The best thing about solar energy is that the unlimited potential. More information about solar panels for home use is neither technically nor expensive, and in fact can easily complete home solar power for a small investment and very affordable. You only need to know how their own source of renewable energy to make, and today I will tell you exactly how to make your own panels if you want to learn how to make solar panels for home use, you will learn some basic fundamental principles of How exactly does a solar panel. Thus the whole process much easier to handle. The process begins with solar panels. They are important components directly exposed to sunlight. The main function is to convert solar energy into usable electricity for their appliances. For a successful installation, the solar panels mounted on a steel chassis and support the roof. The energy generated by solar panels is converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) through an inverter. In general, alternating current (AC) electricity, we used the power of the white line. Then transfer the electric service panel inverter. The panel of electrical energy used for electricity distribution in different parts of your home or office. The unused electricity generated by solar panels, and will the entire road network through the electricity meter. Therefore the meter backwards and turn it provides a credit of the utility to compensate for future use. This method is known as clean and fully approved by the national electricity policy level. More information about solar panels for household use is not really a difficult task. No need much skill than the ability to manage the wiring and the basic tools with care and security. The components needed to build solar panels are: – Full 1.AA solar Cells2.ÂÂÂ copper Plywood3.ÂÂÂ Wire4.ÂÂÂ General Tools (drills, screwdrivers, glue, etc.) PVC transparent 5.ÂÂÂ All these components can easily be picked up at your local hardware store. Photovoltaic cell is the only element that can search the Internet and can be easily found on eBay. Indications of the quality easy to follow is essential to find when it comes to learning how to manufacture solar panels. This makes the building process less stressful and makes us happier than you've chosen to do this themselves. Online is just one of these sites are able to find some of these manuals. We review the best guides to help you learn how to make solar panels for home. Scroll down and start Nowa € | â € | learn how to make solar panels for home and stop paying for electricity € | FOREVER!

Invariable transistor
static.
Leading to the romance of radiowaves.
Leading to broadcasts
of the nightly news sent
through thickening televised air.
Now every high point holds
finger-antennae pointing at holes
in the atmosphere,
every low point a ringing,
buzzing baby or ball and chain, and
every cloud a vagabond star.
Oscillation.
Vibration.

As night falls,
the violent vibrations cease,
towns twinkle out, rooms regain their shadows,
lives their silence.
All processes stop; copper wires rest.
Oh, to be there, to watch the charges dip low,
to hear the transformers sleep:
A dull, static valley, a lull, a silent song
composed of soft voices,
of the deep and distant horns of
lumber trains,
of syncopated sirens speeding off into darkness.

In day, microwaves and fields blanket
the earth
and we hum along
in sleepy and sterile wakefulness,
in a charged and blank state;
but oh, to be there, to watch
this highest hum
turn to a staccato trickle,
as if conducted to sotto voce;
then can whispers win,
breaking over the silent earth
like waves.

The electricians who connect South Africans – for free… From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: city names. The blog is also related to: windy city.

I read a great post this week over at enviralment about the greening of Mcdonald’s, and the length that companies will go to sell themselves off as eco-conscious. There is no question that advertising, and branding work. Daily we are bombarded by more than 2000 messages telling us how we can improve every little insignificant aspect of our lives. From Edward Bernays to viral ads, marketing hopes to play on euphoria and emotion creating a feeling that continuously resonates with the consumer and hopefully influences their future decisions. So how do you market an idea? How do you market a movement? Well NGO’s and environmental groups have been continuously asking themselves this question since their inception and here are some of the most creative advertisements that I have seen dealing with anthropogenic global warming, power consumption, and climate change. Enjoy.

Remember the last power black out? – PWU

The power workers union use humour to parlay the message about the pluses of having a strong energy grid.

Use only what you need – Denver water

A great ad campaign by Denver water pushing for water conservation during the spring and summer seasons. The campaign was met with amazing success with water usage down 33% from the previous year.

Ocean levels are rising faster than ever – WWF

Most brilliant use of shadows on a billboard yet. World Wildlife Federation uses this gorgeous billboard to demonstrate the rise of water

Falling Polar Bears- Planet Stupid

I saw this one earlier in the week it just kind of sticks with you.

We wanted to confront people with the impact that short-haul flights have on the climate. We used Polar Bears because they’re a well understood symbol of the effect that climate change is having on the natural world

Use electricity wisely – Eskom

Eskom is a power utility company from South Africa who get the point across about conservation practices in this simple, yet effective ad.

Think about what it consumes before buying – Belgain government

Before its too late – WWF

WWF France presents a visual reminder of the importance of trees to the atmosphere in “Lungs”, a print advertisement developed by TBWA\Paris.

