When trying to decide which form of renewable energy to use in the world’s ever changing energy landscape, it is important to be supplied with the right information. It is easy to find facts about solar energy on the internet, but looking for wind power facts is a bit of a struggle. This article gives you the best information available about wind power so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not wind power is suitable for you.

People have different motivations for using wind energy, these motivations include concern for the environment, saving money, and fascination with the technology that cuts done the need to use power from a utility company. No matter what your motivation, you need to make sure that wind power is a viable option on your property and that you meet the minimum requirements.

Do you have enough wind? This sounds like a bit of a silly question, but if you do not have enough of a wind resource, you will find it difficult to power your wind energy system. Experts say that you need an average wind speed of 8-14 miles per hour.

If you are not sure how much wind power your site has, it is a good idea to analyze your wind speed. If you are new to wind power then we would recommend that you contact a wind site accessor who has tools to measure wind power and will be able to give you an estimate of how much wind you have access to annually for your system.

Wind power facts.

Once you have found out whether you have enough wind you need to make sure that you have the land available, because towers and other wind power systems tend to take up a lot of space. You should only really install a wind turbine if you have at least an acre of land available.

Noise is a big factor when it comes to wind farming because you need to be considerate of your neighbors – especially if you have elderly or children living next door. The great thing is, not all wind turbines are noisy. It is therefore important to do your research on the different models and choose a wind turbine which has the lowest rotational speed, because these are the systems which will be the quietist.

One of the most important wind power facts that you must take under your belt when thinking about installing a wind power system, is safety. Wind power systems are more dangerous than any other type of renewable energy system and because of this you need to be extra careful when you install wind power.

There are a few legalities that you must take into consideration when installing a wind power system on your property. These include zoning requirements, building permits and electrical permits. Once you have crossed this bridge you are on your way.

There are a number of tax credits and incentives available for people who choose to install renewable energy systems and this includes wind power systems. To find out what incentives are available, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency www.dsireusa.org.

We hope these wind power facts have been helpful and that you have gained some insight about this fascinating renewable energy resource.

For the majority of people, the question most asked about solar panel installation is: Do they have to go on the roof? The simple answer is no, but there are many reasons to do so.

For maximum working performance a south facing slope at an angle of 30 degrees is needed, and this should be free from any shade. Height above ground also helps, giving the ability to use gravity to feed the warmed water back to a holding tank inside the roof cavity. (The roof is also a good place for photovoltaic panels for the same reasons…except the gravity thing.)

As most hot water tanks are already situated somewhere near the top of the house, the installation will allow a shorter distance for heated water to travel, and less insulation needed on the return piping.

A roof mounted solar panels installation will also be free from the attention of most four legged pests that can damage the surface of the panels. Make sure there are no overhanging tree branches for roosting birds, as the bird droppings can do severe damage to the collection plates.

Choose an area on the roof that can easily be accessed from the ground for ease of maintenance and cleaning. You will not have to do this very often, as the best part of any solar panels installation is that they have very few working parts.

Many people unfamiliar with the needs and visual aspect of solar power confuse the two main types of solar panels installation.

The straight panels, or flat plate collection systems, need much less space than the electricity generating Photo-voltaic cells. The straight panels only provide heated water – which in itself is a contribution to savings in the household utility bill.

Although the photo-voltaic cells require larger space, most home roofs will have sufficient space to meet the potential requirements for generating a home’s power. Visually a solar panels installation will not adversely affect the neighbor’s view anymore than any other roofing material. There is no need to add any structural load bearing additions either.

If anyone is considering adding a solar panel installation to the design of a new building, there is very little extra cost involved and the payback time will be only a year or so, considering the savings that can be gained from this eco-friendly power source.

Never be concerned by a flat roof, as it will simply require a frame be constructed that supports the panels at the required angle. In these cases the installer will need to provide insulation at the rear of the panels to keep the warmth in, and the cold out of the system.

We recommend that a professional installer be consulted when the decision has been made to go ahead with some form of solar power, but as with any investment it is prudent to check references and measure performance claims carefully.

This will even apply to those people who are skilled enough to undertake the project themselves. Solar panel installation will take only a matter of hours to be up and running after all the parts have been assembled, so for home owners everywhere: use the basic advice here to get the interest and motivation to turn the theory into reality soon and start saving!

