‘environmental’ Category

What Are The Benefits Of Using Solar Passive Energy?

Passive solar energy is the sun's energy accepted without resistance...or assistance. Passive solar energy requires no moving parts. Although fans...

 

Passive solar energy is the sun’s energy accepted without resistance…or assistance. Passive solar energy requires no moving parts. Although fans are sometimes used in passive solar homes for even distribution of the air, they’re not required. Nor are pumps, mechanical or other electrical elements including in the design. Even the fans that are sometimes used in passive solar homes are generally solar powered.

No photovoltaics (PV’s) are part of the passive solar energy design. Instead, walls windows and floors are used to collect solar energy during the winter, and to make sure it’s evenly dispersed. The design elements generally include large south-facing windows for solar energy collection when the sun hits them. As the sun is collected, it’s then distributed and stored in some type of thermal mass…usually the concrete, tile, stone or brick in the walls and floors…or sometimes it’s stored in water. When the sun goes down, or it clouds over and gets cool, heat that’s been stored in the thermal mass will dissipate into the building, maintaining the same even temperature. Roof overhangs and awnings are used in passive solar design to reject heat from coming into a building during the summer.

The Greeks and Romans really brought us the elements of the first passive solar energy designs when they did the first calculations on how to take advantage of the sun’s energy.

Taking advantage of passive solar energy makes even more sense now than it did then. The Greeks and the Romans burned wood to heat their homes. Wood in many areas where they lived was often in short supply, so the passive solar design was a solution to supplement or bypass for the need for wood. Similarly, today, passive solar design can help us eliminate or supplement the need for any non-renewable energy source.

Passive solar heating doesn’t emit greenhouse gases. It’s completely renewable and extremely clean. Created to maintain an even temperature throughout the building, passive solar heating designs are perceived by homeowners as cleaner and more comfortable than other heating and cooling methods.

Passive solar hot water heaters are another way most passive solar home owners further decrease their energy bill, and their reliance on non-renewable resources. There are three basic types of passive solar water heaters: flat-plate, batch heaters, and evacuated tube heaters. Of these, batch heaters are the most prevalent and popular. Perhaps that is because batch heaters are fairly easy projects for the do-it-yourselfer. If you want to build your own, you’ll need to find an electric hot water tank…generally you can purchase either a salvaged one or find one that’s been disposed of in the dump. It will need to be thoroughly cleaned and sealed, and then painted black. Then, add new fittings and pipes to make sure you won’t have leaks later on. Construct a well-insulated plywood box, drill holes for the pipes to fit through, add aluminum foil or other metal for a reflectant, and place the tank inside, fitting the pipes through the holes. Cover the front of the box with glass or plexiglass, seal it, add water, and you’re ready go to. You may want a more detailed explanation, and there are a variety of plans available, but those are the basics.

You can also use a batch, or what is sometimes also referred to as a breadbox heater, with a staged design system. Using more than one encased heater, you can place them in different areas around your home. This allows you to take advantage of the sun’s various angles to obtain the most heat from the sun’s hottest rays. Other passive hot water systems, including flat plate and evacuated tube are also used in solar passive homes. However, they aren’t always as effective, and their designs are more compatible with professional installation.

There you have it…numerous benefits of going solar. But in case you’re not quite convinced, here’s a few more. There’s no global warming with solar energy. You won’t see headlines in the news about the sun spilling into the ocean, creating miles of oil slick, killing wildlife, destroying businesses and the tourist trade…or damaging our fragile environmental ecosystem. Solar energy doesn’t create acid rain, nor does it create smog.

There are many “pros” to solar energy, as we are increasingly discovering…or should I say re-discovering?

Learn more about solar passive homes. Stop by Timothy Peters’s site where you can find out all about home solar power and what it can do for you.

Lessen Global Warming By Making Use Of Alternative Energy Sources

 

Due to the fact that there are consequences of burning fossil energy, we’re now dealing with a worldwide situation of global warming. It really is the undesirable impact on the atmosphere as an outcome of utilizing fuels to provide electricity on the entire world. This incident was unpredicted. Nobody really knew the damaging effects of employing such way to obtain power.

Nowadays, folks have become aware of this matter. They are made known to these happenings for the reason that they experience its consequences right now. The globe is facing quite a few complications of global warming which includes melting in the polar ice caps, earthquakes, and unexplained weather conditions alterations. For these reasons, the entire world has got to recognize the need for alternative energy sources.

