What Is a Zero Energy Home?

In this day and age of growing awareness of conservation of energy and a more holistic approach to building, one term that you may hear from time to time is "zero energy home."  It may sound impossible, but there really is such a thing, and more and more people are striving to attain this ideal when building a new home. So just what is it? A zero energy home (ZEH) is one where all of the energy needs for the household are supplied by alternative means. It does not mean a home that uses no electricity. Solar panels and solar water heating systems are generally the form of energy employed by these homes, because they are residential. Residential wind turbines are uncommon in most community neighborhoods - at least so far.

Solar boiler on a rooftop. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A zero energy home needs some sort of back-up. It is often not actually an "off the grid" home. The sun is not always shining, and sometimes a home's energy needs drastically increase for a variety of reasons (a cold snap, a heat wave, or an increase in laundry). In fact, zero energy homes remain connected to the utility grid, and often engage in net metering.

Net metering means both the energy you use from the grid and the amount you put back into the grid are measured. Because an electric meter can spin forward or backward, the homeowner gets credit for the energy he or she puts into the grid, which is a good safeguard against those times when you need back-up.

How a ZEH Works

As noted above, a photovoltaic solar power system is employed for electricity generation. Water is heated by a passive, solar-thermal system. Passive systems do not use electrical energy to warm the water. They simply collect the sun's heat and use it to warm water. Energy needs are greatly offset or replaced for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances.

draft of a solarpipe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What Else Is Involved In a ZEH?

Some ZEH builders use awnings over the windows and large eaves to block hot summer sunlight but let in sunlight in the winter. Windows in a ZEH home are thick, as is the insulation. Skylights supply much of the indoor light and the solar panels are on the roof, so the angle and location of the home are carefully considered by the builders.

How Do You Obtain a Zero Energy Home?

There are professional builders that specialize in or include the construction of zero energy homes.

You could also take a DIY approach and convert your existing home into a zero energy home. But, although in theory, a conventional home could be converted into a ZEH, the essence of a ZEH is that it is constructed from the ground up. This is because the designers incorporate a lot of "tricks" and design elements within the house's walls, roof, and so forth that would be impossible to insert into an existing home. But you can still achieve great energy savings by incorporating some of the principles of a zero energy home into your existing home if desired.

Creating Efficient Home Energy Generation Systems

When you are tired of paying for your high home energy bill month after month and would like see some changes and feel some savings, there is one thing to do: invest on one or more alternative home energy generation systems.

Home energy generation is the solution if you want to cut down on those bills and utilize the natural energy sources all around you. A home energy generation system will provide you what is essentially home energy freedom. Sure, you have to invest first but for many it is worth every penny. You can spare yourself from the present costs of home energy and the future increases that may occur. And most of all, investing in a home energy generation system will also help the environment through the use of cleaner sources of energy.

Among the types of alternative energy that can be used in the home, wind energy and solar energy are the most common.

Schematic diagram of a modern horizontal-axis, three-bladed wind turbine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Wind Energy

Wind is very abundant in many parts of the country; thus, many households can capitalize on the use of wind as a source of home energy. As the cost of energy production through fuel and oil grows increasingly high, clean, safe and free air appears to be the better choice for the future.

As a main source of power for your home, wind can provide substantial cost savings over the use of energy sourced from the expensive oil. However, wind speed varies on a daily basis. One day, the wind may blow hard all day long. The next day, the wind may not be able to even make your turbine spin. And even in the breeziest places in America, you can never tell when you're going to get a windy day. This is one disadvantage of using wind power, but wind patterns do exist. Assessing the wind patterns in your area can help you determine whether a wind turbine will be a useful source of energy for your household.

If you are planning to install wind turbines on your home, make sure that the local zoning allows wind turbines. You must also ensure that there is a good source of wind on most days. A wide and open space, at least 1 acre, is ideal for wind turbines. But, if you do live in a windy area, and are paying more than $150 on your monthly electric bill, then wind power may be a good option for you.

There are 5 main components of a wind power generation system.

1. The rotor is the set of rotating blades designed to capture the air.  The rotation brings power to the generator.

2. The turbine or the generator is attached to the rotor. It stores the energy that the home will use.

3. The tail is located opposite of the rotor. It tracks the direction of the wind.

4. The tower raises the turbine, rotor and tail up into the air to receive the most amount of wind possible.

5. The governor is the mechanism that controls the production of energy. This is like the transformer you can see on electric posts.


