admin answers:

Geothermal As A Green Energy Source
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Geothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping heat from the earth itself. This comes from magma and the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium.

The downside to geothermal energy is the fact that it is expensive to build. On the other hand, because the earth’s crust continuously decays replenishing the heat, it is still a renewable source of energy.

There are three types of geothermal plants around. These are namely dry steam, flash, and binary.

Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly drive a turbine that spins a generator.

Flash plants take on water at temperatures over 200 °C, out of the ground, and allows it to boil as it rises to the surface then separates the steam phase in steam/water separators which runs the steam through a turbine to generate electricity.

Last, you have binary plants. Here, hot water flows through heat exchangers and that boiling organic fluid is what spins the turbine.

Once power is generated, the condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluid from all three types of plants are injected back into the hot rock to pick up more heat.

Geothermal plants are used operational in different parts of the globe. These are usually located in geologically unstable parts of the planet. You can see some in Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines and Italy. At home, two most prominent areas for this are in the Yellowstone basin and in northern California.

If you were to compare the amount of energy collected from geothermal to solar, you still get more from the sun. Despite that, people should still use it since solar energy cannot be harnessed when the clouds block the sun’s rays from reaching the solar panels.

Geothermal energy is a green energy source just like wind, hydropower and biofuel because it is a renewable. By maximizing its potential, we don’t have to worry about the price of oil in the world market when it hit more than $110 a barrel and is now under $40 in the world market.

But that is not the only thing we should be concerned about. We should also do our best to protect the environment given that coal fired and nuclear power plants produce harmful gases and radioactive waste that may cause to people and the surrounding areas.

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Why Is Hydropower A Green Energy Source?

Why is hydropower a green energy source? It is because we are able to harness electrical power by converting water into electricity.

The use of hydroelectric power or even hydroelectricity dates back to Ancient Greece and China when they installed waterwheels in rapidly flowing rivers to turn millstones and other equipment. Years later, this was used in the New World which is now known as North America to power saws and other equipment.

But the hydroelectric plants of today still use the same basic principles as the historical waterwheel with some variations. The difference is that we use the force of the power to push the turbine which in turn powers a generator thus generating electricity.

To make sure that there is a steady flow of power being produced, a dam has to be built to retain the water. If there is a need for more power, the gates of the dam are opened so water can be released. During non-peak, the gates are closed. To ensure there is water at all times, some dams have a recovery and pumping systems to the water released can be used again.

There are issues with the use of hydroelectricity. Some claim that it poses a problem for fish and aquatic plants on both sides of the dam. Because the flow of water has been altered, the nutrient rich silt which helps crops grow could be affected which is exactly what happened when the Aswan Dam was completed in Egypt.

Lastly, you have ocean thermal energy. Here, you get power based on the different temperatures in the water. For this to work, you need at least 38 degrees Fahrenheit difference between the warmer surface water and the colder deep ocean water. Still in the trial stage, it is used Japan and Hawaii.

Hydropower is a green energy source. It is safe to use and what is even better is that it is renewable.

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My answer is : Hydro and Geothermal

admin answers:

Hey Sanusi, always good to hear someone is interested in this. We have a home that is completely powered by the wind and sun. It’s been 10 years now since we started, and we have made plenty of mistakes. My suggestion is you start small, something on the order of a hobby sized system, and learn from it first. You really only need a few things. First is the solar panel of course. A good starter size is something in the 50 to 75 watt range. That way it is large enough to take advantage of the critical size for the best price to power ratio, but not so large it has to be delivered on a truck. That size panel in the US should cost about 200 to 400 dollars. Next is a battery. The best bang for your money is in a pair of golf cart batteries. You need two because they are 6 volts each, and the panel and most DC appliances are 12 volt. If you manage to buy a panel with diodes built into the back, then all you need after that is a wire to connect the panel to the battery. A diode is an electrical check valve, it allows power to flow in one direction, but not in the other. This is necessary so the panel can feed into the battery in the daytime, but the battery will not feed back into the panel at night.

Many solar systems use a charge controller, but here is a good rule of thumb. If the maximum amp rating on the panel is less than 2% of the amp hour rating on the batteries, then you don’t need a charge controller, the panel will never overcharge the battery. Golf cart batteries are typically 220 amp hour, and a 75 watt panel will only have an amp rating of 4 amps. The most important thing is you connect the panel to the battery correctly, positive to positive, and so on, then you can leave it hooked up all the time. We have a similar arrangement at our place we put in first, and it is still working today 10 years later. In fact, it was featured in an article in Home Power Magazine once, you can look them up online and use their search engine to find, “Starting Small.”

I would suggest doing a little reading, then shopping for parts and trying your hand at growing your own electrons, it’s fun and rewarding, and when you are done, you will have a small backup 12 volt power source. Good luck, and take care, Rudydooo

admin answers:

They are portable road ‘matrix’ signs with self contained power packs – usually solar panels & battery -or for more long term use , a diesel generator. They have a radio link to the area police traffic office so they can be updated as necessary to inform of delays or diversions ahead

admin answers:

As far as the person who said that solar lights are only good for accent lights, I am assuming they have never bothered to buy quality fixtures. With solar, you get what you pay for.

Solar shed lights would be great, or solar panels that you could use to charge radios, etc. Solar sheds lights are easy to install and use and they are bright, last for 3-4 hours continuously on one charge. You mount the solar panels on the roof or a sunny side of the barn. Then, you drill holes to connect the solar panels to the solar lights inside. Good shed lights come with materials that seal the area where the cord connects through the wall or roof. See below for a few options that are well worth the money.

There are also portable solar lamps that you can move indoors after they charge. And yes, we sell them but we also use them quite efficiently. Feel free to call us and we’ll try to work out a deal for you. Rechargeable lights are also good, but you would have to bring them with you each time you hang out.

admin answers:

Hey Chris, Homer is correct in that the device you speak of does not extract free energy from thin air. It has been called the Tesla Coil, Tesla Generator, and lately the Tesla Unlimited Energy Device. The device is a receiver. What Tesla was trying to get at was that energy can be pumped into both the earth and the atmosphere, transmitted over long distances and picked back up at the receiver to be used for whatever purposes were desired. This free energy has to be produced and put into the atmosphere first, purportedly by a power company. It isn’t free, but the problem is it can be pirated at any location with the use of another Tesla Coil, which means less of it is now available for the receiving coil that may have been originally built to receive the energy in the first place. It’s like a bank using a high power cannon to blast dollar bills into the air that are carried on the wind until someone on a tall hill reaches up and grabs them as they drift by. It isn’t free money, it’s the banks, and they’re going to want someone to pay for it. The dollar bills do not occur naturally as a result of atmospheric movement, they have to be put there first, same as Teslas free energy.

