How much higher would gas and electricity prices be if Cap&Trade passed the Senate?
I’ve read estimates that say gas prices could go up by as much as 50%, while electricity could rise by as much as 90% annually.
Then there’s this Obama quote:
“Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.”
So is there an official govt. estimate, or is this something we don’t talk about in public??
bigdog………….somehow Bush has nothing to do with this. Imagine that.
Michael answers:
The estimate I heard is about $179 per year on average.
Mandy asks…
Everyone is trading their gas guzzlers for smaller more compact cars… what happens to the old car?
do we just sell it to someone else to go off polluting the world? Who cares right, we made the switch and went with a high efficiency vehicle. Really, aren’t we just making more waste when we trade in our not so earth friendly cars in for more earth friendly cars? Is there a way to “upgrade” our vehicles’ engines so that they can also use electricity and be more fuel efficient? Wouldn’t it be less wasteful to change out some old parts than a whole car? I’m a being irrational in my thinking?
Wow, I didn’t know I was going to offend anyone or invoke sexual harassment for that matter. Geez. I drive a 2003. I like it and it fits my family. But I question whether or not it is ethical for me to drive such a ‘monster’ when there are more efficient vehicles out there. I would definitely pay to make my car more efficient. I would feel better about that then passing it along to someone else.
I just imagined that with all the innovations in technology, there would be a solution for those of us who own cars that are not very efficient and cannot afford really to upgrade to a new high efficiency vehicle. Hmm, going green is only for those who have lots of green in there wallets I suppose.
Michael answers:
This is a good point
It takes plenty of energy to manufacture a vehicle. This energy produces plenty of pollution.
If the vehicle is not driven (gas guzzler or not) it does not produce pollution.
There is a lot of large cars on the used market at the moment and because nobody wants them the prices are tumbling. It is fair to expect that many of these will find there way to the scrap yards before they reach the end of their useful life. Yes this is creating more waste.
There is also a perception that driving cleaner vehicles is “saving the planet” even though they still produce pollution. This can result in more unnecessary driving.
There are many things you can do with your old car to make it pollute less. Many of these will even save you money.
Reduce usage,
Plan you trips, Pay bills/shop on-line, Car pool, drive conservitively, remove excess weight from the car. Ensure that it is tuned properly. And tyres are properly inflated.
Reduce usage.
Many people try walking and riding bicycles. Some enjoy it so much that take them up as recreational activities. This won’t be practical all the time but it is surprising how often this can be done.
Riding an electric or (petrol) bicycle,scooter or motor bike will generaly pollute less than a car also.
Conversions
An L.P.G. Conversion will reduce pollution (about 20%). The down side is it costs a few thousand and swallows storage space.
A smaller motor.
Again this will cost a few thousand. The smaller motor will will run more efficiently at cruising speed. Generally the vehicle will accelerate slower and the fuel savings will only be quite small.
An electric conversion.
This is possible but quite expensive. It will affect you vehicles performance and how far it can be driven. The power needed to charge batteries produces pollution also. Depending on the grid that you are connected and the type of conversion the net pollution could be almost the same.
Susan asks…
Why not take oil off the speculative markets?
The markets are driving oil prices crazy and it has nothing to do with supply vs. demand. Electricity is not traded, why must oil be traded? Can oil prices be set by some means rather than trading its future price?
Michael answers:
Electricity is usually supplied by only one company in a region and the government had to step in to stop these monopolies from gouging their customers. There are many oil companies competing for business nationwide and there is no monopoly. If the feds step in to nationalize oil production and imports by restricting their profit margins, there is no incentive for oil companies to seek out new sources and streamline their operations.
Ken asks…
Can Liberals Explain Benefits Under Cap and Trade For the Average American?
President Obama promised that under his “plan of a cap and trade system, electricity costs would
necessarily skyrocket.” In fact, anything that uses energy will skyrocket in price.
For the average American, how will President Obama’s plan of cap and trade help us?
Michael answers:
Not really liberal but I’ll try – Under Cap and Trade energy costs will skyrocket. This will create food shortages, blackouts, unemployment and civil unrest. This will crush the American standard of living until we are all cold, hungry, disease riddled and shivering in caves fighting to survive day to day. But, the good news is you won’t have to worry about your stuff because you won’t have any! Yay!
Paul asks…
Why does Obama want to make energy more expensive and want to bankrupt coal companies?
Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. -Barack Obama
So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them… -Barack Obama
My grandfather is an engineer for coal companies, so this hits pretty close to home. Obama can’t win if this is how he thinks. We can’t afford it, not now.
