Why to Go Green?

You’ve probably noticed that green is everywhere these days - in the news, politics, fashion. Even technology… That’s all great as far as we’re concerned, but with a million messages and ideas coming at us from all sides, it can be easy to get caught up in the quotidian stuff—switching to organic foods, turning down the thermostat, recycling, say -- without thinking about the big picture of how your actions stack up. Worse, you could even be suffering from a little green "fatigue" -- that is, tuning out the green messages due to their ubiquity.

While it's easy to get overwhelmed, it's also simple to begin making a positive impact. Since it's helpful to understand the big picture when it comes to setting to smaller goals, we’ve adjusted our focus for this guide—a departure from out typical "how to go green" content, which typically tackles very specific topics such as kitchens, cars, or pets -- to take a broader look at the reasons behind why we should go green.

As globalization makes the world become smaller, it becomes increasingly easy to see how the lives of people (and plants and animals and ecosystems) everywhere are closely synced up with one another. So toys made in China can affect the quality of life in Europe, pesticides used in Argentina can affect the health of people in the U.S., and greenhouse gas emissions from Australia can affect a diminishing rainforest in Brazil.

The truth is that everything single thing we do every day has an impact on the planet -- good or bad. The good news is that as an individual you have the power to control most of your choices and, therefore, the impact you create: from where you live to what you buy, eat, and use to light your home to where and how you vacation, to how you shop or vote, you can have global impact. For example, did you know that 25 percent of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from flora that come from the Amazon rainforest? And that less that one percent of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists? These numbers suggest that we all have a large (and growing) personal stake in the health and vitality of places far and near. In addition to protecting biodiversity (and inspiring medicine), rainforests are also excellent carbon sinks. Bottom line: It benefits everyone on the planet to help keep our wild spaces alive and growing.

But embracing a greener lifestyle isn't just about helping to preserve equatorial rain forests, it can also mean improving your health, padding your bank account, and, ultimately, improving your overall quality of life. All that and you can save furry animals, too? Why wouldn't anyone want to green? Keep reading for all the important, big-picture details.

Why Solar?

While a majority of the world's current electricity supply is generated from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, these traditional energy sources face a number of challenges including rising prices, security concerns over dependence on imports from a limited number of countries which have significant fossil fuel supplies, and growing environmental concerns over the climate change risks associated with power generation using fossil fuels. As a result of these and other challenges facing traditional energy sources, governments, businesses and consumers are increasingly supporting the development of alternative energy sources and new technologies for electricity generation. Renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric and wind-power generation have emerged as potential alternatives which address some of these concerns. As opposed to fossil fuels, which draw on finite resources that may eventually become too expensive to retrieve, renewable energy sources are generally unlimited in availability.

Solar power generation has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing renewable sources of electricity. Solar power generation has several advantages over other forms of electricity generation:

Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Solar energy production does not require fossil fuels and is therefore less dependent on this limited and expensive natural resource. Although there is variability in the amount and timing of sunlight over the day, season and year, a properly sized and configured system can be designed to be highly reliable while providing long-term, fixed price electricity supply.

Environmental Advantages: Solar power production generates electricity with a limited impact on the environment as compared to other forms of electricity production.

Matching Peak Time Output with Peak Time Demand: Solar energy can effectively supplement electricity supply from an electricity transmission grid, such as when electricity demand peaks in the summer

Modularity and Scalability: As the size and generating capacity of a solar system are a function of the number of solar modules installed, applications of solar technology are readily scalable and versatile.

Flexible Locations: Solar power production facilities can be installed at the customer site which reduces required investments in production and transportation infrastructure.

Why Solar is the Best Energy Solution

The amount of energy the sun sends towards our planet is 35,000 times more than what we currently produce and consume. Some part of this energy - better known as solar radiation - is reflected back into space but a lot of it is absorbed by the atmosphere and other elements surrounding the inner atmosphere. This energy can be easily harnessed for practical purposes such as heating homes, lighting bulbs and running automobiles and even airplanes. The uses can be as varied as the uses of energy itself. And the great thing is that we are never going to run out of this massive energy resource even for thousands and thousands of years.