2. Solar Power

Solar panel on roof in Mariakerke, Ghent, Belgium. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are 6 often-overlooked advantages to installing solar panels on your roof - over other energy generation methods.

1.  Solar panels are lightweight, safe, and usually easy to install.

2.  Roofs are susceptible to UV exposure. The solar panel eliminates this. Your roof will also be protected from weather.

3.  Solar panels contribute to keeping your house well insulated. They provide extra covering and enable you to save as much as 30% on heating expenses.

4.  Drilling holes in your roof to install a wind turbine or other generator is very risky. Interlocking solar panels eliminate this risk.

5.  Solar panel designs can work on almost any roof type and size. In other words, you can get the perfect solar panel no matter what the size and shape of your roof is.

6.  Solar panels are installed without requiring you to modify your roof.

Solar power can help you cut down the cost of your electric bill tremendously. If you live in a sunny climate (even if it's cold), solar power can be an excellent choice for a home energy generation system.

Video - New Solar Panel Innovation

Here is an example of an innovative new design for solar panels, which will lower costs considerably, while also increasing efficiency and energy production. As we discussed on Wednesday, we should be seeing more and more of these innovations in the solar energy field in the years to come, making solar power a viable source of electricity for more and more people.

Check out this short news clip to learn more about this particular example:

New Solar Panel
Reno company Snowpeak Energy has created a next-generation solar panel at half the price of a standard panel, while producing 3 times the electricity. This story is the first time it's been photographed for the public to see. Aired 04/14/2009 KTVN Ch...

New Uses for Solar Power

When you think of solar power you probably think of heating and light for your home. That is one of the many things that we use solar power for.  Solar power is everywhere and its use is growing every day. There are many different products that are made using solar power. Solar power means using the sun's natural heat to produce electricity, heat, and more.  When you use solar power you are using a natural and abundant resource that we cannot deplete, and which causes no pollution (other than the making of means of storing and processing this energy - which continues to become ever more efficient).

A basic, Sharp-brand solar calculator. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are more products that use solar power than what we realize. A lot of today's electronics use some type of solar power in order to function accurately.  Calculators are a prime example of a useful solar power product.  These calculators may or may not have on and off switches.  Some rely on the solar panel completely in order to stay or turn off.  Solar power calculators need a certain amount of light inside the solar panel in order to turn the calculator on and perform what you want it to do; add, subtract, divide, multiply and more.  The solar panel in a calculator is obviously not as big as the one that you would to power your home.  The size needed for a calculator is adjusted before installation to provide the amount it needs. Solar power use can also be found in travel products, outdoor recreation, safety products, emergency products and more. 

Solar power radios are produced with a solar panel inside that transforms the sunlight into energy allowing you to listen to your radio while you are outside.  You may also find solar power in flashlights, battery chargers, mobile phone chargers, watches, lanterns, emergency products such as sirens and lights.  As you see there are a number of products that are already using solar power technology.  Portable solar chargers are great because they charge the product that you have using just the sunlight, and they are very easy to use.  Camping equipment and supplies also work well with solar power because sunlight during the day then helps to supply lanterns, flashlights and radios at night.

Solar powered tea (Photo credit: Nick . Brooks)

Cooking outdoors can also be done by using solar power to heat the element that will ignite and allow for even cooking.  Because more people are turning to solar power for their main energy source there are more and more companies that are marketing products that are produced using solar power.  Appliances are being made specially for solar power homes.  Many new appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, and more will work great in a home that is generated by solar power.  They are built to conserve energy and operate very efficiently.

As the demand for more efficient and clean energy grows, the availability of solar powered appliances and electronics will grow as well. We can look forward to seeing more interesting innovations in this field in the years to come.

Biofuels As A Green Energy Source

Biofuels are a green energy source you may not be all that familiar with, but they have been around for a very long time.

Liquid biofuel, which is the one used in cars, is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils - mostly soy and corn. The nice thing about it is that it contains no petroleum, and is nontoxic and biodegradable.

