The newer solar water heaters are much more affordable than they were when the models were first introduced to the economy in the 70s and 80s.  For a regular climate system, you can have a solar water heater installed for around $2000.  To compare the savings on the electricity bill, the annual price for a solar powered water heater is around $50, while a regular unit will cost around $500 or more depending on the usage.  

The basic method behind a solar water heater is it works as a pre-heater for a regular water heater.  They also work well with water heaters that have a temperature adjustment option.  Because the solar system works to pre-heat the water, the extra use of the regular heater is low, and in turn it will save you a lot of savings per month.  

If you are considering installing this new solar option, then you will have an even better option with a roof that slopes to the South.  This will also make the installation much easier and the product will run more efficiently.  Most of the families that live higher in the North will use the solar product during the warmer months and then use the regular water heater when the season is the most cold.  

Before installing your new solar water heater, look for a licensed installer and dealer who can help you design your backup system effectively.  You can also inquire about their certifications and ask for referrals from previous clients.  You should start the planning process of the solar water heater now.  Most people forget about their water heating operation under the system fails and they are forced to get a new one.  In turn, we wind up going out to the nearest department store and buying whatever we can so that we will have hot water.  Instead, research the various solar water heater systems before your hot water heater fails.  Find a system that will meet your lifestyle and your needs.  

Keep in mind that normal water heaters will have a regular life span of around ten to fifteen years max.  You should be prepared for the unexpected.  Solar water heaters are not very difficult to find in our world today.  Large home improvement stores now carry them as well as individual dealers.  Make sure that you shop around for the best deal before committing to one style.  The energy savings of a solar powered hot water heater will save you money not only annually, but in the event that the regular hot water heater were to fail.  You can feel good knowing that you are saving money and that you are helping the environment.

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Solar Water Heaters

solar power is a wonderful resource because it is always available, it is clean, and there is no pollution associated with it.  The energy is generated with solar panels which gather the sunlight and convert it into electricity.  Cars are not the only items using solar energy.  Factories and homes are also making use of this new development.  solar panels on homes was not very common in earlier years.  Many home owners who wanted to have a modernized home would try this energy saving method.  Back then, you would see only a few homes once in a while with the solar panels on their roofs. 

In our world today, almost every home has some form of solar energy resource.  Homeowners can place the solar panels on their roofs, many of which are very discreet.  You do not have to use extra land or space that you are already using.   The excess power that is provided by the power company can be sold back to the utility company.  You will reduce the price of your electric bill even when you are not tapping into the solar power.  

We have been dependant on the use of fossil fuel for many years, and many people have just now realized the ending result for the environment.  As I mentioned earlier, we are now experiencing the beginnings of global warming and the effect that pollution has on the environment.  The recyclable forms of energy are now being used because the resources are running out.  Solar power is the most popular form of alternative energy.  

There are many different uses for solar power.  They can be seen on street lights, school crossing alerts, and traffic uses.  It is also possible to power large garage doors and gates with solar power.  This will prevent the installers from digging into ditches and installing cables.  The sun is a very powerful resource.  For example, the energy from the sun that is produced for one hour is long enough to provide power to the entire world for one year.  

Developing countries around the world are also benefiting from the use of solar power.  Many of the underdeveloped areas previously had no way of getting power to the remote locations.  But with the use of the sun, the energy source is made possible.  Many companies are working to make solar power the default method of energy, instead of fossil fuels.  The sun is a wonderful energy source and is not said to run out for a long time.  As long as we preserve the resources that we have now, we can help our economy and our environment for years to come.

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Solar Energy

There are several ways to turn wind power into wind energy.  The resource can then be converted into power that can help other forms that need electricity.  Using a tool called wind turbines is a wonderful way to generate power through wind electricity.  Most of the wind power is converted into energy by using turbine blades.  The blades are then transformed into an electrical source through an electrical generator. 

Wind power was first introduced in 1999 and has increased greatly since 2005.  Most types of wind power are used by people in Europe.  The total amount of worldwide wind powered accumulation was 58,982 megawatts.  Twenty-three percent of this was accumulated in 2005 and was spoken for in Denmark, while Germany contributed six percent, and Spain reportedly had eight percent.  The growing concerns for the environment all over the world will probably contribute to utilizing wind power into making affordable and safe energy.  

Windmills are the oldest method of using wind power, but the modern concept is the technically the same.  Wind energy is very useful in locations with wind farms.  Wind farms have electrical grids to serve a large populated area.  However, wind farms can also be small for rural areas or small communities.  An added benefit of wind power is that it is recyclable, extremely powerful, clean, good for the environment, and it has to ability to start the greenhouse effect.  Wind is very dependant on the greenhouse gasses as a way of making alternative methods of electrical energy.  

