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Confusion About Global Warming

Global warming is one of the most misunderstood terms in use today, for instance in the middle of a very cold winter, people wonder where is the warming trend. What they fail to realize is that that weather and climate are not equivalent, every single event does not necessarily point to climate change, it is the whole overall picture and not individual events that point to global warming. Individual weather events, from heatwaves to big freezes, cannot be used either to prove or disprove climate change and scientists have done a poor job of explaining this. Here is a recent article illustrating this fact.

Confusing Weather and Climate: The False Debate About Global Warming

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Are Rising Sea levels The Real Danger Of Global Warming?

I think that one of the reasons that global warming is not perceived as a serious problem by many people, is that they just do not believe warnings of mass extinction by the more alarmists among us.

Even though mass extinction has happened in the past, and is indeed going on right now, lets talk about a more probable event.

CO2 levels are rising

In 2009, the CO2 global average concentration in Earth’s atmosphere was about 0.0387% by volume, or 387 parts per million by volume (ppmv).

This is 103 ppmv (36%) above the 1832 levels of 284 ppmv. I found an interesting video that shows what this actually looks like. Watch the video below

Antarctic cores indicate that atmospheric CO2 levels were about 260 – 280 ppmv immediately before industrial emissions began, and did not vary much from this level during the preceding 10,000 years.

In simple terms after being stable for 10,000 years there has been a dramatic rise in CO2 levels in the last 170 years. And the rise has been accelerating the closer we get to present day.

It can be directly linked to the industrial revolution and the subsequent use of fossil fuels. As the world grows more populated and more countries become industrialized the level will make an even sharper rise.

Studies show that present carbon dioxide levels are higher now than at any time during the past 20 million years. A very interesting fact that is that CO2 levels are believed to have been much higher than now, if you go back even farther, and life was still thriving. True, but unfortunately we are not dinosaurs.

CO2 And Rising Temperatures

The earths climate does show many periods of fluctuating temperatures and science has confirmed the link between rising temperatures and CO2 levels. Here is an equation to remember, more CO2 = higher temperatures, higher temperatures means more glaciers melting.

There is also an interesting study that suggests that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is becoming unstable. Read more here:  The Discovery Of Global Warming.

The oceans have already risen 10 or 20 centimeters in the 20th century, about ten times as fast as the average sea-level rise in previous millennium although the main causes are still being debated.

One contribution to the sea-level rise was entirely clear. Water expands when heated. The consequences may seem obvious, but amid all the talk of melting glaciers, for decades nobody seems to have given a thought to other simple effects.

Finally in 1982 two groups separately calculated that the global warming observed since the mid-19th century must have raised the sea level significantly by plain thermal expansion of the upper ocean layers.

But a thermal expansion could not account for all of the observed rise. The scientists figured the rest came from melting glaciers, most of the world’s small mountain glaciers are in fact shrinking.

A lot of people are tired of hearing about the human race going extinct, I have my doubts, but consider this, since the end of the Ice Age, earth’s temperature has risen approximately 16 degrees and sea levels have risen an incredible total of 300 feet!

It does not take much imagination to connect the melting of the glaciers that covered a significant part of the earth, and the rise in sea levels.

Worse, new evidence suggested that the warming was itself starting to cause changes that would generate still more warming, resulting in more ice melt, and even higher sea levels.

Even now there are signs that disintegrating ice sheets could raise sea levels faster than most scientists had expected.

Mass Chaos

Forget about extinction here is one aspect of global warming to take seriously, sea levels are rising and will continue to rise. The sea levels alone are cause for alarm.

The last time the planet was just slightly warmer than now, the sea level was roughly 5 meters ( a little over 16 feet) higher. That height submerged coastlines where many millions of people now live, including cities like New York City and a huge part of states like Florida, and the coastlines in between.

Most of us have lived in relative comfort in this country, and it can be hard to imagine that the life we live, and the environment we currently live in could drastically change in a matter of decades or even years.

But what do you think will happen to our society when large portions of the most heavily populated areas of this country and indeed the world are under several feet of water?

Chaos, tens of millions of people displaced, vital financial and industrial institutions in ruin, personally I do not want to see it or be a part of it, but is anyone listening?

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Electrical Vampires

Your computer is using energy right now, now that is not a surprise as you are using it, what comes as a surprise to most people is the fact that the average computers idle time represents from 70% to 90% of its total annual energy use.

Something that many people don’t even know about is standby power, also called phantom power.  This means that even when not in use, power is being sucked away or drained (electrical vampires) from your electrical devices.

