Solar Selectives
Save 10-20% On Your Power BIllWe all know the importance of the continued global development for alternative energy sources for environmental protection and as a means utilizing clean alternatives to provide energy for future generations. Solar power is at the core of this movement as the sun’s energy is the most plentiful resource available and technological advancements are achieved continuously allowing societies to benefit from this source.
In order to continue efforts seeking environmental protection and solar power must continue to remain our focus. However, it is possible to use electricity in a more efficient and effective manner. Although electricity is a “dirty” energy source that is costly to the environment and to us as consumers, it can be utilized with these global and cost savings in mind.
A technology utilizing run capacitors has been utilized in many industries for years and now how residential and small business applications. These capacitors condition the electrical current allowing for the more efficient use of electricity at a lower cost. Furthermore, the various motors in your appliances throughout your home run cooler and more efficiently thus prolonging their life.
Home and business owners can now install a small electrical box to the incoming power source containing at least two run conductors that will influence the power factor as measured by your utility company. The low-cost power factor capacitors act similar to a battery reserve as it smoothes incoming power spikes. This is particularly beneficial to your HVAC system or refrigerators and freezers containing motors that run for long periods of time.
The motors in your appliances are now able to run more efficiently. The excess electricity that comes into your systems and appliance motors is released in the form of heat which has long term operational effects on the motor. Furthermore, because the power factor capacitors settle electrical spikes they also act as a surge protector for your electrical motors.
Utility companies look at your power factor as an energy efficiency scale and your rates may also be affected with a low power factor rating. Many home and business owners installing power factor capacitors to their electrical panels are experiencing a 10-20% reduction on their power bill. The cost for a homeowner to install a capacitor box is about $600-$800 while a small business may have larger costs depending upon building size and equipment usage.
Categories: Green Energy Savings TIps, New Technologies, Uncategorized | Tags: save on my power bill, solar alternatives | No Comments »
Outdoor Solar Lighting Makes For A Safer Home
Posted by metscher5 @ 12:27 pm
Most homeowners understand that outdoor solar lighting is a great option to support environmental awareness and as a means of saving money by preserving electricity. These elements obviously support one another as the utilization of the sun to power your outside landscape lighting saves electricity and hence show on your power bill each and every month.
Maybe less obvious to most is another feature solar powered garden lighting brings to your home, added safety and security. This could prove to be the most beneficial aspect brought to you courtesy of solar powered home lighting. At no additional charge, outdoor solar lighting can help protect your home and most importatnly your family from possible unwanted intruders. Your home will always appear to be occupied and busy after the sun sets thanks to the glow of your yard. This is a perimeter feature that may have potential burglars thinking that your home is not such an easy target.
Furthermore, you and your family will be able to freely navigate throughout your yard with reduced risk of tripping or other hazards that may reveal themselves without the presence of night time lighting. A subtle but noticeable glow throughout your yard courtesy of solar powered landscape lighting certainly brings out the beauty and character of your home and garden and provides just one more deterrant from possible intruders.
As you plan your outdoor landscape lighting layout, you can place a variety of solar powered lights around your home to improve safety. Of course there is no guarantee that your home will always remain safe, lighting is a great perimeter deterrent from potential burglars. Adding a home alarm with your landscape lighting obviously adds safety and security to your
Power Savings: Start With The Right Bulbs
Posted by metscher5 @ 3:37 pm
There are plenty of ways home and business owners can save money by making a few simple adjustments and taking advantage of cost saving opportunities available with green products. Not only are you playing nice with the planet, you will save money on your power bill every month. One adjustment comes in the form of those cool little curly light bulbs called the CFL or Compact Fluorescent Lamp. The old outdated and power draining incandescent bulbs have been around since Edison introduced them to the world but out with the old and in with the sheik new curly CFLs.
The old incandescent worked when electricity heated both sides of a carbon filament resulting in a light emission. A CFL bulb operates in a completely non related manner. The CFL is actually a closed glass tube with a fluorescent coating which glows when electrical current connects to the argon and mercury vapors inside the tubing.
True, incandescent bulbs are much cheaper upfront than the CFL bulb. However, using traditional bulbs will cost you much more in the long run with any significant use.
Incandescent bulbs wear out much quicker and they require substantially more electricity to operate. To compare, a CFL bulb, with average use will save you over $25 throughout its lifetime and will not need to be replaced unlike incandescent bulbs. The CFL will pay for itself in less than half a year.
It is also very interesting to view the electricity outputs for the CFL compared to the incandescent bulb. The same light emission for a 40-watt incandescent can be achieved with just 9 watts for the CFL bulb. You can replace a 100-watt incandescent with a 23 to 30 watt CFL.
This is a great way to conserve energy indoors and the same practices can be apply outside your home as well. As an alternative to electrical in-line systems you can easily install outdoor solar powered landscape lighting to save money and energy as well. These lights use Light Emitting Diodes (LED) that are completely poered by the sun.
Indoor or outside you can start your environmental and cost savings plan by simply changing your bulbs. Your wallet and your world will smile a little brighter.
Using All Of Your Energy Resources
Posted by metscher5 @ 12:34 am
This is a truly remarkable story that does include alternative energy but even more importantly the human spirit. Last week the BBC News Africa as reported by Jude Sheerin, found a truly amazing Malawian teenager by the name of William Kamkwamba who is inspired by global green energy efforts and climate change campaigns and now is featured in a new book. William literally saved his father’s farm and home village of Masitala by building two functioning windmills out of scrap and debris.
