Solar Hot Water

Solar hot water heating systems are an effective way of conserving energy and reducing your energy bill.

Contrary to popular belief, solar water heating is not a new technology. Solar water heating systems have been used commercially for over a century now, with the first commercial water heater (the Climax Solar-Water Heater) going on sale in 1891 in the United States. By the year 1900, over 1600 houses in California were equipped with this solar water heater.

Due to its effectiveness and low cost, the solar water heating gained popularity until, by 1941, more than half the population of Florida was getting its hot water through solar water heaters!

Solar water heating only lost its popularity as a result of lowered electricity rates, and an aggressive campaign by Florida Power and Light to increase electrical consumption. This was done by offering electric water heaters at bargain prices. Thus Florida's solar water heating was brought to halt.

The United States is not the only country with a solar water heating history. There are many other countries where solar water heating was used in the past and has since fallen out of use - but not all of them. In fact, currently more than ten million Japanese households heat their water using solar water heating systems. This is definite proof that it is a workable technology.

Important Facts about Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

* Solar water heating can be used in any climate. Sound unbelievable? Check it out on the U.S. Department of Energy website. They say so as well.

* The fuel used to run a solar water heater is sunshine. And, at the time of this writing, sunshine is free - no tax has been added yet.

* A solar water heater can reduce your water heating bill by 50%-80%. But with energy prices going up, the amount of savings will soon be even higher.

* Aside from reducing your energy bill right now, a solar water heating system will protect you from future energy price increases. Your heating will no longer rely on fossil fuels for electricity.

* When building a new home, or when refinancing, the economic aspect of this becomes even more interesting.

You can, for instance, include the cost of a solar water heater with a new thirty-year mortgage package. This would usually amount to about $13.00 -$20.00 a month. Federal income tax deductions for mortgage interest would reduce the payment for the solar water heater by about $3.00 -$5.00 per month.

If your fuel savings with a solar water heating system is $15.00 or more per month (which it likely will be) you will have reduced your monthly heating bill right then and there.

* Solar water heating will significantly reduce your carbon footprint, and reduce the demand for fossil fuels which pollute the environment.

* Solar heaters can be installed in combination with backup systems. In fact, you could install a solar water heater next to your existing system and make it possible switch to conventional water heating whenever necessary. This way you are guaranteed always to have hot water.

Types of Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

There are two types of solar water heating systems, active solar water heating systems and passive solar water heating systems. They both work on the same principles.

The only difference is that active systems have a pump or other mechanical means of moving the water through the solar heating systems, and passive systems rely on nature's principles: warm water rises to the top, and cold water sinks to the bottom. With a passive solar water heating system, the water storage tank must therefore always be positioned above the solar water heater collector.

Active Solar Hot Water Heating

There are two main designs of active water heating systems. Which one is best for you depends on the climate you live in.

There is what's called an "indirect circulation system" which uses a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid to transfer heat from the collector to a heat exchanger (a device used to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the water in your storage tank). This is good for colder climates.

There is also the direct circulation system, where water is simply passed through solar heat collector and then routed to the water storage tank for use. This system works fine in milder climates.

Passive Solar Hot Water Heating

Passive solar water heating systems are usually cheaper than "active solar water heating systems," as they do not need controls or pumps to circulate the water.

But generally, they are not as effective as the active systems. If you live in a warm climate, a passive water heating system might be all you need. Passive water heating systems are also known for being very reliable.

Essentially, solar water heating systems consist of a water storage tank and its solar collectors. The solar collectors are used to collect solar energy which heats water, and the tanks store the heated water. That's all there is to it.

Find more information about Solar Hot Water.

Facts about Solar Energy

Solar energy consists of the light and heat which is emitted by the sun as electromagnetic radiation.

With today's technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity.

Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.

But in order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.

- Environmental Facts about Solar Energy

All life on earth is dependent upon solar energy. In fact, without solar energy, there would be no life at all. Even the lowest life forms, such as plankton and microbes, need solar energy (in the form of sunlight) in order to survive.

Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever.

Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy. Solar power has been used successfully in many cold climates and even in the polar regions.

Every part of the United States receives sufficient sunlight to benefit from and make use of solar energy and solar technology.

The cheapest and most effective method of utilizing solar energy in your home is currently the use of solar water heating systems. In fact, for over one hundred years, solar water heating systems have been commercially available in the United States.

Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, solar heating has been in use many cold-climate northern European countries for several decades now.

Solar energy technology has advanced far enough that it can be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.

Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity - so much so that the demand for solar-powered gadgets is currently greater than the supply.

- Facts about Solar Energy Usage

Solar energy can be used to provide electricity, heating and hot water for homes.

Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools. In fact, many pools in Scandinavia and Europe are heated with solar energy.

Solar Energy can be used to power vehicles, such as solar powered cars, and even a solar powered airplanes. NASA has successfully designed, built, and tested an airplane which is powered wholly by solar energy.

A few examples are: solar battery chargers, solar flashlights, solar calculators, solar radios, solar-powered attic fans, solar power backpacks (to recharge batteries for small devices), hybrid solar chargers (for cell phones, satellite phones, and more), solar-powered garden lights ... and much, much more.

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For further information and explanations about solar energy and how you can use it to save money and protect the environment, visit Facts about Solar Energy and Alternative Energy.

Solar Cells

A "solar cell" is a device which changes sunlight into electricity. More technically, a solar cell is also referred to as a "photovoltaic cell."

The term "photo" derives from the Greek word for "light," and the term "voltaic" comes from the word "volt" which means "electrical force." A "cell" is a small receptacle or container containing electrodes which generate power.

Thus, a photovoltaic cell is a container that creates electric force, through light.

Whereas a solar cell can generate electricity from any light source, its intended use is the collection of solar energy from the sun.

- How a Solar Cell Works

The solar cell works as follows:

Photons (which are particles of light in sun rays) hit the surface of the solar cell and are absorbed a semiconductor, such as silicon.

These photons (bits of sunlight) knock electrons loose from the atoms inside the semiconductor. The photons then push the electrons along, leaving a "gap" in the atom. Another electron is then pulled from an adjacent atom to fill the gap. And so an electrical flow is generated.

The simplicity of this is that one atom has an extra electron, and the other atom is missing one. This is referred to as a "difference in potential." Nature, wanting to remain balanced, tries to even things out by pulling another electron from the neighboring atom.

A solar panel is made up of a group of solar cells linked together to produce the desired amount of electrical energy.

A group of solar cells linked together can also be referred to as a "module." Thus the terms "solar panel," and "solar module," are synonymous to each other, and essentially mean the exact same thing. "Solar panel" is the more common term, and "solar module" is the technical term.

One can use solar panels individually or one can link several together in order to generate more electricity. When a group of solar panels are linked together, it is called a "solar array". The more solar panels are included in a solar array, the more power they produce.

Solar Power is a clean energy source which is virtually unlimited. I say "virtually unlimited" because the sun itself won't last forever. But we won't have to worry about that for the next few billion years.

