Solar panels are created by combining silicon with other elements that do have positive or negative charges. How it work is simply to convert photons of light into electrical current by a process known as the photovoltaic effect.The only requirements for the solar panels to work are moderate amount of sunlight. Homemade solar panels kits provide technical details for anyone who simply wants to cut their electricity bill. With new uses for solar panels arising every day, you can learn how solar panels work and how to set them up.

Homemade solar panel kits and such packages usually include a soldering iron, flux, tabbing and solar cells. Many individual cells are wired together in a sealed weatherproof unit called a solar module or panel. Single-crystal solar panels are currently the most efficient type available, meaning that they produce the most power per square foot of module. Fortunately, you do not need professional skills or abilty in order to make them operational. Step-by-step instructions provide all the technical support during the construction of your homemade solar panels.

Your home can cut ties completely with the power grid and become self sufficient, if it is equipped with a battery charging system and sufficient solar panels. Homemade solar panels are environment-friendly, producing what is usually called green energy. This is a great way to generate clean and renewable electricity to power the average home. Unlike coal or oil that create electricity, homemade solar panels don’t produce any smog or hazardous emissions. This is making the use of photovoltaic systems over fossil fuels, much more viable to homeowners and businesses.

You can create two types of utilities with the homemade solar panels. One to generate heat, and one that produce electricity. The sun heats  fluid which absorb the sun energy and circulates it inside tubes under the floor of the home. Whereas, the second model relies on the use of photo-voltaic cells for the generation of electricity. Build your own solar power panels and reap the benefits and energy savings of heating with the sun.

Renewable energy refers to new ‘green energy’ sources (since 1997) which are defined as continually replaced without depleting reserves.

It is in general less polluting than its counterpart, non-renewable energy.   Non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and gas exist in finite reserves and are continually being depleted.   These energy sources also create considerable damage to the environment.

Currently, many of the energy sources that are in use or have been found, are not considered green due to the damage that they can do to surrounding environments (hydroelectric, thermal, fossil fuels and nuclear).   These energy sources are monopolized by only a few companies that are capable of producing them.   Due to this factor and the fact that they cannot be replenished at a quick rate has prompted people all over the world to start demanding cheaper fuel.   Knowledge can be a huge benefit when it comes to inventing a new energy source that is renewable and able to keep up with the high demand for it in order to keep the cost of it down.

Source: http://www.  buzzle.  com/articles/the-background-of-an-alternative-source-of-energy.  html
Sunlight is the source of most renewable energy power, either directly or indirectly.   The sun can be harnessed to produce solar energy — electricity for heating, cooling, and lighting homes, offices, entertainment complexes, airports, and a variety of other industrial structures.

Heat from the sun also produces wind, whose energy is captured by wind turbines and turned into electricity capable of powering entire towns.

Hydroelectric power is produced from streams, rivers, and waterfalls that flow downhill, their tremendous power turning large turbines that convert the flow to electricity.   Industrialized nations have already developed most of the world’s large hydroelectric resources, but small-scale technologies are being developed that will provide additional localized power in the future.

Organic plant matter, known as biomass, can be burned, gasified, fermented, or otherwise processed to produce electricity, heat and biofuels for transportation.   Bioenergy is another term for energy that is produced from biomass for any of these purposes.

Geothermal energy taps the Earth’s internal heat in the form of steam for a variety of uses, including electric power production, and the heating and cooling of buildings.   Some new systems are in development for harvesting even more power by injecting water back into underground heat sources to produce more steam.

Ocean energy can also be used to produce electricity.   In addition to tidal energy, energy can be produced by the action of ocean waves, which are driven by both the tides and the winds.   Because of their link to winds and surface heating processes, ocean currents are considered as indirect sources of solar energy. 

Source: http://www.  acore.  org/what_is_renewable_energy

Green growth brings enormous benefits in the form of new jobs, less pollution, better public health and improved food security, the Secretary-General told the three-day gathering in León, Mexico, aimed at scaling up renewable energy initiatives in Latin America.

Mr.   Ban said that the pursuit of energy efficiency and the expansion of renewable energy can promote clean development and break the connection between economic growth and rising greenhouse gas emissions.

“Most importantly, they can help to reduce poverty and empower billions of people whose development is held back by a lack of access to affordable electricity,” said Mr.   Ban.

Source: http://www.  un.  org/apps/news/story.  asp?NewsID=32448&Cr=climate+change&Cr1

Energy generation, that dull conversation stopper revolving around pipelines and power grids, has got sexy recently.