At age 14 William had to quit school and return to Masitala as his parents were unable to afford the $80 annual tuition. He has always dreamed of bringing water and electricity to his village and thwarting the hunger that has become so prevalent in his region.
After one of Malawi’s worst droughts in 2002, resulting in the death of thousands of people William and his family were on the brink of starvation. Now unable to attend school he continued to study by using his village library. William was intrigued by science and one day his life and the lives of many others changed when he located a used book containing the picture of a windmill.
William told BC news that: “I was very interested when I saw the windmill could make electricity and pump water. He thought this could make a difference with hunger and decided to build one for himself.
Now 22 years old, William concocted a turbine from spare bicycle parts, a tractor fan blade and an old shock absorber. He also used and fashioned blades from plastic pipes that were flattened by being held over a fire. It took several months of backbreaking work to complete his turbine project. The end result was a 16 foot high wooden tower resembling an oversized tinker toy creation.
But what appeared to be a novelty and was quite a curious structure to neighbors, soon turned from amusement to amazement when William scrambled up the windmill and hooked a car light bulb to the turbine. As the blades began spinning just like designed the bulb then began to flicker to life and a crowd of villagers went wild.
Later his original windmill capacity was upgraded to 48-volts and anchored into concrete after its original base was chewed away by termites. Then he built a new windmill, dubbed the Green Machine, which turned a water pump to irrigate his family’s field.
The popularity and amazing results of William’s story has led to great responses around the globe. He is often at guest speaking arrangements and is attending a prestigious school in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This is a great example of human dedication and the power to succeed. It also demonstrates how natural resources can be utilized to enhance civilization through application and determination. For more articles and information about solar energy and clean energy resources please visit http://www.solarselectives.com a great resource for outdoor solar powered landscape lighting.
Solar Lighting Indoors and Outside
Posted by metscher5 @ 12:39 am
Use soar lights to illuminate paths
As a powerful alternative to our dependency on electricity, there is now focus upon solar power as a great alternative and ultra-clean source providing light for a green environment. Most people who think about solar lighting do not realize that it can be applied for both indoor and outdoor uses. By simply incorporating some of the solar power lighting technologies available, you are preserving electricity, protecting the environment, and saving yourself money. This is a complete win-win situation no matter what.
Indoor Lighting
Indoor solar lighting can be utilized in many situations to illuminate your shed, a garage, a gazebo, and inside your home as well. Of course there is no need for an electrical source which has many benefits in itself. Additionally, you will not need to replace light bulbs or worry about power outages, providing that you receive some direct sunlight during the day. Solar light installation is easy and requires little if any maintenance and upkeep.
You will need to install a solar panel which is used to collect solar power from the sun throughout the day. Depending upon your intended lighting area, your panel will need to appropriate for your building or structural needs. There are many manufacturers that produce solar power lighting systems for small sheds and structures to residential and business mounted solar panels for much larger applications. Upon installation of your solar lighting panel or panels, you will be able to access light from the sun day or night. With proper exposure to the sun throughout the day, your solar panel should absorb enough energy from the sun to illuminate your light fixtures at night for many hours of operation. Some of these indoor solar lighting options are becoming quite popular on farms, to illuminate sheds and barns, as the need for expensive and dangerous electrical wiring is eliminated. Saving money and protecting our environment, you can not go wrong.
Outdoor Lighting
Obviously there is no need for outdoor lighting during the day but at night exterior lights fill many needs. You can feel a great deal of satisfaction realizing that many of your outside lights will operate all night long for free thanks to the energy stored that day by the sun. There are a tremendous number of options available today allowing you to light the exterior of your home or business with solar power. Many outdoor solar lights such as path lights, flood lights, garden accent lighting, spot lights, post lights, and security lights are readily available today from multiple manufacturers. Your ponds and pools can be easily illuminated with floating solar powered decorative lights. Many of these solar light styles are available in multiple LED colors adding a great deal of variety and accessories to your meet all of your yard and landscape needs. You can even light your flagpole with solar power to proudly display your flag day or night.
Many homeowners take great pride in maintaining a well kept yard and decorative garden. These great features can come alive at night too with the flexible solar light options that frequent the market today. Everyone wants an eye catching yard that has been well taken care of and now your efforts can be reflected at night. New fixture styles that include multiple mounting options leaves consumers wanting solar lighting with a great deal of stylish options that bring a lot of attention to a well manicured landscape around the clock.
Another great feature with outdoor solar lighting is the ease of installation. Homeowners have great flexibility when it comes to installing solar lighting and it is super simple. The most difficult part of the installation is deciding what solar lights you want and where to put them. No electricity or expensive contractors, all you need to do is find a spot that receives regular sunlight and you simply place a light there. Most ground installed models includes a stake that is simple tapped into the ground then the light fixture is mounted on the stake connector. This sounds simplistic but always place a board or a flat object on top of the stake before tapping to prevent damage to the ground stake. Most solar light fixtures are constructed of hard durable plastic. More expensive models of solar lights will use glass in their lamps and may include stainless steel posts offering a more solid construction style.
Although solar lights are not as powerful as the electric fixtures, the benefits of solar far and away outweighs their counterparts. The soothing glow from solar powered LED bulbs are eye catching and calming. With the advances in solar powered lighting leading to many varieties and styles available to us today, your small initial investment will pay for itself in short order. With no maintenance costs and an endless energy source, solar lighting is smart and makes complete sense.