Posts from — September 2008

With topics like planetary warming and rapidly depleting fossil fuels and other threats to the environment at the forefront of the news, homeowners are choosing more and more to do what they can to switch to eco-friendly habits. For those of you who haven't joined in or don't know where to begin, there are many things the average person can do, starting with the house.

Starting where you live is easy, convenient and wise considering that every dollar you invest may be recovered in a higher value should you decide to sell your home. Not to mention the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are contributing to a safer, cleaner, more sustainable way of living on the planet. So, enlist the help of friends and family, and get started on energy and resource saving weekend projects.

Installing solar panels on either your roof or another convenient nearby structure saves electricity, money, and fossil fuels. Sunshine is collected and converted to usable household electricity, where it may be used immediately. When more electricity is created than used, public utility companies sometimes buy excess power from you, depending on how your solar panels are set up. Buy a used solar panel for an economical way to make this upgrade to your home. If going for a used option, make sure it is in good working order first.

Another great way to improve your energy efficiency is to use rain barrels. They can be as basic as recycled trash cans made into a water container. What a rain barrel does is collect the water running off a roof. You simply put the barrel beneath the rain spout, attach a water valve, and use the collected water for watering your plants or cleaning your car, for example.

Make your house more air-tight. You want to make sure that cold air stays in the house during summer and outside during the winter. Make sure your insulation is thick enough and installed in walls and the attic. Fill all cracks and gaps around doors and windows with caulk and weatherstripping.

Lastly, make sure you are using energy saving light bulbs. Standard incandescent bulbs create a lot of surplus heat and waste energy. At least replace the lights that are used most often with energy saving bulbs and you will once again save energy.

Also, there are even easier things that can be done to make your home eco friendly. Things as easy as turning off lights when you leave a room or turning the water off while brushing your teeth can also help.

Some of these things may not seem like a big deal, but each bit helps, and over many months or years, they will make a difference. Check online or visit your library to learn more. Very soon, you'll be able to feel better about doing your part in protecting the environment.

Solar power systems have evolved tremendously over the years. Depending on a consumer's priority, solar energy technology has its share of advantages and also corresponding disadvantages worth delving especially for those interested in investing in the technology.

Young Technology

Benefit: Solar power energy gained much of its popularity three short decades ago. With energy vulnerabilities evidently seen during the 1979 oil crisis, the world was shaken awake to the reality that it was time to seek alternative sources of energy. Solar power is one of the most successful alternative sources of energy today. Support from governments, large industrial companies, and environmental advocacy groups continue to pour for the further development of solar power. Solar technology has been very advantageous to homes located in remote areas where electric companies fail to reach. These houses are able to make their own electricity with their solar power systems.

So far, no major glitches have been found concerning the production of solar energy.

Snare: The novelty of solar power systems has resulted to mistrust especially by conservative consumers. Many people still equate novelty with unreliability.

Monetary Investment

The Advantage: The price of your solar energy unit, plus installation fees, may reach an exorbitant amount. Nevertheless, one should not overly worry since your capital will be returned in a very short amount of time in relation to the minimum twenty-year warranty provided by most solar power system dealers. Maintenance fee is also negligible because there are very little movable parts involved in the solar power system. With proper and adequate care, your solar cells may even last for a lifetime.

The Disadvantage: The cost of an entire solar power system may prove to be too overwhelming for a consumer with a moderate income.

Solar Dependence

Benefit: Sunlight is the main source for your solar energy making the latter a renewable commodity. "Renewable energy" connotes that the energy is derived from natural sources and is naturally replenished. In most areas, the sun will show up on a regular basis, thus, energy source for your solar power system is very consistent. Batteries, which serve as solar reserves, are included in your solar power system. These reserves are used to continue powering your house during periods when the sun is unavailable like during nighttime.

Disadvantgae: Not all parts of the world see the sun on a daily basis. Antarctica, for example, spends six months under moonlight, while the other six months experiencing sunlight. Weather changes like rain showers and the presence of dark clouds will also decrease solar energy production since sunlight becomes limited.

Unit Size and Permanence

Advantage: Solar power systems are relatively huge units with several components. A home equipped with a working solar power system has a higher value compared to a residence subscribed to the local electric company. The more or less permanence status of your solar power system assures you that any attempts to remove it will most likely fail.

The Downside: The large size of a solar power system leaves homeowners very little choice but to leave it behind out of practicality despite the want to bring it with them. The additional cost of the solar power system increases the overall price of your house that may turn off potential buyers.