Run-of-the-mill engineers working in hot, dirty conditions are giving way to visionaries painting a picture of a cleaner and greener Singapore of smart meters, electric cars and renewable power, creating challenging new careers for young people.

And there’s someone leading the charge: Mr Lawrence Wong, the new chief of Singapore’s energy authority, is convinced that energy is the new hot topic of the town.

‘The tide is changing, and so are people’s perceptions,’ he says.   ’The younger generation, especially, are keen on cleaner forms of energy.

‘It’s not just in Singapore, but globally.   We’re caught by the tide of what’s happening on the international stage, with growing concern for the planet and climate change.   People are keen to do something.  ‘

It was the surge in this new thinking that convinced Mr Wong to take the helm at the Energy Market Authority (EMA) in January.   At 37 years old, the administrative service officer, who spent the previous three years as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s principal private secretary, is one of the youngest people to head a statutory board.

The agency reflects the generational changes under way.   Once a low-profile organisation working to ensure that energy flows whenever someone flicks a switch, it is now expanding its role and vision, aptly summarised by ‘Smart Energy, Sustainable Future’.

This new vision acknowledges the fast-changing landscape, which has become more challenging and intertwined with climate change and sustainability.

‘We want to be the energy authority.   One that oversees a wide spectrum of energy issues, one that’s vocal and provides advice to the Government on policy issues,’ adds Mr Wong.

More dramatically, it is turning itself into an industry developer.   It recently set up Singapore LNG Corporation to oversee a billion-dollar LNG terminal project, which was originally to have been developed by Singapore Power’s unit PowerGas and French partner GDF Suez.

Financial difficulties made it challenging for the firms to stay on schedule, prompting the Government to step in so that the project is not delayed.

The intervention underscores how important LNG – a natural gas cooled to liquid form – is as an emerging energy source for the country.

‘It’s important for Singapore’s energy security so we’re not overly reliant on our neighbours for gas,’ says Mr Wong.   About 80 per cent of Singapore is powered by natural gas from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Construction will begin in January with the LNG terminal ready in 2013.

The opening up of new fields of energy has captured public attention, with about 700 people flooding the EMA with applications for just a few job positions in the new LNG firm.

Job-seekers will have plenty of other opportunities once Mr Wong’s two other main goals start coming into focus.

One is what he calls the electrification of the transport sector, where everything from cars to buses will run on electricity instead of polluting fuels.   Singapore’s small size makes such a system viable.

An average car consumes about 80kwh of energy for every 100km it travels, but 75 per cent of that is wasted because of the inefficiencies of the combustion engine.   But electric vehicles consume about four times less energy for every 100km driven.

Although there are obstacles such as cost, battery technology and infrastructure, Mr Wong believes technology will solve the problems.

He also believes Singapore can be the centre of this rapidly expanding market.   A task force chaired by the EMA and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) recently launched a $20 million test-bedding programme to bring electric vehicles here.

It is working with car makers Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi as well as Keppel Energy on suitable vehicles and infrastructure to kick-start the industry.   This could mean electric vehicles plying our roads by next year, with an electrified public transport system not far off, says Mr Wong.

Another goal – this one further on the horizon – is to develop a super-intelligent power grid where smart systems are integrated into the electricity market.

Singapore’s grids are already pretty smart – they are automated and can re-route electricity in case of supply disruptions.   But they can get smarter, with each household wired more intelligently into the network.   Users will be able to see price variations and decide when to consume electricity at the optimum rate, explains Mr Wong.

A $3 million pilot project has been run in some homes in Marine Parade and West Coast.   Smart meters are linked to home appliances and show residents what uses the most energy and when.

Results show the massive potential of smart meters, with households using them quickly reducing their energy consumption to below the national average, says Mr Wong.

Households could eventually choose different packages with peak and off-peak prices from energy providers, like the way we pick a telco for communication services.

The obstacle again is cost – such meters are currently about 10 times more expensive than standard ones – and price is still the main concern for the man in the street when energy issues are raised.

Singapore’s power generators (gencos) have recently been sold to foreign firms and Mr Wong acknowledges public concerns that the relatively high prices paid will be passed on to consumers.

But gencos operate in a competitive environment, he says.   They have to bid against each other to sell electricity in the market and will be under pressure to price competitively as newer players enter the market.   He lets on that ‘there are power companies looking to set up new plants in Singapore’.

