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.

4 Alternative Home Energy Sources: Then & Now

Home energy consumption is one of the main household expenses today. The fact is, we all need electricity to power our lives. We need the level of civilization that can be provided by electricity. However, most people think that the price they pay is just too much for the amount of electricity they get to consume.

In the true spirit of humanity, we've begun to do what what we always do whenever there’s something that does not completely satisfy us about life: we innovate.

Alternative home energy sources are becoming more popular every year, as prices increase and we become more aware of the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. (Ironically, many of the sources that people think of as "alternative energy" have actually been around even before electricity was discovered.)

Consider these types of alternative home energy:

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1) Wind energy – Nowadays, windmills are often used in homes to run small generators. These generators produce and store electricity to be used in running small home appliances. However, windmills have been around for a long time. If you take a look at the word “windmill” you will realize that this type of alternative home energy device was originally used for a purpose other than producing electricity.

Yes, the windmill was indeed, used to mill grain. As you may well know, grinding grain my hand is very hard work. So in order to make life more convenient and the production of flour more efficient, windmills were used to turn the large grinders.

The wind is a free (and in some places abundant) resource, so I suppose it was inevitable that the windmill evolve into the 21st century to be used as a power source.

2) Solar energy – Many people think of this type of alternative home energy as something that’s technologically advanced. In a sense, harnessing the power of the sun to produce electricity is. But this "alternative" home energy source has already been in use for a long, long time.

Think about this word for a second: clothesline. Aha, you get it now, don’t you? Yes, we have been using solar energy to dry our clothes for God knows how long. Think about that spin dryer or hair dryer you have and think about how much electricity it uses to do a task that the sun has been able to do for years, albeit at a slower pace.

This alternative home energy source is harnessed nowadays for a variety of tasks. Some use it to heat their homes, others use solar power to heat water, and other people use solar cells to power small appliances and save a little on that electricity bill. The efficiency by which we are now able to convert solar power into electricity is of such a degree that it is very possible to power a whole house! It's pretty amazing if you think about it.

3) Hydropower – This type of alternative home energy makes use of water currents in order to turn turbines to run generators. Once again, this is not really a new technology. Like windmills, waterwheels were often used to harness the power of a nearby river in order to grind grain into flour - again, before we had electric pumps or grinders.

4) Biogas – This is another alternative home energy source. Biogas is produced naturally via the decomposition of different biological material. By using biogas instead of the common LPG, home owners can often cut back on their heating bills.

Renewable energy sources at homestead in Chattlehop. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As you can see, there are a lot of different types of alternative home energy. Those looking for more environmentally friendly and efficient choices for energy generation may wish to explore these options and discover which type is the best for you to use. We may have used many of these sources in the past, but recent innovations have made them more efficient and cost-effective as sources of electricity.

Unfortunately, some of the methods of harnessing these different alternative home energy types may yet seem impractical to the common homeowner. However, as technology continues to evolve, you can be sure that the use of alternative energy will become more and more efficient.

By using alternative home energy, you accomplish two things: you save on your expenses and you help create a better world. Using these alternative energy sources minimizes the impact on the environment, and by using these sources, in many cases you can harness relatively free energy. Some people may say that the devices used to harness these sources may be too expensive, but in the long run, you’ll end up saving so much more than you spend.

Solar Energy Collection Improvements

Photovoltaic cells—those black squares an array of which comprises a solar panel—are getting more efficient, and gradually less expensive, all the time, thanks to ever-better designs which all them to focus the gathered sunlight on a more and more concentrated point. The size of the cells is decreasing as their efficiency rises, meaning that each cell becomes cheaper to produce and at once more productive. As far as the aforementioned cost, the price of producing solar-generated energy per watt hour has come down to $4.00 (or less) at the time of this writing. Just 17 years ago, it was nearly double that cost.

Photovoltaic cells produce electricity directly from sunlight (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Solar powered electricity generation is certainly good for the environment, as this alternative form of producing energy gives off absolutely zero emissions into the atmosphere and is merely utilizing one of the most naturally occurring of all things as its driver. Solar collection cells are becoming slowly but surely ever more practical for placing upon the rooftops of people's homes, and they are not a difficult system to use for heating one's home, creating hot water, or producing electricity. In the case of using the photovoltaic cells for hot water generation, the system works by having the water encased in the cells, where it is heated and then sent through your pipes.

