DIY Solar Energy Reviewed

You find what you are looking for inside when you actually purchase the GreenDIYEnergy guide. I’ll give you a quick review on this product and how I built a solar panel all by myself.

Every aspect of solar panel building is covered and utterly comprehensive. The video that was included helped me the most because I could do the steps together as I watched the video. It gave me confidence to refer back to the video if I had any problems. This provided me with step-by-step directions to help understand the process. I did have to pause it a couple of times to catch up but i was happy to find out it offered more than just diagrams.

The hands down winner is GreenDIYEnergy because GreenDIYEnergy shows that actually video rather then diagrams.

I was able to find the materials for the a lot less, after researching how to build solar panels, I was able to build one for $98. There was actually stuff that was on sale at Home Depot that allowed me to build a solar panel for under $100. Take a look at this: $86 was my grand total that it took my to build a solar panel at home..

I like how this kit provides you with other projects that you can do besides building solar panels. You can also build wind turbines and learn how to have a smaller carbon footprint. Part of the profits are used for research and development for updates, so it is frequently updated. I don’t have experience with the wind generators, but the solar panel I build is powering the light that’s lighting up this room.

It felt good to tell my neighbors that I no longer need to pay the electric company because of the solar panels I built. My neighbor keeps asking to build a solar panel for him. I recommended greendiyenergy to him and he will try it this weekend. My conclusion is that the Power 4 Home is the best product for do it yourself home energy. After reading some Greendiyenergy reviews, I knew it was the sure thing. I went home and built my first solar panel.

Get this guide in order to reduce your carbon footprint, save energy and spend less on utility bills. Good luck with your green endeavors, and I hope to see your first solar panel build on your roof.

The first thing you need to do to be frugal is by cutting back on your expenses. You should keep your monthly costs to a minimal amount There are the payments laying on your desk not being paid every month. These bills add up every month and can seem daunting at times. For example, a water bill for a month could easily by $150 for a household and it doesn’t seem that bad to pay out. That small monthly payment may not seem that much in a few months, but add that up over time and you’ll see numbers in the 6 figures and more. Don’t you think that it is a huge amount of cash? Without a doubt it is a ton of wealth. Think about what you could purchase with that extra money. There is almost nothing out of reach that you could not purchase for that sum of money. The trick is to curtail your spending and be cheap about your repeat bills.

Seeing the gas and electric bill rise is no happy feet. It is one of those payments that you want to slash. This is one of the first lessions in being frugal You have to have electricity in your home so you cannot just shut it off for good. The thing to do is to reduce the amount of electricity that you are using now.

After reading some GreenDIY Energy reviews on wind turbines, I thought that I could make my own.

Once that day comes when you can tell the electric company that you can produce your own energy, then you don’t need to be paying them every month. You can choose between other alternatives such as wind energy and solar energy. You may have heard that solar panels and the installation of them is extremely expensive, so you may not have looked at it as using renewable resources to help you bring down costs. The installation alone of solar panels can run from 1000 to 10,000 dollars, which is awfully expensive. That amount of money is too much for most people to spend in one sitting.

The best part is that solar panels are getting cheaper and cheaper and more affordable. Technology has made electronics less expensive as they come out with newer and better ways at manufacturing parts.

I was first convinced with a Power4 Home review and then tried it out. Some people on the interweb said that Power 4 Home is a scam but it is untrue.

I wish you the best of luck when you make your solar panels at home and save money from the electric company. Let’s save the environment together. Thank you very much for taking your time to go through this article.

One of the easiest ways to add to your business’ bottom line is to improve building efficiency.  As energy costs continue to rise, improving efficiency can result in significant savings, even though the initial investment may seem like a lot. A restaurant supplies a great example.  Because most energy is used in the kitchen, owners forget that significant savings can be realized in the rest of the building as well.  

Some tips to help you manage those costs:

Use fans instead of the central unit. For every degree you adjust your thermostat, you can save 4% – 5% on heating or cooling bills.  Energy Star rated ceiling fans are a great way to circulate air and allow you to turn your thermostat up or down depending on the time of year.  Use fans to bring in cooler outside air when you need to cool things down, or use them to circulate hot air from the kitchen when you need to heat things up.

Conduct regular maintenance on central air units. Clean the heat transfer coils on air conditioning every month.  Clean or replace air filters regularly.  A dirty air filter not only makes the unit work harder, but it can affect the air quality in your building as well.

Repair and seal ducting. Leaky ducts means the air you spent all that money heating or cooling is escaping before it gets to your customer.  Regularly check ducts for leaks and seal them as needed.  Set up a service contract with a local company to check and service ducts and the central air unit if you don’t have the time or energy for do-it-yourself.

Install an Energy Star thermostat. Programmable thermostats automatically reduce heating or cooling for non-business hours, saving you money and time over a manual thermostat.

