What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is an infinite energy source.  Essentially, power can be produced over and over and never runs out, and is usually harnessed from the many forces of nature.

Below are eight types of renewable energy sources available, as well as a brief explanation of how they generate power.

Wind

Wind turbines turn kinetic energy from the wind into an electric current.

Solar

This is where sunlight is captured through solar panels and converted into electricity.

Tidal

The movement of tides generate turbines which in turn generates energy. This is probably one of the most reliable renewable energy sources compared to wind and solar.

Wave

Wave energy captures the force of wind generated by waves.

Hydrological/hydroelectric

This is energy harnessed from the movement of water in rivers, lakes and Dams.

Geothermal

This uses the natural heat of the earth in volcanic regions.  Water is pumped underground which is then converted into steam.

Biomass

This is organic material which can be burned and used as energy. Examples of this include rapeseed which is converted into oil, then after treatment can be used as fuel in diesel engines.  This energy type is sustainable if crops are replanted.   

Wood

Trees are cultivated and chopped down and burned to generate heat and light.  This is deemed as renewable if trees are replaced, although this energy source is not very environmentally friendly as burning of wood emits Co2 which contributes towards global warming, unless trees are replanted to absorb the harmful gases emitted.

How can I make a difference?

With the rise of fuel and utility costs and the threat of global warming evermore in the spotlight, renewable energy is fast becoming the cheaper and cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuel sources such as oil and gas. 

If you are considering renewable energy in order to reduce your heating bills and to decrease your carbonfootprint, there are many options available for homes and businesses, including:-

Biomass boilers – These use wood as a fuel source.  As long as the wood is from a sustainable source, these are very environmentally friendly as newly replanted trees absorb carbon dioxide which is released from burning wood.  The government set up a scheme called ‘Renewable Heat Incentive’ which pays for every kWh of heat produced by a biomass boiler.

Air source heat pumps – These absorb heat from the outside air which can then be used to heat water and radiators.  These devices can extract heat from the air, even if the temperature is as low as -15c!

  

Solar Panels - So far, 450,000households in the UK have solar panels installed, making it one of the most popular choices for renewable energy.  Solar panels capture the suns energy which is then converted to electricity.  Since solar power is a green energy, it doesn’t release any harmful toxins into the atmosphere and is very reliable, providing you have a south facing roof on your home in order to capture the maximum amount of light.

Solar thermal heating systems - Unlike solar panels which capture the light, solar thermal heating systems uses the heat from the sun to heat water in domestic and commercial premises.  The performance of these devices depends on climate, so if there is a cold weather, the extraction of heat from the sun may be impeded.

These are just some of the ways that householders and business owners can help the environment and save money, however simple changes such as watching your energy consumption and being mindful about the products that you buy, will mean you are making a difference for your finances and the planet.

This is a guest post provided for www.riablahgs.com's readers.

Recycling Your Magazines and Newspapers

I have the bad habit of buying magazines and newspapers every chance I get. I just keep them stacked in my bookshelves. Even my magazine display rack is not enough to hold the number of magazines and newspapers I have collected over the years.

So, I decided to leave some magazines by putting them on the coffee table for our guests to read. The newspapers came very handy too in terms of using them as glass cleaners and counter top wiper. In all fairness, the newspapers did a good job making my sliding doors clean and shiny and I didn't have to buy any glass cleaner. Just a bit of soap and water and the good old newspaper trick.

The rest of my magazine collection is under my bed to add more support on the pillars. And I have already made up my mind that come I will be giving them to the recycling experts.

Earth Hour 2011

Don't forget to participate please. We only get to do this once in a year. It would be great to do this every day at least and see the difference we can all make.

Earth Hour 2011 is on March 26! Please switch off your lights for an hour (or extend it for another half an hour more!) at 8:30 p.m, your local time.

Let's do this!

Public Commuter

It's been a very long time since I last took the public transportation. I either drive or carpool. However, it is inevitable for me to use the public transportation today because my budget is tight and my hubby will use the car. I have no choice.

I felt a bit jittery because I don't know how long the ride would take. The wait was half an hour and the ride home was another half an hour. I am not even talking about the sun's heat that I could take in. It's good that the weather is still pleasant. Otherwise, I would have fainted there.

So it took me 1 hour for the entire process as compared to the 15 mins. drive from work to home. It was a long ride. It felt right though because I didn't have to use up petrol. I was just seated in an air-conditioned bus with nice upholstered seats and a state of the art check-in/check-out card metre. I actually had fun.

I think I'll be doing this often. Never mind the little discomforts; I'm aiming to save money, stretch my stamina and do my part to help Mother Earth in my own little ways.

Health Nut - Green and Slim

Who said going green can't make you slim? Well, there's good news to all of you greenies out there! According to RealAge.com, going after low-carbon-footprint on snacks will also be waist-friendly to you. You are not only being environmental by choosing food with short ingredients list because this minimizes processing time.

If you want to know some list of go-green food, please visit this link and see what you can do to help Mother Earth and yourself.

Baby Goes Organic

In this age of global industrialization, a lot of companies and people are opting to go green to help our ailing Mother Earth recover. I have gone where others fear to tread and that is by going green! I am a happy "green person" and I try my level best to suit my activities and uses of products (and even services) which will aid in promoting environmental awareness.

I have cut back on my travels this year to minimize our families carbon footprints. We have switched to green lights and jute bags. I now put my sandwiches on glass containers so it can be washed again and again.

Even some of my families clothing have undergone revamp. I started purchasing clothes which are made of organic materials. We all know that organic materials are almost free of chemical abuse. Next to follow my lead will be my relatives and their kids and my friends as well.

I found this site which caters to Organic Baby Clothes. Their sense of style and whimsical designs are my kind of stuff. I browsed their products and found many Cloth Diapers and Baby Onesies. You can choose from various cute designs and even put text as you wish on the clothes you want. Since most of my friends live in the US and Canada, I think the long sleeves onesies will be the best bet as a gift.