Black Cloud – WWF

A creative yet effective way presented by the World Wildlife Foundation(WWF) to create awareness to China about the pollution created by vehicles.

Drive one day less and look how much carbon monoxide you’ll keep out of the air we breathe.

Michael Giberson

From the Central Penn Business Journal, two views on electric utility industry restructuring in Pennsylvania:

First from Matt Brouillette:

Pennsylvania’s electricity rate caps have kept prices artificially low, preventing competitors from entering the marketplace and consumers from having choices. Now, when rate caps expire in 2010 in PPL territory, most of central Pennsylvania will see an increase in electricity prices.

… Rate caps expired in western Pennsylvania years ago, and today 20 percent of Duquesne Light customers have switched to other suppliers. The competition has forced Duquesne Light to offer more competitive prices and better services. The result: Electricity consumers are benefiting.

… Competition forces companies to serve their customers with the best prices and service, giving consumers more control. While it’s true that electricity prices in both monopoly structures and competitive markets have escalated over recent years, that is due to rising costs for generating fuels, not deregulation. Moreover, prices already have begun to drop in competitive markets — an effect not seen in monopoly delivery systems.

Case in point is PPL’s recent announcement of a 30 percent rate hike this January. … A number of companies already have announced their intention to compete for PPL customers, with one, Dominion Retail, guaranteeing a savings of 10 percent on PPL’s rates for the first 5,000 customers.

Rejoinder from Eric Epstein:

Gov. Tom Ridge predicted that electric competition would lead to job growth, economic expansion and decreased rates.

According to Ridge, “Pennsylvania’s national leadership in electric competition continues to bring dramatic savings and economic benefits to Pennsylvanians” (Aug. 4, 2000). The success of electric competition would shave business costs and give employers more money to invest, thereby creating multiplier effects on the state economy. “Competition” also would produce savings that would give consumers more money to spend.

… Could the deregulators have gotten it more wrong?

The reality is not so dreamy. Electric utilities are collecting $11.4 billion in stranded costs, increased taxes on ratepayers and dumped customers at record rates.

… Deregulation was a great bargain for PPL. Last year the company reported a profit of more than $1 billion on $6.5 billion in revenue and set records in consumer cruelty.

… A study published by Carnegie Mellon University’s Electricity Industry Center in 2008 found, “On average, power users in restructured states pay 2 to 3 cents per kilowatt hour more than customers in states that didn’t restructure.”

… Decide for yourself if electric deregulation has delivered on its bold promises or served as yet another corporate failure. But don’t take too long. PPL is set to jack up residential rates by 35 percent in 2010.

Brouillette is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation; Epstein is chairman of Three Mile Island Alert Inc.

This picture captures the craziness of our Wednesday Thanksgiving. My camera battery was dead so I missed out on getting my own images of the afternoon ISK bike race or the evening meal (thanks Marissa for this one!). The day was like three separate days all stuck together. First was the morning of school, second the afternoon race at the stadium and finally dinner at our house.

Dinner really shouldn’t have been crazy. The meal was shared among 13 people and nobody had to make more than two or three items. I was in charge the turkey, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. I fought with the turkey the night before (who knew that they wouldn’t chop off the head before they gave it to me?) and it successfully brined and baked. Our 11 guests all arrived bearing delicious food. The table was in the process of being set and a football game from last December was playing in the living room.

Then the power went out.

Those of us in the kitchen slapped on headlamps and continued carving the turkey and whisking the gravy. Robin lit candles on the table. It didn’t take too long before those of us in the kitchen gave up. Who really wants to carve a turkey by headlamp anyway? And the gravy whisking was disrupted every time the headlamp-wearer turned to see who was walking into the kitchen. We just set everything on the table and began to eat by candle light.

And that was just fine.

The turkey tasted fine by candle light. The two kinds of stuffing tasted fine by candle light. The rolls tasted fine by candle light. The corn with mint tasted fine by candle light.

Then the power came back on and everything continued to taste just fine.

Even the tree tomato tart.

I must admit to being very disappointed with the level of engagement with my top 5 lists. Surely there must be some wannabe Nick Hornbys somewhere in the audience? So I’m going to plough on with more musical inanities.

As some of you might have read in my email, I’m off to join the international jet set. I don’t want to resort to stereotypes or have to ask “where did you get that blank expression on your face?” but I think I’m going to enjoy myself. Yes, I’m leaving the VSO rat race, London’s concrete jungle and Lilongwe’s ghost town. Some colleagues have asked why and others have said it’s up to you. What I can say for sure though is that it’s going to be too hot and there might be the odd w***** c***** but that doesn’t make it alright – I certainly won’t do nothing.

