Go Green with Simple Outdoor Lighting Solutions: Solar Lights (Part Two)

As we move towards a greener environment, the use of natural resources is a simple solution to becoming more energy efficient. One of these natural resources is the sun. Solar energy is a valuable resource and an energy alternative to electricity. More and more homeowners are looking to solar energy to power their appliances and lights in their houses. For the outdoors, the use of solar energy should also be taken into consideration. This article is part two in a three-part article series about outdoor lighting and the use of solar lights.

Outdoor solar lighting is an option when entertaining in your backyard. Why worry about dragging a lamp with an electrical cord outside, plugging it in and then bringing it back inside after you are done using it? Solar Lighting illuminates the exterior landscape, is environmentally friendly, and uses energy from the sun to power the lights for the entire evening. Last but not least, solar lights are easy to install because no wiring is necessary! It is convenient and there is no need to worry or mess around with wires and outlets. Here are a few options worth considering when it comes to outdoor solar lighting.

Aurora Glow Solar String Lights

Create a beautiful summer setting with festive hand-blown glass string lights, Aurora Glow Solar String Lights. The six hanging lights are crafted from colored and clear hand-blown glass and luminescent details adorn a clear wire. It comes with high powered LED lights and copper hanging hooks for easy decorating. These lights are powered by the sun and have a solar panel located nearly 15 feet away from the first glass globe. You can plant or mount the solar energy collector away from the lights and enjoy the glow at night. During the day, they collect the maximum amount of sunlight, and are ready to go if you plan on entertaining that evening. There are many different areas in your yard where you can place the string of lights such as an arbor, archway, around the trunk of a tree, or the railing of a deck. It is also ideal beneath an umbrella. Equipped with a photo light sensor, the lights will turn themselves on as the sun goes down, and will turn off at dawn. Due to the artisan nature of hand-blown glass, each piece will vary slightly in color and in size. This makes each one unique!

Solar Garden Lights

Adding solar garden lights provides a pathway to your garden! Environmentally sound, they charge during the day to reserve a life of about eight hours. Constructed of polished stainless steel, these lights add a touch of class, at the same time providing cost efficiency. They are a wonderful accent to any outdoor landscape. These lights can easily be staked into the ground and are good for pathways, gardens, porches, and pool sides.

Solar Stepping Stone and Rock Light

Enhance the look of your flower bed by placing a solar stepping stone amongst the vibrant and rich colors of the petals. During the day, the stepping stone acts as a decorative item amongst the flowers. But at night, adds depth to the garden as it creates shadows with the light it emits. The solar module in the center converts sunlight into electricity, which is then stored in the integrated rechargeable battery pack. In the evening, the dual LEDs automatically switch on. There is no installation or wiring required. Simply install the stepping stone into the ground where it will get plenty of sun.

The solar rock light has the same concept as the stepping stone. The rock light keeps pathways safely lit for friends and family as they enjoy the outdoors, and creates an inviting and warm glow. Aim it at pathways, walls, or plants. Fully charged, it has a 20 hour of reserve life, and can be charged in direct or shadowed, sunlight.

Solar Powered Tube Lights

These tube lights are ideal for lining outdoor buildings, windows, trees, gazebos, architectural details, stairs, deck railings, and any other outdoor object you can think of. Using sunlight for power, tube lights help reduce expensive electric bills and can be placed anywhere without the hassle of wires or the need for electrical outlets. They stay lit for about eight to twelve hours depending on lighting conditions, and turn on or off automatically due to the built in sensor. It has 120 extremely bright LED lights available in white, red, green, and blue. It is water and weather resistant with over 100,000 plus hours of life. Each set includes rechargeable batteries, solar cell/electronics box, tube and wall mounting brackets, drywall anchors, screws, and instruction manual.

Be energy efficient! Garden Winds has many different outdoor lighting and decorating items that only require the energy from the sun to power them. Get inspired and make your outdoor landscape the first yard in your neighborhood to GO GREEN!

What is Holding Back the Adoption of Solar Generated Electricity in the United States?

The US currently has about 700 megawatts of installed solar panel electricity generation connected to the grid, according to research by the consulting firm, Navigant. This represents less than 1% of all the electricity generated in the US.

