Archive for February, 2009

Earth4Energy Review DIY Solar And Wind Power

With the skyrocketing costs of electricity these days, many people are looking for ways to save on their utility bills. Solar and wind energy seems like a feasible option, but the preliminary costs can be staggering.

One resolution that’s becoming more trendy is to build it yourself. There are numerous books that claim to teach you how to do this, but how good are they?

Earth4Energy is one of the most popular DIY residential solar power and wind power books offered and as it turns out, with good reason.

Earth4Energy promises to teach you how to build your own wind generator or solar panel for under $200 and does precisely that. But we found the best part to be the instructional videos. Everything is easier when you truly see someone do it.

It also contains a few of what they call “free chapters” that teach you how to lessen your oil dependency and how to use ethanol as a viable energy source.

There is one concern you need to be conscious of, though. While it’s possible to build a wind generator or solar panel for under $200, this isn’t going to replace your utility bill. It will take much more than one solar panel or wind generator to make a significant impact on your utility bill.

What we didn’t like: Earth4Energy gives you all it promises, but little else. There are no bonuses and little insight beyond the obvious. But if all you desire is to build your own wind generator or solar panels, you can’t go wrong. And as we stated earlier, the instructional videos make it very easy.

If nothing else, if you like to build things, this could be a fun project. Having the ability to power even a small device from only the sun or wind can give you a sense of triumph.

Important note! Don’t purchase Earth4Energy from the primary sales link! At the time of this review, we realized that if you try to leave the page or close “Suzy”, their spokeswoman (which we found a bit irritating), a fake chat box pops up and offers a $10 discount. We highly recommend that if you plan to buy, to take take them up on this offer.

Usually, although they tell you it’s a limited time offer, they never go away. BUT … you never know. If you plan to buy, we suggest taking advantage of this special right away.

Bottom line: if you fancy yourself a handyman or woman and have been thinking about this, Earth4Energy gives you everything you need to know. For product comparisons, visit DIY Residential Solar Power and Windmill Power Reviews for more details.


There are different ways of making electricity for yourself. Alot of people use wind power and solar power. Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. A wind turbine is a rotating machine which converts the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as a pump or grinding stones, the machine is usually called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is then converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind generator, wind turbine, wind power unit (WPU), wind energy converter (WEC), or aerogenerator.

Solar power is another common use of producing electricity. Solar power technologies provide electrical generation by means of heat engines or photovoltaics. Once converted its uses are only limited by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting, hot water, thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.

Alot of people nowadays are looking at ways i.e. wind power and solar power to produce cheaper electricity. With living costs getting so expensive nowadays, people are looking other ways to reduce their electricity bill or create their own source in their backyard.

There are many companies solar electricity out there who would be able to help you get a grant cheaper electricity or tell how to build a wind or solar farm.

Building your own solar or wind power can be very expensive costing as much as $2000. So building your own professional system for less than $200 makes sense.

By using Earth4Energy kit you can reduce your electricity bill by 80% or even elimnate it completely and create your own electricity from your own backyard.

Earth4Energy kit is a manual which is in plain speaking English and has a easy step by step guide so it’s easy to understand and to follow.

Why should you create your own power at home?

You will save hundreds of dollars every time you get your power bill!

This is great for our environment and your children will thank you for it.

With our complete instructions this makes for a fun at home project.

When you can make renewable power for less than $200, why wouldn’t you!

You will be able to spend your savings on more important things

Knowing that you are doing your part to conserve our planet feels great!

My fully illustrated instructions make this a very simple job for anybody!

This guide is amazing. I was trying to save myself money on my electricity bill and I came across this guide where it was step by step in plain English guide. You can get all the bits from your local hardware store and build your home made solar powered system or a wind power system for less than $200.

For the one time price off $49.97 you can build your own power system for less than $200. I did this and I would say to anyone who is looking to save money on their electricity bill I would recommend this.

P.S. It is time to start acting in a smart and eco friendly way. Read about heirloom organic seeds and why people got seriously interested about them.


