge is collected by small wires.
* Solar panel- a collection of solar cells that constitutes as a unit in a frame.
* Solar system- it is an interconnected sets of solar panels. Remember that a single solar panel cannot provide enough electricity. It converts enough sunlight into electricity.
* Inverter- it converts the direct current (DC) generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC) power that can be used in home or fed back into a utility power grid system.

Eco Friendly Furniture: A Unique Solution to Global Warming

Whether you like it or not, planet earth is not the same world you were living in a few years ago. The world is suffering from a phenomenon called global warming. It’s quite shocking human activities can produce so much damage to the planet in just a short period of time but that’s what’s happening today, and the only thing we can do is find ways to reverse it or at least slow it down.

One of the ways in which you could help the environment is using eco-friendly furniture. The fancy term “eco-friendly” simply refers to products that do not cause harm to the environment in any way. So when you say using eco-friendly furniture, it simply means taking advantage of furniture that are not sprayed or waxed with toxic paints and other harmful chemicals, but are made from natural materials instead that will never harm the environment even if you dispose of them. Regular furniture are treated with chemicals so that they are persevered and do not get damaged easily. The only problem is that this process causes toxins to burn and go up into the atmosphere.

Eco-friendly furniture are made from pure wood, but the difference is that most of the wood used for the production of the products are recycled and do not come directly from cut trees. This lessens the problem of deforestation that we are facing today. Another thing is that the materials or the wood used for these eco-friendly furniture pieces are only cut from trees that belong to well-maintained forests or forests that are well preserved and wouldn’t suffer a bit when trees are cut from them.

If you want to start using eco-friendly furniture to help save the environment, there’s no need to get rid of your old furniture. Your old furniture may not be as safe to the environment as eco-friendly furniture are but you don’t want to throw away such a great investment either. The key here is to dispose of such furniture very gradually. Start by purchasing one piece of eco-friendly furniture and slowly getting rid of old furniture. If there’s a piece of furniture you want to get rid of, don’t just throw them away but find someone who is willing to use or recycle it. You can even recycle the material yourself if you fail to find a place or a person to hand it down to.

If you don’t realize it yet, investing in eco-friendly furniture is an excellent way to save trees and our forests, and the planet in general. It may be a little contribution but even a simple act as this can go a long way without you knowing it. There’s absolutely nothing to lose in putting a little investment on furniture especially if they give you the opportunity to help save the planet. Besides, the beauty of products made from natural materials will always surpass those of regular products.

The History of Solar Power Goes a Long Way

Solar power was born more than a hundred years ago, but the discussions about using this type of energy do not die up to this time. At present when gas prices and home energy prices hits heavenward, many people would rather talk about the use of alternative energies than imported oil. For one, the sources of imported oil are located in unpredictable places where an outbreak of war could cut off the supplies at any time. With no power supply, living would be a struggle and working would be very difficult. Many people who use energy to drive their cars and heat their homes scour for more stable types of energy which cost considerably lesser.

Solar power is one type of energy that is used popularly most of the time because of the tax incentives sometimes available for using this type of energy. It is used more often as well because the costs can be substantially less than the traditional sources of energy. The recent developments toward solar energy are surprising because scientists have studied the use of this type of energy for many years. The history of solar power dates back more than a century ago with a French mathematician as a pioneer.

The History of Solar Power Takes Leaps through the Years

The quest for alternative sources of energy began when a scientist thought that there should be an alternative to coal. He thought that coal would be used up and the population would be left without the necessary energy to continue with daily life so this scientist began developing the technology to use solar power. Other scientists also studied the use of solar power during this period a century ago. The first experiment with a commercial potential solar power company has its incipient in 1900.

The history of solar power continues with significant discoveries and experimentation up to this time although use of solar power did not become widespread. The development continued, but the public support for the utilization of solar power was not so promising. The interest in solar power increases when there is the threat or incidence of disruption in other sources of energy. The history of solar power marches down into the present modern times with more interest in the use and knowledge of this alternative energy. Solar panels are more visible in rooftops and lawns now than ever before. The use of solar power has been used effectively and provides a substantial savings in the long run for those that use this type of energy.

Creating a Cleaner and Greener Earth for Everyone

The problem with global warming is something that is not new. In fact, people have come with many methods and ways on how to fight it over the years. While some of the formulated solutions are quite simple even for a six-year-old kid to follow, other methods are quite complicated and have still remained as theories until now, waiting to become living realities. To tell you the truth, you don’t necessarily have to be as smart as the scientists who discovered how to use solar power or wind energy as global warming solutions in order for you to help make the earth a better place to live in. There are many things that an ordinary person like you can do to actually make that happen. You don’t believe me? Read along.

1. Recycle. We are all too familiar with this word, but do we really understand the impact of such a practice as recycling to the health of our planet? For your information, making new products out of recycled materials can help save up to 90% of energy. It would help a lot if companies can melt old plastic bottles and containers and make new plastic products out of them. However, that is not always the case. You can make a change by recycling not just old plastic items but also papers and boxes.

2. Donate old clothes. Do you know that handing down clothes that you’ve outgrown is an example of direct recycling? Donating your clothes to charity will not only help save the environment but also those who are in desperate need of something to cover their bodies. Most people leave their unused clothes untouched and hanging inside the closet for years, but you can do better by donating your own to agencies that are intended in helping people and the environment at the same time.

3. Ride your bike. If you know how to ride a bicycle, you should start riding one regularly. You can practically go anywhere without spending even just a single drop of gasoline by doing so. You don’t necessarily have to make it as your general means of transportation but it sure is one of the most ideal means to travel especially if you just want to buy something from the grocery shop around the corner. Or, better yet walk if you can afford it. Is your destination too far for bike ride or a walking exercise? Take the bus instead of driving your car. You will be able cut down your fuel consumption up to 80 percent by doing so.

4. Plant a tree. Statistics show that the earth loses an acre of rainforest every six seconds. If all the people of the world can plant a tree or two, that would help make up for the loss that our rainforests are experiencing right now. One adult tree can consume more than 45 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and is enough to save at least 15 trees by reducing fossil fuel consumption.