Green Cleaning – Great Ways To Be More Earth Friendly When You Clean!

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An increasing numbers of people all over the world are becoming more aware of and educated about the negative impact our lifestyles have the planet. Not everyone can buy an electric car, or fit their home with a complete solar energy system, but we can all buy and use products that are eco-friendly, which means that no harmful chemicals from our cleansers, shampoos, soaps, laundry detergents are adding to our water table and other water sources.

Numerous studies show a link between long-term exposure to dangerous cleaning products and illnesses, including cancer.

Toxic substances are released into the air and water every day, and seep into the earth. At a minimum, we can lessen our role and even completely stop our participation in this widespread poisoning of the planet.Here are some simple changes anyone can make right now:

  • stop buying glass cleaner and use vinegar to lean all glass surfaces and mirrors instead, full strength or diluted. Heated vinegar is also a great natural cleanser for removing built-up soap scum
  • replace scouring powders with a mixture of coarse salt, baking soda and a good brush with stiff bristles. The salt and baking soda mixture can also be used to clean counter tops, floors and other surfaces
  • most shampoos are loaded with chemicals. The makers of shampoo convinced us that we need a head full of sudsy bubbles but we don’t. There are some shampoos on the market now that are non-sud and work very well.
  • replace your hand and bath soap with organic soaps made with natural ingredients and colored and scented with essential oils, herbs and flowers
  • instead of buying chemical-laden air fresheners, you can put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball or small cloth and tuck these in empty vases, drawers, closets, cars, anywhere that you want a pleasant smell, naturally. For kitchen smells, try simmering a few cloves and cinnamon sticks in water or other spices. Yet another way to create a nice scent in a home is to buy naturally-scented candles with lead-free wicks, arranging different groupings of vanilla candles or any scent you like.

Read labels, ask questions, learn about medical studies showing a correlation between products we use every day and possible health problems

Top Five Cars for Fuel Efficiency – Is Yours on the List?

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Several factors should be considered when buying a car. Fuel efficiency is the main consideration, and whether you drive mainly in town or on the highway will affect your decision. If you have the money to invest in an all-electric car, then you will be able to buy an extremely fuel-efficient car. Even if you buy a fuel-burning only car, you can still save several hundred dollars a year in fuel.

The environment benefits from fewer gas-burning cars being on the road and among those cars that do use gas, at least they emit less carbon dioxide than other cars.

Best Electric Cars For Gas Mileage

Among electric vehicles, the 2011 Nissan Leaf gets an impressive 106 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 92 mpg on the highway.

The second most fuel-efficient car is the 2001 smartfortwo cabriolet, with 94 mpg in the city, and 79 mpg on the highway, as does the 2011 smartfortwo coupe as well.

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt, in electric-only mode, gets 93 mpg in the city and 70 on the highway. In gas mode, the Volt gets 50 mpg. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rated the 2011 Chevrolet Volt as having an overall mpg of 60 mpg, which is the best fuel performance for a domestic compact car.

Best Fuel-Only or Hybrid Cars for Gas Mileage

Fuel-only cars are very efficient too. The 2011 Toyota Prius, which gets 51 mpg in the city, and 48 mpg on the highway, is one of the best choices.

Right after the Prius, the 2011 Lexus CT 200h averages 43 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the open road.

The 2011 Lexus HS 250h is also a good value–it gets 35 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

If you want a lot of interior room in a car, then you might want to consider the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SportsWagen TDI, with 30 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway. The Audi A3 Station Wagon also gets the same gas mileage as the Jetta.

Drivers who prefer to own a smaller car might want to check out the Honda CR-Z, which has an mpg of 31 in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Yet another reason why buying a fuel-efficient car is important is that our limited oil resources are being depleted at a very fast rate. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that the world’s oil reserves will run out around the year 2050.Mini cars are fuel-efficient too, with the manual MINI Cooper offering 29 mpg/city and 37 mpg/highway and the automatic MINI Cooper getting 28 mpg,city and 36 mpg/highway.

Costs of home solar panels

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Whether you are looking to lower your electric bill or want to do something to make the planet greener, you can benefit in many ways by installing a residential solar system. Solar power can save your household a lot of money over time and you will be doing the planet a big favor.

Do-It-Yourself Solar Power GuidesOne of the nicest aspects of having a home solar energy system is the sight of your electric meter actually running backward on the days when your solar production exceeds your needs. The extra energy is automatically returned to the power grid, and thus you will get energy credits that can be applied to your utility bills. Of course, you will need to have a system that can connect to the grid.