Since solar power is a clean energy source which has been around for decades, one might wonder why its not used more. The answer to this lies partially in the cost of producing solar panels, as well as in the efficiency of the solar panels.

We are currently in the second generation of solar panel technology and verging on the third. A lot has changed since the first generation. Solar panels a are becoming a viable source of clean energy.

The first solar cells were relatively large and bulky compared to our current models. In view of the amount of energy and material required to produce them, and the amount of energy they actually produced, it was more costly to use solar energy than to use fossil fuels. The only exception was in places where no fossil fuels were available, such as in space.

With the second-generation solar cells, we attempted to tackle this exact problem. We attempted improve manufacturing techniques so as to reduce the costs, materials and energy needed for the production of solar cells.

Recently, major advances have been made in the production of solar cells, which have reduced production costs.

One contribution in this area was the development of techniques to coat glass or ceramic materials with very thin layers of semi-conductive substances. This made it possible to produce solar panels using only a fraction of the semi-conductive material that was required earlier. The production of solar panels using this second-generation technology is referred to as "Thin Film Technology."

Third-generation solar energy technologies are currently being researched and developed. The objective is to improve the power of solar cells even further (while keeping production costs to a minimum) in which case thirty to sixty percent of the sunlight hitting the panels will be converted into electricity. (Current solar panels only convert about twenty percent.)

But regardless of third generation solar technology, the second-generation solar cell is efficient enough to make solar technology viable - and a host of new solar-powered products have hit the consumer market.

Solar-powered calculators have been around for a while now, we've all seen them. We have even seen a few other novelty devices. But only in the last few years have solar devices come into serious and practical use.

The last two years in particular have seen a virtual explosion of solar devices hitting the market. Solar flashlights (I've often wandered what use they were), solar-powered radios, and, recently, solar battery chargers.

One can also now find a wide range of portable solar chargers and panels, which are lightweight and easy to transport, yet capable of providing a decent amount of power in even the most remote locations. Solar chargers are becoming a standard part of emergency preparedness kits and wilderness survival kits.

All of this is a result of the developments in solar cell technology, and the coming of the Solar Age.

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Anna is the webmaster of Portable Solar Power and Solar Chargers and Living Clean.

The Plug 'n Play Solar Battery Charger

Solar battery chargers have been around for decades, but their popularity has increased a lot in just the last two years.  This is partially because of advancements in technology, and partially because of our increased awareness of the need to shift to cleaner renewable energy sources.

Advancements in technology have reduced the sizes and weights of solar panels, while increasing their efficiency.  This makes it possible for small lightweight portable solar chargers to be produced.  Another factor which plays a part in the rapidly expanding field of portable solar power, is the increased amount of electronic gadgets that we carry around.

Twenty years ago, not many people were walking around with cell phones.  Today, most of us carry at least a cell phone, iPod or MP3 player, and a digital camera around with us - either on a daily basis, or during weekends and vacations.

With all these electronic gadgets comes the need for electricity and power.  And thus solar battery chargers have found their niche.

There are several advantages to using portable solar chargers and solar panels.  First of all, they are eco/environment-friendly.  They don't produce harmful waste, and can be used anytime and anywhere that there is daylight.

Many people think that solar chargers can only be used in warm sunny areas.  This is not necessarily true.  Solar panels are more effective in colder temperatures.  As a matter of fact, a solar charger or panel would create more electricity on a clear day in Alaska, than it would in the sun of the Mohave dessert. This is because the temperature of the solar panel influences the effectiveness with which it can convert solar energy into electrical energy.

The above fact, combined with the increased effectiveness of solar panels, has made solar chargers an attractive method of powering or recharging small electronic gadgets.

These days, a small solar battery charger can run your iPod, cell phone, or MP3 Player.  It can recharge your digital camera and it can be used to recharge batteries.

Some solar chargers, such as the Solio Charger, come with internal batteries.  These batteries are automatically charged when the solar charger is exposed to daylight.  This allows you to recharge your cell phone, or other electronic device, from the solar charger, later on.  Solar chargers with built-in batteries usually store sufficient power to recharge your cell phone twice, or to run an MP3 player or iPod for several hours. Your digital camera can also be fully recharged by one of these devices.

Solar chargers are starting to be a part of many standard emergency kits.  They are a reliable source of power, so long as daylight is available.

Solar chargers are a convenient source of power in remote areas, on field trips, or when out hiking and camping.  They can recharge batteries, cell phones, or other gadgets in any location.

In addition to being convenient, solar chargers are  a clean energy source and do not cause pollution or other harmful emissions while creating electricity. They also reduce the need for disposable batteries, and thus reduce the overall volume of harmful chemicals and toxic waste in circulation on the planet.

To select the proper solar battery charger for your needs, see Solar Battery Chargers.
 

Hypermiling and Controversy?

Though the term "hypermiling" is a new word, the concepts it is based on are not at all new. We have just never had a specific name for it until now.

However, with gas prices soaring to the extortion levels, people (out of necessity) have started to pay more attention to how much fuel they are using.

And thus the word "hypermiling" has been born. The term "hypermiling" (originally coined by Wayne Gerdes) in simple terms means getting the best gas mileage out of the fuel you have.

Before the word "hypermiling" was born, "hypermiling" was just referred too as sensible fuel economy, or common-sense driving practice.

But today, getting the most for your money (by squeezing out the maximum amount of mileage per gallon of gasoline) has become a specialized field, as covered in the blog, Hypermiling.

A lot of "controversy" has been built up around the subject of hypermiling. Some claim it is dangerous or state that it causes accidents, etc. These statements are about as intelligent as the statement that driving is dangerous or causes car crashes.

Of course, if there were no cars on the road, there would be no car accidents. That is about the level of logic we are using when we say that hypermiling is dangerous or controversial.

Before the subject of Hypermiling came about, we would have heard about "safe and unsafe driving practices." These days, in the interest of controversy, we no longer hear about "unsafe driving practices," but about hypermiling. I guess monkey learned a new trick.

Lets take a look at what hypermiling is, and what a few of the hypermiling techniques are:

First of all, a common hypermiling practice is to plan one's trips a little more carefully, in order to avoid unnecessary driving. That's common sense, I would say. But it's not something we were too careful about when fuel was cheap.

Another favorite hypermiling technique is staying within the speed-limit, since driving at higher speeds wastes fuel. Avoiding excessive idling of ones engine is also a key hypermiling tactic, as you are getting zero miles per gallon when you are standing still. What is interesting about this last point is that, for years now, we have had cars whose engines switch to "hibernate mode" after standing still for a few seconds, in order to avoid wasting fuel. "Hibernating" here means that the engine "switches off" and starts up again the moment you hit the gas peddle with your foot.

Making sure that your tires are inflated to the correct air pressure, according to the instructions of the manufacturer, is also a hypermiling technique. That might sound like a minor detail to some, but if you have ever ridden a bicycle with tires that were under-inflated you will have a good idea how much extra energy it takes, as compared to riding with correctly inflated tires.