Supplies of fossil fuels are dwindling all over the world. Because of this, governments and environmentalists are warning people that something needs to be done to keep up with this demand. People are looking at the advantages of renewable energy and whether it is a source of power that they are able to utilize.

Another major problem with fossil fuels is that they have a terrible impact on the environment. There is a direct correlation between the use of fossil fuels and global warming. Global warming severely impacts the way of life for both human and animal species, and changes weather patterns which includes heat waves, hurricanes and droughts.

If you are looking for a bit of education on the damage that global warming plays, I would suggest that you rent from your local video store the documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. You will be surprised and will definitely want to incorporate renewable energy into the design of your home whether you are building new, or wish to make slight changes to your home to make it energy efficient.

One of the greatest advantages of renewable energy is that it is a clean green form of energy and produces a minimal carbon footprint. Because of this many, people are getting on the renewable bandwagon and choosing to use renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power and geothermal energy.

You will find that there are more jobs created with the use of renewable energy, and these are more likely to stay in the United States as well. Many of these positions offer good pay and benefits.

Another one of the advantages of renewable energy is that the government is stepping up and providing tax credits and incentive programs for people who choose to install renewable energy technology. There are currently federal tax credits available for people who choose to install solar power. These federal tax credits make up 30 per cent of the value of solar systems and can be used for both commercial and residential properties.

By making renewable energy more affordable, people are more willing to install renewable energy technology to protect the environment from further global warming if it is within their reach. Those people who choose to install renewable energy are often those same people that promote green communities. Many of these communities work hard at being environmentally conscious citizens, and do what they can to improve the environment and the world that we live in.

Green cities promote certain environmental policies for people to stick to in order to become more energy efficient and cut down on pollution and damage to the environment. Every year, National Geographic produces the Green Guide. It gives great information about a number of green issues and also lists the top 10 green cities. Is your city going to be featured in this year’s guide?

The advantages of renewable energy could fill a whole book. It is also important that we look at the disadvantages of green energy as well. The main disadvantage that screams out at us is the fact that it is too cost prohibitive to install renewable energy technology. Until this improves, only those that have disposable cash will be able to afford the $25,000 it costs to install a PV solar system.

Small wind turbines are not just projects for enthusiasts, but are a real possibility for the home owner to generate their own energy demands and a little extra to sell back to the utility company.

Learning how to build a wind turbine is relatively simple. The options range from purchasing a kitset that just needs assembling, to starting from scratch and constructing the tower, generator and even carving the windmill blade from suitable wood.

Before you begin to choose what type of construction you would like, a little investigation into the wind potential for the site is a good idea. Wind atlas details are available online, and you can also monitor the prevailing winds using a small wind meter over a period of months. This will give you all the information needed to decide where a windmill could be located.

Before selecting the power generation capacity and making the decision to build wind turbine, an eco-audit of the entire home’s energy usage may show that savings can be made that reduce demand substantially.

The basic parts needed to build a wind turbine include structure to support the blades generator, or a strong enough roof, the windmill blade and connection to a generator, the tail assembly to keep the unit facing into the prevailing wind, and various electrical pieces of equipment.

This becomes an assembly project that the whole family can get involved in, as many hands are a good help when it comes to the erection of the final system.

It may only take a matter of days to build a wind turbine. Once all the parts are together, limited knowledge of electrical circuitry will suffice to get it properly connected. However, if the unit is to be designed to return any surplus to the grid, more sophisticated charge controllers and qualified electrical assistance must be used.

On the down side, the energy produced will need to be stored in a battery for slow release when the wind slows. These batteries can pose environmental issues when it comes to their disposal, but one of the side effects of growing demand for wind power is that battery technology is also improving.

Learning how to build a wind turbine is not just about putting up a striking piece of outdoor sculpture and watching the utility bill drop. The issues mentioned in this article are designed not just to demonstrate that a wind turbine is desirable and good for the environment, but that wind powered electrical generation is an efficient solution.

Modern wind generators are exceptionally efficient, and one of the most exciting power sources for the future. Anyone wanting to build wind turbine will soon discover that they have tapped a free source of power that will give them an enduring supply, and with little or no maintenance needed for some time.

