Solar energy consists of the light and heat emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

With today’s technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy – such as heating or electricity.

Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.

But in order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.

Environmental Facts about Solar Energy 

All life on earth is dependent upon solar energy. In fact, without solar energy, there would be no life at all. Even the lowest life forms, such as plankton and microbes, need solar energy (in the form of sunlight) in order to survive.

Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever.

Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy. Solar power has been used successfully in many cold climates and even in the polar regions.

Every area of the United States of America receives enough sunlight to benefit from and make use of solar energy and solar technology.

Currently, the cheapest and most effective way of using solar energy in your home is through the use of solar water heating systems. In fact, solar water heating systems have been commercially available in the United States for over a 100 years.

Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, for decades now, solar heating has been in use several cold-climate northern European countries.

Solar energy technology has advanced to the point where it can be now be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.

Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity – so much so that the demand for solar-powered gadgets is currently greater than the supply.

Facts about Solar Energy Usage

Solar energy can be used to provide electricity, heating and hot water for homes.

Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools. Many pools in Scandinavia and Europe are in fact heated with solar energy.

Solar Energy can be used to power vehicles, such as solar powered cars, and even a solar powered airplanes. NASA has successfully designed, built, and tested an airplane which is powered wholly by solar energy.

A few examples are: solar battery chargers, solar flashlights, solar calculators, solar radios, solar-powered attic fans, solar power backpacks (to recharge batteries for small devices), hybrid solar chargers (for cell phones, satellite phones, and more), solar-powered garden lights … and much, much more.

The aviation industry is often criticized for contributing to global warming through airplane exhaust. But waste of a different kind also has the potential to create environmental problems.

Even before they board, air travelers throw away trash of all sorts — including paper, plastic and food waste — and airports and airlines recycle only a small portion of it.

An estimated 7.5 million pounds of trash is generated every day. While the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, says that 75 percent of that trash is recyclable, it has found that only 20 percent reaches a recycling center.

“It does not make sense to acquire oil from the Middle East or the north slope of Alaska and turn it into a plastic bottle, use it once and throw it away,” said Allen Hershkowitz, a scientist at the council.

The council’s figures are from 2006, but are the most recent. The lack of current data was one concern of the Air Transport Association and the Airports Council International. They persuaded the Transportation Research Board, an adviser to the federal government, last November to determine what prevented airports from embracing recycling since travelers seemed to want it.

Recycling procedures vary by airline and airport. Environmental programs involve many entities: airports, municipalities, private waste companies and federal security agencies. As a result, each of the nation’s 552 commercial airports has its own way of handling waste.

“The issue is very local,” said Nancy Young, the transport association’s vice president of environmental affairs. Continental Airlines has been recycling oil, antifreeze and other aircraft maintenance products for two or three years. Recently it began onboard collection of bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes. Leah Raney, managing director of global environmental affairs for Continental, said it was recycling these items through kitchens it owns at hub airports.

“We had so many employees that wanted to recycle,” Ms. Raney said. “We heard it from customers and from our employees, and that’s why we are determined to set it up.”

Oakland International Airport in California began separating paper, cardboard and bottles from airport trash in 2003. Since adding food scraps to the list in 2004, it handles 455 tons a year, diverting 37 percent of its waste from landfills, said Rosemary Barnes, the airport spokeswoman. The airport has also cut in half the number of trash pickups each month, helped in small part by the Silver Dragon Cafe, a new restaurant tenant that uses compostable food containers.

“I recognize to make a difference, it comes from the top down,” said Lilly Mar-Chee, the restaurant’s owner, who acknowledged it was difficult to decide to spend 10 to 20 percent more for the containers, made from potato starch, while opening a business during the economic downturn. “We are committed to using resources in a sustainable way.”

Even when recycling is available, airport procedures can sometimes make it hard for travelers to use it properly. At Portland International Airport in Oregon, officials discovered that 48,000 to 78,000 recyclable bottles ended up in the trash annually because they had been discarded at security checkpoints.

“The public does a really good job in general, but when we came to the checkpoints there’s all kinds of liquids in the trash,” said Stan Jones, the environmental compliance manager at the airport. The airport installed liquid dumping stations at the checkpoints, allowing travelers to pour out unused liquids and reuse or recycle the bottles. Mr. Jones said liquid collection was an environmental decision with an economic benefit. With more bottles being recycled, trash containers are lighter and fewer custodians are needed to remove them.

