What About Cooling From the Sun?

Share Photograph by Tim Wimborne, Reuters This story is part of a special series that explores energy issues. For more, visit The Great Energy Challenge. For years, the energy world has puzzled over how to harness the sun to make rooms cool. That may sound counterintuitive to those who think primarily of the uncomfortable heat beating down on roofs and windows as the summer sun reaches its apex. But to those who ponder the sun’s tremendous energy, there’s a perfect symmetry in the idea of solar cooling. The power of the sun could be used just when it’s needed most. Solar cooling is one of an array of ideas for greener air-conditioning by making better use of the forces of nature. Air-conditioning has transformed summertime living in the developed world, but at a tremendous energy cost. Invented in 1902 by Willis Haviland Carrier, early air-conditioning cooled air by causing it to pass through refrigerant-cooled coils. Conventional air-conditioning is much the same today, guzzling juice from the electric grid to compress gaseous refrigerant back to liquid state in each cooling cycle. Strain on electricity systems reaches critical mass due to summer AC demand. Heating homes in winter also requires a lot of energy, but there are many warming optionsnatural gas, oil, wood. Conventional cooling relies on electricity; as a result, peak summer power demand in the United States, where more than 80 percent of households have air-conditioning, is more than 20 percent higher than at the winter high point. (Cooling accounts for 8 percent of U.S. household energy use.) Power companies must have “peaker” plants on hand for the hottest summer afternoons: typically old, inefficient fossil fuel facilities. The hotter it gets, the hotter they run. Talk about counterintuitive. If you are having any problems accessing the feeds or updates in the email regarding our latest news about greener air conditioning , please feel free to let us know. We know you want to be in the know so we’d love to help you on that. We also want to hear any feedback from you to make our blog better. Leave a comment and tell your friends and family about us! We will make everyone updated about greener air conditioning .

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What About Cooling From the Sun?

Geothermal Energy For Home Improvement Projects

RJ Current asked: Geothermal heating is an idea that has been around for a long time. But just what is it and how does it actually work? Steam created from deep underground heat sources or natural hot springs have been used as a clean energy heating source for years. If you have a dog, you have probably noticed how they like to dig a hole in the ground to lie in on hot days. Even just that few inches into the ground is cooler than the surrounding air. They instinctively know what many home renovators are just discovering. Just below the surface, the ground maintains a steady temperature year round. Usually this temperature is cooler than the air temperature on hot days and warmer on cold days. As energy costs rise, more and more people are tapping into this simple fact to use this renewable energy source to heat and cool their homes. There are numerous advantages. According to the Environmental Protection Agency Geothermal heating and cooling is the most cost effective, energy efficient and environmentally clean heating and cooling system available in the United States. Replacing a normal HVAC system with a geothermal system results in savings that are the equivalent of planting 750 trees, 3/4 an acre of rain forest or not driving your car 140,000 miles. The average house creates more greenhouse gas emissions than the average car. Currently more than 9% of our countries energy usage in the United States is used for heating and cooling our homes. These alternative energy systems are at least three times more efficient than fossil fuel systems. This alternative energy source can be used to create significant cost savings for the average homeowner and generate huge benefits for our environment. So how does it work? The earth is a vast reservoir of thermal energy from the sun and the molten lava at our planets core. A geothermal system just transfers this heat from the ground into the home in winter and the heat from your home into the ground in the summer. Because heat is being transferred rather than created the systems operate at much higher efficiencies than normal fossil fueled systems. With rising energy costs and growing interest in clean energy using this alternative energy source can not only save you money now and for years to come, it will create added value to your biggest investment, your home. Water 4 Gas Read more on Geothermal Energy For Home Improvement Projects… Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This!

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Geothermal Energy For Home Improvement Projects

