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Choosing a DIY Solar Energy Guide That is Right for You

By Alison Wood on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 | No Comments

How many spare time activities can you name that can essentially wipe-out your electricity bills while lending a hand to saving the great green earth of ours? Well, picking up a DIY solar energy guide and building your own solar energy panels is a great place to start. Known to enthusiasts as “off grid living”, lessening your dependence on the commercial electrical grid and practicing self-sustainable methods of energy production is becoming quite popular.

Most Do it yourself solar energy guides will give you step by step instructions on how to build your own solar panels, battery specifications, calculating the amount of power needed for your system, etc. These are all important elements required to successfully install and run your own.

Look for a guide that is clearly written, contains lots of images, graphs and videos and lists out exactly what it is you need to do – and the tools and parts you will need to do it. You may think that building your own solar panels would call for some advanced equipment, but it’s a lot easier than you think! Most local hardware mega stores will have everything you need at decent prices under one roof.

Be sure you pick up a solar energy guide that is meant for DIY homeowners. Otherwise you may be getting product plugs and sales pitches in between your instructions. Conducting a simple search on Google for the term “diy solar energy” will give you pages of results to sift through. Check the customer reviews section and see what others have said about the guide you want to buy – usually if the people say it’s good, it’s good.

After reading through your DIY solar energy guide, it’s time to sit down and discuss the benefits with your family. Get everyone involved with the project and soon they will realize why you’re going green and it will only be a matter of time before they jump on the bandwagon with you.

Seeking the help of commercial installation companies can run you up a tab worth tens of thousands of dollars. There is absolutely no reason to spend this amount of money if all you want is a couple of solar panels to run your kitchen appliances. Converting to solar energy is about saving, and going with a big name company will incur a debt – plain and simple. Invest a few hundred dollars and a couple of weekends and you’ll be on your way to your very own solar energy system.

Alison Wood brings you ideas to live a green life and in the process save money. If you want to start making some substantial savings on your power bills then check out this easy step-by-step guide to building your own solar panel => http://www.solarenergydiyguide.com/

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Get Off the Grid and Put an End to Outrageous Power Bills

By Alison Wood on Sunday, April 25th, 2010 | No Comments

Every month Mike and Chloe’s utility bill arrives in the mail and each time their gripe is the same, “this electric bill just gets higher and higher every month…it’s time we make some changes around here.” Then another month rolls by in which they’ve done nothing to alter their power usage and another outrageous power bill shows up. They repeat the same frustrated complaint, yet again they do nothing to make a difference and so the grunting and bill paying just repeats month after month and year after year. Sound familiar to you?

Like Mike and Chloe, millions of home owners exist in this scenario. The sad truth of the matter is that every consumer in this vicious energy cycle pays more for monthly power consumption than their parents paid for monthly mortgage payments! So what can our fictitious homeowners, Mike and Chloe, do to make any real difference in their power use and bills? Or, on a more personal level, what can you do to make a difference in yours? Well folks, there are some options:

  • Option 1 – Sell everything electrical you own including your house and move into a cave. Hmmm, we’re going to need a lot more caves for this one.
  • Option 2 – Wait for your city, town or block to someday form a green and clean energy co-op so they can stick it to you. This option is also known as the APBJSP (Advocates, Planners and Bureaucrats Job Security Plan).
  • Option 3 – Turn your thermostat down until frost appears on your nose, disable your AC unit (sledge hammers work well for this), don’t cook, don’t wash anything including yourself, and limit your use of everything electrical to 3 minutes a day (except for your new iPad of course).
  • Option 4 – Dig in and do-it-yourself. That’s right. Get off the grid by becoming a self-supplier of your own sustainable electricity.

Personally speaking, I prefer Option 4 and undoubtedly you will too. Ok, so how does one go about supplying their own sustainable electricity? Again, there are some options:

  • Option A – Hire an electrical contractor who specializes in solar panel installations to convert your home to solar energy. One word comes to mind, expensive!
  • Option B – Hire an electrical contractor who specializes in wind turbine installations to convert your home to wind energy. Ditto Option A.
  • Option C – Design, build and install your own solar panel array or wind turbine energy system. Three words come to mind, inexpensive, challenging and rewarding!

If you have the money then by all means options A or B are excellent ways to turn your home into a clean, green snub the power company machine. However, most folks in these troubled times don’t have an extra $20-100K laying around the house to buy retail solar panels and wind turbines as well as pay high priced commercial contractors. Yes, I concede there are now a number of so-called “green” contractors who are offering green energy installment plans to homeowners who are cash strapped. Now isn’t that just a novel idea? Let’s all mortgage our rooftops or yards, pay more high interest on big loans, run up more personal dept, and when its all said and done pay more for self-supplied electricity than even the power company dares to charge. But hey, it will reduce our carbon footprints and that makes us feel good. We won’t get any sleep for figuring out how to pay next month’s installment, but we’ll be green.