Each state controls the speed of solar adoption by heir independent policies. If these policies remain nchanged, generation from solar panels in the US, both commercial and residential generators are expected to grow to 6,000 megawatts by the year 2015.

Three thousand of the 6,000 megawatts will be generated in California. The incentive programs of California are the gold standard among supporters of solar power. Growth in the home solar-power market will not take off until more states adopt favorable net metering rules. The relaxed solar implementation can offset the cost of installing renewable power system and capture electricity that is being loss from the potential solar generation. The Navigant report estimates that an additional 3,000 megawatts of solar panel electricity could be available in the next eight years if the states with solar implementation limitations lifted their caps.

There are eight states that have no net-metering rules. These states are South Dakota, Kansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona and my own state, South Carolina. A list compiled by New Energy Source lists California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland receiving the highest scores for solar adaptation with the remaining states of lower scores because of restrictive laws.

As of September 2007, 39 states had adopted some measures of rules to compensate consumers for sending self-generated renewable power to the grid. There is a lot behind the scenes that the states and power generation companies are willing to wage a serious fight to preclude Federal mandates to push solar renewable energy.

In my state of South Carolina, the Santee Electrical Cooperative, which is owned by the state of South Carolina, is proposing a $998 million dollar coal burning generators. The site has been put on hold by the federal government for a deeper study of the environmental impact. Meanwhile, Santee continues the fight with their commissioned study. Their study concludes “$900 million in economic output, $500 million in earnings and 9,300 jobs for South Carolinians” Unfortunately; Santee made no attempt to study the environmental impact or what a combination of renewable/nonrenewable future actions would mean to the state.

The federal renewable fuels bill has been stopped in the US Senate. Southern Co., American Electric Power Co. and other coal fired producers hired top Washington lobbyists, including Rudy Giuliani’s firm, to help defeat a measure that would force them to boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020. That’s up from less than 2 percent today, and is a move the industry says would cost at least $67 billion. Southern Co. has spent $7.26 million this year lobbying Congress, more than Exxon Mobil Corp. or General Motors Corp., according to the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics. It hired such firms as Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, where Republican presidential front-runner Giuliani is a partner. The bill would require utilities to obtain 2.75 percent of their power from renewable sources starting in 2010, ramping that up to 15 percent by 2020. Almost one-quarter of the mandate could be met by improving efficiency. Companies that fail to meet the standard would have to pay a penalty to the federal government. The cooperative of Southern Co and other generating companies consider this too high of a barrier and appear to have succeeded to remove the renewable fuel section from the bill going to President Bush.

The average homeowner does not have a vote in adopting renewable fuels electrical generation standards. The battle is being conducted by the state and federal government and powerful electrical generating companies. The problem is that the average homeowner will be the big loser in this struggle. Our major recourse is to write our state and federal representative to adopt measure that we can utilize the potential cost savings and reduces pollution of solar generated electricity.

Our letters to our government representatives should ask for means to:

* Encourage greater renewable-energy generation

* Promote customer-sited distributed generation (wind and solar fuels)

* Reduce demand on an ever increasingly strained grid

* Reward investment in renewable technologies

* Facilitate energy independence

* Improve air quality and public health

* Promote in-state economic development.

Most states that have revised their interconnection and net-metering policies have done so in pursuit of these same goals.

Solar Panels & Wind Mills – Build Them Yourself – Cheap & Easy Green Power

We will always have the sun and the wind!
They are ultra-reliable and efficient for power production.
Wind and Sun are clean, forever renewable energy sources.
Solar panels and wind turbines can be simple and easy to build yourself.
Electric power bills can be completely eliminated, you can even get paid for doing it!
Anyone can go green easy, power your home, shop, camping or building site.

Going off the grid is not just for the survivalist in the outback of Alaska, or the fiercely independent family that left the big city for the more remote (and simpler) life in Wyoming. Going green, and living off the grid is no longer merely for the homestead family, nor the hermit isolating himself from the crowds. Sun grabbing solar panels are on roofs, in yards, on remote jobsites, even campgrounds. You’ll find them in the big city, small town, in energy conscious communities, in residential, commercial, even industrial locations. The benefits are many, from helping save the planet and it’s resources, to gaining your independence from utility companies. Not to mention the best part – saving a ton of money by drastically reducing, even totally eliminating the power bill.