The truth about home solar panels

Users can now install solar panels in their homes and reduce their electric bills while preserving nature at the same time Although this technology gives countless of benefits, people are still hesitant to use this mostly because of the installation fee and its functionality.

Site location, orientation of the house, obstructions to the sunlight, climate and weather are all going to figure into how you set up solar panels for homes Even when these considerations aren’t optimal, there are solutions enabling you to utilize solar energy to power your home. The effectiveness of your solar panel depends on the amount of sunlight it receives, needing about six hours of constant sunlight the year round Solar panels work best if they are installed in an angle of orientation facing the sun.

There are two types of solar power, solar electric power which use photovoltaic cells to convert solar radiation into electricity, and solar thermal energy where the sun’s energy is used to heat water

A good solar hot water panel system is able to provide an average household with around a third of its annual hot water supply. At first glance, this may not sound much but it can cut back energy cost by considerable amount With the integration of solar panels in addition to this hot water system, plus the addition of other renewable energy sources such as residential wind turbines, they can all work together in providing a renewable, cheap and clean source of energy for your home.

How home solar panels look on the roofs is another concern for some homeowners Photovoltaic panel designs, thanks to the latest technology, are now smaller and more compact. Today, these panels would look like ordinary roof tiles, only with the functionality of a solar panel; they can keep out the sun and rain, and with the ability to convert solar energy into electricity, helps out in cutting back electricity budget

One advantage of solar powered home systems is that energy can be stored in battery packs and chargers, so energy sources are still available even during fall and winter, when there are shorter periods of sunlight.

While it is possible for a household to run completely off photovoltaic electricity using solar panels, this is unlikely in most cases The costs involving the installation for a whole house with electricity from solar energy would be quite high for the average homeowner. It is preferable to use solar panels together with traditional power supplies It is much more cost-effective and energy-saving than depending on fossil fuels alone. You will still depend on fossil fuels but the solar electricity can still provide substantial amount of power, enough to reduce future energy bills
Installation fees can be expensive, but with the constantly rising utility rates, having a supporting source of energy for your home is a good investment. You can not only protect yourself from price hikes and power outages, but also protect nature through the use of a renewable energy source. Solar energy can lower your fuel costs, particularly when used in conjunction with home wind turbine systems.


Solar Energy for the Home

Here are some basic facts about solar energy for the home.

A home solar power system has several standard components they are as follows:

* PV Modules or solar panels (to turn solar energy into electricity)

* A charge controller (this is an electrical device that prevents batteries from overcharging and from power running from the batteries into the solar panels).

* Batteries, to store the electricity for night time usage.

* An inverter (an device which changes the electricity created by the solar panels into electricity ready for use in your regular household wall sockets). Solar panels create Direct Current DC and a household runs on A/C Alternating Current.

* In the case of a hybrid home solar system, an automatic switch to get current from the electrical grid, or some other power source such as a generator would be included as well. The advantage of using a hybrid system is that you will not be dependent upon solar energy alone.

* A 1-kilowatt home solar system is sufficient for most households.

* A 1-kilowatt home solar system will provide roughly 1,600 kilowatts per year in a sunny climate (receiving 5.5 hrs of sunlight each day) and about 750 kilowatt hours per year in cloudy climates (receiving 2.5 hours of sunlight each day).

* A 1-kilowatt home solar system is uses about 10-12 solar panels, and requires about 100 square feet of installation area (which could be the roof of your home or a section of land on your property).

* A 1-kilowatt home solar energy system reduces waste and pollution by about 170 pounds. of coal from being burned, 300 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere and 105 gallons of water from being consumed each month! A big step toward protecting our environment, in other words.

* With battery back up, a solar energy system can provide electricity day and night, no matter what the weather conditions. Other options, which include back-up generators and grid-tie systems, provide total security.

* On average a 1-kilowatt home solar system takes about 1-2 days to install and costs around US$10,000 (though prices are coming down), but can vary greatly and does not take into account any tax incentives offered by the government for reducing carbon emissions.