Well, the same goes for a car. Under-inflated tires make your engine work a lot harder and consume more fuel. Try riding a bicycle with badly inflated tires sometime, and you will get a good idea of what I am talking about. A car handles better with correct tire pressure, giving you a lot more control when you are driving.

I could go on and on, detailing all the other points of hypermiling. But I think the above examples serve to show you that we are really just talking about common sense.

The only real truth in all this controversy is that there are safe drivers and there are unsafe drivers. But that's not new. And this fact did not arrive with the subject of hypermiling. It will not go away with the subject of hypermiling either.

Some people are smart and some are less so. That's nothing new and it's not something we didn't already know.

I guess it's the ones who are "less so," who feel the need to create a "controversy" around a subject like hypermiling. It probably makes them feel clever.

The fact is, hypermiling consists of safe and sensible ways to improve gas mileage. Just as one could drive unsafely in the interest of better gas mileage, one could also be a maniac gas-guzzler who speeds around turns, slams on his brakes, and pays high gas prices as a result.

Real hypermiling techniques involved safe and sensible driving habits.

Regardless, hypermiling simply consists of a set of techniques and driving practices which are used to get better gas mileage, using common sense and safe driving practices.

See also the Hypermiling E-Book and What is Hypermiling?

Hypermiling - Safe as Drinking Water?

Hypermiling is being talked about a lot recently.

Hypermiling consists of a system of methods and techniques which one can use to reduce fuel consumption and get better gas mileage, thus spending less money on gas and emitting less toxic pollution into the environment. Due to soaring gas prices, many people have begun to study and practice the art, or the science, of hypermiling.

Recently there has been a lot of discussion on one question: "Is hypermiling safe?"

Well, the answer to that really depends on how you apply hypermiling.

Anything can become dangerous when taken to extremes. It is usually not the subject that makes something dangerous, but how the subject is applied.

Even the most mundane every-day activities can be performed in dangerous ways.

For example, crossing the a street as a pedestrian. This can be done in a safe way, and can be done in a dangerous way. Crossing the street against a red with cars are bearing down on one, could be considered to be dangerous. But, unfortunately, some people still seem to do this (as witnessed by the statistics).

Does this make it unsafe to walk across the street unsafe? No, of course not. Well, the same applies to hypermiling.

Factually, proper hypermiling techniques include safe driving habits.

Lets take a look at some of the factors we are talking about here.

Correct hypermiling means that you stay within the speed limits on highways. This is because most cars get their best gas mileage at around 55-60 Mph. In fact, at the current gas prices ($4.00 per gallon and up), each additional 5 Mph above this rate adds up to 30 cents per gallon to your gas bill. Staying within posted speed limits, therefore, is fuel efficient. This is a safe and sensible hypermiling technique.

Another safe driving practice that hypermilers advocate, especially around urban areas, is avoiding rapid acceleration and breaking. These practices waste fuel. We have all experienced what it's like to ride in a car with someone who accelerates and breaks rapidly around town. At times, these people can be a menace to the roads. In fact, they make it unsafe for our kids to play near the streets. Rapid acceleration and breaking in our suburbs is not a safe driving practice.

More points could be brought up, but I think the above examples serve to illustrate.

There are also the aspects of hypermiling which involve the maintenance of one's vehicle.

Tire pressure is one example. When applying hypermiling, one frequently checks his tire pressure to ensure that the tires are inflated correctly, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Not only does one get better gas mileage with correctly inflated tires, but having one's tires inflated properly also increases control of the vehicle. Surely, this adds to safety on the road.

Another hypermiling practice is to remove unnecessary weight from one's vehicle. Every 100 pounds of reduced weight reduces the gas bill by roughly two percent. In other words, don’t drive around with unnecessary stuff in your car. The reduced weight increases the braking capacity of your vehicle. So I am hard-put to figure out how this could be considered an “unsafe practice”.

Another important part of hypermiling is keeping one's vehicle in good working-order. That means changing the filters when needed, getting the regular check-ups done, and a host of other specific actions which are all geared toward keeping one's vehicle in optimum condition, in order to get the maximum mileage per gallon. Anyone can tell you that a badly-running vehicle is a danger on the road.

To sumarize, hypermiling itself is a common-sense and perfectly safe activity.  It is only the individuals who driver dangerously, who are unsafe.  Using unsafe hypermiling techniques is unethical and gives a bad name to an otherwise very useful and constructive activity.

It is only extremes that are unsafe. But I guess it’s the job of critics to look for extremes. After all, some critics will even claim that it's unsafe to drink water (I have actually seen articles on this). And I am sure that if you drank five gallons of water in one shot you would not feel too well. But that doesn't mean we all stop drinking water.



Anna Stone

For more information you may also see:

What is Hypermiling? on Squidoo

Hypermiling and Other Gas Saving Secrets

Hypermiling, The Environment, and Your Wallet

- by Anna Stone 

LivingClean.com

Global warming and environmental issues are no longer the only reasons to lower our consumption of fossil fuels. Sky rocketing gas prices are becoming a real
threat to families and businesses all over America and put a serious economic urgency on the matter.

We could wryly look at this and admit that the situation at least raises our personal necessity to emit less earth-damaging fossil fuels.  But when the
situation is affecting one's personal life, business, or job, that thought doesn't help much.

There are many different ideas in the works and progress has been made on different fronts - alternative fuels, hybrids, talk of electric car, and methods of
converting one's car to burn water as gasoline. 

But there is another more immediate remedy which just about any driver can put into action on a right-now basis.  And this is "hypermiling."

What is hypermiling?

Hypermiling is a relatively new term which was coined at some point within the past few years.

Hypermiling consists of driving techniques, tweaks, tune-ups, other gas-saving tips, and even lifestyle changes that help you reduce your consumption of gasoline and get a much higher MPG (mileage per galleon of gas).

What does this mean for your budget?

Well, by using hypermiling techniqes you can dramatically reduce your fuel consumption by 25% to 40%.  And with gas prices now up to $4.00 per gallon or more (and expected to rise up to $6.00 per gallon), than can make a big difference in your expenditures on fuel.  People have been able to get up to 50 miles per gallon or more by using hypermiling techniques.

So, while cheap gas may be hard to come by, there are ways to improve gas mileage, and to make that gas last longer and take you further.

What does hypermiling consist of?

There are several aspects of hypermiling.  Mainly:

1.  Preparations to make before you even get in your car.

2.  How to start your car properly.

3.  Choosing the right times of day to drive in.

4.  How to handle your air conditioning and how to drive on hot days.

5.  Types of weather or traffic conditions to avoid when you are driving.

6.  Where and how to park your car

7.  How fast you should drive for maximum fuel efficiency

8.  How to properly brake and accelerate your car

9.  How to properly position items such as bicycle racks on your vehicle

10. Which part of the highway to drive on

11. Lifestyle changes which will help you save money on gas.

Hypermiling and Driving Safely

Some drivers have been known to engage in unsafe and stupid practices and call it "hypermiling."  This includes idiocies such as tailgating large trucks and other illegal practices which put you, your car, and other people in danger.  You should never engage in unsafe driving practices for the sake of saving a few pennies or a few dollars on gasoline.  A bit of money saved is poor compensation for the loss of a loved one.