Solar energy can be generated in two forms, namely electricity and heat. Solar cells or "Photovoltaic" are used to convert solar radiation into electricity. Photovoltaic systems release no greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and they don’t even need direct sunlight to produce energy; they just need daylight and this means they can operate even during cloudy and less bright days.

Electricity is generated indirectly too by first generating heat from solar energy and then using the steam produced in the process to run power generators. Here too, since no fossil fuels are being burned to produce heat, the resultant energy to 100% eco-friendly.

Although the oil lobby does its best to throttle endeavours to tap into renewable energy resources like solar energy, many countries are taking proactive strides towards setting up solar-energy generation plants. The United States has taken a lead by having 9 of the world’s 13 biggest photovoltaic solar energy projects.
The concept of using sun as an energy source is not new; even during ancient times the Greeks, the Chinese and the Native Americans were using the sun to warm their homes and keep them disease free.

Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages

Solar Energy Advantages

Saves you money

• After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is practically FREE.
• The recovery/ payback period for this investment can be very short depending on how much electricity your household uses.
• Financial incentives are available from the government that will reduce your cost.
• If your system produces more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you, building up a credit on your account!
• It will save you money on your electricity bill if you have one at all.
• Solar energy does not require any fuel.
• It's not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not subjected to the ever-increasing price of gasoline.
• The savings are immediate and for many years to come.
• The use of solar energy indirectly reduces health costs.

Environmentally friendly

• Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment.
• It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generation does.
• Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog.
• It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions.
• It's generated where it is needed.
• By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of radioactive waste.

Independent/ semi-independent

• Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption. It does not only reduce your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with electricity in the event of a power outage.
• A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independently, not requiring a connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations (like holiday log cabins), making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility electricity to a new site.
• The use of Solar Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources of energy, influenced by natural disasters or international events and so contributes to a sustainable future.
• Solar Energy supports local job and wealth creation, fuelling local economies.

Low/ no maintenance

• Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for decades.
• Once installed, there are no recurring costs.
• They operate silently, have no moving parts, do not release offensive smells and do not require you to add any fuel.
• More solar panels can easily be added in the future when your family's needs grow

Solar Energy Disadvantages

• The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy system, largely because of the high cost of the semi-conducting materials used in building one.
• The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable utility-supplied electricity. As energy shortages are becoming more common, solar energy is becoming more price-competitive.
• Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency.
• The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain components.
• The production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air.
• Similarly, no solar energy will be produced during night time although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem.
• As far as solar powered cars go - their slower speed might not appeal to everyone caught up in today's rat race.

How Solar Energy Panels Work

You've heard the buzz about alternative energy sources but have you ever wondered how solar energy panels work? Of course, if you want to install a system for your home, you want to understand something about how you'll get energy from the sun and how it can benefit you.

You've probably used a solar powered calculator for doing mathematic problems. You know the kind; as long as the calculator is exposed to light, it operates perfectly. Did you know that there are portable solar energy panels that you could use to operate a laptop computer, a radio or CD player, a cell phone, digital camera or other small appliance when camping, hiking or even when sitting beside your swimming pool? These small, flexible solar energy panels roll up for storage in a small space and simply unroll for placement in the bright sunshine when you want a little power to run a small electric device. These solar panels function pretty much the same as a large roof-top solar collector panel.

These solar collection cells, whether large or small, are called photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic, when broken down, is easy to understand. "Photo" means light and "voltaic" means electric; the word means electricity from light. These devices were invented to power satellites and devices in space but now are in use all over the world in households.

Solar energy panels, also called photovoltaic (PV) panels, are made of material that concentrate the sun's rays. When the sun's rays strike a PV panel, some of the energy can be absorbed by the panel. This can be used to heat water passing through pipes in the solar energy panel. It can be absorbed by semiconductor material and used to generate electricity.

