So you've done the research and are convinced that solar power is the way to go. After all, it's a no-brainer. Lowering your electricity bill while saving the planet at the same time makes you a real-life superhero! You just have one problem holding you back.
Your home isn’t a stand-alone with it’s own roof… it’s an apartment or condominium with a strict condo association.
Is it even possible to install solar panels when the condo association can't even agree on how to manage the trash?
Yes, of course, it's possible! It just takes a little legwork and a friendly neighborly chats or two. You have four options to choose from when going solar, each varying in effort and reward. Choose which one suits you best, and you are ready to harness the everlasting power of the sun!
Installing a solar array or getting your own wind-turbine can be an expensive investment for some. Sure, it pays itself back over the next few years, but the lump sum can be a hefty investment.
Just because you can't afford to go off the grid right this second, it doesn't mean you can't do your part to help the environment. By tweaking your everyday habits, you reduce your carbon footprint and spread the worldwide message of sustainability.
These 5 simple habits will cost you nothing and maybe even save you money!
If you want to learn about solar panels, you've come to the right place! But first, let me ask a quick question...
Are you good at science?
No? Yes? Maybe you didn’t quite make it past high-school level?
Either way, you don't need to worry about it! We've distilled the secrets of how solar panels are made into 8 easy-to-understand steps!
The statistics of poverty are pretty scary.
Around 10% of the world's population lives in extreme poverty. And 13% of our population lives without electricity. Shockingly, 38% of people still rely on traditional biomass (wood, kerosene, and charcoal) for heating and cooking. Over 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty conditions every single day.
To assist those in poverty, we must first provide them with the infrastructure to move forward. Without access to electricity, homes are dark and dangerous, cooking is done using unsafe and potentially poisonous materials, and basic access to online learning materials is non-existent.
By solving energy poverty, we will create jobs and provide basic access to these poor communities.
Reducing or eliminating poverty is in the financial interest of society. It will bolster the economy while helping world governments achieve their sustainable energy goals.
Climate change aside, there are other reasons why renewable energy is a vital part of today's society. Far from any hippy, happy-go-lucky theories, renewable energy is making a lot of financial and environmental sense. Historically, our electricity supply has been dirty, unreliable and expensive, but with renewable energy sources replacing fossil fuels, that's all starting to change. Looking towards the future, electricity will become a stable, rock solid resource with a low price tag.
Throwing things away has become a big problem. We have actual islands of trash floating around in the ocean. And soon, the plastic will outnumber the fish. It’s a scary thought.
Slowly countries are changing their policies — banning plastic straws, bags, and other one-use items. The world is getting greener too, with governments pushing for renewable energy policy reforms, it's only a matter of time before we ditch coal and oil entirely.
A large part of the solution comes in the form of solar panels. In the scramble for capacity, little thought is being given to the negative environmental impact these panels will have in 20 or 30 years time.
Solar power is so cool, some people are calling it the “new black.” Get on board the clean energy trend by adding some sun power to your life.
Free yourself from the plugs and wires that slow you down. Learn 5 awesome ways you can use solar panels in your everyday life!
Did you know that a plane has flown around the world without using a drop of fuel?
How?
Solar panels and batteries, that’s how!
Battery technology has been advancing at a rapid rate. If you want to use electricity while the sun isn't shining, you'll need a battery to store excess energy produced during the day.
To get energy from your solar panels to your batteries to your house you need to set up a basic solar power system. Your solar panels will be connected to a regulator. That regulator both sends DC electricity to your house and to your batteries. The batteries can then send power to DC appliance and will need to be connected to an inverter to send power to AC appliances
At first, it sounds a little complicated, but once you break it down, it's not so tricky. Here’s why behind the system.
Everyone has heard of solar power, but what about those fancy wind turbines you see popping up all over the place? Unlike solar, not everyone can have a wind turbine. The turbines take a lot of wind to produce enough power to support a household and need to be clear of any obstruction.
Even if you stay in a place with grey overcast skies and howling gales, a wind turbine might still not be the answer. That doesn't mean that wind power can't be useful. Instead of looking at one or the other, think of it as a joint solution. Solar during the day and wind power to fill in the gaps.
Every single month you get your electricity bill.
You pay it angrily, knowing that you are sending more money down the drain. Worse still, every year the price of electricity goes up at random, leaving you with less money to spend on what matters -- your family.
What if I told you that you don't need to pay for your electricity bill? That you could make money off electricity rather than wasting it?
Modern day life is tough. Wedged between student debt, global warming and claims of social media addiction, you're not the only one feeling overwhelmed.
But what if you could just step away from all the madness and literally unplug yourself? 'Off the grid' used to mean you were independent of the municipal grid but today the term has grown synonymous with a sustainable lifestyle.
Do you fantasize about a world without plastic or electricity bills? Getting started with the 'new renewable you' is a daunting task. Between YouTube stars with five years’ worth of trash in one jar and DIY superstars living off the grid, it feels impossible.
What if the problem is not with you but rather our economy?