He said WOULD. READ THE TRANSCRIPT.
Michael answers:
This is unbelievable I knew this Obama was a traitor to our country
Are there any monthly expenses when purchasing solar panels for your home?
I understand you pay the price for the solarpanels once and then use them for like 20 years – but are there any other expenses? Such as…charging the battery, maintanence, etc.?
10x!
Michael answers:
Most systems that solar installers design are grid-tied. That means they are connected directly into the grid and do not require a battery. Net metering is a special billing arrangement that allows customers to get credit for the full retail value of the electricity their photovoltaic (PV) system generates. Under this agreement, the customer’s electric meter tracks the surplus electricity generated by the solar electric system and the electricity that the customer consumes. The customer only has to pay for the net amount (consumption minus usage) of electricity they use.
In this scenario, there is virtually no maintenance for your solar installation. Dust and other debris settling on the modules will decrease their efficiency and power output. In most locations, rains are frequent and heavy enough to provide adequate washing. If rain isn’t coming often enough to keep them clean, or if bird droppings become a problem, modules can be washed down with a garden hose early in the morning or late at night.
George asks…
What are the drawbacks to using wind turbines or solar panels for providing all power to a home?
A. The wind and sun are not constant, so there would be times when no electricity would be generated.
B. The wind and sun are constant, so there would be plenty of electricity for the home.
C. Wind and solar power are inefficient and too expensive to use and maintain.
D. Wind and solar power are efficient, but they are not able to produce enough electricity for a single home.
Michael answers:
A is the best of your four, for your question, but since individual wind and solar power generate power to a battery, which is the direct source of power to your house, you can store up enough power to maintain your electrical usage, through the winter, power outages, and you can sell some access back to the Community Power Company.
If enough households demand an individual windmill and solar panel, the initial costs will come down to reasonable expense!!
David asks…
Can someone tell me about solar panels for homes?
I was trying to look online for solarpanels for my home to take some of the strain off of using oil and electricity but I find it very hard to understand exactly how they are used.
Like one that I looked up is 100 watts…..is that like a light bulb watt? How many things can that power?
Is it really cheaper in the long run because the panels are very expensive?
If anyone has web sites that can explain this to me I would appreciate a link, or anyone to answer part of my question.
Michael answers:
Solar panels produce low voltage direct current electricity. To be used in a home that electricity must be stored in batteries and converted to 120-240 volts 60 hertz AC (alternating current). And its frequency must be synchronized to the electricity supplied by the power company.
A 100 watt solar panel produces 100 watts of power, enough to power one 100 watt light bulb. To generate enough power to power a home, the solar panel must be capable of producing at least 1500 to 2000 watts per hour (1.5/2.0 KW/hrs)
And you’re quite correct, it’s an expensive proposition to install a solar panel system… And it should be installed by experts.
Ruth asks…
Can someone tell me about solar panels for homes?
I was trying to look online for solarpanels for my home to take some of the strain off of using oil and electricity but I find it very hard to understand exactly how they are used.
Like one that I looked up is 100 watts…..is that like a light bulb watt? How many things can that power?
Is it really cheaper in the long run because the panels are very expensive?
If anyone has web sites that can explain this to me I would appreciate a link, or anyone to answer part of my question.
Michael answers:
There are two types of devices that collect energy from the sun:
Solar photovoltaic modules use solar cells to convert light from the sun into electricity.
Solar thermal collectors use the sun’s energy to heat water or another fluid such as oil or antifreeze
There is only a one time cost to installing solar panels.
The way to get the most for your money is, really to have them installed at the time of the home being built.
You have to figure, over-time, how long it will take regarding the cost of the solar panels vs the cost of your energy now.
Lizzie asks…
Would you put solar panels on your home? and why?
solarpanels!!
they are fantastic! cause they are the new way of “charging” your home, without killing the earth!
would you install them, or not? and make sure you say WHY
Michael answers:
If your house was not built to include solar panels, it may encounter problems that most people do not consider. For example, your neighbor may plant trees nearby and they could shade your panels. Your house may not have good alignment with the sun, so your net hours of sunshine may be too small. If your local planning folks allow panels and your house is oriented properly to the sun and no trees will block the sun, I suspect it will be a good investment long term. Still the up front cost is high.
I feel that common folk like myself would be better served if we could buy shares in our local power company by purchasing a number of panels … Offered and installed by them … And that we would then get a net monitoring of both our own electrical use and a reduction on our electric bill for the portion of our investment. That way, it seems we could each make a small investment in solar and add to that investment as we earn more money … And essentially eliminate the need for new centralized power plants.
