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101 Uses for Dirty Diapers
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert on dirty diapers. I know exactly what to do with them: throw them out! But along comes a New York waste company and a town in California who want me to do something else with my dirty diapers. Like cover...
5 Star homes to be Mandatory in Australia
The Building Code of Australia seems set to introduce 5-star energy ratings for all new homes. While some associations in the building industry are concerned that this is likely to push the cost of building up, it is s step in the right direction...
Easy Ways to Save Energy
With this fall's spike in oil and natural gas prices and the
further impact Hurricane Katrina will have on this winter's
heating oil supplies, it's become more important than ever to
make sure our homes are as energy-efficient as possible.
...
Learning about Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are a joy for a birdwatcher to observe. They are
found only in the Western Hemisphere, from as far north as
Southeastern Alaska and the Maritimes of Canada and as far south
as Southern Chile. There are approximately 350 species...
Solar residential outdoor lighting is becoming the product of choice for millions of consumers
Residential outdoor lighting is a billion dollar a year industry
in the United States. It is getting so popular, there is now a
corporation that franchises individual businesses dealing only
in exterior landscape lighting design, supply, and...
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Shining Some Light on Solar Energy
Without a doubt, solar energy is the way of the future. Solar
energy production is an extremely simple process to understand.
A solar, or photovoltaic, cell collects energy from the Sun. A
solar cell is a semiconductor device that is constructed using
photovoltaic materials. It contains no liquids or chemicals, and
no moving parts. Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity.
A solar panel generally consists of a series of individual
cells, which are supported by a module that allows the cells to
work in unison. The energy that is captured by the panel is
stored in a battery. Solar panels generate direct current (DC)
energy. Many solar energy systems have inverters in them which
allow direct current (DC) electricity to be converted to
alternating current (AC). Most consumer products such as
appliances and electronics operate on AC current.
Unless you have a vast expanse of land to house an array of
solar panels, it is unlikely that you will be able to power your
entire home with solar energy. However, it is possible to power
a single room in your house with a small array of panels fixed
to the roof of your house. Multiply the wattage of each
individual electrical device by the number of hours you expect
to use them each day. That combined number will be your
benchmark, or the bare minimum your system must be able to
generate.
There are a number of options available to consumers that are
considering converting to solar energy. A basic system that can
be used to power a computer
and a few other small items can be
purchased for approximately $1000.00. Naturally, the price will
increase with the production capacity of your system. In most
regions, the price of an installed system will cost somewhere in
the area of $10.00-$12.00 per watt.
Solar energy is one of a few truly renewable resources that can
be used in energy and power generation. Every hour of every day,
the Sun blankets our planet with enough energy to sustain our
global energy needs for a year. As the technology behind
photovoltaic energy advances, consumers will be unable to resist
the urge to convert.
A lot of resources are being put into the development of solar
energy technology. Most of the major oil and energy companies
have entire divisions committed to solar energy. Researchers and
engineers are spending countless hours trying to develop the
technology today that will vastly improve conditions in the
world tomorrow. It is no secret that we cannot continue down the
path we are on. Fossil fuels are no longer a feasible option for
energy production. The future is solar. The future is now.
About the author:
Jim Fritz is a contributing writer to thesolarguide.com - a
brilliant online resource for information about Solar Energy, Solar Panels, Solar Consumer Goods and more.
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| Department of Energy - Homepage |
| Governmental department whose mission is to advance energy technology and promote related innovation in the United States. |
| www.energy.gov |
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| Department of Energy - Page not found! |
| US Department of Energy information for consumers, business, and communities. Links to many energy pages of the DOE. |
| www.energy.gov |
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| Energy Quest Room |
| California Energy Commission's energy and environmental education site for students, parents and teachers. Includes information, Q&As, projects, ... |
| www.energyquest.ca.gov |
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| The Energy Story - Introduction |
| Detailed guide explains what energy is and where it comes from. |
| www.energyquest.ca.gov |
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| EIA Energy Kids Page - energy facts, fun, games and activities |
| Features various sections about energy including what it is and the forms it comes in. Find out how humans use energy through quizzes and a 'fun facts' ... |
| www.eia.doe.gov |
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| Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy ... |
| Section of the US Department of Energy (DOE) providing statistics, data, analysis on resources, supply, production, consumption for all energy sources. |
| www.eia.doe.gov |
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| Energy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Free encyclopedia article explaining the scientific notion of energy. Includes units of measure, energy transformation concepts, types of energy, ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Department of Energy - Homepage |
| U.S. Department of Energy Awards Contract for Management and Operation of Ames ... The Energy Star label is the government's seal of energy efficiency. ... |
| www.doe.gov |
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| Home : ENERGY STAR |
| US EPA Energy Star programs and products help save the environment and save consumers money by using less energy through advanced design or construction. |
| www.energystar.gov |
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| National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home Page |
| Facility of the US Department of Energy (DOE) for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment. |
| www.nrel.gov |
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| European Commission - Energy - Home page |
| Welcome to the European Commission's "Energy" website ... A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy ... |
| ec.europa.eu |
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| DTI - Energy - Introduction |
| The DTI’s Energy Group deals with energy-related matters, ... UK energy statistics are provided, including production, consumption and prices. ... |
| www.dti.gov.uk |
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| U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Home Page |
| US Department of Energy web site for information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. |
| www.eere.energy.gov |
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| Energy for America's Future |
| Provides an overview of President Bush's energy policies. |
| www.whitehouse.gov |
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| International Energy Agency |
| Energy Security, Growth and Sustainability through Co-operation and Outreach. |
| www.iea.org |
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| energywatch: Home Page |
| Independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog, providing help to domestic, commercial or industrial energy (gas and electricity) consumers. |
| www.energywatch.org.uk |
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| EnergyAustralia - Home |
| Details of one of Australia's largest and oldest gas and electricity supply companies. Includes information on accounts, energy saving tips, appliance sales ... |
| www.energy.com.au |
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| U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources |
| Has jurisdiction over energy policy, regulation, and research. Also deals with energy and mineral conservation, ports used for energy transport, irrigation, ... |
| energy.senate.gov |
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| bloomberg energy prices |
| www.bloomberg.com/energy/ - Similar pages |
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| Energy Bulletin |
| A clearinghouse of information concerning the peak in global energy such as oil and gas. |
| www.energybulletin.net |
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