The EMA is also evaluating potential energy sources such as coal, solar and nuclear – a process that will be tempered by environmental and economic factors.

‘This is a difficult balancing act but we will act on what is in the best interest of the country,’ he says.   ’At the end of the day, we have to answer to the average Singaporean and nothing speaks more than the affordability of energy here.  ‘

Meanwhile, Mr Wong is boosting the EMA head count, from 200 when he joined to 250 today, with the aim of reaching 280.

‘If you ask people if they know what EMA is about, I reckon they don’t,’ he notes.   ’But if we deliver our projects, people will see more of us at the forefront.

‘We also hope to build up a culture.  .  .   where people have a sense of excitement about doing their work.

‘It’s going to take some time but we will be able to gradually establish what EMA stands for.  ‘

Q:  What kind of role can the EMA play to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption?
Singapore is ‘alternative energy disadvantaged’ so efficiency is a big part of our national strategy to reduce consumption.   EMA has stepped forward to co-chair the energy efficiency programme office with the National Environment Agency (NEA), so that we can also offer our perspectives and be in the discussions formulating strategies.

Q:  How do you think the man in the street perceives energy? Do you think people take it for granted?
I remembered reading a headline in The Straits Times: Energy is sexy, clean energy is sexier.   The perception has changed and people are getting more interested in it.
It’s easy to be complacent, but within EMA, we’re always vigilant and mindful of the experiences of power disruptions in the past.   The work that our chaps do is invisible to the public eye, but very critical in ensuring there’s a reliable electricity supply to consumers.

Q: There has been talk of an Asean power grid to connect networks in Asean countries.   What is its progress?
This will be a long-term endeavour.   The reality is our systems are quite different and we’re the only country in South-east Asia that has a liberalised electricity market.   So the framework differs from country to country, it needs some harmonisation, so work is still ongoing.

Q:  With some of our neighbours looking at nuclear energy options, what are Singapore’s concerns?
From our point of view, it is important to look at nuclear safety and security.   I think all countries share our concern on this.   We are working towards signing a nuclear safety framework.
As for us, we’re not ruling out this option for the long term.   We know there are difficulties: the size of our country is one, safety is the other.   And our energy needs are small relative to the size of nuclear plants today.
But technology is evolving, some nuclear reactors are getting smaller, so this is something that is worth looking at, and we should not rule it out.

Q:  Is the EMA prepared for a post-Kyoto world where a price is put on carbon?
We are studying the implications of this scenario for Singapore, and this is also on the agenda of the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC).
If you talk to all the gencos, they are aware this is something that will likely happen so they are thinking ahead about the possibility of a carbon price, and how it will affect their fuel choices.

Q:  What can we expect from the Singapore International Energy Week in November?
Our theme this year is ‘Clean energy, sustainable solutions for urban cities’ and there will be notable speakers coming to speak on the future of energy.   A clean energy exhibition will also be held.
We want Singapore to be a focal point for people to come together and discuss energy issues, and also a business platform where businesses can exchange information and views on a whole range of technical issues.

Source: http://www.  asiaone.  com/Business/SME%2BCentral/Prime%2BMovers/Story/A1Story20090916-168234.  html

Mr Lawrence Wong, 37, is the new chief of the Energy Market Authority (EMA).

The principal private secretary to the Prime Minister from 2005 to 2008, he assumed the position in January this year.

Mr Wong has a Master in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he was a Mason Fellow.   He also has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

He started out doing economic research and forecasting at the Ministry of Trade and Industry before joining the Ministry of Finance as a government economist, in charge of budget policies and fiscal planning.

From 2002 to 2003, he was deputy director of budget and head of economic programmes at the Ministry of Finance.

He moved on to become the director of health-care finance at the Ministry of Health, where he implemented reforms to MediShield, the national health insurance scheme.

Mr Wong, who is single, currently also serves on the board of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).
Source: http://www.  asiaone.  com/Business/SME%2BCentral/Prime%2BMovers/Story/A1Story20090916-168234.  html

From the daily Internet publication American Thinker, August 4, 2009,  this article on the mythology of “green jobs” and renewable energy as a source of long-term economic stability. Why is Ontario following the demise of Europe? And why does rural Ontario have to pay the price for this experiment in economy and, as it turns out in the case of industrial wind turbines, human health?

