San Francisco green smart and solar

Here is a great series of videos showing you step-by-step how to make your own solar panels. This is very useful as some solar panels can cost hundreds of dollars and even more to install. If you are interested in harnessing solar energy to make your home more eco-efficient then I suggest watching these videos. You will be kicking yourself if you end up spending large sums of money on something you could do yourself. Besides, you are taking an active role in going green if you do it yourself and what can make you feel better than that? So what are you waiting for, watch these videos!

Traditionally water heaters run off of gas or electricity, but California is ready to transition to solar powering water heaters.  The California Public Utilities Commission declared Thursday that there will be incentives up to $1500 dollars to replace traditional water heater systems in existing homes and businesses.  This will continue for the next 8 years or until the $35  million dollar budget  program funds run out.

“The dispersion of solar heating systems can play an important role as we strive to achieve the goal of zero net energy in residential and commercial buildings by 2020 and 2030 respectively,” CPUC Commissioner Dian Grueneich said in a statement.

40% of the incentive is set aside for single family homes, while the other 60% will be reserved for multi-families and businesses.  People eligible for this incentive are those who are currently getting service from PG&E Corp’s (PCG.N) Pacific Gas and Electric Co, Edison International’s (EIX.N) Southern California Edison, and Sempra Energy’s (SRE.N) San Diego Gas & Electric Co and Southern California Gas Co utilities.

Is if San Francisco wasn’t green enough, each year the city holds an annual “green festival” for all the city. The Festaval is all about being green, green technologies, and green tips that will make your life and the environment much better. The festival is actually new as its only been around for 8 years or so, but that doesn’t stop people from the greenest city from joining in on all the fun.

Now, the Festival is held in November, so if you are itching to go right now, your out of luck. Bit don’t be too sad. The next one will be here sooner than you think. Plus as the years pass, the festival gets bigger and better. So be sure to so up early when you get there.

References

1. associated press

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If you ever thought that the cab industry would never change, think again. The Company green cab local to San Francisco California  is changing the very business of calling a cab. Instead of a normal ford Crown Vic, you will be picked up by a hybrid Toyota Prius, or a Honda civic Hybrid. Both get forty miles to the gallon and both cabs are helping the cities cab industry be a little greener.

References

1. Website

2. Video

There is a whole financial investment when adding solar panels to your home.  It adds an immense amount on the value of your home, can eliminate all electricity costs, and you even get tax credits on your money well spent.  Government can pay back up to 94% of  installed Solar Stimulus Packages.  There are different incentives going on in different states, but be sure to find out about one near you.  Along with all of the positive aspects there is to switching to solar, you are also bound to redeem your money spent within three to five years.  So Let’s go over the Pros and Cons:

Cons:

• You have to buy and install the solar panels.
• The prices of switching over costs a good amount.

Pros:

• Installed solar panels provide FREE electricity.
• You make some of the money back of what you pair for the solar system through taxes and various government incentives.
• You no longer have to worry about dangerous wires or outlets.
• You are doing your part to help save the environment.

So after going down the list this should really help you to decide whether you should even consider looking into solar power being your source or electricity in your home.

Trying to cut down on your electricity bill? Want to live a greener lifestyle? Try powering your house with solar panels. It dramatically cuts cost and virtually erases the carbon footprint left by your home. Too expensive you say? Not any more! You can get FREE solar panels if you are dedicated and know the right questions to ask. You see, remote weather sensors and other electronic roadside installations have been running off solar energy for years because of their placement far off of many known power grids. When these panels become cracked or chipped due to debris kicked up by traffic they are replaced. Solar panels are expensive to start with but disposing of them costs even more most of the time so companies are reluctant to do so. Some contractors are willing to part with their solar panels for ridiculously low cost and are even known to give away panels FOR FREE! Firstly you must acquire contact information for a contractor that provides the roadside installations near you. Call them and inquire about damaged solar panels and try to set up a meeting or ask them when they aren’t too busy. Always offer to pay for the panels even if they have assured you they are free, they are giving you something very helpful you know! Once they have given you the panels take them home and use a multimeter to test if they can still hold a charge. Even some of the most cracked and browned solar panels can still hold a good charge. That’s really all there is to it. Sounds too good to be true? Try it and see for yourself!

