Basics of Domestic Wind Turbines
If you drive around the country roads out here in the American Heartland, you’re likely seen wind farms dotting the hilltops as you travel about.
Those farms of extremely large wind turbines can provide enough electricity to power a many homes and businesses, ranging in numbers from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Some of the largest commercial-sized turbines have rotor areas stretching some 390 feet across. Very impressive!
But what if you are a home or small business owner? Is it possible to get a scaled-down version that will provide enough power for your own site?
And the simple answer … absolutely yes! As it turns out, there are quite a few domestic wind turbines on the market today! This is a great thing since it can help deal with rising oil prices and other fuel expenditures… 
Pros and Cons of Wind Energy for the Home Owner
Modern technology is now providing a number of viable options for smaller domestic wind turbines suitable for a household or even small business. Fortunately you do not need one of those huge wind farm-sized turbines to fulfill for your household or small business needs.
Home-sized domestic wind turbines use blade rotor dimensions typically ranging between 8 and 25 feet in diameter. Depending on the unit you select as well as the nature of the wind field and average wind speeds, you might generate a few hundred watts to as much as 6 kilowatts of electricity.
One of the really cool side benefits of operating your own turbine; it can prevent as much as 9 pounds of carbon from being emitted by the generation from coal-fired plants to fulfill your electric needs. And of course that means lower amounts of greenhouse gases invading our atmosphere, which is already becoming more stressed as the years roll on…
Some Techy-type Stuff!
As mentioned above, one factor you need to investigate is the average wind speed and overall nature of the wind field on your lot. The domestic wind turbine you use needs wind speeds of approximately 10 miles an hour to start efficiently generating electric power.
A few of the newer, more advanced turbine models being manufactured today can actually begin generating electricity at wind velocities as low as 5 mph. These models are perfect for home or small business where winds are light and variable.
If interested, here are a few links to info on domestic wind turbines and wind power you might find helpful:
National Geographic: Wind Power Profile
USDOE: Small Wind Electric Systems Guide (2010)
Most wind turbines today are engineered to last about 20 years or so, but like all mechanical devices will need some maintenance over the operational lifetime of the unit. Since these turbines use moving components to generate electric power, they will have to be replaced periodically as friction wears then down via consistent rotation of the turbine blades.
Are you a DIY type of person and want to build your own turbine?
There are dozens free plans to follow as well as a number of inexpensive kits for domestic wind turbines with all the parts you will need on the market today. Just be sure to check the validity of the vendor and be sure you are dealing with a reputable one before investing any money to start your own home turbine project!
s well as a number of inexpensive kits for domestic wind turbines with all the parts you will needon the market today. Just be sure to check the validity of the vendor and be sure you are dealing with a reputable one before investing any money to start your own home turbine project!
Green Energy Solutions: Pros And Cons of Wind Energy
Global warming, the increased threat of pollution and rising oil prices are triggering an upswing of environmental awareness causing many folks to think about doing more to save our planet. Continuing use of fossil fuels to meet all our energy demands is the leading contributor to the ultimate degradation of the environment all around us. Renewable energy alternatives like wind farms are believed to be part of the answer to this problem but the pros and cons of wind energy need to be assessed.
By making an informed decision to focus more on using green energy solutions as opposed to conventional fuel resources, we can lower both our carbon emissions as well as other environmental pollutants. Over the last few years, one solution to advance our move to more green energy solutions is occurring through the increased use of electricity generated from utilities operating wind farms.
Advantages of Using Renewable Energy: Wind Power
Generating electricity using wind turbines is a growing technology becoming more readily available both for the large scale utility wind farms as well as through the growing use of domestic wind turbines for the homeowner. In both cases, construction of the wind turbines has minimal environmental pollution and significantly reduces pollution we release to the environment.
Like anything else in life, pros and cons of wind energy exist and are sometimes misunderstood. It should be obvious that there are distinct benefits to harnessing an ever-present natural process like the wind to generate electricity since it is both free and blows frequently in many regions of the World.
In many areas of the mid-western United States, wind farm projects have been increasing in both number and scope since the turn of century. Rockport, Missouri is touted as being America’s first “wind powered” town and it became reliant on its four turbine wind farm a few years back as more and more wind farm projects arise in northern Missouri. In addition to the larger scale wind energy projects, a growing homes using domestic wind turbines to help offset their energy demand from the commercial power grid.