How many malls does your city have that are completely empty and could be returned to the community as a mini power plant site. My city is loaded with malls that nobody uses anymore. Businesses move and and fail because nobody goes there. They go to the new more sexy malls. Several of these outdated malls have power lines running directly through their empty parking lots. Why not have community solar investments in these sites? Every building could include solar panels and the entire parking lot could be covered with panels. The inside of the building could still be used for other routine purposes. The local power company would be the perfect organizer and maintainer.
This way “solar” would not be so expensive. The cost would be shared by many and so would the rewards.
How many solar panels would it take to power say a refrigerator, a/c, and stove?
I’m curious to know how many panels I would need to maintain a rudimentary amount of power in the event of an outage or crisis. Imagining the price to be high, I don’t know how big of a system I could get, so I’m curious if I wanted just enough panels to power a refrigerator and stove and maybe an a/c. Just those three basic necessities.
Michael answers:
I think the beginig is expensive but it pays for itself in a short amount of time.
Alot of my friends installed it recently with th e company below- you can probly ask them your questions! Good luck!
Linda asks…
Solar panels for power generation. How is it done?
As one who has spent a lifetime in the radio/electronic industry can someone explain to me how (according to the TV) all that is required to provide all your domestic power requirements is a few solarpanels on the roof and any surplus can be sold back to the grid at an enhanced rate.
Who is trying to kid Who/
Michael answers:
With a large enough investment. A number of utilities have programs that help subsidize installations of “co-producer” solar panel arrays. Your out of pocket will still run on the order of 30,000,00 dollars US, give or take a bit. You are still grid tied though, but at times when you are not using the power, or the excess power if you are charging batteries, you are producing energy for the power company.
One of the things that has been promoted in some magazines and in some online forums- and is illegal in the manner most do it, has been for people to go out and buy a panel, a charge controller and an inverter and just plug that into their wall outlet- a very unsafe practice, but people do it.
The power company, when they install a system that complies with their standards, you are not getting paid an enhanced rate, you are still selling the power back to them at a lower rate than what they would charge you to use that same amount of energy.
What is usually most cost effective for people is to simply cut their usage. You can do that by looking at the “half program” on the site http://www.builditsolar.com
Charles asks…
How do solar panels make power?
I know there are batteries involved but how does it work?
Can you solder solar panels together to get more power?
I have getting solarpanels from these solar lights at Walmart. Well some of them are broken, but the solarpanels are still in good shape. So I wanting to put the together to maked a large solar panel big en ought to power a laptop
If you can how do you solder them together? Do you link them together just like a double A’s?
Michael answers:
Agree with gintable. You need to do this according to guidelines and any local building codes for the safety of yourself while installing and safety afterwards. This is electricity.
These are quite cost-effective, and there are also incentives from Federal govt and many state governments to upgrade panels. Article discussing incentive, including links for state incentives/rebates is below.
Ken asks…
Can you make a 4 star (large) fridge run on solar power/panels?
Michael answers:
If you know what the operating power requirements as well as startup current draw, you can certainly can run it with adequate amounts of panels. If you set it up right temperature wise and usage wise, you can even get away with applying power during daylight hours too.
You will of course need an inverter of adequate size.
Differences in construction of longbow: material related…?
Gregg here. I have been employed by my little cousin (I’m getting him started in archery/shooting… he’s 12yrs. old…) to make him a bow for his birthday. From several schematics (diagrams/dimensions) I have found ontheweb of the ever ubiquitous English longbow, I have found those of the 72” variety, and settled on those, however, the schematic calls for yew. The diagram is essentially a bow 72” long at 50lbs., and since I have no access to yew, I figured maple or ash would be suitable substitutes. If I were to use Rock/Sugar Maple, how much of a loss in draw weight/projectile velocity would the bow suffer from? I was going to use hickory, but I don’t want to cut down any perfectly healthy trees, and wait for the wood to season. Most informative/entertaining answer gets the 10pt. prize as you all are familiar with.
Targetbutt: He is 5′ 10”. He is one bigggg kid. I don’t intend on making it #50, but instead tiller it down to about #30 or so. I just am asking what kind of differences in poundage there is between yew and maple.
Michael answers:
Well first of all, how big is this 12 year old cousin of yours? A 72″ bow will be rather cumbersome for him to use unless he’s about 6’3″. Then there’s the draw weight, 50lbs will keep a grown man on his toes, for a 12 year old, you’re just asking for disaster. For a first bow, keep it light and fun, a bow that’s too heavy isn’t much fun to shoot. Scale the plan down a bit and you might have a winner. Or better yet, make him a flat bow with a bit of a shelf, the bow will be much more forgiving than the standard English long bow.
