If you are in search of ways to create wind power at home, it means that you have taken the first step in the right direction. All over the world, people are slowly realizing the perils of using too much of coal based and oil based energy and are slowly shifting to clean and green energy. Moreover, with the economy being in a very bad shape, people are looking to cut down their expenses and live within their means. One simple way to do it is switching to a cheaper source of energy and spending less money on electric bills.

One of the simplest ways to create wind power at home is installing wind turbines. By setting up a small scale wind turbine in your home, you can generate electricity without any hassles. As a result, you can cut down your electric bill drastically and save lots of money.

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We’re facing many challenges these days, but one of the ones that affects each and every one of us, to some extent or another, is pollution resulting from the ever-increasing amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere and the resultant global warming.

Global warming is one of the prime motivators in the rapid increase in interest in the adoption of all forms of renewable energy and the push behind the even more rapid increase in the use of solar energy as a means to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Doing so will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted and hopefully slow down, and maybe even halt, the further devastation caused by global warming.

Solar v Fossil Fuels – Battle Of The Giants!

The great thing about solar energy is that it is free energy that comes to us consistently, day in, day out, from the sun, so it’s just a matter of tapping into that free energy. Not only that, it doesn’t cause any pollution. Compare that with fossil fuels, the supply of which is diminishing rapidly and which cause massive amounts of pollution.

The rise in the cost of fossil fuels is directly impacting us, the consumers, in the form of ever-increasing electricity bills, among other things. That’s one of the reasons so many people are becoming more interested in taking advantage of solar technology by having a solar electric system installed in their home to reduce, or even eliminate, these increasingly burdensome electricity bills.

Solar electric systems have no moving parts and do not produce any carbon emissions, so, not only do they result in lower electricity bills, but reduced pollution and, hopefully, a halt to global warming.

Overabundance Of Energy

The sun supplies solar energy every day – even on the most cloudy days – and, in fact, provides several thousand times more energy in one day than the whole planet uses in one year. We’re currently tapping into a minute fraction of the solar energy available to us, but, fortunately, most countries and governments are now waking up to the real threat presented by carbon emissions and the incredible opportunity solar energy presents.

The number of applications being powered by solar energy is increasing rapidly, and now extends to transportation, including boats, planes and, although this technology is still in its infancy and is basically experimental, cars.

All this will increase our use of solar energy and reduce the amount that goes to waste, but we’re still only scratching the surface.

A Solar Future

There’s little doubt that all forms of renewable energy will become more prevalent in the future, which can only benefit both us and the planet. But, the renewable that will get the most attention will probably be solar, just because of the massive potential it holds for good.

Solar energy is already infiltrating our daily lives, as we see more and more rooftops with solar panels on them, and you don’t have to wait long before you see or read or hear a news item related to solar. This will only increase in the future, as more and more everyday uses are found for solar energy, and that has to be a good thing.

There are many reasons why we should and do use solar energy, but the most pressing one is the increase in pollution caused by fossil fuels and the resultant impact on life and the planet in the form of global warming. Now is the time for us to wean ourselves off our dependence on fossil fuels and take advantage of the sun’s abundant energy. After all, it’s there for us to use, so let’s do just that.

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Much of the world today is highly dependent on fossil fuels to run their economies. Highly industrialized nations have never put a cap on how much they can really take before they suffer the consequences. The global community will experience a head-on collision with mother nature eventually if international leaders cannot come up with a realistic solution to global warming. It is this threat that results from the burning of the highly efficient and widely used cheap source of energy – the fossil fuels, that affects every facet of human life as we know it today.

We have already faced the effects of global warming and yet we are still turning a blind eye on what is happening today. The devastating results of 3 typhoons in the Philippines in 2009 alone brought billions of pesos in damages to public property as well as placing undue pressure on the local economy. Now, power outages and rotating brownouts are threatening the entire Luzon economic scene and the Metro Manila financial hub.

There are, however, many ways to alternative sources of energy it is just that we are unwilling to develop it. The petroleum giants are not willing to put their resources to build, improve, and market renewable energy because, obviously, they do not really care. These multi-billion dollar companies are just so greedy that they do not realize the potential disaster they will face in the near future.

Real estate developers should also look into energy-efficient homes. These so-called eco-friendly homes are the trend of the future. Solar panel installed rooftops is feasible. We can save more on electric bills by utilizing solar energy. Water recycling can also be doable as long as our government and its citizenry are willing to set their minds on it. Extensive waste management and recycling should also be our primary goals. At the forefront of our economy of the future are ideas like these.