Learning how to build a wind turbine is for most people a steep learning curve about how cutting edge technology is making huge advances to save the burning of fossil fuels to supply power to the home.

If you want to supplement your wind generation, you could also build your own solar panels…

With green energy in the news much more often, you might wonder why everyone doesn’t have a solar panel and windmill for their house. Well, now you can be one of the first on your block to be more eco-friendly in your energy usage.

The answer may be that you need to seriously examine how to build your own solar panels, and here are a few tips that just might help…

Check out the online specials for materials and save on the construction cost. In addition, there are many suppliers who will offer everything that is required to complete the job, as well as plans and advice on assembly.

The tools needed to build your own solar panels will probably already be found in the workshop and include hammer, saw, soldering iron, screw drivers and a knife.

The materials list is a little longer but most people already have some timber to make the frame for mounting the panels on the roof and the screws and wood panels to make the housing for the cells.

Purchase pre tabbed photo-voltaic cells and the tab wiring to connect them. Some eva glue, solder and flux, plastic sheeting to cover the lid of the housing as well as blocking diodes to stop current reversal, and the project can be started.

The next step is to make a cup of coffee and make some decisions on where the panels are going to be sited. A south facing slope of 30? that is not shaded or in the path of natural pests is required, and if possible one that will allow wiring to be easily conducted into the area you choose to house the storage batteries.

When starting out to build your own solar panels, allow a weekend and clear a space on the workshop floor that is clean and dust free. The process is essentially an assembly project once the cells are fixed to a backing board in rows, usually of 6×6.

Join the cell tabs with the wire and add the blocking diodes and cable to connect up to the storage battery and cover with the plastic lid. Seal the whole unit with the silicone grouting.

Mounting the panels on the roof should occur after some insulation has been applied to the rear of the housing, and to really make the unit efficient paint all the housing black – not the lid though!

This may be a two person job, not just because it is heavy, but because it is awkward and made more difficult when working at heights.

If this project seems a little too much for the DIY skills at hand, then you can buy a kit set or even a complete unit. Before you buy, check out someone who has already gone down the same track, or at least try to see a solar powered unit in action.

The project should be fun, as learning how to build your own solar panels is survival technology that can give the homeowner some true independence in times when supply of power can be unreliable.

The dream of free energy from the sun has been a quest for many generations of scientists, but the latest advances in technology are bringing this type of energy to the home owner.

Solar renewable energy can be used for lighting, cooking, heating water, and even powering vehicles.

You have probably already been the beneficiary of renewable solar energy without knowing it, as some traffic signs already use the sun to keep them functioning when other power can’t reach them.

In your own home you can create the basic solar unit from some black plastic piping and a small pump – and within minutes warm, and even hot water, will be able to be circulated to a pool or under floor heating system.

If you are a more adventurous DIY home owner, a kit for a roof mounted set of solar panels can provide hot water to a storage tank for use in most household situations. You may use this solar renewable energy just as a top up for other types of heating, and there will be a saving in your utility bills too.

You should consider installing solar photo voltaic panels that allow electricity to be produced in the same form as that obtained from a battery.  This form of solar renewable energy is employed in wilderness areas to power electric fencing and remote monitoring systems for weather reporting. The space station uses this form of power and while it means a substantial outlay for the homeowner, if you want to look at green options this certainly is a worthwhile one.

You need a lot more roof space for this type of panel and more wiring that might be best left to a qualified electrician to install. The real attraction for solar renewable energy is that you will always get energy when the sun is shining. There are very few working parts in the systems that could wear out, making them low maintenance as well.

More benefits of solar renewable energy systems include that they make no noise, and can look stylish when mounted on the roof facing in the direction of the sun’s rays. The average home can easily incorporate some form of solar power, even if it is just to illuminate pathways around the home.

Major utility companies are slow to adopt solar renewable energy and this is probably because at present there are few incentives to make change – and they can just pass fuel cost increases on to the consumer without any real resistance.

Better technology has developed photo cells to the point where they are becoming a competitive generation alternative, but you needn’t wait for your utility company to get up to speed with this. Take matters into your own hands and become self sufficient for your home’s energy needs.

If enough of us get involved in solar energy, we will start to see prices decrease and technology improve as these things can be produced on a more massive scale.