Using Solar Power

When you think of solar power you think of heating and light for your home.
That is one of the many things that we use solar power for. Solar power is
everywhere and it is growing everyday. There are different products that are
made using solar power. This article will list these products and their uses
and also how solar power affects them. Solar power is using the sun's natural
heat to produce electricity, heat, and more. When you use solar power you are
using the natural resources found that cannot harm the earth in ways that other
methods can.

There are more products that use solar power than what we realize. A lot of the
electronics made will use some type of solar power in order to function
completely and accurately. For example, calculators are solar power products.
These calculators may or may not have on and off switches. Some rely on the
solar panel completely in order to stay or turn off. Solar power calculators
need a certain amount of light inside the solar panel in order to turn the
calculator on and perform what you want it to do; add, subtract, divide,
multiply and more. The solar panel in a calculator is not as big as the one
that you would to power your home. The size needed for a calculator is adjusted
before installation to provide the right amount of what it needs. Solar power
products can be found in travel products, outdoor recreation, safety products,
emergency products and more.

Radios have are produced with a solar panel inside that transforms the sunlight
into energy allowing you to listen to your radio while you are outside. You may
also find solar power in flashlights, battery chargers, mobile phone chargers,
watches, lanterns, emergency products such as sirens and lights. As you see
there are several products that are using the solar power technology. Portable
chargers are great to use because they charge the product that you have using
the sunlight just as easy as turning a calculator on. Camping equipment and
supplies work well with solar power because it allows the sunlight during the
day to supply their lanterns, flashlights and radios at night.

Cooking outdoors can also be done by using solar power in order to heat the
element that will ignite and allow for even cooking. Because more people are
turning to solar power for their future energy source there are companies that
are marketing products that are produced using solar power. Appliances are
being made for solar power homes. These appliances, refrigerators, stoves,
dishwashers, and more will work great in a home that is generated by solar
power. They are built to conserve energy even more so than the products
available to everyone.

In the future when everything turns to solar power in order to work we will be
prepared using the knowledge and the products that are available today. We
can't predict the future in solar power but we can all do our best to make it
happen.

Why you should choose to use Solar Power

Life on earth is fueled by the light and heat from the sun. Approximately, 3850
Zettajoules (ZJ) per year is the total amount of solar energy available to the
earth. The suns energy travels to the earth by way of electromagnetic radiation
like radio waves but the frequency range is different. Some of this energy is
absorbed as it comes thru the atmosphere. Heat and light are the primary forms
of solar energy. Solar energy has many advantages over conventional energy. The
energy from the sun is free the only expense is from recovering the energy. The
cost of recovering the suns energy is recovered faster than with conventional
energy. The recovering units don't have to be connected to natural gas or power
grids, they stand alone. The supply of solar energy is limitless. It has no
emission gases to harm the earth's atmosphere.

There are several ways to recover solar energy:

Focusing collectors: This has a movable mirror, known as heliostats, is pointed
to the sun and can provide a temperature around 4000 degrees C. This degree
temperature is used for a solar furnace in industries and research. These solar
furnaces don't contaminate our environment. The heliostats can focus the energy
to a boiler that turns water into steam. To generate solar electricity,
focusing collectors can be used.

Flat plate collectors: These collectors can be used in schools and homes to
provide heat using water that is heated in pipes. They cannot provide as much
heat as the focusing collectors because they are smaller.

Solar distillation: Solar distillation is about the same as flat plate
collectors but provides distilled water instead of heat. Sea water is put in
tanks or ditches on the roof of a house and the heat from the sun heats and
evaporates the water and turns the water vapor into liquid water that is
distilled.

Solar electricity: By using focusing collectors and Photovoltaic cells, made of
thin pieces of semiconductors, convert radiation from the sun into electricity.

Solar energy would not be affected by the supply and demand of fuel for it is
free and it doesn't polute the atmosphere. It is natural and pure. It would
provide us with better health.

There are several ways that we can work together in order to get the best of
natural and renewable resources. Using solar power is not only helpful but it
is inspiring to others. The expenses to using the solar energy are less than
the cost of using other resources for heat, including electricity and gas. When
you use electricity and gas you may have a low cost up front but in the end you
end up paying for it from now on. With solar power you may have an initial
investment to turning your home into solar power but after that you have no
reason to pay for it any further, unless you use electric or gas for a back up
heating source. Solar power was available yesterday, it's available today and
hopefully it will be available for us in the future.

The Benefits of Solar Power

The sun produces massive amounts of heat that are transmitted down to the
earth's surface. When the sun's rays reach the earth's surface the intensity of
the heat directly from the sun is not as hot because some of the heat is
rerouted before it reaches the earth's atmosphere. When the sun is hot and it
is summer time we think that it couldn't get much hotter as the mid day sun
makes your run for shade, but it can get hotter if it wasn't rerouted.

Solar power can be hot enough to power machinery and that is exactly what was
discovered over one hundred years ago when a man working on machinery wondered
if steam from the heat of the day could be used to power machinery. He was
right and thus began a new form of production, heat and electricity. Today
solar power is being used all around the world. The solar power is being
concentrated into a solar source where the heat is used in a variety of ways.
We still rely on our way of heating and powering our homes but in the future it
may all be powered by the sun. It is cost effective to use solar power as the
only expense you have is in your solar source.

In order to use solar power you will need to have something that can attract
the sun and allow the heat to be concentrated where it can stay warm for a long
period of time. This is fairly easy when you consider all the knowledge and
resources that we already have access to. When you use solar power for heating
and power electricity you cannot go wrong.

Solar power is entrusted in space shuttles as they know that this will help
produce the most efficient energy with the least amount of complications. The
solar panels are faced toward the sun at all times in order to be able to power
the shuttle efficiently. There are fewer problems from solar power than with
other methods. Even though there are days that there are clouds in the sky and
rain, snow or other weather, it is still possible to produce enough heat in
your solar source to create enough energy to last until the sun can come back
down. Solar power is in our future we need to be ready for it. Right now solar
power is only being used by those who are more aware and worried about our
earth's atmosphere when it is a concern that we should all be worried about.

We can learn a lot from the past and the way that solar power was used. Every
minute of the sunlight was used doing everything that needed done because after
the sun went down there was no more light. I don't think we could do that now.
Solar power has so many benefits for us that we don't realize all of them and
how it is more efficient to use the solar power than other ways.

The cost of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a natural source of energy that comes directly from the sun.
When solar energy hits the earth it spreads over the earth's surface and
provides warmth evenly. If you could capture the sun's rays into a particular
area for a long period of time it would provide enough warmth for nighttime or
on cloudy days. Learning where to find solar energy can help you to get started
today. Solar energy does not cost anything because it comes from the sun. The
source that you choose may cost some but in the long run it should be your only
expense, unlike gas or oil heaters that you continue to pay for monthly in order
to have power or gas heat in your home. Solar power can provide heating, cooling
and ventilation.

