Living in the quaint city of Luneburg has been a mind blowing experience... partly because they've made it such a bicycle friendly city. Let's look at how they actively encourage biking. I'll focus mainly on Luneburg, but you can find similar initiatives in other German towns. If you’re researching how make a city safe for […]
The idea of using clean energy always sounded appealing, however high costs meant it simply wasn't feasible for many people. That all changed in 2015 with a drop in solar panel installation costs, which made it easier for home owners to get on board. As a result, 2015 was a record breaking year for the […]
When it's time to upgrade your computer, it's important to take a little effort to find a good computer disposal and recycling service. Many areas will have a national computer recyling day, sometimes also called an E-day, where people can drop off old computers and peripehrals for recycling. The old computers are then picked up […]
From Einstein to space shuttles, to modern breakthroughs... the history of solar is an interesting one. Below we'll walk through a brief history of solar energy as it has developed throughout the years, starting back in 1767! If you want to know more about solar, check out these articles: How Solar Panels Work Advantages and […]
Water heating accounts for 30% of energy consumption, so is a great place to begin cutting back on fossil fuel consumption. What's more, solar water heating can be added fairly easily to homes... Let's explore... There are a number of options for a solar water heater; from purchasing ready-to-roll systems to making your own. The […]
Green building materials is an umbrella term for building materials that are manufactured using sustainable practices and resources, reduce allergies or toxins in the environment, or are green because they can be used in a sustainable manner. Below are a few of the latest green building materials on the market. Before purchasing, you can investigate […]
Alternative energy sources refers to non-fossil fuel energy, normally electricity. Let's explore them below. Alternative energies allow us to produce much needed electricity for homes, businesses, and cities to function in a manner that is environmentally friendly and sustainable. The most popular alternative energy sources are solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind power, hydro-electric, tidal, and […]
The last 20 years have seen massive developments for solar. Let's explore the key advantages and disadvantages of solar energy today. Advantages of Solar Energy 1. Reduced green house gases The first and foremost advantage of solar energy is that, beyond panel production, solar does not emit green house gases. Solar energy is produced by […]
Wind is a clean and infinite energy source, which can be a big piece of the energy puzzle. Here we'll walk through how wind energy works. A brief history Although modern wind turbines are new technology, harnessing wind energy is not a new concept. Throughout history we’ve harnessed the wind’s energy, with sail boats and […]
The term photovoltaic literally means light producing electricity. Turning photo (light) into voltaic (electrical current), is the basis of how solar panels work. So, photovoltaic efficiency refers to how efficiently a solar cell or solar module produces electricity. Photovoltaic efficiency describes the efficiency or conductivity of solar panels - the percentage of radiation (sun) energy […]