But there are many hypermiling techniques which are not only safe driving practices, but in many cases are safer driving practices than usual.

The best thing about hypermiling is that it is something anyone can learn quickly and instantly apply.  By learning a few hypermiling techniques you can start to save money the next time you drive.  You don't have to wait till you have a hybrid or until you have converted your car to run on water.  You can start saving money right now.

Hypermiling techniques are also good for the environment as they reduce fuel consumption.

An E-Book which will teach you all the important techniques of hypermiling, as well as other gas-saving tips, can be found at Hypermiling and Other Gas Saving Secrets.

You can also see videos of hypermiling in action, as well as hypermiling on the news, at What is Hypermiling.

Gasoline Prices and Hypermiling

Gasoline And Oil — Why You’re Paying Too Much

In May of 2008, gasoline prices had climbed to unprecedented highs and oil prices were rocketing past anything that’s ever been seen in the past, the United States Congress finally called oil execs on the carpet to explain why.

One by one, executives from each of the five largest oil companies (Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips, Shell Oil, Chevron and BP) wrung their hands, shook their heads, and explained that the law of “supply and demand” was responsible for the high prices at the gas pumps.

The cry of  “the market sets the price” may have seemed like an easy out for these oil execs.  But it takes only a tiny bit of research to see that supply and demand have little to do with the reason we're paying higher and higher prices for every fill-up.

In earlier years, when U.S consumers were shocked by prices at the pumps, that shock was always caused by a disruption in supply. (In 1973, for example, an Arab oil embargo caused gas shortages that resulted in high prices and long lines at the pumps.)

The late 70’s saw another spike in gas prices with yet another shortage, and once again the law of supply and demand prevailed.

The next price hike in the U.S. (which was caused by a real shortage) came in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast oil refineries and devastated production.

It was from that point forward that a new trend in pricing began to emerge: one that had little to do with real world supplies and real U.S. demand.

It had more to do with Wall Street commodities traders who were pumping money into futures contracts, a move that pushed prices ever higher.

By late in 2005, oil had reached a then-staggering $70 a barrel.  This caused conservative publication The National Review to warn the investors that the manipulated “oil bubble” was surely about to crash and create a downturn in the economy (which would make the dot com bust of the 90’s “look like a picnic.”)

Of course, as we all know now, prices did not crash. Much to our surprise and consternation, they did, in fact, continue to rise and rise and rise.

Oil prices have now passed $130 a barrel. And this is despite the fact that there has been no disruption in supplies, no rising surge in demand.

In fact, the oil industry’s own statistics indicate that world oil production is up while demand in the U.S. is on the downturn.  And U.S. gasoline reserves are at their highest levels in 15 years.

That’s because the American motorist, faced with sky-high prices at the pumps, has actively embraced conservation.

But the resulting downturn in U.S demand hasn’t delivered any relief at the pumps, or any lowering of prices.  In fact, gas prices are getting higher every day.

So, supply and demand is not driving those prices we pay at the pump.

What is?

Just as The National Review warned in 2005, oil and gas prices are being manipulated by investors who’ve pulled their money out of the busted real estate market and poured it into other commodities: like corn, gold and oil.

As the prices for those commodities climb, the investors who bought low are selling high.  And it’s the American consumer who’s paying the price.

So where does that leave you?  

What can you do to save money on gas?  If your car is an essential part of your life (or even if it isn't), this effects you, no matter what the “reasons” are.  

A modern solution to this is called “hypermiling.”

What is “hypermiling?”  How is it defined?

A simple definition of “hypermiling.” is “a sytem of improvements,  tweaks, and techniques used to reduce fuel consumption, save money on gas, and get maximum mileage per gallon of gasoline.”

Hypermiling has become an increasingly popular method of dealing with this gas crisis.  It includes driving techniques, automotive tuneups and tweaks, basic steps to take before you even start your car, and even lifestyle changes.  

There is also the possibility of using alternative fuels in your vehicle.

For more information on hypermiling, you might want to get a simple and inexpensive E-Book.  You can find such an E-Book at Hypermiling and Other Gas-Saving Secrets.  This E-Book is simple and clear and will give you step-by-step instructions and techniques that you can apply in order to save money on gas.

There is another reason we might all want to start to learn and practice hypermiling - and that's the environment.  Global warming is a real issue and it seems to be increasing exponentially.  This video gives you some idea of what is occurring:

For more information see Hypermiling and Gas Saving Tips

- Anna

www.livingclean.com

Solar Chargers and Recreation

Recent developments in solar technology have now put solar power within the reach of everyone.

Until a few years ago, solar panels were relatively bulky, inefficient, and rather heavy to lug around - and, on top of all this, very expensive. In other words, not very practical for the average person.

Solar Power and solar technology have advanced rapidly in the last few years. It and has come to the point where the use of solar energy is within the reach of the average person.

You can now buy relatively inexpensive lightweight portable solar panels (or portable solar chargers, as they are sometimes called) that will recharge your cell phone, iPod, MP3 player, or any from a host of other small electronic devices. There are even some medium size portable solar chargers that allow you to recharge your laptop batteries. And some even will run your laptop.

In effect, you could move your office to the beach if you wanted to, set up a portable solar panel and power your laptop with solar energy right at the beach. Your boss might however disagree, and, in any case you might want to make sure that your laptop screen is not overly reflective.

In the field of portable solar power, we have two different type of solar chargers. Both of have their uses and advantages.

There are two types of portable solar battery chargers on the market. Both come in different models and sizes.

There is the portable solar battery, which has rechargeable batteries built into the it; and there is the portable solar battery charger that simply comes as a small foldable or flexible solar panel that stores easily.

Solio manufactures the type of portable solar charger which uses internal rechargeable batteries. The advantage of this type of solar charger is that you can let it sit in the sun and collect solar energy, which it uses to recharge the internal batteries, and once the internal batteries are charged, you can hook up your cell phone, iPod, MP3 Player, or whatever electronic device you want to recharge and charge it. You can also operate your device directly form this portable solar charger.

Since the solar energy collected is stored within the internal battery, you can use it any time of day whenever and wherever. An additional advantage of this type of solar battery charger is that it is usually also possible to charge it from regular wall sockets (and sometimes even from the cigarette lighter socket in your car). So you are not dependent just on the sun. Technically, we would call such a solar device a hybrid solar charger, as you are able to charge it from more than one source of energy.

The other type of solar charger, is simply a small portable solar panel that can either be folded, or rolled up. This tends to be more powerful than the previously mentioned type of solar charger, and is also lighter to carry around. Due to the higher power output, these can be used to power or recharge larger electronic devices (such as laptops, radios, small TVs, and coolers).

This also makes it an ideal accessory for a beach party or a picnic. A small portable solar charger would be enough to power a cooler to keep your food fresh or to keep the beers cold. I am sure we will even see some coolers coming out shortly which have built in solar panels to operate them. The solar panel would most likely not need to be larger than the lid itself, and could be incorporated onto the cooler.

