Solar power has come a long way in the last thirty years. Those of us that researched in the past found that it was incredibly costly (at that time) and the solar collecting units were large and bulky. Technology may have advanced significantly, but there are some up sides (and down sides) that need to be considered when you are thinking about making the transition to solar power.

The first thing you have to realize is that the U.S. Government collects a lot of money in taxing power, in general. The costs of power are going to continue to increase and therefore many are looking to alternative power sources. Location is the first thing you have to think about. Solar power only generates during the day so if you live in an area that has low sunlight, you may want to have a specialist do an analysis to see if you will get sufficient sunlight. While the sun states might seem like a no-brainer, consider the direction your home or business is facing and if you have trees. If the direction works out but the trees do not, you will have to incur the cost of having the trees removed as well as the change to your home or business esthetics.

One of our neighbors decided to first do solar for their smaller home only for heating their swimming pool. They had to remove four large pine trees. That added an additional cost of $2,000 to the already higher cost of the solar installation. There home previously had a warm and quaint appearance due to the trees and now it stands out in the bright sun, looking rather barren.

You may have heard about all kinds of rebates and incentives for solar power. The government had fairly decent programs in the 80’s. Current incentives rate around 30% from the Government, but local programs are county-specific. I looked up the incentive for my particular county and it only listed a small dollar incentive ($200) if I included a solar water heater. If you have to invest thirty thousand dollars into a solar system, get a 30% tax incentive, you are still looking at $21,000 investment. The overall average cost (before any rebates or tax incentives) is configured to be about $10 to $12 per watt.

Your roof is another thing to take a very good look at. If you are thinking about having your roof re-done (or need to have it done) you will have the added expense of having the solar panels removed and replaced with the new addition and you will not be able to use the solar panel efficiency while they are down.

The cost of maintaining and keeping your solar system clean is another area to review. Whether you hire a company or are a do-it-yourselfer, it will cost something. In my case, we are surrounded by pine trees and even though the trees are far away, the pine needles are many. This would mean we would have to be on our roof or pay someone else once a month to keep the area cleaned up.

The positive sides of solar energy are pretty obvious. You can do the math to figure out how long it would take your solar system to pay for itself. Using our $21,000 number above and estimating a higher electric bill of $200 per month, it would take you 105 months to break even. That’s almost nine years. If your area is set up for the return grid credit abilities, remember that you are also collecting a lot of solar power and returning it as a credit into a grid. You will have to check your individual area and your power company to see what that amount might be, but it isn’t as nice as it sounds. Power companies are in business to make money, not pay it out.

Solar power remains one of the best choices for both homes and business in today’s society, but with a slowly improving economy, the financing options are getting slimmer. Very few people have $21,000 cash lying around and finance companies are making it more difficult to borrow money. So, your hopes and dreams of adding solar power to your home may come crashing down.

Solar technology is an area of research that has a high focus. There are many new developments that are being tested that are lighter weight and offer a more sturdy construction. The newer collectors being tested also collect a higher volume of energy in a shorter amount of time.

Solar power is better for the environment all around. But, before you make the jump you will want to examine all aspects for a fit for you.

Oil is a product that has well-known uses as gasoline for your car or heating for your home. However, there are countless other things made from oil that most people have no idea about. Here are 7 products made from oil that may surprise you:

1) Curtains
It is possible to turn oil into various kinds of petrochemicals via a refining process. One of these chemicals includes man-made (synthetic) fibers, and it can be used for weaving into curtains, as well as carpets, etc. Synthetic fibers look much better because they are not susceptible to wrinkles. Also, mildew and mold are less of a problem with petroleum-based curtains.

2) CDs
This is another one of the unexpected things made from oil and petroleum products. All products made from plastic (including some of the clothes you wear) are made from petrochemicals. This includes CDs you listen to and cassette tapes you used to listen to before CDs came along.