You will need sufficient space on your home’s roof, ideally a south or south-eastern exposure, with no large buildings or trees that could block the sunlight.

The type of roof you have can affect the cost of solar panels; for example, clay tiles and wooden shingles will be more expensive than other roof types to install panels on.

Although the price of installing a home solar system varies, depending on the size and quality of the system and other factors, for the purpose of comparison, a 3-bd. home in Phoenix AZ would need  20 solar panels of 210 watts each. If you have standard crystalline panels, the price is around $2.60 for each watt, which means that each panel will cost around $600. If you choose to buy the thinner, non-crystalline panels, the price is much lower, at approximately $1.70 per watt.

There are other costs to consider as well—you need an inverter to convert the DC energy to AC, which costs $200 and up. The type of inverter you buy will depend on your needs, but going with a high-end inverter will save you money in the long run.

Several states have rebates available to help home owners buy a solar system but you will need to check to see whether your state offers these incentives. Financing is another option. There are many companies that offer to help finance your purchase. You can also check out the website www.thesolarguide.com for more detailed information about financial incentives, including grants, tax credits and subsidies.

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How practical is Solar Power?

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The technology to make solar cells was invented in the 1950′s and has been used in the communications industry and many businesses for decades, yet solar energy has not been taken advantage of as much as it could be, for several reasons.

Why Aren’t We Using More Solar Power Technology?

First, the initial cost of buying and installing solar panels and a solar water heater is prohibitive to many. Even if there are tax incentives, people simply cannot afford the high cost of a residential solar energy system. Second, many consumers want to know that they can rely on solar power alone for all of their electric power needs, and that is not always possible, because clouds and rain hinder solar energy production. Third, some people think that solar panels are unattractive.

Benefits of Solar Power Systems

The pluses of having a home solar power system are many: the value of your home increases, your energy bills decrease or disappear completely, if you sell excess power back to the grid, and eventually, tax breaks and energy savings can actually pay for the system.

You and your family will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing your part to make the environment less polluted while you save money too.

An increasing number of people are choosing to live more simply and reduce their carbon footprint. Solar power is non-polluting, free, abundant, and quiet.  It is not dangerous to use or store, it leaves no harmful by-products behind, like nuclear power does, nor does it require utility poles or wires. It is also low maintenance.

What Are Some New Types of Solar Power Technology?

Solar roof shingles, pool covers and other solar energy products are now on the market, and more ways to harness the sun’s energy are being invented and improved upon every day.

More examples of how solar energy can be used include solar-powered radios, flashlights, fans, battery chargers, outdoor lighting, outdoor motion sensors and even an outdoor rodent repeller. You can also buy solar bug zappers, solar fountains and solar wooden model airplane and car kits.

Solar pool covers don’t just save money that had been used to heat the pool, they also reduce the pool’s water evaporation rate and decrease the need for chemicals.

As the technology for solar-powered products advances, it will cost less to make solar products and more people will be able to take advantage of lower prices for solar powered systems. Governments have been slow to change their policies and laws to promote solar energy use. More money needs to be invested in promoting solar power. Increased demand for green energy to run homes and businesses will also bring down the high cost of solar energy.

Cool Solar Power Panels and Products to Buy

Solar Cell Phone Chargers – Charge Your Phone Anywhere with Sun!

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There are many different types of solar cell phone chargers on the market, priced from around $30 and up. They are lightweight, portable and easy to use. One type of charger is small enough to attach to the front or back of a cell phone. Another solar phone charger currently available has a solar panel already built into the phone.

Solar charger kits can be purchased and set up in minutes in any sunlit outdoor setting.

When you decide which charger to buy, first make sure that your cell phone is compatible. Adapters can be purchased for many types of phones.

Solar chargers with batteries cost more than other chargers but will provide longer periods of cell phone use.  Some solar chargers can even recharge a laptop.

The charger must be placed in direct sunlight, often at a specific angle, and any clouds can interfere with its ability to recharge. In addition, some chargers will not work if there is glass between the device and the sun, so do not try to charge a cell phone inside next to a window.

Please note that most solar chargers are not waterproof, so if it rains, or the charger gets wet for any other reason, it will not work and you will probably need to buy a new one.

