Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Energy saving light bulbs have been growing in popularity as prices have come down, and energy prices increased. Traditional incandescent bulbs are being phased out in some countries so you won’t have any other option than to use them. How do they work, and what are their benefits? With a traditional incandescen tbulb most...
Offshore Wind Farms Another Source of Energy
There is huge potential in offshore wind energy. Wind speeds are higher and more consistent than on land, so offshore generation could be a major contributor to the world’s energy needs. Europe leads the way in offshore generation, with 3000 MW generated in 2010, and another 3,000 MW under construction[1]. The world’s biggest offshore...
Wind Farms Growing to Deliver Renewable Energy
Wind power accounts for just over two per cent of America’s electricity, but this is growing. In 2010, 26 per cent of all new capacity came from wind[1]. Many of the world’s largest onshore wind farms are in the US; the world’s largest, the Roscoe wind farm in Texas powers 250,000 homes[2]. Generation figures...
Domestic Wind Turbines for Homes
At first glance, a wind turbine on your roof or in your garden seems like a great idea. Wind is free; you can lower your carbon footprint; and you can reduce you electricity costs. Domestic wind turbines come in two flavours. Mast mounted sit on a mast or tower and can generate up to...
Zeer Pot for Food Preservation
Many of the best eco trends are less about new technologies and more about reviving the innovative technologies that existed when civilizations thrived without depending on copious amounts of fuel. Did you know that there were actually ancient refrigerators that sufficed quite well in preserving food? Naturally, the still work well today. Enter the...
Tidal Energy, Moon Powered Renewable Resource
If time and tide wait for no man, shouldn’t we be rushing to exploit tidal energy? Thirty-eight feet. That’s around the height, from floor to rooftop, of a two-storey house. It’s also the tidal of the Bay of Fundy in Novia Scotia[1]. Think of the energy needed to shift that water, and imagine if...
Types of Solar Cookers to Choose From
Mention solar energy and we think about panels on our roof generating electricity or hot water. But have you ever thought about cooking with the heat of the sun’s rays? Many people in developing nations use fuels such as animal dung, wood, or coal[1]. But of course there is a financial cost in buying...
Residential Solar Power Right for Your Home?
Solar panels are becoming increasingly common in domestic properties. Is it really possible to heat and light your house from the power of the sun alone? There are a variety of methods of collecting the sun’s heat. At its simplest, passive solar collects heat through your windows, walls and floors. At the other end of...
What Are Renewable Energy Resources to Rely On?
‘Do as I say, not do as I do.’ Political instability in the Middle East, increasingly hard to extract fossil fuels, and fears around global warming mean governments are telling us to save energy, and the planet. But in the next 20 years energy consumption will increase by 60 percent from 2005 levels[1]. Could...
Can “Green” Cement Hold its Own Description?
If water is the building block of life, then cement is the building block of modern civilization. The two happen to also be the most traded commodities throughout the world. Then it’s no surprise that the production of cement is one of the carbon-culprits, responsible for a significant percent of emissions. Cement is man-made from...
Flowforms, Biomimicry Sculpture Used for Water Oxygenation
We see water fall from the facet, sprayed from a hose on suburban lawns, still in our glasses, and as running droplets down the side of a window. To most of us, water is not a mysterious element whose movement embodies the stuff of life: oxygen. John Wilkes thought better. Wilkes, is of the first...
Solar Panels: How They Work
Solar panels are made from special materials called photovoltaic, and how they work is amazing. This special material allows the sun’s rays to be converted into electrical energy without the actual use of electricity. This type of energy is known as solar energy. With the high cost of electrical power many businesses and homeowners are...