Beyond the incentive of rising oil prices, advances in wind turbine technology such as greater generation efficiency, minimizing ambient noise levels, lowering impact to flying animals and increasing overall visual aesthetics have greatly in the deployment and acceptance of wind farm projects. Though cost used to be one of the main deterrents of wind power projects, advancements on the technological side combined with governmental incentive programs is another factor helping grow wind power expansion.
On the “Con” side of the wind power assessment, the main issue pertains to other natural conditions; those times when the wind doesn’t blow or when wind speeds are so high, they exceed the operational parameters for the turbines.
Fortunately all large-scale and most domestic wind turbine projects are not constructed completely “off-grid” but are still linked to the regional electric grid. This enables the owner of the wind turbine or turbines to provide electricity to the grid when too much is generated and re-purchase it from the grid when turbine generation is inadequate to fulfill needs.
If you stop and consider the different pros and cons of wind energy, along with our need for new green energy solutions, we believe it is definitely time to make as much as electricity as possible where and when the wind blows…
Green Honeymoon Planning To Minimize Environmental Impact
We all know the honeymoon is the second most important part of your wedding because:
it’s the perfect time to experience something new with your new partner, and for spending quality time together in your first days together.
Even so, there are several paths you can take through doing a little green honeymoon planning to help minimize its environmental impact without compromising your dream honeymoon.
Consider Staying Closer to Home
Limiting or avoiding travel altogether is simply the best way to avoid any environmental impact and lower carbon footprint after your wedding. There may be a wealth of undiscovered locations that are just around the corner and traveling by train is the perfect Eco-friendly travel method to see them. It is understandable, however, if you dot not want to give up a trip abroad. So if this is the case then simply follow some of the green honeymoon planning suggestions provided below.
Support Eco-Tourism When Planning Your Trip
You might have heard of “Eco-tourism” before, and the “ecotourist” label is now used to represent those who want to travel but in a way that causes as little impact on the environment as possible.
Truth be told, Eco-tourism is the fastest growing market in the tourism industry according to the World Tourism Organization. This is good for you because many hotels and resorts are now incorporating Eco-friendly practices into their normal business operations.
More Ways to Enhance Your Green Honeymoon Planning Process
Green honeymoon planning must take into account a number of factors; probably even more than you think. There are numerous things to consider in addition to how to get there, including:
* Is the area your planning to honeymoon considered Earth friendly?
* What types of dining facilities are there in the area?
* Do the dining businesses use locally grown food thereby reducing your impact?
* Are the lodging facilities considered Eco-accommodations?
* How you are going to get around once you are there?
* Where you’re going to shop (hint: shop local and look for Eco-friendly products),
* Does the travel agent you’re using specialize in Eco-trips?
* Consider other little things (not having your sheets washed every day) that can make a big difference,
* Whether you’re going to do any local volunteer work when you’re there (try WWOOFing – working on organic farms – and other schemes that benefit the local area).
How to Book Your Green Honeymoon
When you book your green honeymoon, you can make things a lot easier by using an Eco-conscious travel agent who understands what your motivations are. They can help you book a package that will help minimize your trip’s impact on the environment.
However, you always need to remember that many businesses claim to be green simply as a marketing tactic, so it’s up to you to do your research to ensure that they really do live up to their promises.
You Should Consider Carbon Offsets During Planning
You’ll find that many organizations are offering a way to offset your carbon emissions by making donations that will help to give back to the environment. However, it’s important to realize that this is a last resort, and many critics claim that offsetting your carbon can never completely make up for the emissions you will create as part of your travel.
In fact, it has been shown that some companies may overstate the benefits of offsets, which is another method of green-washing. Certain projects, such as renewable energy projects, could be worth more than others, so choose your cause carefully – and remember to avoid generating excess carbon as much as possible.
Although this article only touches on the basics of green honeymoon planning, I hope it’s given you different things to consider to lower your environmental impact during your honeymoon. Trying to live green doesn’t have to mean a honeymoon that’s any less enjoyable. Completely the opposite really since you’ll be able to enjoy yourself more knowing you’re doing what you can to minimize emissions and boost the economy in the area where you are honeymooning.