It has been four decades since we began to look for renewable energy. The plan to find other sources of energy brought about by the energy crises, inflation, and the rising price of oil in the early 70’s has been going on for more than forty years, but this project has not yet been fully realized by the global industry. The potential large-scale application of this plan might yet be feasible for years to come.

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“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be” ~ Abraham Maslow

We were having an argument, but it was one of those arguments you can have with a l friend – polite, yet spirited. My friend is a great guy who has dedicated his life to teaching reading, math and science to government school children in Tamil Nadu. He has had a positive impact on thousands of kids over the last decade. But I was putting him on the spot.

“Why are you trying to make everyone an IIT aspirant” I asked him. “Are there not other careers which may be more in line with their natural talents?”

“Yes, there are other possible careers for many kids,” he conceded. “But their parents and peer groups value math and science most. They are afraid their child is dumb if he or she doesn’t score good marks in these subjects. I’ve got to concentrate on math and science to build self-worth in the child.” I was still thinking about this later that day when my wife Girija and I visited my mother. We got chatting with the housekeeper, whose 12-year-old son is in 7th grade in a nearby government school.

The housekeeper complained that her son, although standing 4th in his class, got his highest marks in English and Math, which he liked, while barely achieving pass marks in the other subjects like science, social science and Tamil. She wanted him to go to college, but the boy did not seem very interested in academics; he was more interested in working with on carpentry and other crafts.

I recalled our conversation with Panchayat President Elango about the youth in Kuthambakkam village, and how so many of their parents view education as some kind of a passport to upward mobility. And, in some cases, it is. However, many villages are having problems with youths who fail 10th grade public exams – and then think themselves too good for farm work or other manual labor but cannot get better jobs. These youth tend to hang about as wastrels, living off their parents and falling prey to any corrupting influence in the village.

I am convinced that every human being on earth is born with innate gifts and talents. With effort and guidance, everyone can discover his or her own calling – we each have our own path to excel and make a mark in this world. Unfortunately, our education system interferes with this process with its “one size fits all” approach.

Further, society and economies create their own complications, especially in India, by glorifying and rewarding certain vocations more than others. It’s sad: the further one is from producing something useful to the world, the more the person earns. Thus a person who produces goods and services is worth ‘x”. The person who markets and creates a business out of these goods and services earns ‘10x’. And the person who provides the financial inputs to this venture earns ‘100x’!

The question we need to ask ourselves – and argue, cordially, with our friends and family – is whether this distortion of value needs to persist in the Connected Age – with its reduced asymmetry of information and opportunities. Will the New Age bring new opportunities to pursue one’s true calling and make a good living by doing so, rather than having to pursue specific professions purely for the money, but with no joy?

Will our education system be able to honor the individuality and uniqueness of every one of us, and nurture it rather than lock us to the lowest common denominator under the pretext of leaving no child behind? These are questions that I’d like us to discuss, politely and rationally, as a community.

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Global warming is a hard fact that probably none of us would wish to deal with. But let’s face it, it is real and it is happening at a pace neither one of us can comprehend and control. With the increase in temperature over the years, it’s no wonder that ice are melting over at North and South pole. But there are many things about global climate changes that are still unknown to us, what we do know is that if this continue, inevitably human race will be wiped off from the face of the earth.

So exactly what sort of dangers that global warming pose?

Melting of ice over at each end of our poles does not only affects animals living there. It has a global effect in which sea level will rise, as well as the temperatures. When that happen, animals either lose their habitat, or are unable to cope with the sudden change in temperature and thus will be extinct. Food chains will also be disturbed, given that we humans depend a lot on our marine life to keep the balance in check, it will not be a pretty scene.

With that in mind, can you imagine if the ice do not stop melting and the sea level just continue to rise? Within a short period of time, it’s not hard to predict that countries and island that are situated on lowly lands will be completely covered in sea. Currently, there are countries that are already reporting a rise in their sea level, as well as island sinking a couple of inches each year.

Severe hurricanes and thunderstorms are also predicted to happen as a result of that, and unfortunately not every country or every where are equipped with state of the art technology that can handle and take precaution against such happening, casualties will be inevitable.

With a change in climate and temperature, it could very well affect the chance of spreading new disease that were evolved from this climate change. Diseases and viruses evolves, can our technology and scientist keep up to combat them?

Rise in temperature will also no doubt have a negative impact on various crops life. Higher temperature will promote more rain falls and also less snow. Certain crops varieties that depends on cold weather will certainly suffer as we get hotter and hotter each year.