“There’s a number of benefits,” he said. “People can empty their bottle and take it through security. The other is we’re getting liquids out of recycling and out of the garbage.”

While a few airports have contacted Portland about following its lead, many more are establishing or refining recycling programs. At Newark Liberty International Airport, all tenants must recycle basic materials, according to Susan M. Baer, director of aviation for the airport’s operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

“How you achieve it?” Ms. Baer asked about getting people to think about the environment. “By growing generations of people who want to recycle and making it possible for them to do so.”

This month, Green America, an environmental group, started a campaign to get air travelers to pay attention to how trash is handled and to report what they find at the organization’s Web site.

“We can pressure them into doing more recycling and ramping up their programs,” said Victoria Kreha, coordinator of Green America’s responsible shopper program, who also wrote a report grading airline recycling efforts.

A few passengers take things into their own hands, among them Beth Terry, 44, an accountant from Oakland. When Ms. Terry flies, she brings bamboo eating utensils, a cloth napkin and a glass straw.

“I don’t want to waste another plastic cup or another plastic chip bag,” Ms. Terry said. She blogs about her personal campaign to reduce consumption of plastic at fakeplasticfish.com.

Please read the disclaimer at the beginning of the video before commenting. Basically just some old stuff I had saved on to my computer that I might as well upload; they are all still decent strats. Vid includes: -MC Sub-30 PRB Flap Strat -WS, SG, and PC Wi-Fi Strats with Full and Ubercut PRB’s -MC1 13.2 First lap BLS PRB and LC1 23.7 BLS PRB The music is “Satisfaction” by Benny Bennasi. Enjoy!

Solar energy can be used to create electricity, central heating, heated water, cooking, and even for producing salt desalination. Solar energy comes from the suns rays. Solar energy is known to be very environmentally friendly. However, when the suns rays move into the earths atmosphere it is quite dilute.

Although solar energy is known to be very environmentally favorable it does not only have advantages, but some disadvantages, as well. Lets hash out some of the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.

Why don’t we start with the main advantage of solar energy. Solar energy is clean. To develop electricity or heat with solar energy you need only the sun rays. There is no need for fossil fuel in conjunction with sun rays to produce electricity or heating. You simply need a solar energy collector or solar power panels in order to collect the suns solar energy.

Solar energy is less expensive than traditional electric heating. That’s another prime reward of solar energy. Just by utilizing solar energy you can save a lot of money on heating. In return you will realize smaller electric bills and it also means that you dont have to maintain heaters or furnaces.

If you live in a rural area where there are no power-lines solar energy can be your solution. There are rural areas where power companies have no means to access your home. Solar energy is a great alternative because it provides you with everything from heating water, a supply of electricity, and even cooking, and that pretty well covers all of the bases.

Another great use of solar energy is for desalination in regions where fresh, potable water is scarce. Solar energy evaporates brine and leaves the salt crystals in the bottom of the basin. The water in turn condenses into another basin where it is now potable.

While all of the above-mentioned is very useful, solar energy does have some disadvantages. These disadvantages also need to be talked over to paint a complete picture.

The main disadvantage of solar energy is that its dilute. Which means that you need to have a bunch of solar collectors installed around your house. Solar energy may be very cheap but the solar collectors are relatively expensive and require regular upkeep in order to work properly and efficiently. If you decide to go with solar energy you will need to calculat your return on invested capital in order to know if the investment makes sense.

One big disadvantage is that you need the suns rays to make use of solar energy. If you are situated in a part of the world where there is not much sun light then you could have a bit of a problem. In other parts of the world, the suns rays are almost always covered in clouds making solar energy collectors less efficient. You should first know if the sunshine in your area is abundant for the most part of the year. Of course if you live in desert areas like in Arizona or New Mexico the sun produces a lot of sunshine for the majority of the year and is ideal for solar energy collecting.

Finally the sun only shines during the day. Therefore if you need electricity or hot water during the nighttime, like many of us do, it can be a problem. You will need a backup system like the local electric company or you will need to store the electric for later use. There are battery systems available, that can store electric for later use.

Solar energy is very clean and an substitute to conventional heating and electrical systems. this is true it is also good to mention the disadvantages of solar energy. If you are thinking about applying solar energy you should read this first to make a informed decision.