Photovoltaic cells are becoming increasingly better at collecting sufficient radiation from the sun even on overcast or stormy days. One company in particular, Uni-Solar, has developed solar collection arrays for the home that work well on inclement days, by way of a technologically advanced system that stores more energy at one time during sunlit days than previous or other arrays.

There is also another solar power system available for use called the PV System. The PV System is connected to the nearest electrical grid; whenever there is an excess of solar energy being collected at a particular home, it is transferred to the grid for shared use and as a means of lowering the grid's dependence on the hydroelectrically-driven electricity production. Being connected to the PV System can keep your costs down as compared to full-fledged solar energy, while at once reducing pollution and taking pressure off the grid system. Some areas are designing centralized solar collection arrays for small towns or suburban communities.

(Photo credit: janie.hernandez55)

Some big-name corporations have made it clear that they are also getting into the act of using solar power (a further indication that solar generated energy is becoming an economically viable alternative energy source). Google is putting in a  1.6 megawatt solar power generation plant on the roof of its corporate headquarters, while Wal-Mart wants to put in an enormous 100 megawatt system of its own.

Nations such as Japan, Germany, the United States, and Switzerland have been furthering the cause of solar energy production by providing government subsidies or by giving tax breaks to companies and individuals who agree to utilize solar power for generating their heat or electrical power. As technology advances and a greater storage of solar collection materials is made available, more and more private investors will see the value of investing in this “green” technology and further its implementation much more in the years to come.


A Few Innovative New Solar Power Products:
   

Geothermal as a Green Energy Source

We have the technology to do a lot of things and one of these is to tap the earth’s energy. This is exactly what we do when we use geothermal which happens to be a green energy source.

Image via WikipediaGeothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping heat from the earth itself. This comes from magma and the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium.

The downside to geothermal energy is the fact that it can be expensive to harness. On the other hand, because the earth's crust continuously decays replenishing the heat, it is still a renewable source of energy.

There are three types of geothermal plants. These are namely dry steam, flash, and binary.

Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly drive a turbine that spins a generator.

Flash plants take on water at temperatures over 200 °C out of the ground, and allow it to boil as it rises to the surface, then separate the steam phase in steam/water separators which runs the steam through a turbine to generate electricity.

Last, you have binary plants. Here, hot water flows through heat exchangers and that boiling organic fluid is what spins the turbine.

Once power is generated, the condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluid from all three types of plants are injected back into the hot rock to pick up more heat.

Geothermal plants are operational in several different parts of the globe. These are usually located in geologically unstable parts of the planet. You can see some in Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines and Italy. At home, two most prominent areas for this are in the Yellowstone basin and in northern California.

Aside from digging deep into the earth, there are some who believe we can generate power from hot dry rocks. You have to dig 3 kilometers deep first to find these hot underground radiogenic granite rocks. Right now, some Australia companies are exploring this technology.

Image by lydurs via FlickrIf you were to compare the amount of energy collected from geothermal to solar, you still get more from the sun. Despite that, many people may still find a use for geothermal energy at times, since solar energy cannot be harnessed when the clouds block the sun’s rays from reaching the solar panels.

Geothermal energy is a green energy source just like wind, hydropower and biofuel because it is renewable. By maximizing its potential, we don’t have to worry as much about the price of oil spiking in the world market.

But that is not the only thing we should be concerned about. We should also do our best to protect the environment, given that coal fired and nuclear power plants produce harmful gases and radioactive waste that may cause harm to people and the surrounding areas.

Everyone knows that our planet has changed due to global warming. For us to do our share to protect the environment now and for generations to come, we have to learn to use alternative energy sources, and geothermal is another of the many green energy sources currently available.

Fall Home Energy Savings Tips: Preparing for the Winter

Whether we like it or not, winter is coming. So get prepared today, and you can potentially save a lot on your winter energy bills - and help the environment at the same time.

Winter means one thing: cold air. But for many, winter also means larger electric bills. Yes, it is true. In some areas summer causes the highest energy use, but in many locations, winter is the season where your electric bills skyrocket to digits that can cause financial burden. In winter, the heating system consumes the biggest portion of our electricity budget. Fortunately, we have the whole fall to prepare for it. And to prepare for it means that we must have the right tools, and proper information on how to save energy during the coming season.