By fueling up with biofuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit much of anything in the way of pollutants. Right now, it is the only fuel that is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act, and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Bus running on soybean biodiesel. U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (www.eere.energy.gov). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One example of this type of fuel is biodiesel, which is made from alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. Aside from methanol, some countries have also experimented with corn and sugarcane to create their own version of biofuel.

Glycerine is a common product used in making toothpaste and soap. However, since the technology for this is fairly new, the process of converting it is quite expensive and right now, this is still much more expensive per gallon compared to petroleum (gasoline).

(Although if you look at what you pay for it, the returns are huge because you get to do your share to preserve a cleaner environment, an improvement in air quality and a reduction of cancer-causing agents.)

A cheaper and more primitive way to make bio-diesel is by collecting used cooking oil and then processing it. This may not be good your car’s engine so be careful if you decide to use it.

If you are skeptic about biodiesels, studies have shown that performance on the road is just as good as petroleum in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing. You can use this in its pure form or blend with petroleum fuel. The most common mix in the market is 20/80 and is referred to as "B20." This means that 20% is biodiesel and the remainder is 80%. Another version is the E85 which is fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

The best part about using biodiesel is that you only have to make a few changes in your engine to be able to use it. Aside from making the car run, it also helps clean the engine. If you are concerned that this will void the warranty of your vehicle should there be a problem, don’t worry because it doesn’t. In the US, B20 is the most common one available but there are only a few gas stations that carry it. (E85 is becoming more common, but there are some concerns coming to light regarding lack of efficiency, and environmental issues due to overuse of farmland for intensive farming of corn to make this product.)

Biofuels work at Argonne (Photo credit: Argonne National Laboratory)

When cars first rolled out in the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to make these vehicles - especially the Model T’s - run using ethanol. Tests have even shown that these may also run using peanut oil.

This never materialized because huge oil deposits were discovered and diesel was cheap. It was only when our demand for oil increased in the 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and in the last decade or so that people began to realize that to reduce our demand for foreign oil that we should try using biodiesels and other forms of alternative energy. Developments in processing and efficiency continue to occur at an increasing pace, and we can look forward to seeing better biofuels on the market and readily accessible in the years to come.

That said, although improvements continue, we must keep in mind that some of these solutions may cause more problems than they fix, so it is important to look at all sides, and find the proper balance before choosing a green energy source. Check back Friday for an interesting video on the pros and cons of biofuels.

Video - Small Home Solar Power System Demo

Here's a short demo of one family's small home solar power system they use to power electronics in the home. While they're not completely off the grid, they are using this small solar power system to meet everyday electricity needs such as lights, television, computers, kitchen appliances, and more. Pretty cool!  If you want to learn more about solar power kits and D.I.Y. solar power info, visit the link below the video.

DIY My small home solar power system
A brief layout of my solar system that I added to my small house. This house is still hooked up to the grid. I use it to run all the lights in my home and the tv, every day. I am able to run anything up to 1000 watts if needed


Click Here to Learn More About D.I.Y. Solar Power....

Review: 10-Watt Plug-and-Play Portable Solar Power Kit

If you're looking to build your own solar power system, there are a lot of options out there nowadays. You can go completely from scratch, or you can also use kit that is either partially or mostly pre-assembled. Spheral Solar provides a lot of great options from small to large - from small portable kits all the way up to full-size systems that can take you off the grid completely. But if you just want something simple and small that you can use in a pinch - not necessarily to supply your whole household with electricity, there are a great many advantages to the 10 Watt Plug and Play Portable Solar Power Kit. It can be used indoors, but is ideal to be taken along when camping, picnicking in the park or working outside in your garden or yard to power up electrical equipment such as handheld games, lamps, TV's cell phones, laptops etc.

The solar power kit comes with a 10 watt solar panel which charges a Duracell 300 power pack which will provide power for up to 15 hours. In case of emergency, it has a built-in fluorescent emergency light. I like the fact that this system can even jump-start a car - it comes with built-in jump-start cables and clips. 

Overall, this solar power kit is a very versatile and useful device to have at home and when on the road. It will certainly come in handy when grid power is not available or when camping.

Where to Buy: 
www.spherasolar.com

Kid's Eco-Friendly Project: PicoTurbine Savonius Windmill Kit

Hand-on teaching is the best way to explain science principles to children. If you are a home schooling parent or if you have a child that is interested in learning more about renewable energy and wind power, the PicoTurbine Savonius Windmill Kit is a fantastic teaching tool. The windmill can be built by kids as young as 10, but I would recommend it to kids older than that with a better understanding of certain science principles.