John asks…
Where can I find a wiring schematic for a 185TT 12V 5kw lumar bow thruster?
do you know or do you have a schematic diagram of philips 21pt2325/71?
do you know a free website that offers free schematic diagram for philip’s 21pt2325/71 television sets?i have been to the philip’s site but they don’t have it.i tried looking and searching for it ontheweb but you will have to buy it.please help me
Michael answers:
The way I would get my free schematics on anything is to go to my local Library and look up the model number in the SAMS 2008 Photofact Index Reference book, located in the Reference section of the Library, and get the SAMS reference number and ask the Librarian if they carry the schematics per their number. Give that a try. Good Luck.
Donald asks…
1991 Ford Explorer A/C Compressor Question…?
I recently purchased a 1991 Ford Explorer and the A/C does not work. I’ve noticed that the clutch onthe A/C compressor does not engage when the A/C is turned on.
There are 2 wires going into the compressor (I’m assuming that these are to activate the clutch). Can I disconnect these wires at the plug in connector and apply battery voltage to the terminal onthe compressor to test the clutch?
I can’t seem to to figure out if one of the wires is supposed to have a direct connection to ground, and if the other one is supposed to have direct continuity to the A/C switch, etc. I’ve looked around ontheweb for information in this regard, or a schematic etc. and have come up with nothing. Please help!!!
Thanks.
Michael answers:
More than likely it doesn’t work because the freon is either low or all leaked out.
The easiest way to check is to jump the “low pressure switch”. This switch won’t let the air conditioning operate when there is too little freon.
Look over by the passenger side hood hinge. You’ll see a black can looking thing (the receiver/dryer) which you can trace the AC lines going to. Off the side of it or on one of the lines close to it (my Explorer isn’t home right now) you should see a little round silver fitting with a rectangular shaped electrical plug. Unplug this and look into the plug. There are two connectors you can jump with, say, a paper clip. Leave it disconnected. Start the truck and turn the controls to “Max AC” and turn the fan on. Now go around to the connector and and jump the connection. You should hear an audible clack and see the AC compressor operating. Remove your paper clip. If this happened then you are low on freon, more likely there is a big leak somewhere that will need professional service.
If the compressor did not engage then you either didn’t do the test quite correctly or something completely different is wrong which will require more testing. Checking fuses would be a good place to start.
AC techs use this “jumping” technique when recharging an empty AC system. Do not leave it connected this way, running the compressor with no freon is pointless and won’t do the compressor much good either. Also be careful not to mess up you connector. You can hold the paper clip in your hand, you can’t shock yourself or anything at this particular connection.
Jenny asks…
How to test the polarity of an electric motor?
So I admit it, I screwed up. I forgot which wire was hot. But they didn’t make it easy, I have a blue and a brown wire coming out of the motor. I know that the green is ground.
This is a 2hp Hitachi air compressor. Model no. EC12. I fished around at Hitachi’s web site, but could not find a schematic. And the manual does not have a schematic either. A picture of a new wiring harness was of no help. By the way, my pressure switch burned out, and I had to buy a new one.
This motor has dual capacitors on it. 120V, 13A.
Can my multimeter tell me which way the power should run?
I took a chance, and ran the blue to hot. I plugged it in, and it ran. Is it safe to assume I got it right? If I reversed polarity, it wouldn’t run at all, right? I just don’t want to burn out my compressor.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Michael answers:
If it’s running you are fine. Worse that can happen is that it runs in the wrong direction, in which case the compressor would not operate.
Many web sights now offer “How To” on solar energy and sell you the directions which is ok. I am a subscriber to Backwoods Home Magazine and I know they have back isuues on this solar panel building, etc. They usually sell for $5 or $6 and mail to you. They also have a manual they put out on this subject for $20. Many who live in the backwoods rely on solar power for their energy needs and build their own systems. I have plans on a solar window collector box that attaches to the window using scrap material. I got this from a Popular Science magazine and plan on building my own, test it and might sell these. Green is the way to go now so get started. You are already interested. You are thinking right!
Donald asks…
Solar panel charging battery?
I’m gonna be straight with you. I’m way out of my depth. I have this huge science project, due in a few weeks, where I hav to build a model electric car from my designs. Unfortunately, I know absolutely nothing about electricity. I mean, I sorta know how it works fundamentally, but not any of these weirdo units of measurement or the terminology. Anyway, my goal is to recharge a normal rechargeable battery with a tiny solarpanel.