Drawing Power When Not In Use

Many of us have adopted the habit of simply leaving the computer running for hours or even days when we are not even using it

Your computer, monitor, printer, sound system, external drives, scanners and other peripheral devices sit quietly in the background consuming power, even if we do not use the computer for days.  For instance computers can draw 7-8 watts or more when not in use. This adds up over many hours.

Wasted Power

An individual product draws relatively little standby power, but a typical American home has around 30 products constantly drawing power and this can amount up to 10% of your electricity use, and it is completely wasted power.

Think about it, a PC, a laptop, TV’s, Stereos, two or three cell phone chargers and a lot more all constantly drawing power, even though they are not being used.

So what are your options? Unplug the device when it is not being used, plug it in and use it, and then unplug it again? Thats not going to happen. Hang garlic on everything to ward off electrical vampires? Sounds pretty good, but I will pass.

Smart Strips

New solutions to this problem have been showing up in the market place called smart strips, they look like a regular surge protector, but have the ability to eliminate most of the power drain

There is a control outlet for your computer, and automatically switched outlets for your printer, monitor, etc. When you turn your PC on, the smart strip turns on the switched outlets and powers your peripherals, when you turn the PC off,  it cuts power to the switched outlets and all the peripherals.

A simple and easy solution to this hidden power drain,  the smart strips can also be used to save energy on televisions and home entertainment systems as well.

Save Money And Help The Environment

Saving 5-10% on your bill may not sound like much, but it compounds over the months and years, and it can amount to a substantial figure.

Will it really make a difference and help the environment? The answer is yes, even modest energy savings multiplied by many people can make a big difference, and it all begins with you making changes.

To stop wasting energy and to learn more about smart strips, go to Amazon.com, they have several of these at prices that will quickly pay for themselves, while conserving energy and helping the environment.

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Solar Power Information

Harnessing the power of the sun is on the rise and has lead to many different uses of solar power.

Most electric Power today is generated by turbines, using principals discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831. Most of these generating plants use the process of burning coal to power the turbines.

The Burning Of Coal

The burning of coal is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in this country and is a major contributor to global warming.

Economic concerns dictate that these plants will be around for many more years, as society is so dependent on electric power, that without it there would be chaos.

Solar Energy

Energy from solar power advanced rapidly during the space age as it was a great method for powering satellites.

Solar power is slowly growing in popularity, especially when used as a means to power your own household, giving you a free source of energy that is non polluting.

This reduces the strain on the public power grid, and it gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping the environment.

You are also helping your wallet by eliminating the dreaded monthly power bill, which has grown into a large expense and will continue to get larger in the future.

The Different Uses Of Solar Power

Interestingly solar power has other uses besides generating electricity, for instance it can also be used to cook food. Solar cookers are more of a novelty, but they actually do work well and show another of the different uses of solar power.

Solar heating systems at home are being used by some families to take care of their own home’s heating needs. Solar thermal systems can maintain a steady temperature at your house without worrying about bills.

These systems are currently in use and have proven to be a valuable resource to many people. Just one more of the many uses of the power of the sun.

The use of solar energy to power traffic signs, emergency roadside phones, and other similar applications has been growing in popularity lately. There are many marine applications like the powering of remote buoys for example.

Solar power is being used in japan to charge electric vehicles, there is an interesting article on this at the green autoblog, and a similar station has just been opened in Brooklyn NY, article at brooklynpaper.com

Of course the use of solar power in communication satellites has made today’s cell phones and other related applications possible.

Solar Power For Your Home
There are many people who have always wanted to eliminate their power bill and help the environment but the very high cost has understandably held them back.

Recently new developments in the solar energy field has made it possible for just about anyone to have their own solar powered home. You can have a professionally installed system, buy a kit and install it yourself, or build an entire system on your own.

Thousands of people have actually built their own solar systems at a very low cost, using materials that are readily available just about anywhere.

Which ever option fits your needs, of all the different uses of solar power, home solar systems is your best bet to reduce your power bill and to help reduce pollution.

Cut Your Power Bill

There are many people today who are interested in knowing about electrical generation at home to reduce their electric bills. With the ever increasing costs of power, now is the best time to stop throwing money out the window, and start saving, by generating your own electrical power.

Whether you want to simply drastically cut your power bills or completely eliminate them, the solution is in using solar and wind power. The main reason more people do not generate their own electrical power is the very high initial start up costs.

Surprisingly Inexpensive

That problem has been solved by building your own electrical generating system. This is actually surprisingly easy to do yourself, using readily available materials that can easily be found everywhere.

There is no longer any need to pay tens of thousands of dollars to convert your home to solar or wind power. Due to modern technological developments you can actually build your own home made electrical generating system for a shockingly low price.