Green jobs: fast tracking economic suicide

By Michael Economides and Peter Glover

Dragonflies solar light lanterns have a mystical enchanting look. They can be used as decorations for your patio, dragonflies are also perfect fit for any outdoor table top. Reflection solar lantern lights are safe, CE certified, water and corrosion resistant.  Light turns on automatically at sunset, but during the day solar panels recharged Ni-Cd AA batteries. Dragonflies lantern all metal reflection lights are vibrant energy, electrical saving specialists.
 
Modern solar lantern color stripes will add the perfect ambiance to your landscape. The led bulb never burns out and can last up to 100,000 hours of operation. Color stripes lanterns can be placed anywhere electrical supply is not available. You’ll love the easy operation of this beautiful solar stripes color lights which is perfect for multi-use rather in your yard, patio, or garden. Dragonflies reflection lanterns are fast and easy to install, because there is no wiring or digging involved.

Simply powerful! Black camping solar lantern creates a natural lighting effect with the use of a super bright LED. Solar camping black lanterns look stylish with a fresh contemporary design, they are lightweight and easy to use. Black camping lanterns are a dependable addition to your outdoor lifestyle. This lantern is a happy combination of exterior beauty and functionally, great for camping. These solar lanterns has some very unique features and are a great addition to any home or garden.

These lantern lighting are fully automatic and you can use them to illuminate a tree or to create a people inviting place in the outdoor space in your home. They will bring spiritual dimensions to your yard or landscape. Solar powered lantern lights are safe and they will increase joyous moods around your home. Solar lanterns have a fresh contemporary design and are lightweight and easy to use.

The challenges of outdoor light fixtures don’t stop people from decorating their homes and gardens with the most delightful of designs. The secret lies in the cheerful combination of exterior solar lamps and the careful selection of solar spot lights for a unique arrangement. Solar exterior light fixtures are something new that changed the artistic perspective for both the home and the garden and the security level it brings to the premises. The alternation of smaller and larger exterior light fixtures is the concept behind successful landscaping.

Solar power systems are the best choice you could make for outdoor illumination. They consume free energy from the sun, they stay on all night long, and are incredibly easy to camouflage in the background. It is so much more interesting to have a great light-play without one being able to know exactly where the light is coming from. Moreover, you can choose front and area lighting, cross lighting or a combination of several such options for the best illumination plan you may have in mind for your home and garden.

Outdoor solar lighting systems are pretty easy to set up. There are no risks and they do not require professional technical knowledge to install. There are endless possibilities of combining light fixtures so as to achieve great lighting systems and an awesome atmosphere. Any combination is possible on the only condition that you follow some basic common sense. For special effects you may choose to use beams of light to shoot up in the air apparently out of nowhere.

Take advantage of technology and choose a lighting system that turns on at sunset and goes off at sunrise. One major concern you should try to remember, do not install many exterior light fixtures thus showing too much and leaving out all mystery. The whole purpose of landscaping is the beauty of the artistic alternation of shades and lights; thus, trees, bushes, ponds, stairs and the architectural details of your home, they all become important elements .

This is very long political/controvercial movie – what do you think?  Please share thoughts. - Ilene

Fall Of The Republic – The Presidency Of Barack H Obama – The Full Movie HQ

Have a couple of hours? What do you think of this politically controversial movie–how much is true and how much reflects conspiracy theory extremism? – Ilene

Fall Of The Republic – The Presidency Of Barack H Obama – The Full Movie HQ

A guest photo!  Courtesy of Crystal Kuhlmannwho found this week’s 69-er on Wolfe Island.  Love that the wind turbines are caught in the background!

Farmer Bryan Gilvesy speaking at Biomass Conference, Nov. 24

A conference at the Ridgetown Campus of the University of Guelph brought together a diverse group of farmers, energy producers and researchers to explore the potential of biomass.

Biomass is  plant material from agricultural and forestry sources that can be used to produce energy. 

The driving forces behind biomass include the overall  interest in reducing greenhouse gases and Ontario’s move to replace coal in the generation of electricity. Ontario Power Generation is targeting 2012 as the year when it will begin using biomass as a replacement for coal in some of its electricity plants.
 
OPG  Environmental Scientist Gerry McKenna says they’re evaluating several agricultural sources of biomass. These include many grass crops like miscanthus and switch grass. Crop residues like corn stover are also being considered.
 
The goal is to produce a sustainable supply for the coal-fired plants without having to use food crops for fuel.
 OPG is targeting the Atikokan Generating Station to be the first station converted to biomass fuel. It will be followed by other stations in Thunder Bay, Lambton and Nanticoke.