The advantages of renewable energy definitely outweigh any disadvantages. If you’re like me, and sick and tired of paying electric bills, that just keep doing through the roof, visit us at www.energymoneysavings.com

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An example how by designing green from the ground up you can eliminate or greatly reduce your monthly expenses. This was originally a submission to a eco contest current.com/ecospot that didn’t make the selection
Video Rating: 4 / 5

In this clip www.WatchMojo.com learns some of the most realistic ways to go green, as well as some surprising tips for the eco-minded.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

The needs of people living in the environment can be grouped into five levels: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, recreational needs, the needs of the United States. One current needs are met, certainly needs to pursue the next level. So, what kind of residential living environment at all levels to meet demand?

   

    Green look good but also practical

   

    District of Greenland can be divided into three levels, namely district-level green, tour-level green, garden-level green. For example, the district-level green space is located in the center of district, all district residents is the center of activities. It should be covered with shrubs, ground paving and other settings for morning exercises elderly, children and adults break the game. If all covered in the Community Centre, grass, and seem very impressive, but so people can not go in a large regional activities, it is not practical.

   

    It is important to the living environment to be quiet, comfortable, approachable, should not flashy. Greenbelt should go to people in residential use, not open. On the other hand, should have the accessibility of green communities that residents can easily access to all levels of green activities. Some communities put up around the green iron railings, walls, seemed designed to protect the green, but in fact the residents refuse to green, the neglect of the green features the purpose of serving others.

   

    Good plot is willing to stay in one

   

    First, the district should be in residential communities within all areas, non-open space. The only way to guarantee peace and security, as residents of the places. Should form a public space from (city streets)?? Semi-public space (residential area)?? Semi-private room (tour areas)?? Private space (household areas) of spatial order. Security and privacy is increasing. Coupled with the previously mentioned areas at all levels of green corresponds property of their respective use. People live in such communities would be more at ease.

   

    Second, to be suitable for people to events. Cell space, but also a good scale and landscape. Both a sense of enclosure, in which people can settle down activity, but not too close, not depressing. From the perspective of people, enclosed courtyard of the distance between two rows of house to house twice to twice the height is appropriate. Less than twice the people will have pressed. Area enclosed with the east-west residential yard space, something not simply to house the North-South cross over to residential use, but should be specially designed.

   

    Third, people have social side, need contacts at the same time there are privacy requirements. If the first floor of residential households to have a small courtyard is the ideal.

   

    Designed different

   

    First, the general layout have cell characteristics, namely residential building layout and design of the space environment to be different. Each cell of the terrain, and around the relationship between geomorphology and surface features are not identical.

   

    Second, the district must have a unified style within the building, and this network is different from other communities, to enhance its distinctiveness.

   

    Third, attention to detail in the district will fully take care of environmental design to the needs of residents in outdoor activities. Parking should be proper arrangements can not affect the residents of the peace and security, not too far away from the residence, the inconvenience to the owners.

   

    Fourth, whether the attention of the district greenery landscape changes. In the district the main entrance, the road turning point and the center of the center of green set of distinctive symbols, then the main road link through the cell to form a landscape sequence, so that the scenes that people have the impression step to enrich the life experience.

Josh Dorfman discusses effective green communications strategies for convincing even the most environmentally indifferent, skeptical, or just plain lazy that green choices are right for them. This speech was delivered at the SWACO Emerald Awards in Columbus, Ohio to 600 business and community leaders. In it, Josh draws upon the lessons he’s learned as executive producer and host of “The Lazy Environmentalist” and through his additional green media and business roles as a national spokesperson, radio host, author and CEO of Vivavi, the modern design green products retail company.

We all grew up knowing about recycling items rather than simply throwing it into the trash and letting it sit in a landfill to accumulate over time. The problem is that very few parents would actually implement this. We did not learn exactly why this was profound and how to get it done.

Recycling is used to reduce the amount of domestic waste that accumulates in landfills. It helps to supply everyone with pre-owned materials that have the potential be produced into something newer and more functional that are utilized every day. In short it helps manufacturing businesses to save money when producing various products.

It also assists to preserve natural resources. Rather than cutting down trees or plants to make things all that needs to be done is to maintain land and save money from having to dig for minerals or oil. This process will also assist to save energy. Manufacturers will use less than 95% energy to develop items.

