We all know that the world is facing many problems and that includes environmental concerns like global warming and pollution. In spite of all the media attention that is given to the many changes going on, there is no cause for alarm or despair. There is always a solution to every problem and a solution to solar power has been available for many years now. The truth of the matter is that many people just fail to realize how important and efficient solar power is and how the use of it will help protect our green planet earth. (photo courtesy: solarpanels-foryourhome.com)

Solar power was discovered many years ago by scientists and researchers but the concept was not pursued because of the lack of technological knowledge. In the past, solar power was mainly used to power small electrical devices. But we’ve grown dramatically in the field of technology and with its advancements solar power can be made available. Solar power has been used in many states here in the US and we see more and more people installing solar panels in their homes. I heat my pool with solar panels and they do a great job. You can even buy solar power kits today which are less costly and will save you some money. (photo courtesy: treehugger.com)

Here are some interesting facts about solar power.

•    In 1921, Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his experiments on solar power and photovoltaic.

•    Silicon from a ton of sand can be used in photovoltaic panels and will generate the same amount of electricity that a 500,000 ton of burning coals can produce.

•    Over 10,000 households in the US are now using solar power to power their homes.

•    200 years ago during a journey to Africa, a British Astronomer by the name of John Herschel was able to cook food using solar power.

•    The first large scale power plant was opened in California in 1982.

•    You can reduce your electric bill by at least 50% if you can use solar power in you home’s heating system.

•    The price of solar panels has dropped dramatically in the last twenty years. You can now buy solar power kits at a reasonable price.

•    Despite its undesirable climate, Germany is now using solar power and the energy generated is stored in batteries.

•    It takes approximately 8 minutes for energy from the sun to travel and reach the earth.

For people interested in solar power and its benefits, my advice is to start with a solar power kit. These are easy to assemble and affordable. Most local hardware stores sell the solar power kits. Just make sure that the kit you purchase is made by a trusted company. There are some manufacturers that provide 10-15 years warranty so do take advantage of it.

There is lots of information on the subject of Global Warming and the disasters that it can cause. One of those disasters that we need to be aware of is lightning and we all know how dangerous lightning can be. Even the Discovery Channel’s Myth Busters program proved through some experiments they did that it is very dangerous to have your home hit by lightning. When lightning strikes your home, it travels through the electrical system and it tries to find the fastest way to the ground. It can also travel through your plumbing system and through the phone wires. (photo courtesy: flickr.com)

My advice to anyone is to try and avoid using the phone or a computer during a thunderstorm. Studies show that a lightning bolt traveling through your phone line and into your body can kill you in seconds. It is also recommended that you avoid using the shower as electricity and water just don’t mix. Yes, there have been some stories of people who survived being struck by lightning. But, should you take that chance?

We know that lightning can travel through the house via the electrical system and this may not be a big problem for simple appliances like electric fans or maybe light bulbs. But what about those appliances that have microchips like high tech equipment? Lightning will definitely damage any equipment that contains microchips and this will be an expense you don’t need. When I first moved to Florida, I was not aware of the incredible thunderstorms we get here and not been aware of the dangers lightning can cause, I lost two computers and a faxed machine. Since preparation is the best thing you can do to prevent this from happening, here are some tips that will help you in the event of a severe thunderstorm. (photo courtesy: commons.wikimedia.com)

Get a house energy shield. Most electronics companies that specialize in accessories will carry these. This is a system that will protect your electrical circuit from damage in case of energy surges. It is made of a number of surge protectors that will protect specific appliances and will prevent lightning from doing real damage to your stuff. Another neat component of a house energy shield is the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) which provides clean power when you experience a brownout or an energy surge.

Get a lightning rod. This is a simple device that attracts the lightning and diverts it from your home. This device is grounded meaning that the lightning rod actually makes a pathway for the lightning to reach the ground quickly without damaging your home and all your valuable equipment and appliances.

If you know that a storm is coming your way, unplug all your appliances, computer equipment, printers, fax machines and any other electronics around the house. By doing so you are disconnecting them from the main electrical circuit and this will prevent damage to them. This alone can save you lots of money. (photo courtesy: novinite.com)

There are all sorts of accessories you can use to protect your electrical system from lightning damage. If you are not familiar with them, the Internet can be a good source to give you all the information you need. The main thing to remember is that we all need to be ready in the event of a severe thunderstorm and protect our valuable.