Things to Consider if You Are Building an Eco-friendly Home
When you are building an Eco-friendly home, there are two important times you should stop and consider things carefully before even breaking ground:
1) during initial planning and
2) when finally designing your Eco-dream home.
Remember, the design of your home determines two areas of Earth-friendly living: how much impact you’ll have on the environment and how comfortable your Eco-friendly living space will be in the long run.
With more people taking action about preserving the planet, it’s now easier than ever to find green designers, sustainable design resources, and Eco-friendly building materials you can use for your home. Study everything and plan thoroughly before you jump to the building process.
Even after the construction part of your home building project is complete, you can further enhance your green footprint by using Eco-friendly products throughout your new abode.
Pre-construction Green Building Considerations …
Before building a green home, one of the things you need to look into is your family’s habits. Do you remember to turn the lights off when you leave a room? Do you forget to unplug the appliances such as computers that are not in use? Do you recycle, reuse and reduce your weekly garbage?
You might be wondering what your habits have to do with your new Eco-friendly home.
Bottom-line; it has everything to do with it!
An Earth friendly residence can only be beneficial if the residents themselves are just as Eco-conscious and taking the proper steps to live a green lifestyle.
Before you start the plan or design processes, sit down with your family and agree to adopt more Eco-friendly habits. Practice them daily and strive to be accountable to each other.
Next when you’re ready to begin the design process, consider meeting with green building organizations and sustainable-design experts to guide you throughout the planning and construction process.
Environmental Site Factors
Among the crucial factors in your green building plan is the actual site of your future home. Look for a strategic location that is near places or establishments you and your family frequent such as the grocery, the school or the office.
Make sure that your location is accessible by public transportation. Consider how safe the streets are, in case you choose to walk or to travel using bicycles which are far more Eco-friendly products than automobiles.
Having all these transport options available can help you save more energy because you won’t have to use your own car every time you need to commute.
When conceptualizing the design, the structure’s physical position on the site is also an important consideration. Work with your designer to come up with the best angle to optimize exposure sunlight to warm your home during the winter and cool it during the summer plus provide natural illumination. Since you’ll be consuming less energy, you’ll also save on heating and lighting costs.
You can even study your house’s direction and design the windows so that natural breeze can circulate inside the rooms. Aside from saving on cooling costs, this also helps improve the air quality inside your new green home.
While it’s nice to live in a spacious home, consider building one that’s just the right size and with ample space to accommodate your family comfortably. Having a smaller home means you’ll need fewer resources to construct it, and you’ll spend less money to maintain it as well.
Plus remember that in the future the number of people living in the home is likely to decrease as children grow and move out on their own.
You can allot some space for a yard where you can have a composting bin and a garden to plant your own herbs or vegetables. You can also install a water recycling system that gathers rain water from your home’s rain drainage system. This can be used to irrigate your small plot or even to help supply water for sanitary purposes.
Building an Eco-friendly home doesn’t mean you have to live in a mound of earth or a house made of sticks, although you certainly can if it works for you and your family.
With a thorough plan, a conscientious design plus making use of Eco-friendly products where you can, it’s possible to create an green home that satisfies your need comfort, beauty as well as a healthy living space.
What Are Eco-Friendly or Green Cleaning Products?
Over the history of this site, I have been discussing ideas about green living especially regarding Eco-friendly cleaning products. Some readers have taken exception to the fact I posted some facts regarding when many consider true green cleaning remedies such as baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
The following video talks about some of those materials and the basics on how to use them …
My purpose wasn’t to knock those solutions to the green cleaning problem but rather to make people aware that nothing is completely green or Eco-friendly. It was merely to inform and open the discussion about alternative solutions. As with anything in life, it is a personal decision; I just tried to provide additional info to assist with the use of those items.
I also raised the question asking if cleaners derived from vegetation-based sources were really green cleaning products and gave several reasons why I believe so (extending use of natural products, sustainable, safe, often concentrated saving on transportation, packaging and money, etc.).
In the next video, Oprah introduces one product line based on vegetation-based cleaners meeting the criteria mentioned above …
So the next time you go shopping for green cleaning products, consider all the facts and make the decision that works best for you and your family …