If you want to make your own solar power to capture the energy for heating its
easy to do if you can find a solar collector, which is anything that attracts
the heat from the sun in a concentrated amount, such as glass or clear plastic.
Getting into your car that has sat out in the hot sun all day long can be
extremely hot and you have to roll down your windows to cool it off inside.
That is because the glass has attracted the sun and the objects in your car,
including your seats, have trapped the heat not allowing it to escape. When you
roll your windows down you are allowing the heat to escape causing your car to
cool down. The same thing is true about greenhouses. The glass or clear plastic
can attract the sun and not allow it to escape causing the greenhouse to
maintain the heat for the plants to grow effectively.

In order to heat your home using solar energy, you need to know the information
on a passive and an active home. These two types of solar homes offer the
homeowner options to choose from and your cost of heating may be down. Solar
energy does not only heat your home but it also heats your water and if you use
solar energy lights it can light your home at night.

Passive homes do not use any equipment to heat the home. Passive homes use
windows that are made to allow the maximum amount of sunlight into your home.
The sunlight is controlled by keeping the doors closed in the hottest part of
the day not allowing any heat to escape. At night thick curtains may be used on
these windows so that the warmth stays inside during the night. This allows the
sun to naturally heat your home without any help.

Active homes do use equipment to help circulate the heat in the home. Some of
the equipment that may be used includes pumps, blowers and an alternative
heating source in case the sunlight was not enough during the daytime. In order
to heat the home with sunlight these homes use special boxes on the outside that
attract the sunrays to it. They are made from a dark colored metal to help
attract the sun more. The water or air that is carried in the pipes and
ductwork is heated by this glass box that has captured the sunlight. Then the
heated water or air is then carried to the rest of the home.

In the long run, solar energy helps to heat the home naturally and without
depending on a company to supply it for you. Solar energy can be found anywhere
the sun is.

Why is Solar Power Important

We have ways to heat our water, our homes and provide us with electricity. We
probably take all of this for granted and if we lost them we would probably
panic. We take for granted that these conveniences will be there for us from
now on. We expect glitches to happen but we want them to be fixable without
going long without all of these. We appreciate the heat in the winter when it
snows outside and when the temperatures drop. We need water to live and
although it is usually running under the ground we want the convenience of it
running through our pipes and into our homes.

Electricity is nice when you can have lights with just a simple flick of the
switch. In the summertime we experience some power outages when everyone turns
on their air conditioners in order to tolerate the extreme temperatures beating
down from the sun. This heat is sometimes so intense it can make someone, who
has trouble breathing, struggle for every breath.

The sun is a very intense ball of gas up in the atmosphere. It burns twenty
four hours a day, seven days per week. We only see it during out daytime but on
the other side of the globe they get the daytime when we get the night. When the
sun light beams down on the earth's surface, a small percentage of the solar
radiation heading for earth gets reflected. There are larger amounts of the
sunlight that is actually absorbed. When you consider the fact that the
sunlight must go through fog, clouds, dust particles and harmful pollutants in
order to reach us that reduce the amount of sunlight that we receive even more.
When it finally makes it to the earth's surface it is then radiated back up into
space. When it reaches the earth, plants and vegetation absorb it and the
oceans, winds and other resources absorb the sunlight as well.

Some people use some of the heat generated from the sun in order to heat homes,
power electricity and provide water to their families and businesses. When you
think about all that you have that runs through a machine it may be possible to
reroute that in order to run it all by sunlight. Scientists have only started to
make this possible but it is far from being completed. When you consider all the
solar energy that reaches the earth's surface and then radiated back into the
atmosphere, you could power electricity, heat and water from now on. This solar
energy can be redirected and concentrated using special boxes that attract the
light during the day to heat water and homes throughout the night.

Solar power is very important and provides a natural way to heat, obtain
electricity and water with just a little more effort. In the future we may have
no other choice but to look at natural resources in order to have these
necessities and conveniences. Solar power is important now and in the future.

Why are Solar Panels Important?

Solar panels convert the suns energy into usable forms. Solar panels can be a
certain kind of device that attracts the sun to use the sun to power machinery
that can transfer the heat from the sun into whatever they need. We could use
solar panels to convert the heat from the sun into the energy we need to power
things that run. Solar panels are common and can be seen in a lot of different
products, such as calculators, satellites, or even space ships. Solar panels
are an effective way to redirect the sunlight and use it for electricity.

It all starts over one hundred years ago when a man got the idea to use the
heat from the sun to power his machinery. The main focus was to use the steam
from the hot sun light in order to start and maintain their machines. This new
revelation peaked the interest of several scientists who did not waste any time
traveling to see how this discovery worked. Since then, there have been
groundbreaking products that have increased the convenience and the need to use
a natural resource such as the sun in order to work machinery.

Solar panels can be different shapes and sizes but their main purpose is to
convert the light in order to make electricity. Photovoltaic, or PV, is the
process of converting the light into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are self
generating and consist of a very thing film made of silver. This film is placed
on a semiconductor layer that can be found on an iron substrate. The
photovoltaic cells are very important in producing enough sunlight and heat in
order to successfully produce the energy that is needed in order to heat up
water, heat homes and power electricity.

Solar panels can be found in all different shapes and sizes including round,
square, and rectangle. You can see them on top of buildings and houses or
standing alone in fields. Solar panels are in hand held devices and they are in
energy efficient appliances. The sun is a wonderful natural resource and can
greatly cater to our way of life. The study of natural resources like the sun
is ongoing and the improvement that can be made in the future is anyone's guess
but you can't go wrong when you use natural resources.

Because this new way of production was in trial and error stage, it was
somewhat expensive to turn your home or business into a natural way to heat and
power. But since things have changed and newer material has surfaced and since
we know more about the solar panels the cost is not as high, although it is
still higher than using man made methods of producing heat and electricity. In
the long run using solar panels for all your electric needs will save you money
in the long run because you won't have to worry about paying for your power. As
long as the sun shines you will have power. On days that are too cloudy for the
sun to break through to the earth, your system should still be adequate enough
to carry the electricity through another day.

Storing Energy

We have come to rely completely on energy. We use it in almost everything we
do; we live in it, use it for all our modern conveniences and more. Without
energy we wouldn't know what to do. In the past, before energy, there were
lanterns for light and matches and wood for heat. That was the only options
people had. When power was accessible to everyone by running power lines
through cities, towns, residential areas to allow everyone to tap into the new
generation, people were skeptical as to how this would affect everyone in the
future.

