Energy Saving » enough http://sludgie.net blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:33:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Q&A: OVER ITS LIFETIME, CAN A WIND TURBINE MAKE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO PRODUCE ANOTHER WIND TURBINE? http://sludgie.net/3415/qa-over-its-lifetime-can-a-wind-turbine-make-enough-electricity-to-produce-another-wind-turbine/ http://sludgie.net/3415/qa-over-its-lifetime-can-a-wind-turbine-make-enough-electricity-to-produce-another-wind-turbine/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:36:52 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/3415/qa-over-its-lifetime-can-a-wind-turbine-make-enough-electricity-to-produce-another-wind-turbine/ Question by Dr.T:
Over its lifetime, can a wind turbine make enough electricity to produce another wind turbine?


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Answer by molkey
Yes of course.*

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]]> http://sludgie.net/3415/qa-over-its-lifetime-can-a-wind-turbine-make-enough-electricity-to-produce-another-wind-turbine/feed/ 0 DO YOU THINK WIND OR SOLAR WILL EVER PROVIDE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY FOR LARGE SOUTHERN CITIES IN THE SUMMER? http://sludgie.net/3290/do-you-think-wind-or-solar-will-ever-provide-enough-electricity-for-large-southern-cities-in-the-summer/ http://sludgie.net/3290/do-you-think-wind-or-solar-will-ever-provide-enough-electricity-for-large-southern-cities-in-the-summer/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:38:44 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/3290/do-you-think-wind-or-solar-will-ever-provide-enough-electricity-for-large-southern-cities-in-the-summer/ Question by PO’d:
Do you think wind or solar will ever provide enough electricity for massive southern cities in the summer?
Cities with millions of people running air conditioners along with everything else?


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Answer by LJ
yes- several years down the road..

Answer by smsmith500
In a word, no.

Answer by Kodiak
It can provide all you want right on your property. You do not have to wait for the government to make a “factory” and send you a bill for the stuff.

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]]> http://sludgie.net/3290/do-you-think-wind-or-solar-will-ever-provide-enough-electricity-for-large-southern-cities-in-the-summer/feed/ 6 WILL CHANGING THE LIGHTBULBS FROM 100 WATTS TO 75 WATTS REALLY SAVE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO MAKE IT WORTH WHILE? http://sludgie.net/3122/will-changing-the-lightbulbs-from-100-watts-to-75-watts-really-save-enough-electricity-to-make-it-worth-while/ http://sludgie.net/3122/will-changing-the-lightbulbs-from-100-watts-to-75-watts-really-save-enough-electricity-to-make-it-worth-while/#comments Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:33:06 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/3122/will-changing-the-lightbulbs-from-100-watts-to-75-watts-really-save-enough-electricity-to-make-it-worth-while/ Question by broomy:
Will changing the lightbulbs from 100 watts to 75 watts really save enough electricity to make it worth while?
Or is it just a waste of time and good lighting?


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Answer by tercir2006
Yes, but you are room would be dimmer.

Try using those energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs that screw in just like regular bulbs. I use 22 watts of electricity and get nearly 100 watts equivalent light. That is a Real huge saving.

Answer by Jim S
Change it out for one of these flourescent ones, if you can stand the weird light. THAT is worthwhile.

Answer by just me
I find myself turning on an extra lamp just to see! So I do not know if it really saves electricity, because now you are turning on 2 lamps!

I like to read, so I need it brighter at night

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]]> http://sludgie.net/3122/will-changing-the-lightbulbs-from-100-watts-to-75-watts-really-save-enough-electricity-to-make-it-worth-while/feed/ 10 CAN I BUY ONE SOLAR PANEL AND SIMPLY INSTALL IT MYSELF TO GENERATE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN ONE SMALL HEATER? http://sludgie.net/2933/can-i-buy-one-solar-panel-and-simply-install-it-myself-to-generate-enough-power-to-run-one-small-heater-2/ http://sludgie.net/2933/can-i-buy-one-solar-panel-and-simply-install-it-myself-to-generate-enough-power-to-run-one-small-heater-2/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:35:20 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/2933/can-i-buy-one-solar-panel-and-simply-install-it-myself-to-generate-enough-power-to-run-one-small-heater-2/ Question by Marc G:
Can I purchase one solar panel and simply install it myself to generate enough power to run one small heater?
I dont want to yet convert my whole home to Solar – but i thought it must be simple enough to purchase one panel for a few hundred dollars that could run a small heater in my home just to keep the chill down – any suggestions?