Yes, this entry is marking two big events – me missing the Specials in London and the end of technicolour spreadsheets as we know it in VSO. I’ve got 2 weeks left here and 2 months until I start in Sri Lanka. In between there’s the small matter of reverse culture shock, reverse climate shock, dumping the contents of my brain before I leave and dumping the contents of my house before I depart (can I interest anyone in an exquisite collection of mid-80s indie vinyl?)

In other news, the fuel shortages continue here with long queues at many filling stations. Apparently it’s all to do with a critical shortage of foreign exchange, which the president blames on foreign elements saving their money outside of the country now that the World Bank has encouraged Malawi to liberalise its banking regulations. The arrival of the president’s new private jet is apparently unconnected to the whole affair. And today’s big news is that the head of the electricity company has been fired for incompetence. The position is going to be advertised internationally so if any of you fancy a little challenge…

The principle of harnessing osmosis has the potential to produce enormous amounts of energy anywhere that salt water and fresh water meet. We looked at some of the approaches to turning this theory into reality earlier this year, including Statkraft’s plans to build a prototype power plant. The company’s plans are now coming to fruition with Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway officially opening the world’s first osmotic power plant prototype on November 24…

Iced-over Surrey railway lines. This is the most westerly branch of the electrified London Bridge line.

Cauac, in common Mayan usage, means storm. Its energy brings the qualities of purification, transformation, reunion, initiation, and preparation for ascension. Its symbol is lightning.

Tone 1 holds the purpose and intent for unity, unconditional love, self, and Source.

Blue is the color of the West. Its element is water. Its medicine is for completing things.

So, the message for today is:

Today is a great day for marshalling your energy around your purpose and transforming your space to produce. Today is the first day of a new Mayan week, a new 13-tone creation cycle. As such, each day for thirteen days will be guided by Cauac. As you head into the coming days, allow yourself to feel reunion with self and Source and attune to what aspect of your self or your life needs purification or transformation to take you to your next level of being, creating, and loving.

Big news happened on Tuesday in the world of renewable energy. Norway has become the first country to produce osmotic power, a revolutionary new, emission-free way of generating electricity.

Osmotic power produces emissions-free electricity by mixing fresh water and sea water through a special membrane.

State-owned utility Statkraft’s prototype plant, which for now will produce a tiny 2 kilowatts to 4 kilowatts of power or enough to run a coffee machine, will enable Statkraft to test and develop the technology needed to drive down production costs.

How it works

The plant is driven by osmosis that naturally draws fresh water across a membrane and toward the seawater side. This creates higher pressure on the sea water side, driving a turbine and producing electricity.

“While salt might not save the world alone, we believe osmotic power will be an interesting part of the renewable energy mix of the future,” Statkraft Chief Executive Baard Mikkelsen told reporters.

[via CNET]

Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy with experience in hydropower that provides nearly all of Norway’s electricity, aims to begin building commercial osmotic power plants by 2015.

Future full-scale plants are estimated to be the size of a football stadium and will be able to produce 25 megawatts of electricity, enough to provide power for 30,000 households.

According to CNET, Once new membrane “architecture” is solved, Statkraft believes the global production capacity for osmotic energy could amount to 1,600 to 1,700 terawatt hours annually, or about half of the European Union’s total electricity demand.

The potential for this technology is enormous as it can be located anywhere that clean fresh water runs into the sea. Osmotic power could soon become a major part of many countries energy mixes and has the potential to usurp even solar and wind – due to it being far less stochastic and reliable.

Slashdot It!

I hope everyone back home is eating extra turkey and stuffing for me today! Not surprising, it does not feel anything like Thanksgiving here in Thailand. If it weren’t for my mom’s care package full of the season’s reminders (like a pumpkin spice candle, for example!) the week could have passed without a second thought. Here’s a picture of our “Thanksgiving Dinner”:

Not to worry, the WorldTeach volunteers are getting together this weekend for a “real” dinner, hopefully with a hard-to-find turkey too! 

So as my title describes, I am currently giving thanks for electricity. Right after this picture was taken, we lost electricity and dinner was eaten in candlelight (romantic, I know). It has since then come back, but it made me realize how many comforts I have even in this modest house in Thailand.

Well, happy Thanksgiving to all. And “Go Pack!”

Cleaning the refrigerator helps keep the food you store inside fresh. By keeping science experiments and spills to a minimum, the food that is stored in your refrigerator will not take on the scent or flavor of other foods.

In order to properly clean your refrigerator, follow these simple steps.

