Solar Air Heater – Supplement to Conventional Heating

Solar Panels As homeowners are considering measures to reduce energy consumption solar energy invariably becomes a topic of discussion. The challenge in taking the discussion to the next step is that building a new solar home or implementing an extensive retrofit of an existing home is extremely expensive and it is particularly daunting given the uncertainties regarding economic payback. There...

Home Energy Audits

Renewed interest in energy conservation is driven primarily by skyrocketing oil prices and societal emphasis on environmental stewardship. This focus has resulted in an increase in home energy audits. Making one’s home more energy efficient reduces its carbon footprint and potentially reduces the energy bill by as much as 30 percent. These audits are proving invaluable in identifying air leaks,...

Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are an integrated photovoltaic (PV) product that directly generates electricity from sunlight and in some cases converts electricity to heat. They are made of the same material used in conventional solar panels: Wire Photo sensitive waterproof product Material to generate electric current in sunlight Like solar panels, solar shingles generate electricity. But, unlike solar...

Mobile Communications with Home Energy Management Systems

In previous articles we have addressed the topic of reducing home energy consumption by applying good insulation, installing double-paned glass and weather stripping; installing alternative energy technologies such as solar panels, and simply lessening the use of energy by turning off basic electronics and air conditioners when not needed. An important part of managing the use of energy includes...

LED Streetlights

Streetlights are an important public safety service that is expensive to maintain and consume a significant quantity on energy. Consequently, a number of U.S. cities, most notably Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, are embarking on programs to convert traditional street lights to light emitting diode (LED) lighting. These LED lighting systems are attractive because they: Do not consume as much...

Low Cost Suggestions to Improve Home Heating and Cooling Efficiency

With the continuing increase in energy costs, homeowners are increasingly aware of the importance of maximizing the energy efficiency of their heating and cooling systems. There are a number of tips and changes that do not require major investments that can be applied in support of this universal desire: Start with the Thermostat Figure 1- Typical Thermostat Ensure the thermostat is not...

Cellulosic Ethanol – Is it an Alternative Fuel?

Cellulosic Ethanol-The Source According to the U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA) the average daily use of petroleum in the U.S. is 20.7 million barrels per day. More than half of this daily intake is imported, leaving the U.S. dependent on foreign petroleum to meet its energy needs. For that reason, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was passed to require that 36 billion...

Mobile Home Energy Management Systems

In previous articles we have addressed the topic of reducing home energy consumption by applying good insulation, installing double-paned glass and weather stripping; installing alternative energy technologies such as solar panels; and simply lessening the use of energy by turning off basic electronics and air conditioners when not needed. But, an important part of managing the use of energy...

Basics of Wind Power in the U.S.

Current and Potential Usage According to American Wind Energy Association, there is more than 9,000 MW of generating capacity attributed to wind power. These units provide 25 billion kWh of electricity or one percent of the power generated in the U.S. each year. They also estimate that wind power could potentially account for 10.8 trillion kWh per year – equal to the amount of energy in 20...

Artificial Geothermal Energy – An Experiment that Works

Success is Around the Corner Geothermal Power Plant Though artificial or engineered geothermal energy is still in an experimental stage of development, there are a few small commercial plants in operation: Japan demonstrated this capability on the side of a volcano, at Hijiori. It converted enough heat in a test run of one year to support a 130 KW power plant. Australia has some bright prospects...