Use windows to your advantage. Ideally, you should use Energy Star rated windows with the proper solar energy heat gain coefficient (SHGC).  Low SHGC windows are used in places with long, hot summers to minimize solar heat and reduce cooling costs.  High SHGC windows are used where there is a long, cold winter to maximize solar heat and reduce heating costs.  If you are remodeling or starting a new business, use Energy Star to help you select energy efficient windows.

Since budgets and buildings usually aren’t in sync, use the following tips to help you make do with what you have:

Use a UV-resistant window film, blinds, and curtains to insulate and reduce heat gain.  These techniques vary in cost and effectiveness, with the best solution probably being a combination according to your specific needs.  No matter what, use something that allows you to block sunlight when it’s hot and add an extra layer or insulation when it’s cold.

Have new windows professionally installed. Framing and insulating new windows can make a huge difference in heating or cooling loss.  Also caulk and seal existing windows annually to maintain an airtight barrier between your customers and outside weather.

Buy Energy Star skylights and doors. Just like with your windows, regularly check and seal doors and skylights to minimize air leaks and reduce your heating and cooling costs.

Taking a little time to improve your building’s energy efficiency can definitely pay off in the long run.  Don’t forget to check for tax rebates and other incentives from state and local governments when you investigate ways to make your business building more energy efficient.

My first concern before purchasing a DIY guide for solar panels was getting scammed.

Magniworks is a great way to build magnetic generators at home to avoid paying the electric bill.

I’m not very technical, so I wanted to be sure that I would use the DIY guide and make the solar panels without pulling out my hair.

Check out these instructions on how to build a small wind turbine.

Learning how to make a solar panel and not get ripped off. The main thing for me was that the company would stand behind their DIY Energy guides if I encountered any problems. All of them seemed to have a guarantee. Some were 30 days and some were 60 days. It was on thing to talk from your mouth just to make a sale, but I wanted to be sure they the company actually backed up their claim and fully supported the guarantee. I did the next best thing and that was to see what other people had going on.

I wanted a neutral perspective so I didn’t look at those pages trying to sell me their own product. I was astonished to find out that some of the companies I was looking at didn’t even bother with customer support and didn’t get high grades. Although it took some time, those dissatisfied customers, some of them got a refund. I finally found the two guides that weren’t cross off my list because they actually provided good customer support.

Would I get frustrated and give up making the solar panels? To be brutally honest, my next biggest issue was that I wouldn’t be able to make the solar panels by myself. I had no unique technical background or anything of that sort. In fact, I work in a grocery store and that’s got to be the least technical job ever. I wanted to build for sure that these DIY guides were easy to understand and didn’t leave anything out. I didn’t want to fully believe the site when they said that even a thirteen year old could build it. They could have been making that up. I didn’t want to just take what they said for face value so I did some more research.

My conclusion is that the Power 4 Home is the best product for do it yourself home energy.

So what I did this time was no different than the last time. I went to look at reviews again. I checked out videos on how they were made and also the steps I needed to take.

I didn’t want to worry anymore and just know for sure that I could make my own solar panel I messaged more to these senior forum members to see what they thought. Some of them have heard of the Do-It-Yourself solar projects and made it themselves. Here is the top list of how to make solar panel guides. Take a look on how I used GreenDIY energy to make solar panels.

As time marches on, the negative impact caused to our wonderful planet by the human race is becoming increasingly apparent.

That’s probably the understatement of the year so far!

We can all individually do small things to counteract or reduce the perpetual damage we are causing.

Recycling, for example has been made simple for us both at home and at the office. It is effective and easy  and we’ve known about it for years .

There are facilities in place to recycle our plastic, glass and metal items. This can be effected at home and by taking the items to a local depot or to convenient recycling areas

We can all save power by turning off lights in empty rooms or offices. We can learn to switch off power sources to various appliances and not leave them on ‘standby’.

It is not necessary to eat and drink from disposable plates and cups . Some materials from which these are made may be biodegradable but plenty are not.  A china cup improves the pleasure of drinking a cup of coffee or tea immeasurably. This alone offers real benefit to the consumer.

Bottled water is a total waste of our resources when good, clean, drinkable water is so readily available to all.  Recent reports show that the amount of plastic waste from packaging generated each year in the UK alone is estimated at 1.5 million tonnes.  Reducing that figure would do wonders for our environment.

Email is a boon to society and  thanks to the ‘information age’ we can share our ideas, news items, jokes and anecdotes with everyone without the use of paper resources. Just remember not to print! Very few  emails are so important that we need a copy to keep for posterity .

A significant move towards being ‘eco aware’ in the workplace is the use of recycled materials in the production of office furniture. 

