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Autumn is the traditional time for installing lighting in the garden. Garden lighting can be used in many ways: to extend the evening into the night, to lengthen and enjoy the seasons, to maximise the use of your garden from day into night, to provide soft, ambient light around your outdoor dining table or to create an all-year-round view from the house.  

So if you have made the decision to have garden lighting, what’s next?

Well firstly, the technology of garden lighting has moved forward a long way over the last decade with the introduction of LED lighting, colour change and remote control. There is low voltage lighting, mains voltage and even solar power. There is a bewildering array of light fittings costing from a few pounds each to a few hundred pounds. So where do you start?

The first decision is to consider what you are trying to achieve. If you simply wish to identify a pathway down to your shed or around the edge of your parking area then solar lighting may meet your needs. Inexpensive, plentiful and requiring no skill to install, solar lighting is an easy entry to the market. Be under no illusion though, solar cannot provide enough light output to illuminate a garden feature, tree or pond and probably doesn’t really come into the bracket of garden lighting.

If however, you wish to create a view from your house by illuminating a feature of your garden, if you wish to create ambient light by which to entertain or eat alfresco, if you wish to create different light levels around the garden to link the elements of the garden together or if you would like to illuminate either the front of your house or your driveway then you will require electrical power to be run from your house or garage.

It is the installation of this structural wiring that would make up a significant portion of your investment. I realise it is a bit boring to invest in the structural wiring but it cannot be over-emphasised how important it is. You really need to invest in good quality cabling, breakers and junction boxes, because without a good structure the light fittings (no matter how beautiful/expensive they are) will fail.

A good structure is the backbone of a good lighting system; it will keep you safe, it will be reliable and it will really last. With a good quality, well thought through structure, you can run not just your garden lights but your fountain, your pond pumps and filters, your Christmas lighting, the electric gates, power to your shed, recharge your electric car and run your security lighting. You can also add to your lighting year after year and allow it to develop alongside your growing garden. Consider the installation of the structural wiring as an investment in your property, like new windows, a new roof or automatic gates; it will add value to your property. 

Don’t forget, that part of the structural wiring planning is the choice of switching. No longer do you need to “chase” switch wires back into houses; you can install inexpensive remote control switches, remote control handsets, picture panel switching or wire it into a house control system such as Lutron. 

Once the structural wiring has been planned, you can let your imagination run wild; what about using moonlighting from a tall building or tree, create reflections in still water, silhouette statues and architectural plants or create gentle pools of light around an outdoor dining area – the options and opportunities are limitless. Alternatively, employ someone to design the lighting in your garden for you. They will come and listen to your needs and requirements and make suggestions to bring the ideas to life, a simple process that takes you from where you are to where you want to be.

At the end of the process, a completed lighting system will provide you with a completely new dimension for your property, will add value

You can find out more at www.waterwell.co.uk/garden_lighting.htm.

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The price of a barrel of oil has never been higher ($62.00+ in
summer 2005 even before the chaos caused by Katrina). Some say
this is a temporary spike, but more and more analysts are
agreeing that this kind of pricing is here to stay. World
consumption is at an all time high and given the new thirst for
oil in China and India it is unlikely to diminish. According to
International Energy Outlook, global demand is expected to
continue to increase by as much as 59% in the next fifteen
years.

Already, consumer energy bills have been increasing on average
6.5% per year for the last thirty years in the United States.
Given the dramatic rise in the cost of producing energy using
traditional non-renewable resources, this rate is bound to be
overtaken by unheard of price increases in the very near future.
And for consumers who are becoming more and more environmentally
conscious, the thought of the millions and millions of tons of
CO2 and other bi products being released into the atmosphere
annually through the use of fossil fuels in creating energy is
very alarming.

It is a no brainer that our reliance on oil to create energy
leaves us very vulnerable. There are renewable technologies that
produce energy, but the problem has been one of cost
effectiveness. It has always been cheaper to supply energy using
fossil fuels, and consequently, renewable sources such as solar
or wind power have not taken off. But the situation now appears
to be changing. More and more, our consumption of energy is
outstripping supply. The grid can barely keep up with demand and
rolling blackouts are no longer just a concept. No wonder
governments are looking for alternatives. And no wonder everyone
is talking solar once again.

In 1985 annual worldwide solar power system installation
accounted for 21 megawatts of power. By 2004, this had
multiplied to an incredible 927 megawatts in new installation
power production alone. The demand for solar produced energy
over the last several years has increased annually about 25%,
although in 2004 sales were up a whopping 67% from the previous
year.

