Homemade Energy

Home Made Energy

Copyright 2008-2009 www.HomeMadeEnergy.org

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Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... 2 DISCLAIMER ............................................................................................................................ 3 COPYRIGHT ............................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 1: REDUCING YOUR ENERGY NEEDS ............................................. 5
Determining Your Energy Needs ............................................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER 2: THE MAGIC BEHIND SOLAR POWER......................................... 7
How Solar Power Works: ........................................................................................................................... 7 How Long Do Solar Panel Systems Last? .................................................................................................. 8

CHAPTER 3: BUILDING YOUR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM........................ 9
Parts & Their Functions.............................................................................................................................. 9 Different Types of Solar Energy Systems .................................................................................................12

CHAPTER 4: SOLAR PANELS: TO SALVAGE, BUY OR BUILD..............17
Obtaining Free Solar Panels ......................................................................................................................17 Getting Panels At A Discount ...................................................................................................................18 Building Your Own Panels ........................................................................................................................19

CHAPTER 5: HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN SOLAR PANEL .......................22 CHAPTER 6: MAINTAINING YOUR PANELS.........................................................26 CHAPTER 7: HOW WIND POWER WORKS .............................................................27
Parts Of A Wind Turbine...........................................................................................................................27

CHAPTER 8: TO BUY OR BUILD YOUR WIND ENERGY SYSTEM .....29 CHAPTER 9: BUILD YOUR OWN WIND TURBINE...........................................34 CHAPTER 10: UNDERSTANDING HYDROELECTRIC POWER...............41 CHAPTER 11: WIRING YOUR BATTERY SYSTEM............................................42 CHAPTER 12: THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY HOME .........................................44 CHAPTER 13: LARGE SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY ..................................46 CHAPTER 14: MORE CHANGE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE ........................48
Reducing Your Oil Dependence: ...............................................................................................................48 The Ethanol Question: ...............................................................................................................................49 The Energy Of The Future: .......................................................................................................................49

CHAPTER 15: WHAT’S HOLDING BACK CHANGE? .......................................51 CHAPTER 16: ADDING TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASEWORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES ......................................................................................52 CHAPTER 17: CLOSING THOUGHTS ...........................................................................53 LIST OF REFERENCED LINKS ............................................................................................55

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DISCLAIMER
The author and publisher of HomeMadeEnergy disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which may be incurred as a direct or indirect consequence of the use and application of the contents of this book. We encourage you to take care when working on any of the projects outlined in this book. By purchasing this book, you have agreed that you are solely responsible for your own actions.

COPYRIGHT
This book may not be republished in any way. You are not authorized or allowed through your purchase to transmit copies of this file to anyone without written permission from HomeMadeEnergy. The use of this book is limited to your personal use only. Giving away copies of this book to people is illegal under international copyright laws and you will be subject to legal action.

Copyright 2008-2009 www.HomeMadeEnergy.org

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Introduction
Every day another person in the world realizes the cold, hard truth about earth’s energy supplies and our current energy use practices. Our dependence on fossil fuels is quickly coming to an end and it is time to start looking at alternative energy sources. In recent years we have seen oil prices skyrocket, making travel and even mowing the grass a lot more difficult for millions of people. As you are reading this, more people are fighting and dying over oil reserves on this planet. A planet that we, the people, have continuously damaged for centuries. Momentous changes in the earth’s climate have led to conditions that are now irreversible. The consequences of these changes are becoming more apparent every day in dwindling polar ice caps, violent storms and out-ofcontrol drought and wildfire situations. The truth is, the need for change in our lives is right outside everyday and it is time to take notice and start doing our part to preserve this planet that provides for our every necessity. Not just for this generation, and us but for generations to come. This book is not about finger pointing and passing the blame; our goal is to bring big change by starting small with each individual home and business. Your curiosity about what you can do to make a change is probably what led you to purchasing this book. Most alternative energy options come with a large initial investment, leaving the average person wondering if there is really anything they can do to make a difference. We have provided this book for those of you that refuse to believe that your efforts don’t make a difference and for the rest of you who are ready to start trying. Our goal is to answer all of your questions about alternative energy options and what you can start doing today to fulfill your responsibility in the world’s energy crisis.

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CHAPTER 1: REDUCING YOUR ENERGY NEEDS Sustainable, renewable energy is an amazing gift from Mother Nature, but it is not an affordable luxury for everyone. At least, not until recently. There is one great way to save up for your alternative energy source and that is by staring to limiting your home or business energy consumption now. You can start with these simple tips for cutting down your energy expenses. Invest in energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Don’t just replace one or two bulbs, replace them all and turn off lights when not in use or find lower wattage options (instead of using the 4 bulb fixture above the sink, use the single bulb in the ceiling light). Turn off all your electronics when they are not in use. This goes beyond hitting the power button. If you have an extra power strip, it can save a bundle to use if for your electronics (especially those that require a remote and are in a constant energy use state of stand by). Simply switch off the power strips when the components are not in use. Use ceiling fans to circulate air and to make A/C more efficient. Change filters on A/C and heating units regularly to increase efficiency and to have cleaner indoor air quality. Air-dry your clothes and dishes. If you don’t like the feel of air-dried clothes, try a combination of a quick 15-minute dryer cycle and then a line dry to finish it off. Run the dishwasher for a wash cycle only and then open the door for the full air-dry effect, eliminating the steam or heated dry cycle and saving precious energy. Avoid baths and go for quick showers. Turn down the heat and air conditioning. Keep your home at a moderate temperature year round and keep upper level floors at a lower temperature, as it is heats nature to rise. Plan ahead and eliminate excess driving around for errands. Keep your tires and car in good condition to maximize your fuel efficiency and try to drive around 55-60mph to increase your mpgs. Use the window on your oven to view progress while baking instead of opening the door and letting precious energy escape. On the same note, if it is safe to do in your household, leave the oven door open after baking during winter months to take the chill out of room. Winterize your home as much as possible. Close doors to unused rooms and seal windows whenever possible.
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Think of it this way, there is no point in producing your own energy if you are just going to waste it by leaving lights on and windows open. If you plan to utilize solar, wind or some other form of alternative energy then it is best to get in the habit of making these little considerations now. Give it a try and watch as your monthly electric usage goes down. Determining Your Energy Needs Now you know ways to cut back your utility bills each month, but there may still be a question of just how big of a system you need for to build to meet your home’s power consumption. The first step is to reduce your energy use as much as is comfortable for you and the members of your household. If possible, trade in old or out of date appliances for more efficient ones (this may not be an option for everyone, but a possible next step as you begin to save more money with your reduced energy bills). Determining your average energy needs is as simple as looking at your previous electric bills. Each bill supplied by the utility company will identify how many watts or kilowatts of power you used in the last billing period. Many will offer information on the previous years consumption. Use this to determine just how much energy your alternative system is going to have to produce. Just to give you an idea, before you start building or buying your alternative energy system, lets get a little better understanding of the energy you are about to produce and what it will power in your home. Lets start by looking at 1KW of power or 1000 watts. This is the average power your that is consumed by small appliances such as lights, TV, DVD players, microwave and a toaster oven. Essentially you could eliminate the cost of running these appliances daily by producing 1KW of power yourself with a solar or wind energy system (approx. 10 solar panels will generate 100 watts each and make the 1000 watts necessary to run these appliances).