Solar Attic Fans: Keeping Your House Cool

Summer often conjures thoughts of islands and nice, laid back days spent by the edge of the pool. Regrettably, it additionally brings with it heat which can occasionally overpower your household air conditioning making your daily existence uncomfortable. Fortunately, the human race has formulated strategies to dealing with this heat in such a manner that people can conserve cash and power even in the center of one of the hottest days. By combining solar power with a fan which will help ventilate your entire home, it is possible to quickly gain control of the hot conditions inside of your home. Every single home should have an attic fan, but people with solar attic fans can boast that they’re cooler in the summertime and never have to be worried about increased electricity bills. An attic fan is an easy item to comprehend, particularly for anybody who is already a property owner. An attic isn’t insulated, and therefore it quickly heats up to the temperature outside. As well as this, the enclosed area of the attic often saves this heat, which makes it warmer than it actually is. The end result of this may be the seepage of high temperatures into your home both throughout the day and at night, leading to your air conditioning to operate harder. By putting a solar attic fan to use, you are able to easily cool your home without an excessive amount of work. These attic fans are powered by the sun’s light, meaning that you will not need to pay for the additional electric power that anything hooked to your energy grid would necessitate. The fan runs without you needing to worry about it, ventilating the attic with cooler air from the outdoors. These types of fans relocate the heated air that stores heat in the attic and enables your home to cool at night time as opposed to getting warmer. These fans do all this, without ever pulling on the electrical energy that powers your home! Installing a solar attic fan is not challenging, and the rewards are easy to notice. When you elect to use a solar powered device, in lieu of one that’s powered by the electric grid, you already profit by saving money on your electrical power charges. While the initial price of the fan might be more, the funds you save will easily pay for the cost of the fan. Another advantage can be noticed in the idea that your air conditioning can work more proficiently. This too saves you money in the end as you’ll not have to operate the system as long or as high as you might otherwise have. Obtaining a solar attic fan is a fantastic thought for any homeowner, regardless of the size of the home or the size of the fan. You will find advantages when you’ve got one of these fans, including income saving and power saving benefits. Summer months shouldn’t be something you dread as a property owner. Instead, grab one of these fans and make your home cooler throughout the summer. Read more on Solar Attic Fans: Keeping Your House Cool… Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This!

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Solar Attic Fans: Keeping Your House Cool

Can You Go Green With Your Energy

Everybody is trying to do their part to go green. The amount that a person does is not the same as everyone else. The sun is one of the most valuable resources we can use. They are going about adding the solar panels to power their home in many ways including building a solar panel for those who are handy enough to do it on their own. It is possible for the typical homeowner to do some things to harness this power. There are many systems to choose that are passive in nature. There are a lot of options to choose from to accomplish this. It is basically using direct sunlight to reduce the amount of electricity or fuel you need to use to heat or cool your home. When it is cold outside, you can harness the power of the sun to make it warmer in your home. During the hotter months it is possible to deflect the energy of the sun so as to keep the house cooler and thus lower your electric usage. There are some issues to consider to help create the passive solar environment and a search of the internet with the keyword greendiyenergy can provide a person with a wonderful resource as they stat their path to less energy dependence. Some suggestions they will find include lots of windows on the south side of the house, with fewer windows on the other sides. You want lots of thermal mass, block, brick, and tile, on the south side of the house so it can be struck directly by the sun in the wintertime. The thermal mass absorbs and stores the heat energy during the day and then radiates it back into the living space as night falls and the interior temperature begins to cool. Some of the variables in this are the size of the home and the average temperature in the area. This can be calculated by multiplying the amount of glass in a house by a factor of six to see how much mass is required. A person is going to have to deal with the issue that what is good to warm the house is not good fro keeping it cooler. The best way for a person to deal with this is to find out what is the correct overhang that is required for their roof. By using this in combination with other things like the use of shade trees and window shades a person can control the amount of sun that a home gets in the summer. One thing that a person can do to make their home more efficient is to install proper windows. Look for low-e windows with a low U factor in your windows. Not all window manufacturers make windows with this combination of characteristics, so do your homework and shop around. Don’t trust products that say they can simply make existing window better. As important as windows our, the covering is just as important. A person does not have to sacrifice design for good insulation when they make their choices. Go for light colors so you still get plenty of daylight with the shades down. By using sunlight to brighten your house you will lessen the need for other sources of light. During the winter, keep the shades up when the sun is shining on the windows and mostly down at other times. During the summer, in theory, you would want to keep the shades down all the time since they not only help reject sunlight but also improve the R value of the window. The idea behind this type of energy is finding the best of both worlds. It is about doing some things over others to get the most out of your home. For more information person must do their research to decide what is right for them by turning to things such as greendiyenergy review to find out what others have done to lower their dependence on the utility companies and do their best to help the environment. Read more on Can You Go Green With Your Energy… Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This!