There are several reasons for this increase in popularity for
all things solar powered. Beyond the obvious environmental
considerations and the privilege of not having to rely on power
from a grid that is aging and stretched to capacity, solar is
getting cost effective. While traditional energy production gets
more expensive, technological advances are making solar power
cheaper. In 1980 the cost of harvesting energy from the sun
stood at about $100 per watt. Literally a hundred times more
expensive than the going rate of electricity, these systems were
not economically viable. By 1999 however, technology had reduced
this to about $4 per watt and costs have continued to decline by
about 5% per year since. The Return on Investment is becoming
very attractive for many commercial organizations and consumers.

Efficiencies have been realized in several technologies. The
inverters that transform the collected DC energy into usable AC
energy used to deliver only about 65% efficiency. 35% of the
collected energy was lost in the transformation process. Today’s
transformers are so efficient they deliver up to 96% of
collected energy into usable AC current.

Photovoltaic technology has also made solar collection far more
efficient. Twenty years ago, only 5% of the sun’s energy hitting
a solar charging panel was harvested. This figure is now in
excess of 15% and will continue to climb as more efficient
compounds are designed and introduced in the manufacture of
these photovoltaic panels.

All levels of government are increasingly looking at solar to
provide stable, cost effective and environmentally friendly
power. 35 states now have some kind of rebate program for
homeowners that install solar power systems. And this is not
just the southern “sunny states”. While California is the clear
leader in promoting solar powered energy solutions (a program
introduced in 2003 is promoting the introduction of solar
powered energy systems into a million homes over the next
several years) New Jersey and New York are next in line for
solar investment.

At the municipal level, many jurisdictions have introduced solar
solutions for traffic and streetlights. 50% of the energy used
to run the City of Sacremento’s water purification plant is
solar. NASA uses solar powered energy systems in many of its
buildings. And governments are not using solar just because it
is good for the environment and sets an example for commercial
entities and consumers (although these benefits cannot be lost
on them!). They’ve concluded that opting for solar systems will
save them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

With so many rebate programs today homeowners are coming to the
same conclusions. Once the initial return on investment is
recouped (as early as 4 to 6 years with the rebate programs in
California for example), solar users don’t have any additional
energy bills, almost no maintenance to worry about and are not
slave to an electrical grid that is becoming more and more
fragile as demand outstrips supply. No wonder solar power is
getting attention!

Solar power is still more expensive than traditional energy
production methods, but the gap is narrowing every year. Solar
power applications are also multiplying at an amazing rate.
House heating, solar pool lighting and heating, hot water tank
heating, calculators, flashlights, solar garden lighting and on
and on. Solar is clean, it’s efficient and it’s here to stay.

Image taken on 2009-10-15 02:52:58 by chelmsfordpubliclibrary.

On one hand there is the increasing costs of energy bills and on the other hand there is the issue of saving the environment. Both these issues are interlinked to each other and play a huge part in our lives. It is due to these two facts that most owners of homes are looking for alternative means to power their homes. Their problems are resolved by using home solar panels that permit them to harness the free power of sunlight and convert the same into free electricity. Not free exactly since you have to pay the initial price for the solar panels, but after that you do not have to pay anything as long as there are no special bills that will charge you for using sunlight.

Users of electricity all over the world know that the costs of power are increasing every year and a time will come when they shall no longer be able to afford electricity current for their day-to-day uses. Think of your kitchen and the gas or oil powered ovens you are using. The costs of gas and oil too will increase, since there are limited reserves of these natural fuels left. The only way to avoid monetary crunch is by employing solar cells that will permit you to use as much electricity that you want without spending any money for the same. No doubt, the batteries that are used to store the power generated by these cells have a limited life, but if you consider the savings on your power bill, it is peanuts.

Just visit any store that deals in these photovoltaic panels or check out any site on the Internet that sells them and you will find that they are extremely cheap. Make a small calculation and you will find that these cells pay of for themselves in just a few months of use. The government too is encouraging usage of photovoltaic cells and is providing tax relief and other sops to those who are planning to install and use these environment friendly sources of power. Most such panels are also available in kit form and installing them is quite easy. If you have a basic knowledge of soldering then you can easily set up one such panel. However, if you are not familiar with soldering irons, you can purchase a pre-configured panel that should not cost you more than $3000 and that will take care of your domestic electric requirements.

Check out your recent power bills and you will realize that the home solar panels will pay off for themselves in a short period of time. It is high time you prepared yourself for the power source of the future and ensured that you are not left in the lurch. The days are not far away when using alternative sources of power shall remain the only alternative. It does not cost too much to assemble such a power plant and you will be proud of the fact that you have set up your own power plant.