Global warming is without a doubt, a real life scenario that are caused by human activities. Release of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere have picked up since the 1970s and we have seen some of our worst disaster happened since then. Therefore, we should definitely do what we can and afford, by cutting down emission of carbon monoxide and stopping the waste of earth resources, we can make a difference.

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The wind-swept hills and breezy shores of the United Kingdom make for the perfect climate in which to harness the renewable energy of wind. Second only to biomass, wind power is one of the primary renewable energy sources in the United Kingdom. The UK maintains over a 4 GW installed capacity of wind, and that number is sure to rise.

A program instituted by the European Union calls for at least 20% of the energy consumed there to be generated with renewable energy sources by 2020. The United Kingdom agreed to join the venture in 2007, and the country’s individual target is 15%. Wind power accounted for 1.5% of generated electricity in the UK at the time of the agreement. Much of the wind power needed to produce this amount will be collected in onshore and offshore wind farms.

One obstacle that wind power faces in the United Kingdom is that its efficiency and productivity are debatable. Some manufacturers claim that the turbines will produce more electricity than is actually being measured. These findings may be skewed, however, because the turbines are being installed near inhabited areas in order to power the homes found there. Unfortunately, wind speeds sufficient to produce a useful amount of electricity are often too low in these residential areas. Buildings in towns and cities prohibit free wind flow, so some wind farms are forced into more rural locales that do not require as much electricity and are therefore less attractive in terms of manufacturing cost versus production.

In some of these less desirable areas, cooperatives are formed. Though not great in number in the United Kingdom, cooperatives such as the Baywind Energy Co-operative provide members with one vote apiece. Baywind’s membership exceeds 1,300 people and invests a portion of its profits in environmental initiatives.

Lincolnshire, located in the eastern portion of England, is home to the Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farm. The community is known for its agriculture, and its relatively flat land enables the winds to rush off the coast to inland areas. Constructed in the shallow waters off Lincolnshire’s coast, the Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farm began operation in 2008 and is capable of generating enough energy to power 130,000 homes.

As the European Union continues to champion the cause of renewable energy, the United Kingdom and wind power are sure to be an integral part of the plan.

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Andy is 20 years old. He came to a Hero Path program that I’ve been involved with for a number of years in London, England. In many ways he is typical of many of the kids I work with….

Andy showed up in the room very jaded and unsure that we had anything to offer him. He came in thinking that he’d receive the same advice he’d been getting over and over…he left as a young man on a mission…

What he was searching for he didn’t get in his traditional education. There was little or no training in business skills, let alone how to be successful in the entertainment field. He is now working in the entertainment industry and working hard. Some of his friends call it slave labor. When they are in school going to 14 hours of classes per week, he is working 14 hour days doing what it takes to be successful in his chosen field. When you meet him, you see a young man who is full of life, vibrancy and a burning desire to make his dreams come true.

The rules for thriving in the new economy are simple: either get it or get left behind.

Now it is not going to be easy for Andy. In fact, it’s going to be difficult..he doesn’t have the same educational advantages of many of his peers. Yet he has something a lot of them will spend a life-time looking for He has the drive and the passion to make his life personally meaningful.

If you have a son or daughter who wants to do something extraordinary, check out the free resources at Fourth Wave Institute.

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The United States Green Building Council is now offering an ecology-oriented building certification program called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This program focuses on five areas: energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site development, and water savings. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification is granted to all kinds of structures which meet the criteria in these categories, so many certified individuals are needed to uphold the standards. Training is available for this purpose.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Credentialed Maintenance programs are available for professionals who wish to expand their knowledge of certification principles. The program begins with LEED Green Associate and LEED AP Operations + Maintenance credentials and continues with LEED AP Homes, Building Design + Construction, Interior Design + Construction, and Neighbor Development. All credentials that have been awarded by the GBCI must be maintained through accumulation of Continuing Education credits on a 2-year cycle.

This 2-year period is referred to as the CMP reporting period and if professionals do not complete their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Continuing Education requirements within this period their credential expires. Individuals who are undergoing AP training are required to complete 30 CE hours biannually, 6 of which must be LEED-specific. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associates only need to complete 15 CE hours biannually (including 3-specific hours) of credentialed maintenance activity to maintain their credential. Different activities earn different amounts of CE hours, but the GBCI provides a CMP guide to assist with calculation. Professionals are responsible for reporting their own hours, a process which can be completed online without any additional documentation. Once the CMP requirements for credential have been met, an individual may simply pay a $50 CMP renewal fee to renew his credential. This fee must be paid within thirty days of the end of the reporting period or the credential will expire.