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CHAPTER 2: THE MAGIC BEHIND SOLAR POWER The sun is such a vital element in our world. Could you even imagine a world without the sun to warm, feed and nourish everything on the planet’s surface? Using the power of the sun to provide energy to power your home or business is an amazing and incredible concept. It can be mind-blowing when you actually consider that the Sun produces enough energy everyday to sustain the average households electricity needs. If it were not for the technological and financial limitations of solar energy systems, it is quite conceivable that we could be using solar power for the majority of our energy needs. Take a moment to think about the value of the sun and its role as a renewable resource. What exactly does renewable mean? The amount of solar energy we use today in no way effects the amount of energy that will be available tomorrow or in 20 years. What is even better about solar energy is that we are not borrowing on our children’s future or creating greater problems for their children. How Solar Power Works: The concept of solar energy is the process of collecting the energy produced by the sun over a specified surface area and then converting that collected energy into usable electricity for our homes and buildings. Solar energy systems use solar panels to collect and convert the sun’s energy with the use of photovoltaic cells (photo means light and voltaic means electricity). Most photovoltaic cells are made from very thin layers of silicon and then impregnated with tiny amounts of elements like boron and phosphorus. Energy is produced when the sun’s rays reach the photovoltaic cells and a “reaction” occurs. The semiconductors absorb the sun’s energy. This causes electrons to break free from their atoms and push through the panel to create electricity.

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It is hard to believe that the insides of age-old transistor radios helped create the world of solar power. There has been much advancement made in the world of photovoltaic cells in recent years and most solar panels are able to absorb a greater percentage of the sun’s energy. Some even operate with limited sun exposure, whereas the original panels only produced electricity in full and direct sunlight. How Long Do Solar Panel Systems Last? Photovoltaic cells and panels are a great investment because they last a long, long, long time. The oldest units in use, on earth that is, are around 45 years old and still operating well. As the technology behind solar cells advances, the longevity of panels is increasing and degradation rates are decreasing. Because transistor technology was the basis for most solar cell development, many early researchers stated that solar cells would have a similar 20-year life span. However, cells that were placed in space in the 1960’s are still functioning today. Solar energy and solar panels are a sound investment in your future and the depreciation on your system will be minimal. The biggest changes will be in the advancements of new technologies that make older systems performing at a lower level.

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CHAPTER 3: BUILDING YOUR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM The cost of purchasing a commercial solar generator and solar energy system is not a pleasant thought for members of the average income household. However building your own solar generator is a cost effective way to introduce alternative energy into your home or business and it is a lot easier than you probably imagined. There are actually different applications for solar power that you can use with your home or business to reduce your commercial energy dependence and reduce your energy costs. But before we can start describing the various systems, lets look at the individual parts of most solar energy systems and their functions. Your familiarity with these elements will make understanding the designs presented later in this chapter, easier to understand. Parts & Their Functions Solar Panels: Otherwise known as PV (or photovoltaic) panels are a solar electric systems defining and most important element. These panels capture the suns energy and convert it into direct current or DC electricity.

Most solar panels are rated with wattage information and you will need to determine your electricity usage needs to find the best panels for your project. You can combine several panels into an array to meet your system requirements.

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Array DC Disconnect: The DC Disconnect is an important maintenance element of any solar panel system. This disconnect makes shutting off power from the solar panels easy and safe.

Charge Controller : Utilizing a charge controller will greatly benefit the life and charge of your battery system (if one is in use). The charge controller protects the batteries from becoming overcharged by interrupting the charging process once the batteries are fully charged. There are additional controllers that will stop the battery from discharging at night.

Deep Cycle Battery: Deep cycle batteries are the best and safest battery to use with any alternative energy system. This battery will store the energy produced by the solar panels. It is possible to find free deep cycle batteries from suppliers of other machines that utilize deep cycle batteries such as golf carts, forklifts and boats.

System Meter : A system meter can be used in coordination with your battery bank to monitor how full your system is. You can also you the system meter to determine how much energy is being consumed at any given time.

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Main DC Disconnect: The main DC disconnect allows you to easily and safely disconnect the inverter for maintenance. It is installed between the battery bank and the inverter.

Inverter : An inverter is an integral element in any alternative energy system. This unit converts the DC energy generated by your solar panels and converts it into alternating current or AC current. As we explained earlier, AC current is the type of electricity used by household appliances. If you wish to operate a DC appliance, then you will simply need to purchase a DC input from an auto parts store.

Generator: A generator is not a necessary element for all alternative energy systems. It is most beneficial in “off-grid” systems which you will learn more about later. Some individuals decide to include a generator in their alternative energy system as a “back-up” source of power. It can be used to generate energy on days when there is not enough sun exposure to produce electricity.

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AC Breaker Panel : Almost every home, except maybe those with no existing electricity, has a breaker panel located somewhere on the premises. It is the point where all of the homes electrical wiring meets with the electricity provider. The electricity can be provided via commercial grid system, through an alternative system or through a hybrid system that combines both. Every state and local government agency has their own guidelines and codes regarding the ways that alternative energy sources are connected to the AC breaker panel. It is our suggestion that you always employ a qualified electrician to connect your alternative energy system to the AC breaker panel. It is possible to run your appliances directly from your inverter. This would eliminate the cost of hiring an electrician and tapping into the commercial grid system.

