Energy TBC

What Are The Practical sources Of Energy? Part 1

The practical sources of energy include the fossil fuels, natural gas, petroleum (or oil), and coal. Fossil fuels are referred to as nonrenewable energy sources because, once used, they are gone. Scientists are exploring the practicality of other sources called renewable energy sources. These include sun, wind, geothermal, water, and biomass. The renewable energy resources are important in long range energy planning because they will not be depleted.

Natural Gas

Sometimes natural gas is confused with gasoline, the fuel in cars. They are not the same. Gasoline is a mixture of liquids, and natural gas is mainly methane and is piped into homes and office buildings where it is used as an energy source for heating, cooking washing, and drying. It is raw material to make other chemicals, and is the cleanest bumming fossil fuel. This means it contributes little environmental pollutants when bummed.

Petroleum or Oil

This is the black, thick liquid pumped from below the earth’s surface wherever you see an oil rig. To make it useful, it is refined. Refining separates the gasoline portion which is used in transportation. Products from the remaining portions include synthetic rubber, detergents, fertilizers, textiles, paints, and pharmaceuticals.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy refers to the energy deep within the earth. It shows itself in the fountains of boiling water and steam known as geysers. Geothermal energy was generated by the decay of natural radioactive materials within the earth. In addition it is the heat energy remaining within the earth from gravitational formation of the earth. This energy source is not popular in the United States, but Yellowstone has some geysers. Geothermal energy is used to heat some homes, greenhouses, and factories. The actual usable geothermal sites are few, but is considered a renewable energy source.

Coal

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel. It is not a widely used energy source due to the cost of mining and its impurities, which cause pollution (acid rain). There are two ways to mine coal; underground mining and strip mining. Disadvantage to these methods is the environmental change caused in the process. New ways of using coal are being explored, such as liquefication, in which a product similar to oil is produced.

Solar

The sun is 93 million miles away and yet, this ball of hot gases is the primary source of all energy on earth. In the hi ugh temperature of the sun, small atoms of hydrogen are fused, that is, the centers of the two atoms are combined. Fusion releases far greater energy than splitting the atom (fission, see below). Without sunlight, fossil fuels could never have existed. The sun is the supplier of energy which runs the water cycle. The uneven heating of the earth produces wind energy. Solar energy can be used to cook food, heat water and generate electricity. It remains the cleanest energy source an it is renewable. It is the hope for the energy source of the future and scientists at NREL are actively working on ways for solar energy to supply more our energy needs!

Imagine living in a house with no doors and no windows, or where everything is wide open. It is a difficult scenario because one would not be able to sleep right at night knowing there is the possibility that somebody might enter the main entrance or pass through the open spaces anytime. Burglars would certainly be lucky enough if they would track down these kinds of houses because of the pleasure of going in and out effortlessly. But thanks to the makers of doors and windows, this frustrating possibility has become farfetched.

If early man did not use his instinct to find shelter, we would have been extinct by now. But since they were rational beings, they made use of what they had. Despite having little knowledge, they were able to think out of the box to form shelters with their resources and their cold little bodies. Indeed, these qualities of man to be resourceful, innovative, and creative led to greater heights. And although the height of their achievement was surviving in a cave during an ice age, today it is a skyscraper or an eco-friendly building constructed with space age technology.

It is because of man that these things were developed. And it is also because of his actions that the effects of technology such as pollution and global warming are so prevalent today. Sometimes it would be extremely hot and in other times, severely cold. There would be drought in some places and flooding in others. All of these are extremes to be avoided and so the balance has to be restored.

Right now, there are new technologies available that would help in restoring this balance of nature. Governments are constantly trying to promote that people find ways to use energy efficiently to limit the effects of global warming in the world. They passed policies that would make people go for energy efficient products especially for those to be used in the homes. Through research, it has been found that almost half of the carbon dioxide emissions of the world come from houses and buildings. And that twenty percent of the heat escaping from an average home goes out through windows. This is just from an average home. If all the millions of homes combine, that is a huge number and quite an alarming one too.

It is a good thing that there are already pvcu windows manufactured for use today. The material pvcu or polyvinyl chloride is unplasticised, meaning, it has no added softening agents. It is therefore, non pliable, hard, and more durable than ordinary plastic materials. Since it is a kind of plastic, manufacturing it costs lesser than other materials. In addition, it uses one hundred percent recycled material components so the manufacturing is reduced even more. These windows offer a tight fit. They are very energy efficient as these help homeowners save energy and cut down costs on electricity from heaters during the winter seasons and air conditioners during the warmer months. These definitely offer high performance, versatility, and affordability.