Here are some areas to examine:

Image via WikipediaThe fireplace – Getting your fireplace ready for winter will certainly yield savings; and fall is the best time to clean and repair the fireplace. Make sure that the damper is tightly sealed when not using it. Even a small gap can let the cold air rush in and send the warm air out. If you are using an electric heating system, an opening in the fireplace means the heater has to work harder to keep the place warm. Let a professional contractor do the proper maintenance in securing your fireplace for the winter.

When you decide to use the fireplace, you can turn down your heater. This can save you as much as 8% on heating costs (or sometimes more, in an efficient home).

The furnace – The furnace will have to work extra hard if the filter is full of dirt. This will equate to energy waste since the furnace will consume more power for the service it brings. To avoid this, make sure that your filter is clean. The owner’s manual will tell you how to clean the filter. A clean filter will let you breathe clean air around your house. A clean filter can save you 5%  or more on heating costs.

The ducts – Small leaks in your ducts will certainly result to lost heat so make sure that this is regularly checked. Usually ducts are located in unheated places, which is another reason why heat is lost. You can help prevent this by insulating the ducts by wrapping them with R-6 or higher fiberglass. (Never use cloth-backed tapes.) You can also wrap them with UL-approved metallic or plastic tapes and mastic sealants.  Leaking ducts can add up to 30% more burden on your heating system so make sure they are sealed and secured.

Solar heat – You need not have solar panels on your roof to use the sun as the source of heat. All you have to do is use open your drapes during the day to warm your room without using electricity. Then close them at night to keep the warm air inside. Reduction of the use of your heating system during the day can let you cut as much as 10% on your electric consumption

Image via WikipediaLeaks in seals – Leaks in the seals of your doors, windows, joints and sills will let the cold air in and the warm air out - not what you want. Make sure that these openings are sealed with either sealant or weatherstripping. It will help reduce the work of the heating system immensely.

The thermostat – A programmable thermostat or a centralized heating system will let you save on heating costs, as it will let you set your desired room temperature during a specific period of the day. This is very useful when you are leaving your home or even going to sleep at night. Just one centigrade lower on your heating system will let your save you as much as 5% on your heating costs.

As you can see, following these simple tips and making sure your home is prepared for the winter weather can help you save quite a bit on your electric bill this winter, and use less fuel in the process. Most of these are easy fixes, so why not take the time right now, and put some of these tips into action? 

How Wind Turbines Work

There are many alternative sources of energy. Solar energy, hydro electric and wind energy are three of the most common options. Wind energy may be one of the most promising resources to explore.

Image via WikipediaWhat is a Wind Turbine?

A wind turbine is essentially a wind mill much like you’d see on farms or in Holland. However, instead of being attached to a mill to grind grain into flour, the turbine is attached to a generator. The result is energy. How much energy? Well that depends on the size of the blades and the wind speed.

Wind turbines can be used on a large scale to produce energy for a city. The turbines generally have two or three blades or rotors. On sunny, windy days they can produce several megawatts. The energy can also be stored for non windy days. On a smaller scale, for home use, a wind turbine can produce about 100 kilowatts. They work well to compliment a solar electric power system.

How a Wind Turbine Works

The sun is what heats the earth. This heating and cooling creates wind. In a way, wind energy is also solar energy. When wind is created it has force. It has energy. If you’ve ever stood outside on a very windy day you know that this energy can be quite powerful.

A wind turbine captures this energy and turns it into electricity. The wind turns the blades or rotors. The rotors are attached to a rod. When the rotors turn the rod turns as well. The rod is then attached to a gear. In an old fashioned wind mill that gear connects to a heavy gear at the bottom of the mill. It turns as the teeth of the gear rotate and it grinds the grain. In a wind turbine the gear is attached to a smaller gear and a generator. As this gear spins it creates electricity.

The generator creates electricity by using a magnetic rotor inside the generator. As the rotor spins around the core it electromagnetic induction and generates an electrical current.

Image via WikipediaAn Environmentally Sound Energy Source

As you can see, there’s really no byproduct of wind energy. The energy is either used or stored. There is no byproduct of the energy. The only downside to wind energy is that if the wind doesn’t blow at least 10 MPH then little to no energy is created. Additionally, the generator can be quite expensive.