There exists a list of alternative energy sources which has been developed by environmentalists. Well-known sources are Solar electrical power and Wind Energy. Making use of the solar power, men and women just need to expose their material under the heat in the sun. It then absorbs the heat after which employs it as electric power.

Wind energy is also a secure alternative. As an alternative to burning fossil fuels, it utilizes the wind to generate energy that can deliver a full place of electrical power. The list of alternate energy resources goes on. You’ll find also sorts that present a great way to obtain electricity for cars. People really don’t need to obtain energy, since an alternative solar electrical power can make it function well.

Exploring all the possibilities of utilizing substitute energy is limitless. As science additionally develops, scientists will find out that there exists hope in saving our country through the dire effects of global warming.

Not only will they uncover alternative energy sources for cars, they can discover power sources that will work ships or planes. While using the aid of science and technology, it is going to continuously research for remedies that can help us help save mother earth, likewise, including the men and women residing in it.

Not simply that we are going to be able to help save income with the use of these alternative energy sources, we’re actually helping to help save the world. We would want to give a better globe and a better future for our little ones and their young children.

The resources present on earth these days might turn out to be depleted because of its increasing need of usage. Therefore, it’s crucial to lookup for the obtainable choices and use it so that we can still enjoy the entire world, as it can be nowadays.

Check out my site to find the complete list of alternative energy sources. You will also know more about the alternative source of energy for cars available.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

 

What is CPTED? The official book definition is “the proper design and effective use of the built environment that can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in the quality of life.” It is simply a goal to reduce opportunities for crime that may be inherent in the design of structures or in the design of neighborhoods. In other words, make your home or neighborhood unappealing to burglars and thugs.

Cities and Counties throughout the country are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention in mind. Law enforcement officers who are specially trained in CPTED are now working closely with Planners, Architects, City Officials, and Educators to ensure the proper design of structures, schools, and neighborhoods. These experts know how the design and use of the environment can control human or criminal behavior and reduce the fear of crime. They used natural means such as landscaping to deter criminals. Access control, natural surveillance, different aspects of lighting and its effects on human behavior, all deter crime.

Many landscape specialists incorporate CPTED into their layout & design of landscapes. Each of the following CPTED strategies are low cost guidelines that they apply to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life.

1. Natural Access Control guides people entering & leaving a space through the placement of entrances, exits, fences, landscaping & lighting. Access control can decrease opportunities for criminal activity by denying criminals access to potential targets & creating a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways & landscaping should direct visitors to the proper entrance & away from private areas. The design should create a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways should be installed in locations safe for pedestrians & keep them unobscured.

2. Natural Surveillance is the placement of physical features, activities & people in a way that maximizes visibility. A potential criminal is less likely to attempt a crime if he or she is at risk of being observed. At the same time, we are likely to feel safer when we can see & be seen. The landscaping should be selected and installed to allow unobstructed views of doors & windows. The front door should be at least partially visible from the street. Shrubs & bushes near windows should not restrict full visibility of the property. Sidewalks & all areas of the yard should be well lit.

3. Territorial Reinforcement is use of physical attributes that express ownership such as fences, signage, landscaping, lighting, pavement designs, etc. Defined property lines and clear distinctions between private & public spaces are examples of the application of territoriality. Front porches or stoops should create a transitional area between the street & the home. Property lines & private areas should be defined with plantings, fences or retaining walls. Use thorny plants along fence lines and under windows to deter access by intruders.

4. Maintenance is a well maintained home, building or community, and creates a sense of ownership. A well kept area tends to make someone feel like they will be observed by neighbors or business owners as it is obvious people care about the area. Keep trees & shrubs trimmed back from windows, doors & walkways. Keep shrubs trimmed to 3 feet & prune the lower branches of trees up to 7 feet. Use exterior lighting at night & keep it in working order. Keep litter & trash picked up & the yard neat & free of items that might attract theft.

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Solar Powered Hybrid Cars

 

Former CIA Director James Woolsey says it so well and so succinctly, I doubt much more needs to be added: “A plug-in hybrid is an electric car with an insurance policy – a gas engine.” Relying primarily on electrical power, a hybrid has a gas engine back-up. That back-up is activated when the car’s solar battery is depleted, or under certain other pre-specified conditions.