Well in the end, we do transmit energy over long distances, with the use of a wire, and then anyone willing to pay for some of it can hook their wire to the long wire with a meter to keep track of how much they are using so the electric company can pay their bills too. You don’t have to get your power from them however, we don’t. Our home generates its power from the wind and sun, now that is free energy. While solar photovoltiac panels have only been around 50 years or so, wind power dates back to the 3rd century, even before Tesla showed up with his building sized lightning producing hairbrush. You don’t have to be a physicist to make a wind turbine or a solar panel work either, we put ours in ourselves 10 years ago and it still works fine today.

UFOTV.com has an interesting video on this Tesla Unlimited Free Energy, how anyone can build a receivier and extract energy from the atmosphere for free. They are also publishers of videos and MP3 downloads on such proven scientific endeavors as, “Inside the Alien Mind,” and, “Unknown UFO’s today.” If that’s the source of your research, check and see if you can finish their latest MP3 download before the next ship lands in the desert. I found it interesting that this Tesla device can be built with common substances and ordinary tools by anyone handy, while at the same time claiming the notes on its construction were somehow mysteriously absconded with. If we don’t have the notes, how do we know what the thing is made out of?

If you want to learn more about Tesla energy transmission, check out Wikipedia, or physicsforums.com, they have a pretty good discussion on the system and how it actually works. If you want free energy instead, check out solar and wind at some of the sources below, we did years ago, it’s how we got to where we are today. Good luck Chris, and take care, Rudydoo

admin answers:

Hey Cat, Gatorbait has a good resource listed there, AWEA, or American Wind Energy Association. To cut to the chase, most modern turbines today never make it past 25% efficiency, regardless of how hard the wind is blowing or what their design speed is.

First, the highest efficiency that can be attained by any wind conversion technology was discovered by Albert Betz, it is called the Betz Limit, which is 59%. Once you begin extracting this level of energy out of the wind, the direction of the wind is altered nearly 90 degrees and moved outward, which destroys its ability to push the blade around on the next pass. You can read about it at the link below, there is a fair amount a calculus involved. A really well designed blade operating at its ideal wind and rpm speed today might reach the upper 30’s, or maybe low 40’s, but this says nothing for the efficiency of the generator or gearbox. There is also the fact that a small amount of power is used operating the controls of the machine, like unfeathering blades, turning the unit into the wind (this is done with a motor on the large utility sized machines instead of a tail), and the fact that some of these controls operate when the wind is not blowing, waiting for the moment it does.

To boil it down, on a good day, you might see 25% from a good turbine overall. That might not sound like much, but consider some of our mainstay techology efficiencies today: Incadescent light bulb 4%, gasoline car, 24%, solar electric, or photovoltiac, panels, 13%. There is plenty of energy in a passing column of air to make electricity from one large turbine to run an entire village, and once you build and install one of these devices, you never have to feed it again. This is why all the power companies are busy putting them up, they make so much more sense than coal or natural gas once you get just a few years down the road. The fact that they operate cleaner is exciting, but is really a side note to why companies are spending so much money on them today. I’ll list some sources and links below for you to check out.

One word of caution, in the 11 or so years we’ve been powering our home with the wind and sun and teaching renewable energy seminars at the local schools, I’ve found that there are 3 things in vast supply in the area, sun, wind, and missinformation. It is amazing to me how many people will weigh in on a topic like this never having laid a hand on a turbine our a panel. Stick with the sources below, and rely on your own research and intuition instead of asking hacks like us online for advice on renewable energy, you’ll be better informed in the end. Take care Cat Man, Rudydoo

From a Wikipedia Article:
The aerodynamics of a horizontal-axis wind turbine are not straightforward. The air flow at the blades is not the same as the airflow far away from the turbine. The very nature of the way in which energy is extracted from the air also causes air to be deflected by the turbine. In addition the aerodynamics of a wind turbine at the rotor surface exhibit phenomena that are rarely seen in other aerodynamic fields.

In 1919 the physicist Albert Betz showed that for a hypothetical ideal wind-energy extraction machine, the fundamental laws of conservation of mass and energy allowed no more than 16/27 (59.3%) of the kinetic energy of the wind to be captured. This Betz’ law limit can be approached by modern turbine designs which may reach 70 to 80% of this theoretical limit.

admin answers:

The most reasonable solution is to ration oil via price. Eliminate the cartels like OPEC which are manipulating the price of oil for their own profit plans. Let oil go to those who want to buy it and let the price determine who wants it the most. Let the capitalist market determine its allocation… This is a new concept since the oil market is currently controlled. Anyway, alternatives will become more available and appealing.

Second, eliminate government energy plans and laws. Much of the lack of innovation in the energy creation and distribution markets is because government has insisted on preconceived ideas of what is acceptable and what is not. This has stifled much need innovation and options. These energy laws are known to have a material impact on the forms of energy distribution. LG

admin answers:

The answer is non-trivial. The cell will convert photons beyond its band-gap into electric current but it will not convert all the energy of the photon. Indeed the shorter the wavelength, the less of the energy will be converted and the lower the efficiency at that wavelength. And then you have to keep in mind that shorter wavelengths can not penetrate the material as well as long wavelengths and there is a loss of quantum efficiency in the blue.

admin answers:

Plain and simple way.

First calculate a moderate use of electricity, add 20% and rig the house with a solar system.
As a backup (for when solar panels get too old or other issues) have a 1930’s style diesel generator back up and battery backup. Using a pulsed charging system can make batteries last for longer than the standard 10 years rating.

For fuel, make bio-diesel for your generator and for a diesel vehicle. This merely requires oil, lye, water and the processing equipment. You should buy good quality lye, but if you can’t, there’s always the opportunity to make your own (wood ash lye was used in pioneer days to make soap)

Water sources can be a well, rain catch system and purifiers for use with tanks. If your thinking long term I’d suggest a water tower.

You obviously would have to have some supportive equipment for this process. Like enough land to grow food or at least produce that you can extract oil from. A machine for extracting that vegetable oil for making diesel (some suggest a bio reactor and grow algae) and load up on alot of small equipment that is manual (like spice grinders, flour / grain griders, meat griders to minimize your need for electricity, therefore reducing the size of your solar power system.

admin answers:

Well you can figure it out yourself pretty closely if you wish to do a little math. Im pretty drunk, but basically add up your wattage of all your appliances. 1000w= 1kw. The meters read in kw/ hours. 24 hours in a day, and get your average. My families house is quite large and wasteful, which I can comment on positively at all, since I am “green” and definitely have my own thoughts on the enviroment. A good “safe” guess would be 3000 watt of constant use.

