Like it or not, folks, our dominion over carbon fuels is coming to an end. We used, depleted, finished, gorged on, and gobbled up the lot. Not to mention that in the process we also scattered enough carbon emissions to blow a hole in the ozone and pretty much hasten our own doom. But, enough Armageddon talk! We have hope. We have sun! (A little more radioactive than it was 20 years ago, though)
So, what can the sun do for us besides turn our skin that awful lobster red color? Well, it can power your home. That's pretty impressive, isn't it? I know you've heard of solar panels and that they cost an arm and a leg and that you won't see a return on that investment for about 10 years. Well, I'm here to tell you that you can assemble a solar panel for about $200.00. And right here on this website there is reference material that you can download that tells you how to do it. I want people to know that it's not impossible or out of budget to create your own home energy. Let's explore a little more about how solar panels work...
Solar panels are made of silicon. Silicon can fit 8 electrons in the atoms outer shell. When neutral, silicon holds 4 electrons, meaning it can fit in 4 more. By combining silicon with other elements, a charge is created. Sunlight produces many particles of energy. Most importantly, it includes a particle called a photon. When the photon hits the silicon plate which has been bonded to an element like phosphorus, an electron is kicked free. The repeated process is what generates electricity. Phew, science class!
Of course, it will take more than one solar panel to provide enough electricity to support the needs of an average home. You can calculate your needs based on the amount of kw's your home uses daily. To find this out, you would have to go through your old utility bills and get an average. Also, you would have to know how much sunlight, on average, you receive in a day based upon where you live and the time of year. A little effort is involved, but it is worth it in the long run.
You still might be thinking..."why do this?" Here is the best answer I can give you. Do you really think that your electricity bill is going to go down in the next few years? All I ever see with utility bills is that they are higher every year. Solar power isn't going away. It's ultimately reliable. If the sun dies, then we die, too, so losing our investment in solar won't matter anyway. Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allows for homeowners to deduct 30% of the costs without a cap. Lastly, it's clean energy. Pure and simple, it doesn't harm the environment. You can feel good about it when you power up your pc or turn on the kettle. So, folks, this IS the time to make that move and get on the Solar bus.
By Gladys Brown
So you're interested in going green in 2009? Well you have come to the right place. Going green is one of those things that can seem difficult and inconvenient, but it is actually very simple and easy. The thing to keep in mind is less is more. In other words, extravagance is unnecessary when converting to an eco-friendly lifestyle because the goal is to minimize the energy output, and maximize the monetary savings.
For example, by doing something simple such as switching from standard light bulbs to energy-saving CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs), you can expect to use up to 75% less energy on lighting. Aside from the huge savings on the monthly bills, this option saves you a lot of hassle because CFLs last almost 10 times longer than standard bulbs. This means no more constant trips to the store to replace old bulbs. Just by making one adjustment, you have just saved gas money, utility money, and a pain in the neck.
Another thing I've noticed about the "go green movement" is that people can feel overwhelmed at the amount of changes they should be making in order to be more energy efficient. The actor Ed Begley has a TV show in which he shows how he has transformed his entire lifestyle so he can be more eco-friendly. There is a tendency to feel helpless when you hear about a celebrity who has installed solar panels throughout his home, drives an electric car or rides his bike everywhere, etc. Those of you who live in places like Green Bay, Wisconsin don't have the luxury of biking through 6 feet of snow or driving a Prius in the same conditions. Therefore, there is some hesitation when it comes to jumping onto the "go green" bandwagon.
It is easy to understand why some feel like they can't do enough to make a difference either because they don't have the time, money, or energy to make an eco-friendly lifestyle turnaround. The thing that people tend to forget is that every little bit helps. Instead of installing solar panels on your house, you can simply use Energy Star products throughout your home in order to save energy. Instead of buying an electric car or biking everywhere, you can simply switch to a hybrid vehicle since these days they make hybrid SUVs, trucks, and everything in between. If you can't afford a new car, opting for public transportation can do the trick. Going green should not have to be a strain on you, your budget, or your time. There are plenty of simple changes that can be made which are eco-friendly and cost-cutting.
My website http://www.go-green-live-long.com is a guide for some easy ways to go green, and save green.
Gladys Brown is the founder of http://www.go-green-live-long.com which is a website that specializes in the importance of living an eco-friendly lifestyle. The site also provides a wide range of tips and ideas that are intended to smooth the process of going green, as well as inform the reader of the importance of making such changes in order to save the environment, and save money.
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