Over the years, appliances became energy friendly, which made for less manual
labor and more free time. Wash machines, dryers, dishwashers and the latest in
cooking stoves that no longer needed wood. These were all great inventions and
although people were skeptical they still took advantage of these appliances.
Today we have the worry of saving the energy that we know and love so well. Our
energy is fueled by non-renewable resources which will allow the depletion of
these resources slowly and over time where we won't realize it until it is
gone. We need to find an alternative to the way we power our energy but we also
need to store the energy that we already have.

Solar energy has been tested and experimented with as we learn more and more
about how to conserve and store the natural heat from the sunlight. We all know
how effective it is and why it is something that we should work very hard at
conserving. Storing the solar energy can mean endless usage of water and other
necessities by using conservative methods of saving energy.

Thermal mass systems are the process of using natural resources to make
material that will store solar energy. This type of storage uses renewable
resources from the earth, such as dirt, water and man made resources such as
concrete to help store energy if only for a short period of time. Thermal mass
can help heat water at night or heat your home long after the sun goes down or
on cloudy days when the sun doesn't peak through the clouds at all. These need
to be worked on because there is no extensive long storage capability using
solar power just yet.

Then you have the thermo-chemically phase which uses types of devices to store
heat. Some examples of this type of storage includes

Paraffin wax inside of a storage tank. When the paraffin wax is cold it is
solid but when it is heated it is a liquid that can help hold heat for a very
long time without cooling it down. As the paraffin wax cools it becomes hard
which can hold the heat in longer.

Eutectic Salts are inexpensive and can store heat in a heating system which
will distribute the heat evenly and lasting hotter longer.

Molten Salts are an effective way to store solar energy because it allows the
heat to remain hot without being non-flammable and cost effective. During the
time that the storage tank is heating up, the salt mixture is heated and then
used to make steam.

Rechargeable batteries can be a great way to store energy. This type of storage
allows the power source connected to the battery maintain its power. Lead acid
batteries are the more common battery used for this type of storage.

As you see there are several ways that we can store natural energy we just need
to learn how to make these methods more practical and efficient. When we figure
it out we will have an unlimited supply of natural heat.

Solar Power Lighting

Lighting is important to everyone. When the sun goes down we expect the lights
to be just a click away. Sometime we may take advantage of our lighting and
miss it when it is out. Lighting is used in many different ways. You can have
different wattage bulbs of your lighting as well as different colors. Your
lighting source may be a lamp, an overhead light, a porch light and a flash
light, just to name a few. Light can be taken with us or left behind. The
source that powers your light is what this article is about. Learn about indoor
and outdoor lighting using solar power and ways you can get this type of
lighting.

Indoor Lighting

Some really great ideas for indoor solar lighting include using it inside of
your sheds, gazebos, garages, or inside your home. You don't need to
continuously change light bulbs. The installation is easy and your maintenance
is minimal. You need to install a solar panel that can receive the most
possible sunlight in your area. That's it. Enjoy your lighting system all
through the night. You will need to find a solar panel that is right for the
size of building you will be providing light to. Once your indoor lighting has
been installed you will be able to use the lighting both night and day. During
the day you may not need it except on cloudy days. During the night you should
have enough energy from the solar power to last you through the night. It is
becoming the latest in lighting barns on farms as well because there is no
wiring needed to get lighting out to the barn.

Outdoor Lighting

When you are outside during the day you won't need much light but at night you
will appreciate the lighting that you have installed using solar power. There
are different types of outdoor lighting using solar power; flood lights, pond
or pool lights, garden lights, post lights, spot lights, security lights, solar
flag lights and sign lights. If you have a pool or pond in your yard that you
like to add lighting to it is easy to do and there are several choices to
choose from as far as the design and shape. Everyone wants an eye catching yard
that has been well taken care of and now your efforts can be reflected at night.
If you display a flag out in your yard people only see it at night, until now.
Add your flag to a stand that is solar powered so it can be seen at all times.
If your yard is too dark invest in security lighting that will work even when
the power is off and trees are down. When the sun is out you are sure to have
light at night.

The soft glow from solar power lights calm and relax. They are not bright and
in your eyes but they are eye catching. Investing in solar power lighting is a
smart economical and practical choice that is also very affordable.

Solar Power Homes

Have you ever noticed homes that have huge tinted windows in them as you drive
by? You may wonder why someone would want such tall windows in their home.
There is a reason for that and it is because of they are using solar power to
heat their homes and to provide the energy they need to power it. Any home can
be built to use solar power with just a few minor alteration to make and you
too can build a solar power house that will save you a lot of money in the
future as you use solar power to heat your home, pump and heat your water and
also to provide energy to your home to power your appliances and lights in your
home naturally and effectively without a monthly bill

There are just a few suggestions when building your solar power home. It
depends on where you live as to which side of the house you should put the most
windows on. For the most part is more common to assume that the sun rises more
toward the south side of your home. This is the side where you want to have the
most windows in your home. That way you are allowing the sun to shine through
and warm your home naturally. You also need to make sure that there are no
trees that are directly close to the house that may prevent the sun from
shining directly into the home. Don't use dark colors in your home to decorate
with. Instead use bright and light colors that will attract the heat more
evenly and benefits you more.

Adding a solar source outside where you can use a solar power designed box to
attract the heat from the sun can be transformed into energy to power your home
and warm your water. The products that it takes to get this accomplished will
cost a little more than if you built a standard home without using solar power.
The good thing about solar power is that it is an initial investment.

Overtime when you totally rely on the sun to heat your home and all the other
functions it can perform you will not have a monthly bill because you don't pay
for the sun every month like you do with other power sources. Use ceiling fans
to reduce the amount of time you may need to run your air conditioner. Ceiling
fans can produce a more even amount of heat and air without having hot and cold
pockets throughout the home. Use metal insulated doors that will keep out the
cold and bring in the heat. Keep the doors closed during the time of day that
the sun is shining in on that side of your home in order to save the heat
inside your home longer.

Owning a solar power home means that you are encouraging preserving our natural
resources for the future. It also means that you will not worry with the
increase in cost of electricity and gas because you are using the best source
out there without hurting the environment.

Solar Power for the RV

Everyone likes to get away for the weekend and when you get a chance to there
is a lot of fun in taking a recreational vehicle, or RV, to go camping in. Your
RV could be a pull behind camper or a camper that you can drive. What ever you
use RV's usually run off of electricity from another source or they have
battery powered lights. When you use electric hook up in a camper you may want
to consider turning your RV into a solar powered RV and never worry about
electric hook ups again. Enjoy your vacation anywhere without restrictions.