Click play button below to hear McKenna explain OPG’s interest in biomass as well as the challenges of using biomass as an energy source.

Meanwhile, an agri-business expert is cautious about the potential of the emerging biomass market. On the plus side,  Professor David Sparling from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario says biomass presents a new market opportunity for farmers. 

Sparling says biomass is a shift in technology from fossil fuels that is not being driven by economics, but by a need to do things differently because of climate change. Sparling adds that  biomass will have to make economic sense for farmers and processors to be a viable market. He says the economics of biomass could be best driven by carbon trading markets where people are paid for doing things that are more environmentally sustainable.

In the clip below, Sparling discusses the challenges of the emerging biomass market
 

An example of what Dr. Sparling is talking about – compensation for environmentally sustainable practices – is being demonstrated on a farm in southern Ontario.

Norfolk County farmer Bryan Gilvesy believes tallgrass prairie has enormous potential for producing biomass as well as improving the environment. He says the environmental benefits include sequestering carbon, protecting water resources and providing a habitat for key pollinators such as bees.

Gilvesy’s farm, which grows 46 acres of tallgrass prairie,  is a demonstration site for the Norfolk Alternative Land Use Services project. The pilot program tests the idea of paying farmers for the environmental services they perform.

 A perennial grass called miscanthus is also emerging as a potential crop for biomass. Leamington farmer Dean Tiessen grows miscanthus for use in his greenhouse business. In essence, he grows one crop outside to help produce greenhouse tomatoes – his valued-added crop that is grown indoors.

He says miscanthus is a perennial crop that is planted once and grows for many years with little or no inputs.

Tiessen, Sparling, Gilvesy and McKenna were just four of several speakers at the  November 24th conference “Agricultural Solutions for Energy: Biomass”.  It was part of the Research to Receptor Series 2009.

Link to Web site

The major factor about the advantages of solar lighting for the house and the garden are the security level it brings to the premises and the beautiful elements which cost nothing to run. In order to meet the requirements, a combination of ambient and security outdoor solar landscape lights are necessary.  If you are interested in solar lights, but are unsure where to begin, you can choose cross lighting, down-lighting, front and area lighting, up-lighting or a combination of several such options for the best of outcomes.

Make functionality a decisive factor for the outdoor solar lighting selection; the space you are going to illuminate, the weather conditions to which the system will be exposed. Solar post lamps are a way to improve your garden and landscape and also provide the lighting that you need during night time as well as the artistic expectations. Go only for those outdoor light fixtures that meet a quality standard in terms of finishes, this ensures a good protection level against flaking and deterioration by corrosion. .

Generally speaking, good products are checked before leaving the manufacturing areas; thus, the quality of solar powered lights as the final product should be taken very seriously. Sometimes, it is definitely worth paying a bit more on the system than being forced to cope with maintenance problems all the time. This is meant to put the your mind at ease. As a result, outdoor solar spot lights, outdoor flood lights, and outdoor solar deck lights to save you money on electricity and provide extra security to your home.

Try to exploit the advantages of modern technology and choose a lighting system that turns on at sunset and goes off at sunrise; such a device makes it possible for the outdoor light fixtures and lamps to work independently from the house owner. Owing to the photocells incorporated in the structure of the lamps, the outdoor lights will go on regardless of whether you are home or not. Furthermore, one other aspect you can play on is the use of lights with motion sensors incorporated: they will turn on as you walk by, showing the way along garden pathways. Enjoy the experience!

The positive impact of solar panels electric generation is a major tool to tackle global warming by substantially cutting greenhouse gases. Solar cells produce direct current electricity from light, which can be used to power equipment or to recharge a battery. Solar electric technology has important roles to play in the global effort in tackling climate change. Solar panels can easily be built,they good for the environment, has low maintenance costs and work the hardest during the heat of the day taking pressure off the energy grid during peak hours. 

The water heater is the second largest energy consumer in the home and is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. A solar water heater uses the energy of the sun to reduce pollution, conserve energy, and save money in the long term. The boiler has less work to do to get your hot water taking pressure off the energy grid during peak periods. This effort is part of an effort to become more energy efficient and to reduce greenhouse gas

Solar cells produce direct current electricity from light, which can be used to power equipment or to recharge a battery.  Solar electric generation is economically superior where grid connection. Solar heating has become a wise investment, reducing your energy dependency and will play a role combating global warming. Solar lighting systems are quiet and easy to use, and they require no fuel other than sunlight. Generating electricity, without burning fossil fuels, is the most important contribution that solar panels will make in the future.

