CarbonFeet

Solar power is a viable alternative for many homes. They can be used in areas that do not get a substantial amount of sunlight. There are two main ways that solar power can be used in a home or business and it is up to an individual home or business owner to tell which is right for them. BY using passive or active solar systems it is usually possible for a home or business to substantially lower their energy costs and it may even be possible for them to generate enough heat or energy that they are able to go completely “off-grid”. solar panels

Solar power is a “green” and renewable power and doesn’t emit harmful carbon dioxide, which means it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Close to 3000 pounds of CO2 per year can be saved by a typical home solar energy system, which works out to about 30 tons over its lifetime. These clean, green technologies will be the core of the next industrial revolution, according to Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth director.

Photovoltaic cells generate electricity from sunlight, but there are other methods for making solar energy. You can also get solar-thermal panels which heat water as opposed to creating electricity. Solar-thermal panels work differently than PV panels, and don’t involve electricity. Although they seem similar to solar panels, instead of light particles being grabbed by solar cells, solar panels have black glass which absorbs the sun’s heat. Hot water is generated by directing water between the solar panels, heating it up as it goes, after which it is channeled into the water system and of course, comes out of the faucets as hot water.

An average of 164 watts of solar power per square meter is delivered to the Earth’s crust by the sun. If we placed enough solar panels in the Sahara desert to cover just one percent of it, we could generate enough electricity to power the entire planet. This abundance of solar power means there’s more than we’ll ever need. But because the power sent out by the sun arrives as a mixture of light and heat, we can’t use it as it is to directly power a car or a computer. This is why solar panels were invented – to convert the sun’s power into a form we can use, like electricity.

Any extra electricity you create using your solar panels, if you’re attached to the grid, will be paid for by the utility company. Accounting for a solar energy system’s electricity production and enabling utilities to purchase excess energy from homeowners, net metering is allowed in 30 states. The most frequently used option is a single, reversible meter. As a solar energy system produces electricity, the kilowatts are used first to meet on-site energy demand. Excess electricity is then fed into the grid, turning the electric meter backwards, instead of being stored in a battery. The homeowner is credited for the extra kilowatts at the end of each metering period.

Water bills can be cut by 50 to 70 % by using a first-rate solar water panel system. Apart from the evident environmental benefits of solar power, it makes financial sense. By combining both solar water panel and PV panel systems you can save even more. Installation costs for solar energy systems are high, although there are different grants available to help finance solar technology. A much more reasonably priced option is to assemble your own solar panels.

Both forms of active solar energy can be used even when sunlight is not strong. All a solar panel needs is to be fairly unobstructed by trees or buildings in order to generate enough power for a home or office.

Property value can be increased by the addition of solar panels. According to HUD, for every $1,000 you save in annual utility bills the value of your home rises by $20,000. A house which is energy efficient is of great value in the eyes of a potential buyer. In addition to the other benefits, a solar system means a home has a back-up system during electricity blackouts. A home-buyer knows that if they buy a house with a solar power system installed, they are also buying peace of mind – knowing that during any power outages they will be unaffected.

Actor, Edward Norton was so inspired by the solar panels installed in his own house that he created a program, in partnership with BP, to provide solar energy systems to lower income households in the LA area. Through the BP Solar Neighbors program a free solar system is offered to a low income household each time a celebrity buys one. An outstanding idea, the project has already had some of the best of Hollywood talent participating in it, including Owen Wilson, Alicia Silver stone and Will Ferrell. This project is probably contributing to the 30% annual growth of BP solar division.

Many more individuals are creating their own solar panels now than ever before. Since solar system installation costs are still very high DIY solar panels are fast becoming popular. And the process is easier than you may think. DIY solar panels can be safe and highly effective if created and installed using a good instruction guide. Certainly, creating your own solar panels saves the initial installation costs which means the savings are even greater in the long run.

Learn more aboutsolar panels. Stop by Ilina Hadzhieva’s site where you can find out all about solar power and what it can do for you.

