Archive for November, 2008

How to Make Your Own Renewable Energy Source in 3 Easy Steps

Saturday, November 29th, 2008
Max Loodlin asked:


Have you noticed your energy bill getting more and more expensive every month? I sure have. Sometimes I almost feel hopeless when it comes to paying my bills on time. My energy bill just keeps on getting more and more expensive each month! But you know what, I found a great way to cope with the rising costs of energy. I’ve created my own source of energy, and I’m willing to tell you how I did it in just 3 easy steps!

1) Researching Renewable Energy



The first thing that I did was research ways to create my own source of renewable energy. Just like you I was eager to learn about the possibilities of making my own energy and saving some money on my electric bill. What I found was that I had two options when it came to making my own renewable energy. I would either have to build a wind turbine or solar energy generator. Both of these energy sources have something in common. They are forms of green energy. This means that they are cheap, renewable, and clean.

I’m going to be honest with you. After discovering that I was going to have to make my own wind turbine or solar panel I was extremely intimidated. I thought to myself, “How in the world am I going to be able to make my own green energy source?”. And this led me to the second step…

2) Do You Have Directions?



Ok, so at this point I had come to realize that I was going to have to build my own natural energy source. So what did I do? Well, I did a little more tedious research. I did what everybody does these days, I asked Google. After hours of searching for phrases like “how to make your own energy” and “how to build a wind turbine” I was left very irritable and discouraged. I found that manually researching something like this was not only tedious but also unreliable.

That is until I came across a little hidden gem…

3) The All Powerful Guide



Truth be told I did waste many hours researching only to be left with garbage. But I did gain a very valuable tool that helped me successfully build my own green energy source. I came a across a DIY homemade natural power guide. In it I found every single piece of information that I needed to build my own natural power system. It was filled to the brim with detailed diagrams, pictures, schematics, secret tips, you name it. It was all there.

And guess what? I was able to build my own natural power system in just two days. Want to know how much it cost me? The total cost of everything was less than $200! This isn’t cheap but it sure beats paying $20,000 for a professionally installed green energy source. The best part is that I payed off the initial costs within a month, and am now saving hundreds of dollars every month.

You CAN make your own green energy source. All you need is the right resources. If you believe in yourself and you believe in saving money on your energy bill every month, then I highly recommend you click the link below. You will learn about the specific DIY green energy guide that I used. Why spend dozens of hours on tedious research when all you need is right in front of you?

Make Your Own Renewable Energy. Click The Link Below.

http://www.squidoo.com/howtomakenaturalpower



Passive and Proud: Green Energy Ideas for your Home

Thursday, November 27th, 2008
Carolyn Gjerde Tu asked:


Solar energy comes from the sun. A biology class will tell you that in addition to affecting climate and weather, sunlight provides the energy that sustains most life on earth. It also can be harnessed to provide heating, lighting and electricity. Solar power has become a hot topic lately, but this technology is nothing new – Native Americans, people in China and even the early Greeks have historically turned their buildings to the sun for heat.

These early architects were using what is known as passive solar energy. This technique makes the best use of regular building materials to trap heat with no additional mechanical equipment used. Floors, windows and roofs play a role in attracting (or deflecting) the sun’s rays.

There are a number of ways to take advantage of solar radiation, starting with the house’s placement. Having the house face the equator (we’ll assume we’re in the Northern Hemisphere, thus the house should face south) means that it gets the day’s sunlight. Window orientation is also important – for optimal efficiency, most windows should point within 30 degrees of due south. Maintaining a small percentage of north facing windows will ensure that your home is comfortable year round (and not cooking in the summer).

Rock or stone tile floors and brick walls will absorb the solar radiation and continue to give off heat after the sun is gone. While common windows allow heat to escape, special windows with low-e coating, multiple panes, inert gas fill, and/or insulated frames can reduce heat loss 50 to 75 per cent. By sealing your building envelope and insulating well, you will ensure that the heat stays in the house. It can then be distributed through the house using a regular ceiling fan.

Direct sunlight is not the only important light to think of when considering energy use. By using overall daylight to light a space you can cut down the need for electrical lighting and the heat that’s created by it. Artificial lighting has only been the main source of illumination since the 20th century. And using natural light may have added benefits for your physical and mental health. In addition to windows, daylighting makes use of skylights, light pipes (also known as light tubes), atriums, and light shelves to illuminate the interior. This is best considered when building, but with a few small renos your house can be much brighter, naturally!