You’ll find two basic types of hybrids on the market today, the PHEV or plug-in hybrid, and the basic hybrid. Both have gas engine back-ups. So their primary distinction comes from the two different types of batteries used. The PHEV has a solar rechargeable battery with about 10 times the capacity of the standard hybrid. The standard hybrid has a smaller battery, and it recharges in conjunction with an electric motor and the gas engine when the vehicle is in operation. The battery for the PHEV can be plugged into any electrical outlet…regardless of whether the power is solar, or conventional.

Soon, the advances in battery capacity will allow individuals, families and commercial drivers of large vehicles, to make the jump to full solar powered cars with zero emissions. Solar panels on roofs are going up in conjunction with the need for recharging solar cars, and many homeowners are then adding the rest of the system to power their homes. However, hybrids, with their combination electric and gas engines are still providing the long-distance solution for vehicles that need to do more than make the quick commute back and forth to the grocery store or work before recharging.

If each of us were to closely examine the environmental damage done by fossil fuel usage, and add it to how much it costs us to drive our vehicles every day, we would all have either solar powered, or solar powered hybrids parked in our garages and driveways when we arrived home every day.

Without the adverse impact of entrenched politics and economic interests, solar power for vehicles and other energy needs, would be in an entirely different place than it is today.

The best option at the moment for longer distance driving is either the PHEV or hybrid vehicle. Like having two vehicles in one, you have the electric car that runs clean and efficiently, without pollution, and the gas engine, which while it does produce greenhouse gases when operating, also provides a back-up and additional power to make sure you get where you’re going.

The Kelley Book, a widely used reference for establishing vehicle value lists the following hybrid models as available in the United States for 2010 and 2011:

- Toyota Prius
- Honda Insight
- Toyota Camry
- Ford Fusion
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Highlander
- Ford Escape
- Lexus, various hybrid models: RX & GS 450h, HS 250h, LS 600h
- Nissan Altima
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class & ML-Class
- Cadillac Escalade
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Mercury Mariner & Milan
- BMW X6
- Chevrolet Malibu
- GMC Yukon
- Saturn VUE and Aura
- Chevrolet Silverado (pick-up) 1500
- GMC Sierra (pick-up) 1500 Crew Cab

The Kelley Book lists, in reverse order, the following “top green cars for 2010:”

* 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
* 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
* 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid
* 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
* 2010 Honda Insight (hybrid)
* 2010 Toyota Prius (hybrid)

Change comes slowly for all of us. With political pressure by industry lobbyists slowing progress in this arena, it’s going to be up to us to not only embrace the move to solar energy, particularly for our vehicles, but to pressure our political representatives to provide the right kinds of incentives that will quickly bring solar energy to parity… and then allow it to quickly eclipse and collapse our dependence…on fossil fuels.

An important step can be made with the purchase of a hybrid or solar powered vehicle. Particularly with the dual option of plugging into the grid…that utility company electrical outlet…or plugging in off the grid…the electricity generated by your own solar panels, you’re making a highly responsible, cost effective way of reducing our carbon footprint.

Looking to find out all you can about solar power cars then visit www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com to find the best advice on home solar power for you.

Find Important Advice For Green Related Tasks

 

It seems almost inconceivable to think that starting my car and letting it run for five minutes to get the heat or air conditioning going has any effect on the earth’s pulse, but when you multiply that millions of times, there’s no doubt that it has a serious effect.

Simple activities that we do, or don’t do, affect our planet’s precious atmosphere. What number of instances every week do you go to the coffeehouse and get your espresso in a paper or cardboard cup? You might have thought of what number of years it takes for that cup to decompose, however have you considered the power that went into the production and transportation of that cup? Multiplied by…?

Do you scale back, re-use and recycle? Make it a goal to cut back the amount of rubbish you produce by recycling and composting. Your town workplace or city hall will give you an inventory of tips on how to separate your items for recycling. Each thing which you could re-use or recycle is one less thing put in the landfill.

One of the simplest ways to help is to purchase and use cloth shopping bags. The hard part is remembering to take them out of the car and into the store, but once you get into the habit, it becomes second nature. Resolve to not accept plastic bags in a store.

Touring in a fuel-powered car as little as makes sense is an effective way to conserve. Walk or bike every time and wherever you may; it”ll assist the planet and your health. When you live within the city, use public transportation. Likewise, if you stay within the country, carpool to work and as a substitute of making a number of journeys a week to run errands, save them for one trip.

