Cheap Energy Blog

Geothermal Energy

One type of alternative energy is geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is heat energy that comes from within the earth. The earths core continuously generates temperatures hotter than the suns surface. Many geothermal reservoirs are deep underground but can sometimes find their way to the surface through volcanos, hot springs and geysers. The most active geothermal resources are found along the Ring of Fire, which borders the Pacific Coast. Many of the geothermal reservoirs in the United Stated are located in California, Alaska and Hawaii. These states, which border the Pacific Ocean are located in the Ring of Fire. When magma approaches the surface of the earth it heats ground water creating hydrothermal resources. Naturally occurring areas of hydrothermal resources are called geothermal reservoirs. In order to confirm that a geothermal reservoir exists it is necessary to drill a well and test the temperature underground. It is possible to tap into this heat energy by digging deep wells and pumping heated underground water to the surface. This energy can be used to generate electricity and heat buildings and homes. Because heat is continuously produced in the earths core and the water cycle replenishes water to be heated, geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource. Geothermal energy is a great option for an alternative home energy source and is a safe, cheap source of energy.

There are three main use of geothermal energy, one is the direct use district heating system, which uses hot water from geothermal reservoirs near the surface to produce heat. Geothermal energy can also be used for electricity generation from a geothermal power plant. Power plants are usually built near a geothermal reservoir located within a mile or two of the earths surface. Geothermal power plants release one to three percent of the carbon dioxide emissions as a fossil fuel plant and emit 97 percent less acid rain. The third use of geothermal energy is geothermal heat pumps. These pumps use stable ground water temperatures near the surface to regulate temperatures above ground. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient alternative energy heating source. They are the most environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cost effective alternative energy system due to the fact that they have almost no negative impact on the environment. When water from a geothermal reservoir has been used it is injected back into the earth to be recycled.

The McCoy power report is an alternative energy related company that provides data about every electrical power plant using an alternative energy resource. This data is collected worldwide and can be very useful in determining which type of alternative energy is best for each individual consumer. Another helpful source for information on renewable resources is to hire an alternative energy consult. These developers specialize in finding alternative energy sources and can be very helpful in implementing alternative energy projects.

Harnessing the Power of Wind

Wind is air in motion and is caused by the uneven heating of the earths surface. The suns rays are absorbed at different rates due to variations of land and water. Wind can be used as an alternative energy source by generating electricity and is one of the easiest alternative energy sources. As long as the wind is blowing there is an alternative source of energy. Civilization have been using the power of wind since ancient times. The earliest known windmills were found in Persia, which is now Iran. In the Americas, colonists used windmills to pump water, grind wheat and corn, cut wood and power sawmills. In the 1970’s oil shortages sparked an interest in renewable resources and alternative energy sources. This led to the reinventing of the windmill. Then in the 1980’s, California began to increase it’s production of wind power. State policies provided alternative energy incentives and funding for alternative energy. Wind energy as a solution for alternative energy sources has spread worldwide. In the U.S. wind power increased from 29,007 billion BTU’s in 1990 to 258,385 billion BTU’s in 2006. The U.S., Denmark, Spain and Germany are the top four countries using wind as an alternative energy source. Massachusetts current alternative energy sources include an offshore wind park that is planned for an area off the coast of Cape Cod.

To collect wind, windmills use blades. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns a generator to produce electricity. There have been recent technological advances in wind turbines such as using larger blades, which creates a higher output per turbine. The most efficient way to maximize wind energy is with the use of wind farms or wind power plants. Here many large turbines are grouped together and the wind farms provide power to an electrical grid. This can present the problem of residents not wanting to see, or live near the large farms with turbines as tall as a twenty story building and three blades spanning 200 feet. Another problem that can arise with the use of wind power is what to do when the wind is not blowing. It is very important to carefully plan the location of wind power plants. Wind speed increases with altitude and also over open areas. Optimal locations for wind power plants are the tops of smooth, rounded hills, open plains or shore lines and mountain gaps that produce wind funneling.

Alternative Energy Inventors and What Happened to Them

While it may seem that people world wide would be enthusiastic to utilize the use of renewable resources as an alternative to fossil fuels, that is unfortunately not always the case. Since the earliest experiments with alternative energy, there have been reports of energy suppression. What this means is that the development of a new energy technology is obstructed by something or someone other than their self. This could be a competing interest such as large energy related corporations, or in some cases government allies of the oil industry. There are even reports of alternative energy inventors being threatened or murdered. As of August 24, 2007, 58 of the 96 energy invention suppression incidents involved various departments of the U.S. government. Some of these departments include the CIA, FBI, ATF, FDA, U.S. Patent Office, Department of Defense, U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, just to name a few. There has also been 51 incidents involving dead, missing, injured and threatened energy inventors and associates. It is estimated that there are four thousand plus secret alternative energy patents held by the U.S.P.T.O. There are several instances where funding for alternative energy has been cut off. This happened during the Reagan Administration when inventor Grant Hudlow was receiving funding to create a method of converting compost alternative energy (biomass) into gasoline. The method was looking so promising that his funding was revoked. This is only one example of nearly a hundred where alternative energy inventors have been suppressed. With all the hype about going green and saving the planet, it is important to realize that it cannot be accomplished when the people who represent us are more concerned with putting money in their pocket than conserving our environment for generations to come.