Once you hook up to a power source you are able to have the comforts of home by
turning on and off the lights and using the bathroom. If you cannot access a
power outlet you may use a generator to supply power to the camper. These
generators are nice in a pinch but you have the problems of running out of fuel
to keep it going not to mention the noise that it makes. If you want to turn
your RV into a solar power RV it is simple to do and with little expense. There
are a number of different products that you can buy to make camping fun and
modern with little or no effort.

You can mount a solar panel to the RV camper in order to charge your energy in
your RV. This is done by purchasing a solar panel mounting bracket that your
solar panel will set on. You can buy RV solar panel kits that include both the
mount and the panel. Once it is installed you can power your camper and
batteries using the suns warmth that was already there and it doesn't cost you
an arm and a leg to do so. Run your solar panel wire to the battery compartment
and you are ready to go. Each solar powered kit offers different wattages and
sizes so you can select the right one for your RV size and what you will be
using.

When you are out on a camping trip you can feel good knowing that you can go
anywhere you need to go. Your solar panel on top of your RV will also withstand
any type of weather and because a camper is so small it won't take much solar
power to operate the RV. Another hot solar powered item to buy for your RV is
called the Solar Power Ventilator. This provides the perfect ventilation system
for small quarters, such as RV's. When it is hot in the summer or anytime that
the sun is shining it doesn't take long for the RV to heat up and become very
uncomfortable. The solar power ventilator will run all the hot air out and
circulate the air with clean fresh air.

When you take the RV out you want to enjoy your time in the great outdoors
without giving up the fact that you have to rely on a power source or go
without power completely. If you have to go without power you may find that it
is inconvenient and hard to do, especially when you purchase an RV because of
the way that it is convenient.

Solar Power Efficient Appliances

Solar power is the latest in saving the planet and conserving our energy. Solar
power is energy produced from the sun and has great results when you use both
energy and conservation. With solar power becoming more popular there is also
the need for solar power products. People are now building solar power houses
to live in more efficiently. They also want appliances, lighting, heating,
water pumps and water heaters to be solar power efficient as well. That is why
we now have a way of purchasing solar power appliances to use in the kitchen.
Appliances are usually the most costly appliance in a home as they usually run
almost continuously and get used often.

Appliances Available

Now you don't have to go through the time and effort of making your home solar
power but using regular standard appliances. With solar power appliances it is
easy to become solar power all the way.

Refrigerators: The one great thing about solar power refrigerators is that they
offer the convenience of a refrigerator and freezer in one at a minimal amount
of cost. They are thermostat controlled which allows you to set the temperature
of your refrigerator and freezer. There is minimal noise as it runs because the
power to it is a natural constant flow. They also come in a variety of sizes as
well as colors in order to fit into any solar power kitchen.

Appliances that are Efficient: Not all appliances can be solar powered and for
that reason appliances that are efficient are the next best thing. They
conserve the energy that it takes to run that appliance and provide you with
the service that you expect out of that appliance. Chest freezers, dishwashers,
stoves, microwaves, washers and dryers are all appliances that can be purchased
with efficiency to save on energy and money. When you use appliances that are
efficient they usually cost more up front but in the long run they are worth
the effort and can last you a lifetime with proper maintenance.

Today most of the products and appliances that we buy are energy efficient and
guaranteed to run on minimal energy which saves you money when you purchase it.
Although you won't be able to see the cost decrease all at once you may notice
it over time. There are several other ways that you can reduce the cost of
appliances such as drying clothes on a clothes line indoors or outdoors to keep
from running a clothes dryer.

Washing the dishes by hand instead of in a dishwasher or using one or two days
per week to wash clothing instead of one or two loads everyday is a great way
to cut down expenses. Over time these helpful tips will decrease your bill and
allow you to see a noticeable difference. When you save energy it benefits
everyone. Once we can all use solar power to provide energy we will all see a
difference in the cost of energy. Using energy efficient appliances is a great
investment that will last for years.

Passive Solar Power

It is a well known fact that the sun is the strongest from the south. People
who want to conserve solar power uses this theory in order to get the most sun
into their houses with minimal expense. If you are building a home that you
want to be solar power, it is best to put the most windows facing the south
side. Although it is not always true, depending on where you live, it is a
general rule to go by. Passive technology turns sunlight into heat that can be
used for several things, including ventilation and cooling. You can heat homes
and businesses with passive solar. Passive solar systems depend on gravity fed
and natural resources in order to make passive solar work. If it uses a pump or
fan to force the liquid through, than it is an active solar.

Passive solar technology offers direct and indirect gain for heating spaces,
water heating systems, use of thermal mass and also phase change materials
which helps to regulate the temperature indoors. There is also the solar
cooking equipment, the solar chimney which allows for ventilation and earth
sheltering. Passive solar can also be found in a solar furnace and solar forge,
although these are a little more complicated. Sun rooms are another example of
passive solar power as it lets the sun come into the room without allowing it
to escape. There is no mechanism or no engine to power just the clear panes of
glass attracting the sun and trapping it within.

Solar gain is referring to the increase in temperature in an area, an object or
a structure that is a result of solar radiation. The stronger the sun the more
solar gain you have. A solar furnace is any huge object that is created in
order to channel the heat directly to one place. The heat can be unbearable but
it does produce a lot of electricity from it. Temperatures can reach up to 3,000
degrees. When you compare the expenses associated with passive solar you realize
that the cost of passive solar is minimal when you compare it to active wear.

Because there is no mechanism to power it makes it more affordable. With active
solar you must have a device that can power the heat that you take in and used
it. Passive solar is the most popular with those who are experimenting with the
conception of solar power and may find that they like it enough to stick to it.
When you are ready for an upgrade it is easy to move up to active power. Adding
a mechanism that will easily and conveniently pump the water on through the
source is an effective way of combining today's technology with conservation
and preservation that we have access to.

Passive solar power is something that we will be seeing a lot of in the future
as the need for solar power becomes more in demand. There will come a time when
even those who depend on active solar may have to switch to passive solar.

Make Your Own Solar Power Source

Solar power can be found in several different places on the earth. You can find
solar power in a parked car, in a building with no air circulating, in a home
without windows opened or fans circulating the air. When you step into any of
these places that have been in the sunlight for a while you soon become
overpowered by the amount and the intensity of the heat. This kind of heat can
be taken and converted into heat that can heat your home, your water, an
outbuilding, or any other building you would like to have heat in.

Heating by solar power is a free way of heating. When you heat using solar
power you use a source that will direct the heat from the sunlight during the
daytime to your solar source. A solar source is a device that you use to
attract and trap the heat from the sun. Just like a car out in the parking lot
gets hot when it faces the midday sun and the windows are rolled up. The seats
can become very hot, too hot to sit on. These seats are a solar source because
they trapped the heat inside and didn't want to let them go. When this happens
the seats will still be warm long after the sun quits shining directly on that
car.