If you take the time to think about your daily actions, and the way you are able to do them somewhat in a different way, chances are you’ll end up not solely helping the environment, but helping your wallet. Do only full loads of laundry and dishes; lower your shower by two minutes; switch to power-saving light bulbs; flip your fridge and air conditioner up a single degree and turning off your digital devices at night are all painless ways to help.

Challenge yourself to think before you act for a few days and you will surprised at how easy it is to begin the process of going green.

Next, being that you are more informed concerning GoingGreenProductsStore.com what will you change? We believe most individuals would make the changes if they were aware. Go to the Organic Clothes page for even much more information.

Automotive Salvage And Environmental Safety

 

Environment awareness has increased around the world together with the necessity for better regulations that will allow automotive salvage become a safe environmental occupation. Under law enforcement, automakers should take care of their products from cradle to grave. Carmakers are subjects to great international pressure and urging that all dismantled car pieces, wrecks and carcasses should no longer pile up in waste metal yards, but be reused or recycled.

Is it just metal piling up in salvage yards, which has brought automotive salvage into the spot light? Only partially; as there remains the risk of chemical pollution and infestation due to all the vehicle fluids that pollute the soil, should there be any leakage. Those company owners that deal in car dismantling should follow some general basic environmental security rules when fragmenting cars to pieces.

The best way to minimize spill-over during automotive salvage operations is by evacuating fluids before dismantling and depositing these fluids to safe tanks or containers. Fluids should be immediately removed from all the constituents of the vehicle. If this were not possible, check for leaks, and in case you find any, isolate them and reduce the risk of contamination.

The fluids that result from dismantling automotive salvage should be kept in safe containers or tanks. These should be labeled and inspected on a regular basis in order to prevent alterations or leaks. In case they are deposited outside the salvage yard, they must be equipped with a double protection system from the external environment.

One great advantage that automotive salvage has is that it makes possible the reduction of the production price per component in big vehicle companies that can invest in recycling items or reconditioning them for reuse. Some automakers are also talking about increasing the number of recycling points, where automotive salvage might become the starting point for alternative building materials.

The question that has brought much heated debate is: “To whose expense?” Who pays for automotive salvage that is for dismantling, for reusing, for recycling? The answer to this may be the answer to a whole bunch of environment issues that originate in careless automotive salvage in junkyards.

Managing the automotive salvage yards would dramatically reduce the amount of scrap that fills the land. There are thousands of independent automotive salvage yards owners who need a efficient recycling system as they see the pile growing on their property, as not all of it can be sold or re-used without reconditioning.

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Caviar – Environmentally Friendly Options And How To Serve

 

Salted roe of sturgeon and other varieties of fish are popularly known as caviar. It is a delicacy used as a spread or garnish and with hors d’oeuvres. Caviar is a deviate of the Persian word Khag-avar which means “the roe generator” referring to roe of the sturgeon.

There is good news for environmentally conscious American citizens who also happen to be connoisseurs of caviar. Now new varieties of caviars are available which are produced from paddlefish and sturgeon farmed in the US. They taste good and at the same time are environmentally sustainable. The development of American caviar also addresses the worries of consumers and culinary experts about the decline of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea.

Caspian Sea Sturgeon is the major source for the caviar needs of the world. Sturgeons produce the famous beluga. Due to illegal trade, pollution, over fishing and habitat loss, there is a severe down spiral in the population of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea.

SeaWeb, Pew Institute for Ocean Science and Natural Resources Defense Council of University of Miami is urging the American consumers to support American caviars as a better alternative and to safeguard the endangered species of the Caspian Sea.

The caviars from Missouri and California are prominently supported by consumers, renowned chefs and media organizations.

Jacques Pepinand and Rick Moonen who are leading chefs of New York’s Restaurant RM and San Francisco’s Traci des Jardins of Jardiniere removed Caspian Sea caviars from their menu and replaced them with American caviars in an effort to help the environmental groups protecting the Caspian Sea sturgeons.

Most of the party givers would like to know how much caviar should be bought for their party. It depends on the number of guests attending the party and how the caviar is going to be served. With every ounce of caviar, you can serve 8 to 10 guests. Quarter teaspoon or less of caviar can be used for garnishing purposes. With caviar on top of an appetizer and to enhance the taste of caviar predominantly, use half a teaspoon.

