Green Technology to Provide Power
When it comes to green technology, environmental enthusiasts are in
their heyday in these times due to the fact that sustainable
technologies such as wind power, solar power, geothermal power and other
types have come a long way in development as far as energy output and
accessibility. It is now simple enough and inexpensive enough for just
about anyone to live free and "off the grid" when it comes to utilities,
and as well, even reduce the effects of the "carbon footprint" we've
been emblazoning into our environment over these many years. What am I
talking about here? Allow me to explain...
Solar power is one such green technology environmental science has
improved upon immensely. As far as photovoltaic cells ("solar panels")
go, production methods, cheaper and more effective materials as well as
energy output has greatly increased since its first huge wave of
popularity happened decades ago. Back in the early to mid seventies,
this kind of "green energy" was something seemingly only the well-to-do
had enough money to invest in. It would cost quite a few thousand
dollars to be able to employ this technology back then, in order to
create free electricity. True enough, such an investment would
eventually pay for itself, but only after many years.
Today, this is one green technology environmentally-minded people of all
walks of life can get into. It's no longer so expensive to acquire solar
panels, and a person can even make their own for even less. Moreover,
with the increase in energy output, you'd not need quite so many in
order to put them to cost effective use, and depending on how big of a
house you'd wish to supply self-made electricity to, any investment into
solar power can pay for itself in little more than a year, instead of a
few decades' time.
However, solar power isn't the only green technology.
Environmentally-conscious people are also powering their homes and all
of the appliances within by utilizing wind power as well. One or two
average sized wind-powered generators are enough to completely supply
all of the needed electricity for a small home. This is regulated by
using a battery array, in much the same way as is done with solar power,
in order to regulate the flow of electricity. This is because, as some
days are sunnier than others, so too, some days are windier than others.
So "a battery bank" is used to collect and store the generated
electricity, as well as regulate a constant flow of current to the home
and whatever runs on electricity therein. Such battery banks are usually
an array of automotive cells, or a single large type such as is used for
forklifts and the like. The latter are often acquired dead, for free,
and refurbished to good-as-new quality.
About the author
If you're interested in learning more about
technology/environmental issues and other things related to
alternative energy, then you've got to check out the EcoPlusHome
project