3) Detergent
The next one of the unexpected products made from oil is detergents. Detergents come in two different kinds: soapless and soapy. Most of the detergents that are soapless are made from petroleum products, like ethylene oxide and various alcohols. These soapless detergents are usually in liquid or powder form and used dishwashers and washing machines.

4) Medications
A lot of medicines are made from chemicals, a lot of which come from oil and petroleum-based products. The active ingredient in many over-the-counter popular pain relievers is ASA (Acetylsalicylic Acid), which is made from petrochemicals. In fact, medicine was one of the most ancient products resulting from oil, dating millenniums back.

5) Plastic Bottles
All plastic is actually made of oil and petrochemicals. This goes for polyester and, of course, many plastic products we use, including plastic bottles. It may be difficult to believe that the perfectly shaped clear bottle is made from a liquid like oil, but it’s true!

6) Film
Film is another one of the unexpected things made from oil. It is made from ethylene, which comes a result of distilling oil. Distilling means heating – the various substances in oil come to a boil at different temperatures. These temperatures can vary and all sorts of products can be made as a result, including camera film.

7) Sneakers
Sneakers are also made of petroleum-based products, especially the rubber soles (which are not actually rubber). Unlike natural rubber, which becomes stiff when cold and sticky when hot, the petroleum-based, man-made rubber is a lot more flexible. Other products that use this rubber include car tires, which is actually safer than using natural rubber. The current demand for synthetic rubber is much higher than demand for natural rubber.

In our world today the availability of energy largely depends on fossil fuel availability. These fossil fuels include oil, coal, and natural gas, and fossil fuel consumption constitutes about 80 percent of the total energy production across the globe. The biggest consumers in the world are China, U.S.A., and the European Union, with about half of the total world fossil fuel consumption attributed to them. According to other fossil fuel consumption statistics, it is mostly natural gas and oil that can be used far away from their extraction source, as it is difficult to transport coal for long distances. Fossil fuel consumption statistics also state that trade in fuels accounted for a total of US$715 billion worldwide in 2004.

However, in the more recent years there has been much criticism of the widespread world fossil fuel consumption. As we hear the word “green” more and more, people all across the globe are starting to understand how important it is to replace harmful fossil fuels with energy sources that are clean and renewable. Of course, there is still a fair share of people who don’t believe in global warming and the harmful effects of fossil fuel consumption, but obvious environmental changes and scientific evidence are making a lot of governments take it more seriously.

The country that is currently leading the world in using renewable energy sources is Iceland, which is just a small island in the middle of the Atlantic. They have embraced the use of hydropower and geothermal energy fully, with about 82 percent of their energy consumption delivered from sources that are renewable. Iceland has done an amazing job at weaning itself off the dependence on harmful fuel consumption and replacing it with sustainable renewable energy sources. Sweden is another good example, although not nearly as great as Iceland, with about 25 percent of its energy needs coming from renewable sources.

Unfortunately, in the United States it’s a different story. Giant oil companies have fiercely opposed the green movement over the recent years, because they know their profits are at stake. However, many Americans understand the reality of the global warming threat and are starting to look into sources of alternative energy. Wind power has become one of the fastest growing markets in the U.S., with various new manufacturing plants for wind turbines opening in the recent years. Also, the U.S. government has instituted rebates, tax credits, and other programs, which encourage its citizens to buy energy saving vehicles, appliances, etc. New businesses and homes in the U.S. are built with products that are considered environmentally friendly, as well as using renewable energy sources wherever possible. Owners also receive substantial tax breaks for using technologies considered “green”. So, there is definitely hope for the United States!

For more information, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumption
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel

3 – Solar panels to see the brighter side
The US Department of Energy aims to reduce the cost of solar photovoltaics to $1 per watt by the end of the decade, which would mean that solar panels are finally 100 percent competitive with other energy sources in the absence of subsidies.

4 – Smart windows to cut the AC bill
US e-Chromic, based in Colorado, is developing so called sun-smart windows that automatically change from transparent to reflective on hot days, thus dramatically reducing energy consumed on cooling.