Passive cooling is another way to cut your bills and become more energy efficient. This is especially useful in warmer climates, where air conditioning can be a major power consumer. Passive cooling refers to using things for shading, to absorb the heat, and goes hand in hand with passive solar energy. It can be accomplished using exterior landscaping choices – trees and other vegetation – or interior/exterior building options, such as shades, blinds or special glazing on windows.

Whether you are building a new home, looking at doing some renovations or just want to cut your energy bill, passive solar energy and cooling techniques are an easy way to incorporated green ideas into your home. With the rising interest in environmental issues, they make an excellent selling feature and they’ll save you money.



Biodiesel Automobile Fuel - Can I Use Biodiesel in My Car?

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Steve Marsh asked:


I was recently asked by a friend about a Biodiesel conversion for running the fuel in his car. My answer to him was “Drive past the diesel pump and pull up next to the Biodiesel pump. You can use Biodiesel in almost any diesel engine on the planet without modification.”

That being said, there are a few things you need to be aware of. Check first to make sure that your vehicle manufacturer doesn’t prohibit the use of Biodiesel. I don’t know of any that do, but I have been told that Audi’s newer diesels are not suppose to use Biodiesel. Why is beyond me.

My friend has been using almost pure Biodiesel in his Mercedes 240D for over two years with no concerns. Somethings that he did upfront you may want to do and they make sense if you want to guarantee you’ll have no problems.

First, he changed out his fuel filter after the first two full tanks and again about three months later. The reason he did this is because Biodiesel is a better solvent than petroleum diesel. Accumulations of sludge and gunk in your fuel system tend to accumulate in your fuel lines and in your engine.  The Biodiesel will dissolve them and this can clog your filters. A fuel filter or two is not a bad price to pay for a cleaner engine! And by the way, there are no special “biodiesel filters”.

Second, he replaced all the rubber fuel line sections with Viton. This isn’t a consideration in vehicles made since the early nineties but again, a small price to pay if you have an older vehicle. The reason for this is that natural rubber tends to degrade in the presence of Biodiesel and heat. The synthetic ‘rubber’ used in modern vehicles is unaffected.

Finally, during the colder months you will probably want to run a mixture of petroeum diesel and Biodiesel. Biodiesel gels at higher temperatures than regular diesel and in extremely cold weather this could cause starting and drivability problems. If you purchase your Biodiesel it will usually already be blended for your weather, but if you’re burning home made Biodiesel you may need to add a percentage of conventional diesel during the colder months. How much will have to be determined by tial and error on your part.

Can I use biodiesel in my car? The answer is certainly!



Alternative Energy Projects Finance

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Justin Boyce asked:


There are numerous advantages and benefits to mankind in developing alternative energy sources. While many countries have started down the track of setting up resources and infrastructure to develop alternative energy such as bio fuels, wind and water as well as solar power there is still huge scope to increases the levels of energy created.

Mankind’s technological progress and our developing societies as a result have come along way by harnessing energy for electricity and using fuel to power vehicles we have created the ability for huge industries. To date these industries have relied on nonalternative power sources such as fossil fuels.

These sources are extracted from the ground and need to be processed so we can harness the fuel and electricity. They are commonly referred to as coal, natural gas and hydrocarbon fuels. We rely on them heavy and the costs are pollution and usage of our natural resources, which are not infinite.

Perhaps one of the biggest stumbling blocks in developing alternative energy is the cost some third world countries and even private companies that seek to find independence from hydro carbon created energy don’t have the necessary funds to be able to do so, this is where alternative energy finance comes into play.

By selling surplus energy created to other business you can offset costs and some large power generating companies will even buy excess energy off you. With the looming threat of global warning and possible peak oil production being reached There has never been a better time to seek financing for alternative energy projects, whether it be an ethanol energy project, wind farm turbines, hydro electric, coal bed methane, seam gas, green energy, sustainable energy, feothermal energy, hot rock energy, or clean coal.

Before applying for finance for any project you first need to have completed all research and have a development blueprint but there are many experts out there that can consult with you on how to achieve this. Governments around the world are desperately backing alternative energy projects, but banks won’t give you a fair go - they see alternative energy projects as providing poor returns, or say the project teams lack experience!