Kilowatt Per Hour Meter: If you currently receive electricity from a commercial system and are tied to the grid, then this meter probably already exists on your home. This meter monitors the energy entering and exiting your home. If you are using less energy than you are producing, you will witness this meter moving backwards. Different Types of Solar Energy Systems As we stated earlier, there are a variety of solar energy systems that you can build yourself. It is important to take the time to evaluate your energy needs to determine which system will work best to reduce your electricity costs
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and your dependence on fossil fuels and commercial produced energy. A portable solar generator is a simple power supply that can operate just about anything you can think of. It is a great system for camps or even camping trips and the best part is that it costs less than $200 to assemble at home. This system easily pays for itself in a few short months. The components and the order of their connections for this simple system are: 1. Energy source or PV Panels 2. Charge controller 3. Inverter

An on-grid solar power system is what most households that are already tied to commercial grid power opt to use. This utility interactive solar electric system can actually pay back in some energy efficient households where the solar system generates more electricity than is being used by the home through net metering. It is also important to mention that with this system, if your power from the commercial grid is interrupted, you will not have power in the home. You will need to consult your local electricity provider and state regulatory agency for more information on net metering in your area.
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The components and the order of their connections for this solar power system are: 1. Energy source or PV Panels 2. Array DC Disconnect 3. Inverter 4. AC Breaker Panel 5. Kilowatt Per Hour Meter 6. Grid tie in

An on-grid system with battery back-up is the same as the grid system, but has additional battery elements for storing energy. This stored battery power will be used in times when the sun is not available such as a cloudy or rainy day or when power from the grid is interrupted. The components and the order of their connections for this solar power system are: 1. Energy Source or PV panels 2. Array DC Disconnect 3. Charge Controller 4. Deep Cycle Battery 5. System Meter 6. Main DC Disconnect
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7. 8. 9. 10.

Inverter AC Breaker Panel Kilowatt Per Hour Meter Grid Tie In

The off-grid solar energy system is a popular choice for remote locations where the cost of running commercial electricity would be too great or too intrusive on the landscape. This is also the option chosen by those individuals who do not wish to see that monthly electric bill in their mailboxes. The generator is included in this system to charge batteries in situations when there is not enough sun exposure to produce the home or business’ electricity needs. The components and the order of their connections for this solar power system are: 1. Energy Source or PV Panels 2. Array DC Disconnect 3. Charge Controller
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4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Deep Cycle Battery System Meter Main DC Disconnect Inverter Generator AC Breaker Panel

Other Good Information To Know Fridges and other large appliances are great to run on a simple portable solar generator system. You will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of energy you can save by running your large appliances like the refrigerator or electric stove and microwave from a simple system. Battery boxes are an important element in colder climates as batteries operate best in warm temperatures. Battery boxes also help to keep your overall system clean, organized and safer for households with small children or animals about.

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CHAPTER 4: SOLAR PANELS: TO SALVAGE, BUY OR BUILD How you acquire the solar panels for your solar electricity system will probably be largely dependent on your financial situation. Those with the money to purchase the best top of the line panels or photovoltaic cells will probably see the best conversion of energy, but there are other options for those who cannot make this large of an investment. The next section will open your eyes to alternatives to purchasing new panels. Obtaining Free Solar Panels Our years of experience in setting up solar electric systems on all kinds of budgets have given us a keen eye for locating parts for our systems at enormous discounts and one of the best secrets we have learned we are going to share with you right here. It is possible to get your solar panels, without paying a penny. You are in no way obligated to go this route and the demand in your area may be so high that you are unable to use our methods, but we are always on the look out for ways to save and enjoy sharing our secrets. So, I am sure that you have seen the solar powered construction and road signs during your travels on roadways or highways through or near your towns. If you never took notice, it is time to start. These signs, if you can believe it, get damaged. Whether by drunk and careless drivers or from some roadside construction mishap, many of these signs are returned to the maintenance shop every year. To find out where the damaged solar powered traffic signs are going you will need to get close to the sign and look for the sticker (usually on a side that gets little to no rain exposure) and locate a phone number of the company that rented the sign or maybe of the construction company that owns the sign. We suggest writing this number down, but if you trust your memory then make a mental note of it. You want to call this number and seek out the person who maintains these signs. Once you are in contact with the correct individual, you can inquire about getting damaged panels from them.
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Now, obviously they are not going to give away undamaged panels for free. Usually the panels you can get from these businesses either have cracks or are damaged slightly in some other way. These panels will not work 100%, but they still work well enough to produce your energy needs. Many of these damaged panels can be repaired to improve their efficiency. You can seal cracks and solder wiring. It is a good idea to leave your name and number with the company you have contacted and have them call you whenever they have solar panels available. Another excellent source of free panels is with solar energy system companies. Many people with solar powered homes and businesses will invest in newer, more efficient panels as they become available. The older panels are removed by the services company and often times they are discarded, as they are out-of-date and do not have much value in resale. This is your opportunity to get what are often damage-free, free solar panels. They may not be the tops of the line models, but they usually still work just fine. It is definitely worth your while to make contact with your local solar power companies and ask if they have any old panels. Getting Panels At A Discount Depending on the popularity of the use of alternative energy in your area, you may not be able to get in on the free panel express, but that still doesn’t mean you need to spend thousands of dollars on your solar panels. Getting panels at discounts is still better than paying top dollar. The first opportunities to get discounted panels are from the same sources you just read about. You can offer to purchase the slightly damaged or used panels from companies who would normally just discard of the materials. You could also make contact with homeowners that you pass who may be having their panels replaced. Another great place to shop for discounted panels is through your local newspapers, trade magazines and local online communities, like virtual flea markets and virtual yard sales. Searching the Internet for used solar panels is another way to find panels, but be aware of scams.
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If all your efforts leave you empty handed, then it may be time to turn to Ebay. We have taken the time to pull together all of our own sources of solar panels, used and new, and offer them for purchase on Ebay. You can still purchase panels for far less than you would pay from a large company. You will need to open an account with them. Once your account is set up, you can visit the following link to view all of the solar panels for sale: http://www.homemadeenergy.org/ebaysolarpanel. Building Your Own Panels The next chapter will go into the details of building your own panels to a much greater extent. For now, we want to assure you that even the most unhandy of people can successfully build a working solar panel for a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new panel. Before we tell you the how, we are going to review the what. Below is a list of pieces and parts that you will need to build your own solar panels. Again, the next chapter will cover, in detail, how to use these parts to build your own panels. It is important to be familiar with the terminology before we get started. Solar Cells: You can purchase solar cells from many online and possibly local retailers. We suggest for your first project that you use undamaged cells, but purchasing damaged cells costs less for obvious reason and you will have the right tools to fix them yourself. Damaged and Undamaged cells can easily be purchased from Ebay. For a complete list of undamaged affordable solar cells visit http://www.homemadeenergy.org/ebaysolarcells. Strong Plywood: Plywood is used as the backing for your solar panel and it will hold the cells. You don’t need to purchase expensive hardwoods, as we will be putting a protective UV coating on it anyway. This is not about vanity; it is about function. Wood: You will need to have wood to make the frame, which will hold the Flexi-glass over the cells. This should be a think would that will not splinter
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when it is drilled into or nailed. Flexi-Glass: This will be used to cover the cells and protect your panel from the elements. You should select a Flexi-glass that is at least ½ inch thick. It should be available at your local hardware store and they will usually cut the piece to your exact size, but you should purchase this item last so you will have the exact measurement to have them make the cut. Tin Coated Tabbing Wire: This is a flat silver wire that is used to connect the solar cells together. It is used in coordination with the solder iron and melts easily to connect to the solar cells. You will need two different sizes of wire with the thinner wire being used to connect each cell together and the thicker wire used to join the different rows of cells together.