When PV cells collect electrons from the light being absorbed, these electrons flow in a single direction because of the electric fields they contain. The flow of electrons is controlled by the use of metal contacts at the top and bottom of the solar energy panel so that current can be extracted for use. This can power the small appliance or used to power an entire house.

Using solar energy panels for collecting the sun's power for home use can be quite simple. They usually consist of a black metal or wooden box that is designed to be the right size for placement on the roof of the house where it will be installed. The box is well insulated and is always black on the inside to help focus the sun's energy and absorb it most efficiently. Inside the box may be semiconductor material or piping.

If hot water is being generated, the box will contain zigzag patterns of copper piping through which the water will pass, becoming hot from the energy of the sun. If the solar energy panel is used in this way, the heated water will then pass into a storage tank which is very well insulated and may be created from an altered traditional hot water heating tank. The water is then used when required by simply turning on a water tap in the bathtub, sink or when the hot water valve opens when operating the washer or dishwasher. The occupants of the home never realize the hot water is not being heating in a traditional manner using electricity or gas from the utility company. A carefully designed system can provide enough hot water for any family's needs.

If the solar energy panel is used to create electricity, the current is stored inside the home in batteries somewhat like the one you've seen in your car. Usually there is a bank of several batteries that store the electricity. A control unit makes sure the right amount of voltage and amperage goes into the electric wires when someone turns on a light switch, when the home's heat or air conditioning comes on, or other demand is placed on the batteries to supply their stored electric power to the house.

Of course, it is a bit more complex if you get into all the engineering details. This is, however, a basic explanation of how solar energy panels can provide for your energy needs.

A Dream for a Future with Alternative Energy

In the first quarter of 2005, the cost of a gallon of gas climbed to the highest price ever. In that same period ExxonMobil, the behemoth global oil company, surged forward as the largest and most profitable corporation in the world valued at more than $402 billion on Feb. 28th. The American public funded this success through military operations to secure the oil and in turn, pay for the success with higher and higher prices at the pumps.

While America politicians and businesses clamour over the dwindling global oil reserves, other countries are taking necessary actions to replace oil as their principle energy source. Germany and France have both implemented successful alternative energy programs, dramatically reducing their dependency on oil, and oil rich countries. This is perhaps one of the principle reasons why their governments are labelled as uncaring towards America’s political predicament with foreign oil. While America spends billions to secure oil resources with their military, Germany and France pour their wealth into expanding their alternative energy programs. It’s a race that America is losing. Politically, the American blight in the Middle East is of great advantage to countries in support of renewable energy, because these countries are getting a head start on the global race towards the technological development of more efficient renewable energy systems. Billions spent on preservation of the status quo of the OPEC nations assures France and Germany oil for the immediate future. At the same time, the money saved from opting out of participation in the Coalition can be used to build many alternative energy resources and research new methods of securing renewable energy. Well-orchestrated protests against American involvement in Iraq and other Middle East countries endear Canada, France and Germany to the world.

"Implementing alternative energy requires us to be motivated; as we know it's much easier to simply hook into the 'grid'." - David Suzuki

Why is America so dependent on oil and unwilling to seriously turn to alternative energies to gain freedom from OPEC’s shackles? A principle reason is the naivety regarding possible options of renewable energy, coupled with the distorted way big oil and their hoard of PR people compare the cost of oil against the cost of other energy sources. The cost of a barrel of oil is used to determine its kilowatt/hour cost. That price is stripped clean of the billions spent each year for securing the oil. The barrel price only reflects OPEC’s asking price. Not considered in the kilowatt/hour cost is the tax money spent on military mobilization to assure the resources of companies like ExxonMobil reach American shores. The death of American soldiers and their overwhelming sacrifices to keep oil flowing, to power America, or to squander on SUV’s and ATV’s, is never considered as a part of the oil cost in the corporate offices of the energy titans.

Some feel adamant that alternative energy will not only provide cheaper energy but remedy or at least diminish the primary reasons for ongoing global conflict. Alternative energy provides the ability to offer a large level of redundancy in sources so that countries are not dependent on the natural resources of another nation. It also provides a much cleaner energy, reducing the tremendous pollution problem of fossil fuel. The profitability of alternative energy is an investment that starts today and pays off tomorrow.