Most of us are fully aware of the fact that we have to pay our electric bills each month. If you’ve been getting high electric bills monthly, then you should be concerned about your budget and about the environment. You also need to take into consideration that using less electricity is one way of going green and help our planet earth stay green. Why are your electric bills so high? One reason could be that you are not looking around for those little things that do consume lots of electric power. (photo courtesy: lwvor.org)

Studies have shown that a regular household family can consume from $2000 to $3000 or more yearly on electric bills alone. If your electric bill is this high and you fall between these figures, then consider yourself as a homeowner who consumes more electricity than what you need. And you really don’t need to spend all that money for energy. This is not only a waste of power but also a huge waste of money. Can you imagine how much more you will continue to pay every time your electric rate goes up? It is time for you to make some changes and lower your electric bill. There are ways to save money on energy consumption and here are some ideas.

Start by controlling your thermostat at home. Some people go out in the heat of the day and come in the house and the first thing they do is turn the thermostat real low. Don’t do this! First of all, that thermostat is not going to run as fast as you want it to and will continue to run on the same level until it reaches the temperature you set. You will get the same result whether you gradually switch your thermostat low, or you instantly set it on its lowest level. But keeping your thermostat at a higher level (just so that the home is cool and you are comfortable) will save you lots of money. (photo courtesy: conserve.energy.future.com)

Small items around the house also add to your electricity use. Your cell phone charger, an iPod charger and more that are plugged day and night will add additional charges to your electrical bill. This is also true if you leave your night lights on all day and night, your digital clocks and maybe pots and pans that are plugged since they were brought to the house. Computers and monitors that are left on all day will also add to your electric bill. You will be surprised if I tell you that these small things add at least 5% to the cost of electricity that you are paying.

How about those small leaks around the house? Leaks can come from windows, cracks on the walls, joints, and doors to mention a few and you should have them fixed as soon as possible. Start by making sure that your doors are closed properly and if there are spaces, seal them right away. Don’t just fix the front door but all doors like exterior ones, garage doors, windows or a door to an attic. You can buy some weather strippers to get the job done. Make sure your windows are free from leaks by covering them with a plastic coating to keep the heat inside your home. Look at your walls and if you see any cracks, seal them. The goal here is to keep all the heat contained in your home so that the heating system doesn’t work extra due to heat loss from all these leaks. (photo courtesy: mosbybuildingarts.com)

Did you know that microwave ovens use less power than regular ovens? So if you want to heat left over meals, use the microwave. If a pot is needed, use a small one as it will require less heat than a larger one. Also, using a small burner on your stove instead of large ones will save some electricity and your air conditioning will not go on as often trying to cool down your kitchen.

The American Council for Energy Efficient Economy has stated that you can save up to 40% on energy costs if you follow these simple tips. That is an incentive for all of us and good for your budget and the environment. So go ahead and start looking around your home for things that will help reduce your electric bill.

We know that the main purpose of fuel is to store energy and that most fuels are chemical fuels. Alternative fuels which are also known as non conventional fuels are considered to be materials or substances that can be used as fuels. Some known alternative fuels are biodiesel, bioalcohol which includes methanol, butanol and ethanol, hydrogen, non-fossil natural gas and vegetable oil. Lately, there is a big push in our country for people to switch from gasoline powered vehicles to those that run on alternative fuels. Why? Because alternative fuels are environmentally friendly and can conserve natural resources that are used to produce gasoline. Alternative fuels are good for the environment and can help preserve our green planet earth. Here are some facts you should know about alternative fuels. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

Alternative fuels produce less tail pipe pollutants than conventional gasoline and diesel fuels. Using them will improve our air quality because these are made of compressed gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, ethanol and methanol. Reports by the EPA state that tail pipe emissions from cars and trucks which include hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide accounts for almost a third of the air pollution in the US today. Driving alternative fueled vehicles could dramatically reduce the level of vehicle emissions that pollutes our air daily. As an added benefit, this can promote economic activity in the US as many alternative fuels are produced domestically.

On a gallon for gallon comparison, some alternative fuels don’t allow consumers to travel as many miles as they could in a vehicle powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. The reason for this is that some alternative fuels have lower energy content than gasoline. Another drawback may be that an alternative fuel vehicle could be more expensive than a gasoline powered one. Also, vehicles that run on electric power are considered to be alternative fuel cars and may also be more expensive. (photo courtesy: wikipedia)

Noted above are just a few of the facts about alternative fuels. I must admit that this is an ever changing subject as more information becomes available from researchers every day. One thing is for sure, there is a huge push for ‘green’ fuels and ‘green’ vehicles. As new sources of alternative fuels are found, the facts about them will be made public. My advice is that if you are considering switching to an alternative fuel vehicle get all the facts before making that decision.

Also keep in mind that an alternative fuel vehicle may not meet your needs or you may not be able to afford one. But considering all the facts about alternative fuels, we should agree that using them is good for the environment. Let’s face it, we live in an ever changing world and part of the reason is due to what we are emitting into the air through our lifestyles. If we all start thinking seriously about using these alternative fuels, we could possibly be able to undo some of the damage that has already been done to our environment and help our planet earth stay green.