Needless to say, I favor Option C. Yes it’s true. Anyone who can read and use everyday tools can become a do-it-yourself designer, builder and installer of their own solar energy and/or wind power systems. Challenging? Absolutely. In fact some may even find it more daunting than they care to consider. If that is you, please see options 1,2,3, A, or B. Rewarding? Sure is. There’s nothing in the rewards department that compares to forming a working plan, creating and installing a new system that benefits you and your family, and saving a boat load of money in the process. Inexpensive? Yes. Doing your own sustainable energy project costs pennies on a dollar compared to paying a contractor to do it for you. You can actually design, build and set up your own secondary solar or wind system for a couple hundred dollars. This system will provide partial power allowing you to reduce your on-grid power bill. For a couple thousand, or less if you’re a savvy parts shopper, you can power your entire house, garage and outdoor lighting. You’ll be green and you’ll sleep well at night.

How and where can you find the right information to start and finish your own DIY home solar energy or wind turbine project? Folks, look no further than the screen you are now staring at. That’s right, the entire internet is at your disposal and there’s a wealth of information out there waiting for you to use. Do your research, learn about solar energy and wind power, and seek well written guidance from DIY solar and wind energy experts. There are currently several good downloadable DIY green energy guides available on line which have been produced by experienced DIYers. I happen to favor two particular guides because they are written in understandable terms, have masterfully produced step-by-step videos, and offer 24/7 support to get you through any snags that may occur. If you’re truly serious about saving a lot of money by becoming a self-supplier of your own solar or wind electricity then your first step needs to be getting a great DIY energy guide. You’ll find convenient links below for my favorite guides but no matter how you approach this and any other DIY projects, always work smart and practice safety first.

Faine Morrison is a DIY home improvement enthusiast strongly bent towards saving money and going green when and wherever possible. If you enjoyed reading this article please take a moment to post a comment and share this. And, if you share the author’s penchant for DIY home improvement and sustainable energy you’ll benefit from checking out DIY Solar & Wind Systems and DIY Solar & Wind Energy, two of the do-it-yourself energy guides he recommends. Contact Author

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faine_Morrison
http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Off-the-Grid-and-Put-an-End-to-Outrageous-Power-Bills&id=4065151

Which is the Best Alternative Energy Choice For Novice DIY Enthusiasts – Solar Or Wind?

By Alison Wood on Friday, April 9th, 2010 | No Comments

I’ve seen my title question posted on several DIY home improvement forums lately and I believe it’s a valid concern that should be addressed by experienced alternative energy DIYers. There’s a lot of interest in do-it-yourself kits and home made renewable energy solutions by people from all walks of life and many of them are searching for guidance. Those who are venturing into home-built off grid solar energy and wind power solutions for the first time should realize that, like everything else, these systems have up and downsides that need to be considered. This article briefly reviews some of these.

The list below covers some of the major pros and cons surrounding home solar energy and wind power generators (excluding the obvious and tediously overstated points that these systems utilize renewable energy, don’t pollute while operating and reduce carbon footprints.):

DIY Solar Pros:

  • Noiseless Operation
  • Safe To Be Near Properly Installed Panels
  • Relatively Easy To Build And Install With Basic Understanding Of Electricity And Wiring
  • Downloadable Technical Guides And Online Support Available For DIYers
  • Minimal Maintenance Required
  • Minimal Space Requirements/Good Sense Use Of Roof Areas
  • Low Cost Recycled Components Available
  • Good Power Output With Multiple PV Panels
  • Time Tested, Proven And Popular Technology
  • Renewable Energy Tax Credits May Be Available

DIY Solar Cons:

  • Basic Understanding Of Wiring And Electricity Needed
  • Requires Consistent Direct Sunlight Away From Shaded Areas
  • Subject To Hail & Bird Damage/Breakage
  • Not Well Suited For Long Winter Northern Climes (Limited Daylight/Heavy Snow Removal)
  • Multiple Panels Needed To Fully Power House And Maintain Charged Batteries
  • Roof Mounted Solar Panels May Lower House Resale Value
  • Permit And Inspection Required In Most Locales

DIY Wind Pros:

  • Relatively Easy To Build And Install With Basic Understanding Of Mechanics/Electricity
  • Downloadable Technical Guides And Online Support Available For DIYers
  • Can Be Built From Low Cost New And Recycled “Other Use” Components
  • Good Power Output Attainable
  • Time Tested, Proven Technology
  • Does Not Detract From House Curb Appeal/Resale Value
  • Attractive Alternative Energy System For Owners Of Rural Lots/Acreages/Farms
  • Renewable Energy Tax Credits May Be Available