There are several things to consider when you are purchasing a wind generator.  Wind power generators have to be fairly tall in order to have the best wind count.  Most home associations and town governments have restrictions on how tall a structure can be.  Make sure that you check with your local city or town’s policy before making the commitment.  Some areas are also not ready for wind power.  You need to check that your purchase will provide the services that you are looking for, or else it will be a large waste of money.  

Wildlife is also another factor in choosing a wind generator.  Wind power sources have a very bad reputation for harming birds.  This is basically a chance situation, that rarely happens.  However, if there is a bird sanctuary in your area, then you might have to check the policy of installing a wind power source.  Wind generators may not be enough to provide power by itself.  Wind power sources can be combined with other solar options to generate free power.  There is no use in paying for power when you can make your own.

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Generating Your Own Wind Power

According to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, the concentration of pollutants that can be found within your home is actually a great deal higher than what is going to be found outside, primarily because of the lack of ventilation that you will find in your home compared to the ease of air circulation found outside. If your home does not have proper ventilation, then airborne chemicals from the products that you use within your home can collect inside, and they can actually cause a lot of harm to your body if you are not careful.

Some of the symptoms associated with long term exposure to this polluted air may include fatigue, dizziness, asthma, cancer, headaches and heart disease. The contamination cannot necessarily be attributed to a single source, but two chemicals that play an important role in the accumulation of these toxins are paint, and paint related chemicals as well.

Volatile organic compounds are a category of pollutants that are potentially carcinogenic and carbon-based in nature. These VOCs may include pesticides, cleaning chemicals, paint chemicals and formaldehyde for example. Due to the environmental regulations that are passing in recent years, and an increase in the demand by consumers, many paint companies are working to develop new house paint products that emit either little VOCs or no VOCs all together. This is most commonly received by creating water based paint products in place of petroleum based paint products. In order to pass as a Low VOC, environmentally friendly or “green” paint product, the paint must meet stringent EPA standards with a maximum gram count of volatile compounds per liter. Looking for a green seal on potentially low VOC paint products will let you know which have the lowest VOC content.

Ultra low VOC paint products are normally referred to as zero-VOC or no-VOC, and while these paints can sometimes cost more than traditional paint products, they are worth the investment if it means using environmentally friendly paint products in your home in order to decrease the risk of releasing harmful chemicals and pollutants into the air that you breathe. These products should contain no formaldehyde, no ammonia and no acetone. These are all petroleum compounds that can adversely affect the quality of the air inside your home.

There are options available to you for environmentally friendly indoor paint, so if you are thinking about adding a splash of color to your home or apartment, opt for the environmentally friendly option and avoid the risk of polluting the air that you breathe.

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Eco Friendly Paint

The most obvious benefit is that bio-diesel is completely recyclable, meaning that it helps the environment.  A car that uses bio-diesel fuel will emit less pollution into the air, as opposed to a vehicle that uses traditional diesel fuel.  The smoke from a car that is fueled with this new product is very clear, which is different than the dirty black smoke of regular diesel fuel.  Bio-diesel is also very cheap.  Bio-diesel was first created when someone had the idea to use corn and soy bean oils.  You can even make your own bio-diesel at home.  Restaurants that use a large amount of vegetable oil has to store the excess used oil in a separate container outside.  The recycle plant then comes and gets the oil.  You can ask these restaurants to let you have some of the used oil for your car.  Most of the owners will be very willing to let you have it.  

Keep in mind that if your car is not already set up for bio-diesel, then you cannot simply pour the vegetable oil in your gas tank.  Your engine might need modification first.  Some people will mix bio-diesel with regular diesel to help the car run more smoothly.  Bio-diesel has proven to help a vehicle run better.  This is because the organic fuel has a cetane number of over 100.  Cetane is used to measure the quality of the fuel’s ignition.  Bio-diesel can also help your car last longer.  The purity and clarity of the oil will prevent your car from being worn down by natural pollution and other additives.  The oil will give your car more lubrication.  

There is no need for bio-diesel fuel to be drilled out of the earth, transported, or refined like regular diesel fuel.  Therefore, it is less time consuming and more affordable.  Most bio-fuel is made locally.  There is no need for the community to pay taxes to other countries in order to obtain the fuel, which will in turn, help the growing economy.  Each country has the ability to make their own bio-diesel fuel and it slowly becoming an encouraged act.  

The production of the new organic oil has recently been favored all over the world.  Europe has already made this new idea come true with bio-diesel fuel stations.  There has also been talk about making future cars compatible with bio-diesel fuel in the future.  More and more countries are hearing word of this new development in fuel development.  Our world will be positively affected, as well as our income and our health.