Creating a solar source can be easy to do with a little thought put into it.
With a solar source you need to think about all the things that attract the
sun, such as metal, the color black, glass that is tinted or clear, mirrors and
more. There is an endless supply of idea to signal the heat your way and trap it
for your use. To get the heat to benefit your water system or even your heat,
you need to come up with a way that you can circulate a liquid that when it
passes by your solar source it will heat the water naturally because of the
concentrated amount of heat that was trapped inside your solar source that day.

When the liquid carries through the solar source and travels into the home it
can go directly to the water source where it can be kept warm, like a hot water
tank, but naturally without using gas and electricity to keep it warm. This
solar source can be a great challenge to create but you will enjoy the rewards
for years to come. You can also find solar sources in stores as well as online.
Shopping for solar power items has never been easier and it is not expensive.

Coming up with a solution that will carry the heat into the home is simple and
practical. If your idea is successful you will have heat during the winter and
warm water all year around. The main goal is not only to preserve the natural
resources and the environment but it is cost effective when you can use
something that is natural that you need to use.

Kids Can Learn About Solar Power

Kids today can learn about so many different things. We have a way to teach
them about solar power. This resource will be their future and will depend on
how we take care of it today. Solar power can be anywhere the sun shines and
you can feel and see the warmth. Solar power can heat water, heat homes,
schools, businesses, and it can produce energy. Teaching kids today how solar
power works and how we can use it wisely will ensure that our future and theirs
will be protected.

First of all, learning about the harmful affects of our energy usage today is
important for them to understand why there should be another way to produce
energy. Because the electricity that we use today comes from non-renewable
resources we are setting ourselves up for a big fall. When that resource runs
out we will rely on an alternative to supply our power. Scientist are working
today to ensure that when we do run out of that resource we will be able to
switch over to another way without missing a beat.

The problem with that is we shouldn't wait until that resource is gone to
switch over. We should be able to switch in the near future and preserve what
we have left. Another problem with our energy production today is that it is
harmful to the environment. It pollutes the air and will eventually make it
impossible for us to use the sun as a natural resource. We can't afford to lose
that important alternative. In order to save our environment we need to teach
the kids how we can all join together in order to save there solar power.

Solar power can generate energy using natural resources and man made solar
sources that will attract the solar power to the source. In order to make this
affective we need to be able to find solar sources that are not expensive but
can provide the solar power that we need. A standard home can benefit greatly
to switching over to solar power. It is easy to do. Also when you build your
home you can build it using solar power as a way to naturally generate
electricity into your home, heat your water, and other functions that can be
controlled by using solar power. In the long run, we benefit by not paying for
a resource that is slowly taking away from a natural resource. Our kids will be
rewarded for our careful planning.

All ages can benefit from conserving solar power but it needs to start now in
order to benefit the future. Teaching the kids the way to save the energy and
how we need to come up with a way to save the solar power in the future in
order to supply heating, water, and other necessities in large quantities
rather than by individual houses, which is how we do it today. One day we may
not need to run power lines through fields, streets and yards because we will
all have solar power boxes in the back yard instead.

How Do You Find Renewable Energy?

We already know that the use of electricity, gas and coal are all resources
that we may eventually run out of. These are the non-renewable resources that
we rely heavily on today. We use these non-renewable resources to do many
things, including supplying us with power, heating our homes, businesses and
schools and more. When we use all the non-renewable resources up and there are
no more to gather, then what? How will we go without the convenience that we
are so accustomed to? It's nice to flip a switch to get power and it is even
better when the latest technology allows us to press a button to do all the
things that women and men had to work for hours to accomplish. We are fortunate
to live in a world with so many modern gadgets. Unfortunately when we lose it we
may be so accustomed to the modern perks that we will not know what to do when
we don't have them any longer.

What we have to rely on in the future is renewable resources. These resources
are all resources that offer us an abundant supply and will never run out. They
recharge and allow us to enjoy them again and again. The renewable resources
consist of Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydrogen, Geothermal, Ocean, and Hydropower We
need all of these and right now we have access to each one of them. What do they
do and how do they help us with solar power? Let's find out.

Solar refers to the solar energy that we get everyday either directly or
indirectly from the sun. Solar energy can be used for several things, such as
heating, electricity to home, schools, businesses, or buildings, heating water,
cooling and ventilation.

Wind helps the suns heat down to earth. When the wind combines with the heat of
the sun, it causes evaporation. When the water turns into precipitation it
produces energy that can then be captured by hydropower.

Hydropower takes energy from flowing water and captures it turning it into
electricity. Hydropower is very complicated and requires a great deal of
technology in order to successfully accumulate energy from water.

Biomass is an organic matter that can help to make up the plants. It can be
used for the production of electricity, transport fuels or chemicals.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element found on earth, usually with other
elements. If hydrogen is found alone it can be burned or converted into
electricity.

Geothermal looks toward the inner parts of the earth for heat and can be used
for power, heating, and cooling.

Ocean produces thermal energy using the heat from the sun. It can also use
mechanical energy for the tides and waves.

As you can see the renewable resources are all around us. We know what they do
and how we can use them. There are so many benefits to using renewable
resources. If we don't use them now we may not have a choice later. The
knowledge we learn from today will help us use the energy more wisely.

Heating your Home with Solar Energy

It doesn't matter if you are building your home or remodeling, you can turn it
into a solar energy home by making a few simple changes to your plan. If
electric and gas become hard to manage you may want to consider heating your
home with the sun. Solar energy is the heat that comes from the sun down to the
earth. When it reaches the earth it spreads evenly but you may need it to go to
a certain area like your home. How do you get that much sunlight to heat a
home? It's easy to do and takes a few extra steps to help get it started.

Building or Remodeling your Home

If you are building your home you have several choices to choose from regarding
your heating source. If you choose to heat from the sun you need to build your
home facing in the direction that the sun rise's. This allows your home to get
the most sunshine during the hottest part of the day. Buying solar powered
glass windows allow the sun to come through and stay in the home without
escaping back out. After the sun goes down your home is kept warm by the
sunlight that came into the home during the day. You need to keep the door shut
in order to keep the heat in and you also need to use insulated curtains on the
windows at night so that the heat will not escape at night while you sleep.
Make sure you don't allow too many windows on the side of the house that faces
the evening sun as it may cause the home to cool down quickly.

Remodeling your home to use the sun as a natural heating source is fairly easy
to do. Although you can't change the direction that your home is built in to
face the morning sun you can still trap the sunlight that shines through and
reduce the amount of time that you use another source of heat. You may want to
consider building a sun room onto the side that catches the morning sun
allowing it to heat up naturally and then install ceiling fans that will
circulate the air into the parts of the house. During the day this may provide
enough heat to maintain the warmth in your home. When remodeling your home, it
will help to install solar power windows that are specially designed to attract
the sunlight and allow it to come into the house but not let it escape. This is
a natural way to heat your home.