Silicone: Silicone is used to attach the solar cells to our plywood backing and to help seal and attach our Flexi-glass cover as well. Solder: Solder will be used to attach the copper wire to the back of each solar cell. It may also be needed to hold down some of the tin coated wire that does not stay down on its own.

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Rosin Flux Pen: This “pen” is used to help to adhere the wire to the cells. UV Protector: All of the wood in your project should be coated in the UV protector. This will improve the durability of the panel which is exposed daily to the sun. UV Guard can be found at your local hardware store and is often referred to as deck and fence coating.

Volt Meter: You will use this to test the cells power output. As each cell is connected together you can check the power output to determine if the cells are functioning properly. The voltage should increase as each cell is connected. These are also available at your local hardware store.

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CHAPTER 5: HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN SOLAR PANEL It is time to get started making your very own solar panels. You are familiar with the parts, now lets start making some energy from the sun. Step One: The average solar cell produces about 2 watts of power, so the common trend is to tie 50 solar cells together in one panel which will generate 100 watts of electricity. Knowing this, it is time to cut your plywood or plastic backing to the size of your panel. If you are constructing a small panel to operate a pond pump or something of that nature, then you won’t need a full sized 50-cell panel. If you need more than 100 watts, you will need to tie multiple 50-cell panels together and we will explain how to do this later in this chapter. Step Two: Now it is time to protect our plywood backing from the effects of the sun by applying three coats of UV Guard. Step Three: We are now ready to connect our solar cells together. Start by arranging the cells on the floor face down. On the back of each cell, you will find a small tab. First you want to put a small drop of solder onto each of these tabs. This can be accomplished using a simple pencil style solder iron and will make connecting the copper wires to the cells much easier later. **Note: In the following steps, when connecting the wires to the solar cells, use your Flux Pen along the solder points before you actually solder the cells together. This should help to hold the wire down. Use solder to ensure the wire stays attached.** Step Four: Now you will want to turn your solar cells back to the face up position. You are now going to solder 2 pieces of the flat silver coated solder wire to the front of each cell. You want each wire to be twice the width of the cell because in the next step you will be attaching this excess wire to the back of the next cell. One wire should be attached an inch from the top of the solar cell and the second wire should be attached about an inch from the bottom of the cell. The inch measurement is not as important as the consistency of spacing of the wires on all of the cells.

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Step Five: In the last step you created tabbed cells and it is now time to connect these cells. You will connect that excess wire to the back of the following cell as depicted in the diagram below. It is very similar to weaving the wires between the cells. The front of cell #1 connects to the back of cell #2 in the series and the front of cell #2 connects to the back of cell #3 and so on through the series.

Step Six: Once you have all the cells in the row connected and several rows of connect cells actually, it is time to connect each of those rows together to form a sort of grid connection. This is done by running a thicker flat wire down the sides of the start and end cells of each row. These wire will be connected in a series connection, meaning the wires must go from negative to positive to negative to positive and so on through the panel connecting each row. Utilizing the series connection will increase the voltage output of your panel. To better understand the connection process, please reference the diagram below and watch our video on the HomeMadeEnergy website.

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Step Seven: Before we start to glue things down, it is a good idea to get your solar cells out in the sun and use your voltmeter to check the power output of your cells. Step Eight: Now that your cell rows are formed and connected into your solar cell grid, it is time to connect your solar cell grid to your plywood or plastic backing. We suggest using a small amount of silicon to hold the cells in place. It really doesn’t take much silicon at all, just enough to stick the cells to the plywood. Step Nine: When you connected the cells into rows and the rows into your solar grid you should have ended up with two end wires. These wires will need to go through our plywood or plastic backing where they will connect to a junction box. You will need to drill two separate holes through the backing, as these wires should not be touching or at risk of touching. Step Ten: The next step will be to attach a wood border around your cells as a frame for the Flexi-glass to be attached. You should use silicon to attach the frame to the backing and then screw the frame pieces tight to the back.
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The silicon will help to prevent water from getting inside of your solar panel. If you are using a plastic backing instead of plywood, you may want to use a “C Frame” around the solar cells as it weighs much less and would be more aesthetically pleasing. Step Eleven: As your panel is coming together quickly now, it is time to place the Flexi-glass over the top of your panel. You can use the same silicon for attaching the Flexi-glass as you did other parts of your solar panel, but you will also need to drill and screw down your Flexi-glass cover. Do not drill directly through the Flexi-glass, as this will cause it to break. Step Twelve: You are getting closer, the next step is to seal up the holes around the two wires you ran through the back of your panel. These are your positive and negative wires and these holes need to be sealed with silicon. This is a great time to examine your panel for other holes or cracks that need sealing as well. Step Thirteen: The final major step in building your own solar panel is to drill a “breather” hole in the bottom of the panel away from where your positive and negative wires exit the panel. This hole will aid in preventing moisture build up inside of your solar panel. Of course, be sure that you are drilling your whole in the bottom of your panel or it will only fill up with water. Step Fourteen: You are now ready to join electrical wire to the panel’s junction box. This wiring will later connect to your charge controller if you are using a battery bank. You will need to choose the correct wiring dependent on your anticipated amperage. Your wiring and junction box can be purchased from your local electronics shop. There will be more about battery wiring configurations later in the book, but you just did it. You built your first solar panel. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back. You are on your way to energy independence.

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CHAPTER 6: MAINTAINING YOUR PANELS Now that you have completed your first panel, it is important to know how to care for and maintain it so it produces energy for years to come. Or at least until your next solar panel building project. Below is a list of maintenance items that should be performed yearly on your panels if not more often. 1. You should check that the levels on your photovoltaic units. You want to be sure that your load is not exceeding the ratings of any of the other parts of your solar electricity system. 2. Take the time to tighten all of your array’s terminals and inspect your system for loose or broken wire connections. 3. Check your charge controller, if your system utilizes one. Make sure that it is still securely in its place and inspect for dirt, insects and repairs. More importantly, make certain that the airflow around your charge controller is plentiful and not blocked in any way. 4. Make sure that there is no water collecting under the panel cover. 5. Clean your panels with a non-abrasive cleaner and paper towels or a reusable shami-cloth. This maintenance may need to be performed several times a year depending on how much road dust is in your panel environment. Pretty simple. That is one of the best features of going solar; there is limited maintenance involved. Just remember that the amount of energy your panel will create is directly related to the intensity of the sunlight it receives. If your panel is dirty, the sun’s energy is not going to get through. Use of these regular maintenance tips and regular inspections and test of your system will guarantee you maximum performance of your solar electricity system.