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Answer by Blub blub blub
ya, use this calculator. might be more $ $ than you think

http://www.bigfrogmountain.com/calculators/solarpanelsrequired.htm

Answer by a05vma2
Also you have to factor in how much energy you will need to store to be able to run your heater for a given lenght of time. In short, how many batteries you need to bank enough energy to run the heater for state 6 hours? How about the wattage of the inverter required to convert 12v into household voltage to run your heater?

There are formulas available on the web to help you compute all this.

Answer by Abdu Rahim
Not really sure what the current prices on photovoltaic panels are, but dang they are steep. Last time I checked, they were like 500 bucks for a 45 Watt panel.

Consider: A standard plug-in space heater uses 500-750 watts on low setting (depending on the model). You’d need a dozen panels to run it, and then only when you are getting full sun! If you wanted to store any juice for when the sun goes down, add more panels, AND a bank of batteries for storage.

A small (500-1000 Watt) windmill is actually more cost-effective; the windmill itself running $ 500-1000. And, rather than use it for a heater, I’d advocate getting a 12VDC or 24VDC (or whatever is appropriate for the windmill you get) water heater element for your hot water heater, and use it to produce your domestic hot water! That is the second-biggest energy cost in the house, after heating!

But, back to heat: The ideal bang for your buck can be had from more insulation!

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]]> http://sludgie.net/2933/can-i-buy-one-solar-panel-and-simply-install-it-myself-to-generate-enough-power-to-run-one-small-heater-2/feed/ 4 WHEN THE WIND STOPS HOW WILL THE INEFFICIENT WIND MILLS MAKE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY? http://sludgie.net/2889/when-the-wind-stops-how-will-the-inefficient-wind-mills-make-enough-electricity/ http://sludgie.net/2889/when-the-wind-stops-how-will-the-inefficient-wind-mills-make-enough-electricity/#comments Sun, 15 May 2011 14:38:13 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/2889/when-the-wind-stops-how-will-the-inefficient-wind-mills-make-enough-electricity/ Question by J. Galt:
When the wind stops how will the inefficient wind mills make enough electricity?
You cannot store it you know.


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Answer by Brian
The wind will not stop and of course you can store it, they are called batteries..

Answer by joe4912004
Which ones? Where are they? Even the old ones can create and store energy. You just attach microelectronics to manage what is generated.

Answer by 8***L
We just have to hope that the politicians can make enough “hot air” to keep the wind mills running.

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]]> http://sludgie.net/2889/when-the-wind-stops-how-will-the-inefficient-wind-mills-make-enough-electricity/feed/ 12 CAN WIND CREATE ELECTRICITY IF IT MOVES FAST ENOUGH? http://sludgie.net/2658/can-wind-create-electricity-if-it-moves-fast-enough/ http://sludgie.net/2658/can-wind-create-electricity-if-it-moves-fast-enough/#comments Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:36:52 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/2658/can-wind-create-electricity-if-it-moves-fast-enough/ Question by Presson:
can wind create electricity if it moves fast enough?
meaning no turbines and stuff just by its self. no wind mill.


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Answer by darkskies4evr
It can create ‘static electricity’, as in lightning, which is produced by opposing columns of high velocity air generating friction as they pass by each other in thunderstorms.

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]]> http://sludgie.net/2658/can-wind-create-electricity-if-it-moves-fast-enough/feed/ 0 Q&A: CAN A SOLAR PANEL FACING NORTH GENERATE ENOUGH ENERGY? http://sludgie.net/1969/qa-can-a-solar-panel-facing-north-generate-enough-energy/ http://sludgie.net/1969/qa-can-a-solar-panel-facing-north-generate-enough-energy/#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:35:20 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/1969/qa-can-a-solar-panel-facing-north-generate-enough-energy/ Question by ccwalker_uwp:
Can a solar panel facing north generate enough energy?
My family and I will be moving into a loft in January. We will be on the top level and will have two sections of three overhead windows. The windows are at a 45-degree angle and facing north. If I place a solar panel at the same angle and facing the same direction as the windows, will I be able to harness enough energy from the sun? Or should I find another location for a solar panel, such as the south facing windows (perpendicular to the ground)? If you need more information, just let me know.


