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Cities, States and Others Step up Action on Climate, Despite Federal Reluctance
Last year, Pentagon defense adviser Andrew Marshall issued a
harsh warning of the consequences of climate change: mass chaos,
national security crises and food shortages. If climate change
occurs abruptly, the report declared, there could be...
Clearing out hallways
The door and hallway is considered the mouth and throat of the home in feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of furniture placement and energy flow, so if yours is cluttered up with junk, your home is basically choking and you will feel depressed or...
Efficiency Equals Reduction
Efficiency Equals Reduction (400 words) Imagine that if at the grocery store the person bagging your purchases left empty, unused spaces in each bag causing you to carry 10 instead of 5 bags out to your car then into your home. You would be...
Sustainability Today
Sustainability Today
Achieving a sustainable lifestyle today is of paramount
importance for the health of future generations. The devastation
of our natural environment by individuals and corporations who
carelessly pollute the water and...
The "Reduce" of Recycle and Reuse
Most of us are familiar with recycle and reusing, but how often
do we think of the third R - REDUCE?
"Reduce" is probably the most important of the three Rs because,
if we reduced, it would limit the need to recycle and reuse. By
reducing,...
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Photovoltaic Systems - Energy from the Sky
As people search for alternatives to fossil fuel energy, solar
energy emerges as one of the cleanest and most practical sources
of electricity. Solar panels can be installed on rooftops or any
area that receives a lot of sunshine. The solar panels consist
of a photovoltaic system that converts the energy of the sun
into electricity.
Photovoltaic systems have existed since the 1950s but only in
recent years has the technology matured to the point of making
it a viable alternative to power utilities. Indeed, most solar
systems do not replace the utility company, instead they work in
conjunction with it to produce extra electricity that can be fed
back into the grid.
One of the main problems with solar power is storing it for use
during non-daylight hours. Batteries can be used but they are
expensive and have a limited life span. As an alternative,
excess solar electricity can be fed back to the power utility
company for a credit, and then power can be drawn when needed.
In a sense, the utility company becomes the storage device.
Most municipalities have legislation requiring power utility
companies to
accept electricity produced by solar panels or wind
turbines. This system benefits everyone - there is less
dependency on fossil fuel power plants and electricity costs are
reduced for owners of photovoltaic systems.
Photovoltaic cells produce electricity by using specially
treated materials such as silicon that convert light into power.
They can be of almost any size and are suitable for providing
electricity for small items such as calculators or watches right
up to complete industrial complexes. Because they can be wired
together, an array of solar cells can produce enough electricity
for residential or commercial needs.
The main requirement, of course, is sunlight. This makes solar
power most practical for southern areas such as California and
Arizona. But it can also be used in more northerly areas as a
backup power system. As the technology advances, photovoltaic
cells are able to produce usable amounts of electricity even in
low light conditions.
About the author:
Ross is the leading author of
http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/
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