Most alternative energy resources are much safer to produce and use. The oil business, however, has a bad history of subjecting even their employees to dangers in the production and transportation of the fuel. On March 23, 2005 a huge explosion erupted in an oil refinery in Texas wounding around 70 employees and killing 14. In the Tosco Avon Refinery in Martinez, California, an explosion in 1999 killed 4 employees. After an investigation that refinery was closed and lawsuits are still raging over the accident. Oil spills are another major hazards unique to the oil industry. Most are not as infamous as the Exxon Valdez Spill, but they all are damaging and happen frequently with ships breaking apart and trucks overturning. The results are death of people, wildlife and long term environmental damage.

How can America embrace alternative energy and reduce the dependency on politically volatile foreign oil? Realize that alternative energy is now cheaper for any country than oil. The military expense involved with the procurement of oil is a hidden fee, paid through taxes and with lives. The American working class pays the bulk of this burden as higher taxes than any other group. Education is the answer in the US, because the reality of alternative energy is realized by the simplicity and beauty of wind power and solar energy. It is insane to continue the ongoing effort, extending the use of a fuel that is so scarce, dangerous, polluting, monopolized, and produced by politically unstable entities. America’s energy crisis can be solved quickly with alternative energy. There is no need for another soldier to die on foreign soil, leaving loved ones to grieve. This should be America’s focus, not finding more oil fields or even destroying the Alaskan wildlife reserve just to squeeze a few more barrels out of the ground, to face the same problem in a few more years. Prolonging agony does not suspend agony -- it saves agony for later.

For millions of years the sun has been shining down on our planet and will do so for any more eons. With the advances in solar energy starting right now, every electrical need could be satisfied with solar power and the grid. What America needs is a federal government New Deal that pours billions into renewable energy, instead of subsidizing big oil and shoring up corrupt oil producing countries. America probably will not get a deal such as this, because big oil owns too many of their congressmen.

The states themselves are an entirely different story. New Mexico just announced a $20 million dollar solar energy program to retrofit government and school building with solar panels proving some legislative entities actually have the guts to help lead America to a more energy sustainable direction.

Wind is abundant all over the world and in the USA it can generate ample energy, if promoted and utilized now. Advancements in technology will continually improve with the right backing, politically and financially. Wind turbines are quiet and have an unending resource to produce energy for any country smart enough to use them. The state of California and Texas has incorporated wind energy into their energy programs. Other states such as Massachusetts have been stymied by Senators like Ted Kennedy, who claims wind turbines are great but are unsightly and a threat to birds.

In the book "Hulagu's Web," Senator Katherine Laforge expressed that "The death of a bird a day is a much more acceptable price to pay than the life of an American soldier a day to secure our oil from some foreign land. Man is also part of the ecological system."

Laforge’s rebuttal in David Hearne’s novel is one of clarity with regards to human responsibility for self-determination.

The oil industry and its cronies are famous for deceptive practices and self-serving logic.

"There is no such thing as clean energy," Warburg said. "The Cape Wind project will have some adverse environmental impacts. Some birds may be killed by windmill rotors - the draft EIS predicts about one bird a day. The wind farm will be visible from some nearby coastal areas. Some may like the way it looks, some may not."

The whole point of alternative energy is to provide sustainable, clean, cost effective, and localized energy to our communities. Communities must stand up to politicians and oil companies that want to hamper our emergence from relying on foreign oil. Sending jobs overseas does not solve the problem -- it puts civilians in a war-zone. The tremendous profits that ExxonMobil makes with oil offers little incentive to their stockholders to help steer this behemoth to a more sensible energy sources. However, from deep within this 400 billion dollar company a small group formed Campaign ExxonMobil, a coalition of concerned shareholders. These cash-smart stockholders actually are fighting within this company to make change on the issue of global warming and ExxonMobil’s disregard for renewable energy, because they see a huge potential for profit if the company acts now.