The time for action is now before the natural resources mankind relies on for energy manufacture is totally depleted. Mankind must also stop the damage being done to our planet through the high pollution traditional energy manufacture causes.

If we wait till the fossil fuels are totally depleted before we develop sustainable alternative energy sources we may see a return to the horse and carriage days and having to resort for candles for light and indoor fires for heating.

We must all take responsibility now before its too late or we will see a huge reduction in our population and backward steps in our society functions as a whole as we are totally reliant on fossil fuels not only to power our own vehicles but to transport food and other goods globally.

Thankfully there are companies that are willing to help others by providing the finance needed for individuals or companies to develop highly needed alternative energy sources



Biodiesel, the New Energy Revolution

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Jerry Cahill asked:


Fuels are the energy-boosters for vehicles. Without it no automobile can run on the road. But these fuels have always been a major factor in pollution problem. That is why alternative fuels or eco-friendly fuels have been discovered.

Biodiesel is one of them. It is equivalent to diesel, which is derived from biological sources. It is a non-toxic, eco-friendly processed fuel, and can be used in vehicles having diesel-driven engine. It is useful as it has less emission than petroleum and diesel. It can also possibly be used in the place of fossil fuels.

Biodiesel looks like a dark yellow colored fluid and is light. It easily gets immersed in water and thus has low density than water, and possess high boiling point with low vapor pressure. It is also non-flammable.

Several countries in the world now prefer biodiesel in their cars than other fuels and thus are also producing them. Australia. Canada Germany, India Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil are some of the countries that produce biodiesel.

Biodiesel has many environmental benefits that make it very resourceful. 1. It produces less emission of carbon monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2). 2. It contains less aromatic hydrocarbons like benzofluoranthene. 3. It reduces the emission of small particles of solid combustion products. 4. It can produce more nitrogen oxide (NO). 5. Sulphur content in biodiesel is low than that of others. 6. It ignites more quickly than other fuels, when added to the engine.

Biodiesel is prepared from hydrocarbon oil or fats. The most common ingredient used in its making is fresh soybean oil. Other things that are used for its production are mustered seed oil and waste vegetable oil.

These oils are mixed, mainly with methanol and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, which acts as a catalyst and then filtered. The product produce is biodiesel and glycerol. It can be used in two ways- directly that is in pure form or with petroleum. Biodiesel is gradually becoming the favorite all over the world for its eco-friendly nature as today’s world is facing the problem of pollution.

Moreover, it is also free from those additional problems that are common in case of fuels like petroleum diesel, and thus can be said that in the coming years it can be the world’s primary energy source for transports. For this reason many companies are becoming interested in commercial level production of biodiesel for its good business prospect

Apart from this biodiesel is still a subject of research. Different researchers are working on it to discover other positive aspects of such a valuable product.



lternative Energy For Domestic Use - New Technologies To Brighten Your Homes

Monday, November 24th, 2008
Abhishek Agarwal asked:


The sky rocketing rates at US gas stations and continued growing problems in the Nigeria, Middle East,and other important areas to the oil-booming economy has made Americans realize that there is a strong need to develop other prospects of energy supplies and creation to reduce the dependency on oil as it is ultimately limited and honestly, only cheap oil sources, not all of oil sources are getting emptied.

Energy consultant professionals and analysts are confident that cheap oil source is almost over and this means an costly future unless alternate new forms of powering mechanized and electronic civilizations substituting oil need to be developed.

Another reason to shift to alternate forms of energy is that our current forms are destructive to the atmosphere and contribute to damaging the environment by air pollution. This write doesn’t believe in global warming trend et all, sustained by mankind’s activities and it is a cycle of nature and there’s nothing one can do other than preparing for its consequences.

Coal is a source of power that we should free ourselves from as that is also limited and at the same time mining it is dangerous yet environmentally damaging. We can look for new, methods for electricity generation that we presently produce so much through hydro-power such that we less damaging to nature when we are in requirement of construction of large dams.

Developing countries have become industrialized in last decade or so will benefit from alternate energy researching and development, as they are more detrimental to the environment than the US.

The United States and certain European countries have been researching programmes for the developing alternate energy forms, and thus are leaders in furthering the cause of saving environment. The developing countries like China as well as India have to look up to leaders like the Japanese and the Western countries which have set examples by showing what R and D can do if government backing is given.