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Answer by Waas up
If you do not have SE, S or SW exposure solar is not a viable option. As long as you are in the northern hemisphere.

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]]> http://sludgie.net/1969/qa-can-a-solar-panel-facing-north-generate-enough-energy/feed/ 4 I AM CONSIDERING A SOLAR PANELS. HOW CAN I TELL IF MY AREA GETS ENOUGH SOLAR ENERGY A YEAR TO BE WORTHWHILE? http://sludgie.net/1889/i-am-considering-a-solar-panels-how-can-i-tell-if-my-area-gets-enough-solar-energy-a-year-to-be-worthwhile-2/ http://sludgie.net/1889/i-am-considering-a-solar-panels-how-can-i-tell-if-my-area-gets-enough-solar-energy-a-year-to-be-worthwhile-2/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:36:17 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/1889/i-am-considering-a-solar-panels-how-can-i-tell-if-my-area-gets-enough-solar-energy-a-year-to-be-worthwhile-2/ Question by evelina rolon:
I am considering a solar panels. How can I tell if my area gets enough solar energy a year to be worthwhile?
I want to know how I can determine my area’s (Rochester NY) yearly solar energy output to see if it would make economic sense to install solar panels. Any websites or resources where I can look?


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Answer by shaniqua
If you are looking for the cheapest electrical power available solar panels are not going to be what you want.

Roughly solar panels will supply electrical power costing about 3-10 times more than what you can buy from your local electrical company when averaged over the 20-25 year life of any solar panels.

Go look at how much you spend for your electricity in a single year. Then go look at how many solar panels you can buy for this amount of cash (In my case I spend about 00 each year for power).

This means that economic “sense” must be tempered with some other desire for the solar panels.

I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:

http://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/

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]]> http://sludgie.net/1889/i-am-considering-a-solar-panels-how-can-i-tell-if-my-area-gets-enough-solar-energy-a-year-to-be-worthwhile-2/feed/ 4 ANYONE KNOW HOWTO MAKE A SOLAR PANEL BIG ENOUGH TO POWER MY COMPUTER A LIGHT AND MY CELL PHONE? http://sludgie.net/1185/anyone-know-howto-make-a-solar-panel-big-enough-to-power-my-computer-a-light-and-my-cell-phone/ http://sludgie.net/1185/anyone-know-howto-make-a-solar-panel-big-enough-to-power-my-computer-a-light-and-my-cell-phone/#comments Thu, 20 May 2010 22:29:47 +0000 admin and possibly a window fan. I want to make one for each room in the house. I might as well use the energy for free.. I dont want the money back… ‘The reverse meter gag’ I just want to be able to live more green

]]> http://sludgie.net/1185/anyone-know-howto-make-a-solar-panel-big-enough-to-power-my-computer-a-light-and-my-cell-phone/feed/ 3 IS THERE A SMALL SOLAR PANEL AVAILABLE THAT WOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN A SMALL SPACE HEATER OR FAN? http://sludgie.net/479/is-there-a-small-solar-panel-available-that-would-provide-enough-power-to-run-a-small-space-heater-or-fan/ http://sludgie.net/479/is-there-a-small-solar-panel-available-that-would-provide-enough-power-to-run-a-small-space-heater-or-fan/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:27:51 +0000 admin http://sludgie.net/479/is-there-a-small-solar-panel-available-that-would-provide-enough-power-to-run-a-small-space-heater-or-fan/ I live in a townhouse and the association doesn’t grant roof top solar panels or anything that is visible from the street.

]]> http://sludgie.net/479/is-there-a-small-solar-panel-available-that-would-provide-enough-power-to-run-a-small-space-heater-or-fan/feed/ 4