Alternative Energy Activities for Kids

How do we know that wind power is popular?

Beacuse it has so many fans.

One important step in preventing further damage to our earth is alternative energy education, for ourselves and for our children. There are many alternative energy activities for kids that will make it fun and interesting to learn about renewable resources. These activities will teach children about alternative energy sources and inventions as well as alternative energy uses. Children can also learn about environmental issues and alternative forms of energy including; solar power, wind power, geothermal, hydro-power and compost alternative energy (biomass). There is also an abundance of information about science fair ideas involving alternative energy sources. Examples of science experiment ideas could be, building alternative energy from garbage, constructing a solar collector or building a pizza box solar oven. You can also find crosswords, sudoku, word find, riddles and many other activities involving renewable resources and alternative energy resources online.

Alternative Energy Products

More and more consumers are becoming aware of environmental issues such as global warming, arising from the use of fossil fuels. This has led to an increased interest in renewable resources and alternative energy. With the hope of reducing dependance on fossil fuels, many alternative energy products are being developed. We now have many options for alternative energy uses. One alternative energy source is solar energy. Thermal or heat energy is absorbed from the sun by solar panels. This energy is converted to electricity and stored in a system of batteries. The electricity can then be used to provide power to homes or businesses. Another interesting alternative energy product is an atmospheric water generator sold by a Florida based company, Air Water International. This machine uses humidity to turn air to water by extracting moisture from the air. Many other alternative energy products are also being marketed. Some of these products include; solar water pumps, solar water heating pumps, solar pool heaters, solar air heaters, and solar panels. All of these products and many more are available at the Alternative Energy Store.

Alternative Energy Sources Pros and Cons

Alternative energy sources have been available since the beginning of time. Since the oils shortages of the 1970’s the demand for cheap energy has been steadily growing. Alternative energy systems such as solar and wind power are becoming more popular. However, energy alternatives, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass have pros and cons. For example, some of the advantages include; they are all renewable resources, solar and wind do not give off any harmful substances with the exception of the manufacturing process, the sun and the wind are everywhere and they are free. Some of the disadvantages include; initial costs of installation may be expensive, not every location is optimal for solar or wind energy, solar and wind farms can be take up large areas and can be unattractive and in some cases equipment may interfere with the environment. It is important to take all this information into consideration when deciding wether to use and alternative energy provider. However with continued research it may be possible to use renewable resources and solar energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Jobs in Alternative Energy

The advancements in alternative energy resources have created a variety of new career options. Climate change and renewable energy are emerging fields that are in need of skilled workers. Alternative energy incentives in the United States will also help to create jobs in these fields. With federal mandating of alternative energy use in addition to military use of alternative energy alternative energy business opportunities are turning up everywhere. This business boom is also effecting alternative energy stocks. There is an abundance of information available to help you find your dream career in the renewable, alternative energy field, or to help you find the best alternative energy stocks.

Important Information About CFL Bulbs

Compact fluorescent lamps or bulbs are designed to replace the standard incandescent bulb. Compared to an incandescent bulb a CFL uses less power and last longer, although they are more expensive, the savings on energy and having to replace them less often makes them a cheap energy saving light bulb and a good alternative for home energy, use, cost and savings. With all the buzz over these CFL bulbs, some very important information has been ignored. CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury. While they save money and energy, there are basic steps one must take in order to properly dispose of these bulbs. If the bulbs are intact you can return them to the store they were purchased at for disposal or call your local waste management for more information. If the bulb breaks you must exercise extreme caution. Most importantly, DO NOT VACUUM, doing so will spread mercury vapors through out the room. Pick up large pieces of glass with a piece of cardboard or stiff paper, use tape to lift small particles out of the carpet, then clean with a damp cloth. If possible open a window and make sure to wash your hands. Double bag all material and call your local department of hazardous waste to schedule a pick up or find a location near you.

Recent Trends in Alternative Energy Sources

With the growing concern over global warming as well as outrageous fuel prices, people world wide are searching for safe, cheap energy alternatives to fossil fuel. We are now seeing an array of trends in alternative energy sources. One of these trends is alternative energy vehicles. Toyota and Honda have both released hybrid vehicles that run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol, a bio-fuel distilled mainly from corn. Almost all ethanol produced in the U.S. is used to make a mixture of 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol, E10. Any gasoline powered vehicle can run on E10. Another option is bio-diesel, which is made from vegetable oils, such as used restaurant grease. Major companies such as Fed Ex and UPS are also considering a long term conversion to alternative energy transportation vehicles.

Solar Power as an Alternative Energy For Home Heating

Oil shortages in the 1970’s forced the United States to reduce it’s dependence on foreign oil. In 1978 the U.S. government passed the Public Utility Policies Act in order to encourage competition between alternative energy companies. Consumer concern over environmental issues also plays a role in developing solutions for alternative energy sources. Research indicates that some consumers would pay more for alternative home energy sources if they were coming from a renewable resource. One option for alternative home energy is solar energy. Solar energy is converted to heat energy and used to heat water (pools, homes, buildings) and heat homes and buildings. Solar energy can also be used as an alternative energy source for greenhouses.