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CHAPTER 7: HOW WIND POWER WORKS We learned lots about solar electric systems, but the sun is not our only source of renewable energy. Wind is another viable, renewable energy resource that can provide electricity to our homes and businesses, while reducing our carbon footprint and use of fossil fuels. In the case of wind power systems, we are using the force of the wind to generate electricity instead of capturing energy from the sun. Wind and solar systems complement each other very well and can be combined to increase your alternative energy supply. Before you consider investing in a wind energy system, it is important to determine if your location offers sufficient environmental conditions to harvest wind power. Just as you would not put a solar panel in the shade, you wouldn’t want your wind turbine in a low turbulence area. To calculate whether or not a wind turbine would be a cost effective alternative to commercial energy usage, you will need to look again at your energy costs or the cost to operate your household or business appliances daily and wind speed. There is a basic 10mph average wind speed rule that applies to the effectiveness of a wind energy system. If you property only experiences a breeze or two a day or rarely sees winds over 3mph, then a wind energy system may not be the best alternative energy system for you. Parts Of A Wind Turbine A wind energy system consists of three basic parts: Rotor Blades: These blades are pushed by the wind and their rotation is used to transfer energy from the wind. Shaft: When the blades of a wind energy system move, they cause the shaft of the wind energy system to rotate as well; this transfers as mechanical energy into the generator. Generator: This generator is not to be confused with the type of generator used in the solar off-grid systems. This type of generator produces energy through electromagnetic induction. Magnets are rotated around the
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conductor and electricity is produced. This was used in the automotive industry before the introduction of the alternator. A wind energy system is very simple in concept and design. As wind power rotates the magnetic field the coil, atoms and electrons are displaced, ultimately creating electricity from kinetic energy.

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CHAPTER 8: TO BUY OR BUILD YOUR WIND ENERGY SYSTEM Wind energy is becoming more popular and the cost of production on wind turbine and wind energy systems has been greatly reduced over the last several years. Not to mention that today’s wind systems are growing more efficient with each new day. This is apparent as we see more windmills cresting mountaintops and along our shorelines; not to mention, the familiar wind farms that are occupying unused acreage in many cities across the US. The simplicity of wind turbine/wind energy systems is so great that it can make the decision to buy or build a tough one. The first thing to understand when you are making this decision is that all wind energy systems have the same basic components. They all have blades, a generator, a mounting, and tower and control system. The difference in between purchased prefabricated wind turbines and those that you can make yourself is going to be in the aerodynamics. If you are planning to supplement the majority of your homes energy needs then it more likely that you should look into prefabricated turbines. If you are simply looking to reduce your energy dependency, more so than eliminate it, or to supply an outbuilding or pond with electricity, then a do-it-yourself wind energy system should suffice. For those of you who are looking for a wind energy system that can supply your whole home with electricity, you will need a rather large turbine system that start at around $5000 or easily continue over $25000, depending on where and how you purchase your system. These systems will generally reduce your utility bills by around 70% and will usually show a return on investment in about 10 years. It is completely possible to build your own wind turbines and energy systems for less than the $5000 cost and by building multiple turbines (and having the right environmental conditions for harvesting wind energy) you can have comparable effects on your energy costs. We will go into detail in the next chapter on how to build your own wind energy system, but let’s start with the terminology, necessary parts and tools you will need to build your own wind turbine.

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DC Power Motor: Generally speaking, DC motors were designed to use power, but when you turn the motor in the opposite direction, it will generate electricity. It is the simplicity of the DC motor that makes it ideal for building your own wind turbine system.

DC motors are found in a variety of small tools like drills. What you are looking for specifically is a surplus permanent magnet DC motor. It is often possible to find used DC motors in old power tools or you can search the Internet for deals on DC motors as well. Ebay generally has a good selection and you will need to purchase a DC motor that is the correct size for your system. DC motors generally run between $30-$70. When purchasing a DC motor, you will want to pay attention to the RPMs, shaft size, amps and voltage. You are looking for low RPMs, because when a DC motor is used as a generator (or the motor is turned in the opposite direction to produce electricity), the motor must spin much faster than the rated RPMs to produce the proper voltage. It would be ideal to find a motor rated under 400 RPMs at 30 volts, which when used as a generator will produce about 12 volts of power when rotating at 200 RPMs. Your goal is to obtain a DC motor with high voltage, high current and low RPMs. If you do not have strong winds in your area, then
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you want to find a DC motor with extremely low RPMs. We suggest the following DC motors which are often available online and on Ebay: 1150 RPM 38 VDC Ametek motor For areas with lower wind speeds, we suggest: Ametek 30 VDC motor TailPiece: The tailpiece is very important for not only maintaining balance, but also for ensuring that the blades maintain their maximum efficiency. Blades: Your blades are the most valuable part as they are what will actually be collecting the wind’s energy for your wind energy system. Most efficient wind turbines consist of 3 blades and it is very important that the shape and weight of each blade is the same. We will look closer at the size and shape to make your blades in the next chapter when you are ready to actually build your wind turbine. We suggest that you use construct your blade out of ABS or PVC pipe. The pipe should be protected with UV guard, as they are generally not designed for long-term exposure to the sun. Hub: A hub is what is used to connect your blades to your DC motor. This part is easily found at a hardware store, online or even in a local junk yard. Heck, you may even have one lying around in your tool shed and you didn’t even know it. Your hub can be any circular piece of metal or alloy, but it should be quite strong and you should be able to drill a whole through its center when the time comes. If you prefer to make your own hub, we have included a template in the next chapter on building your own wind turbine. Tower: Obviously, the tower is what will hold your wind turbine in the winds path. Old satellite towers work great for this application or even a simple 3” steel pipe. You want your tower to be between 8 and 12 feet tall and easily anchor able to the ground with concrete. Just bear in mind that your tower must be sturdy enough to hold your wind tower in high winds.
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Horizontal Axis: This is more of a concept than a working part of your wind system. This is the part of your tower that allows your windmill to spin horizontally to effectively gather the wind energy, whatever direction it may be blowing. Battery Bank: Just as you needed with the solar energy system, a wind energy system requires deep cycle batteries as well. These batteries will be used to store the energy generated by your wind turbine. Batteries can be purchased new either locally or online or you can often find free batteries from area businesses that utilize this type of battery for their machines like golf carts and forklifts. If you need to recondition an old deep cycle battery, we suggest using this guide, as battery acid is a nasty thing and exploding batteries are even more dangerous:

: A control charger prevents your battery Charge Controller pack from becoming overloaded. Although not a necessary element, we strongly suggest that you plan to use a charge controller in your wind energy system. Dump Load: A dump load is where all the extra power generated by your system is directed. There are a variety of appliances that can be used to catch dump loads and those with heating elements such as hot water heaters are a great place to send your extra energy. It is also possible to just send excess power to a ground wire.