1. Turn the temperature control knob to the off position. Your fridge will be open for a while, so there is no sense in having your fridge run and waste electricity.
2. If you have a drip pan underneath your fridge, remove it.
3. Take everything out of the refrigerator and put it on the counter nearby.
4. Throw away spoiled food, anything that is moldy, expired or hasn’t been used in more than a month or two.
5. Take the shelves, wire racks and drawers out of the refrigerator.
6. Wash the shelves and wire racks in warm soapy water, using regular dish soap and a sponge or cloth. Use a soft scrub brush if there is caked or dried on food or spills. Let the shelves and wire racks dry on newspaper or in a dish rack.
7. Empty out the drawers and dump out any residue or food matter from the bottom. Wash the drawers by hand with warm soapy water and a dish cloth or sponge. Let the drawers air dry on newspaper, towels or in a dish rack.
8. Wipe away any food matter from the bottom of the refrigerator with a wash cloth or paper towel.
9. Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water (mild dish detergent is fine). Wash the inside walls of the fridge using a dish cloth or sponge and the warm soapy water. Wash inside all the compartments and inside the door racks. Use a soft scrubbing sponge for caked or dried on food or spills.
10. Rinse the inside of the fridge with a clean sponge or dish cloth and clean warm water.
11. Replace all the shelves, wire racks and drawers.
12. As you are putting food back into your fridge, using your warm, soapy wash cloth, wipe off to clean and dry any sticky or messy jars, canisters, etc. You can now put all your food back into the fridge. Turn the temperature knob back to the “on” position at the recommending temperature setting.
13. Wash the outside of the refrigerator and the rubber molding around the fridge door with warm soapy water. Rinse with a clean cloth and wipe dry with paper towel or a dish towel.

If you need to control odor in your refrigerator, use 2 tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water to wash the inside of the fridge. Subsequently, you can also use one cup of vinegar in a quart of water and wash the inside of the fridge. Remember to rinse when you are finished though. Placing a fresh, open box of baking soda in your fridge will also cut down on odors.

A few times a year, you should pull your refrigerator out and vacuum the condenser coils at the back. They have a tendency to get dusty and could cause a fire if there happened to be a spark.

You should never use harsh abrasives, scouring pads or harsh cleaners in your refrigerator. Abrasives, scouring pads and harsh cleaners can damage the finish inside your refrigerator and compromise the integrity of the lining which could cost you more in energy to keep the refrigerator cool.

Article by: doityourself.com

AP reports:

Southwestern Electric Power Co. has won regulatory approval for two rate hikes for its Arkansas customers.  SWEPCO said Wednesday that a base rate increase in December will raise residential bills by 5 percent, or $3.84 for a customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. A second increase will go into effect upon completion next summer of a 508-megawatt, natural gas-fueled power plant in Shreveport, La. To help pay for the $386 million plant, Arkansas customers will see an increase of 4 1/4 percent, or $3.17 a month for 1,000 kilowatt users. Combined, SWEPCO customers will pay 9.41 percent more for electricity, or $7.01 per month for 1,000 kilowatt users. That comes to $84 per year.

f2.8  1/4  ISO 400

RUSNANO and AmBAR Announce the Business Plan Competition of Nanotech Projects 

    AmBAR creates a unique platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and business contacts between technology entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors. The organization is also dedicated to accelerating access to capital for innovative projects and developing technology partnerships between Russia, Ukraine and other FSU countries and the United States. Through various seminars and conferences AmBAR provides educational programs that help entrepreneurs refine their business plans, and advance their product development and marketing efforts.

Ambar’s Mission:

·       To provide a networking platform for technology entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, and other business professionals from Russian, Ukraine and other CIS countries who are interested in innovation and commercialization of high technology products.

·       To educate, showcase, and support entrepreneurs in Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries as they seek equity capital, corporate partners, and grow their companies globally.

·       To enhance all aspects of technology partnership between the United States and the countries of the former Soviet Union. 

SVOD Conference is right around the corner and we have an amazing lineup of speakers! Register today and don’t miss out on this unique networking opportunity!

 

    This is a not to be missed event for the entrepreneurs and the Venture Capital community. This year’s theme will drive a very exciting Agenda exploring “re-invention” as it affects the startup process on multiple levels — technologies, business models, financing, monetizing and team building.