Using sunlight to heat your home is an excellent way to safe money on your
heating bill and also to improve the environment. You can install a backup
heating source incase the sunlight does not heat your home efficiently during
the day because of clouds. Your back up system can be used to assist the solar
energy which will also cut down on the use of electric or gas.

Heating Water using Solar Power

When you decide to convert your main power source over to solar power you will
need to make some adjustments to the appliances that carry the power source.
When you use solar power to heat your water you may find that you will need to
purchase a solar powered water heater in order to do that. You may be able to
make adjustments to your existing one but what ever steps you take to turn it
into solar power it will be worth it.

There are several different ways to heat your water using solar power. You can
even make your own solar power source. The water runs through pipes before it
enters your home. Heating water using solar power will occur before the water
gets into your home as it passes by the solar source that attracted the light.
You may also have a tank to store the water in that can heat the water up. In
order to heat your water successfully you will need to have both a solar
collector and a storage tank.

A flat plate collector is the most common collector. It is designed to be a
thin, flat rectangular box that has a see through cover and it can carry fluid
to be heated. This fluid could be the water or it may be a solution, such as
antifreeze that will prevent the water from freezing. Next the water moves
through the tubes to an absorber plate. This plate is painted black to attract
and absorb the heat from the sun. When the collector gets hot, it will heat the
fluid that passes through the tubes. As the water passes through the tubes it
goes into the storage tank. The storage tank holds the heated water. It is
usually well insulated so the water will stay warm longer. Then the water flows
into the home on demand.

Solar water heating systems are divided into two groups: Active and passive.
When the heating systems are active, that means that they rely on the pumps or
other mechanical device that can move the water between the flat plate
collector and the storage tank. Active is the most common because it is quicker
and more efficient. The passive system relies on gravity to feed the water from
the flat plate collector to the storage tank. This may be slow at times and may
not be sufficient enough to keep up with the demand. Both ways are logical and
may be more of a choice of preference for you. Another thought that you need to
consider is that if your flat plate collector and your storage tank is not
angled right it may be hard for the gravity to feed the liquid through.

Heating water using solar power is very affordable and can be installed with
minimal effort. Choosing to heat your water using solar power is a wise choice
and a first step in making a choice to help preserve our environment. We know
how easy it is to use solar power to do a lot of things, including heating our
water.

Great Locations for Wind Turbines

Wind turbines are used for several reasons but the main reason is to generate
energy from the wind. This may sound difficult but it is possible. You
experience energy from the wind whenever someone runs past you quickly. A
second after they pass you can feel the wind from them going by. This wind that
you feel if produced in a great amount can be converted into energy. You may
have seen the tall turbines standing in the fields when you drive by. There is
the older classic model windmill that helped to crush grain when the windmill
blades would turn, it would turn a mechanism inside which was attached to a
device that would crush grain for flour. There are several different locations
that are perfect for the wind power and depending on where they are as to how
much energy they produce.

OffShore Turbines can be placed offshore in order to produce energy from wind
in the air and from the water. They don't bother the view as much when they are
out on the water and the noise that they make cannot be heard on land. The
average wind speed is higher on the water because the water has less surface
roughness and can use every part of energy from the wind. There are several
different locations today that you might see wind turbines offshore and there
are more building in the future. The one main complaint with people and
turbines is the noise they make. It is constant and annoying to some. The other
complaint is that they are tall and not pleasant to look at.

While all of these are true the main reason for wind turbines is to find an
alternative to using fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources to produce
our power. When a tower is built offshore it may cost more money in the long
run because the towers need to be higher so there will be no restrictions.
Turbines access power through undersea cable which may use high voltage direct
current. The sea salt may also cut down on the length of time these turbines
stay in shape.

Near Shore These turbines can be seen but not heard. They are on water so they
can produce enough energy compared to being totally on the land. Because the
sea shore lines are considered to be very windy due to the tides coming in and
the wind on the water, it becomes the perfect location for a turbine. There are
issues and concerns with how wildlife is using these towers and zones for their
nesting and habitats. There is another concern that the shoreline wind farms
are not in the best interests of those who wish to come to the shore line to
visit. It becomes a sight to see and hear the generation of power through these
wind mills. The size of the towers can be minimal but this causes controversy as
well because the smaller the tower the lesser amount of energy to produce.

Off shore and near shore are the choices we have. There are advantages and
disadvantages to each one. We have to weigh the results with the problems to
see which way may be best for everyone.

Concentrating Solar Power Systems

If you have ever seen a field with several mirrors pointing toward the sun you
may be looking at a solar power system. These systems work to concentrate the
sunlight to one area and use the heat to heat up the liquid that flows along
the pipes.

This system is called Parabolic-trough system. This type of system heats oil
that is flowing through the pipe. The oil is hot and that is why it is used to
boil water to power a steam generator which in turns powers electricity.

The reason that this system works so well is because the U-shaped mirrors
attracts and collects the suns heat which is then transferred onto the
receiver. The receiver absorbs the heat and transfers into fluid which helps to
power the engine. The heat causes the fluid to swell up against the piston and
that produces mechanical power. This type of power can be used to run things
like generators or even an alternator that will produce electricity. This
system works great when because it uses molten salt that flows through the
receiver. When the salt heats up it can generate electricity through the steam
generator. The salt holds in the heat for several days before it has to be
converted into electricity. Because this system uses so many panels it is
mainly used for industrial solar power where acres of land can be donated to
the Parabolic Trough. There can be enough power in the network that can create
energy for several days or more. Because this system is so large that it allows
the heat that it saves to be transferred days later.

Through this project and other solar power projects we can understand fully how
solar power works. When we see how much solar power is conserved using these U
shaped mirrors we can also understand how much energy is lost. Using
concentrating solar power systems are beneficial to the businesses that use
them because they won't have so much time down when the power fails. Machinery
is their only major concern and as long as their machines are taken care of
there should be no problems. Industrial type of solar power can attract and
trap a lot of heat from the sun during the day, especially using mirrors that
will reflect the sunlight. It also helps to have this type of solar power out
in an open field free of trees and vegetation that may grow around and at some
point crowd the solar light out.

Scientist are continuously studying this theory as businesses use it to power
their machinery. Steam power was what was used from the beginning with solar
power and is still what most systems depend on to service their production
needs. In the future, fields may eventually be full of mirrors that somewhat
point up to the sky in hopes of generating enough sunlight to heat the world.
Until then we will use the traditional methods of heating water, heating our
homes and powering our electricity.