Have you thought of windpower? Much better if you can have it in your area. Lasts longer, and runs 24 hours a day. I would guess you need 6000 watts of solar panels, or a 3kw wind generator. Althought numbers look blurry at this point haha.

GO GREEN! Help out all the wasteful and polluting people!

admin answers:

A simple way to generate electricity is to take a permanent magnet hobby motor and spin its shaft. A motor consumes electric energy to produce mechanical energy, while a generator consumes mechanical energy and produces electrical energy. Basically the only difference between a motor and generator is the direction of power flow. Mechanical => Electrical or Electrical => Mechanical

Not all motors are capable of creating electricity by just spinning the shaft. As you correctly pointed out not all motors have permanent magnets and require power to establish magnetic fields.

The hobby motor available from Radio Shack is a DC motor and will produce pulsating DC. DC motors (and Generators) use a commustator to switch the output polarity of the power being generated as the generated power is starting to change direction. All generators produce AC in their windings, it is the Conversion of AC to DC by rectification or commutator switching that creates DC power.

Alternators use slip rings and maintain the same polarity of electrical connections to the windings (no switching ocurrs). This allows the AC created in the winding to flow directly to the output connections as AC.
In a car alternator a series of diodes are used in a full wave rectifier configuration to convert the AC into DC.

A stepper motor can be used to easily generate AC as it doesn’t have a commutator.

Beaware that the frequency of any AC you generate will be dependant upon the speed that the shaft is turned and the number of poles inside the motor/generator. You can minimize power line transmission losses by using AC just like the power companies do and then convert the AC to DC to charge batteries. Then use an inverter to convert the battery DC into usable AC power.

For a small semi practical homebrew windmill consider the ability to charge a few small rechargable AA batteries an accomplishment.

Beaware that you will need to use a diode when charging batteries to prevent battery current from backflowing into the generator and motorizing it. You want your generator to porduce power and not consume it. Using rectifiers in an AC generator would provide this blocking capability but using DC motors or solar cells will require the addition of at least one diode to prevent current backflow when the generator isn’t producing enough power. (no wind for windmill or no sun for solar cell)

admin answers:

Because they are too expensive to stand up in the open market, because of manufacturing costs and they are unreliable and unpredictable.

Solar electric is about $0.36/KWH to produce electricity, and if batteries are added to have lights at night, solar costs upward ot $0.50/KWH (not including transmission costs)

Wind turbines are about $2.40/KWH (not including transmission costs)

Coal generation is about $0.02/KWH and natural gas is about $0.03/KWH (not including transmission costs)

Corn for methanol needs about 8 units of energy to produce 10 units of energy. Switch grass would only need about 4 or 5 units of energy to produce 10 units of energy, but switch grass can not be taxed or regulated for hidden taxes and revenue to politicians and those that are subsidized by using corn as a source for making methanol.

Wind and solar generation has not been cost effective since they were first tried, and will not be cost effective. They are an option in remote areas where no transmission lines are available. Most remote areas that need moderate amounts of electricity generally use diesel engines to power generators, or natural gas to run gasoline type engines to generate electricity.

Bottom line, subsidies are only for laundering tax dollars and/or to buy votes. I would expect more alternative energy companies will go belly up in the near future.

Electric and hybred vehicles are also not cost effective. Electric vehicles were tried in the early 1900’s and failed for the same reason they failed today and will fail in the future. To get any amount of distance, a large truck or tractor trailer is needed to haul all the batteries needed to get a hundred miles or more distance before needing to recharge, and it would take two or more days to recharge all those batteries, or a charging station way too expensive to be practical.

Conventional generating plants need to be on low efficient standby to power up in a moments notice for when there are random clouds or gusting winds, which actually emits more CO2 than if they were on full power operation, so there is actually more CO2 emitted by using wind and solar than simply using the coal or gas powered plants. This is a dirty little secret few know about. In Scotland, Germany, and other countries, wind farms are being paid to shut down from time to time because they are so sporadic, which punches gaping holes in the whole “Free electricity” theory.

Cheap labor is only a small factor for the US not being as competitive globally. It is the taxes and the regulations that companies have to meet that costs so much and causes the US to not be as competitive globally. The excuse for being cheap labor is a distraction for us to know that the over regulation and compliance to safeguard against the trial lawyers is what costs the most for businesses.

admin answers:

Solar: Pro – some sunlight every day, can be mounted discretely
Con – not much sun in the UK, panels get dirty

Wind: Pro – massive subsidies
Con – the wind is unpredictable, doesn’t work when it’s calm or stormy, massive turbines spoil the landscape, turbine noise can upset neighbours, chops up bats and birds, need massive concrete bases, need backup power stations, CO2 used in construction and transport, towers can fall down and blades can fly off. The UK wind farm subsidy scheme was developed by Ed Milliband, followed by Chris Huhne!

Tidal/Wave: Pro – Predictable, low profile, lots of potential (water being much denser than air)
Cons – high capital costs, needs more research

admin answers:

To some extent all of our houses are dependent upon grid electricity for heating because even oil or gas units have electrical components.

If your home has electric heat it is probably located in an area where this was an reasonable installation choice. This is probably because the electricity is relatively cheap in your area due to a nearby hydroelectric power station. Many of the areas well served by hydro power are not as good for solar power and the opposite is also true.

The amount of solar radiation received is known as the insolation value. An example of a “sunny” area with high insolation values would be like this one: http://www.nrel.gov/csp/pdfs/csp_sw.pdf

Solar panels may be a viable option for several reasons. A “sunny” area may not be as important a criteria as the availability of grants and tax credits in your area. Technology is always improving and this may be something to watch. But all of this only goes to the economic question of how long before the system “pays for itself.” Perhaps you are more concerned with the environment and are less concerned about the economics. This is also a valid consideration.

There are two broad distinctions in “solar panels.” One branch is photovoltaic that produce DC electricity that must be converted to “AC” with an inverter. In some locations you can have a meter that runs both ways and then you can sell your unused electricity to the power company through “the grid.”

Solar thermal is the other type of panels. They are a more mature technology and generally are more cost effective systems. You should slice up your energy usage differently. Your hot water may take up 30% of your total energy usage. Perhaps you are using an electric hot water heater at this time. It could be converted to a solar hot water system using solar thermal panels. Your air conditioning usage can also be a heavy energy demand. There are AC systems that run from solar thermal panels like a gas refrigerator.