 

 

• Vinod Khosla, Founding Partner, Khosla Ventures
• Charles Giancarlo, Managing Director, Silver Lake
• Steve Blank, Serial Entrepreneur; Founder, Epiphany; Lecturer, Stanford University, Graduate School of Engineering
• Sergei Beloussov, CEO, Parallels
• Ron Conway, Founding General Partner, Angel Investors LP
• Jason Pressman, General Partner, Shasta Ventures
• Adam Lashinsky, Editor at large, Fortune magazine; regular panelist and business commentator for Fox network programs
• Esther Dyson, Director, 23andMe, Principal, EDventure Holdings (sold to CNet), investor in Flickr and del.icio.us (both sold to Yahoo!) & Medstory (sold to Microsoft)
• Jeff Crow, General Partner, Norwest Venture Partners
• Vivek Mehra, General Partner, August Capital
• Ping Li, General Partner, Accel Partners
• Kittu Kolluri, General Partner, New Enterprise Associates
• Franklin Pitch Johnson, Founding Partner, Asset Management Company
• Peter Loukianoff, Partner, Almaz Capital Partners
• Guy Kawasaki, Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures
• Pavel Pogodin, Partner, Sughrue Mion LLP
• Dmitry Dubograev, Partner, Femida LLP
• Leonid Gozman, Board Member, RUSNANO
• Mikhail Chuchkevich, Director, Project Office, RUSNANO
• Dmitry Vasuytinsky, Managing Partner, Allianz Asset Management
• Yan Ryazantsev, Investment Director, Russian Venture Company
• Bo Parker, Managing Director, Center for Technology and Innovation, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
• Phil Libin, CEO, Evernote
• Vlad Shmunis, CEO, RingCentral, Sequoia-backed company
• Matthew Trevithick, General Partner, Venrock
• Eric Buatois, General Partner, Sofinnova Ventures
• Vish Makhijani, COO, Zynga
• Vimal Solanki, Vice President, McAfee
• Evgeni Utkin, CEO, Kvazar-Micro, acquired by Sitronics, voted the Best Ukrainian Entrepreneur
• Greg Shenkman, General Partner, Exigen Capital, formerly CEO of Genesys, sold to Alcatel for $1.9B
• Mike Selfridge, Northern California Region Manager, Silicon Valley Bank

Whether you are looking for a deal flow, funding, information or networking – SVOD 2009 is the place to be! - WWW.SVOD.ORG 

 

 

Date: December 9-10, 2009

Location: Computer History Museum, Mountain View, Silicon Valley, CA

To Register: http://www.svod.org/

 

Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (RUSNANO) and American Business Association of Russian-speaking Professionals (AmBAR) announce the Business Plan Competition cor projects and companies working in the field of nanotechnology. Origination of the project may come from any country or person all over the world, but its implementation or some part of implementation has to be completed in Russia. In 2009 the nominees for the contest are pre-selected by AmBAR among the participants of the Fifth Annual High Tech Investment Conference SVOD 2009. For more information, please go to: http://www.svod.org/ or e-mail to info@ambarclub.org

The projects are evaluated by the following criteria:

• nanotechnology application;
• scientific and technical feasibility of the project;
• quality and feasibility of the business-plan;
• steps already made towards project implementation.

The winner of the competition receives the RUSNANO award and the prize in the amount of 300,000 rubles (~$10,000).

For more details, please see the Contest terms and conditions (in Russian)

Funding Source: Air Force — Research Lab
Funding Type: Discretionary, Grant/Agreement
Total Available: N/A
Award Ceiling: N/A
Deadline: 01.27.10
Eligibility: Unrestricted

Description:
AFRL/RZPE seeks to develop and demonstrate a solid state electrical distribution unit (SSEDU) suitable for use in more electric aircraft. The hardware deliverable will be a working unit capable of switching large currents and being integrated into the INVENT systems integration facility (ISIF).

The AMEU was recently approached for comment by the Treasury Department of a member municipality regarding some communication they had apparently received from NERSA. This followed some media reports (radio and internet, at least) on warrants being issued for the arrest of the municipal manager, the mayor and the financial head of Umsobomvu Municipality in Colesberg in the Northern Cape because they apparently ignored a court order prohibiting the practice of disconnecting consumers’ electricity because payments for other services were overdue… (more)

Wading into the voluntary renewable energy market this past October, nearly 10% of WA’s total electricity demand will be met by 100% renewable energy produced throughout New England. Through the New England GreenStart program (Green Start) WA will purchase and retire Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) for all electricity used by Alumni House and off campus faculty apartments and athletic facilities. The energy sources include low impact hydropower, biomass, wind and solar. For a map of energy source locations click on Green Start Sources and for a Green Start disclosure label Disclosure Label. This program is available to all Massachusetts National Grid customers. Another renewable energy option available to all residents and organizations is the New England Wind Fund NewEnglandWind.