Solar electric systems can also connect to existing power lines to boost electricity output during times of high demand such as on hot sunny days substantially cutting greenhouse gases. The energy that solar panels produce is free of pollution or CO2 emissions. solar electricity could drop a person’s green house gas emissions by 60 or 70%. Solar panels are a powerful symbol of the future of energy production that promises both job creation and a greener future. Solar panels are widely hailed as a potential environmental and economic savior.

Homemade solar energy panels are somewhat of a bargain compare of the cost of pre built ones. If you are interested in solar panels for the home, you may want to get an Earth4Energy DIY installation guide. A homemade solar panel is a big money saver that you can build for $200.00 by following a step-by-step detail illustrated manual and easy to follow video instructions. Imagine if you could power up basically any appliance in your home with your own homemade electricity.

A good do it yourself manual is almost essential when learning how to make solar panels on your own. It is now possible for everyone to understand how do solar panels work without much hassles and with a very small and affordable investment. All you have to do is to find a good and reliable source of information about solar panels. The Earth4Energy manual contains all the information and guidance on how to make solar panels at home to start generating your own electricity with solar power.

You don’t need to be a master builder, it is really quite easy to make solar electric panels once you know the secrets. The Earth4Energy kit is the best system for people who are looking to save money on their home energy bill and want to build cheap solar panels at home. You can easily find the solar panel kits in the marketplace but there is no other kit out there like Earth4Energy that explains clearly with manuals or even includes videos. You now have access to best solar panels for your home.

In the end, you’ll be able to reduce your energy cost by seventy percent when you make solar panels for your home. The results of having your own solar panels for a two hundred dollars is well worth the time and effort to learn how to make cheap solar panels. Once you decide to build your own homemade solar power system it will become very important to get a copy of Earth4Energy manual kit.

Global Finishing Solutions, GFS, has invested in a new turret press for its sheet metal processes at its Osseo, Wis., facility.
The new turret, a Murata Motorum Servo-Drive press, is 100 percent electrically operated, using approximately 70 percent less energy than other turrets with similar capabilities, according to GFS. The use of servomotors in place of hydraulics eliminates the need for the use of oils or refrigerant coolers.
The company said the new turret doubles operation speeds, provides improved production capabilities and lowers operating costs.

EV cars have long fascinated me, frankly I want one. I have wanted one since GM’s controversial ev1 program. For many EV’s are perfect since the average person does not travel more than 40 miles a day. One of the barriers for widespread EV adoption though is the Battery Technology unfortunately.

Large scale batteries add a pretty hefty cost to the price of a car and have an unavoidable limit on how far one can travel with a single charge; not to mention the impact on the environment. So the customer is paying more for a handicapped vehicle. I love the EV concept and even I get that.  Until this is either overcome completely or at minimum total mileage is around 120 miles with little to no cost difference EV’s will remain a niche product. They will have a place in the market, but will never rule the roads.

One promising technology is a liquid battery called Redox Flow. In this type of battery a charged fluid and be extracted when it loses its charge and then replaced with freshly charged fluid. These fluids can be used over and over again which makes it sustainable unlike many of our current battery technologies. With this concept one could pull into a “gas” station, pump out expired battery fluid, pump in fresh fluid, the station could then recharge the fluid, and sell it right back. Conceivably this tech could not only kill out dependence on foreign oil it could save/create jobs through “gas” stations AND eliminate the pollution to refine and transport petrol.

For more information on this check out the article over on cnet.

• Money for big solar projects, frozen since January 2009, has begun to slowly flow again since late summer.
• Talented job-seekers going crazy from the silence of 2009 are starting to hear their phones ring with calls from recruiters who have heard of them through their networks, not job boards or applications.  There is an expectation that hiring will really open up in January 2010.  Recruiters are fattening their candidate pipes and trying to get interviews for January seats conducted by their clients now, if possible.
• In addition to new seats opening in January 2010, there is a prediction that a game of musical chairs will also be underfoot.  Many employees have played it safe with their jobs this past year, or have taken available positions with too long a commute, or not their aspirational fit:  These folks will likely be on the move.

-Valerie Fahs-Thatcher

Its been an interesting few days for the very uninteresting topic of household waste. The Tories have announced plans to pay people in vouchers for recycling their waste and Ecotricity, a green electricity provider, has declared its intention to launch the UK’s first green gas tariff created, in part, from household waste.