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Can You Go Green With Your Energy

Is Solar Power Something You Can Do

It is very popular to use renewable energy. The amount that a person does is not the same as everyone else. The idea of using solar power in our lives is a good way to start. They are going about adding the solar panels to power their home in many ways including building a solar panel for those who are handy enough to do it on their own. The do it yourselfer has many options to do as much or as little as they can. Some people turn to passive solar designs and systems. There are a lot of options to choose from to accomplish this. In order for this to work a person must utilize the power of the sun to help lessen their dependency on the electric company. When it is cold outside, you can harness the power of the sun to make it warmer in your home. When it is hot outside, a person can create ways to keep the sun from overheating their home. There are some issues to consider to help create the passive solar environment and a search of the internet with the keyword greendiyenergy can provide a person with a wonderful resource as they stat their path to less energy dependence. A home that has more windows facing the south than other parts is much better at conserving the amount of energy that they require. You want lots of thermal mass, block, brick, and tile, on the south side of the house so it can be struck directly by the sun in the wintertime. The thermal mass absorbs and stores the heat energy during the day and then radiates it back into the living space as night falls and the interior temperature begins to cool. The amount of thermal mass one needs varies somewhat based on climate and application. The exposed area of thermal mass should be about six times the area of glass that receives direct sunlight. A person is going to have to deal with the issue that what is good to warm the house is not good fro keeping it cooler. One way to combat this issue is to ensure that the amount of overhang from your roof is sufficient. The key during the hotter times is that the sun is much higher in the sky and it can be effectively blocked by leaves from plants and also from mechanical tools in the windows to limit the amount of light a home receives. One thing that a person can do to make their home more efficient is to install proper windows. In today’s world a person has the option to make choices that will help maintain a proper temperature in their home and not waste any energy. Different companies have different standards and there is no replacing taking your time to find the right product for you. Stay away from the materials that are designed as add ons to your existing windows. As important as windows our, the covering is just as important. A person does not have to sacrifice design for good insulation when they make their choices. Go for light colors so you still get plenty of daylight with the shades down. By using sunlight to brighten your house you will lessen the need for other sources of light. When it is cold and sunny outside make sure that you do not cover your windows. During the summer, in theory, you would want to keep the shades down all the time since they not only help reject sunlight but also improve the R value of the window. Passive solar energy is about compromise. The idea is to do things that make it more comfortable throughout the whole year. For more information person must do their research to decide what is right for them by turning to things such as greendiyenergy review to find out what others have done to lower their dependence on the utility companies and do their best to help the environment. Read more on Is Solar Power Something You Can Do… Energy Tags: alternative , clean energy Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This!

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Alternative Energy Updates – week 23

homemade cooling tower Imagine an HVAC and water heating system which will save to on a building’s energy prices while minimizing CO and carbon emissions Imagine a system that’s additional reliable is to times a lot of economical provides very cheap life cycle cost and a high degree of design flexibility Where will you discover such a system You wish look no any than right underneath your feet The earth could be a huge energy storage device that absorbs of the sun s energy When combined with the constant upward flow of heat from the earth s red hot interior the result is geothermal energy Geo earth Thermal heat This clean renewable energy is stored in lots of rock within the upper six miles of the earth s crust In nearly every state of the Union there is sufficient geothermal energy to heat cool and give hot water for all types and sizes of buildings Temperatures close to the world s surface stay comparatively constant all year spherical hotter than outside air in the winter and cooler than outside air within the summer Geoexchange systems or ground coupled heat pumps extract the world’s heat during the winter and unleash it to the building Read more on Alternative Energy Updates – week 23… Energy Tags: alternative energy , battery technology Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This! solar and wind energy

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Alternative Energy Updates week 23

Put The Central Heating On And Reduce The Amount Of Clothing!