So, you are ready to get started composting and would like to build your own compost bin. Involved in the cost will be the tools that you need to complete the project, along with the materials. If you live in a relative small area then you will need to choose a smaller compost bin plan. Some plans are extremely inexpensive to build while others are more expensive. You should also consider your level of building experience as well.

If you have an entire workshop full of tools that might not be a consideration, but if you live in an apartment and all you have is a hammer then it will be more of a concern. There are merits to both methods. A quick search online will reveal a variety of different compost bin plans.

Building a compost bin can be a great way to produce something with your own hands and use the completed project as a way to benefit the environment as well as your own garden. There are compost bin plans in a wide array of different sizes, so it is easy to choose a plan that will suit your specific needs. A compost bin plan is a good place to get started.

If you do not have a lot of experience then it may be a good idea to choose a compost bin plan that does not involve a number of complicated steps. You also need to think about whether you prefer an open compost bin plan or an enclosed compost bin. An enclosed compost bin can help to keep odors at bay, but depending on the specific design of the compost bin plan then it may be more difficult to turn the compost with an enclosed bin. If you live in an area that is restricted you may not have any other choice but to choose an enclosed compost bin.

It is also vital to consider your budget when choosing a compost bin plan. Choosing the right compost bin plan can ensure that all of your objectives are met. First, consider the amount of space that is available to you for composting. If you have a lot of space available to you then the size of the compost bin plan that you choose may not be as crucial. When choosing a compost bin plan there are several factors that should be taken into consideration.

Bokashi composting is a process of rigorous anaerobic composting whereby organic food waste is fermented in a tightly sealed bin via a bran that’s inoculated with effective bacteria. Once completely fermented, the organic food waste is then normally submerged within a garden in which it breaks down speedily creating nutrient abundant garden soil.

Heritage: At first created and practiced in Japan, the practice of bokashi biodegradation has been used for many hundreds of years. It was popularized by Professor Teruo Higa who established the appropriate amount of bacteria required to ultimately break down organic substances.

Components: Bokasi bran is commonly comprised of wheat bran, water, molasses and microorganisms.

How it works?: When Bokashi bran is combined with food waste, the microbes will grow causing the food scraps to ferment and biodegrade.

Applications: Bokashi composting is used by consumers and business owners.

In backyard uses, organics are put in an airtight bucket and the bokashi bran is put in. Once a few weeks have passed, the bran and microbes begin to digest and break up the food. When the food waste is aged it can be placed in a compost pile, buried in ditches, or in a garden in which it should speedily biodegrade.

Advantages: Employers of Bokashi reference a variety of benefits to utilizing bokashi composting compared to typical food recycling strategies, including:

Speed: Food ferments using bokashi bran for a length of a month or so and is then in a position to get deposited in ditches or earth. Typical composting generally will take more time (however it will depend on your method of food recycling) and takes place over the course of a few months.

Odours: Due to the fact that bokashi food recycling takes place without oxygen, the bran application procedure needs to happen inside of an airtight container. Thus, there’s no foul scent connected with bokashi food recycling.

Pesky Rodents: Aged Bokashi food waste is kept inside your home within a sealed container or entombed in the land and as a result, unlike some garden compost heaps, doesn’t typically entice animals or rodents.

Greenhouse Gases: No greenhouse gases are created in the course of bokashi food recycling. This is unique from classic composting where C02 and methane are created.

Soil Health: The humidity content in dirt embedded with bokashi fermented organic waste is generally larger than that of normal compost. As a result, bokashi composting allows for increased conservation of groundwater. The organic vitamins and minerals in the land after bokashi fermentation are furthermore not as water soluble as compared to the nutrients derived from composting (by oxidation) and thus are not as likely to leach away as a result of run-off right after a down pour.

Disadvantages:

Cost: You will have to purchase bokashi bran or mixture from a local vendor or online merchant.

Packaging: Bokashi fermentation is unlikely to biodegrade and ferment compostable packaging.

Learn more about helping local businesses reduce restaurant waste and switch to biodegradable & compostable packaging.