The windmill, once assembled, is a fully functioning small windmill. It uses high quality materials to allow it to withstand the elements. It includes everything your kids will need to build a vertical windmill, from recycled blades, s-foils to copper coils and five, ceramic grade magnets. Once assembled and stationed outside, it shows students how windmills can harness wind energy and turn it into electricity. At a wind speed of 12 mph you can produce approximately 3.0V/50mA.

Overall, I think that this kit will add to students' knowledge of how wind power works, how to convert it into electricity, alternative energy resources, aerodynamics and other scientific principles. I am sure any student interested in science will appreciate this fun kit as a present.

Where to buy: www.amazon.com

 

Video - New Wind Turbine Design Triples Energy Production

Here is a recent news story from Japan about a new innovation in wind turbine design, which increases the power output so much that it appears possible that someday wind power could replace nuclear power as an electricity source....

Check this out, and see what may be the wave of the future in efficient and clean energy production:

New Wind Turbine Design Can Triple Energy Production!
June 27, 2011 NHK News MOXNews.com

Solar Rent Lease and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Strategy – An Explanation

If you're looking to equip your home for solar power, but not sure how to start, or if it's too expensive, there are some new options available now that many people are not aware of. As alternative power comes to the fore, programs are springing up to facilitate the use of alternative energy in people's homes and businesses. Solar rent leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs) are two of those programs. Here is how they work.

Image via WikipediaSolar Rent Leases

A solar rent lease involves renting solar equipment from a power/electricity provider. The provider actually owns the solar panels and overall solar power system, and is responsible for its maintenance. You pay a fee, or rent, for the use of the equipment. Generally, the solar power system is intended to augment, not replace, the electricity you purchase from your utility company. Hopefully, you will save so much on your power bill that it will offset the rent amount.

Most power providers that offer solar rent leases have a contract that "locks you in" to the agreement. It has advantages for you, the purchaser, and the provider - you are protected against rising utility rates, and the provider gets the security of a long-term contract. Most providers' contracts are for 15 to 20 years.

PPAs

A power purchase agreement is similar to the solar rent lease. With a PPA, the provider purchases the solar panels and solar power system, and also installs and maintains them. Instead of paying rent, you, the purchaser, pay for the actual power generated by the solar power system. Again, your monthly utility bill will be augmented, not replaced, by the solar-generated electricity. The idea is for the purchaser to save money and reduce his or her use of fossil fuel-generated electricity.

Image by U.S. Army Environmental Command via FlickrPPAs also involve a contract, usually 15 to 20 years. Some PPAs give you the option of buying the equipment and solar power system when the contract ends.

Generally speaking, the electricity providers involved in solar rent leases and PPAs are independently owned companies. Thus, PPAs and solar rent leases help finance these independent power producers. Because the electricity output is clearly defined and measured and there are contracts in place, banks and other financial institutions are more likely to invest in the independent provider. This is another incentive for some who are interested in alternative energy.

Another attractive thing about PPAs and solar lease agreements is the low initial cost. Many people would like to "go solar" but are unsure how to pay for, install, and maintain the necessary equipment. With these agreements, the provider does all of that and you only have to pay rent for the equipment or pay for the solar power generated.

Alternative Energy from the Ocean

We often share articles on alternative sources of energy - developing alternatives to fossil fuels is an important factor in reducing toxins in our environment - and thus our bodies. Today we are doing to discuss a less common method than solar or wind, but one which could potentially be a good option, as long as some of the kinks can be worked out.

Image via WikipediaOcean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) was conceived of by the French engineer Jacques D'Arsonval in 1881. However, at the time of this writing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii is home to the only operating experimental OTEC plant on the face of the earth. OTEC is a potential alternative energy source that needs to be funded and explored much more than it presently is. The great hurdle to get over with OTEC implementation on a wide and practically useful level is cost. It is difficult to get the costs down to a reasonable level because of the processes presently utilized to drive OTEC. Ocean thermal energy would be very clean burning and not add pollutants into the air. However, as it presently would need to be set up with our current technologies, OTEC plants could have the capacity for disrupting and perhaps damaging the local environment.