Alternative energy communities will have a realized advantage over oil-driven communities in the future. Oil proponents are afraid of advancements in technology that could put an end to the oil hegemony, so they fight progress bitterly. Taxpayers, scientists and philanthropists will be the ones to compel governments to change policy and redirect our collective energies to beneficial results. We have to work together, not just as countries, but as wise corporations and citizens.

Wind turbines spin from the wind and store energy at a very impressive rate, while Thermal Depolymerisation recycles bio-matter into usable crude oil and solar power gathers rays from the sun. Thermal Depolymerisation has hit the break-even mark and is continually improving.

OPEC and big oil is not going away without a fight.

"Propped up against the base of the wind turbine was the body of Frank Payne. His blood soaked clothes glisten under the full moon as blood still oozed from his slit throat. A note hung from a knife stabbed into his face. Senator Laforge was overcome with anger and remorse as she stared at the gristly sight of her brutally murdered campaign manager. Why did they kill him? Has the big oil cartel supplemented intimidation, violence and political coercion now with murder to stop alternative energy programs? She reached for the note." Chapter 10 Hulagu's Web

Is this vision in Hulagu's Web preposterous? Would companies with billions at stake, political cronies in their pockets and the most powerful army in the world securing their product, consider assassination an option to stop the takeover of Alternative energy? Let’s hope not, but selling oil at exorbitant prices and refusing to address the problem of global warming and simple pollution produced by fossil fuels leaves us with a bit of doubt. What is the answer to the energy crisis? Is it adding more resources to the problem, digging a bigger hole, or is it finding a new deal, a new resource, ample enough for thousands of years of technological advancement?

Solar Power for Residential Homes

Solar power for residential homes can provide hot water, warm pools, heating and even energy for cooking. This resource can be tapped with an initial investment that will pay for itself over a reasonably short period of time. Instead of paying power companies for use of non-renewable resources, families can not only save money, but help save the environment as well.

Most systems that provide solar power for residential homes compliment the traditional power systems in the house. During peak times of extreme cold, additional hot water can be heated using traditional sources. During extreme heat or cold, solar powered home heating and cooling systems can be supplemented with additional use of traditional systems. Even those residential homes that obtain only forty to seventy percent of their power from solar power systems enjoy a huge savings over a period of time.

Depending on what solar power for residential homes are chosen, the initial investment can range from about $2,000 for a do it yourself home water heating system to much higher for systems that store power in batteries for use for heating, cooling, cooking and lighting as well as hot water. A small home created solar powered pool heating system can be built for as little as $1,000 or perhaps even less. Use of recycled material in these solar power residential systems can reduce the cost significantly. This is one area where it pays to be creative.

Of course, if you are not a do it yourself handyperson, you can have a qualified, licensed and insured contractor provide and install a complete solar power system for your residential home. Of course, this is more costly than a do it yourself system but it can pay off in the long run. Your solar power system will have a warranty and you will be assured of certain performance standards. If you choose to build your own panels from recycled materials, finding design plans online or in a book, there is no such guarantee or warranty. You can choose to purchase commercially available solar panels and install them yourself; this provides a warranty on the solar panels while saving money. Be sure to read the warranties and be certain that they will be valid in a self-installed system.

Some residential homes display large roof top arrays of solar panels called solar photovoltaic panels. This type of solar panel is often used to heat pool water and provide some or all of the household's hot water needs. Often several solar arrays are necessary to meet the needs of an average family's solar power requirements.

Probably the most common use of solar power for residential homes is to heat water for the swimming pool. The solar power system required for this application is very simple and low cost. There are even designs that can be found that use empty aluminium cans, such as beer and soft drink cans, and old sliding glass doors to create a perfectly functional system at very low cost. A little carpentry, some bending of copper pipes and the ability to follow simple instructions is all that is needed for a person with a good collection of hand and power tools to be able to build a solar power system of this type.

How complex or simple a system for solar power for residential homes you choose, you will enjoy the knowledge that you are doing your part to save the dwindling resources of our planet. You will also enjoy the fact that you will save on energy bills and, over time, the solar power for residential homes always pays for itself.