If you’re looking to include wind energy for your home you may want to investigate the costs and lifespan of a typical generator. Over the life of a good generator you’ll definitely make your money back. And you can rest well knowing you’re using one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly energy sources available.

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.

Resources for Alternative Energy

There are many different forms in which alternative energy is available.

Image via WikipediaOne of these is solar power. Solar power is driven by photovoltaic cells, and these are progressively getting less expensive and more advanced. Solar energy power can be used for electricity, heating, and making hot water. Solar energy produces no pollution, as its input comes completely from the sun's rays. However, much more work still needs to be done in order for us to economically harness the sun's energy. For the time being, the resource is a little too conditional—storage batteries are needed to be used as backups in the evenings and on inclement days.

Wind energy has become the most-invested-in (by private investors and governments together) alternative energy source for the time being. The great arrays of triple-bladed windmills are being placed all over as “wind farms”, to capture the motion of the wind and use its kinetic energy for conversion to mechanical or electrical energy. Of course, there is nothing new about the concept of a windmill for harnessing energy. Modern wind turbines are simply are more advanced variations on the old theme. Of course, the drawback to wind energy is...what do you do when there is a calm, still day? Needless to say, during these times the electric company kicks in for powering your home or office. Wind energy is not altogether independent.

Image via WikipediaHydroelectric energy is available as a source of alternative energy, and it can generate a substantial amount of power. Simply put, hydroelectric energy uses the motion of water—its flow in response to gravity, which means downhill—to turn turbines which then generate electrical energy. Needless to say, water is ubiquitous; finding sources for driving hydroelectric turbines is, therefore, not much of a problem. However, hydroelectricity as a source of alternative energy can be complicated and expensive to produce. Dams are often built in order to be able to control the flow of the water sufficiently to generate the needed power. Building a dam to store and control water's potential and kinetic energy takes quite a lot of work, and operating one is complex as well,and conservationists grow concerned that it. Of course, a dam is not always needed if one is not trying to supply the electrical needs of a city or other very densely populated area. There are small run-of-river hydroelectric converters which are good for supplying neighborhoods or an individual office or home. 

Probably the most underrated and under-appreciated form of alternative energy is geothermal energy, which is simply the naturally-occurring energy produced by the heating of artesian waters that are just below the earth's crust. This heat is transferred into the water from the earth's inner molten core. The water is drawn up by various different methods—there are “dry steam” power plants, “flash” power plants, and “binary” power plants for harnessing geothermal energy. The purpose of drawing up the hot water is for the gathering of the steam.  The Geysers, approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco, is probably the best-known of all geothermal power fields; it's an example of a dry stream plant.

An Energy Alternative: Free Energy

Okay, we're going to get a little bit "nerdy" on you today, and talk about science, but hang in there - I'll try to make it understandable! It's an interesting topic, and one which has plenty of debate on both sides. Feel free to comment if you feel inspired!

There has been much debate about what is often called “free” energy—energy that can supposedly, with the right technology, be drawn straight out of the atmosphere, and in very abundant supply. The debates are about whether the stuff actually exists or not, what it would actually cost were it to be harnessed, and if it does exist is it truly as abundant and efficient as it's being made out to be by proponents of research and development into this potential alternative energy source.

Image via WikipediaWhen one hears the phrase “free energy device”, one might be hearing about one of several different concepts. This might mean a device for collecting and transmitting energy from some source that orthodox science does not recognize; a device which collects energy at absolutely no cost; or an example of the legendary perpetual motion machine. Needless to say, a perpetual motion machine—a machine which drives itself, forever, once turned on, therefore needing no energy input ever again and never running out of energy—is impossible. However, it is not so simple to say that a new technology for harnessing the energy “floating” in the atmosphere is impossible. New technologies replace old ones all the time with abilities that had just been “impossible”. Harnessing the power of the atom for providing huge amounts of energy was “impossible” until the 1940s. Flying human beings were an “impossible” thing until the turn of the 20th century and the Wright Brothers' flight. 