: If you are using your wind generated AC Inverter electricity to power AC appliances within the home, business or where ever, you are going to need an AC inverter.

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As described in the solar power section, you can locate an inverter easily and affordably online. You will need to purchase the correct size inverter for your power needs. Wire: The gauge of wire you will need for this system will depend on the materials you have chosen to use and their power output. Miscellaneous: The rest of the materials you will need are in the nature of nuts and bolts and other hardware type of items. All of which can be found and purchased at a local hardware store or online. These are generally inexpensive items and you may have some in your home already. Tools: The tools you will need for sure are a socket set, various sized and type screwdrivers, a grinder, jigsaw and some sandpaper. Now that you are familiar with your parts and tools, lets move forward to building your own wind turbine.

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CHAPTER 9: BUILD YOUR OWN WIND TURBINE You now know what parts you need and the best places to find them, so it is time to get started on building your own wind turbine. To build a wind turbine, you will need ample space like a shed, garage or basement. If you do build parts of your turbine indoors, you may have to assemble it outdoors. Step One: Our first step is to build our hub. As we told you earlier you can use any scrap piece of circular metal to build your hub or you can cut a hub using the template we are providing below. Your hub must fit tightly around the shaft of your DC motor so that when the wind turns your blades, it also turns your motor. To accomplish this, you want to drill a hole in the center of your hub that is the exact same size as the shaft on your DC motor. You may also use a coupling either welded or bolted to the center of the hub that the motor shaft can slide into holding the shaft in place.

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Step Two: First we need to construct our blades. As we said earlier, most efficient wind power systems feature 3 blades. The ideal diameter of your blades should be 6ft, but if this is too large for your project we suggest not making them less than 4ft in diameter, as their efficiency will be greatly lost. A good rule of thumb to remember is that your windmill must spin to generate electricity so you want your blades to offer a surface that is large enough to be caught and moved by the wind. Earlier we told you to get 8” to 12” ABS or PV pipe. You can use an angel grinder or a jigsaw to begin cutting your blades. First you will want to cut your pipe into a 3 ft length and then cut your pipe down the center and then across the center to make it into quarters.

Once the pipe is cut into quarters, it is time to shape your blades. You can use the measurements from the diagram below. The wide part of the blade is what will catch your wind energy and turn your turbine. The narrow 2” end is where the blade will move quickly in our wind.

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Once you have your blade cut out, you will need to do some sanding and grinding to make your edges smooth, essentially making your blade aerodynamic. You also want to make your trailing edge (the lower edge which is 3 ft long in the upper diagram; your leading edge is on the opposite side of the blade) sharp and angled to reduce drag. Use an angle grinder to make the angled edge and then sandpaper to smooth out any rough spots. Continue on each of the three blades. Remember you want your blades to be as close to identical as possible in both shape and weight. Step Three: Now we need to drill holes into the end of our blades that will connect to our hub (the 3in. End). Whether you are going to use our hub template (shown above in actual size) or using your own hub from scrap metal, this is the simple task of lining up the blades with the hub and marking where to drill your holes. As shown below (exact measurements are for use with the provided template):

Continue with the next two blades. Step Four: Now that your blades are complete, it is important to give them a light sanding all over, this will help the paint and/or UV guard stick to the blades. Step Five: You are now ready to attach the blades to the hub. You can do
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this using flat steel bars that are about a foot long and 2” wide. These bars will also add to the strength of your wind turbine.

Step Six: Now it is time to balance the hub and blades. This is probably one of the most important steps in the process. If your turbine is out of balance, you can damage your motor and will have greatly reduced energy production. First you will want to number each blade with a pen. Then place the turbine on a pole that is suspended horizontally and give the blades a good spin. Make a note of which blade is at the bottom when the turbine stops spinning. Repeat this test 10 times, if one blade continuously or more often than not, ends on the bottom, it probably weighs more than the other two blades. The easiest fix for a heavy blade is to shave part of the steel connecting bar away with a metal grinder. Repeat your test to see if the balance has improved. Step Seven: You are now ready to mount your hub assembly to the DC motor. It is important that the hub fits tightly and securely on the motor shaft. Place the shaft of the DC motor through the center hole in the hub. Once the
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hub is on the shaft tightly, drill a hole into the shaft and put a bolt or cotter pin through it. This will ensure that the hub will not travel or vibrate off the shaft and that the hub does not shake back and forth damaging the shaft or motor when the blades turn, especially in high winds. Step Eight: Next we are going to construct our tail shaft. As we said earlier this part of our wind turbine is important for both balance and to ensure that your blades are in the wind to generate energy. We suggest that your tail be between 3’ and 4’. A tail can be any shape, but you need to make sure that it is large enough to catch the wind. We suggest making your tail out of metal, but plywood works as well. If you do use plywood it should be coated with the UV guard to add extra protection. Step Nine: It is now time to take a look at our tower and prepare the horizontal axis upon which our tail shaft will attach. Your tower should have a smaller shaft at the top as in the illustration below. If you tower does not have this smaller diameter shaft at the top, then you will need to weld this piece onto your original tower.

You will want to make sure that the width of this tower extension is not wider than your tail shaft as you will be drilling a hole in the tail and sliding it over the top of the tower. Step Ten: Now that the tower is ready, lets attach the tail shaft. As we stated earlier we want to drill a hole in our tail shaft that matches the diameter of our tower extension. You will first want to measure the height of your tail and drill a hole in the shaft extension to match this height. Essentially you want to secure the tail to the shaft as you did the hub to the DC motor shaft so that it does not travel
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or move when the wind catches and moves it. See illustration below:

So you will drill your hole at the correct height on your extension, slide your tail onto the shaft and then insert a bolt into the hole on the shaft extension to keep the tail from moving. The tail should spin freely. A little grease can be used to help this occur. Step Eleven: There is a disadvantage to our current design. There is nothing to stop our tail from spinning around the shaft multiple times thus tangling our wiring and eventually damaging our wind turbine and making it ineffective. So we must add a stop mechanism to the unit. The most cost effective fix for this is to place one bolt on the axis you just installed and then a second on the tower. Then loosely connect a bungee cord around the intersection of the tower and tail using the bolts to secure its position. This will limit the tails movement from spinning completely around, but still along it to perform its function of correcting for maximum wind exposure. See the illustrations below:

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Step Twelve: The last step is to wire our system. As we told you earlier, it is best to contact an electrician for the correct wire to use or to use the guide we provided online. You will want to wire your system in the following order: DC Motor -- Charge Controller -- Battery Pack -- AC Inverter Step Thirteen: Once you have your wiring complete you are ready to put up your tower and turbine and start generating your very own electricity from the wind. Remember to secure your tower with concrete or cables to ensure it does not get damaged during high winds. You have completed your first wind energy system. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your design, just be safe.

