| The benefits of renewable energy could fill volumes of | | | | put together these alternative power systems for |
| books. Solar power, and wind energy are not new | | | | under five thousand dollars. |
| concepts, and have been around for decades. When | | | | Now for the many benefits of using alternative energy. |
| they first started playing around with these ideas, solar | | | | For one thing, you can save money right away on |
| panels were large and bulky, and didn't have optimum | | | | utility bills. After putting the system together and into |
| capacity. While the technologies for the actual wind | | | | regular use, you electric bill can be cut in the first |
| turbines are better, they too were large, like the ones | | | | month, and may be eliminated altogether within the first |
| you see on wind farms of today. Both of these are | | | | few months. So let's you spent a round figure of five |
| considered dinosaurs now, but the benefits they had | | | | thousand dollars to put your solar power or wind |
| were that they were the prototypes for the wonders | | | | energy system in place. Now it depends on where you |
| that are out today. | | | | live, the time of year, and how much electricity you |
| Today, solar power has advanced by leaps and | | | | use, what your bill is. Just as an example, say you |
| bounds. Panels are much smaller, and the photovoltaic | | | | spend an average of $100 a month. Buy using |
| cells are much more sensitive, and able to pick up | | | | alternative and renewable energy, the system could |
| much more solar energy, and are available in smaller | | | | completely pay for itself in less than five years. That is |
| sizes. The technologies and materials have come | | | | really an excellent return on investment. |
| down in prices, and even the average person can buy | | | | Now let's say that your wind energy or solar power |
| the solar cells, and build their own panels. For wind | | | | system is still tied into the grid, even though your aren't |
| energy, new techniques are now used, and while | | | | using it any more. With the combination of power |
| those large wind turbines are still found on wind farms, | | | | systems, even filling storage batteries for future usage, |
| there are much smaller units that can be used for | | | | you could conceivably make more electricity than you |
| residential applications. Instead of horizontal axis | | | | use. If you are still connected to the grid, that surplus |
| turbines, it was discovered that you could change the | | | | energy feeds back to the utilities. If you have a |
| blades to vertical axis, and this has improved wind | | | | contract made up with the power company, by law |
| turbines in many ways. | | | | they have to purchase this surplus energy from you. |
| Now with vertical axis turbines, you don't need as | | | | So not only will you save money, but you could also |
| much speed to produce wind energy. Just ten miles an | | | | stand to make some money as well. |
| hour will turn the vertical blades, and instead of one | | | | Now that you know how YOU can benefit from these |
| fixed direction, the wind can be blowing from any | | | | renewable sources of energy, let's see how the planet |
| direction to make them turn. The gear components are | | | | benefits as well. For one thing, wind energy, and solar |
| reduced dramatically as well, because you can use a | | | | power are completely free. They don't require any use |
| straight shaft connected directly to the generator itself. | | | | of depleting natural resources, nor do they give off any |
| Realistically, you could put together a small vertical axis | | | | harmful gases into the atmosphere. Since you are not |
| wind generator with some cut PVC pipes, some | | | | drawing power from plants that use fossil fuels, it cuts |
| bicycle rims, an alternator, and some basic materials | | | | down on both the use of fossil fuel, as well as toxic |
| for the frame and shaft. | | | | emissions. If every home around the world went with |
| Solar power has also come down so much that there | | | | just these two green energy sources, imagine how |
| are many different DIY kits available, both for solar and | | | | much it would cut down on greenhouse gases in the |
| wind power systems. Materials are quite reasonable, | | | | first year alone. If this could be implemented both for |
| and the most expensive components are really going | | | | commercial as well as residential applications, we could |
| to be the inverters, and battery back up systems. | | | | possibly cut global warming in half. |
| Even so, they are still quite reasonable, and you can | | | | |