Last there are two other solar thermal options that might be useful in your house. Both are different kinds of additions. One is a solar room that when you install plants would be called a greenhouse. The other is to install a Trombe wall by glazing the exterior of a masonry wall. Both of these systems would provide additional warm air to your home.

By reducing the demand for grid electricity you are doing the same thing as having solar photovoltaic panels that will supply part of your usage but with a cheaper technology.

admin answers:

This is a good question about a popular topic.

First, it is important to understand a few things about the ac power grid, how it works, and how it protects itself when faults happen.

Traditionally, the grid was an interconnection of large generators operated by utilities, who had plenty of engineers, operations, and maintenance personnel. Basically, you could say that all parts of the grid – down to point that it connects to your home or office – were owned and operated by technically skilled people.

“Back then” it was understood that each generator connected to the grid would receive a full engineering review to make sure that it responded as intended when a fault (like a lightning strike) occurred on the grid.

Enter the ‘modern’ times, in which generators can be solar inverters, wind generators, industrial co-generation, etc. It was determined by the electric power engineering community that ‘small’ generators should be required to disconnect from the grid if a fault out on the grid occurs. This would keep the small generators from ‘back-feeding’ into a fault and creating an even more hazardous situation. It also requires that the small generators not operate to serve load in an ‘island’ separated from the rest of the grid.

In reality, intentional islands are allowed, if the appropriate steps are taken to be sure the grid itself is not being back-energized. But, unintentional islands are absolutely forbidden. (They are bad bad juju for the grid.)

Most inverters detect the islanding condition by looking for some combination of the following:
1. A sudden change in system frequency.
2. A sudden change in voltage magnitude.
3. A sudden change in the df/dt (rate of change of frequency).
4. A sudden increase in active output power (kW) well beyond the expected ‘normal’ level.
5. A sudden change in reactive output power (kVAR) well beyond an expected ‘normal’ level.

Depending on their internal control programming, one or any of these events could indicate that the small generator and some amount of load have become disconnected from the grid. (For example, it could be just your home with its PV system, or it could be your whole neighborhood disconnected as a block from the larger grid.)

When this island condition is detected, the small generation sources trip offline.

There are specific performance requirements for distributed generation defined in IEEE Std 1547, which cover the time in which anti-islanding protection should operate, and what levels of parameters define abnormal conditions.

As for the internals of anti-islanding protection in inverters, they specifically use a phase locked loop (PLL) with a small amount of positive feedback in its control loop to quickly and continuously check the grid connectivity. Look for ‘anti-islanding’ protection papers from Sandia National Labs.

admin answers:

Yes, I have and several friends, co-workers and family members.

There are many factors involved in whether an HHO generator will work well or not. The major factors are:
1. What are the electrodes made of, how well will they conduct electricity and how quickly will they corrode?
2. What electrolyte mixture are you using in the water (electrolyte is required to make the water conduct electricity to split the hydrogen and oxygen)
3. How much oxygen are you involving in the gas out to the engine?
4. How many o2 sensors does your vehicle have and how will they react to the extra oxygen they will detect? (sometimes the o2 sensors will detect more oxygen and increase your fuel ratio to compensate for it – I personally have not had this problem, but have heard others record it)

Speaking from my personal experience with the generator I now built, I have literally TRIPLED my gas mileage.

Potential hazards include:
1. Chance of exploding HHO gases if mis-used.
2. Blowing fuses.
3. Water damage to the exhaust over time.
4. Water in the engine – if you are really really careless.

Additional: Common “problems” thrown at you by the nay-sayers, and the narrow-minded smug:

1.*** It takes more electricity to produce than it gives in return with energy.*** = TRUE.=
That is why these are being used along with gasoline engines! (come on folks! Think a little).
The electrolysis here is powered by the alternator from the combustion of gasoline. Because the product is HHO (which is 3 times more combustible than gasoline) – less gasoline is required to achieve the same speeds as before THUS – more MILES PER GALLON.

2. ***It’s a scam*** = False=.
You might as well call Flashlights, Airlines, Solar Power and Refridgeration scams also. All science is first denied by the narrow-minded. Flip through a good history book, then learn some Chemistry! The electrolysis of water produces Hydrogen. Hydrogen and Oxygen (when not combined in H2O formula) are highly combustible. This can be used in internal combustion engines.
Yes, it takes additional battery power if you want to do this solo without gasoline – but doens’t all science require some work on our part? Stop being so Lazy!

admin answers:

Heh, solve the electrical power transmission and storage problems while at the same time putting a price on burning fossil carbon compounds to more accurately reflect their real long term costs to society.

The best way would be to re-think everything from the ground up, literally. Vehicles do not need to be smaller, slower, and less safe to be more energy efficient. Materials science has come up with many useful things that, taken together, add up to amazing, if we put them in vehicles. Carbon fiber for lightweight strength; metal foam, 99% empty space, for a gas tank that prevents a fuel tank explosion; puncture-proof tires; radar, sonar, and infrared sensors coupled with driving software; city cars: small, rather short-range vehicles that might drive themselves and be part of a robot rental fleet. Prevent humans from driving in a large city – let traffic AI’s take over, as it’s essentially been demonstrated they can already do a better job of moving vehicles through the city. Size the rental to the number of people. Push vehicle weight to a minimum. Streamline. Use all the electromagnetic and other tricks to save and re-direct energy.

Biofuels are carbon neutral. Historically their problem has been that the crops we’ve tried to use are too expensive to society for many reasons. We’re pretty good with hydrocarbon-burning engines, though. However, to make it worthwhile, we’ll have to figure out how to convert “waste/useless” biomass into fuel. Not biomass we need to plow under for fertilizer, or need as part of a functioning ecosystem. It’s an interesting idea, but I suspect the long term economics argue against it, and possibly even the medium term. Climate change is very likely to decrease the amount of land we have available for farming, and very unlikely to increase it, or even leave it unchanged. Population is surging. Biofuels don’t seem to be a really good long-term growth prospect. They could/might provide a little indefinitely, for small engines – lawnmowers, RC toy/hobby vehicles, generators…

Fuel cells are a different way to go. They could replace gas, batteries, a very long cord, whatever in any number of applications. From theory [ref 1] through costs [ref 2] to applications [ref 3] we are making fuel cells more practical. Let them stand for the whole range of new energy technologies we are developing. They are another way.

Finally, in the US, I believe we need to re-think how we do all this research. We will get the best results from a blend of private enterprise, government research, and public-private partnerships, like most of the rest of the world uses. We need to take off our ideological blinders, share a little healthy pragmatism, and put public and private money into getting some useful big-ticket things done.