* Most systems come with a 5-year warranty, although the solar panels are warranted for 20, and as technology advances some are even coming out with a 30 year warranty.

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Installing solar power into one’s home is a great way to help clean up the environment and save money as well.

Learn more about Home Solar Power at the author’s website on Solar Energy . You can also visit this Solar Power Store to find a variety of solar powered equipment.


DIY Wind Generator Cut Up To 80% Of Your Electric Bills

If you want to save up to 80% on your electric bills then this is the most important report you’ll ever read. And here is why.
All around our planet, energy bills are soaring. We have seen the cost for gasoline soar up and down. We all know that the price will rise again. We know that the demand will be greater than the supple. We have seen countries such as India and China developing at an accelerated rate. All of this progress requires huge amounts of energy. We can only expect to have energy shortages.

We have seen this occurrence happen many times in many states over the last 5 years. Large amounts of energy are consumed during the hot month of the year causing shortages and burn-outs. We cannot produce enough electricity to handle the demand during these high demand times. The amount of electricity that we consume daily continues to rise.
All of our appliances have led lights. Have a look around your home and pay attention to all the products using electricity even though you aren’t using them. Our stoves, the microwave, TV’s, alarm clocks, coffee pots and so on. Each and everyone of these appliances use energy all day and night. We see those little lights glowing during the night. These products are all great, but think about all that energy being used 24 hours a day. Take a minute and think about all the appliances that use electricity in your home and then multiply that by every household, office in this country and you will get an idea of the amount of energy consumed.

The point that I want to make is that one day there may not be enough electricity for you to use. The point that I want you to think about is that it could be that one day only the very wealthy will be able to afford the luxury of electricity. It could be different. For $49.95 you can learn how to build your own wind generator or solar panel. The good news is that you can build your own DIY solar panel for merely peanuts using parts found at your favorite junk yard.


What Can I Do To Enjoy Off Grid Living?

More and more people are concluding that you can still enjoy modern amenities while enjoying the independence of off grid living. Being off the grid means being exactly that, off the grid. Not having any power lines, not having an electric bill, and being free of utility grid demands, not to mention their ever-rising rates. Off grid living is environmentally friendly and cost effective and it is an option available to almost any one owning a home.

The guidelines of off grid living may be applied to any home in the world, even those currently connected in some way. From solar panels, hydropower and windmills, there is growing curiosity in off grid living and breaking free from fossil fuel burning power plants. The technologies have advanced and the costs have dropped greatly.

Even do-it-yourselfers can take leaps into off grid living with many kits, resources and manuals available for instruction. As energy demands increase globally, those living off grid can rest easy knowing their own energy costs are diminishing.

The plan of off grid living can be nerve racking to some who believe they will have to give up some of their most prized possessions and electronic gadgets to achieve such freedom. This is very far from the truth. Off grid living is simply about learning to control your use of electricity. It can be as simple as turning off light switches that are not really in use. Obtaining appliances that don’t use energy when not in use (like clocks on microwaves and stoves). Learning to unplug, not just turn off. Things like computers and printers, well anything with the little green light that is always on, these items are stealing precious energy and adding to your bill. Wanting to become part of the off grid living adventure, doesn’t always mean giving up everything, sometimes it just means getting smarter about the things you have.

Off grid living has gotten so accepted that even completely re-locatable high efficiency homes are being produced to meet those needs. Very similar to trailer homes and travel travelers in layout and definitely only designed for a one or two person dwelling, these housing units use solar power, passive solar design and a small amount of natural gas to provide off grid living that you can take with you when you move.

If you are interested in off grid living, but need more success stories to drive you over the teetering point then start your research on the Internet. There are tons of great resources available and individuals who took the plunge into off grid living with great success telling their stories. Imagine, no more gathering around that one little flashlight when the power goes out, or having the neighbors over to watch their favorite shows when there is a blackout. Off grid living is obtainable for anyone and you too can enjoy the life of off grid living no matter where you make your home.

Be smart about money, car loans including, read about car loan for people with bad credit.