We could also strengthen our own economy by being at the head of such alternative energy sources development and then marketing the technologies and services to nations like India, China, Brazil, and so on and so forth.

Biofuels from things such as “supertrees” and soybeans, natural gas, refined hydroelectric technology, the further construction of atomic energy plants, the continued the development of solar power photovoltaic cells, hydrogen fuel cells, more research into wind-harnessed power. All these are feasible power forms that can be treated as alternatives to the huge quantities of oil and coal that we currently are so dependenable on for our complex and comfort based lifestyles. The power sources in the future is indeed green.



Some of the Biodiesel Solvets Used in the Production of Biodiesel

Monday, November 24th, 2008
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


What is a Biodiesel?

Biodiesel can be differentiated from the waste vegetable oils (WVO) or from the straight vegetable oils (SVO) which are used as fuels in some diesel vehicles. Biodiesel is a diesel that is equivalent to the processed fuel which results from the biological sources such as vegetable oils that can be used in unmodified diesel engine vehicles. Biodiesel is considered to be the fuel for future. It is an alternative fuel which is made from renewable resources.

Biodiesel is a very safe fuel which can be used in any diesel engine vehicle. While preparation of Biodiesel does not involve any harmful ingredients and also it does not produce any harmful byproducts. You can prepare Biodiesel at your own place. The ingredients to prepare Biodiesel are triglyceride fat or oil i.e. vegetable which is used in cooking, a strong base like sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) and a relatively pure alcohol. Biodiesel is one of the cheapest, safest and cleanest fuels available.

Solvents used in a Biodiesel

Large numbers of solvents are used in a bio diesel plant. The types and the solvent used are basically dependent on the type of the plant. The solvents may also be various chemicals used. Alkyl esters are used in many ways. One of such way is it is used as a solvent in the Biodiesel and it also is used as chemical intermediates which is required for the formation of the detergents.

The pure form of Biodiesel can be used in its pure form. This Biodiesel may include unburned hydrocarbons and it also contains carbon monoxides. This is on of the most efficient way to use a Biodiesel especially when the biodegradability and non-toxicity are important factors.

The solvent properties of the bio diesel are at the highest intensity and they may also cause problems with the loosening of lacquer deposits in the tanks which have he lines and fuels. The problem of the solvents with the B100 is more or less a major concern when the use of the blends is made.

Some of the solvents generally used are hexane, isopropanol, methanol, isopropanol, oil etc People also produce Biodiesel from the alkali and acid process. Vegetable oil or the waste cooking oil is used for making Biodiesel. The acid based process which requires waste cooking oil is very economic allover.

Some of the projects which use extensive amount are mentioned below:

In Egypt a project has been undertaken which involves the use of the Jatropha as a potential Biodiesel feedstock. Another project in which the Biodisel Fuel from the non edible Vegetable oil is also under taken as a collaborative project by UNH Biodiesel group and the famous National Research Center (NRC), Cairo. Oil is used in large amount and it is extracted from the seeds. In these projects solvents like oil, methanol, and glycerol are extensively used. The chemical reaction of the solvents and the materials used can be future summarized in the following manner:- Oil + 3 Methanol [using NaOH or KOH catalyst] = 3 Biodiesel (Methyl Ester) + Glycerol. The main objective behind the research was to study the transesterification of the oil extracted to the Biodisel.



Hydro Assist Fuel Cell - Do They Really Work?

Friday, November 21st, 2008
Sinclair Sonny asked:


There are many valid reasons to start looking for alternative fuels for your car. There is the looming danger of global warming, and of course, the most pressing as of the moment, the current global economic downturn. It is for these reasons that many people are looking for ways to lower their spending on fuels. While it may take more than just decades to totally eradicate the use of fossil fuels, there are existing technologies today that can help anyone improve the fuel economy of their car and extend the gas mileage per gallon.

Once of the more noteworthy technologies out there is Hydro Assist Fuel Cell (HAFC). HAFC is a combination of tested principles in the tradition of fuel saving technologies. It is available today, not merely available ‘years from now’ as others might lead you to believe.

Think of your car as an energy factory. It uses fuel in the engine to create energy that is transferred to the wheel that makes the car go. It also creates electrical energy from the alternator and the battery. HAFC rides on the energy created by the engine from the fuel to make the system more efficient.

