Green Power Close to Home
When we hear about how thinking globally and acting locally, power is often not at the forefront of our minds. But perhaps it should be. The environmental impact of transporting electricity is easily as taxing on the world climate as transporting hard consumer goods can be. Transporting power creates a direct waste of that power, creating a larger carbon footprint.
One might argue that all power is produced locally. Californians aren’t getting their power from New York. However, this is largely out of necessity. Making power a local endeavor can be taken much further.
For a moment, consider the factors at play in producing power. First, one has to consider the source of the power (i.e. coal, solar, wind, etc.), then where it’s made (in a plant, in your backyard, etc.), then how far it has to travel (NY to CA or from the source to your breaker box). Something many don’t realize is that electricity does not travel well. While our technologies for creating power have advanced rapidly, our technologies for transporting and storing electricity have not. Some new developments, such as hydrogen fuel cells, have promise, but the kinks are not all worked out yet.
It seems clear, then, that truly green power is created close to where it is used. This prevents the degradation of the signal that occurs in power lines, in transformers, etc. However, that is not the only benefit. Producing local power takes advantage of whatever natural form of energy is avaialable- be that solar, wind or hydro.
As it becomes easier and easier to build solar cells and wind turbines (not to mention micro-hydro systems) at home, it is worth considering ones environmental impact. The benefits are numerous- it save the environment, saves your power bills, and could even make you money (think tax breaks or even selling power back to the power company). Numerous resources are available to the home builder of green power, allowing it to be used in many different environments (rural, urban, suburban). Between the guides available today, the necessity of saving the climate, the potential financial savings, and the long-term satisfaction of building green power, building your own home power system is more attractive than ever.
Damon Westchester is the editor of www.build-green-power.com.
Green Power is Local
When we hear about how thinking globally and acting locally, power is often not at the forefront of our minds. But perhaps it should be. The environmental impact of transporting electricity is easily as taxing on the world climate as transporting hard consumer goods can be. Transporting power creates a direct waste of that power, creating a larger carbon footprint.
One might argue that all power is produced locally. Californians aren’t getting their power from New York. However, this is largely out of necessity. Making power a local endeavor can be taken much further.
For a moment, consider the factors at play in producing power. First, one has to consider the source of the power (i.e. coal, solar, wind, etc.), then where it’s made (in a plant, in your backyard, etc.), then how far it has to travel (NY to CA or from the source to your breaker box). Something many don’t realize is that electricity does not travel well. While our technologies for creating power have advanced rapidly, our technologies for transporting and storing electricity have not. Some new developments, such as hydrogen fuel cells, have promise, but the kinks are not all worked out yet.
To truly create green power, that power needs to be created close to home. There is a set of factors at play: 1. This will rely on a local resource (i.e. creating solar power in Phoenix rather than Seattle); 2. This will require little transport, and therefore less degradation of the power; 3. Ultimately, less power will have to be created for the same outcome.
As it becomes easier and easier to build solar cells and wind turbines (not to mention micro-hydro systems) at home, it is worth considering ones environmental impact. The benefits are numerous- it save the environment, saves your power bills, and could even make you money (think tax breaks or even selling power back to the power company). Numerous resources are available to the home builder of green power, allowing it to be used in many different environments (rural, urban, suburban). Between the guides available today, the necessity of saving the climate, the potential financial savings, and the long-term satisfaction of building green power, building your own home power system is more attractive than ever.
Damon Westchester is the editor of www.build-green-power.com.
Are Green Power Options Best
Everybody wants green energy. Being able to get the power we need without damaging the environment is an obvious goal – but what’s the best way to achieve it? Should we be opting for wind farms, hydroelectricity, or solar energy as alternative power? This guide to green living will help us decide
Resources that are regenerative, meaning they cannot be depleted are considered renewable energy. These resources are safe for our environment and produce energy without the harmful pollutants and emissions associated with fossil-fuels.
Wind farms often receive a bad press, especially when they’re situated near homes or in popular hiking areas. They can make a lot of noise and because they have to be placed on skylines for maximum efficiency they often spoil views. Offshore wind farms are less problematic in this way and can take advantage of fierce sea winds, increasing their output, but they rely on a nation having a lot of suitable coastline.
While the Netherlands does very well with its wind farms, the US is, considering the comparative size of its population, at a distinct disadvantage. For the home-owner, small wind-powered generators are available, but they’re not very efficient and often result in complaints from neighbors.
Using the natural energy of rivers and tidal forces by hydroelectricity is a much more effective way of generating power. However, there are a limited number of suitable locations for hydroelectric generators, and often these are in areas which already provide fertile farmland, so a lot of people have to be displaced and lose their land in order for them to be built. The impact on local wildlife can also be damaging.
Solar power alone passes the test of truly being practical, easy to access and non-polluting at the same time. Solar panels of today will still work effectively even in areas that are always cloudy. Once installed, they require little maintenance and don’t get in anyones way. For these reasons, the greenest way to generate the power we need is by harnessing the power of the sun.
Powerverde – New Natural Gas Division
PowerVerde, Inc has developed and patented a unique system for generating megawatts of electricity on existing natural gas pipeline systems. These unique systems will be able to generate huge amounts of electricity without burning any of the gas or disrupting the flow of the natural gas to customers.
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