You can build your own solar panel system and power generating wind mill. Average people do it all the time. You don’t have to be a “techie”, and you don’t need great handyman skills, nor many tools. The materials needed to build green generators are readily available locally, and very cheap when you learn where to look, and what to look for. Much of it can be found free, you can even get paid to remove some things that you can use. You be surprised what you drive by every day.

The government will pay you for developing your own alternative energy solutions, there are huge tax advantages. The power company must pay you by law if you choose to produce extra energy with your solar and/or wind system(s). That’s right – you can even make money money from your do it yourself energy production. Power up your entire home, shop, job or building site…the sun and the wind won’t charge you a dime.

Solar power panels and wind turbines are fast and easy to build, when you follow an accurate guide. It will not cost you $28,000 or more, like many do. A solar panel can be built for as little as $100 in two hours or less. A wind mill (big enough to power your entire home can be built for pennies compared to the usual cost of $16,000 or more. And be built in a short weekend, maybe one day. These are working and producing green power generators. Acquiring professional, do it yourself (diy) instructions is key to building and using these free energy sources.

Just be sure to look for one main spot where you can learn everything about .

http://onemainspot.com

green power

5 Important Tips: Building Your Own Wind Mills And Solar Panels

Buidling your own wind mill or solar panel is much easier than I used to think. Most of us that have considered making our own alternative energy generators, likely considered it to be a daunting task. One for the serious handyman with technical skills. Well, that’s not the case at all. Though it is far easier and cheaper than I ever imagined, here’s 5 important tips on where and how to begin making your own green power easy. Real time and money saving tips. You will need:

Illustrated Diagrams that cover every step of assembling your wind turbines and solar panels, and integrating them into your existing power system.
Detailed Instructions that walk you,step by step, in the designing of a green energy solution that will supply part, or all of your power needs for your home, shop, business, jobsite, campground. Anywhere you can use power.
To know how to sell your excess power to the power company, and actually make money every month from your green power solar and wind solution.
The easiest, yet most concise guide to building your own solar panels and wind turbines that is available anywhere. A precise guide with everything you need to know – period.
How to get the government to pay for some or all or your energy development expenses.

Now these things are so important. Following simple instructions from the right guide will eliminate the need for any other books, videos, etc that only add to information overload. Kept simple, basically a twelve year old can build a solar panel in as little as one or two hours. A thermal energy solution that actually works, really produces electricity. At a cost of probably about $100 to $150. Several smaller panels. or one or two larger ones can completely power your house. Your shop. Or remote job-site, campground, you name it. these aren’t toys – they work. the same is true of windmills or wind turbines.

A good, and productive wind mill or turbine, can be built by about anyone – in just a day to a short weekend. One or two windmills may likely provide all the power you need, if not an excess. If you produce excess energy, the power companies are obliged by law to pay you for it. Wouldn’t that be a nice change!

The simple fact is, that it is easy and cheap to build your own wind mills and solar panel systems. Many people have done it. Having the right guide to everything you could possibly need to know, will do all the following things, and much, much more. Such a guide will:

1. Give you an overall view of exactly what you will be doing and what you’ll need.

2. Will help you design the solar and/or wind energy system that fits all your needs.

3. You will know exactly what materials to buy, even get much of it free or very cheap.

4. Show you in detail how to build solar panels & wind turbines, and every tool needed.

5. You’ll be shown how to integrate the new green power system into your existing system.

6. Tell you how to work with the power company, and how to get the government to pay you.

You’ll also want to find out where to get the absolute best deals on storage batteries, even how to re-condition them yourself. When you know where to look, any and everything you need can be found cheap, much of it even for free. All you need to know about Green Power

FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS – FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS

In today’s market, these Flexible Solar Panels is made from the Silicon solar. The Silicon solar consists of 50 modules with these panels and are available in numerous sizes. It is used in many applications such as athletic apparel and also in clothing which consists of solar thin film. The Flexible Solar Panels are 2 inches in their diameter and has various subcategories.

SUBCATEGORIES OF FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS:

The first category is 12v Consumer Ready Flexible Solar Panels which is used to keep the mobile devices with full charge. In case the ac power is not accessible then this will help to recharge the RV or marine batteries. Some of the features are,

The solar panels are available both in 12V and 6V. It will be durable and also the design is weatherproof. You can select between 5w to 50w sizes.