Such solar panels in even in small sizes provide enough solar energy to power Ipods, MP3s and cell phones and lots of other small devices. If you are spending the day on the beach, this would most likely cover all your electrical needs.

You may find further information on the types of solar chargers available at solar charger grid.

Acid Reflux

(See also Acid Reflux Relief)

When the inside of the throat becomes inflamed and swollen as a result of regurgitation of the contents of the stomach, this is called “acid reflux” or “reflux esophagitis.”

Almost everyone has experienced it at some point – where the contents of the stomach rise up into the throat. But some people experience this more than others, and some experience it severely and frequently.

In a drug-happy society, there are bound to be a variety of drug-related treatments available to address this condition. And plenty of people making lots of money off of these drug treatments. The drug industry is big – legal or otherwise.

But for those of us who do not wish to fall into the pharmaceutical trap – what can be done about acid reflux?

Some of the drugs which are on the market as treatments for acid reflux have been said to be very harmful. These drugs reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is used by the body to digest food. So reducing it can be very harmful to your ability to digest and this can carry other consequences as well. A failure to properly digest one's food can put one at risk of other diseases, can reduce one's resistance to infections and harmful organism-borne bacteria in foods, can increase susceptibility to food poisoning, and can put one at risk of chronic degenerative diseases.

While I am not one to recommend testing human problems on rats or mice, it does bear mentioning in this article that tests on mice performed by scientists in one university did indicate that reduction of hydrochloric acid could be exactly what not to do in treating acid reflux.

As time moves forward and as the “information age” progresses, many of us become more and more aware that drugs are not the answer.

There are a number of natural methods of addressing acid reflux.

But lets look at the alternative – drugs. Why do I recommend so strongly that you stay away from them?

Some of the drugs sold for treatment of acid reflux are “Prilosec,” “ Nexium,” “The Purple Pill,” "Prevacid", "Zantac", "Pepcid" "Tagament.”

My advice? Stay away from drugs, pharmaceutical or otherwise. I mean ... there must be a reason why many of these drugs are only supposed to be used for eight weeks as a maximum.

Well, as a general rule (and this goes for street drugs, psychiatric drugs, “anti-depressants,” over-the-counter pain killers, etc.) drugs don't solve anything in the long run. They only mask the problem. And in the long term, they often make it worse. Used sparingly and infrequently in moments of extreme pain or urgency, I can admit that some drugs can have their uses. If you are on that vacation you have waited for for five years, and your jet-lag is giving you a headache from hell, I won't blame you for grabbing a painkiller from the local supermarket. I've done the same myself.

But – in terms of truly handling an illness or long-term condition, it is always my advice to stay away from them! And most level-headed people would say the same. There is just too much evidence of the harmful effects of drugs, physically and mentally.

For information on natural treatments of acid reflex, please see %LINK2%. I hope this information is of use to you or to any of your friends who may be battling this ailment. Something can be done to relieve it for real, and it doesn't have to come with a prescription.

- By Anna

Low Calorie Vegetarian Recipes

Health, Nutrition, and Wellbeing

Low Calorie Recipes and Cabbage

Cabbage is a strong vegetable, which is easy to grow.  It inexpensive, and is found in almost all parts of the world.

Cabbage has been known throughout the ages, both for its nutritional values, and for its medicinal values.  It has recently become recognized that it can reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer (such as colon cancer and breast cancer).

Cabbage is also used in the famous Cabbage Soup Diet which has become a popular method of weight loss.

Following is a short listing of the nutritional facts of cabbage: -

     - Cabbage helps to promote weight loss in some people.  This is because of its content of Vitamin C, which helps burn fat, as well as of Vitamin B, which increases metabolism and thereby helps the body burn off fat.
     - If one is looking for ingredients for Low Calorie Recipes, cabbage is at the top of the list.  One cup of cabbage only holds about 15 calories.  It is an ideal food for weight loss.
     - Vitamin C:  Due to its relatively high amount of Vitamin C, cabbage helps boost the Immune System.  It assists in removing toxins from the body, and plays a role in burning fat.
     - Vitamin A:  Cabbage is a source of Vitamin A, which your body needs for healthy skin and eyes.
     - Vitamin E: Vitamin E is known for keeping the skin healthy, as well as for assisting oxygen uptake of the blood cells.  Having sufficient amounts of Vitamin E in one’s body also helps to reduce acne.
     - Vitamin B: An essential vitamin for your nervous system, also known to assist in reducing stress and in boosting metabolism. - Drinking juiced cabbage is known to assist in curing stomach and intestinal ulcers.
     - Cabbage is even known to help keep your skin in a healthy condition, due to its vitamin E content.  - It contains quantities of fiber and iron, which help to keep the digestive tract and colon in a healthy condition.

     This is by no means a complete list of all the benefits of cabbage.  It serves to give you a general outline.  
     In earlier times, the ashes of burnt cabbage leaves were a key ingredient in disinfectant ointments.  These days, commercial disinfectants are widely available, so one need not go through motions of burning cabbage in order to disinfect a small cut.
     The primary benefit of cabbage in modern times comes when it is simply made part of one’s diet.  Special diets exist which are based on cabbage.
     There are many different varieties of cabbage.  Green  Cabbage and Red Cabbage are the most common, and are the types we are most familiar with.  Other types include Savoy Cabbage, Bok Choy cabbage, and Nappa cabbage (which are used in many Asian dishes, but are equally useful within other recipes).
     Does this mean one should switch to a diet of eating only cabbage?  Of course not.  There are many more vegetables with equally important nutritional ingredients. But it including cabbage in one’s diet on a regular basis can be beneficial health, weight loss, and well-being. 


- by Anna Stone

Anna Stone is always looking for new recipes to share with the world.  If you have a recipe you would like to share, you may sign up for a free account and publish it at Your Vegetarian and Low Calorie Recipes

The Solio Solar Battery Charger

The Solio Charger

Publish Your "Once Upon a Time Story"

What is your "Once Upon a Time" Story?

Everybody has a story. Some story. Maybe it's a funny thing that happened to them when they were young. Or an adventure they had. Or a game or a fight they won. A fluke. A co-incidence. An act of courage. Or a random kindness.

You probably have a story, too.

It could be a bet you won by a fluke. Or a stroke of luck you had.

Maybe you have a story about the way you met your spouse. Or the disaster that occurred the first time you tried to make pie crust. The camping trip where it only rained. Climbing over the fence at the wrong time. The time you tried to put on a rain poncho while riding a horse. An escape. A fantastic last-minute win at sports. The job you got when it seemed impossible. How you learned to dance. The dog that ran off with your shoe at a wedding.

Or maybe something unusual - maybe you saw a ghost once. Or a UFO. Maybe you read someone's mind and found out you were right. It could be anything.

Everybody has a story!