Still, the most important reason you have to be doing this is to save our most essential natural resources – air and water. By making products from these pre-used materials you will be creating less air pollution and water pollution than if they were to use brand new materials.

The more you do this the more you are able to do your part to take care of the Earth and to make it a better home for your kids and their kids. Help to reduce pollution, save space in landfills, and to produce new jobs for anyone who needs it.

Purchase a recycle trash can that will assist to store each of the items and to reduce the odor in your home. Ensure that your city has a processing center that will take these off your hands.

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Watch as a pair of conservation experts discusses the topic of “green” cleaning in this free online video about environmentalism.Expert: Nili Nathan Contact: earth911.org Bio: Nili Nathan, host of “Great Healing Getaways”, is the creator of a television series and Web site on holistic health, where she researches, writes, and reports. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Summer Salad Recipes * Alternative Medicine Magazine * Easy Healthy Recipes * Raw Food Magazines * Vegetable Salad Recipes * Pear Salad Recipe * Chopped Salad Recipe * VibranceMagazine.com edited by David Klein, PhD is my Favorite Natural Health Magazine! ❤ Romaine-Celery-Cucumber-Pear-Orange Living Green Salad Recipe with a Delicious Orange Citrus-Avocado-Fennel Low Calorie Salad Dressing Recipe ❤ * I ngredients * For the DRESSING — 2 Oranges — 1 bunch of Fennel leaves — 1 Avocado, roughly chopped For the SALAD: — 1 head of Romaine Lettuce — 1 head of Celery — 2 Pears — 1 Cucumber* — 2-4 Oranges (enough to make about 2 cups worth of orangesegments) *unpeeled if organic, peeled if inorganic * P reparation * — 1) For the dressing, use a manual citrus juicer or a citrus hand juicer to squeeze the juice of 2 oranges into your Vita-Mix blender, or other high-powered blender of your choice. bit.ly or bit.ly — 2) By hand, break the fennel leaves into smaller pieces & toss them along with the roughly chopped avocado into your Vitamix blender as well. — 3) Blend until desired consistency is reached. — 4) For the salad, chop the romaine lettuce leaves, celery stalks, pears, orange segments & cucumber all into bite-sized pieces with a chef’s knife & toss together in a large serving bowl. — 5) Drizzle dressing over salad or offer it on the side…enjoy! * I nspiration * — When hot, dehydrated & hungry, it feels good to make a recipe that’s full of greens, yet also delicious …

I think everybody has the same basic concept of what living green is. Basically it’s making the earth healthier so that we, the inhabitants, can live healthier. But beyond that what does it mean to you on a personal level? Are your reasons for living green humanitarian or personal?

What are some of the personal reasons people might choose for living green? Well, finances for one. Gas prices are very high right now and getting higher. Switching to biofuel or another fuel alternative might help cut down on carbon emissions, but it can also keep more money in your pocket. Using those energy efficient compact florescent bulbs may be a part of living green, but they also save you money on your energy bill.

Another personal reason for living green can be health. Followers of living a green life stress giving up or reducing meat consumption. This is also a health issue for someone with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems. Green household products are good for the environment, but there also good for health conditions like allergies.

Ego can be a personal reason for living green. Living green is really big and getting bigger so showing people that you have conformed to the green way of life can you some pats on the back. It can be a big boost to the ego when you are being congratulated for something you’re doing.

Living green is very important in the longevity of this planet. So whatever reason you have chosen to embrace living green, personal or humanitarian, just doing so helps us all.

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Do you care about the environment and your health, but want to be stylish with your home décor at the same time? Luckily, there are plenty of green living options that can be implemented in your home in order to create a great look while remaining eco-friendly.

Making Sustainable Choices

Making sustainable choices are an important component of green living. Making sustainable choices means purchasing products that don’t cause a negative impact on the environment and that will not make it more difficult for future generations to continue to sustain themselves. Making sustainable choices during the design process is referred to as ‘green design’ or ‘sustainable design’. Some great sustainable choices to consider when decorating include:

• Natural stone counter tops

• Cabinets and other products made from woods such as bamboo, eucalyptus, or recycled wood

• Carpet made from natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, or made from recycled materials

• Green-friendly paint and home wallpaper, which is being offered by a growing number of manufacturers

• Antiques – after all, they are being recycled!