Problems With Solar Cell Phone Chargers

One complaint about solar cell phone chargers is that they take a long time to charge—anywhere from half an hour to several hours, or even days in certain circumstances. Some reviewers complain that their phones did not become 100% recharged, no matter how long their solar chargers were left in the sun. The climate and geography of cell users should also be taken into account when deciding whether to buy a solar charger.

With the advent of solar cell phone chargers, millions of cell phone users worldwide who do not have electricity in their homes can now easily recharge their cell phones. There are a lot of benefits to using solar cell phone chargers. This technology can save lives by facilitating communication, save money by using a free energy source, conserve energy and reduce our need for oil and coal.

Buy Solar Cell Phone Chargers Online Here

Solar Water Heaters – The Water Heaters of the Future!

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Solar Water HeaterThere are several different methods for heating water. Some are passive, meaning that the sun shines on the water and heats it without any device or special equipment needed, except for a storage container to keep the water in. The advantage of passive solar water heaters is they are inexpensive and non-polluting.  If you can afford to switch now, you should definitely look into heating your water with solar power as it will save  you a lot of money in the long run and will have a positive impact on the planet’s health.  Do your part, make the switch!

Passive Solar Water Heaters

One example of these systems is called a solar batch system. The water is held in a tank that has a glass top and is positioned to get maximum exposure to the sun. The hot water at the top of the tank is piped directly into the house. Batch water heaters can be heavy, so that may limit where it can be placed. If your household is small and you have temperate weather, this type of solar heater could work well for you. It is a type of “open-loop” system that heats water directly.

Thermosyphon Water Heaters

Thermosyphon solar water heaters are similar to batch systems, but they differ in that thermosyphon systems are insulated and the water tank is positioned directly over the collector. Collectors are panels made of pipes which heat the water. Various types and sizes of collectors can be purchased, depending on your needs and your climate. If you live in a climate where temperatures dip to below the freezing point, you could opt to buy a collector with vacuum tubes, known as an evacuated tube collector. These collectors heat water to higher temperatures than other types, work better in cloudy weather and are not affected by the temperature outside to the degree that other collectors are.

Closed-loop Solar Water Heater

Closed Loop Solar Water Heater

There are closed-loop systems that require more equipment and cost more, including the pressurized glycol system, in which a mixture of half water, half propylene glycol is piped through the collectors and the resultant indirect heat thus generated is sufficient to heat the water. The glycol mixture is used to ensure that the collectors do not freeze even in very cold weather.

One type of closed-loop system is called a drainback system. This heater uses distilled water instead of glycol to transfer heat, which makes it less expensive and easier to use, since the distilled water can be used repeatedly.

Advantages of Solar Panels – Can They Be Cost Effective

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Welcome to the www.greeenworldsolutions.net! We plan this site to be a wealth of knowledge about anything Green. Thanks for reading!

Solar panels are made up of small cells which contain silicone and other materials needed to convert sunlight into energy. They cannot store energy; their purpose is to convert sunlight into electricity, which can then be used or stored. Since each cell only generates a small amount of energy, a solar panel contains 40 connected cells. These panels will provide all or most of a house’s energy needs.

Advantages of Solar Electricity For Your Home

The main advantages of solar panels are that the energy is clean—no fossil fuels are used, no harmful substances are released into the air and greenhouse gas emissions are cut. Many consumers do not want to be dependent on oil, and using solar panels is an easy way to use green energy.

Solar panels are quiet and low maintenance, although you must take care to keep the panels dry. Standing water in a panel will cause damage.

Another advantage of solar panels is that they can be installed quickly, in a matter of days.
A home solar system costs several thousands of dollars, depending on the size, type and quality of the panels. The average home requires a dozen solar panels. Tax incentives and rebates can give a home owner up to one-third of the original cost back. In addition, since installing a large home solar system is a major expense, financing is available.

Solar panels last up to 20 years, although other components of home solar system may need to be replaced sooner. Even in cloudy weather enough sunlight is available to produce energy, although it will be much less than full sunlight.

Problems With Home Solar Power

There are a few drawbacks to using solar panels: the cells eventually deteriorate and the electricity return rate is far from 100%. Improved technological advances should make solar cells even more efficient and durable.

Why You Should Switch To Solar Power For Your Home

If a home’s energy needs are met and extra energy is created by the panels that unused power is sent to the local energy company, which credits the home owner. If sufficient unused energy is returned to the grid, the benefit is not only potentially free energy; a family can even make money from the energy credits from the utility company. Thus solar panels are an investment that can literally pay for itself.