That’s a sketch of what I think some of the obvious best ways are. I do not think they are the most likely things to happen in the short term 5 – 10 years, but being optimistic, I hope for the medium term, 20ish years. In the longer term, 50+ years, what I truly think is our best bet is to have a massive presence in space, with most major industry moving off-planet. With solar panels and rail guns, we could exploit the nearer moons and asteroids, and fire materials to earth. This level of operating tech would allow us to put sunshades above earth to create a practical climate control, even if we can’t manage actual weather control.

admin answers:

Hi Trumpetgirl, here are some considerations. If you invest properly in solar power today and take advantage of any grants and tax incentives, even if your electric rates do not go up as they are forecast too, you will get your money back over time, well within the lifetime of the equipment, and sooner if there is a rate increase in the future. There are also enviromental benefits. At one time there was an argument that a solar panel will never produce as much power as was used to manufacture it. First of all, this is not correct. The, “Embodied Energy,” in a solar panel is earned back in 2 – 6 years, depending on the type panel, where the raw materials were shipped from, and how it was installed and used in the end. Most panels are warrantied to last at least 25 years, and most last much longer than that. But the argument is not important anyway. We have been living with electricity for over a century now, so it isn’t going away anytime soon. The question is, “What is the best way to produce it?” If you build a panel, and put it along side a similar sized natural gas fired turbine generator for example, which earns back its embodied energy sooner? The answer is the gas turbine never does, because once you build it, ship it and install it, you now have to feed it natural gas for the rest of its life, so it keeps on digging itself a deeper and deeper embodied energy hole that it can never crawl out of. At least the panel has a chance to get even environmentally. So manufacturing and using solar panels in the end releases less pollution into our environment.

There are also mechanical and political benefits. We all know after the oil embargo of 1973, and the gulf war what it means for our country to rely on foreign oil. Wouldn’t it be nice if we only shipped in 20% of our energy instead of 60% the next time something like that happens? Our home has been powered by the wind and sun for years now, but we still remain connected to the electric grid. Last year alone there were two power failures in our county that lasted about a half day each. In both cases, we were not aware of them because our solar array kept on feeding the house. It’s difficult to put a price tag on something like that. Did you know that there are over 100,000 homes and businesses in the United States alone that use some level of solar power to operate their electrical devices, that’s good news.

Beyond the mechanical, political and environmental benefits however, lies a less obvious benefit, the social benefit. Right now we pump oil out of the ground, and mine for coal. The process of getting those materials to market involves shipping, military escorts and other activities that use up a good portion of that energy as well as putting lives at risk. Jobs in alternative power are higher tech than jobs in coal mining, oil drilling and shipping, and there are more of them. Using more alternative power would require us to put more people to work, and increase our education base because the work involved requires certain skills. I would personally like to take all those people out of the coal mines, send them to school and put them to work building solar panels. Nobody would have to die again in one of those dark holes in the ground trying to find food for our hungry power plants. They could work on a factory floor where they would not be exposed to coal dust, radon and other toxins and dangers. Most of our solar and wind resources are spread pretty evenly over the middle half of our globe, so everyone has access. This puts people in Bogota on a more equal footing with people in Boca Raton by giving them access to electricity, heat and clean water, and the education to use the solar, wind and biomass resources that provide those things. Oil, coal and natural gas is generally piled up in a few places, such as Russia and the Middle East. This gives those countries and the richer governments that rule them more horse power in bargaining for the other resources of our planet. These are the things that wars are made of.

There are other reasons, but I think you get the picture. For us, solar energy has become something of a hobby It will probably never save us any real money, utility power in most places is really very inexpensive, but it’s a little like growing your own tomatoes. It’s usually cheaper to buy them at the grocery, but lots of people go to the work and expense to maintain a garden instead. We just grow electrons in ours. If you really want to learn more about the subject, there are some great sources to look into, I will list some below. Good luck, and take care, Rudydoo

admin answers:

You could make use of the piezoelectric effect, but you wouldn’t get much.
Why not heat the water further to generate steam? Then direct the steam into the nozzles of a turbine blade, which then turns an electric generator. Then recover the water and pump it back to get heated again. You’d think someone would have invented the Rankine cycle before.

admin answers:

Was the sun shining when the temperature was so low? I’m guessing probably not. If the wind was blowing during these cold and blackout periods, that may be the best option. There are wind kits for as little as $1000 and you can connect them to ‘heat tape’, which is basically a cord that emits heat. They are often used on pipes and eaves to melt snow. See the wind systems below. They will require a small battery system, have the provider draw out your system for you, and then you can install it.

admin answers:

Hi Mano,

I found this and I think it might help you, here it goes:

“The one EV car I currently have (have 2 vehicles that run on hydrogen also) I converted from a vw bug and is free to charge. As I live completely off the grid all my electricity comes from solar panels and 2 wind generators, which I also built.

However I did charge up at Costco in Carlsbad California (I actually only drove up there to fill up) if I remember right it was around $2.00

Not sure if you’re interesting in doing it yourself, but I’d be willing to walk you step by step threw the conversion. I’ve converted 3 of my own cars (a datsun truck, ford ban, and a vw bug) and a few for neighbors. I’ve also converted cars to run on hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel, by far EV is the easiest.

If you’re interested here’s what it would entitle…

– The engine compartment is first cleaned out of any gasoline components.
– Electric components are then installed in exchange.
– A battery bank is built and incorporated.
– Existing starter and driving systems are connected.
– Turn the key, step on the gas pedal sending more energy to the electric motor, & thus more power to the drive system, which in return creates more speed, more acceleration.
– The system has normal automotive top speeds and acceleration, typical to the vehicle your modifying. If your top speed was 85 mph and your acceleration was 1 mile per min, then this will be what your left with after the conversion.

The methods are extremely simple, making the process possible for anyone, everyone, ANYWHERE.

Typical tools, hardware & supplies are used, making access to parts available for all.

Electric Conversions can be easily accomplished in ANY model vehicle, even tractors, Generators, types of machinery, etc.

Project lengths range from 1 day to 1 month.
If you’re interested I wrote a guide on it which is available at www agua-luna com

My last EV conversion ran me about $1400. Everything is available online. I have a how to do it yourself guide available at www agua-luna com that will walk you step by step through the process. If you have ANY questions feel free to contact me through the site. Here’s a list of what you’d need…

Advanced DC Motor
The motor is an 8″ Advanced DC series-wound motor. It weighs 107 pounds and is rated at 68 peak horsepower. These motors are available in several sizes.

Adaptor plate
The adaptor plate mates the motor to the transmission. It is constructed of 1/2 inch aluminum and is pre-drilled with bolt hole patterns for both the motor and transmission. An aluminum spacer is also used for proper spacing between the shafts of the transmission and motor. Adaptor plates are available for many cars.