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Bio-Diesel Fuel

Global warming is becoming a large awareness for people all over the world.  Consumers are trying to buy products to keep this phenomenon from taking place.  In turn, this is putting a lot of oil companies under the spotlight for fueling to this disastrous occurrence.  In response to this worry, the oil companies are producing alternative fuels.  Car companies have also started to invest in the alternative fuel market.  Many of the newer cars being produced can run on alternative fuel methods such as ethanol, E85, and electricity.  Electric cars are the newest hit in the car dealerships.  These vehicles are also known as “hybrid” cars.  

The technicians at car shops and car dealerships are also being trained about the new alternative fuel cars.  They are asked to learn about bio-diesel, propane fuel, ethanol, and other alternative methods.  Many gas stations are also reacting to the new eco friendly option.  In response, the gas companies are designing their gas stations so that one or two types of alternative fuel is offered.  The idea is that many consumers want to change their fuel habits, but do not have the time to make their own bio-diesel or other alternative.  Therefore, the gas stations provide this new method making it easier on the consumer and putting extra funds in the pocket of the gas company.  

The Clean Air Act of 1990 helped to produce these new alternative methods of fueling.  The first method was ethanol, which is a fuel made from corn oil, also referred to as “grain alcohol”.  Ethanol can also be made from other plant materials.  The alcohol that is in beer and wine is another form of ethanol.  Some say that ethanol is not as energy efficient as other fueling options, but companies have been working on the recipe to make it more efficient.  

As this new alternative method of fueling becomes popular, consumers and companies are being effected.  Obviously the effect is positive.  It will benefit the consumers because they are not having to spend as much money, the environment is becoming a healthier place to live in, and businesses are growing in a positive way.  In the coming years, alternative methods for fuel is expected to increase greatly in popularity.  Countries all over the world are hearing word of this new advancement in eco-friendly products.  They are working daily to produce new methods of fueling and to help make it easier on consumers to obtain the new fuel.

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Alternative Fuels

One of the most important factors to consider when you’re looking at micro-hydropower, is location. You will need a moving water source, like a stream, to take advantage of hydropower. Some other issues to consider are: how close are you to the water source? Is the water source viable year-round (e.g. does it freeze in the winter or dry up in the summer)? What are the local environmental laws concerning redirecting the flow of your water source? 

Today, micro-hydropower can be accomplished with a few different systems. If you live on a mountainous or hilly location, an old-fashioned waterwheel can work for you, as waterwheels require water to fall vertically some distance (hydrostatic head). Waterwheels can be errected from wood or metal. Buckets or paddles on the outside of the wheel catch the water as it flows over the wheel, causing it to turn. The wheel turns on an axle, producing energy that can be stored and used. An added advantage of the waterwheel is that it takes advantage of gravity and does not require a rapid flow of water to produce energy.

Another type of micro-hydrosystem is the hydroturbine. These are made for high hydrostatic head and low hydrostatic head applications (again, understanding your location is important.) With a hydroturbine system, water is collected and channelled through a pipe to the turbine. The water then turns an alternator, producing power which can be stored and used. An alternative hydroturbine is the in-stream turbine, which is placed right in your moving stream. This allows your water source to move naturally, without having to be dammed or diverted.

A micro-hydro power system can range from $1,000 to $20,000, depending on your electrical requirements, and the type of system you employ. The maintenance required on a hydropower system is small and you will be able to see a economic payback in as little as a few years. 

The Internet is a great resource for comparing companies, prices, and reading product reviews.  However, since location is so important, if you are considering a micro-hydrpower system, it would be wise to speak with a local vendor and ask for a feasibility study of your site.  Micro-hydropower is quickly becoming a viable option for home energy generation. 

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Micro-Hydropower

Since ancient times, wood fires have been used for heat. The earliest of these were open fires in pits. Fireplaces emerged in recent times as a way to heat homes, but while they are lovely to watch, and do throw some heat, much is lost into the atmosphere – this is not efficient for home heating.

Wood burning stoves are a more recent development for home heating. They come in a range of sizes and shapes, with varying heat outputs that are usually measured in kW. Typically made of cast iron or steel, they can be utilitarian or quite ornate. Modern wood burners are about 75% efficient, meaning that about 75% of the heat goes into the room, while about 25% is lost to the atmosphere. Ultra modern pellet burning heaters are another way of using wood for heat, and a very efficient one.

Wood as a fuel is classified as “biomass” or “biofuel”. This means that the source of the fuel is organic. The best kind of wood to use if you have a wood-burning stove is wood that is seasoned ideally for at least two years in a dry place. It must be free of paint; preservatives and nails as these can all emit harmful gases when burned.