If it helps, the back of the solarpanel package says “6 volts 50mA solar cell”. It also says its N/P silicon type.
Also, I’d you could explain a little about how it works, I would REALLY appreciate it.
Michael answers:
Okay.. I could start explaining you all the stuff but instead i am giving you some links which explain all of these in details, ie how to charge a battery using a 6V 50mA solar panel. I could be in detail if you would have mentioned the rating of the battery too. One point i would like to emphasize is that no one can give you a ready made idea or concept, you have to scrape it out from whatever smaller detail you get. Good luck.
I’m gonna be straight with you. I’m way out of my depth. I have this huge science project, due in a few weeks, where I hav to build a model electric car from my designs. Unfortunately, I know absolutely nothing about electricity. I mean, I sorta know how it works fundamentally, but not any of these weirdo units of measurement or the terminology. Anyway, my goal is to recharge a normal rechargeable battery with a tiny solarpanel.
If it helps, the back of the solarpanel package says “6 volts 50mA solar cell”. It also says its N/P silicon type.
Michael answers:
Recharge 4 aa batteries conected in series and
make sure your motor runs on 4.5 to 6 volts
Sharon asks…
When will liberals realize there are no viable alternatives to oil?
Solar and wind are pipe dreams. You cant build a solarpanel or windmill big enough to even coming close to replacing oil. Oil is the life blood of our society. Without it we would be in the dark ages.
Michael answers:
LOL! This is what’s known as Begging the Question.
If that’s true, that there are no alternatives to oil, then we are are well and truly screwed. We have already reached and passed peak oil production. Plus the CO2 is killing us.
Simply put, the continued existence of the human race depends on developing a large alternative energy source, or several. Simple as that. You can bash ‘liberals’ but you can’t deny it.
So the question is: Do we wait until oil is $500/barrel and we’re all getting around on 25cc roller skates? Or should we start working on that alternative now, while we can still get around, light and heat our homes, etc.?
And should that decision be made based on what’s good for all of us, for society at large, for the long term? Or should we increase our total dependency on oil so a few enormous corporations can just get richer and richer in the short term?
Maria asks…
Is this a good idea for an apartment complex?
What if an apartment complex or building built a few solar panels and just tacked on an extra 50 or something on each apartment? That would be enviormentaly friendly and a great incentive. They would also pay for themselves. $50x12months=$600x(say) 300 apartments=180,000 annual gross gain.
Michael answers:
It would costs a fortune to install solar panels for 300 units, they would likely need additional land for it as well. They would have to charge far for then 50 a month to pay for them.
what are the advantages of an energy star rated house over the same house without official rating?
Having a new house built that should qualify for energystar rating, It appears the rebate from energystar minus the cost of rater does not amount to much. House will be just as energy efficient it just wont have “energystar home” tag.
Michael answers:
At least in Ohio, a builder must have the house built for you ACTUALLY tested to get the certification. This will usually include a blower door test. It might also include a thermal imaging inspection… (Infrared)
I am a certified thermographer, and have done a great many free inspections for recent homebuyers. (I usually wind up getting them when they buy their next house as a result.)
Here’s where that little bit is important. I recently did an inspection for a guy who had paid a great deal extra for “upgraded” insulation which “exceeds” Energy Star requirements….. Yeah, RIGHT!. MOST of the second floor ceiling was NOT insulated… Not poorly insulated, or a little bit insulated…. Flat out had NO insulation.
SO, if your state requires an ACTUAL inspection to call a house ENERGY STAR, it is more likely you will get what you pay for. Either way, it is a GREAT idea to get a thermal (infrared) inspector.
Feel free to email me directly with questions at WEBMLS@CINCI.RR.COM
Good luck with the new build – Patrick Lea
Mark asks…
How much do Energy Star dishwashers really save on your electric bill?
Is it worth spending the extra $$$ to upgrade to a unit that is EnergyStar rated?
Michael answers:
I wash one to two loads of dishes per day in my dishwasher. I think it’s important to look at what the energy star machine does and doesn’t do. I wanted a quieter machine that had a hard food disposer and just happened to have found one that was also more energy efficient. If not, I would have bought the regular model.
Dishwashers already use less water than washing by hand and if you leave the dry cycle off and let them air dry you are saving energy also.
Chris asks…
How good are the Energy Star Hunter Original ceiling fans compared to previous generations?
I was reading that the motors used in the EnergyStar Hunter Original ceiling fans of today are weaker than the motors used in older Hunter Originals. Does this mean that the Originals made today do not move as much air, or not as durable as the predecessors? Why can’t Hunter make today’s Originals to the same standards as the predecessors?