DC Motor Controller
The controller regulates current going to the motor. It is a solid-state device that uses a pulse width modulator (PWM) that sends short bursts of current to the motor at a rate of 15 kHz. Controllers are available from both Curtis and DCP.

Potbox (Potentiometer)
The potbox is a 5K ohm throttle between the controller and the accelerator, similar to the way a sewing machine pedal works. The potbox’s lever arm is attached to the existing accelerator cable.

Main Contactor
An electric relay that serves the same purpose as the ignition switch in a gas car. When the key is turned to the start position, the contactor closes the circuit to allow current to flow to the controller.

Circuit Breaker
A safety device that shuts down power for servicing or during an emergency. The circuit breaker is installed under the hood and can be switched both off and on from the drivers seat with an extension or cable.

Main Fuse
The main fuse protect the system from high voltage spikes. A fuse should be installed at each battery box or group of batteries.

Shunt
A shunt is placed in series within the wiring as a means to connect meters. Shunts are available in different sizes for both high and low power configurations.

Charger interlock
A relay that keeps the circuit open so nobody will inadvertantly drive off with the charge cord plugged into the car.

DC/DC Converter
The DC/DC converter is similar in function to a gas car’s alternator. It charges the 12 volt accessory battery by chopping voltage from the main battery pack down to 13.5 volts.

If you interested I offer several DIY alternative guides to walk you step by step threw EV conversion process at agua-luna com or

www agua-luna com
Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.”

I hope it can help to answer your question.

admin answers:

The one EV car I currently have (have 2 vehicles that run on hydrogen also) I converted from a vw bug and is free to charge. As I live completely off the grid all my electricity comes from solar panels and 2 wind generators, which I also built.

However I did charge up at Costco in Carlsbad California (I actually only drove up there to fill up) if I remember right it was around $2.00

Not sure if you’re interesting in doing it yourself, but I’d be willing to walk you step by step threw the conversion. I’ve converted 3 of my own cars (a datsun truck, ford ban, and a vw bug) and a few for neighbors. I’ve also converted cars to run on hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel, by far EV is the easiest.

If you’re interested here’s what it would entitle…

– The engine compartment is first cleaned out of any gasoline components.
– Electric components are then installed in exchange.
– A battery bank is built and incorporated.
– Existing starter and driving systems are connected.
– Turn the key, step on the gas pedal sending more energy to the electric motor, & thus more power to the drive system, which in return creates more speed, more acceleration.
– The system has normal automotive top speeds and acceleration, typical to the vehicle your modifying. If your top speed was 85 mph and your acceleration was 1 mile per min, then this will be what your left with after the conversion.

The methods are extremely simple, making the process possible for anyone, everyone, ANYWHERE.

Typical tools, hardware & supplies are used, making access to parts available for all.

Electric Conversions can be easily accomplished in ANY model vehicle, even tractors, Generators, types of machinery, etc.

Project lengths range from 1 day to 1 month.
If you’re interested I wrote a guide on it which is available at www agua-luna com

My last EV conversion ran me about $1400. Everything is available online. I have a how to do it yourself guide available at www agua-luna com that will walk you step by step through the process. If you have ANY questions feel free to contact me through the site. Here’s a list of what you’d need…

Advanced DC Motor
The motor is an 8″ Advanced DC series-wound motor. It weighs 107 pounds and is rated at 68 peak horsepower. These motors are available in several sizes.

Adaptor plate
The adaptor plate mates the motor to the transmission. It is constructed of 1/2 inch aluminum and is pre-drilled with bolt hole patterns for both the motor and transmission. An aluminum spacer is also used for proper spacing between the shafts of the transmission and motor. Adaptor plates are available for many cars.

DC Motor Controller
The controller regulates current going to the motor. It is a solid-state device that uses a pulse width modulator (PWM) that sends short bursts of current to the motor at a rate of 15 kHz. Controllers are available from both Curtis and DCP.

Potbox (Potentiometer)
The potbox is a 5K ohm throttle between the controller and the accelerator, similar to the way a sewing machine pedal works. The potbox’s lever arm is attached to the existing accelerator cable.

Main Contactor
An electric relay that serves the same purpose as the ignition switch in a gas car. When the key is turned to the start position, the contactor closes the circuit to allow current to flow to the controller.

Circuit Breaker
A safety device that shuts down power for servicing or during an emergency. The circuit breaker is installed under the hood and can be switched both off and on from the drivers seat with an extension or cable.

Main Fuse
The main fuse protect the system from high voltage spikes. A fuse should be installed at each battery box or group of batteries.

Shunt
A shunt is placed in series within the wiring as a means to connect meters. Shunts are available in different sizes for both high and low power configurations.

Charger interlock
A relay that keeps the circuit open so nobody will inadvertantly drive off with the charge cord plugged into the car.

DC/DC Converter
The DC/DC converter is similar in function to a gas car’s alternator. It charges the 12 volt accessory battery by chopping voltage from the main battery pack down to 13.5 volts.

If you interested I offer several DIY alternative guides to walk you step by step threw EV conversion process at agua-luna com or

www agua-luna com
Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin
Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World… Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY… All With Just One Click of A Mouse…For more info Visit:

www AGUA-LUNA com
Stop Global Warming!!!

admin answers:

I lost my job 8 months ago, but I’ve finally found something I can do at home to make some exta money to pay the bills. By no means am I making as much as my previous job, but every dollar helps. Try it yourself. Http://www.americaschoicetoday.com/Work-At-Home.html

admin answers:

Yes this is often done; there are also currently incentives from Fed govt and many states to do so.

Below is an article on the incentives (including link to a database to see what is available from your state.)

This can be tricky to install, so unless you have a good knowledge of electricity, contact an installer; just google “solar panel installations” +yourstate and you will find local ones that should be able to give you a good price (get quotes, references and ask if you can see any other jobs they have done.) There are a lot of new “Fly-by-night” companies jumping into this these days; you want somebody with solid knowledge of solar, the programs available, and licensed electrician.

admin answers:

Excellent sustainable strategy, and yeah, it’s REALLY hard to wallow through all the BS out there if you aren’t sure what to look for.

I wish I had your budget for upgrades, lol. I don’t even know what country you are in so I don’t know if there is any govt assistance to offset the costs. And I know NOTHING of “resort finance”, so I don’t know what the acceptable ROI of green technology is for you.