The biggest claim of the proponents of “free” energy is that enormous amounts of energy can be drawn from the Zero Point Field. This is a quantum mechanical state of matter for a defined system which is attained when the system is at the lowest possible energy state that it can be in. This is called the “ground state” of the system. Zero Point Energy (ZPE) is sometimes referred to as “residual” energy and it was first proposed to be usable as an alternative form of energy way back in 1913 by Otto Stern and Albert Einstein. It is also referred to as “vacuum energy” in studies of quantum mechanics, and it is supposed to represent the energy of totally empty space. This energy field within the vacuum has been likened to the froth at the base of a waterfall by one of the principal researchers into and proponents of Hal Puthof. Puthof also explains, the term 'zero-point' simply means that if the universe were cooled down to absolute zero where all thermal agitation effects would be frozen out, this energy would still remain.

What is not as well known, however, even among practicing physicists, are all the implications that derive from this known aspect of quantum physics. However, there are a group of physicists at several research labs and universities who are examining the details, asking such questions as whether it might be possible to 'mine' this reservoir of energy for use as an alternative energy source, or whether this background energy field might be responsible for inertia and gravity. These questions are of interest because it is known that this energy can be manipulated, and therefore there is the possibility that the control of this energy, and possibly inertia and gravity, might yield to engineering solutions. Some progress has been made in a subcategory of this field (cavity quantum electrodynamics) with regard to controlling the emission rates of excited atoms and molecules, of interest in laser research and elsewhere.

Don't expect to power your home with "free energy" anytime soon, but it certainly has interesting implications for future research!

Related articles on Free Energy:

• Yet another perpetual motion generator (boingboing.net)
• The Urban Times " Nanomachines: The future of nanotechnology (theurbn.com)
• Surprising Efforts By Companies In Alternative Energy (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)

Alternative Energy Options for the Home

The trend toward homes that are powered by alternative energy sources, ranging from wind turbines and solar collection cells to hydrogen fuel cells and biomass gases, is one that needs to continue into the 21st century and beyond. We have great need of becoming more energy independent, and not having to rely on the supplying of fossil fuels from unstable nations who are often hostile to us and our interests. But even beyond this factor, we as individuals need to get “off the grid” and also stop having to be so reliant on government-lobbying giant oil corporations who, while they are not really involved in any covert conspiracy (in my opinion), nevertheless have a stranglehold on people when it comes to heating their homes (and if not through oil, then heat usually supplied by grid-driven electricity, another stranglehold).

Image via WikipediaAs Remi Wilkinson, Senior Analyst with Carbon Free, puts it, inevitably, the growth of distributed generation will lead to the restructuring of the retail electricity market and the generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. The power providers may have to diversify their business to make up for revenues lost through household energy microgeneration.

She is referring to the conclusions by a group of UK analysts, herself included among them, who call themselves Carbon Free. Carbon Free has been studying the ever-growing trend toward alternative energy-using homes in England and the West. This trend is being driven by ever-more government recommendation and sometimes backing of alternative energy research and development, the rising cost of oil and other fossil fuels, concern about environmental degradation, and desires to be energy independent.

Carbon Free concludes that, assuming traditional energy prices remain at their current level or rise, microgeneration (meeting all of one's home's energy needs by installing alternative energy technology such as solar panels or wind turbines) will become to home energy supply what the Internet became to home communications and data gathering, and eventually this will have deep effects on the businesses of the existing energy supply companies.

  Image via Wikipedia
Carbon Free's analyses also show that energy companies themselves have jumped in on the game and are seeking to leverage microgeneration to their own advantage for opening up new markets for themselves. Carbon Free cites the example of electricity companies (in the UK) reporting that they are seriously researching and developing ideas for new geothermal energy facilities, as these companies see geothermal energy production as a highly profitable wave of the future.

Another conclusion of Carbon Free is that solar energy hot water heating technology is an efficient technology for reducing home water heating costs in the long run, although it is initially quite expensive to install.  However, solar power is not yet cost-effective for many corporations, as they require too much in the way of specialized plumbing to implement solar energy hot water heating. Lastly, Carbon Free tells us that installing wind turbines is an       efficient way of reducing home electricity costs, while also being more independent. However, again this is initially a very expensive thing to have installed, and companies would do well to begin slashing their prices on these devices or they could find themselves losing market share.

 

Related articles on Alternative Energy:

• Alternative Energy: A Guide To Greening Your Home (techcrunch.com)
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