The Tory scheme, announced today in a speech given by George Osborne, was pioneered in the US and has been piloted in some Tory run councils. The idea is to provide incentives for people to recycle through a points system that can then be renewed through popular high street retailers.

Ecotricity are one of the greenest suppliers of electricity in the country. They are looking to invest £50 million into two biodigestion units (green gas mills in the company’s words) and match British Gas on dual fuel pricing. The scheme will be introduced in January but initially it will run of ‘brown’ gas with the introduction of biogas coming in stages over 2010.

Waste is turned into biogas by microbes contained in tanks without oxygen that convert the matter to methane and carbon dioxide. This can be burnt to generate electricity or supplied over the national grid as gas. Recycling at its best.

Both plans provide novel ways of dealing with household waste, and considering that UK homes send roughly 22.6 million tonnes of rubbish to landfills a year, ones that are to be welcomed.

By Lawrence Buckley

Stop Entergy Arkansas From Raising Rates
$1.04 Billion!

Today, Tuesday, November 24, is the last day to submit your comment against prolonging the life of the White Bluff coal-fired power plant in Redfield, Arkansas.

Entergy Arkansas is asking the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to approve an air permit that would prolong the life of its White Bluff coal-fired plant. If ADEQ grants the permit, Entergy will dump $1.04 billion of ratepayers’ money into retrofitting its plant. Instead of sticking ratepayers with a billion dollar charge to keep burning dirty coal, we should instead look to cleaner, less expensive ways to meet our state’s power needs.

Tell the ADEQ to say “NO” to Entergy Arkansas’ plans. Don’t let Entergy Arkansas dump your dollars into a scheme that locks Arkansas into dirty coal and out of a cleaner energy future.

Other energy providers have already expressed interest in replacing White Bluff’s dirty coal power with power from cleaner burning natural gas. With your help, we can wean Arkansas off coal and reduce the state’s carbon footprint.

Chaining ourselves to the fate of a dying coal plant will leave us years behind competing states. Now is our chance to step forward and make Arkansas a cleaner energy leader, but we just have until 4:30 p.m. today. Please take action now.

“Green power energy.If you are interested in learning exactly how to generate power and reduce your bill. Green power energy,I hear out..green power energy then this is the perfect resource for you!

With the ever increasing costs of living, there is no better time than right now to stop throwing money out the window and start generating our own electricity.

Over the last few years I have figured out how to significantly reduce the cost of solar panels making it more affordable for the average home owner just like you.

Now you can build a single panel or a complete array of panels to power your home for a fraction of retail cost.

Click here Green Power Energy

C-7, C9 Christmas Lights: Incandescent vs. LED Christmas Lights

C-7, C9 Christmas Lights: Incandescent vs. LED Christmas Lights

The C style bulb is one of the more common varieties of holiday lighting out there. It has become very popular and is available in 3 common styles: C6, C7, and C9 Christmas lights. C9s tend to be more for commercial applications and bigger areas whereas C-6s and C-7s are a matter of personal preference.

The C-7 Christmas Lights, also known as “strawberry lights”, are great for just about any occasion. They come in incandescent varieties and LED varieties, both of which are available our web site

The incandescent C7 Christmas lights are perfect for decorators who like to really customize their lighting. It is very easy to unscrew and re-screw bulbs in and out of the sockets. You can essentially build your own light set. Want to alternate between red and green for a neat Christmas look? You can! If you would like to create a pink and purple set for Valentine’s Day, go for it! The possibilities are almost endless.

With the C variety of LED Christmas lights, on some sets, you cannot unscrew them. On the other hand, the fact that they are permanently welded into the sockets makes them water proof. These specific C7 and C9 L.E.D. Christmas lights are like all LED Christmas lights, and use considerable less energy and are better for the environment. You will see a huge reduction in your electric bill if you make the switch to L.E.D. Christmas lights.

These L.E.D. Christmas lights also last significantly longer than incandescent Christmas lights do, and are virtually indestructible.

You can also connect a lot more string lights together end to end with L.E.D. Christmas lights, which reduces the amount of electrical outlets you will need. You can plug up to 125 light sets together end to end with these special L.E.D. Christmas lights.

If you plan properly, you will only need to use one plug and one electrical outlet.

Additionally, you can invest in commercial grade C-7 and C-9 LED Christmas lights, and connect thousands of feet of light together safely and easily.

Incandescent C-7 L.E.D. Christmas lights and L.E.D. Christmas C-7 lights are both good in their own ways. They both have different uses, strengths, and weaknesses.