You don’t have to create a bland and boring home décor in order to enjoy green living. In fact, there are numerous options out there that will allow you to make your home look great while still protecting the planet.

Appliances for Green Living

When it comes to green living, a great place to start is in your kitchen. Remodeling can add a great deal of value to your home, can make it more functional and attractive, and can help you make your home more eco-friendly.

When buying for your kitchen, look for modern appliances to help bring your home up-to-date. By purchasing those appliances with the Energy Star rating, you can potentially cut the amount of energy you use to power those appliances in half. Adding faucet aerators to your kitchen and bathroom faucets will also help reduce the amount of water you use while still providing you with a high pressure stream of water.

Obtaining Green Products

Fortunately, green living is rapidly growing in popularity. In response, many manufacturers are offering lines of eco friendly products that can be used for decorating purposes. In addition, a growing number of online and offline stores that are dedicated solely to green living are becoming a more common occurrence.

One great resource for green living products is www.greenhome.com. This site carries only eco-friendly products, including furniture, bedding, and home furnishings. Home furnishings offered at www.greenhome.com include candles, picture frames, tableware, home accessories, clocks, lamps, rugs and carpet. Another great online resource for green living products is www.livingreen.com. Here, you can find wall coverings, furniture, flooring, and more. Go to www.vivaterrra.com for fabulous green gifts for the home and garden.

Although it may take a little more time and effort to find and purchase eco products for your home, the effort will be worth it. Not only will you be doing your part to help conserve and protect the environment, green living is better for your health and can save you money in the long run.

Green Living in today’s world

What is Green Living – Green Living is a life philosophy. Proponents of green living aims to conduct their lives in such a way that they have an all encompassing awareness of saving the earth and its environment.
As a supporter of Green living, you carry out your life in an eco-friendly and responsible manner, an attempt to minimize the size of your ecological footprint. Green living includes the conservation of resources, recycling, sustainability, green construction, alternative energy, organic food choices and other environmental topics.

Green living lifestyle

Green Lifestyle – Each choice you make requires a consideration of the consequences of the choice, and the way that the decision will affect the environment and all living things within it. Ecological consciousness and care for the earth are of paramount importance in the decision-making process.By minimizing their “ecological footprints” – the extent to which they create an environmental impact, proponents of green living hope to preserve the earth for future generations of human beings and other life.
Green Technology – Green technology is essential for the conservation of energy, soil health, green building, environmentally preferred purchasing, green chemistry and green nanotechnology.Developing green technology includes toxic-waste-eating trees, smart electricity grids and floating environmental sensors. Then there is the alternative-energy home fueling station that could jump-start the long-awaited hydrogen economy. This technology may seem far out-but it will probably be here a lot sooner than we think.
Green Building – Green building is basically the practice of using eco-friendly building materials and designing homes and offices to be more energy efficient.A zero-energy building has no net energy consumption when measured across a year’s time. It uses alternative energy sources like solar and wind power. Both zero- and low-energy buildings are great for green living.
Green Energy – Green technologist aims produce energy without burning all the world’s coal and using all the world’s fossil fuels and natural resources. Alternative energy is related to green living as it includes energy alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. The main drive behind alternative energy is to find renewable, eco-friendly sources of energy like solar or wind power.
Organic Food – Organic food refers to food items that are produced, processed and packaged without using chemicals. Organic food is increasingly becoming popular due to its perceived health benefits over conventional food. Droves of people are turning to organic produce as a way to feel safer about the foods they eat. People are worried about the foods they put into their bodies. With all of the reports of food poisoning from fruits and vegetables, many people are worried about what they are eating.
Renewable Energy – Strictly speaking, renewable energy is energy that is replenished at the same rate it’s used. As the center of green living, renewable energy encourages use of solar, wind, and other alternative forms of energy.
Solar Energy – Solar energy is the conversion of the sun’s rays to energy, very good for green living. Active solar technology uses electrical or mechanical equipment to convert the sun’s rays into usable energy for heating or whatever. Passive solar technology does not use any outside non-solar energy.
Sustainability- Sustainability, central to green living, is about preserving the environment and natural resources for years to come. It is the process of maintaining a small ecological footprint so that one’s life has no permanent detrimental effect on the earth. There are specific fields within it like sustainable architecture, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable development.Green living habits are worthwhile no matter what our circumstances – privileged or not.

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