I call these stories your "Once Upon a Time Stories." They could be short or they could be long. People like to talk about their stories with their friends. At lunch. On the bus. On the phone. Or while they sit around the fire or on the back fire escape chatting with a friend into the wee hours. (Or maybe on Instant Message while they are supposed to be working! ...)

I would like to invite anyone and everyone to come and post their own "Once Upon a Time Story" at Your Poems and Stories.  And for the webmasters out there - you can include links back to your own site and your comments on other peoples' work are No-Follow Free.

In case you would like to have an example of a Once Upon a Time Story, I will tell you one of mine.

Okay ... let me think. I'm thinking.

Okay.

Once upon a time ...

I decided to go on a camping trip with my friend Matt. We hitchhiked to a village which was north of the city we lived in. We had heard that there was a cave there and we thought it would be fun to sleep in a cave. I had just met Matt around the city, and I didn't know him that well. He was a friend of friends. But we got along fine.

So we began to hitchhike. Somehow, before we arrived to our destination, it got dark. The people who were giving us a ride invited us to stay in their home for the night, so we did. They lived in a small village high on top of a hill.

When we woke up in the morning we had breakfast. White rolls. I ate way too many. I don't know why I ate so many rolls! But I remember Matt looking at me with a surprised expression because I was eating so many rolls.

In any case, we had to continue on our way to our cave. So we said thank you and goodbye to the people who had helped us, and we proceeded to walk down to the main road.

Now, this village was way at the top of a hill. There was a long windy road down to the bottom. But there were almost no cars on that road at all. So we walked all the way down, maybe two kilometers.

At that age, I had a habit of eating dandelions and I was picking them and eating them. Matt thought this was strange. He wanted to eat in a restaurant we passed, and I objected as it was quite an expensive one.

When we finally reached the main road, we continued to hitch hike to the village where the cave was. We arrived at the village and found the park which had a rock hill in the middle. The cave was supposed to be in that hill.

Now somehow, at some point, while we were searching for this cave, we lost each other. And Matt had my sleeping bag.

I remember searching for Matt around that little rock mountain in the middle of the park. I went around and around that mountain for – well – three hours, as I recall. Searching and searching for Matt.

As the minutes and hours rolled by, I began to believe that perhaps Matt had actually run off with my sleeping bag and that I would never see him again. I began to chastise myself for trusting someone whom I just met. I mean – didn't my father warn me? “Don't trust anyone,” that's what my father said. And here I was, trusting Matt with my sleeping bag!

I kept trying to convince myself that Matt would not come all the way out here just to steal my sleeping bag. But, one has to remember, I was in the middle of the situation. A lonely young girl in the forest, without a sleeping bag, walking around and around a rock hill for hours, searching for Matt.

I thought, “Could this whole thing really be a plot to steal my sleeping bag?” It didn't seem to make sense. But he was gone!

I looked everywhere. I began to climb the rocks. I looked in among the crevices. Perhaps he had fallen and gotten hurt? This went on. Time went on. No Matt.

My trek continued.

And just as my last hopes were fading away, I heard a voice call my name. I turned and there he was.

Matt.

With my sleeping bag!

As you have probably guessed by now, we both had spent those three hours walking around and around the hill, looking for each other. But both walking in the same direction.

Finally Matt realized what must be happening and he turned around to walk the opposite direction. And then he found me.

Well, there's one little story. Later, I could tell the story of what happened when we tried to sleep in the cave.

But in any case, you see, it's not even that fantastic or incredible. Just one of those funny things.

Now and again, when I think about it, it puts a smile on my face.

To imagine how I had wondered if perhaps this whole cave-camping trip was really a ploy to steal my sleeping bag!

Do you have a story? Or a poem? You can submit your story at Poems and Stories. I think we would all love to hear it.

Love,

Anna of Free Poems

Publish Your Stories on my New Blog

Anna from Free Poems has created a new website, Poem Poem Poem. 

This new site includes a blog, Your Poems Your Stories where anyone can register for free and publish their own poems and stories, and can include links back to their own related sites.  We have already had hundreds of visitors and nearly 30 posts since opening the blog up about a week ago. 

You are also invited to comment on other people's work.  Please note, comments are No-Follow-Free, which means that you can link back to your website in your comment and there won't be a No-Follow tag on it.  Just please leave real comments and feedback on people's work.  It will be appreciated.  Spam comments won't be published.

Here is one of the poems that was published recently:

Computer Addict

I like to play computer games

filled with blood and gore

mowing down my enemies

and beating the high score.

Its gaming that I aim to do

Its gaming I do best

I spend all day, I spend all night

with religious zest.

I’m not addicted, I’m not stuck

but just one more game.

I need to get some sleep this week

it is a crying shame.

I sit here staring fervently

punching my console

‘tis 3 days gone since I did eat

my stomach is a hole.

My mother tells me of the past

when kids went out to play

but I’m in love with game console

and here I’m gonna stay.

It’s language I speak fluently

you would not want to hear

the verbiage that leaves my mouth

when I lose a game, oh dear!

Its gaming that I aim to do

the thing that I do best.

The last time that I left my room

I wont get off my chest.

I do have a vague memory

when I was three or four

That’s when I got my game console,

last time I used my door.

I do fantastic socially

staring at my screen,

If I lose I do get mad

and swear some in-between.

An education I do get

a future I do see

’tis me and my computer games

and maybe some TV.

Dedicated to anonymous, by Anthony

We invite you to share your stories. Even if you are not a poet – doesn't everyone have a story? Something funny that happened today at work? An online adventure? A funny thing that happened to you when you were young?

We of course moderate before publication, to weed out spam.

Anyone who publishes a poem or story which is accepted is allowed to include three backlinks to their own site. And if you earn our trust, we will upgrade your status to Author so that you can publish your own works whenever you wish, no moderation required.

I hope to see you there!

Brunton Solar Battery Chargers

As technology develops, solar battery chargers become more efficient and easier to use.

A new technological development is the creation of thin film solar panels. These are made from special metals, which are highly efficient in converting solar power into electricity.

Thus, it is now possible to create a wide range of truly portable light-weight solar panels.

Brunton Solar Battery Chargers

One leading company in the field of portable chargers is ASC Scientific.  This company has developed a product line called the Brunton Solaris.

Brunton Solaris solar battery chargers are foldable, light-weight, and easily transported. When they are folded, they require no more space than a notepad of sheet of letter-sized paper.

Despite the deceptively small size of the Brunton Solaris, it is capable of recharging and powering a wide range of small electrical devices, including laptop computers.

The Brunton Solaris 26, for instance, is capable of recharging the average laptop in 4 to 6 hours. Whereas it will not independently run a laptop, it can be plugged in while you are using your laptop, thus slowing down the drain on your battery and extending your battery working time.

In order to connect a Brunton Solaris 26 solar charger, to power or recharge your laptop, you will need to purchase a 12v (12 volt) cigarette lighter adapter that has been made specifically for your type of laptop. You can usually obtain this at the same place where purchased your laptop, or you can order it from the manufacturer of your laptop. The Brunton Solaris 26 comes supplied with a female cigarette lighter adapter, which then connects to the one attached to your laptop.

