How to go green

Renewable energy types

The types of renewable energy available on the market today are wind power, solar power, hydro power and biomass. Over 750 utility companies across the United States offered green energy options at the end of 2007. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are available for those consumers who do not currently have an option for green energy with their utility company. RECs represent clean, renewable energy, and consumers who purchase them increase the amount of available green energy by decreasing the request for nonrenewable energy.

About Green Wind Energy

With global temperatures on the rise and the concern that human emissions of greenhouses gases are a leading cause of the rise in global temperatures a large emphasis as been placed upon increasing so called "green energy." Green energy typically refers to any type of rewnewable energy source which does not pollute the environment, such as hydroelectric power, solar power and wind power. Wind power is the harnessing of the kinetic energy of moving air to produce mechanical or electrical energy. The use of wind power has been around for centuries in the form of windmills which originally wind to drive a mechanism to grind grain. Wind energy has also historically been harnessed by ships with sails for propulsion. While wind energy is considered green, there is some environmental impact associated with the energy needed to create and install turbines. After turbines are installed, environmental impact of wind energy is extremely minimal.

Wind Energy Generation

Modern wind energy generation is done in a way similar to the original grinding and water pumping windmills. A typical wind energy generator consists of a tall bladed wind turbine, with fairly long and slender blades. Turbines blades are usually made of lightweight rigid materials which allow for the greatest energy production, such as fiberglass and aluminum. Blades are constructed with precise aerodynamics so that wind passing across them create as much drag and impart as much force into the rotation of the blades as possible. When wind forces the blades to rotate, which in turn rotates a shaft that drives a generator to create electricity. The electricity is then routed from the turbine into the electrical power grid.

Wind Energy Optimization

Since wind turbines can be extremely large, expensive and take energy to create and install, it is important that their placement and usage maximizes efficiency. Wind turbines are usually placed in wide open areas where there are few obstructions to wind, such as trees, mountains or buildings. Turbines are often placed in wide open fields on such as farmland, or offshore, with blades that rise above the surface of the water. Oftentimes many wind turbines are grouped together in the same area, which are often called wind farms. Wind turbines can also have the ability to move, in order for the blades to face the wind in the most efficiency orientation at all times, and on some turbines the blade can shift positions. Blade height is also a key factor for energy optimization, since wind speeds tend to be greater higher off the ground, increasing the height of a turbine can significantly increase energy production.

First steps in going green in Your home

Consider replacing your lawn with an environmentally friendly landscape. Rocks, paving stones and evergreen shrubs can create beautiful spaces without the need for excessive watering and mowing. If you can't live without grass, replace your traditional mower with an electric one and experiment with other types of greenery like clover, ornamental grass and wild strawberries.

Follow nature's lead on bug-eradication by installing birdhouses, bat houses and releasing egg cases of Praying Mantises and Green Lacewings into your outdoor spaces. This will help control your pest problem without pesticides. Survival of the fittest, after all, has worked for millions of years.

Replace your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent. There have been many advances made in lighting over the last decade and you should no longer fear the sallow blue flickering of fluorescent lights. Fluorescent bulbs are extremely energy efficient and are now available in warm bright options. If you're replacing 60-watt bulbs, use a CFL of 870 lumen and for 75-watt bulbs use 1200 lumen. For warm, flattering and gentle light make sure to buy bulbs ranging from 2,500 to 10,000K.

Save energy and conserve water by making small changes. Turn off the lights when you leave a room, don't leave the water running when you're brushing your teeth, and unplug "ghost loaders" (equipment that uses energy when it's not on, like the TV, computer and clocks).