Energy Alternatives

Busting Solar Energy Myths - It’s Too Expensive!

The cost of production of solar energy components is rapidly getting cheaper and cheaper, but yet the cost to install a residential solar energy system still seems to be prohibitive - or is it?

Smoke And Mirrors

The U.S. government has historically provided subsidies to traditional (i.e. mature) energy sources such as coal and nuclear power. The subsidies provided to renewable sources are about 100 times less, thus making it seem much more expensive than, in fact, it really is, compared to the sources mentioned above. A serious case of behind-the-scenes smoke and mirrors.

Will Your Utility Bill Get Cheaper?

The short answer is a resounding “No”. As the supply of traditional fossil fuels decreases, so the cost of accessing those fuels increases, and those increased costs are then passed on to you, the consumer.This situation will only get worse, and the costs will continue to escalate. Since 1970, utility rates have increased annually an average of 5.5%. Not only that, but paying your utility bill will never provide you with any equity. it’s more like a variable interest rate loan that can never be paid off and whose rate continually increases.

Hidden Costs Of Traditional Electricity Sources

The federal subsidies make traditional electricity sources look like a great deal. But, what about the intangible costs, or the costs not readily apparent? Did you know that the cost of these subsidies is covered by the income the government garners from your income taxes? Other hidden costs include increased pollution, damage to the environment and natural habitats, increased health care costs due to the effects of the increased pollution, etc.

If all these hidden costs are taken into account, renewable energy begins to look like a much more attractive proposition.

States To The Rescue Read the rest of this entry »

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How Electricity is Produced From Wind Energy

Wind energy has been used for many years as individuals have used wind power for sailing, wind mills for manufacturing and pumping water and more recently conversion into electricity using wind turbines. Wind power is a renewable energy that is considered a good option instead of burning fossil fuels. Of all the renewable energy sources it is the most efficient and you only need a light breeze to produce electricity.

The very first uses of wind for energy was in the form of wind mills and sailing as people have been using wind for more than thousands of years to propel ships. Windmills have also been used for many years for milling grain as well as pumping water for irrigation. These irrigation windmills was the main reason that farming and ranching could occur in the US, as there are vast stretches of land that do not have ready access to water.

The very first usage of wind to create electricity occurred in 1888. The first wind turbine was used to create hydrogen in the 1890s but it was soon converted to producing electricity. Small wind turbines are used to provide power to rural buildings and today there are larger wind farms that are being used to produce electricity for large networks. What is known as the modern wind industry really began in 1979 when wind turbines began to be regularly produced.

Wind occurs because the surface of the earth is not evenly heated, as the poles get less sunlight than the equator. This causes cooled and heated air to move which in turn produces wind. It is projected that the amount of power that could be harnessed form the wind is more than the human population currently uses. So just think about having almost cost free power.

The amount of power that is generated by the wind is dependent on the speed and as the wind speed doubles the amount of power produced increases eight fold. However Read the rest of this entry »

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How Electricity is Produced From Wind Energy

Wind energy has been used for many years as individuals have used wind power for sailing, wind mills for manufacturing and pumping water and more recently conversion into electricity using wind turbines. Wind power is a renewable energy that is considered a good option instead of burning fossil fuels. Of all the renewable energy sources it is the most efficient and you only need a light breeze to produce electricity.

The very first uses of wind for energy was in the form of wind mills and sailing as people have been using wind for more than thousands of years to propel ships. Windmills have also been used for many years for milling grain as well as pumping water for irrigation. These irrigation windmills was the main reason that farming and ranching could occur in the US, as there are vast stretches of land that do not have ready access to water.

The very first usage of wind to create electricity occurred in 1888. The first wind turbine was used to create hydrogen in the 1890s but it was soon converted to producing electricity. Small wind turbines are used to provide power to rural buildings and today there are larger wind farms that are being used to produce electricity for large networks. What is known as the modern wind industry really began in 1979 when wind turbines began to be regularly produced.

Wind occurs because the surface of the earth is not evenly heated, as the poles get less sunlight than the equator. This causes cooled and heated air to move which in turn produces wind. It is projected that the amount of power that could be harnessed form the wind is more than the human population currently uses. So just think about having almost cost free power.

The amount of power that is generated by the wind is dependent on the speed and as the wind speed doubles the amount of power produced increases eight fold. However Read the rest of this entry »

No Comments »