We are all aware of the harmful effects of global warming, but there can be many ways to prevent global warming. Although we can’t prevent global warming completely, we can sure help to reduce the intensity of the future effects of global warming.

Here are some steps that we can take in our daily lives to prevent global warming effects.

• Use transportation only for travelling to far off areas. Try walking for short journeys or using a bicycle more frequently.
• Share transportation and do car-pooling whenever possible.
• Drive in the correct gear to reduce fuel usage. Keep all windows shut on warm days if you have air conditioning to maximize fuel efficiency.
• Consider purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle when looking for a new car.

Converting a regular home into a solar home you needs to determine that what are the electrical demands of the house and deciding how much will be met by proposed solar power system and then draw a plan for a solar power system to meet the needs. For making a solar home requires a little research and some math.

Here are the simple steps for that:

Step 1

First start up with a room then make a total of power consumption for that room in watts. Such as laundry room with a washing machine, 3 light bulbs but clothes dryer. Calculate the maximum daily power use of the laundry, 1 load of laundry plus two hours usage of the lights with 60-watt bulbs, which adds up to 1,510 watts. Read the full story

Winter season can upset your budget due to high cost of heat and utilities. However, it is possible to save energy and money by following these simple methods.

1. Stock your refrigerator and freezer properly. Adequate air flow is required for a refrigerator and freezer to operate efficiently. Without adequate air flow, the refrigerator works harder to keep cool. Don’t overstock your freezer and you will save money on energy costs. Turn the temperature setting to the lowest where you can still maintain the freshness and safety of food.

2. Use a toaster oven or microwave instead of the oven. It is possible to cook delicious winter meals in a crock pot. These appliances generally consume less energy as compared to the oven, resulting in lesser cost.

3. Keep the curtains and blinds open, letting in the sunshine instead of using lights. This way you can enjoy the natural energy provided by the sun and your home will also be a bit warmer and, enabling you to save money. Also keep the curtains and blinds close at night to insulate from the cold weather.

Read the full story

If you want to claim federal tax credits in order to make your home more energy efficient, you still have some time.

By incorporating some energy efficient appliances in your home, you can receive up to $1,500 in federal tax credits. Moreover, if you opt for multiple upgrades, you could get more than $10,000, although you’ll also be spending quite a bundle.

However, do read the fine print and find out all the details before you decide about any credit option. There are many federal tax credits that apply only to your primary residence and to existing homes. Furthermore, not all Energy Star appliances qualify, so you will have to do some research, as all the chosen products have to meet specific criteria.

Read the full story

Earlier, I published an article about what is a solar water heater. In continuation with that, here is an article to explain the working of the solar water heater.

As soon as sunshine hits the collector, the water inside gets heated immediately. If the flowing pump is regulated by a PV panel, the pump starts revolving as the PV panel is started by the same sunshine. This direct current (DC) motor pump then shifts water from the tank through the collector and finally back to the tank.

The intensity of sun keeps changing throughout the day. As the intensity of sun changes, the circulating pump also changes its speed accordingly. As a result, by the end of the day, the water in the tank has been rotated several times through the collector and has been heated to usable hot water temperatures.

Read the full story

It is now possible to make a small solar power generator for $250 to $300, by using parts that are easily available from the internet or your local stores.

Whether you live in a far off area, outside the range of the grid, or you just want to make your own electricity, it can be a great idea to save up on your bills.

You can supply power to your computer, modem, vcr, tv, cameras, lights, or DC appliances.

Here are some easy steps to follow in order to make a solar power generator:

1. First of all, you will need to buy or make a small solar panel. You can get it for about $100, to support12 volts or 16 volts.

Read the full story

Though there are several other ways of producing electricity, solar panels have some additional advantages not only for the consumers, but producers and environment as well.

Uses of Solar Panels

Solar panels can used to power all kinds of electronic home appliances. This electricity is produced from sunlight and enables you to use it for many devices including solar-powered handheld calculators.

Moreover, it can also be used for street lights and satellites. To produce light during the night, the solar cells charge during the day hours which are then utilized at night.

Read the full story