22
Oct
By James Dawson | Comments Off
eBAY FOR SOLAR? YOU BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR!
For many people, eBay is considered a place of golden opportunities. It is a place where you can find the best deals and bargains that can't be found anywhere else. For many others, it is a place of doubt and mystery and would never even think of purchasing from eBay. I hope that this article can help remove any doubt in purchasing from eBay as there really are some great deals out there, especially for solar!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON eBAY FOR SOLAR
If you weren't already aware, broken solar cells can easily be repaired and reused when building your DIY solar panels! But where can you find a lot of broken solar panels from? You guessed right, eBay! If you search ebay for “chipped solar cells” or “broken solar cells” you will find some great deals out there. I have seen entire garbage bags full of chipped or broken solar cells for $20! All you need to do is fix them up! With that being said, don't go out and buy broken solar panels that are equivalent to "solar powder" as you will obviously not be able to fix chipped solar cells that are the size of eraser heads, but ones that slightly chipped or broken should be easily reusable.
If you however have a bit of a better budget and want to spend a little extra then just purchase solar cells that are not broken as it will make the project that much easier.
A NOTE TO THOSE WEARY ABOUT PURCHASING FROM eBAY
I have to admit that eBay is full of knock offs and you have to exercise caution when purchasing items such as electronics (iPods, computers etc) or high end items (brand name handbags, watches etc) but many what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) items you can't go wrong. Always look into the buyer's feedback rating and comments left by other buyers. Look into the return policy, as they will need to honor returns if their return policy states this. eBay does offer protection to the buyer as well, so if you purchase something that isn't exactly as described, you may file a dispute with eBay, Paypal, or even have your credit card company issue a chargeback if you are not happy.
MY eBAY SELECTIONS, LIVE AND RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES!
When my new webmaster told me that he can integrate live eBay auction items into my website for my reader's easy access, let's just say I was pretty darn excited! All you need to do is simply scroll through some of the items that I have pre-defined below, and click on any item which will take you to the eBay website. No manual searching! Happy hunting and best of luck in your DIY solar endeavors!
17
Oct
By James Dawson | Comments Off
SICK OF YOUR ENERGY BILL? THEN CUT IT IN HALF.
If you are like most people I know, you're starting to feel the financial pinch of your ever-growing energy bills. You probably also feel like nothing can done to combat rising energy costs, so you simply let your hard earned money fly right out of your wallet. What you may not realize is there are several simple and inexpensive ways to reduce your energy bills. All that is required is a little planning, a bit of elbow grease and you too can start saving big on your energy bills right away.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Start with the room you are sitting in, what appliances, fixtures, electronics, etc. are currently on? How many of them are actually being used by someone? If the answer is there are more things turned on than people using them then you have an opportunity to cut you energy bill this instant! Is your AC or heater running? Do you turn if down or off when you leave the room? Most of us don’t think about the power we use on a daily basis because it has become very natural for us to be surrounded by things that require energy to run in our daily lives. But if you were to switch off all of your appliances and electronics, even if it were just while you went to another room to take a call or to eat dinner, you would see an instant reduction in your energy bill.
- Invest in some smart power reducing products. Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs will result in huge energy savings. CFL bulbs are 85% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and they last up to 10 times as long. This is a small investment with have a big return.
- Your electricity bill is not directly proportional to the number of electronic gadgets or appliances you have, but to the way you use them. Here are some simple ways to use appliances and electronics more efficiently:
Buy a Power Save monitor. This product will monitor the power supply to your house and will use the minimum that is needed.
Use the washing machine only when there is a full load of clothes.
Keep the lawn sprinkler on for the minimal amount of time.
Run the air-conditioner only when you are home.
In the colder months dress accordingly. Turn your heat thermostat to a comfortable setting and use blankets or sweaters if you require more warmth. Turning the heat up costs money, putting on another layer of clothing is free!
Switch off the computer monitor even when you take a one-minute break. It takes just a second to switch on the monitor again!
By implementing these simple steps you will not only significantly reduce your energy bill, you will also be helping reduce the production and release of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is a common byproduct of energy production, so the less energy you use the better for the planet and for our future generations.
Oct
By James Dawson | Comments Off
THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO GO GREEN!
Global climate change! Melting polar caps! Increased frequency and severity of hurricanes! The rapid consumption of non-renewable energy! Daily warnings about our environment!
Isn't it about time we sit up and take notice? What should we do? How about eliminating your dependency on big energy corporations and learning to live off the grid? Yes I said live off the grid. I know most of us have thought about reducing our energy consumption, but this seems like taking it to a whole different level! It doesn’t have to be. There are ways to power your home that use only natural energy like wind and solar, which do not require any energy from your local utility company.
Why live off the grid? For one it is good for the environment. If we, as human beings, want to reduce and ultimately stop global climate change we have to start thinking and acting in a different way when it comes to energy consumption. By using natural, renewable energy sources we are effectively cutting off our dependence on multinational energy corporations to provide us the energy to run our homes. If we harness the awesome power of the sun and the wind we can effectively live the way we currently do minus the monthly energy bill. I am sure most of us will not miss paying that bill every month!
Let’s look at the advantages of living off the grid.
Reduced dependability on exhausted resources: Who wants to depend on public utilities all the time? Living off the grid lets you use natural, sustainable, renewable resources that cost nothing! How often have you cursed when faced with a power outage in the midst of some important work or a party? Wouldn’t you like to take charge of such factors affecting you life? With alternate power solutions, you can.
Freedom of usage of naturally available resources: How would you feel when you don’t have to pay for the power you use? Wouldn’t it be delightful to use as much power as you want without worrying about the electricity meter? You can make use of the abundant power available in the nature to light up your home and make your food. The solar power solutions and the wind power solutions are the answers to your power quest (well, literally!).
Reduced power costs, helping save your money: How would you feel if the electricity bills stop coming in your mail box? The alternate power solutions give you a return on investment right away, thus making the power supply to your home free!
Making way for a healthier environment: Make the future of your future generations secure by giving them a greener, healthier world. Cut down on the usage of non-renewable sources of energy. Try to use water minimally, as fresh drinking water is another resource that is starting to become more scarce.
If you are thinking it is not very feasible to live off the grid, look for alternate power solutions and you will be surprised to learn that they are not only cost-effective but also extremely realistic.