Always make sure to know what you are going to be doing before choosing the string light set you want, so you are sure to get the best string light set that will work best for your particular holiday lighting needs.

Read more about our commercial L.E.D. Christmas lights and also check out how easily these L.E.D. string lights can be installed on your home or business.

Check out the installation instructions for the commercial L.E.D. Christmas lights.

Buy L.E.D. Christmas lights on our web site while supplies last.

Solar lighting advances are continuing to be made as renewable energy concepts are gaining speed. Solar lighting advances are also coming with much greater efficiency. They are multi layer cells that are capable of using more of the light spectrum which can produce more power with less cells. solar advances are likely to come from the copper-indium-diselenide approach. The panels collect the photons and through a complicated process involving the transfer of ions energy is created. 

Solar cells collect the energy and recharge internal batteries.The energy is then sent via wires to a battery bank. Solar battery banks use lead acid batteries to store the energy. A solar battery bank is what will keep your garden, landscape or house supplied with energy during nighttime hours and on cloudy days. Solar led lights can also used to supplement even more of the home’s energy and is better for the environment.

While solar lighting advances does reduce the use of fossil fuels, the manufacture of solar panels does require a lot of energy. However, panels can last 30 years or more so you get back more energy than is use to produce them. You have to consider energy conservation, for example solar street lights, as a first step that is not only free, but will likely save money. Conservation is probably the biggest piece of the energy puzzle out there. The truth is we are keep wasting energy like there is no tomorrow.

The main setbacks with solar lighting advances are the cost which are getting cheaper every year. So it is up to you to spread the word about the benefits of solar led lights and all of its practical applications. If you’re like most people and can’t afford to invest in wind or solar energy just yet, you can always conserve within your home by controlling how much power you consume.

L.E.D. Christmas Lights: Connect Up To 3000 Feet With One Electrical Outlet

Commercial L.E.D. Christmas Lights

C-9 L.E.D. Christmas lights are the most popular of all the C bulbs with regards to professional and commercial lighting. Their bigger size makes them stand out more and is sure to catch the attention of anyone passing by. They also make for wonderful light displays that can be seen from farther away. On top of that, they are also not too big for use in your home. They are the perfect size to be used for just about any decoration scheme or project you are trying to set up.

LED commercial Christmas lights make the process even more convenient, as they use less energy and you can connect many more sets together safely on one plug. With the commercial grade variety, you can connect an outstanding 125 sets together for a phenomenal 3,000 feet of light. Never before has this been able to be done without the need for electricians to make special light and power arrangements. Decorate the inside and outside of your home, and even your Christmas tree, all on one plug and one wall outlet. No more extension cords required.

If this sounds too good to be true, rest assured that it is not. Item C85313 is also a great way to decorate for weddings and anniversaries. When used as wedding lights, you can decorate the entire project on one plug. Depending upon the setup, you may prefer white wire wedding lights, but these are ideal for arrangements that involve a lot of floral designs and greenery.

You can connect 125 sets together, but you can also mix and match. Throw a blue light strand in there or a green light strand. You may be limit in number but not in design. Customize your own long light strand and make this year’s holidays the easiest time decorating you have ever had.

Commercial L.E.D. Christmas lights in different sizes and styles while supplies last.

If you are not ready to make an investment in these special L.E.D. Christmas lights and would like to learn more about them then please continue reading and get more information and installation instructions for these L.E.D. Christmas lights .

Did you know that Illinois ranked among the top 10 states nationally for wind project installations, according to the American Wind Energy Association in Washington, D.C. in 2009?

Affinity Wind, LLC, announced on Friday that it had received a $300,000 investment from Saint Louis University’s Billiken Angel Network. The investment is expected to enable the company to develop a 150-megawatt wind energy project in north central Illinois that would be large enough to power about 50,000 homes. With the average 100 megawatt project generating 150 temporary construction jobs and about 10 permanent maintenance jobs, this project could be another boost, albeit a small one, to the local economy.

Illinois may not be considered a leader in either wind or solar energy yet, but according to Amanda Vanega, a policy analyst with the NC Solar Center at North Carolina State University, Illinois is in good position to catch up. (NC State University maintains a database on state incentives for renewable energy. Illinois is one of 29 states that have renewable energy standards.) According to the Illinois Wind Energy Association (IWEA) Illinois currently has 1000 megawatts of wind generation capacity – enough to power more than 300,000 homes – and has the potential to generate as much as 10,000 megawatts.