The next category is 3v to 4v Flexible Solar Panels which has the OEM series. This is used in battery charger and at the both ends it has the solder pads which interconnects and makes the task simpler. Features are,

The cost is lower for solar technology. It is 100% green technology.

The accessories of Flexible Solar Panels offer various voltage applications which are used to make the thin film solar cells. It is used to recharge various accessories like laptops, cell phones, C batteries, AA, AAA and also for 12 volt batteries. The various applications are: video cameras, field cameras, weapon testing, remote surveillance etc. In order to make variety of products these panels makes use of thin film technology. Some of the products that are made using the solar panels include SAE Barrel Plug Adapter, Extension cable and Battery clamps.

BENEFITS:

The benefits of Flexible Solar Panels are,

Solar Power is the stable source for an Alternative Energy, It is portable and it can be kept in the ground which is used to charge walkie talkie and cell phones. The next benefit is waterproof. That is they are covered by the thin film which is used to charge the ipods. It will be durable. Used anywhere.

Flexible Solar Panels are carried out anywhere and it can be used in ocean. In this case many of them use the thin film during their journey and different types are used. But the most frequently used is these solar panels. This is because most of the panels are rigid and they work properly than others. Even though it works properly one important factor to be noted is flexibility of the panels. Nowadays these Flexible Solar Panels are used more commonly and most of the manufacturers make use of these panels for their residential and commercial purpose. If you people have any clarifications regarding these panels you can go through the following site http://www.solar-stand.com. Inserting the solar panel in the vehicle is great thing and when doing with help of these panels it will be more convenient. But these panels are more expensive and it makes use of solar energy to work properly.

The main goal of our Solar-Stand is to offer the Renewable Energy Technology and we focus to create the green economy. The use of renewable energy for your home or business can greatly reduce your utility bills and help you to become completely independent from the power companies. The various benefits offered by our company are green energy to obtain the best economy and environment. The variety of products in our company is wind power kits, solar system kits and various other books also available.

The History Channel : Renewable Energy , Natural Environment Homes : Going Green Living – Solar Power , Wind , Biofuel & More : 2 Pack

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In the young 21st Century, two realizations are dawning on the world’s population: we are hopelessly dependent on petroleum, which is only going to get more expensive; and global warming, caused mainly by our burning of fossil fuels, will impact civilization in ways that we’re only beginning to grasp. Stepping in to fight both of these massive problems are the rapidly evolving technologies that harness renewable energy. We will see how air, water, earth, and fire ar… More >>

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L.L.Bean Solar Wind ‘N Go Lantern/12 LED

Product Description
A full-size table lantern with a crank arm like the mini Wind ‘N Go along with a solar panel for charging in the sunlight while you’re away from the campsite. Also includes a 12V jack for charging in your car (DC car charging adapter not included). Choose between 12 LED or 6 LED modes. Imported. Dimensions   9 3/4″H x 4 3/8″ diam…. More >>

L.L.Bean Solar Wind ‘N Go Lantern/12 LED

Wind – Solar – Recycle Nature Dark T-Shirt by CafePress

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Look cool without breaking the bank. Our durable, high-quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton t-shirt is what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.5.6 oz. 100% cottonStandard fit Nature Tee, TShirt, Shirt. About our Dark T-Shirt: Look cool without breaking the bank. Our durable, high-quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton t-shirt is what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.5.6 oz. 100% c… More >>

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Solar Energy Business To The “miscellaneous Troops,” Said No

China’s solar energy industry has never experienced like today can Haohao De rectify the image of the industry, since the solar energy to rural areas has been classified as home appliances to the countryside, winning 92 major enterprises in the rural areas have begun under the ground, “Happy Valley Enclosure “No matter what, today’s solar industry is experiencing the pains of shuffling.

China’s solar energy industry has never experienced the same as today to rectify the image of the industry Haohao Di, since solar energy to rural areas to be classified

Appliances to the countryside Since winning 92 major companies have begun to villages under the ground, “started taking” No matter what, today’s solar industry is experiencing the pains of shuffling.