5 – The power of the Sahara

The DESERTEC Foundation, which is being led by major banks such as Munich Re and Deutsche Bank aims to tap into the enormous solar energy potential of the Sahara. Just a small portion of the Sahara could meet all of Europe’s and Africa’s energy needs. Politics are the main barrier, but if this can be overcome, the potential is unlimited.

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Alternative energy projects around the globe are not only dealing with all the technological, feasibility and economic factors, but also with the negative pressures from the all-powerful oil companies who are in no rush at all to see sustainable energy sources succeed. The bad news is that the oil companies really do have a stranglehold on the industry in many countries, but the better news is that in certain parts of the world the green movement has sufficient momentum for alternative energy projects to be an important part of national policy. Germany and Spain, for instance, are the two big powerhouses when it comes to solar energy projects. Solar photovoltaics have dropped dramatically in price over the last few years, and have government subsidies in these countries have made them even more affordable. The advancement in energy storage research has led to molten salt technology, which makes it possible to store the sun’s energy for use at night. The power of the sun really could replace coal, oil and gas in the next couple of generations, and here are five of the current most prospective sun energy projects which the oil companies truly want to fail!

1 – When sun meets water

Sun Catalytix is researching into applying the sun’s energy to split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas, which can then be stored and used as fuel. With this technology, just 4 gallons of water recombined would have enough energy to meet the daily energy requirements of a large US home.

2 – Liquid fuel from the sun
Joule Unlimited is continuing to develop its “Liquid Fuel from the Sun,” a title which it has trademarked. It has just acquired 1100 acres of land in New Mexico where it will construct a pilot facility which will produce renewable ethanol fuels from the power of the sun!

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4. It is necessary to build power plants to fill the energy gap.
The energy crisis in California is often quoted to back up this claim. However, this energy crisis was not the result of a lack of electricity. It happened because of the electricity market manipulations, so building nuclear power plants cannot be justified in this case.

5. The waste from nuclear power plants only comes in small quantities.
There are claims that nuclear power plants only produce 1,000 metric tons of waste per year. However, this number conveniently leaves out uranium mill tailings, which actually produce 100,000 metric tons of toxic waste per year, and happen to be radioactive.

6. The likelihood of serious incidents at nuclear power plants is low.

Even when conditions are normal, it is possible for nuclear power plants to have serious incidents. There are many examples of this across the country and the world, including leaks at various plants every few years.

7. A single permanent repository is the optimal solution for nuclear waste.

This one isn’t as much a lie as it is an improbability. No country in the world has so far been able to build anything similar and doubt remains whether this would be effective and actually be able to hold the waste.

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Most people have heard that nuclear power is bad, but the reasons on this are fuzzy. To continue keeping our heads fuzzy, the industry feeds us all kinds of myths to counteract the research that confirms how harmful they are. Here are the top 7 nuclear power lies that the industry regularly presents us with:

1. It is cheap to produce nuclear power.
It is often claimed that nuclear power has low production costs, but for some reason the large capital costs that are needed to run nuclear power plants are not included here. The only costs included are just those for operation, fuel, and maintenance. However, the capital costs are so high, that it is difficult for nuclear utilities to even compete after deregulation.

2. Nuclear power plants do not produce carbon dioxide emissions.

This is one of the biggest nuclear power lies of all time. All of the nuclear cycle phases produce CO2 emissions, especially in the phase of uranium mining and the construction of power plants. In total, there is 4-5 times more CO2 emitted from nuclear power than from alternative energy sources.

3. Nuclear power plants are safe.

This is another myth. The truth actually serves as proof that nuclear power is bad. Nuclear power plants all around the world are built on fault lines, and many of these include areas that are susceptible to tsunamis and earthquakes. For example, in the U.S. there are four reactors of considerable size located right on the California coast, which is very earthquake-prone. Virtually none of them is designed to withstand a quake of more than a 7-point magnitude.