Advanced Vehicles

When we think of advanced vehicles it reminds us of speed that a vehicle has
and all the newer vehicles that are coming out with all the modern gadgets and
gizmos. Every time we turn the ignition on our vehicle we are sending a bad
sign out into the world and the atmosphere. Scientist have worked rather hard
at coming up with a way that our cars can be safe for our planet. So how is
that done?

Advanced fuel systems include energy storage which is the batteries that help
power it instead of the fuels, power electronics, thermal comfort and systems
analysis. These fuel systems are constantly being studied and have made
outstanding research and development topics. The main focus on the fuel systems
in advanced vehicles is to find an alternative fuel in order to cut down on
pollution and to restore our economy. We cannot continue buying fuels forever.
We need an alternative to fuel. Sometime in the future, fuel will no longer be
available for us to use. Advanced vehicles are designed to make it more
efficient to run at top speeds. Convenience is another advantage to the
advanced vehicles.

They plug in and charge instead of running out of fuel and refilling the tank.
Running these cars may not break any records but it can help tremendously
knowing that they are running clean. Ultracapacitors are designed to provide
additional power to accelerate for climbing hills. Vehicle power electronics
controls the amount of electricity through the devices. This may be the
ignition, DC to DC converters, inverters, and motor controllers.

Vehicle Thermal comfort is how you control your temperature inside the car. You
may have to roll the windows down or put them up. Turn the heat on or the air
conditioning on. No matter what you have to do this is thermal comfort. The
main goal for such an invention is to come up with a vehicle that can get us
where we need to go in the amount of time that we allow ourselves. In the fast
paced world that we live in today, it is hard to find someone who has the time
to spend waiting on their vehicles to get repaired or refueled. That is because
we need that vehicle to be up and running when we need it the most. Scientist
are studying the car factor and what it will do for us in the future and what
it has done for us in the past. As they strive to gather more information they
can better the way the advanced vehicles have made it through.

Advanced vehicles are on the go and will one day be the car that we decide to
buy because that may be our only choice in the future. When the fuels run dry
we will no longer be able to drive what we currently have now. Though these
vehicles do allow some restriction, that will no longer be as we progress into
the future and all the bugs will be worked out.

What is Solar Energy

In order to know where to find solar energy you must first know what solar
energy is. Solar energy is energy from the sun. When the sun is shining solar
energy is being produced as it sends the heat radiating to the earth. You can
find solar energy anywhere or anything that the sun can shine on. There is a
way that you can save the sunlight in order to provide heat during the cold,
which is what millions of people have done throughout the years. It started
thousands of years ago when people where able to use a thick lens or magnifying
glass on an object that would attract the sun rays on that particular object and
could get so hot it would catch fire. This gave a new prospective on how strong
the heat from the sun really was.

The problem with capturing the suns heat is the fact that when it reaches the
earths surface it does not go to one particular spot. It is spread evenly over
the earth where the sunlight is able to reach. When this happens you may find
it difficult to heat something using only the sunlight. Although the area or
object may be hot if left in the sun too long it will not reach the full
heating potential of the sun's light.

In order to use the heat efficiently to heat a room after the sun goes down or
when the sun is unable to shine because of clouds you will need to use a source
that will attract the heat to one particular area. This source is called a solar
collector. The solar collector attracts a lot of sunlight to one particular area
allowing the sun to pass through the source and into the space. The objects in
the space absorb and hold the heat from the sunlight and trapping it so it will
not get back out with the help of the source. Glass is a great solar collector
because it allows the sun to pass through it and into the space but the heat
from the sun can rarely escape leaving the space under the glass to become warm
or hot from the heat. The objects in the space help to hold the heat as it comes
in so that the space will stay warmer longer. This allows the area to be heated
using solar power.

Because glass is a natural solar collector it makes it great to put into a
greenhouse or a sun room. The glass attracts the sunlight and traps the heat
inside so that they temperature in the greenhouse or sun room remain warm even
at night when the temperature outside may be cold.

Solar energy can be found anywhere the sun shines but in order to fill the heat
you must have direct sunlight for an extended period of time. If you just use
the morning sun to heat your home your house may not stay warm through the
night.

Ways to use Solar Power for Heat

We have become accustomed to turning a dial or pushing a button in order to
have heat. These ways are nice but they may be inconvenient as well. Heating
homes, schools or businesses with solar energy is not only easy but cost
effective as well. There are several ways that we can capture the sun's heat
even in winter times. In order to capture the sun's heat you need a solar
source. This source can be something that will attract the sun rays but trap
the heat from it when it enters the source. A good example is a sunroom.

These rooms are attached to a home or a building and are constructed of glass
panels from the floor to the ceiling. It is usually facing the morning sun in
order to get the full affect of the heat. When the sun shines into the room the
glass allows the sunrays heat the furniture and everything in the room. These
areas become the source that holds the heat in so that it will not escape back
out of the glass. This type of heating is natural and can be very efficient if
it is constructed correctly.

Other forms of solar power heat are:

Thermal mass that absorbs and holds in the heat. It traps and holds heat while
the sun is shining and disperses the heat when the sun goes down.

Trombe Wall is a natural solar heating and ventilation system that uses air
channels to hold the heat between a glass object and a thermal mass that is
facing the sun. The sunlight gets trapped and stored inside this wall and is
then circulated though vents and the top and the bottom of the wall. The wall
radiates the heat.

Transpired collector is also a wall that is used facing the sun. The wall
absorbs the sunlight and heats the air when it enters into the ventilation
system.

Solar Cooling is a great way to ventilate a building. It absorbs the solar heat
and cools it making ice with a solar powered steam engine that is attached to a
cooling device.

Solar Chimney is also a solar ventilation system. It is made of a thermal mass
that is hollow inside. The chimney will warm the air inside the chimney and
causing the heat to rise. The rise allows the air to circulate and vent
properly.

There are several ways that we can provide heating and cooling to our homes,
businesses, buildings or other structures that need to be heated. The ways
listed above are by using all natural material that will pay off in the long
run when you have heat using the sun and not an artificial heating source that
may be produced by non-renewable resources. We all need heat no matter what. We
need to find out what ways we can save the heat from the day to keep our house
warm at night. Not only does it work for heating but also cooling as well.

What you need to know about Solar Power

Solar power is everywhere because it comes from the sun. Solar power can be
used to power electricity, pump water, to heat your home or office and power
vehicles. With all that we can do with solar power you have to wonder why we
don't do enough to conserve the solar power. We could use it for almost
anything and it would cost a fraction of what we are paying now. You can make a
difference by doing your part is making solar power something you can use.

In order to power energy with solar power you need to know the basics of solar
power and how it works. It takes a long time for heat from the sunlight to
reach the earth. Unless it is concentrated into a particular area the heat from
the sun will be distributed evenly over the earth's surface where the sun is
shining. When you want to use the natural sun light to power your electricity,
heat or water you need to know the process to it.