DIY Wind Cons:

  • Proximity Noise May Be A Problem For Home Owner And Neighbors
  • Spinning Blades Can Be Lethal To Birds And Tree Squirrels
  • Subject To Damage Or Collapse From Severe Wind Conditions
  • Requires Open Space Free Of Trees And Utility LInes To Operate
  • Sufficient Yard Area Needed For Stabilizing Guy-Wires
  • Proximity Hazards If Improperly Grounded
  • Regular Maintenance Required
  • Power Output Limited By Turbine Size/Power Train Adequacy
  • A Basic Understanding Of Mechanics And Physics Needed
  • Not Suitable To All Locations – Consistent Wind Days Required
  • Not Popular With Some People Due To Noise And Hazard Potential
  • Permit And Inspection Required In Most Locales

It’s important to understand the pros and cons of these renewable home energy applications and the significance of proper construction and installation. For many experienced do-it-yourself enthusiasts the pros of both solar and wind power outweigh the cons and drives the spirit of experimenting with alternative home energy technology. For the first-timer the cons can certainly be challenging and quite daunting, but learning new skills and applying them for one’s benefit is what DIY is all about. If you are a DIYer (seasoned pro or brand new) with the motivation to reduce or eliminate your dependence on public utilities, and you are up to the challenges, then building and installing your own solar and/or wind energy systems can be a highly rewarding project. The best advice one can give is to do your homework, create a well planned system design and seek out help when you need it.

There are several very good and inexpensive DIY solar energy and wind power guides available on the web which will lead you step-by-step through your project. I urge everyone who wants to build and install their own home energy system to select a guide, study it well and use it as the foundation of their project. Two of the popular guides that I recommend are linked below for your convenience. These are two of the best in terms of detailed instruction and video quality but there other ones on the web which you may prefer. Be safe, be smart and most of all enjoy your DIY home energy projects.

Faine Morrison is a DIY home improvement enthusiast strongly bent towards saving money and going green when and wherever possible. If you enjoyed reading this article please take a moment to post a comment and twit this. And, if you share the author’s penchant for DIY home improvement and sustainable energy you’ll benefit from checking out these links: DIY Solar Panels And Wind Turbines and DIY Alternative Energy Solutions which are two of the do-it-yourself guides he recommends. Contact Author

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faine_Morrison
http://EzineArticles.com/?Which-is-the-Best-Alternative-Energy-Choice-For-Novice-DIY-Enthusiasts—Solar-Or-Wind?&id=4030452

You Have the Power to Free Yourself From Big Money Energy

By Alison Wood on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 | No Comments

In the last decade the global community has begun a dramatically shift from it’s acceptance of and willingness to rely upon fossil fuel energy generation. It is no longer “business as usual” in terms of how and where power is produced and consumed. Individuals, municipalities, states, and entire nations are more and more demanding that alternative energy be developed to lessen global pollution and the waste of limited natural resources. Granted the buzz words, ‘renewable,’ ‘sustainable,’ ‘alternative,’ ‘clean,’ ‘carbon footprint,’ and most of all, ‘green,’ have been kicked around long enough to have become cliche, but the heart of the issue remains pure. People everywhere want to move forward with new advances in clean energy technology.

While solar energy and wind power are far from being new concepts, they are the most obvious and readily available technologies for green and clean energy production. Recent advances in these energy technologies have caused a proliferation of solar and wind power generation undreamed of just a few years ago. We are now seeing massive solar array plants and gigantic wind turbine farms popping up even in the remotest regions of the globe. However, that is all big corporate development propped up by Wall Street mogul money and government tax and grant programs geared to produce trillion dollar profits. So what about the little guy? The people like you and me that just want to free themselves from the shackles of high energy costs and live a little ‘greener’ in the process.

Well, the news is both good and bad. Each and everyone of us has the opportunity before us to reduce or even eliminate our dependence on public power utilities. There is fast becoming a plethora of information on the web on how to build our own wind power and solar energy solutions. With a little skill and thoughtful research we can all find means of helping ourselves to cheaper power along with the “feel good” plus of reducing our personal pollution of the environment. Caution should be used with much of this information though. While there are very good resources available, much of what’s out there is so bad as to be pathetic. You should avoid any online product or system hyped as “free energy”, “endless energy” or the most criminal of all “magnetic perpetual motion energy”. These are red flags that scream ‘BOGUS’ as they wave in front of you. The scammers are out there poised to dupe you, so be warned.