The laptop cigarette lighter adapter supplied by the laptop manufacturer will then convert the electricity supplied by the solar panel into the right strength needed for your laptop.

Solar Controllers

When using solar panels to recharge batteries, it is important to understand that batteries can be overcharged - resulting in damage to them. To solve this problem you need what’s called a Solar Controller. This is basically a small device that prevents the batteries from overcharging and getting damaged. It also prevents electricity from flowing back from the battery into the solar panels, which could harm the panels themselves. If you have a solar controller connected between the battery and the solar panel, you will not have to worry about overcharging. It will keep your batteries in a fully charged state as long as it is connected. This is ideal for vehicles or boats which are out of use for a temporary time period, as it will prevent their batteries from going flat. Any device using a 12 volt battery can thus be kept at maximum charge while out of use.

Brunton SolarRoll 14

A final product that deserves mentioning is the Brunton SolarRoll 14. This is truly on of the most portable, lightweight, and yet rugged solar panels on the market so far.

It produces enough electricity to power a satellite phone, digital camera, iPod, MP3 player and many other electronic devices. What’s more, it's weather-proof and water-proof. It rolls up into a small tube, and weighs only 17 oz (half a kilogram).

This is a solar panel that you can take anywhere. Its also possible to link more than one of them together (also called "daisy-chaining"), although in this case you should use a solar controller in order to safeguard the batteries from overcharging.

You may find more information on similar solar battery chargers and portable solar power devices at:

Solar Battery Chargers

Solar Chargers

Solar Battery Chargers: How Many Watts?

Solar Battery Chargers - Watts?  Volts?  Which one do I Buy?!

If you have looked for a portable

solar battery charger

, you have possibly gotten confused when you encountered the various types of solar chargers available, as well as the technical specs (which can seem indecipherable if you're not an electronics engineer).

Without going into an entire tutorial, I can give some basic data which can help you understand enough to determine which portable solar charger device you need.

You may want to look at the device which you are planning to charge, and find out what watt rating it has (pun is accidental).

A "watt" is a measurement of how much electrical power is produced or used by a device.

To find out how many watts you need for your device, look at the adapter of the device, which you use to charge it from a power outlet.

Look at the "output" rating of the adapter.  It should tell you how many watts the adapter generates.  If it doesn't contain this information, it should contain the ratings for amperes (amps) and volts.  (If you don't know what amperes and volts are, please see the Solar Chargers Glossary.)

To find out the watts rating of your device, simply multiply the amps times the volts.  The following is the equation:

Amperes x Volts = Watts

In theory, if your solar power supply has the same watt rating as the item you wish to charge, it should charge it and run it at the same speed as the wall socket.  However, there are several variables that come into play when one is dealing with solar power - the strength of the sun, the lattitude of the location, the amount of dust or cloud obscuring the light, impurities of metals in the electrical wires, etc.

If the solar charger produces less watts than the output rating of your device's adapter, you can still use it.  It will just take longer to charge.  If your solar power supply has more watts  than the item you wish to charge, it will probably improve the charging speed.

Keep in mind that electronic devices do not always use the same amount of power.  For example, a laptop which uses 60 watts may need 60 watts when it is running at maximum power usage, and charging its battery at the same time as you are using it.  But this does not mean that it always needs 60 watts, or that you can only charge it with a 60 watt charger.  A charger with less wattage may take longer than a wall socket, but it can still charge the laptop.  Get a solar charger with a watt rating which is as close to your equipment's rating as possible.  In other words, don't get a charger for an MP3 player and expect it to be useful in charging your laptop.

Bigger solar panels usually supply more wattage, and will power your devices more quickly.  But "bigger" usually also means "heavier" and "more expensive."  So you will have to decide what is the most important.  A rule of thumb is to get the biggest charger that you can afford, taking into account the weight and cost. 

Sweet Tomatoes

The tomato is originally a South American plant.  It has been said that fresh tomatoes from your garden are far superior to any that you would buy in the supermarket.  And organically grown tomatoes are definitely from an entirely different universe than non-organic unnatural tomatoes.

But all in all, tomatoes have been a favorite vegetable for centuries.  We rarely find an individual who "doesn't like tomatoes."

There are many different types of tomatoes.  This includes different varieties of sweet tomatoes.

An average red tomato contains about 22 calories, no fat, and no cholesterol.  It contains potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and small amounts of calcium and iron.

Tomatoes are used in many ways.  Tomato juice, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, pizza, and Spanish Rice are a few examples of how tomatoes can be cooked and prepared with other foods.

Tomatoes are also a chef's favorite for other reasons.  And that is the color.  Adding a few tomatoes to a salad or other dish can give it the sparkle and color it needs to turn it from a bland-looking meal into one that is aesthetic and appealing.

If you are attempting to use low calorie recipes, the tomato can become one of your best friends.  It has low calories, high nutrition (Vitamin C has even been said to assist the body in burning fat), and it is the perfect addition to many dishes - which adds color, flavor, and appeal.

Here are some of the uses of tomatoes in:

1. Soups.  Warm tomato soup, or any soup with tomato added to it, can be comforting and fulfilling on a cold day.  And in the summer, cold tomato soups with a few fresh herbs sprinkled on top are a favorite.

2.  Salads.  Almost every common garden salad has tomatoes in it. 

One example is the use of tomatoes in a low calorie recipe for tuna salad, where quarters of tomatoes are around in a circular form around the salad, strips of pepper and rings of onion are placed in the center, the the arrangement is topped with tuna and a special dressing.

3. Tomatoes can be hollowed out and filled with couscous, bean salad, hummus - the possibilities are endless on how one can use tomatoes in this way to create healthy and inviting dishes.

4.  Tomatoes can be strung on a skewer along with other vegetables in vegetarian or non-vegetarian kebabs.

5.  A variety of appetizers can be made with tomatoes.

6.  Tomatoes can be baked with meats and casseroles.

All and all, tomatoes are a colorful and nutritious addition to any diet that will assist in weight loss, health, appearance, and well-being.

- by Anna Stone

Find more low calorie recipes and vegetarian salad recipes

Solar Energy

Light (particularly sunlight) can be used to create heat or generate electrical power. This is referred to as solar energy.

It is a clean form of energy production, which doesn't pollute the environment, as some other forms of energy production do.

There are two forms of solar energy. The first is solar thermal conversion, which uses sunlight to create heat and then electrical power. The second is photovoltaic conversion, which uses sheets of special materials to create electricity from the sun. Photo- means "light," and voltaic means "producing electricity."

Solar Thermal Conversion

Solar thermal conversion systems use reflectors or mirrors to concentrate sunlight to extremely intense levels of heat. (Solar means "of the sun," thermal means "of heat" and conversion means "changing something from one form to another.")

You can understand this better if you consider the example of using a magnifying glass to start a fire. You may have heard of this or even tried it before. You can hold a magnifying glass under the sun, and concentrate the light on a small pile of flammable materials. The magnifying glass will make the sun's heat much stronger, and will light the materials on fire. It has been said that a magnifying glass one meter in diameter, held under the sun, will create a ray hot enough to melt stone.