Its logical and simple, but if you turn the central heating on then you can genuinely cut down on the need for layers of clothing when walking round the house. Some homeowners have to sit in their coats when at home because they get so cold, but when you have central heating this doesn’t have to happen. And of course, the visitors wouldn’t be too pleased if they popped round. Digital Thermostats It is fair to say that the reluctance of putting the central heating on stems from the fact it costs. Opt for a digital thermostat if you are concerned about costs as this is a great cost-effective method. People end up with costly bills when they leave the central heating on all day, but if you keep your eye on a digital thermostat, this shouldn’t happen. Plus, you’ll really appreciate the digital thermostat when the summer months come round, as there are always some days that get a bit chilly and you need the heating on for just a little while. The point of the thermostat is to adjust the level of heat accordingly. Keeping The Kids Warm Another benefit of having the central heating turned on is the fact that the mornings will be warmer and thus you don’t need to throw 2 dressing gowns on to keep warm! Just be sure to pre-set the central heating system so you can make sure you get up in a nice warm house. Without heating, everyone would have to wear more layers in the home. Bear in mind though that wearing multiple clothing layers only benefits you and everyone else will feel the cold. If you have small children then this isn’t just unfair, it’s a health risk. Children should be kept warm and the central heating should be turned on. People take heated homes for granted and if you step outside on a cold winter’s day you will soon run back inside and appreciate the warmth your central heating provides. This article has hopefully convinced you why you need central heating. Just remember, using the central heating means people don’t have to wrap up warm round the house. Your thick woolly jumpers are fine for braving the outside, but when vegetating on the sofa inside, you don’t want to be all wrapped up. The central heating will make it toasty warm and keep everyone happy, which is obviously very important. Read more on Put The Central Heating On And Reduce The Amount Of Clothing!… Energy Tags: wind power , clean energy Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Post this on Diigo Post on Google Buzz Add this to Mister Wong Share this on Mixx Share this on Reddit Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on Technorati Tweet This!

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Put The Central Heating On And Reduce The Amount Of Clothing!

Giant Inflatable Airship Powered by Algae

This summer, piloted by Captain Allan Judd, Bullet 580 will usher in the return of inflatable giant airships. The 235 ft long and 65ft diameter ship is covered with a type of Kevlar, a material 10 times-stronger than steel but only one sixteenth of an inch thick. An E-green design special costing 5.5million, this Posted in: Biofuels , Inventions , Transportation

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Giant Inflatable Airship Powered by Algae

Crucial Tips For Doing Your Bit For The Environment

It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t have to live off the land or move to a cabin in the mountains to start helping the environment ! Have you noticed how environmental issues have become hot news, quite literally, these days? Quite simply, we can’t continue to be conspicuous with our consumption habits and we have to understand what it means to be sustainable as we move forward. This will require us to think about every single action that we take during our daily lives. Look for as many ways to save electricity at home as you can, while learning about the benefits of renewable energy and seeing how these options or solutions can be applied for all of us. What can you do to help save the environment? Here’s a small list of steps that you can take at home, right now, which would make a difference. If every single one of us did only the things on this list, the resulting changes could be remarkable. 1. Look at all the bulbs you have in your house. It is much better to use compact fluorescent bulbs than those traditional incandescent items that use a lot of energy. Begin by changing all the light bulbs in the house. Yes, there are a great number of them. While you might be a little shocked when you buy these bulbs to start off with, government energy statisticians tell us that you could save the difference in cost within your lower electricity bills, during the space of a year. 2. Be a better steward. Send whatever is acceptable to the recycling plant. Bury biodegradable waste and food leftovers in the ground rather than clogging up the local landfills. Experts tell us that 20% of the rubbish that we produce is actually biodegradable and we could get rid of it ourselves without stressing the system unnecessarily. Think of the energy used to collect this excess waste and save them the trouble of doing so. 3. Rethink your transportation. Consider whether you could share transportation with fellow worker/employees on a daily basis. You could cut down on both your bills by pooling resources this way. Why is it that those traffic jams that we experience daily on the motorway when going to work, are all made up of vehicles that just seem to have a single occupant? We have known about this for some time and cannot deny that it is really silly and as we wait for politicians to perfect public transportation systems, we should all exhibit some common sense. 4. Put some trees in your back garden. Trees are great for our environmental problems and the thorny subject of climate change. Trees actually absorb carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. Plant them to protect your home from the direct sunlight and even cut down on your cooling bills in the summer. If you have a noisy highway nearby, a couple of well positioned trees will help to cut down on your noise pollution, as well. With a little bit of creativity, we can make a difference in virtually everything that we do! Read more on Crucial Tips For Doing Your Bit For The Environment… Energy Tags: alternative , energy resources

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Crucial Tips For Doing Your Bit For The Environment

White Roofs And Saving Energy

I am working with a local roofer who installs cool roofs. It is truly amazing how much it can make a difference in the amount of energy your house uses to cool in the summer. (…)

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White Roofs And Saving Energy