HAFC technology works this way: workers extract a hydrogen-oxygen rich mixture from water by ionizing it with electricity from the battery. This energy rich gas (hydrogen-oxygen) is called Brown’s gas.

Brown’s gas extracted from water enriches the fuel mixture, allowing you to pump less fuel into the engine but get the same if not greater amount of burn, thus improving your vehicle’s gas mileage.

The HAFC system also uses powerful magnets to ionize the gasoline to break it down to its component molecules, allowing it to burn more rapidly and cleanly. It is a common mistake that gas burns. Gas does not burn, and what burns is the vapor that is on the surface of the gas. In unmodified engines, the fuel injector turns the gas into a fine mist. If this fine mist were to be turned actually into gas, and the components broken down to make it burn more, you will get a more explosive mixture, meaning more power, and less emissions, using less fuel. That is why cars that run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas are more economical, the fuel the reaches the engine is in gas form, easily burned and gives off less smoke.

Many studies have been made and claim that the HAFC system can produce gas savings of a minimum of 50%. This is a dramatic increase in mileage and fuel economy; though of course one can expect the savings to vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on the engine condition and the road usage the vehicle is subjected to.

What makes the HAFC System unique and special is that it will work on all current existing internal combustion engines. Unlike conversions to LPG fuel, there will be no need for major modifications, only added components that will not even add burden to the car. It is also compatible with other emerging technologies such as Pre-Ignition Catalytic Converter technology, which should up the fuel savings even more.



Alternative Fuel Biodiesel - Magic Fuel Of The Future

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Many vehicles are fueled by diesel, but with the increasing demand for environmentally safer fuels many diesel users are asking for better alternatives, too. Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning alternative fuel. It’s a vegetable oil-based fuel that can run in an unmodified, or slightly modified, diesel engine. It is produced through a chemically-refined process called trans-esterification. Essentially, biodiesel is a renewable fuel made by a chemical reaction of alcohol and vegetable or animal oils, fats, or greases, that seaparates the glycerins in the oil from the methyl esters. It is methyl esters which form the biodiesel and they can be merged with regular diesel or it can be used alone. Biodiesel is biodegradable, nontoxic, and free of sulfur.

Pros Of Using Biodiesel

Contrary to popular beliefs, biodiesel is not raw vegetable oil. As an alternative fuel, biodiesel must be manufactured according to strict industry specifications in order to insure proper performance and is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act. Biodiesel is nearly carbon-neutral, which means it contributes almost zero emissions to global warming.

Biodiesel has fewer emissions than standard diesel, is biodegradable, and is a renewable source of energy. The exhaust emissions of sulfur and its related compounds contribute to the formation of acid rain; carbon monoxide is a widely recognized toxin; and carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect. There are also some lesser known emission compounds that cause concern, such hydrocarbons that have been linked to the formation of certain types of cancer. Particulate matter has negative health effects upon the lungs, and unburned hydrocarbons contribute to the formation of smog and ozone. These are basically eliminated when biodiesel is used instead of regular diesel. Biodiesel also lubricates the engine better than petroleum diesel, which helps reduce engine friction and wear and extends engine life.

Cons Of Using Biodiesel

Of course, as with any other fuel source, biodiesel has its downsides. Pure biodiesel gets slushy at a little under 32

5 Miles for 5 Cents

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
Charles Atwood asked:


We see it every day, the costs of fuel increasing and the threats of global warming becoming greater. Can a hydro powered car be a feasible solution? Many environmental programs and universities have tested the ability of hydro power becoming a new market. An idea that seems too good to be true, a myth. There is no way to run your car on nothing but water just yet, however there is a way to utilize hydrolysis to greatly increase your mileage per an hour.

There are some organizations determined to shed light on the companies that are providing factual information and avoiding those who use pseudoscience to trick people into using their services. A organization that I am a member of is ClearGas.org, all members have automobiles that achieve 250 or more miles per a gallon. The organization seeks out the best services to progress our ideas on technology and embrace saving the country from our oil dependence.

They demonstrate with some of their 3rd party services anyone can increase the mileage on their car with little work and no need for any prior mechanical knowledge. There news letter is filled with amazing up to date information on some of the best hydro technology and services being provided.

Go and take action! There is no need to run your vehicle on 20, 30, or even 40 miles per a gallon when you can have 200 or more. It’s easier then you think and worth all the pennies you will save.