There are three kinds of OTEC:

“Closed Cycle OTEC” uses a low-boiling point liquid such as, for example, propane to act as an intermediate fluid. The OTEC plant pumps the warm sea water into the reaction chamber and boils the intermediate fluid. This results in the intermediate fluid's vapor pushing the turbine of the engine, which thus generates electricity. The vapor is then cooled down by putting in cold sea water.

“Open Cycle OTEC” is not that different from closed cycling, except in the Open Cycle there is no intermediate fluid. The sea water itself is the driver of the turbine engine in this OTEC format. Warm sea water found on the surface of the ocean is turned into a low-pressure vapor under the constraint of a vacuum. The low-pressure vapor is released in a focused area and it has the power to drive the turbine. To cool down the vapor and create desalinated water for human consumption, the deeper ocean's cold waters are added to the vapor after it has generated sufficient electricity.

“Hybrid Cycle OTEC” is really just a theory for the time being. It seeks to describe the way that we could make maximum usage of the thermal energy of the ocean's waters. There are actually two sub-theories to the theory of Hybrid Cycling. The first involves using a closed cycling to generate electricity. This electricity is in turn used to create the vacuum environment needed for open cycling. The second component is the integration of two open cyclings such that twice the amount of desalinated, potable water is created that with just one open cycle.

In addition to being used for producing electricity, a closed cycle OTEC plant can be utilized for treating chemicals. OTEC plants, both open cycling and close cycling kinds, are also able to be utilized for pumping up cold deep sea water which can then be used for refrigeration and air conditioning. Furthermore, during the moderation period when the sea water is surrounding the plant, the enclosed are can be used for mariculture and aquaculture projects such as fish farming. There is clearly quite an array of products and services that we could derive from this alternative energy source.

Tips for Building Inexpensive Solar Panels

Harnessing and utilizing solar energy is one of the most efficient sources for powering our homes. However, solar panels can be very expensive, and even building your own can add up to quite a bit. This short video and article gives some good tips for finding cheap solar panel parts, which you can then use to build your own.

Cheap Solar Panels – Build Quality Home Solar Panels | Green ...
www.solarpanelsquick.com – There are many different ways you can get cheap solar panels. There are dozens of websites available that can walk you through the whole process of making your own solar energy systems, with the panels being ...
Publish Date: 03/31/2011 3:00
http://coolgreenlivingtips.com/solar-energy/cheap-solar-panels-build-quality-home-solar-panels/

How to Make a Solar Space Heater

Here is a pretty cool article with step-by-step instructions for making your own solar-powered space heater, which will work great for heating a small space such as a garage or other small room in which you need a little extra heat. Unlike many expensive models on the market, this one won't cost you more than dinner for two, and only takes a few hours to put together. If you're looking to increase the efficiency of your home, or if you already have a solar-powered home but need a little extra heat somewhere, this is a great solution to try.

Have fun building, and be sure to come back and let us know how it turns out!

How to Make Solar Space Heater for Your Garage or Enclosed Porch
If you are looking to learn how to make solar space heaters then this is the tutorial for you. This is a step by step process using recycled materials to help you lower your heating bill and bring warn air into an otherwise unreachable ...
Publish Date: 04/20/2011 19:28
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/114675.aspx

Video-Solar Energy Concentrator

Here is a pretty interesting video which demonstrates a simple energy concentration device using energy from the sun for a variety of purposes. It also includes some great explanations of how and why solar energy works, and how you can build a similar device.

Becoming energy independent is an important goal for living a green lifestyle that is healthy for both yourself and the planet. While this device won't solve all of our energy problems, it is great to see such interesting ideas taking shape and being used to create new opportunities for you and me.

Solar Energy Concentrator
Purchase: hilaroad.com This video demonstrates how solar energy can be focused with a curved mirror. Once focused this energy can be used to cook food, sterilize water even create electricity. Includes an explanation of Energy, Power, Joules, Watts. ...

Related articles  on Solar Energy

• The Advantages of Solar Energy (ideagreenshop.com)
• Who would benefit most from solar energy? Study ranks states (physorg.com)
• Solar Energy Companies, Assisting Your Own Alternatives For Your Full Advantage (ideagreenshop.com)
• Scientists develop a way to funnel solar energy (sciencedaily.com)