Green Energy Sources for Home use

Creating power using the power of the wind comes about when wind power, such as that produced by a home wind turbine, is exchanged for electricity. Wind turbines are made up of a rotor, which is basically three propeller-like blades, and a structure that looks like a very tall pole to give the rotor height. Most often wind turbines are about 20 meters high – the reason for this is that the strength of the wind is greater the higher up it gets. The use of renewable energy sources has become increasingly popular for several reasons.

Firstly, it is great for the world and aids in the reduction the emission of greenhouse gases that conventional power production, that is the burning of coal, emits into the atmosphere. Secondly, by using energy sources such as that produced by DIY solar panels and wind turbines can save quite a large amount on power bills.

Another little known reason is that if enough power is produced by homemade solar panels and the like, this power can in fact be put back into the power system and the power companies will pay you for it. So not only does this process save you cash, in many cases it can earn you cash as well.

There are many kits and resources obtainable for people to use when constructing their own natural energy generator for their houses. Just be sure to pick good quality products and instructions that are easy to follow and written in layman’s terms rather than professional jargon. ManyNumerous people are choosing to build their own generators for all sorts of uses ranging from small units for home use right up to bigger ones for commercial locations.

So when thinking about constructing a new home or doing improvements on an existing wise for the homeowner to think about installing their own natural power production unit – these can be professionally constructed and installed, on the other hand a much cheaper alternative is to build it yourself. It’s simple, cheap and anyone can do it.


Don’t even consider homebuilt wind generator power until you read these facts.

As fossil fuel prices keep rising, so do the costs of the services of industries that depend on burning coal and oil. Power generation is one important trade that is deeply affected by this change in fossil fuel prices. This is why most people nowadays are looking for ways to decrease or even totally eliminate their electric bills by cutting down the need for conventional electricity sources. This also helps people do their part in saving the Earth from further descent. The use of windmill electricity is one effective approach of doing this.

Windmills have been around for a long time. They were known to carry water and distribute it for irrigation in the past. Today, however, a better use of windmills is for generating electricity. The huge improvement of windmill technology now enables more households the ability of harnessing wind power to supplement their electricity needs.

Putting in only around $8,500, people can in fact have a windmill installed in their homes that they can use to generate the electricity they want. Without the help of any conventional power source, a standard household can supply itself with electricity it needs from a single windmill that provides 10 watts of power.

The return of your investment cost for the setting up will be paid up by the device in just eight years. This energy source certainly presents big savings for a home owner in the long run. If the price still seems too expensive, then perhaps a do-it-yourself residentual wind generator is the answer. This can often be done for less than $200.00.

However, this alternative energy presents a big problem if your house is not located in a windy area. Windmills should always be exposed to wind speeds of not less than 10 miles per hour to work properly and generate enough electricity a home needs. If this wind speed is never experienced in your area then using windmill electricity is not for you. Thus, it is a big misuse of resources to own a windmill if you are in an area with inadequate wind speed.

In cases like these, solar energy may be a practical solution. Solar power kits are reasonably economical considering the advantages and if you choose to do it yourself, can cost less than a meal for four at your local family restaurant. Combining solar and wind power for residential homes can nearly eliminate your electric bill.

On the other hand, if your house is in that area where wind speeds are sufficient and therefore right for harnessing wind electricity, you help your community a good deal when the wind goes beyond the minimum speed necessary. Excess power generated may be transferred to conventional lines, reducing the supply that power plants would have to contend with. This only means more savings in money and resources.

The use of windmill electricity is advisable to those who pass the condition and can pay for the costs needed for its installation. If you are privileged to have the resources needed to purchase and sustain a windmill, then you had better consider having one. Not only will you save money from using this type of energy source but you save the planet as well.


Learn How to Make Solar Panels the Easy Way

Electric bills seem to be on the rise with no relief coming in the near future. No wonder more and more people are looking into installing solar panels in an effort to save money. But, their enthusiasm quickly dissipates when they discover the price of professionally installed panels. It can be very expensive, and puts solar power out of reach of the average home owner. However, you can save thousands of dollars if you learn how to make solar panels yourself.

