The majority of people believe that reducing our use of fossil fuels is important and consider pollution and climate change the biggest environmental challenge we face today.
Renewable solar energy and wind power is clean, safe, and inexhaustible. If you switch to renewable energy it is most likely to come from Wind, Solar (PhotoVoltaic and Thermal), Hydroelectric or Wave / Tidal Power
Wind turbines range from small systems of around 50 watts which are used to charge batteries for caravans and boats, to giant structures of 3 Megawatts that generate enough power to run 3000 homes.
Home Wind Power can be generated using commercially available wind turbines that are specifically designed for home use. Various power outputs are available with a typical a home installation being between 2 to 6 kilowatts. The turbine should preferably be sited on top of a hill or building away from other buildings so that the flow of wind is not disrupted, however if you live in an urban environment there are systems designed specifically to operate in more built up areas.
Home Wind Power systems can be installed whether your home is connected to the grid or not. Where the home is not connected to the grid you will need a battery to store the power generated by the turbine, for homes that are connected to the grid excess energy can be transferred to the grid and sold to the utility company
You will need to install an inverter and control unit to convert the output from the turbine and/or battery into a usable voltage and quality for the home (and grid)
Installing your home wind turbine is likely to cost in the region of
£1,500 to £5000 per kilowatt, however government grants
may be available to help with the installation costs.
When deciding on a site for your wind turbine visual, noise and conservation
issues must be considered, you may need planning permission from your
local government / council authority.
Photovoltaic (PV) power uses semiconductor material to convert solar energy (daylight) into electricity that can be used to power electrical equipment. They were first used in the mass market to power desktop calculators. A single PV cell produces only a small amount of electricity so multiple cells are connected together to create an array of several panels is needed to generate enough power for everyday domestic use.
An array of PV panels is connected together to give the required voltage and current output. Typically the panels have a power output of around 100 Watts peak. The typical home system of 1 to 2 kW will comprise of 10 to 24 panels depending on the technology used and the orientation of the array with respect to the sun.
As with wind turbines you will need a controller and inverter and they can be used off grid or on grid. Off grid systems will charge batteries during daylight hours, the energy stored can be used at night. With on grid systems batteries are not required as surplus energy can be sold to the utility company and bought back at night.
PV systems can be incorporated into buildings in various ways. Fitted to sloping roofs either mounted on frames or integrated into the fabric of the building using PV roof tiles.
Installed pricing is in the region of £600+ per square metre
and the average household requires between 10 to 40 square metres to
be completely self sufficient. PV energy will take several years to
recoup the initial cost, however the systems tend to be maintenance
free and once that initial outlay has been written off what you have
is a 100% free, totally green electricity supply.
The world is losing momentum in the battle against global warming, the U.N. climate chief warned on Saturday, urging environmental ministers from wealthy nations to revive the effort by setting clear targets for reducing greenhouse gases.
A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL scientist thinks too little attention is being placed on water vapour or H2O gas as a contributing factor to global warming.
Associated Press - May 24, 2008 3:43 PM ET KOBE, Japan (AP) - The U.N. climate chief is warning that the world is losing momentum in the battle against global warming.
KOBE, May 24: Global warming is damaging the earth more quickly than previously forecast and rising oil prices threaten to speed the growth in greenhouse gas emissions, scientists and activists told environment ministers from industrialised nations on Saturday.