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CHAPTER 10: UNDERSTANDING HYDROELECTRIC POWER Hydroelectric power is one of the most widely used renewable resources today. It is used to power entire cities and provides a much cleaner form of energy than the burning of fossil fuels. Although hydro-electric power is considered a renewable energy source, the environmental impact of building dams for large operations, such as those that power whole cities, can be quick drastic and sometimes tragic. Many hydroelectric dams that were built in previous years cause major changes in the area eco-systems. When a dam is damaged or breaks, it has catastrophic effects on hundreds of thousands of people. Making a small-scale hydroelectric system in a moving body of water on your own property is still a viable option. Many of the Amish communities in the US still use water to power belt driven shops that produce leather goods. The concept of this small scale system would be the same as used in the wind turbine system where you use the current of the water to turn a DC motor in the opposite direction to generate electricity. At the publication of this book, our information on building small hydroelectric systems was incomplete. Therefore, this book does not include plans for such a system, but we are working on providing more information on the subject in the future.

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CHAPTER 11: WIRING YOUR BATTERY SYSTEM Most people opt to include a battery back-up system for their alternative energy projects. This allows for energy to be stored for use during times when the sun is not shining or the winds are calm. There are 3 basic ways to wire your batteries. They are series, parallel and a combination of the two-called series/parallel. The different wiring configurations works to either increase your system voltage, amps or both. Series Wiring: This wiring system is used to increase your system’s voltage. This wiring system starts when you wire the negative from one battery to the positive of the next battery and so on through your battery bank. It is important to note that you must produce at least 15volts to charge a 12v battery bank. If your panels are producing less, you will need to connect your panels into a series before connecting them to the battery. Parallel Wiring: In this wiring system you will join the positive wire from one panel to the positive of the next panel and the negative to the negative. This setup increases your overall system amperage.

Series/Parallel Wiring: This system is a combination of the two previous wiring systems. You need to be using at least 4 batteries to utilize this system. The positive wire of the first battery is connected to the positive of the third battery in the series. The negative of the first battery is connected to the positive of the second battery in the series. The negative of the second
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battery is connected to the negative of the fourth battery and the negative of the third battery is connected to the positive of the fourth.

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CHAPTER 12: THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY HOME As people become more aware of the environmental changes occurring today and watch as energy prices soar to new level, they are learning to build homes that are free form the costs of a fossil fuel driven world. “Off-grid” living is becoming more popular in new home construction and home renovations as well. The benefits of creating a renewable energy home or business should be obvious, but just the idea of spending less on electricity peaks most people’s interest in such a change. Building a renewable energy lifestyle has far more rewards, like the reduced consumption of fossil fuels and the reduction in carbon footprints and environmental impacts. Many home and business owners are actually increasing the value of their properties by converting to renewable energy sources to supply their electricity needs. As buyers are looking for more ways to save and mortgage lenders and government agencies are adding incentives and tax breaks for energy efficient upgrades. The opportunities for using different types of renewable energy vary depending on location, but almost every residence has the ability to utilize one form of alternative energy whether it is the sun, wind or some form of moving water. Most homes that are completely self-sufficient run off multiple alternative power sources. It is also important to remember that reducing your dependency is just as honorable as eliminating it. In many instances, even a combination of renewable energy resources is not enough to maintain a home or business’ power consumption. Doing what you can is better than doing nothing at all. The cost of going completely “off-grid” can be close to $100,000. This is a huge investment that may take generations to realize your investment. Making alternative upgrades does however increase the value of your home and this should be considered when deciding to go completely energy independent. If you are interested in learning more about self-sustaining homes or to see if it is the right option for you, we are providing a list of resources that will
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help you learn more and make an educated decision. http://www.greenpowergovs.org/: offers general information about renewable energy sources http://www.akeena.net/: This is the world’s largest retailer of solar technology and products. http://www.solarenergy.org/: a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of solar power

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CHAPTER 13: LARGE SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY Environmental change has historically started with the people and the changes we see necessary in our culture today are much the same. They will come from the bottom up. Unfortunately, it is not likely that we will see the environmental impact of this change until large corporations and governments become involved. Realistically, our alternative energy systems still need to advance in their technology and the only way to get the funding for this to happen is with big business and government involvement. Until they are on board 100% to break free of our fossil fuel dependence, the cost of the most efficient of these technologies will remain out of the average households reach. That is one of the reasons we have created this resource. Although you may not be able to afford the very best technology, you can still build your own systems and show our “leaders” that we won’t wait for them to destroy our planet. This is not to say that our government is not doing anything. In recent years we have seen millions of dollars spent on the research of ethanol fuels derived from corn, tax rebates for energy efficient home upgrades and hybrid vehicle purchases. There are even government incentives now in place to encourage big businesses to invest in renewable energy sources, but when you look at the big picture and what other spending takes place, the attention is still not enough. The cost of energy affects the cost of everything. Our food, our clothes, the cost of transportation, it is all effected by the cost of fuel and energy. It is not just a problem for individuals; it is a problem for the world as a whole. As we said though, this kind of movement builds from the bottom up and the public has generated greater attention of large energy industries and many of these big corporations are taking steps to develop more environmentally responsible practices. Large-scale wind farms are popping up in more states across the country. Energy efficient appliances are replacing older models on store shelves. Each of these small changes is having an impact; we just have to wait for it
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to grow to a global level. Taking responsibility for your own energy needs is the best start for a world of change. The people are the leaders and we need to show the government and big business just how important renewable resources, our planet and renewable energy are to us.

