Build your own solar panels : We have all felt the impact of rising fuel and energy costs, we have also all seen the devastating impact on the environment the extraction and use of fossil fuels has. For quite a few years now solar power for homes has been a much promoted alternative, the only problem is that it is so expensive to purchase and have installed, that is until now…
Residential solar power for homes has become a must if we are to free ourselves of the rising cost of traditional power resources such as fossil fuels. Solar power for homes has been with us for some time now, unfortunately the costs of taking it up have been prohibitive.
Residential solar power for homes is the simplest alternative energy installation we can preform on our homes. Easy to install and maintain (solar panels have a life span of around 30years) a residential solar power system will have you saving money for years to come.
No longer do you have to have massive, ugly solar panels decorating your roof, the panels produced today come in a variety of shapes and sizes (depending on your energy needs) and are made to blend in with the design of your home.
Possibly the most attractive feature of solar power for homes is it gives you the freedom to live your life independently or at least be less dependent upon, the power grid. This independence not only allows you to have what is effectively a free energy source, it also means you are not harming the environment as solar energy is a clean (no emissions, non polluting) and renewable energy source. The fact that residential solar power provides us with a clean, renewable energy, gives us the luxury to be less conscientious of and more liberal with our energy usage in the home.
Regardless of whether you are looking to totally power your home with solar or are looking to supplement traditional power sources to give you a cheaper, more reliable (no more power outages), unrestricted power resource, solar power is the way to go.
Recently we have seen the emergence of an affordable way to get a residential solar power system up and running. Many households are turning to DIY (Do It Yourself) solar power projects. DIY solar electricity guides are available on the internet via instant download and contain all the information (via video and ebook) you will need to get a solar power for the home system built and installed in no time.
To find out more about Residential Solar Power For Homes click the following link DIY Solar Power also be sure to check out water tank installation
Self sufficient living is experiencing a resurgence of interest as many see pollution rising and natural resources being depleted. Many are also turning to this way of life as they consider the economic benefits of learning to live a more sustainable lifestyle. So what is self sufficient living anyway?
Self sufficient living is a phrase that refers to utilizing renewable sources to supply basic needs. For most individuals, this means a real change from depending upon city power and water. It also means becoming your own grocery store by growing a garden. For the purists, it involves learning to make things we use everyday – like soap and even clothing.
The fast pace of many people’s lives has caused them to reconsider their lifestyle and turn to a simpler, more self sufficient way of living as a better alternative. They see this as a more healthy way to live. Others are pursuing this in the interest of preparedness in light of increasing natural and man made disasters, as well as the looming threat of political unrest resulting from economic collapse.
What’s Involved – Let’s look at some important considerations to make for those interested in adopting a more self sufficient way of life.
First, let’s consider our most basic need – food. Most people rely solely on the grocery store. Why not become your own supermarket by growing your own? You might not feel capable of such an undertaking, but there are plenty of good books on the subject to get you started. Even if you don’t have a garden area, start in pots for now – at least you’ll be getting started. The other important skill in providing for your food needs is learning to store that food. We’ll look more at methods to do this in future articles.
Food – There has been increased interest in gardening in recent years as evidenced by an increase in garden seed sales. This is truly a part of self sufficient living that anyone can start right away. While there are many helpful books on the subject, this is one area in which it largely comes down to experience. Thus, the sooner you get started, the better. Even if you only have a small patio, you can start gardening in pots, even during winter months, you can grow some things in the house. The other aspect of food involves learning to preserve and store food. This is something that people used to be better at, but with the convenience of supermarkets, many do not consider just how fragile a family’s food supply can be. Natural disasters remind us of this when interruptions in transport result in shelves being emptied in only a matter of hours. Methods for food preservation and storage include canning, dehydrating, air vacuum sealing, and use of air tight storage containers.
Water Sources – Another important consideration involves water. Where are you getting yours from? Sustainable water sources include springs, wells, and even creeks or streams – in which case you’d need to consider a filtration method. Keep in mind that there may be legal limitations pertaining to the use of surface water where you live. Many overlook the importance of this issue. Furthermore, it’s wise to consider the volume of water required to sustain not only your family, but also additional needs such as agriculture. You can see that there may not be a whole lot you can do about this unless you’re in a country setting with a considerable piece of land with water on it. This takes us to our final point.
Country Living – When considering what is involved in becoming more self sufficient, it becomes clear that living in a metropolitan area makes it more difficult for the average family to pursue a more sustainable way of life. While the subject of locating and purchasing country property is beyond the scope of this article, families are finding that with careful planning and perseverance, making such a transition is possible. Rural living is ideal in terms of becoming more independent.
You can experience self sufficient living, enjoying the benefits of becoming independent from utility companies and supermarkets. Keep your dream before you and persevere and a simpler, healthier way of life can be yours.
self sufficient living can be your way of life. Learn more at http://www.selfsufficientlivingblog.com.
A gasifyer is used to heat wood or other organic matter to a temperature great enough to release the volatile elements inside. These gasses when released can be burned for heating, or used in an internal combustion engine to make power. The simplest element of the gasifier is that is a canister that is insulated to keep in the heat.
within this container is a small bed of burning fuel. Outside air is allowed through to the bed of fuel creating a controlled burn, and starting the production of gas.
The whole operation can be self contained.
A small controlled fire is required, partially because you do not want to simply set fire to all the combustion mass, and the pocket-sized fire burning with limited oxygen is efficient. This warmth is used to dry out and heat the fuel stock, so that when it falls into the fire grating, it will willingly burn. Ideally the fire should reach roughly 1200 degrees F. The combustible gasses produced ascend and escape at the top of the gasifier. The gasses are then cooled and filtered, the cleansing is to cause less damage in an engine, and a denser gas has more energy.
Some of the primary advantages of the gasifyer is it may be made small enough to be self contained and transportable, on a trailer or trolley. The rough size of an oil barrel can be made to run a four cylinder engine, but if you are burning something which is fundamentally a waste product, wood chips or saw dust, the gas made from that is just as good quality as the gas from an expensive fuel.
The types of fuel normally used will be waste wood chips, chipped branches, coconut waste, rice and corn husks and even battery chicken shed litter. In certain parts a fuel crop such as a quick growing willow may be used.
Could this be a fresh source of fuel? Commercial farming needs to spend money disposing of huge amounts of waste to landfill. A further eco-friendly advantage is that the residue or char from the gasifier may be used as a soil conditioner, meaning still less waste.
A large industrial gasifier might have to be used in an area heating project or in a large farm yard waste energy producer in order to get economies of scale.
But, I am more concerned with smaller gasifyers to subsidize house hold costs, or off grid livelihood.
home gasification has the extra advantage of producing gasses, often called syngas, that are very clean burning, producing little or no pollution.
Many claim that 1 gallon of petrol is equivalent to 20lbs of dry chipped wood. A gasifier of suitable size will supply all the gas to run a particular engine, the larger the gasifier the bigger the engine. A gasifyer does not necessarily call for any external power nevertheless this will help to start the machine, someone will nonetheless have to fuel the machine. Once working the inductance from an internal combustion engine will draw air through the fireplace, effectively making it self sustaining.
A gasifyer with a gasoline or diesel engine generator and a ready supply of fuel, makes this an ideal alternate energy source.
This Technology is over Two Centuries old, but is just as relevant now when the world needs an appropriate new fuel source. Find out now how heat and electricity can be produced with the latest generation of gasifiers. Find out more information at The Gasifyer. Com.