If you want to experiment, hold a magnifying glass flat under the sun and put your hand under it. Very soon you will need to move your hand away - don't burn yourself.

Solar thermal conversion systems use mirrors or reflectors to concentrate sunlight onto containers full of liquid. Sometimes water is used. Sometimes other liquids are used, which retain heat better than water.

The liquids are heated up to high temperatures, and this produces steam. The steam is used to turn a turbine. The turning motion of the turbine is used to create electricity.

How does a rotating motion create electricity? When you set up a coiled wire or similar device to rotate between two magnets, it generates an electric current. This is how electric generators work, as well as windmills, nuclear power plants, and other energy plants which use such things as coal, gas, or petroleum.

Windmills use the wind to create the turning motion. Nuclear power or fossil fuels are used to heat water up, thus creating steam to turn the turbines.

Solar heating is another form of solar thermal conversion. In solar heating, an absorber is used to take in sunlight and convert it to heat. The absorber could be something simple, like black paint, or it could be a special ceramic material. A heat absorber is considered to a be good one when it collects at least 95 percent of the sun's radiation.

The absorbers are then used to heat a fluid, which is then circulated to warm up buildings or to create hot-water supplies.

Photovoltaic Conversion

As covered above, photo means "light." It comes from the Greek word phos, which means "light."

Voltaic means, "producing electric current." The word comes from the name of Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who was a pioneer in the field of electricity during the 1700's. (His name is also where the word "volt" comes from.)

Photovoltaic means, "creating electrical energy when exposed to light."

A cell is a device that produces electricity. An example of an electrical cell is a flashlight battery.

Photovoltaic cells produce electricity when they are exposed to light. They usually consist of panels. The panels contain two layers of different materials.

When light hits these two layers, one of the layers becomes positively charged, and the other becomes negatively charged.

This works similarly to a regular flashlight battery, which has a positive end and a negative end. When a wire connects the two ends, they produce an electric current.

When the two layers of material in a solar cell are exposed to light, they create an electric current.

The AMOUNT of electricity generated by a solar power cell depends on several factors. Mainly:

-How big is the solar power device, and how much surface is exposed to the sun?

-How strong is the sun? (This depends on time of day, weather, latitude, etc.)

-How long is the solar power device exposed?

-How much impediment is there to the light? (Clouds, mist, dust, dirt, etc.)

In other words, a solar power cell generates electricity faster when the sun (or light) is brighter. A device with larger solar panels will produce more electricity than one with smaller panels. Exposing the cell for a longer period of time will create more electricity than exposing it for a shorter period of time. A panel near the equator will be more effective than one in an arctic region. A solar panel in misty or dusty conditions does not create as much electricity as it would in full, unobstructed sun.

Some solar cells produce only enough current to power small electronic devices, but can be "daisy-chained" (connected together) in order to create more electricity for other items.

Solar cells which produce enough electricity to run larger equipment (such as laptops) may be larger, more expensive, or heavier than the others.

But there are many varieties available. Individuals and companies are consistently striving to create lighter and more efficient portable solar cells.

Solar Energy and the Future

An advantage to solar power is that it can reduce expenses. It can also be portable. When one is backpacking in the wilderness or travelling far from power grids, solar power can provide a means of powering electronic equipment. Another advantage is, of course, the lack of pollution created by solar energy production. In fact, if all of our electrical energy were produced by such means, we might not be worrying about global warming and the other destructive effects of pollution on our environment.

These threats to our environment also pose a threat to mankind. Solar power could be developed to a point where it, along with other forms of renewable energy, would replace harmful means of electricity production.

It isn't necessarily impossible to have a clean and safe Earth. We just have to work on it.

Find information on solar chargers, solar battery chargers, and how many watts you need in a solar charger.

Pumpkin Seeds for Low Calorie Recipes

Pumpkin seeds, also called "pepitas," are small, flat, and usually dark green seeds. They are sometimes surrounded by a yellow/white husk, depending on what variety of pumpkin they are from.

They are probably most well known in their roasted form, but also come as an ingredient to many other foods and dishes, such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, etc. sometimes pumpkin seeds are also sprinkled over salads or other dishes in order to add nutrients and flavor. They are especially well-known as ingredients of traditional Mexican dishes.

They are a favorite ingredient in Low Calorie Recipes and are often used in weightloss diets.

There are many varieties of pumpkins, and they produce seeds with or without shells.

Pumpkin seeds have a chewy texture and a sweetish nutty flavor.

While roasted pumpkins seeds are probably best known as the seasonal Halloween treat, there is absolutely no reason not to eat them throughout the year.

Pumpkin seeds provide a wide range of necessary daily nutrients, such as fibers, healthy fats and protein. They are also a great source of minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper.

In as little as a handful of pumpkin seeds, you will receive about half of the daily recommended intake of magnesium, half of the daily recommended intake of manganese, about a quarter of the recommended daily intake of copper and iron, and about a fifth of the recommended daily intake of protein and zinc.

Of course these are not all that is required for a healthy balanced diet. But as a between-meals healthy snack, pumpkin seeds are one of the true treasures that mother nature has to offer.

Other Beneficial Qualities of Pumpkin Seeds:

Pumpkin seeds can also be beneficial for people with high cholesterol levels. Pumpkin seeds are rich in phytosterols (compounds found in plants similar to cholesterol and active in reducing cholesterol when present in a large quantities), and as such could be part of a low cholesterol diet.

Pumpkin also improve the immune system and lower the risks of certain cancers.

Pumpkin seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This way, they will maintain their freshness for the longest possible time. Although still edible they start to loose their freshness after about 2 months. If the seeds start to smell musty or rancid they should not be consumed.

Preparing Your Own Pumpkin Seeds:

While pumpkin seeds can be bought almost anywhere, it is also possible to make your own.

- Remove the seeds from inside the pumpkin

- Spread them out on a tray, and let them dry overnight.

- Then roast them at a low temperature (70 Celsius/160-170) Fahrenheit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Roasting them for a short period at a low temperature preserves valuable healthy oils that will be lost if you roast them at higher temperatures. One can of course also add spices or other flavorings while roasting them, should one wish to do so.

Tips on How to Preserve Pumpkin Seeds:

- Add a pumpkin seeds to mixed salads (they go best with green salads, but others are not ruled out).

- Pumpkin seeds can also be ground up and added to salad dressings.

- I personally like to add a few pumpkin seeds to stir-fry vegetable dishes.

- You can add pumpkin seeds to fruit and nut mixes (trail mix).

- They can be added to corn flakes or other cereals (hot or cold).

- When baking bread, they can be added to the dough.

- Add them to your oatmeal and raisin cookie recipes or to your granola recipe.

Pumpkin seeds overall can be very beneficial to your health, weightloss, and wellbeing.

Find more Vegetarian and Low Calorie Recipes and information on Low Calorie Foods.

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