Caviar should not be opened until it is needed. Leftovers should be promptly covered and stored in the fridge to be used within a couple of days.

If the taste of the caviar is to be retained, do not freeze it. When you freeze the caviar the roe membrane of the caviar gets toughened and the flavor is altered. If you do freeze it, slowly defrost the frozen caviar in the fridge for at least a day or two before you serve. Caviar should be refrigerated at 28 to 32 degrees by putting the tin in the meat shelf or surrounding the bowl containing caviar with ice.

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Asbestos: A Deadly Environmental & Health Hazard

 

Asbestos is a term used for some naturally occurring minerals that form long thin fibers and fiber bundles on crystallization. Most commonly found group is the serpentine group that includes Chrysotile (white asbestos). It is also the most frequently mined form of Asbestos. Another very important asbestos group is known as the amphiboles, which includes Crocidolite (blue asbestos) and Amosite (brown asbestos). The asbestos fibers have high tensile strength, and chemical, electrical and heat resistance properties and so are extremely useful as a building/insulation material. Asbestos has been used extensively all over the world.

Asbestos: General Information

Although Asbestos is a hazardous material, it poses a health risk only if the Asbestos fibers become airborne and subsequently inhaled. Therefore, most Asbestos materials pose little health risk unless they are disturbed in a way that allows the fibers to be released into the atmosphere. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to serious diseases such as lung cancer, Mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the lungs or lower digestive tract) and asbestosis (a chronic fibrosis of the lungs).

Many industries used Asbestos extensively in the past, exposing their workers to this deadly materials. As a result, many new cases of Asbestos caused ailments are occurring now. However, the fact that Asbestos was also installed in many buildings means that a wider range of people still have the potential to be exposed – particularly building and maintenance workers. For this reason, the latest revision of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations introduces (from May 2004) a new responsibility on those responsible for non-domestic premises to manage the asbestos contained in them.

Asbestos Caused Diseases

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal lining. It exclusively related to asbestos exposure. By the time it is diagnosed, it is usually fatal. Mesothelioma has a long latency period (time between exposure and onset of disease) of at least 15 years and sometimes as long as 60 years.

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue. This scarring impairs the elasticity of the lung and hampers its ability to exchange gases. This leads to inadequate oxygen intake to the blood. Asbestosis restricts breathing leading to decreased lung volume and increased resistance in the airways. It is a slowly progressive disease with a latency period of 15 to 30 years.

Lung Cancer is a malignant tumor of the bronchi covering. The tumor grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. Again, the disease has a long latency period of at least 20 years.

The victims of all these asbestos related diseases are eligible to file lawsuits for compensation against the persons and organizations responsible for causing asbestos exposure. They can take the help of mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys to fight their compensation claims.

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Bamboo Flooring – A Sensible, Environmentally Friendly Alternative To Hardwood

 

There are many different flooring materials available today including one of the most beautiful and environmentally friendly, a bamboo floor. No, this isn’t taking round bamboo stalks and lashing them together to make a floor for your home. Bamboo flooring in one of the most durable and unique flooring materials you can get for your home today.

Many hardwood floors feature a nice grain and wood look that is very pretty especially in the various colors and patterns. Bamboo flooring however features a much more subtle graining pattern and because of the way it’s manufactured, features more of a pronounced ring like pattern. So you have a grain that suggests a direction and every so often a uniquely bamboo ring pattern. Bamboo can also be stained and finished just like regular hardwood flooring.

Bamboo is actually a grass like plant that grows quickly and is usually considered an aggressive plant. That is, it tends to grow rapidly, overwhelming many of the other plant life in it’s immediate area. This makes for a very sustainable resources as a full bamboo crop can be harvested in less than 7 years. This is a much better alternative to hardwood trees that can take upwards of over 20 plus years to mature.

Bamboo, traditionally thought of as an Asian but specifically Chinese plant has found a new home in products for the west. As bamboo has gained in popularity, many more people are protecting bamboo forest areas and are much more concerned about conservation. The growth of bamboo use for furniture, blinds, many home decor products, and bamboo flooring has created a robust economic incentive to grow natural products instead of clear cutting to make way for farming.

Bamboo flooring is comparable to hardwood floors in durability, looks, and installation. It has broad appeal and beauty that will not easily go out of style. Due to the interest in bamboo flooring, you can now find it in commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants, offices and many high traffic areas.