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CHAPTER 14: MORE CHANGE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE Reducing Your Oil Dependence: As a people, we are addicted to using fuels and this is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome on our quest for energy independence. Fuel for transportation being one of the biggest personal consumption factors for most individuals to reduce. The first step in reducing your transportation fuel usage is to simply reduce the amount you drive. Make a list and plan ahead to get all of your errands run at one time. It is important to remember that a lot of things can wait. So you are out of your favorite perfume for a couple of days, you are spending more money by hopping in the car and driving across town to get more than if you just wait till you are in that area next to pick some up. There are a number of hybrid vehicles on the market that are making it really easy for people who feel the need to drive to reduce their dependence on gasoline. These fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles really do make a huge difference. There are now kits that make it possible to convert grease from your local restaurants into fuels as well. Grease powered conversion kits hit the market about two years ago and they allow diesel engines to run on filtered vegetable oil. Bio-diesel could change the trucking industry forever. It is also important to note that bio-diesel burns much cleaner than other fuels, which means a reduction in air pollution as well. More fully electric cars are hitting the market as well. Getting cars running on solar energy is a future that is hopefully not so far off. More people are using small scooters and less gas guzzling alternatives like motorbikes for daily commutes as well. To reduce your personal fuel consumption start by simply not driving when you don’t need to. Take the bus, carpool or ride a bike if you can. Reducing our country’s dependency on fuel for transportation is going to make those skyrocketing pump prices less of a shock to the system. And as technologies advance, we will hopefully overcome our dependence on fossil fuel use
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completely. The Ethanol Question: You will notice that more gas pumps have that small size indicating that their fuel contains a certain percentage of ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol based energy source that is derived from sugar and corn and in recent years, it has been combined with gasoline and used to power automobiles. There is a question of the economical and environmental stability of widespread ethanol use. We would need massive amounts of corn and sugar to fuel every car owner in the U.S. More than we may have land available to grow. Not to mention the impact that the reallocation of land and corn grown has on the prices of corn to eat. Don’t forget, it is not only corn on the cob. Corn is a main ingredient in a wide variety of foods from chips and breading to dog food and poultry feed. Basically, if we are going to invest our corn crops to the production of ethanol, what are the cows, chickens, dogs and people going to it? The plus side to ethanol is that it burns much cleaner than gasoline. This means a drastic reduction in the amount of carbon monoxide produced by vehicles and a reduced amount of air pollution. Ethanol is already being produced and distributed on a fairly large scale in the US. Many states require that a 10% mixture of ethanol be mixed with all other fuels. In the now, this has a positive effect on the economy and the environment. Creating more jobs and producing a cheaper cleaner fuel source. The technology for the use of ethanol fuels is out there. There are already cars, buses, trains and planes that run exclusively on this ultra-clean fuel source. Only time will tell exactly how mainstream the use of ethanol will become and if it will be considered a viable alternative to fossil fuels. The Energy Of The Future: The future is always a mystery until it arrives. It is apparent too much of the
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world that our dependence on fossil fuels to supply our energy needs must change. We must move to alternative energy sources and hopefully to more renewable sources as well. Lets take a peak at what the future might have to offer: Power From Space: This would consist of large solar panels that orbit the earth, eliminating interference from clouds and allowing the panels to remain in exposed to the sun for 24 hours each day. Scientists have even estimated that the Earth dissipates enough energy from the Sun in a single day to power the entire planet for a year. The real problem with this plan is how to deliver the harvested energy back to the earth. Scientists are still working on it. Wind Farms At Sea: This approach has already been put into use on a small scale in some areas, but engineers have proposed massive wind farms stretching across miles of ocean where wind speeds are much higher than on land. This technology may not be far off. Nanotechnology: Nanotechnology is still somewhat of a mystery or at least its benefits to alternative energy are. Advances in this technology may greatly increase the efficiency of current alternative energy systems. There is even mention of the possibility that nanotechnology will bring a new level of efficiency to our current electricity. This technology is advancing quite rapidly and its effects may be seen in the near future. Geo-Thermal Energy: Earth is a truly amazing planet, so it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that it holds vast amounts of energy hiding beneath its surface (not to mention in its skies). Volcanoes, waves, wind storms, all produce naturally occurring energy that remains untapped. The future holds endless possibilities as technologies improve and advance with each new day.

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CHAPTER 15: WHAT’S HOLDING BACK CHANGE? With all this technology, all of the awareness and all of the evidence of the need for change, what is really holding us back? Why haven’t there been global or even national standards set in regards to alternative energy resources? The truth is, until the last 50 years, the majority of people didn’t fully understand where our dependence on fossil fuels would take us or how huge of a negative impact it would have on our environment. Although the knowledge about ethanol has been around since the time of the Model T Ford, it wasn’t considered seriously until the energy crisis of the last several years. There were solar powered satellites in the sky, long before there were solar panels on homes. Our biggest hold up is just catching up on the technology that we let slip by. Awareness has been building, technologies are finally advancing again and change is on the horizon, but it is still going to take time.

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CHAPTER 16: ADDING TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASEWORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES Workshop: If you would like to learn more about renewable energy, Solar Energy International holds renewable energy workshops. They offer a variety of classes, but most fill up fairly quickly. The cost of the classes runs between $950 and $2000. To learn more about these workshops, please visit: http://www.solarenergy.org/workshops/index.html Additional Resources: Take the time to learn more about renewable energy with some of our favorite books and resources: http://www.homemadeenergy.org/simplewaterfuel http://www.homemadeenergy.org/runyourcarwithwater http://www.homemadeenergy.org/buildelectriccar

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CHAPTER 17: CLOSING THOUGHTS The current energy and environmental situations of the world may not look promising, but we hope that the information provided in this book has given you the view of change and how you can start to make it happen. Global change will have to start with the people and thanks to individuals like you; more people are starting to realize the value of alternative energy sources in their everyday lives. Imagine your homemade solar or wind energy system attracting attention locally and more of your neighbors and friends taking the same action. This is how change starts. Save your own valuable resource of money by being smart and conservative with your energy usage. Turning off lights and electronics today will give you the money to replace your bulbs with compact fluorescents, which will give you the money to start building up parts for your own alternative energy system and that in turn will help you save the money for more energy efficient appliances and so on down the line. In the end, you are going to save more money and waste less energy, helping the world and your wallet. Don’t forget to take the bus, carpool or ride a bike. What you save in gas during that time can be used as a down payment on a hybrid, water or electric powered car. This isn’t going to happen without effort from you. Global change is not going to happen without effort from you. It is important to remember that you are not alone. This book and information about solar and wind alternatives is available worldwide. People the world over are starting to see the effects of our neglected planet and its’ environment and understanding the importance of the problems we are all facing. The people are taking action and governments and big business will have no choice but to follow. Let our current energy crisis be the catalyst for change, but more importantly, you now have the tools to be the catalyst for change as well. Future generations will look back on this time and thank our generation. Change is coming. Thank you for reading, learning and becoming part of the change.

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To A Brighter, Cleaner Future HomeMadeEnergy.org

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LIST OF REFERENCED LINKS www.HomeMadeEnergy.org http://www.homemadeenergy.org/ebaysolarpanel : For solar panels on Ebay http://www.homemadeenergy.org/ebaysolarcells : For solar cells on Ebay http://www.homemadeenergy.org/SizingCalculators.xls : For calculating the size you need http://www.greenpowergovs.org/ : Offers general information about renewable energy sources http://www.akeena.net/ : This is the world’s largest retailer of solar technology and products. http://www.solarenergy.org/ : A non-profit organization dedicated to the education and advancement of solar power http://www.solarenergy.org/workshops/index.html : Solar Energy Institute Workshops http://www.homemadeenergy.org/simplewaterfuel http://www.homemadeenergy.org/runyourcarwithwater http://www.homemadeenergy.org/buildelectriccar

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