These energy efficient windows come in a wide range of styles that suit every home. Some options which are available include simple casement windows, innovative tilt and turn options, and classically styled vertical sliders. These are easily opened from the inside but locked tight and secure on the outside, making it extremely difficult to enter. They come in matching colours with the composite doors of choice which are also made from the same material. One could have matching colours for every part of the house and customisation is also possible as one could have the chance to create their own designs.

They are soundproof, making them a good choice if one wants to contain the sound in the room or prevent outside noise from disturbing the family. These are ideal for those who live in busy cities. These have the most advanced technology in terms of security, which have been proven and tested by the police force. These are easy to maintain, too since they do not rot, chip, break, crack, or dent. Maintenance does not have to involved expensive wood treatments or varnishes.

With the use of technology and innovations, a composite door is not just an ordinary entry or exit point anymore. Instead, it is a thing of beauty with many uses. Windows now offer more than just giving a view of the outside. People have tried to make up for their mistakes in the past and are now trying to make the world a better place to live in. Through the manufacturing of pvcu window frames and composite doors, households could now be more energy efficient, economical and environment friendly.

Solar Energy in Spain

Spain is forging ahead with plans to build concentrating solar power plants, establishing the country and Spanish companies as world leaders in the emerging field. At the same time, the number of installed photovoltaic systems is growing exponentially, and researchers continue to explore new ways to promote and improve solar power.

This is the seventh in an eight-part series highlighting new technologies in Spain and is produced by Technology Review, Inc.s custom-publishing division in partnership with the Trade Commission of Spain.

From the road to the Solcar solar plant outside Seville, drivers can see what appear to be glowing white rays emanating from a tower, piercing the dry air, and alighting upon the upturned faces of the tilted mirror panels below.

Appearances, though, are deceiving: those upturned mirrors are actually tracking the sun and radiating its energy onto a blindingly white square at the top of the tower, creating the equivalent of the power of 600 suns. That power is used to vaporize water into steam to power a turbine.

This tower plant uses concentrating solar technology with a central receiver. Its the first commercial central-receiver system in the world.

Spanish companies and research centers are taking the lead in the recent revival of concentrating solar power (CSP), a type of solar thermal power; expanses of mirrors are being assembled around the country. At the same time, Spanish companies are investing in huge photovoltaic (PV) fields, as companies dramatically increase production of PV panels and investigate the next generation of this technology.

Spain is already fourth in the world in its use of solar power, and second in Europe, with more than 120 megawatts in about 8,300 installations. Within only the past 10 years, the number of companies working in solar energy has leapt from a couple of dozen to a few hundred.

Power from the Suns Heat

Southern Spain, a region known the world over for its abundant sun and scarce rain, provides an ideal landscape for solar thermalpower. The tower outside Seville, built and operated by Solcar, an Abengoa company, is the first of a number of solar thermal plants and will provide about 10 megawatts of power.

The company Sener is completing Andasol 1, the first parabolic trough plant in Europea 50-megawatt system outside Granada that will begin operation in the summer of 2008.

Unlike photovoltaic panels, which harness the movement of electrons between layers of a solar cell when the sun strikes the material, solar thermal power works by utilizing the heat of the sun. CSP has until recently cost nearly twice as much as traditional naturalgas or coal power plants, and it is effective only on a large scale.

“You need a very large budget to set up a concentrated solar power system,” says Eduardo Zarza, director of concentrating solar research at the Solar Platform of Almera (PSA in Spanish), a research, development, and testing center.

Humans have recognized and utilized the power of the sun for a long long time, but it is only in the last thirty years or so that solar energy has come to the forefront of the energy revolution. Now recognized as a totally viable source of energy across the globe, solar panels are big business. Whether powering huge industrial buildings or a humble two-up two-down residential property, solar panels take power directly from the sun to eliminate the need for the sourcing of energy from non-renewable sources. We all know that solar energy is a great solution to our energy needs going forward, but there are plenty of things most of us don’t know about this wonderful source of energy.