Do It Yourself Manuals

There are guides available that can teach you everything you need to know about electrical generation at home, by using wind or solar power. The top selling manuals have complete step-by-step setup fully illustrated instructions, complimented with easy to follow videos, that make it well within the reach of an even non-skilled homeowner.

Save Money And Help The Environment

In addition to saving money, solar and wind electrical generating systems are completely non polluting which is extremely important in today’s world. With increasing global warming and decreasing air quality, that is being ignored by most governments, it has been left up to the individual to act.

With the low cost of doing your own electrical generation at home, there is no good reason not to do it. Get a good manual and get started today on your own inexpensive, and non polluting power solution for your own home.

Screen Shots From Earth4Energy Videos

Homemade Solar Power

With dwindling energy resources that contribute heavily to global warming, resulting in changing climates across the globe, more people are looking towards renewable energies for reducing their carbon footprint.

Solar power for your home seems like a great idea, however professional installation of a solar energy system can cost many thousands of dollars. This means that even the most environmentally passionate person cannot do this without the proper financial resources.

This article is aimed at the people who want to do this but do not have these resources. Dramatic changes in technology and information has led many resourceful individuals to building their own solar panels.

How Is It Done?

Solar power for your home may sound like a daunting task, but it is actually much easier than most people realize. If you can you follow simple to understand instructions, then you can build your own solar panels.

There are also solar kits available, and some of them are quite good, it makes it very convenient to get everything in a box, so to speak. Of course they are still quite expensive compared to doing it all yourself.

A basic solar panel is comprised of photovoltaic cells, which are widely available everywhere at a reasonable price. You connect a series of cells together and place the cells into a simple weather proofed aluminum box that has a glass cover.

If you can build a box, you can make a solar panel. The hardest part is doing the wiring, but with a quality set of instructions it is really not that difficult.

When you do it this way you will learn how a solar power system works and exactly how the components are put together. A great benefit of building your own solar panels is that you are learning everything you need to know if you want to expand your system, and you will have the ability to adapt your current system to meet any new design needs.

Homemade Solar Power Manuals

A well designed solar panel should last for well over 20 years. If you are interested in building your own solar panels there are a numerous resources and guides available to help you through the process. What you want to look for in a solar power for your home manual is:

1) It is a top seller. There is a reason it is used more than the other ones available.

2) It is easy to understand. You want a simple step by step plan that is easy to understand.

3) It has video instructions. A picture is worth a thousand words, a video is even better. Most manuals do not have these.

Solar power for your home is a great investment that pays for itself in a short time, and continues to save you money for years by reducing or even eliminating your power bills.

You also have the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing your part to reduce the polluton that is leading to more serious problems like global warming.

Why wait? Making your own power at home while saving money and helping the environment is the wave of the future. Visit The Earth4Energy Home Page.

Video Shots From The Earth4Energy Manual

Save Money And Help The Environment

More and more people today are turning to homemade solar panels as a way to save money, and help the environment. It is not that difficult to do if you get the right instructions on how to build your own solar panels. Modern technology has made home solar power systems available to everyone.

Solar Cell History

Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity and have been around for about 130 years, but only recently have become available and affordable to anyone interested in home solar power.

Semiconductors

Semiconductors are used in solar cells. The use of semiconductors in the 1940’s and 50’s have led to the development of today’s modern conveniences, transistors, microprocessor chips, in fact anything that’s computerized or uses radio waves depends on semiconductors, as do all home solar panels.

The Space Age

In the 1950’s, at the beginning of the space age,  satellites needed a reliable and long term way to be powered. The use of solar energy was the answer. This led to research and development funding from private companies and governments into making solar cells practical, and made today’s homemade solar panels possible.

Photovoltaic Cells

There are several photovoltaic products on the market, including new thin film technology. Photovoltaic cells are devices  that convert light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.

The term solar cell is reserved for photovoltaic devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight. You do not have to make the photovoltaic cells, they are readily available at surprisingly low costs.

Build Your Own Solar Panel

When you build a homemade solar panel, you are making a weather proof box with an aluminum frame, covered with glass on the front to allow the sunlight to hit the cells.

The solar cells are wired in a series, the more cells the more power you will gain. The solar cells go in the box and you connect the wiring, and that’s it, you have a solar panel.

Solar Panel Manuals
This is not rocket science but you will need a solar panel instruction manual. The recommended manual not only covers the construction of the panel, but it also has step by step wiring instructions, complimented by video instructions, some thing the others do not have.

If you want to know how to build a solar panel, start with a small investment in a manual to simplify the process. I can not show the video, but I have included some screen shots to give you an idea of what it contains.

From Earth4Energy Videos