If you have ever wanted to have the freedom of solar powered electricity but didn’t want a huge reflective box over your house, than you might find a solution in solar power shingles. Shingles look exactly like that, roofing shingles. They protect and work in the same way regular ones would but with one other added bonus.

Not only do these shingles project your home, they also collect power from the sun year round. Instead of having a hhuge solar panel box, you can install many of these little solar shingles which when hooked up together will provide the same amount of power. The difference here is now you wont have to work about the astectics of your home being destroyed by a solar panel. That’s why its so cool that these little guys slip in unnoticed. You get all the cheep power, with out your neighbors noticing.

Along with that, these will even provide all the same energy gains as normal solar panels ad can be installed easily unlike the intensive process of installing solar panels. Who knows, maybe these things will get us all on the solar powered bandwagon of the future.

References

1. article 1

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Saltwater, this is a great alternative for chlorine. Salt is self cleaning so it is the only chemical needed in your pool. Small amounts of salt are put through a “chlorinator” which uses electrolysis to break down the salt to eventually produce hypochlorous acid, and sodium hypochlorite. You may notice that these are the sanitizing agents commonly used in swimming pools. This being said saltwater pools are not actually chlorine free but saltwater pools do lack chloramines, referred to as Combined Chlorine. Chloramines are irritants that give traditional pools the stigma of burning eyes and caustic smell. So how much better are these salt water pools for the environment? Well they are great in the sense that there is no transporting or pacakging of these chemicals which greatly reduces CO2 emmisions, but you still have to account for the transportation of pool salt. Unfortunately the amount of energy needed to constantly run the chlorinator is almost certain to remove any benefits to the environment. There are those who have set up a solar chlorinator who are very pleased with it, this removes the worry of co2 emmisions to run the chlorinator and makes your entire setup considerably greener than your average pool.

You do not have to be an environmentalist specialist to jump on the bandwagon of solar power and reap the benefits.  This is both responsible, simple, and saves you tons of money on your electricity bill.  Wires can be messy, ugly, annoying, and on top of that dangerous.  Eliminating wires completely throughout your garden and yard is achievable when switching to solar.  Even if you just use solar in your garden, this helps everyone as well as your wallet.  You do not have to worry about turning them on and off, because the sensors do it on their own according to whether the sun is shining or not.

So why should you switch over?

• It is environmentally friendly.  It does not cause harmful pollutants and let’s face it, we are living in a time when the earth can use all of the TLC it can get.
• Solar power is very independent.  It does not really need any maintenance from you, it is perfectly happy running all on its own.
• As for reoccurring costs? Forget about it.
• You definitely make your money back after installing solar panels to your home.  After all, from now on your electricity if free!  Some governments also have some incentives for doing so, so if you find out about any grab that deal up.  Another great incentive, if you do not use all of the electricity your solar panels create you can sell the extra electricity back to the electric companies.  That means you are PAID to have free electricity.
• Having full solar power will basically eliminate your centralized and foreign dependencies on sources of energy, so power outages will not effect you.
• Instillation is pretty easy with most outdoor and indoor solar systems.  Requires no wiring!

So, feel good about this investment because you will make back what you spent 10-fold.

References

1. Photo Courtesy of: keetsa.com

A pool heated by solar energy

Would you like to heat your pool through solar energy?  But your unsure how to do this efficiently, in this case I have tips on doing so.

What you will need to begin;

• Dark colored hose pipe
• Black rubber hose is ideal and it is cheap (sold at most home improvement stores)
• You can start with 50-100 ft of hose pipe, add more if necessary

1. The more hose pipe used, the more water you can heat for your pool.  Depending on how much waster your pool holds determines the amount of hose needed.
2. Place pipes parallel to one another to increase solar gain.  If using 1 long hose the water temperature may be higher towards the end.  The greater the difference in temperature between the water and potential gain, the more efficient the system.
3. Most in-ground pools will have a hose bib that may be used to drain water from the pool.  If you have something similar, you can use it instead to send water through the hose and back to the pool.  If not you will need a small pump, which will pump the water at slow speeds.
4. Attach the hose so it circulates the water from the pool through the pipe.
5. Slowing the water down can increase the temperature in the pipe but will take longer to get the water to your pool.

References

1. Wikihow.com