There must be environmental engineering companies out there that specialize in what you want, but it would take a lot of “eclectic(?)” skills collected under one roof. It is difficult to give you definitive answers without knowing where your resort is located, i.e. A ski resort is going to have different energy needs than a beach resort. If you are looking for fresh water and AC I assume it is a beach resort.

Speaking of co-gen … Great way to increase the efficiency of fossil fuel based technology, but doesn’t really replace it, it just uses the energy that would have been wasted. A good example on a large scale is the relationship between Bruce Nuclear and Bruce Energy Center. Some of the waste heat from electrical generation is used to heat acres of greenhouses. Have you considered a greenhouse as a source of AC? Or incorporating as much green as possible into interior spaces? It may not completely replace your AC compressors, but it will lighten the load. If you encorporate a water misting system into your greenery, the tiny water droplets will absorb a lot of heat as well. It takes much more energy for water to change state than to change temperature, so it is a good source of cooling. You can look up the terms “Latent heat of fusion” and “Latent heat of … Vaporization(?)” to learn more about the effect. That is a natural form of AC that could reduce your power consumption.

When you say water treatment plant I’m not sure if you mean incoming potable water, or outgoing waste water. If I recall correctly there is a company in Australia (Rowater) that makes portable desalination and purification plants. Offhand, I do not know how their product compares to those of other companies. A “solar still” might be a method of water purification to be considered in your case. SolAqua in Texas makes a product, but I think it can be done better. Nature has many elegant engineering solutions to common problems which have been replaced by machines that run on oil.

Lots of ideas, but no way to know if they are applicable to YOUR situation. Basically, I am thinking that a miniature indoor rain forest would offset the energy needs of your resort. I don’t believe you need to burn bio-diesel to do it either. I have other ideas, but it comes down to if you got the money, I got the time; if you got the retainer, I got the proposal.

I can be reached through my profile.

admin answers:

Ocean energy

The ocean can produce two types of energy: thermal energy from the sun’s heat, and mechanical energy from the tides and waves.

Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface, making them the world’s largest solar collectors. The sun’s heat warms the surface water a lot more than the deep ocean water, and this temperature difference creates thermal energy. Just a small portion of the heat trapped in the ocean could power the world.

Ocean thermal energy is used for many applications, including electricity generation. There are three types of electricity conversion
systems: closed-cycle, open-cycle, and hybrid. Closed-cycle systems use the ocean’s warm surface water to vaporize a working fluid, which has a low-boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapor expands and turns a turbine. The turbine then activates a generator to produce electricity. Open-cycle systems actually boil the seawater by operating at low pressures. This produces steam that passes through a turbine/generator. And hybrid systems combine both closed-cycle and open-cycle systems.

Ocean mechanical energy is quite different from ocean thermal energy. Even though the sun affects all ocean activity, tides are driven primarily by the gravitational pull of the moon, and waves are driven primarily by the winds. As a result, tides and waves are intermittent sources of energy, while ocean thermal energy is fairly constant. Also, unlike thermal energy, the electricity conversion of both tidal and wave energy usually involves mechanical devices.

A barrage (dam) is typically used to convert tidal energy into electricity by forcing the water through turbines, activating a generator. For wave energy conversion, there are three basic systems: channel systems that funnel the waves into reservoirs; float systems that drive hydraulic pumps; and oscillating water column systems that use the waves to compress air within a container. The mechanical power created from these systems either directly activates a generator or transfers to a working fluid, water, or air, which then drives a turbine/generator.

Wind energy
Wind energy is the kinetic energy associated with the movement of atmospheric air. It has been used for hundreds of years for sailing, grinding grain, and for irrigation. Wind energy systems convert this kinetic energy to more useful forms of power. Wind energy systems for irrigation and milling have been in use since ancient times and since the beginning of the 20th century it is being used to generate electric power. Windmills for water pumping have been installed in many countries particularly in the rural areas.

Wind turbines transform the energy in the wind into mechanical power, which can then be used directly for grinding etc. Or further converting to electric power to generate electricity. Wind turbines can be used singly or in clusters called ‘wind farms’. Small wind turbines called aero-generators can be used to charge large batteries.

Five nations – Germany, USA, Denmark, Spain and India – account for 80% of the world’s installed wind energy capacity. Wind energy continues to be the fastest growing renewable energy source with worldwide wind power installed capacity reaching 14,000 MW.

Realizing the growing importance of wind energy, manufacturers have steadily been increasing the unit size of the wind electric generators since the late 1980s. Another important development has been the offshore (i.e. In the sea) wind farms in some regions of Europe, which have several advantages over the on-shore ones. The third major development has been the use of new techniques to assess the wind resource for techno-commercial viability.

admin answers:

Assuming sufficient fuel and time, nothing portable and reasonably priced is as effective as bringing water to a rapid boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 2000 meters). This will destroy protozoa, bacteria and viruses. However, boiling does nothing to improve turbidity or taste. Boiling does not remove chemical contaminants, so when farm or industrial run-off is a problem, there are more effective treatments.

UV sterilization using a product such as the SteriPen comes closest to boiling. It is effective against protozoa, bacteria and viruses. As with boiling, UV sterilization does nothing to improve turbidity or taste, and does not remove chemicals. Further, these devices require electrical power (usually batteries, but there are solar-rechargeable and even hand-crank generator versions now available) and are susceptible to failure due to damage or defect. Some people swear by these devices, others shun them because of potential reliability issues.

Opinions vary on whether chemical disinfection or filtration is more effective. On a camping trip, outside of industrial/farm areas, you are more likely to encounter protozoa (Cryptosporidium, Giardia) or bacteria (e-coli, coliform) than viruses. A quality water filter with an efficiency of 0.3 microns or smaller can effectively remove these threats from water. Filtering also improves water turbidity and taste. Filters with carbon elements can also remove many chemicals from water, such as those from industrial or farm run-off (but at limited concentrations), and some claim to kill viruses (iodine impregnated filter elements). They require no fuel or electrical power. Filters can withstand some abuse but can be broken either by strong impacts on rocks or even overly-aggressive pumping. Filters can also become clogged by sediment and debris, but this can usually be resolved by back-flushing or cleaning the filter element.

Note that there is a new filter product available, the Lifesaver Bottle, which filters down to 15nm and is effective against viruses as well as protozoa and bacteria. Currently this product is targeted towards developing areas and disaster relief, but it is available for retail sale in the USA. The cost is fairly high — around $200 — but it is worth a look if viruses might be a concern.