The GBCI also offers another option for maintaining a credential – many professionals choose to undergo optional retesting as a way to maintain their credential. Individuals using this method must take the required exam between 3 and 12 months of the end of their reporting period. With so many options available for achieving and maintaining LEED credentials, every year more professionals are making the choice to earn their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Programs like these are revolutionizing the construction industry and making the world a cleaner, healthier place to live.

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So what is Earth4Energy?

Earth4Energy is a well-known DIY guidebook that breaks down all of the necessary steps that are required to build your own solar power generator for under $200. Not only do you receive an abundance of images and diagrams with your eBook, but this DIY Solar Kit also comes with a video library explaining the whole process from A to Z. All this can be downloaded directly from the Internet.

There are some tremendous benefits that come with a DIY Solar Kit, such as:

-After installation, you can expect to see an incredible difference with your monthly power bill which will add up to thousands in almost no time.

-By using a renewable energy source you will be helping to conserve the environment.

-It is normal for the power to go out sometimes due to electrical storms but because of a solar power system you won’t need to worry about this since you will no longer be dependent on the electrical company anymore for energy.

-The cost of constructing solar panels by your self is only a fraction of the price that comes with retail solar power systems.

How much will it cost to build and install a solar power system myself?

The average person should spend around $250 to complete this project. This is probably equal to two months of your electric bill now.

Many people that have made the conversion to a renewable energy source have not only saved thousands of dollars with energy costs but have also managed to do away with the electric bill completely. It is quite clear to us that the amount of money spent for the set up cost of a solar power system will in no time be reimbursed by the savings you will receive after installation.

Are the plans that come with Earth4Energy easy to understand?

I am no rocket scientist, but because of the simple instructions that come with the Earth4Energy manual, I was surprisingly able to build my first solar panel in about a day. If you have any questions throughout the process that is not made clear enough for you inside of the manual, I do know that you can join their forum, where all kinds of topics are discussed for resolving any kinds problems one might encounter. In addition, Earth4Energy has a pretty reputable customer service, as well.

It seems that all of the reasons for not going solar are quickly running out these days. The biggest reason for most people is simply getting motivated. From my personal experience, I can honestly say you will not regret making the decision to convert to a DIY Solar Power System.

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In this article I take a close look at the specific reactions of commonly found industrial chemicals in wastewater, in the presence of oxygen, as well as in its absence, and the part they play in the chemistry of wastewater.

Dissolved Oxygen In Wastewater

If there are chemicals in wastewater like dissolved oxygen (O2) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), the Manganous Sulfate present in wastewater can be turned into Manganic Sulfate. During this reaction a brown colored precipitate is formed called the Manganic Hydroxide. This will dissolve in Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) and form Manganic Sulfate.

But if there are other chemicals in wastewater like Potassium Iodide (KI), then this Sulfate can react with it to breakdown and liberate Iodine. In testing laboratories, when analyzing the chemistry of wastewater, this final product is titrated with Hypo. For this titration starch serves as the indicator.

The above reactions are represented below.

The following chemical reaction occurs in the absence of dissolved oxygen:

MnSO4 +2KOH -> Mn(OH)2 + K2SO4

Manganese Sulphate reacts with Potassium Hydroxide to give Manganese Hydroxide and Potassium Sulfate. This reaction gives a precipitate which is white in color.

The following reaction occurs in the presence of dissolved oxygen

2Mn(OH)2 + O2 -> 2MnO(OH)2

Manganese Hydroxide reacts with dissolved Oxygen giving Dihydroxidooxidomanganate. This reaction gives a precipitate which is brown in color.

The other chemical reactions are as follows:

MnO(OH)2 + 2H2SO4 -> Mn(SO4)2 + 3H2O

Dihydroxidooxidomanganate plus Sulphuric Acid gives Manganese Sulphate and water

Mn(SO4)2 + 2KI -> MnSO4 + K2SO4 + I2

The reaction of Manganese Sulphate with Potassium Iodide gives Manganese Sulphate, Potassium Sulfate and Iodine. The result is the separation of Iodine.

And here’s the final reaction:

2Na2S2O3 + I2 -> Na2S4O6 + 2NaI

The Sodium Oxide Sulfide formed in wastewater reacts with Iodine to give Sodium Tetrathionate and Sodium Iodide

As we have seen, wastewater that carries industrial effluents contains different chemicals in varying concentration. Hence it is important to know about their reaction both in the presence and absence of oxygen, as it plays a vital part in wastewater treatment.

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