Michael answers:
Hi, This customer on Amazon seemed happy with his purchase. Check out the review http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Energy%20Star%20Hunter%20Original%20ceiling%20fans&tag=recommended0b-20&index=garden&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325 Hope this helps.
Jenny asks…
How do you know if you have an energy star refrigerator?
We moved into a new house and the previous owner left us the refrigerator. I want to know if it’s an energystar. I thought energy stars always have the little logo on it, but when we went to the appliance store, they only had signs to show that they were energystar appliances, no permanent logo. My clothes washer has the energystar logo on it, so why not the refrigerators?
Michael answers:
It depends on the manufacturer. Go to the website of the manufacturer. If it says maytag then go to maytag and enter the model number. If should be on some tag near the door or at the back of the inside top shelf. Look up the model and if it’s recent it will pop up and tell you. If not, just send an email to maytag etc and ask.
Steven asks…
What do the terms Energuide and Energy Star mean? How can they be used when purchasing appliances?
What do the terms “Energyguide” and “EnergyStar” mean? How can they be used when purchasing appliances or electronics?
Michael answers:
You can find exact definitions on line with a simple search. Basically they tell you how much power in a year the appliance will use relative to similar appliances so that you can make a buying decision on buying a more efficient appliance that may cost more due to better insulation or hold less because of thicker walls.
What are the advantages of classifying energy sources as renewable and non – renewable?
Michael answers:
It is like arranging colors from whites in you laundry,or classifying biodegradable from non-bio,you can dispose of the non renewable resources easier.
Also,another advantage is that if you know that a thing is classified as a non-renwable source,then you could think of ways to conserve this kind of material.
Another advantage of classifying it that way is that eventually non-renewable sources of energy will run out and as such they are not permanant solutions to the earth’s energy needs.
There you go,hope i helped! ^^
Joseph asks…
What do we use renewable and non-renewable energy for?
I can’t find the answer to this question. Every time I try to look it up it says we should use renewable energy but it doesn’t specify what we use non-renewableandrenewablesources for?
I know we mainly use it for electricity, but do we use it for anything else???
Thank you so much!!!
Do we only use renewable energy for heating buildings and electricity?? (If not, give some examples of things we create besides heating buildings and electricity with renewable energy.)
Michael answers:
Electricity will be the main use for renewable energy.
Heating and producing hot water will be another use for renewable energy.
Bio-fuel is also another form of renewable energy. They use bio diesel in trucks which they make from soybeans and corn, bio car fuel (ethanol or biogas) is used as such, or mixed with fossil fuels. Look at any gas pump, most will have a sticker that says “Fuel contains up to 10% ethanol”. The ethanol is made from plants, mainly corn.
Daniel asks…
renewable and non-renewable energy sources.?
i need facts and statements on renewableandnon-renewable energy sources for my science project and i have read all my revision books but i already know them stuff so please help and also a website about it would be nice
Michael answers:
I also got the topic about r. And n-r. Energy sources in eassy competition.
At that time I got it from
www.wikipedia.com
William asks…
non renewable sources of energy here please another one please…?
how petroleum(crude oil) is utilized?
how coal is utilized?
how natural gas is utilized?
what is their energy resources in the philippines?
what is their advantages and disadvantages?
please answer this i need it quickly…thank you very much!=)
Michael answers:
Theyre burned to create energy..and they dont have any non renewable resources in the phillipines they have to import it all..theyre looking at geothermal ie renewable ..
Betty asks…
Are fuelwood, biomass and biogas renewable or non-renewable energy sources?
Michael answers:
On a residential level – I’ve always considered that if you have enough property to sustain your firewood use, then it is should be regarded as renewable. In my area that would require roughly one acre per home.
I’m getting a 45 W solarpanelkit ( http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599 ) for a greenhouse. I want to have a small heater in case of freezing temperatures and a few lights. I’m in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.
I wanted to know approximately what kind of batteries and how many I should get.
Michael answers:
You just get the standard 12 volt deep cycle marine batteries. Any auto parts store should have them. The problem is that you want to run a heater. When heaters need on average 1500 watts and your charger is only 45 watts. I can’t give you specifics on how many batteries you need but its more than one. You should probably try two and see if that works OK for you.
John asks…
can you recommend a way to stay cool in a van on a 45 watt solar system?
i am doing security and stay in my van i have this http://cgi.ebay.com/45-Watt-Solar-Panel-Kit-Coupon-Harbor-Freight-SAVE-100-/300558031885?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D250799385600%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D30126080557310998
45 watt solarpanelkit mounted on my van. i need to stay cool, i know i can get a 12 volt fan, but is air conditioner possible?