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You have probably encountered oil conspiracy theories more than once in your lifetime. Whether you choose to believe them or not is up to you, but there are certain facts, oil secrets if you will, that the oil industry doesn’t want to talk too much about. Here are 3 things you may not know about oil:

The oil change light is flashing again!

1) Changing the oil in your car. This one can easily be called one of the oil conspiracy theories, because everyone believes this myth like it is a sheer fact. The truth is though that the oil in your car does not need to be changed every couple of thousand miles like they tell you. Oil is oil – it doesn’t break down or decrease in quality. The only thing that happens is that it gets dirty and needs a little clean. If you clean out all the particles that have contaminated the oil, you could use it for at least 10 times longer than you normally do. Of course, this is one of the biggest oil secrets in the industry – and for a good reason! No one wants you to suddenly stop buying new oil and start reusing the old one. Imagine if everyone started doing that – where would the profit margins of the oil giants be then? Probably only slightly lower, in reality.

BP earning big from Iraq

2) Plots of land were already scouted by oil companies before the fall of Saddam Hussein. This may come as no surprise to many, especially those into oil conspiracy theories, but new evidence suggests that there were secret memos shared from the U.K. foreign office meeting with BP. The memo quotes that BP saw Iraq as a giant oil prospect and that it was anxious and desperate to get to it. The long-term earning potential was certainly seen as enormous. The only problem was the political unrest. The French giant Total and the Russian Lukoil had also been negotiating future projects long before the fall of Saddam. This is one of the many untold oil secrets.

Bending the statistics

3) The statistics of the oil industry are constantly full of omissions and sometimes outright lies. This is especially true when it comes to talking about “reserves”, which are the estimates of how much oil is left in the known reservoirs. These numbers are constantly “patched-up” by oil companies, the most known one of which is the Middle East reserves. The remaining amount of oil there is overstated by some 110 percent. For other reserves the figures remain the same for many years, which is simply impossible. There are many reasons why they must either be decreasing or even increasing, many of which are geological. If the figures stay the same, then it is valid reason to believe that the oil industry is keeping something from you.

Many of us have the right intentions when it comes to reducing our impact in the environment, but are all of them well placed?

1 – Eating local foods.

We’ve all heard of this way to help the environment: eat foods grown locally instead of imported ones, and you will not be contributing to the emissions resulting from the transportation of these foods. The truth is though, 90 percent or more of the emissions related to food come from production, and only a small percentage from transportation. So, if the foods you buy are not grown or produced efficiently to begin with, it doesn’t matter if you buy them or not – they have already been produced. That said, if locally produced food is produced effeciently, then it is better than the equivalent imported food.

2 – Solar panels.

If you ask anyone how you can help the environment, a very likely answer you will get is solar panels. But what people don’t know is that solar panels may not be the solution to end the world’s dependency on oil. The main problem with solar panels is that while they may work to save energy costs and using petroleum-based products once they have been built, the process of making them requires an astronomical amount of energy, not to mention the necessary chemical for their production. In a recent study it was shown that to manufacture one square meter of a solar panel would emit 75 to over 300 kg of carbon dioxide. The installation would then require another 600 to over 3,000 kg of carbon dioxide emissions! All this begs the question whether solar panels are really the answer to the future of energy.

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3 – Pickering nuclear power plant, ON.
Although this one isn’t technically in the U.S., the state of New York should be worried about the effects of this Ontario power plant. A mild earthquake has already occurred in Lake Ontario, where a tremor was definitely felt and objects fell to the floor. If a more serious earthquake were to happen, the effects to northern New York State could be devastating. Radiation leakage is also a potential threat and the reason many Pickering home owners have sold their homes and moved to other areas.

4 – San Clemente nuclear power plant, CA.

The San Onofre is the only California Coast plant to make this list. It is located southeast of Long Beach, about 45 miles away and has 2 reactors. Its damage could potentially affect some nine and a half million people.

5) Plymouth nuclear power plant, Mass.

The Pilgrim 1 is also considered potentially dangerous, with the estimated chance of earthquake damage being 1 in 14,493.

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