Voice within the industry, solar industry is going

Home Appliances Industry has gone through the road, early in the household appliance industry, the country full production

TV Machine manufacturers, and now TV manufacturers producing less than 20 solar energy industry, the brand will also continue to increase in concentration. Of course, there hold negative views of the sound, according to incomplete statistics, there are more than 6,000 large and small solar brand, but can really advertised brand enterprises are up to no more than 20, a large number of miscellaneous troops flooding the market, in Solar industry growth of 20 years, no-name military license to occupy the market by low-cost, difficult road to the solar industry shuffling heavy. “Miscellaneous troops,” the majority is the number of outstanding solar household electrical appliance enterprises and minority business status of the domestic solar industry, a general.

Successful as this one of solar energy to rural areas, Changzhou City, Sun Bao

Water heater Tian Hong, general manager of growth that the solar companies should “miscellaneous troops,” said NO! Brand solar energy industry to be effectively enhance the concentration must have “Lucky Sambo”:

A treasures: precious sense?? Do not “winning the countryside” too seriously

Twists and turns solar energy to rural areas and eventually be incorporated into the appliances to the countryside, since then, solar energy is almost into the crazy state of the countryside, thousands of businesses large and small, only 92 won the bid, beating the drums most successful solar companies, “I bid a I bid a “great” Fanjinzhongju “wind, solar and not successful enterprises are to continue their” rural guerrilla warfare, “the saying goes,” Dogs are dogs Road, cats have cat road. “

Changzhou Tian Hong, general manager of solar water heaters by Bao believes that solar energy to rural areas is only a matter of policy, and one bid for one year, we need not be so “crazy”, to be rational view of the “winning the countryside”, must not order “under the Township “and” rural areas “over the the” bid to the countryside “as a sign unconsciously ignore” Solar countryside “to really be concerned about the topic: quality of products and

Service . People really concerned about is the product of cost and service, successful solar companies in product quality and service should be up and down real skills for those who rely on low quality cheap survival “miscellaneous troops,” no place to seeing them, this is an excellent distinction between solar energy companies in the “miscellaneous troops,” one of the most powerful weapon.

2 Po: feng shui treasure?? On the pretext of home appliance channel lineup rural market

Appliance industry has been relatively mature, standardized, and this is Why solar energy to rural areas into the areas of home appliances to the countryside one of the reasons, no doubt, solar energy to rural areas should learn from the valuable experience of home appliances to the countryside; In addition, the appliance industry to the countryside process established in the township market, the relative sound

Sell Channel solar energy to rural areas should also be clever with the “feng shui treasure land”, home appliances industry in three to four market construction is relatively standard distribution channels, service awareness are more in place, the process of solar energy to rural areas to go home appliance business channel is an indisputable fact, the key is to home appliances and reputable channels to establish healthy business relationship, so that “no-name Army” no place to ground, take root, thereby enhancing the image of the entire solar industry.

Sambo: Brand to treasure?? Brand strength is the channel operators are not “instigation” of the premise of the

General Manager of Hong Tian Bao

by Sun that solar energy industry concentration to effectively enhance and channel providers essential to normal operation, the previous business is difficult to standardize solar energy sources, difficult to manage, the majority of business is to follow the channel profits go, who products to push his return another job which the main product, but the fact is that many small workshop-style solar manufacturers to assemble, so as to cut into the market, so that these channels often sell the brand today, tomorrow, they sold the brand was “instigation” is common, brand loyalty is very low, which also contributed to the overall image of the solar energy industry is one reason poor.

The best use of solar energy manufacturers home appliances to the countryside should be a good policy to brand, Product and hold the center channel operators, channel operators to follow the brand truly influential business go on, which is solar industry to enhance the overall brand concentration must be going through a painful process, but this process it must be a healthy development process.

Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator

• Uses wind to generate power and run your appliances and electronics
• Constructed from lightweight, weatherproof cast aluminum
• Fully integrated regulator that automatically shuts down when the batteries are completely charged
• Maximum power up to 400 watts or 27 Amps
• Measures 15 x 9 x 27 inches (WxHxD)

Product Description
The Sunforce 44444 400 Watt Wind Generator uses wind to generate power and run your appliances and electronics. Constructed from lightweight, weatherproof cast aluminum, this generator is also a great choice for powering pumps or charging batteries for large power demands. With a maximum power up to 400 watts or 27 amps, this device features a fully integrated regulator that automatically shuts down when the batteries are completely charged. The 44444 is virtually m… More >>

Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator

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