Michael answers:
Air conditioner is not possible so better search a gud portable evaporative cooling unit or built it by own way but that also work only in low humidity and put down temp 5-15 degree Celsius only and u need to open window slightly to recirculate air in van
Carol asks…
If I add 4 large 12V computer fans to my roof vent and power them by a solar panel, will it make a difference?
i would like to construct 4x 12VDC computer fans under my roof vent. These would be wired in parallel to a 12V solarpanel (Wattage depending on size of fans). I know this would only work during the day, but that’s really all I need. My question is, would this make a difference in the temp in the attic or am I wasting my time. Really, I don’t want to spend $300 of a pre-made kit and have to replace the vent.
Michael answers:
We had a solar vent put in our roof, and were amazed at how much cooler the house got. Years later, the house was still cool, but when I went up to check the fan, I found that the solar panel had burned out, and the fan was not moving. Apparently, just having a large vent near the ridgeline, even without forced air, is enough to make a huge difference.
If I had to do it again, I would put one of those wind-powered vents, the kind that looks like a turban, up there. In our neighborhood, those things have been on people’s rooftops for like 20 years. They’ve rusted, but I still see them turning in the breeze.
If you really want to use the existing vent, maybe consider one of those really powerful attic fans, that plugs into AC. You would only need to run it on low, or maybe just for a few minutes to clear out the hot air.
Lizzie asks…
Whats the best site for Solar Power?
Hey, I want to become more ‘greener’ and need a site with good, solid information on DIY solar panels and kits, and possibly even videos on how to do so. Has anyone got good links?
Michael answers:
Hey, I think that http://solarpoweredgarden-lights.com is really good. I purchased the kit for about $100 and I can tell you, I reccommend it to everyone! Also, there is loads of FREE information aswell, and videos lol.
James asks…
Solar Panel Help? Beginners?
Well my dad has been into Solar panels for quite a while, his birthday is coming up and i want to get him a small minature one, so he can toy around with it and be able to use it as expirience for when he gets a bigger one. my dad has been doing ALOT of studying, and i’ve been looking online but idk what kinda kits to get so should i get a
10w kit, 15w kit, or 20w kit? which one would be best to fool around with and play with? thanks
Michael answers:
The bigger the better, 20w isn’t a lot of power, so you might as well get it.
If you have $400, you can build him one or get him the stuff to do so. This would be WAY better than owning a panel already built because he will learn sooo much more about them. I found this site when I was dinking around with solar panels http://www.virtualsecrets.com/build-a-solar-panel.html All the other sites you google/yahoo for will be advertisements. I think the author of this one was a engineering student.
I have a trolling motor on my boat, would a small 5 watt solarpanel recharge the battery over a few days, and is there a danger of over charging,
Michael answers:
Ok for a 12v standard(not deepcycle) yea sure i use them all the time to make sure that my toys fire up
with a deep cycle or larger batt you may have to step up. Contact a rv place they sell larger ones for different batteries
the things have a regulatior that limits the voltage once the batteries are charged and prevents overcharging
i would still ask about it if you need to step up with a deep cycle or something though
goodluck
John asks…
How to charge a 9v rechargeable battery with a solar panel?
Hi, I’m wanting to conduct a little experiment with a 4×6 6 volt solarpanel, to make a self charging 9v battery pack.
to recharge a 9v battery with the solarpanel, I could directly hook up the positive and negative to the battery, but then I wouldn’t know when the battery is fully charged, then I could Over charge the batteryand cause damage couldn’t I?
How would I get around this problem?
Michael answers:
First off, you need a voltage converter, to convert the 6V to 12V or so, or get two 6V panels and wire them in series.
Once you get enough voltage to charge the panel, you just connect an anti backfeed diode to the panel, and a FET transistor hooked up to a voltage comparator of some sort, and a hysteresis circuit, so it has a bit of a gap between on and off voltage.
I have a solar charge controller which uses a TL431 (if you are a home hobbyist, you can scavenge one from a switch-mode power supply, many use them; next to the opto-isolator, on the low-voltage side). It adds hysteresis by adding a resistor in parallel with the sampling resistor, when the TL431 is “on”, which brings down the cutoff voltage point.
Nancy asks…
Could a portable AC be powered by a solar panel, a trickle charger and a large car battery?