A product called Wheatboard has been introduced. It is a by product of wheat straw and would normally  be discarded and burnt or disposed of in landfill sites . It uses no formaldehyde in it’s construction and when produced into boards, is incredibly versatile as it may be sealed, painted, varnished etc and shaped into many designs.

It’s qualities of being lightweight and extremely durable have made it a viable alternative to wood and a renewable material perfect  for manufacturing  office desks, cabinets and cupboards as well as furniture items for the home.

We can all become ‘eco aware’ both  at home or work with just  a little thought and practical application.

The new Carroll ISD middle school will be one of the greenest schools in the state when it opens in fall 2011.

The district received a $2 million State Energy Conservation Office grant through the state comptroller’s office. There was $32 million in SECO grants available and Carroll received the maximum amount allowed. The district must pay $1 million in matching funds.

Superintendent David Faltys said the money will be used to install a 40,000-50,000 square foot solar array on the building. Faltys said the panels should pay for themselves in 6-8 years.

“With this grant it will put our district at the forefront of utilizing green energy strategies,” said Faltys. “We will make the building as energy efficient as possible. We believe this will be the largest solar array on any school in the state and possibly the largest east of the Grand Canyon.”

In addition to the solar panels, the school also has other design elements to help cut down on energy costs. Faltys said most of the large windows face north and the south-facing windows feature awnings. Also, many of the inside areas of the school – such as the library — are lit with natural light when possible. Faltys said artificial lights could be on sensors and would come on when needed, but if it was sunny outside, the skylights would let in all of the light that is needed.

The district will also heat and cool water with an innovative process.

“The biggest thing is that we are going to use geothermal energy for heating and cooling of water,” said Faltys. “There will be between 1,200-1,400 wells, each 250-300 feet deep, drilled on the property. Water will be constantly pumped up and down to keep it around 68 degrees which makes heating and cooling easier. Some estimates say we could save 30 percent on the energy cost per year.”

The new campus, located on Kirkwood Boulevard, is under construction and should be completed in June 2011 before opening in August.

The Icelandic volcanic dust spewing over northern Europe is prompting the question, “How can I protect my computer equipment from volcanic dust?” The high volume of air necessary for cooling a computer unit makes them especially susceptible to the ravages of dust. And Europeans are beginning to see that dust is not their friend. It can cause irreversible damage and/or result in costly computer repairs.

Nearly all of us use various machines and equipment in our daily lives. The machine  often most important for our daily work is the computer. Computers and laptops have to be kept free from dust and water to keep them running smoothly. If your computer malfunctions, it can result in lost business and work. If you are concerned about protecting your computers from volcanic dust, you need to look for options.

Some people will prefer the enclosure or cabinet type of computer cover for their electronic items. Buying a cabinet like this is an option if you have the money to spend and don’t mind the space that extra furniture takes up. So, if you have free cash and space,you can get an enclosure or a cabinet made for storing your computer and filtering dust. This will keep your equipment safe from volcanic dust as well as the normal, every-day dust. But this isn’t a foolproof option as dust can seep into the cabinet over a period of time. This can happen when you open the cabinet and dust circulating in the room settles on the equipment. Secondly, computer enclosures generally have dust filters that must be replaced regularly, which adds additional expense.

Another way to protect your computers from volcanic dust is to use plastic, vinyl or nylon covers. This is an option for when the equipment is shut down, but the covers must be removed before powering up the equipment.

Perhaps the best option for keeping volcanic dust at bay is to use a computer dust bag, like the ShopShield by Computer Dust Solutions. These covers are highly breathable, which enables you to entirely cover your CPU, monitor or printer in the cover, even while it is running. This is true, 100% 24/7 protection for your computer equipment. The equipment is exposed to dust at no time. Also, the dust bag is relatively inexpensive, so after the volcanic dust threat has passed you can discard them without major heartburn.

Use one of these methods to protect your computers from volcanic dust and and you can be assured you have done what is necessary to protect your equipment and your livelihood. 

Here at Autopia, we have long been smitten by Volkswagen’s BlueMotion equipped models. Whether they’ve been BlueMotion Golfs or diesel hybrids or BlueMotion VWs making it into Green Car of The Year finalists, it has always seemed like a really good engine to us.

It seems that it’s not just the crew at Autopia that feel that way, but so does the World Car of The Year organization, who have just awarded Volkswagen’s BlueMotion brand the 2010 World Green Car of the Year Award.

Volkswagen’s BlueMotion cars are comprised of the Golf, Passat, and Polo models fitted with ultra efficient and relatively clean burning diesel engines.

The award for Green Car of The Year was given by 59 World Car jurors representing 25 countries throughout the world. The jury gave the top award to the BlueMotion brand over the two other finalists in the 2010 World Green Car award, the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.

“It is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency. Based on Volkswagen’s common-rail diesel engines, the BlueMotion models are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. In fact, the Passat BlueMotion can travel just about 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel in the European cycle. As far as internal combustion engines go today, these models are the ultimate you can get,” said the juror’s award statement.