Most of you may be assuming that you have to have some sort of engineering degree or be a DIY genius in order to make your own solar panels. But doesn’t have to be the case. Learning how to make solar panels is a lot easier than you think. In fact, anyone can build their own solar panels, from teenagers on up, and you can do it in a weekend. Plus, you can build your solar panels for the fraction of the cost of what a pre-made solar panel system would cost you.

The other benefit of learning how to make solar panels yourself is that you have a lot more control over the size of the system. This means that you can create a highly scalable system that can fit your needs as they grow.

The trick for learning how to make your own solar panels is having a quality manual. Also, you’ll be surprised at how simple it is to find the supplies you need. In fact, you’ll find most of what you’ll need at your local hardware store. I’m talking about stuff like plywood, rolls of copper wire, and sheets of glass. You can also find inexpensive photovoltaic cells for your project quite easily, either over the internet at places like eBay, or from local retailers.

It won’t take you long to make your solar panels. The average, inexperienced do-it-yourselfer can make their own 100-Watt panels in about a day, provided they have all their materials at hand. 100-Watts may not sound like much, but you’ll be able to power some of your smaller appliances, or perhaps even your workshop so you’ll be able to build more solar panels and your first panel will provide all the power! Now that’s pretty neat.

Before you even start your project, you should get your hands on a good, quality manual that will provide the detailed instructions you need. It should be able to teach you how to make solar panels even if you’re not very mechanically inclined. Don’t forget the old adage that you get what you pay for so don’t skimp when you’re ready to purchase your manual.

The overall cost of making your own solar panels is pretty low so you can afford a quality manual. I won’t lie to you. Making your own solar panels isn’t easy, and will take a bit of effort, but with the right manual you’ll be on you’re way to learning how to make solar panels to meet all your energy needs in no time. Then sit back and relax the next time the power goes out on your block. You’ll be the only one watching TV, and heating up food in the microwave while everyone else is eating a canned dinner by candlelight.

Yes, a professionally installed solar panel systems can cost thousands. Who has money to spare in today’s economy? Make the choice to go “solar” today, and learn how to make solar panels on your own. You’ll be saving money, and the environment. For more information, visit http://renewableenergyathome.info.


BMW Next Generation High Tech Trucks

When you think of the “BMW 760Li” what will usually come to mind for BMW enthusiasts is quality, stability and lots of history. The 760Li has been one of the premier vehicles of the BMW line for over ten years. It is considered an institution of a car and the 2003 model is no exception. The BMW 760Li falls into the sedan for the family category. It is a constant that only gets better with age.

BMW 760Li Engine Specs

Standard equipment in the 760Li for 2002 and 2003 includes the 6.0 liter engine by BMW, weighing in at 12 cylinders and fourty eight valves. A 6-speed Automatic Transmission puts the power of the engine to the pavement. The has proven to be a popular configuration for the 760Li.

The 2003 760Li’s traditional fuel system runs on gas. The fuel is regulated electronically, with a fuel-injected multi-port fuel injection (MFI) style of design. The fuel capacity of the car is 16.60 gallons.

The 760Li uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and air springs front and rear respectively.

760Li Base Statistics

The dimensions of the 760Li Base are 68.50 inches wide by 176.00 inches long. It sits a comfortable 55.70 inches off the ground. It seats a standard five passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 107.30 allows for extra leg room for the backseat passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $27,800 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $25,460. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sedan.

There is a 50,000 mile, 48 month warranty with this vehicle, including a powertrain warranty of 50,000/48 miles/months. This is normal for this price range.

Fuel Efficiency

The 2003 760Li gets 28 – 29 miles/gallon on the highway and only 20 in the city. This is exceptional for a sedan car. Hybrid Truck Review are important to BMW. BMWs next generation 7 series will be a hybrid.

What We Think of the BMW 760Li

The 2003 model year was unsuccessful for the BMW 760Li. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the Base version) meant that buyers had several options to choose from..

See our sister sites for more information on BMW SUVs, or if you’re interest in Classic Car Insurance.