You need to direct the sunlight to a concentrated area in order to have enough
energy to power your source. Some of the biggest solar power towers are set up
around the world. Solar power is not something that a few people are trying but
solar power is about the future, everyone's future. When you use a light in your
home you may not realize the process that brings that energy to that switch so
when you flip it on you will have lights. The energy that it takes to run power
to our homes are not a natural way of energy. Conserving the energy that comes
from the sun is the most natural way to equip our homes with energy, heat and
more. When we use natural resources we save in several ways; by preserving the
earth, cutting down on monthly and over all costs, and no inconvenient power
outages.

Preserving the earth helps when you use natural resources that don't hurt the
earths atmosphere and everything in it. If we continue to use the power that we
use today we may pollute the atmosphere so much that the right amount of sun
will not be able to make it down to the earth's surface in the future. Then we
will have no other choice but to rely on our man made abilities to produce
something that will cost us more than what it already does now. Pollutants will
also harm life on earth as it starts to close in and start to harm us. Cutting
down on monthly and over all costs can save you a lot of money in the future.

In the beginning you may pay a minimal amount to be solar power efficient by
purchasing a solar source. You can buy indoor and outdoor lighting, solar power
windows and insulated doors in order to make your home more solar efficient.
After that initial expense you don't have the expense of paying a monthly bill
to keep your service on. This also promotes others to use solar power to be
more efficient.

When a storm blows through we are sometimes left without power for at least a
day but sometimes more. When this happens we are so use to our conveniences
that we have a hard time adjusting to going back to the basics when we are use
to flipping on a light switch, using the microwave, taking a shower or bath
assuming that the water can be pumped and heated the same as it always is.
Loading the dishwasher or washing the dishes, washing and drying clothes. All
of these services require the power to be on and when it is off is when you
miss the services. When you use solar power you are less likely to experience
these down times because your power is generated by natural energy.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

There are two different types of wind turbine; Vertical and Horizontal. Each
one performs their own function and they each of their advantages and their
disadvantages. You should pick the one that is best for you and your needs.
They do have one thing in common and that is that they produce energy from
winds. They just do it in a different way. Vertical axis turbine has the main
rotor shaft running vertically instead of horizontally. This direction can have
its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is the gearbox can be put in the
bottom of the turbine, unlike the horizontal turbines. All the weight is not at
the top of the tower.

It also does not need to be pointed in the direction of the wind. The
disadvantages of vertical axis wind turbines is that there can be pulsating
torques that can happen during each turn when the turbine is running in the
same direction as the wind. They produce a smaller amount of energy from the
wind.

Different Types of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Windmill with a rotation sail.
This type of turbine is the newest out there as it looks like sails on a ship
once it is up and running. The sails can expand or contract to the changing
winds. There is three sails on it and the speed is managed through magnetic
counter that expands or contracts these vertical sails. It has a control unit
that will help to control the sails so the damage will be minimal. The sails
might tear but the frame is durable and will last through the storms.

Aerodynamic turbine is made up of airfoil base that is designed to capture the
kinetic energy flowing from an artificial current to the center. It can utilize
most of the air mass that passes through by redirecting it over the upper
turbines. It can respond to wind and also rivers, creeks, oceans or other free
flowing water systems.

Darrieus Wind Turbines are efficient but because of their size and shape they
can produce cyclic stress on the tower which can wear it out sooner. It
features three blades that work well in higher winds. They are held up by
external structures that are connected from the ground up.

Giromill is a type of meal that features three vertical blades. It is self
starting so the maintenance is low. These types of mills a low blade speed but
they can create a high performance and success in channeling the energy from
every turn of the blade.

Savonius Wind Turbine mills have two scoops that are used for wind conversion.
Some do come in three scoops that make it self starting. They look like long
helicopter blades that are bent in a direction. This style and shape is to
provide enough energy to be adequate.

Windstar Turbines has straight aluminum blades that are attached on each end of
the rotating shaft. This windmill features more than one rotor and they each
have their own dual braking system that has pneumatic disc brakes. They are
designed for strong powerful winds.

The advantages to running a vertical axis wind turbine is that they are easier
to maintain and reduce cost, can withstand almost all wind, low high, smaller
and easier to transport. The disadvantages are they take twice as much time to
produce efficient energy from winds, need to be installed on flat land, low
starting torque, some models use guyed wires which can add stress to the
bottom. The design and the preference of the consumer make the best choice when
it comes to choosing the right one for you.

Wind Power

Wind power is taking the energy generated from the wind and using it in more
productive ways. Wind turbines are a machine that can transform the kinetic
energy found in wind and convert it into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy
works with kinetic energy to balance into the mechanical system. When the
mechanical energy is converted into electricity it can be called a wind turbine.

There are two different types of wind turbines; Horizontal axis and Vertical
axis. The most common of these two are the horizontal axis. Horizontal axis
features the main rotor shaft and generator at the top of the turbine. The
horizontal axis is pointed into the wind. Most of these horizontal axis have a
gearbox that allows the blades to turn quicker to generate more electricity.
The tower is what provides turbulence. The turbine can be pointed somewhat
upward and stand well above the blades. The blades are made of durable material
capable of withstanding high winds.

When you see these turbines in the field you may think that they are no longer
helpful but there are several people who believe in using them still.
Horizontal axis wind turbines can either turn upward or downward. If they
choose to turn the blades upward, they don't hold good together for longer
periods of time. They begin to crack and breakdown in high winds. When the
blades are downward facing they stay in line with the wind longer and they can
outlast through the high winds without breaking. Because they are so durable it
keeps the cost down as well.

Types of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Windmills Consists of four or more blades, usually short, and can wooden
blades. These were used to grind grain. As the winds picked up it would rotate
a mechanism inside allowing it to run the grain through a mill crushing it.

Rural Windmills was originally from Australia but later moved over to the USA.
Farmers found that this type of windmill was good to pump water and electricity
to the barns and fields. This windmill had several blades and can still be seen
today in fields. They were constructed of metal usually in order to carry
electricity for lights or maybe a radio.

Modern Turbines are what we have now standing in fields. They feature three
blades that are pointed at the ends. The reason for their unusual shape is
because they have been proven to exceed wind velocity up to 6 times more,
allowing for high efficiency and reliability.

The advantages of this type of wind turbine include stability, tallness,
bendable, durable and strong. The disadvantages my include cannot operate well
close to the ground, hard to transport over sea, difficult to install, not in
big demand, there are concerns with how they affect radar, structural damage
done with storms and wear.

There are good points and bad points to owning these types of turbines. They
have been proven to work and you can have one or thirty one out in your field.
They do help to generate electricity and other great things that we would
normally have to go without.

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