Another great benefit of bamboo flooring is price. Due to the rapid growth rate, the cost of fully stained and sealed bamboo floor material can be found for less than half the cost of planked hardwood. Bamboo floor can be installed using any of the usual hardwood flooring installation methods. These include a floating floor where the floor is simply glued together to form a single piece, straight gluing to the old floor material and a basic nailing method.

If you’re looking for a uniquely beautiful flooring material that will provide years of ambiance and warmth to your home, look no farther than a high quality bamboo floor.

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The History Of Solar Power Adoption

 

Solar power has had excruciatingly slow in the United States. The price of solar energy components is generally sited as the primary reason. That may be valid…until you consider rising fossil fuel costs, what it costs not to adopt solar energy, and how mass production can bring down price.

According to statistics from the Nature Conservancy, the average American household emits about 54, 000 pounds of carbon dioxide or equivalent per person. This compares to the worldwide average per person emission of 5.5 tons, or 11,000 pounds. So where does that put the average American? That calculates out to about 5 times more greenhouse gas contribution than anyone else in the world. So, if you’re an American, how do you feel about not adopting solar energy? And where would you rather be…in the top fifth… or the bottom fifth?

Now, what about solar power costs? Developing countries have been much quicker to adopt solar energy because they could never afford conventional energy systems. Too many rural areas and isolated homes would be on a waiting list…forever…if they wanted traditional on-the-grid electricity from a fossil fuel power plant. Compare that to a $200 solar collector placed on a roof that lets someone who’s never have a hot shower before have that experience, and then know that once that collector had been paid for, every shower is free. What would you choose?

Hard hit by rapidly escalating fuel costs and an unstable supply source, Europe and surrounding countries have moved much more rapidly to adopt solar power. With the rise of fossil fuel costs, the number of rooftop solar systems for hot water heaters has risen exponentially.

China has a major initiative in the manufacture and installation of solar water heaters. According to a March 2010 article you can find at http://www.grist.org, there are currently about 27 million solar water heaters installed there.

Plodding slowly along behind, the United States has espoused certain standards, and created initiatives designed to move the country toward more renewable energy usage. However, as a major fossil fuel consumer, enough economic leverage has been generated to keep imported energy costs relatively affordable, and therefore created for consumers a false sense of security. With rapidly depleting fossil fuel availability, and world economic instability, however, this may all change rapidly.

It’s not all bad news, however. If, in fact, with all of the world initiatives on stabilizing global warming by using renewable energies, we were to achieve the stated goals by 2020, we could have an equivalent reduction of 690 coal-fired power plants. That is to say, by using renewable energies instead of fossil fuels, we could slash our net carbon emissions by 80%.

Do you agree… a pretty impressive objective? Definitely worthwhile? And that’s not the whole story. Moving forward rapidly to adopt solar power means we can also affect significant savings as mass production and distribution make solar energy a very affordable option.

Given the relative affordability of fossil fuel energy, only the most environmentally-conscious, and/or affluent families and individuals in the United States have seriously considered solar energy for a complete power system for their homes. Few, in fact, have considered it even for solar water heaters, although in the United States, as in Europe, more and more rooftop solar panels have begun to appear. The primary focus for solar water heating in the United States has been focused around solar heaters for swimming pools. While this is, indeed, a step in the right direction, only more and more conscious choice by the American public to “go solar” in every way possible will result in the economies of scale that are necessary to take subsidies out of the equation and put it at parity…or below…with all other power options.

For the moment, however, state and federal subsidies, through tax incentives, rebates, and net-metering are providing the impetus needed to move the United States forward to a more robust and wholehearted solar energy adoption. Hawaii, California and Florida have been successfully leading the initiative, adding their own incentives to the federal tax credits introduced in 2006.

There’s no question…in the United States particularly…solar power adoption has been slow. There’s simply been too much resistance. Cost, availability, usability and reliability have been combined with political and industrial pressure. All of these factors together have slowed the adoption of solar energy as a power source competitor to fossil fuel energy…a competitor that is known, and while it may not be loved, is trusted.

At the present, however, all factors seem to be coalescing to bring solar to the front door of the orphanage…presenting itself as the “right one” for adoption by many, if not all.

There is every indication that history will show…now is the time for solar power adoption.

Looking to find out all you can about solar energy history then visit www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com to find the best advice on home solar power for you.