Solar Panel Price Drop

Although solar panels are becoming more popular, they still only make up a fraction of the generated energy in the world, with most energy still being sourced from fossil fuels. Thankfully, the price of having solar panels fitted has dropped dramatically over the last few years, so we can expect the trend to change dramatically in the future. In many European countries, including Britain, energy created from the use of solar panels can be sold back to the national grid. This, of course, means that owners of panels can earn an income from their panels, while generating free energy for themselves.

Solar Power

Solar panels have huge power. If the Sahara Desert were completely covered in solar panels, this dry, hot, and particularly sunny part of the world would generate enough energy to power everything in the whole world for 30 years! Just a kilowatt of solar energy also allows you to effectively avoid creating 300lbs of carbon through the use of normal energy sources. Carbon is the element which is said to cause the greenhouse effect. Energy experts have also surmised that if everyone the world over changed to using solar power, enough power would be created to fuel the world 5,000 times.

Creative Energy

Leonardo da Vinci is credited as being the first person to harness the power of the sun to effectively create solar panels. He successfully boiled water by reflecting rays of sunshine against concave mirrors. More recently, photovoltaic technology was first developed in America, but surprisingly, their limited use of the energy source accounts for just 6% of the world’s solar energy use. Surprisingly, Germany, with a fairly poor sunshine record, is known for being the largest producer of solar energy in the world.

Solar Effective

Solar power is the most effective form of energy in terms of actual yield, creating more than both fossil fuel and nuclear power. This is, of course, a massively important fact, and one that should persuade us all that it’s an extremely good and responsible idea to investigate the possibility of using solar power if it’s at all possible for us to do so. The cost of having solar panels is still high, but most people find that they make their money back in the long run. When you consider that solar power is the best thing for the environment and the best thing for your pocket, it should only be a matter of time before everyone is changing.

Paul Chehade – Save A Lot Of Money With This Green Energy Advice

There is such an overwhelming amount of information regarding green energy online so locating reliable information is quite challenging. The following article is going to give you simple advice to bring green energy into your home.

Making small adjustments to the way you use energy every day can ultimately reduce your consumption. Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Try turning off the TV and lights when they’re not in use. This is an easy way to save cash as well.

The government has made grants for investing in renewable energy available to the public. Talk to your local government and figure out what programs are in the area. Who knows, you may qualify for low or no-cost wind or solar installation. Even if you don’t qualify for a grant, you can still use these items as a tax deduction.

During the summer, you should try drying your clothes out in the sun instead of using a dryer. The sun will make your clothing smell great. They’ll smell so much better than if you shoved them into a dryer! As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.

Try to turn off things you are not using. When you leave an area take the time to turn off lights, televisions, stereos, computers, and other electrical items you are not going to be using. A power strip offers a handy way to shut down multiple devices at once, and it prevents passive electrical use due to standby modes.

If you clean your dishes using a dishwasher, don’t run it until it’s completely full. Your dishwasher consumes the same energy and water, even if it is half full. When running the dishwasher, turn on the setting for energy conservation.

When planning a home solar system, calculate the potential energy generation of the system using hours of sunshine in the winter. This prevents unpleasant surprises in the winter, and it saves money during the summer. Also, if you make use of the net usage plan from your electric company, you will get returns from your utility company for generating energy during summer.

Take the time to properly maintain your refrigerator. Since refrigerators tend to eat up a great amount of power, it is crucial you keep it in perfect working order. Be sure that you’re regularly cleaning the dust that builds up near the heating coils. Don’t forget to be certain to keep the seal surrounding the door tight and clean.

Learn about the differences between passive and active solar power. Passive solar power doesn’t require the costly power-storage cells that active power does. Active solar power requires a lot of involvement in the form of installation, mechanics, and power cells. Passive energy is using the sun’s thermal energy to heat your house.

Pay attention to any federal or local rebates offered for making alternative-energy updates to your home. In some cases, the local utility company will offer rebates for the cost of the upgrades. You may also get state and federal tax deductions for making your home more energy efficient. These credits and rebates will ultimately cut your costs of bringing green energy technology to your house.

Make use of a solar oven for baking needs. You can make one using supplies you may already have on-hand like old window panes, boxes, and pieces of aluminum foil. The internal temperature of these easy-to-build ovens can top 300 degrees, and they do not require any energy besides the sun’s rays.

Get started with some great tips in this article today! All these tips make using green energy technologies simple and affordable for the average home or business owner. Your family and your environment will thank you for it!

Paul Chehade

AAA Construction & Development

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