Wood pellet burners are increasingly popular and very cost-effective. The pellets are made from the by-products of sawmills. Both wood in the form of logs and wood in the form of pellets are essentially carbon neutral. It is true that carbon is released when wood is burned, but wood left to rot also releases carbon. As a renewable resource, living wood and newly planted trees will be able to sequester much of the carbon released in the burning or decay process. One note – you should never cut a tree down just for the sake of burning it.

Modern wood burning stoves and pellet burners are built to be environmentally friendly and offer an alternative to using non-renewable fossil fuels for heat. Certainly, any fuel, whether it is coal, or wood will have some impact on the environment as it is harvested, transported and used for fuel. Wood however, is at least renewable, and in many cases needs only to be transported a short distance to it’s final destination.

If you are considering using wood for home heating, be sure to thoroughly check out the stove or burner you intend to use, and be sure that the wood you are using is well-seasoned (it burns much more efficiently). In terms of saving money and probably helping to save the environment, wood can be a good heating alternative.

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Are Wood Burning Stoves Ecologically Sound?

Here is a list, provided by the Environmental Working Group, of the fruits and vegetables that have been found to hold on to pesticides and chemicals, even when washed:
- Apples
- Peaches
- Sweet bell peppers
- Celery
- Nectarines
- Strawberries
- Cherries
- Lettuce
- Grapes (Imported)
- Pears
- Spinach
- Potatos

Here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can get away with eating non-organic (remember to wash them anyway):
- Onions
- Avocado
- Sweet Corn (frozen)
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Sweet Peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Kiwi
- Bananas
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Eggplant

What about other foods such as dairy and meat products?

Meats that come from factory farms are laced with antibiotics and are generally not that great for other reasons such as the unsanitary conditions associated with factory farms and processing plants. Milk that is not organic contains rBGH, which is used to make cows produce more milk. Humans don’t need rBGH in their own systems. When possible, avoid meat unless you can get pasture raised meat. This will be healthier for your family in the long run. Organic milk and dairy products are definitely better for you and your family.

Here’s the bottom line: Buy organic when you can when it comes to the first list of fruits and vegetables (above) and meat and dairy. With the second list of fruits and vegetables, you can get away with non-organic, but unless they have a thick skin that you will be peeling off, rinse them thoroughly anyway. 

With fruits and veggies, grow some of your own if you can – organically of course. Many canned fruits and vegetables are lower in pesticides and chemicals because of the vigorous washing process they go through, plus they have usually been peeled – so consider purchased canned goods.

If you cannot afford to go completely organic, you’re not alone. Try to choose wisely and do what you can to minimize the effects of pesticides and chemicals on your meals.

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Can’t Afford Organic?

Most communities have recycling programs and rules for hazardous waste disposal. Some have special pick ups, and some do not. Some make it downright inconvenient for you to do the right thing. Here are some tips on how to do the best you can to avoid creating problems and when dealing with chemicals and waste that you just can’t toss in the garbage or pour down the drain.

- Before you buy chemicals for cleaning your home or treating your lawn, always look for safer alternatives or use homemade, natural alternatives. You can kill weeds with vinegar or boiling water. You can get rid of lime build up around your sink with vinegar too. Many companies make safer pesticides to use in the gardens.
- Read the labels and follow directions for proper use and disposal.
- Do everything you can to store dangerous products away from children and pets.
- Try to use up the product so that none ends up in a landfill or who-knows-where.
- Never dump used motor oil. Take it to your recycling center instead. Same with car batteries.
- Don’t burn hazardous chemicals.

Here are some hints for specific situations:

Motor oil – When changing your oil, allow it to drain completely – overnight if necessary. You can take this to an oil change shop, which depending on where you live, might be required to take it from you for proper disposal or recycling for other uses.

Coolant – Drain your radiator coolant into a pan and then flush your system with water, letting that drain into a pan as well. Some shops have coolant recycling machines, and they may let you drop off your old coolant (use old, clean milk jugs for transport). You must be sure to use a clean pan, funnel and jugs to bring your old coolant to the shop though. If it’s at all dirty, it cannot be recycled.

Oil Based Paint – Allow it to dry out and then dispose of it as hazardous waste.

Car Batteries – Car batteries are recyclable, and often when you buy a new battery, the shop you buy it from will take your old one for recycling (there may be a small fee). If they don’t recycle them, you will need to find out how your city or county recommends that you dispose of them, and then follow their directions so you don’t have to dispose of it improperly or illegally.

The first step to keeping your hazardous household waste from being improperly or dangerously disposed of is to reduce the amount of hazardous agents you use. Once you’ve done that, make sure you follow directions for disposal carefully.

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Disposing of Hazardous Household Chemicals