If I used a small solarpanel, a power converter, anda trickle charger, would it be possible to run a small portable ac unit on large car battery. Keeping the batteryand the solarpanel outside and running the cord and power converter inside, would it be possible to have enough power to run the portable unit for 4-6 hours a day or would it be too much for the large car battery to sustain for a lengthy period of time? I would have a second battery on hand 1 to run and 1 charging. Would this work?
Michael answers:
Depends on the size of your battery and panel, and what you run on your inverter. When your battery is charging it takes a % of wattage to begin with from your panel to charge, whats left from your panel output can be used to power things depending on whats left. You may need more wattage to run an inverter if it is charging your battery the same time. It can be done because I do it everyday. I have 5 12v batteries, and 110 w panels, and while charging I can get up to 8 hrs up to 40w continuous power to operate small devices. The more panels, the more you can operate. You will need to consider that you will also have cloudy days on the side, and your panels will not put out as well. You should have a volt meter to keep track of the voltage in your battery, because if it gets too low it could be damaged the battery in time.
David asks…
Charging a battery with a solar panel?
I have a boat with an automatic bilge pump, and I want to hook up my battery ( 12 volt deep cycle marine) to asolarpanel so that it maintains its charge when the bilge pump kicks on, the bilge pump will only kick on when it rains. I want to know what minimum specs the solarpanel should have to maintain my batteries charge. The bilge pump will likely only run for an hour or two a week at most. Thanks in advance for the help.
Michael answers:
Hi Conrad
Assuming your bilge pump draws about 2.6 amps, I’d suggest using a solar panel with an output of 5 to 5.5 watts. (They’re on sale here in Canada a few times a year for about $50)
These provide 0.3 amps/hour which will easily maintain your battery charge and will not require a charger limiter.
Hope this helps.
Helen asks…
What’s the relationship between a battery(1219mAh, 3.7 volts) and a solar panel (4.2V, 22A)?
I need to know how long, if even possible, would the solarpanel charge the battery. If you need any other information ask. Battery: 3.7 V, 1219mAh SolarPanel: 4.2 V, 22 mA
Michael answers:
It is very marginal. It may charge the battery, but only during bright sun, when the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the panel. Remember, depending on the battery type, the charging voltage has to be a few volts higher than the battery voltage. And when the voltage from the array drops below 3.7 volts, the battery will discharge through the array.
Usually you would put a diode between the array and the battery to prevent this from happening, but there is not enough voltage for that, the 0.7 volts drop across the diode would reduce the array’s voltage to 3.5 volts, and the battery would never charge.
What happens if I wasn’t home when the guy came to check the gas or electricity meter?
i live in nyc
Michael answers:
He will read it and you will get a bill. If he couldnt get access to it, you may get an estimated bill.
William asks…
Can you live a day without electricity?
one day there was a huge black-out at NYC. It was so hard to live. candles everywhere. No t.v. No internet!
Michael answers:
Sure i could..already have many times.
Helen asks…
i married a citizen girl in nyc 5 months ago,i have got my interview date on 15th dec.?
the thing is that she doesn’t work but i do work.i was on a m1 visa for pilot training but i didn’t join the school.What if they ask me why i didn’t join the course,because i have no certain answer.
moreover we are living in a basement to save our unusual expenses,will that be any problem even if i get a letter written by landlord saying that my rent includes water,electricity and gas.
Michael answers:
You applied for a visa to attend school. You told the visa officer that you wanted to attend school in the U.S., but you didn’t.
You told the inspecting officer at the port of entry that you were coming to the U.S. To attend school, but you never did. Now you’re married to a girl who does not work and cannot sponsor you financially, and you live in a cellar.
You’re working, but you’re not a permanent resident. I would say that not having a utility bill in your name isn’t going to be a problem compared to everything else you mentioned in your question.
You could just say that you have “no certain answer.” Not many people are going to believe anything you say anyhow.
Jenny asks…
Why so much static electricity in my hair/clothes etc?
Just back from NYC and wondered why I had so much of it whilst in the City?
Michael answers:
This mostly depends on weather conditions. When the air is dry there is much higher chance of creating static electricity. Dry air, clothes and hair are acting as a very good electric insulator hence the created static charge is not conduced to the ground and discharged. Also dry wind contributes to creation of static electric charge.
Richard asks…
I live in an apt. building in NYC where you have to pay for your own heat. Is that normal?
I’m trying to figure out if I should move to a place that has heat in the building. My apartment has a unit built into the wall that can throw out heat, but you have to pay for the electricity it runs on.
I think most apartments provide heat and hot water in with the rent
Michael answers:
NYC law requires the landlord to provide a heat/hot water source. The law does NOT require the landlord to pay for the heat/hot water.