Chemical disinfection using Iodine or Chlorine Dioxide will destroy bacteria and viruses. Reduction of protozoa is less reliable, requiring extended treatment times. Chemical disinfection does not improve water turbidity or taste, and in fact, contribute their own unpleasant taste (less so for Chlorine Dioxide than Iodine). The more turbid and/or colder the water, the greater quantity of Iodine or Chlorine Dioxide must be used, as well as allowing longer treatment times. For Iodine, the taste and smell can be reduced by adding Vitamin C after treatment is complete. For Chlorine Dioxide, leaving the container of fully-disinfected water open for several hours will allow the taste and smell to dissipate.

When I’m camping, if the water is clear and clean and I’m starting a fire for warmth or cooking, I’ll boil my water. Otherwise I filter. There are several great models of filters available. First Need, Katadyn, MSR are all worth looking at; I own and have used different models from each and they all have their pluses and minuses. Currently I’m experimenting with a gravity filter (MSR Autoflow) instead of a pump, and it’s working very nicely and I enjoy not having to stand around pumping for several minutes to produce enough water for my next few meals and day’s journey. I also bring Chlorine Dioxide tablets with me as a back-up, should my filter fail for some reason (has never, but why tempt fate?).

admin answers:

There are a multitude of misconceptions about the Amish. Here are just a few:

The Amish don’t use any modern technology – FALSE. The Amish are selective about the technology they use. They tend to reject technology that they feel would have a significant negative impact on their lifestyle, but are accepting of technology they do not see a problem with. Also, what technology is accepted and what is rejected depends on the Amish affiliation and each individual church community.

The Amish feel electricity is evil – FALSE. This has to be the most ridiculous of all the misconceptions. Most Amish (but not all) do not want electricity supplied by utility companies in their homes. They do, however, use some electrical devices where they can generate the power themselves through the use of gasoline generators or battery (which they charge using solar or wind power). They also do not want natural gas lines into their homes from utility companies, but readily use bottled gas (propane).

The Amish produce all of their own food and clothing – FALSE. I live in an area with a very large Amish population. I see Amish people in supermarkets and department stores all the time. The local Walmarts have tie ups for the horse and carriages.

The Amish do not use modern medicine or doctors – FALSE. The Amish have no aversion to modern medical practices or medicines at all. They go to doctors when they need to. They are hospitalized when it is required. Some Amish women still use midwives for birthing, but many use doctors and give birth in hospitals, especially for difficult pregnancies.

The Amish live communally without any outside contact – FALSE. Amish families live in their own private homes on their own private land. They own private businesses or work outside of the homes and manage their own finances. They keep bank accounts and take out loans for homes or business. They participate in many community activities with the general public, especially those that involve charity work.

The Amish don’t pay taxes – FALSE. The Amish pay all income, property, and sales taxes. They can claim an exemption from Social Security with-holdings under certain circumstances (are self employed or work for an Amish owned business), but if they do then they can never collect any SSI benefits either, and are therefore not a burden to the SSI system.

admin answers:

Hey Patrick, this concept has been around since about 1998 when it first surfaced in regard to solar panels. There was a lot of complaints that solar panels never earn back their, “Embodied Energy,” which is a phrase referring to how much energy it takes to mine raw materials, ship them to a factory, build the product, ship it to it’s destination and install it. To be honest, it is difficult to put an exact energy price on something like that, there are almost limitless variables, such as which mine was used, where it was shipped, how it is installed and used in the end, and so on. A non profit group called, Solar Energy International finally offered some grants to a few colleges to research this. In the end, they couldn’t come up with an exact timeline, but a range based on the above variables.

First of all, solar panels actually do repay their embodied energy some time between 1.5 and 6 years after they are installed. Virtually all manufacturers warranty their product to last at least 25 years, and typically they operate well beyond this time. Similar work was done later with wind turbines, and the results are very similar. The main difference being the range of payback time is wider, meaning it’s possible for a turbine to repay its embodied energy faster, like in less than a year, but it may take as long as 9 years. This is because shipping a utility sized wind turbine can take a huge bite into its embodied energy budget depending on how far it has to go. Solar panels can fit in the back seat of a good sized car, some wind turbines have specially designed hauling vehicles that might have to drive across the country, or across the street. But when you look deeper down this rabbit hole, you eventually learn that non of this matters, I’ll explain.

Electricity has been around since Thomas Edison nearly burned down his house running high amounts of current through bailing wires inside old mason jars, so it isn’t going away anytime soon. The question becomes, “What is the best way to produce it?” Let’s assume you build a 10 KW wind turbine, and put it alongside an efficient conventional power source, say a natural gas fired turbine 10 KW generator. Which will earn back its embodied energy faster? The answer is the gas generator never does. You have to remember that once you build a natural gas generator, coal plant, or any other non renewable energy based power plant, you now have to feed it fuel for the rest of it’s life. It’s conversion rate will always be something below 100%, so in the end it slowly digs itself a deeper and deeper energy hole that it can never crawl out of. At least the wind turbine has a chance to get even in it’s lifetime. This is the key to what makes renewable energy so great, it’s really the difference between buying a home and renting an apartment, one day the home will be paid off, the apartment never is.

We live in a home that is powered by the wind and sun today. About 12 years ago we started looking into solar and wind when our electricity was constantly going out. It began as a small backup plan, just to run a few lights and some electronics. Over time it became more of a hobby and lifestyle, like growing your own tomatoes instead of buying them at the store, we just grew electrons in our garden. Now our home generates over 90% of its own electricity, and we use the power company as our backup source. Even though it will take years to get even with the power bill, it’s worth it to us, and we’ve turned a lot of heads. Once each year now I am invited to the local schools to teach solar power to the 5th graders, then they run a field trip out to our house to see a working solar and wind powered home. Since then the power companies have been busy building wind farms and looking into solar, geothermal and biomass energy. They even have a methane plant alongside a landfill in the next county. Most people are not aware of these things, but they are happening. They are busy complaining about wind mills never earning back their manufacturing energy, solar being too expensive, or hybrid cars not really saving and gas. There is research on these subjects, and it’s available for the asking if you look for it online. My suggestion is you look into it and become better informed insteading of asking hacks like me online for advice. I’ll include some sources below. Hope this answers your question. Good luck Patrick, and take care, Rudydoo

admin answers:

I think it would be. Alternative energy is becoming very popular these days. Furthermore, the “Green Collar” economy is getting off the ground, so people of all economic backgrounds could potentially benefit from it, and not just the wealthy. Most western countries are ahead of the USA in alternative energy, so it’s only a matter of time before we catch up.

Furthermore, technology like that would be incredibly helpful in places like sub-Saharan Africa where there is a lot of sun. With purchasing power, the cost of producing and buying these “solar trees” will decrease and thus they will become more abundant, in accordance with supply and demand.

If you can afford it, I say go for it 🙂 I wish I could