Volkswagen was, naturally, quite proud of receiving this accolade: “BlueMotion is one of the most successful efficiency brands worldwide. It stands for tremendous competence in efficient and economical drive trains at Volkswagen,” Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, said.

The trophy was picked up at this year’s New York International Auto Show on Thursday morning by Walter de’Silva, head of design for Volkswagen Group.

St. Patrick’s Day may have passed but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop being green. Spring is very near and you may be trying to decide what to do with your old car, why not donate your car to a green charity? When you donate your car to an environmentally friendly charity you’re doing much more than earn some extra money on your taxes. You are helping to improve the condition of the planet by reducing defilement.  

Green charities recycle donated cars and disposed of whatever leftover materials there may be safely and efficiently which creates a healthier living space for all us. The metal portions of the car are usually melted down and turned into new materials. The fluids that kept the car going while it was being used like the brake and wiper fluid, oil and antifreeze are disposed of safely as to prevent them from leaking into the air and soil. Junk yards don’t dispose of the liquid materials or leftover scrap metal; instead the car is compacted down to a large blob of metal and left to decompose while damaging the planet for many years to come. Donating your vehicle to a green charity that will properly recycle the materials can prevent such unnecessary events from occurring.

If you’re thinking about holding on to your old car that is no longer in the best condition because the weather is breaking don’t risk the possibility of breaking your back and your wallet and you’ll finally be able to work on it, don’t. Often times car improvements done at home don’t go as plan if they ever happen at all. During the process of attempting to fix the car harmful chemicals can leak into the soil and damage the ecosystem if not properly handled. Not mention the money that may be thrown away on a car that wasn’t worth repairing. Save yourself some time and money by donating your vehicle to the green charity of your choice today.

CIBC has become the first major Canadian bank to form an investment team focused on green energy and clean technology markets, forging a path that industry experts say is likely to be followed by its big-bank rivals.

Canada’s fifth-largest bank announced Tuesday it has appointed Don Roberts, a former managing director and forestry analyst at CIBC World Markets Inc., as vice-chairman of the new wholesale banking team.

Roberts told the Star the decision sends a clear signal to the market and internally at the bank that renewable energy and clean technologies are more than a passing investment fad.

“We’re really looking at a structural change in the economy to low-carbon energy sources,” he said. “So this isn’t just to take advantage of a short cycle. This is a long-term move for us.”

The 10-person team plans to offer a range of wholesale services, including pre-IPO private placements, project financing, public equity issues and corporate loans. It will also advise on mergers and acquisitions.

Tom Rand, head of the clean technology practice at Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District, said CIBC’s plan to more aggressively pursue the market – including everything from solar and wind projects to water technologies to biochemical production – could send ripples through the sector.

“The big banks don’t like to put their foot out first, but they also like to move in lock-step,” said Rand. “CIBC making the first move will certainly force the other four to move.”

The big banks have dabbled, but as Roberts explained, most of the activity has taken place in “silos” and not as part of a coordinated plan. For this reason, Canada banks have been labelled laggards relative to their European peers.

The opportunities of getting into the game now are still enormous. Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that global expenditure on renewable energy projects alone will reach $150 billion (U.S.) in 2020, up from $90 billion in 2009. By 2030, the research firm predicts the market will reach $200 billion.

Progressive provincial policies in Canada, including Ontario’s Green Energy Act and feed-in-tariff program and B.C.’s carbon tax and forthcoming Clean Energy Act, are creating a long pipeline of renewable energy projects that will need billions of dollars in financing.

Meanwhile, venture investments are on the rise again after being hammered in 2009. Clean technology companies raised $1.9 billion during the first quarter of 2010, up 29 per cent from the previous quarter and 83 per cent from the same period a year ago, according to market research firm Cleantech Group.

Roberts said only $35 million in venture capital was raised by Canadian companies in the quarter. “It’s not great,” he said. “Clearly in Canada finance has been a problem. The whole financial community has to educate itself on this.”

Nicholas Parker, co-founder and executive chairman of the Cleantech Group, called CIBC’s new focus on the market “timely.” He said there’s no reason Toronto can’t become North America’s top centre for eco-financing, in the same way Canada’s largest city is the continent’s mining finance capital.

“This (CIBC announcement) can be the thing that sparks it,” said Parker.

The Toronto Stock Exchange is getting ready. The parent company of Canada’s senior stock exchange announced March 25 that it had partnered with credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s to create a new clean technology index.

Roberts said CIBC plans to recruit for this new index. “Clearly our focus will be Canadian, but also taking other technology companies in the U.S. and elsewhere and bringing them to the TSX.”

Added Roberts: “I feel passionately that there’s opportunity here.”