As one who believes that if a thing is worth doing it’s worth doing yourself I always favor the creativity, self reliance and pride that comes with any DIY project. Solar and wind power installations are no exception to the rule. While the thought of doing anything electrical may be daunting to some, the fact is that well designed do-it-yourself home energy projects are not difficult. I have to wonder why anyone who can read, follow expert instructions and handle a few common tools would ever pay good money to someone else to do a job they can do themselves. I have to wonder why anyone wants to continue having a big chunk of their income sucked away every month by the power company when they can supply their own home energy needs.

If you are like-minded, want to be partially or completely independent of ‘big energy’, wish to green up your lifestyle, and have the wherewithall to create your own alternative energy supply then you need to consider your own do-it-yourself home solar and/or wind turbine project. Not only can you do it, but you’ll benefit from the pride and self assurance that comes with the process. What a great bonus that is!

I’ve reviewed several of the DIY solar and wind guides selling on the web and found one that I particularly favor. It is well written in understandable terms and provides easy to use step-by-step written and video instructions. There’s a link below to this system for anyone interested in learning more about freeing themselves from corporate energy, saving money and living clean and green.

Faine Morrison is a DIY home improvement enthusiast strongly bent towards saving money and going green when and wherever possible. If you enjoyed reading this article please take a moment to post a comment and twit this. And, if you share the author’s penchant for DIY home improvement and sustainable energy you’ll benefit from checking out DIY Solar Panels, one of the do-it-yourself guides he recommends. fainemorrison.woodmors@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faine_Morrison
http://EzineArticles.com/?You-Have-the-Power-to-Free-Yourself-From-Big-Money-Energy&id=4027357

Live Off the Grid, Save Money, and Be Independent of the Power Company

By Alison Wood on Sunday, April 4th, 2010 | No Comments

Solar power and wind power are familiar to millions throughout the world as the primary sources of sustainable energy. For decades we’ve all seen the advantages of capturing and using solar energy in everything from tiny photovoltaic cells on calculators to the vast corporate utilities’ solar arrays. Wind energy has been used for centuries to power everything from sailing ships to the early grist mills that once dotted Holland and other European countries.

Recent advances in tech, design and materials have given us the huge wind turbines we now see popping up on the hills and plains around the world. Governments and mega-corporations are now jumping into renewable energy development in ways not dreamed of just twenty years ago. Does this mean we will all benefit from cheap energy as fossil fuel, nuclear and hydro power give way to green energy? No! That won’t happen in this lifetime nor anytime.

Many billions in capital investment is required for personnel, materials, construction, and infrastructure to green up the world’s power grid. Once the utilities have recovered their huge initial outlay they aren’t suddenly going to lower their rates. When we plug our appliances, hybrid cars, tools, and toys into the new green grid we will pay just as dearly for electricity as we do now and probably much more. But hold on, there’s a sweet upside to green energy tech for all of us workaday common folks so don’t get off the bus to Greenville just yet!

That upside is based on one very special principle. Simply put, the governments and power companies don’t own the sun and they don’t own the wind. Anyone with the desire can tap into these natural resources independent of the grid by installing their own solar and wind power generators. Energy systems scaled to single home use are readily available from commercial contractors, home improvement stores and expertly written do-it-yourself solar panel and wind turbine plans and guides.

While the cost of hiring a contractor to install retail solar or wind power generators may be prohibitive to many, the do-it-yourself option is very affordable and doable by anyone who can read and use a few basic tools. Certainly there are challenges to DIY energy projects but by using a well produced text and video guide you’ll easily overcome these. There are several excellent guides available on the web for less than $50 that provide complete solutions to building and installing your own solar and wind power systems. If you choose to shop for a guide, then be sure you select one that provides step-by-step written and video plans and that offers 24/7 consumer support.

Off grid living with your own solar, wind or both systems in place can mean partial or complete independence from power bills and the forever recurring rate hikes. Whether you pay less each month or never pay again depends only on how extensive you want to make your green energy project. Over time you can easily save thousands by going off grid, and if you build and install your own renewable energy supply you’ll save several thousand dollars over commercial installations.

Faine Morrison is a DIY home improvement enthusiast strongly bent towards saving money and going green when and wherever possible. If you enjoyed reading this article please take a moment to post a comment and twit this. And, if you share the author’s penchant for DIY home improvement and sustainable energy you’ll benefit from checking out DIY Solar Panels, one of the do-it-yourself guides he recommends. Contact Author.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faine_Morrison
http://EzineArticles.com/?Live-Off-the-Grid,-Save-Money,-and-Be-Independent-of-the-Power-Company&id=4018040

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