Solar energyprogramswill turn sunlight into electricity. The silicon wafers will seize photons from the sun and turn this into DC power. This power is then modified in 120 volt AC power and connected and along the present electrical scheme in the house or business office. This could also be hooked up to the local electrical control grid. As the sun is shinning, you could be ready to obtain more electricity then you’ll consume. Your meter can really spin backwards. During the night with no daylight, your home will be employing from the utility company. Kind of like using the application company as a giant warehouse for your overproduction of electric power. There are a few of different labels the solar electricity systems are named. The solar power system, the solar electric systems and the Photovoltaic or the PC systems are really all the same. The solar energy systems independently exchange the suns light into electricity. This electricity can then be utilized right away, stashed away in batteries or fed into an electrical application grid system.

The commitment to clean power is a effective finance system. Solar electrical kit are quite expansive and present a quality investments for the household or business proprietor. This electrical system can deliver cheap electricity and power for years, maybe decades to come. There are some generous motivations of help off set the opening costs. A good range of local, state and federal bonuses like grants, repayments, loans, direct hardware sales, leasing and tax breaks will help to offset the costs. Although it may be tricky to recognize and understand what is accessible, the majority of the solar electricity firms can help in making you conscious of what is available. Some of the firms will also assist manage the discount activities for you.

Some of the most effective vendors and installers of the solar power system will tell you that straightforward is better. The more complex systems will necessitate more tech support and will reduce dependability. Always employ an expert to buy and install the solar energy system from. The professional electrician is not necessarily certified or qualified by the apparatus manufactures to install the apparatus correctly. The solar products will include the solar generator, the home solar energy panels and the solar collector. These are a couple of the things you’ll need to make your home into a solar home that can produce all your energy wishes. The licensed companies will maintain the protection to the proper documentation to protect the home from any employee liabilities.

A registered insure how much and what and where. During a site inspection the sales person will help to choose what type of solar electricity system will preform for your requirements. Also placement of the system is crucial. A Solar Pathfinder is exploited to pinpoint the daily and seasonal shades. The price of or how many solar energy panels is necessary for your location and also how much will this cost. While the solar electricity systems are developed for years of unwatched use, it is important to make provision for regular maintenance. The panels might need a little annual cleaning.

Other Sites Worth Checking Out
www.myhomemadeenergy.net
.

There are many different types of Solar cookers, however they all follow three basic designs: –

Box Solar Cooker: –

Box cookers are the most common type made for personal use. There are over several hundred thousand in India alone.

Despite the name “box” cooker, they are made in both circular and rectangular shapes. They consist of an enclosed inner box covered with clear glass or plastic, a reflector, and insulation. There is a wide variety of patterns and plans for the box cooker. While they do not heat quickly, they do provide slow, even cooking and are extremely cheap to make. Box cookers are very easy and safe to use, and fairly easy to construct. Box cooker Building Plans

Panel Solar Cooker: –

Panel cookers are flat reflective panels which focus the sunlight onto a cooking vessel without the inner box common in box cookers. Panel cookers are the easiest and least costly to make, requiring just four reflective panels and a cooking vessel, but they are unstable in high winds and do not retain as much heat when the sun is hidden behind clouds. The diagram shows a panel cooker with a dark cooking vessel and thermometer all wrapped in a plastic oven bag.

Parabolic Solar Cooker: –

Reflective materials are used to concentrate light and heat from the sun into a small cooking area, making the Sun’s energy more concentrated and therefore more powerful, resulting in the fastest cooking times of all Cooker designs.

Parabolic cookers require more precision to focus the sunlight on the cooking vessel and are therefore the most complex design to build. If the sunlight is not focused exactly on the cooking vessel, the food will not cook efficiently.

SolReka Solar Cooker: –

Features inlcude,

– Fast cooking times due to parabolic design.

– Lightweight and portable (easy to carry and store).

– Simple and Easy to Use.

– Safe, fast and portable solar cooking.

Launch date July 2008.

Email me at [email protected] for more information.

For more information on solar cookers, please visit: –

SolReka – Solar cooking news and reviews

• Advanced polycrystalline design is highly efficient and provides superior power output
• Maximum power output: 123 Watts/7.16 Amps
• Multiple panels can be connected together for even more power
• Easy to install and virtually maintenance-free
• 25-year warranty

Product Description
SHARP polycrystalline 123W solar kit that can produce 7.16 amps. Kit comes complete with a male D/C plug, mounting bracket and screws, battery clamps, voltage tester, quick connectors, and extra wiring. Ideal for boats, RV, 12v battery charging, pumps, satellite dishes, and many other uses. Easy to install, weatherproof, and allows for connecting multiple panels for more power. Unit has a 25-year warranty.Amazon.com Product Description
The Sunforce 39110 1… More >>

Sunforce 39110 123-Watt High-Efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Panel Module

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