1. Advantages Of Solar Power

- What I like about solar power is that it is a renewable source of energy, no matter how much you use it. You will always find plenty of it as long as the sun is up. So you can use it over and over again without need to worry it will diminish.

- It doesn´t produce pollution, unlike any other sources of energy that pollute our environment incurring global warming to our world.

- Low maintenance cost. Homemade solar power equipment needs a very low maintenance cost and can last for a lifetime. Unlike any other generators you might just need to check it once a year and it would be perfectly fine.

2. Disadvantages Of Homemade Solar Power

- Unfortunately, solar power cannot be generated without sunlight; some areas have such a bad weather until they have only sunlight few times during the year.

- Ready made solar panel systems are still too expensive since they are not manufactured in large quantities and that could put people off.

How To Produce Your Own Solar Power

Buying homemade solar power is not cheap and can cost you thousands of dollars, however you can build your own solar power equipment for less than $500. You can find almost all the necessary equipments at your local electric store.

Some of the necessary equipments are small solar panel, deep cycle 12 volt battery, box for protection from children or animal, 12 volt DC meter and DC input.

Michael Harvey has written a guide on how to make your solar generator yourself that cost less than $200.

If you want to learn how to generate your own solar power yourself, check out Michael Harvey Earth4Energy guide. Check out my Earth4Energy review here.

I’ll give you a simple personal example of how my family takes energy use for granted. In our house we have multiple digital clocks and they all run 24 hours a day, one in each room - the microwave, the conventional oven, the CD player, the stereo and in each bedroom all has a clock and each one is sucking up passive energy we could be saving, and we don’t give it a thought. We don’t seem to mind wasting resources and assume it as one of the advantages of living in a modern society. Some people might be a little bit shocked if they were to find out exactly how much carbon emissions they are producing per year, not to mention an indication of how much it’s costing them and how simple it might be to save a few bucks and the environment at the same time.

If You Don’t Know It, You Can’t Change It

The previous heading sums up a whole range of human instincts and precisely describes one of the roadblocks in front of those trying to educate people on the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. It only takes a gentle reminder that there are consequences for the actions taken on a daily basis that people begin to realise that there is a need to change.

It’s not until you’re told that running your car produces around 2 ½ tonnes of carbon dioxide per year that you begin to realise that this could be a problem. You can then take the challenge to lower next year’s number. This now gives you a goal that is possible to quantify and track, giving you a proper aim. There will be no way of definitively knowing the damage you are doing with your carbon footprint without some means of calculation. It will be impossible to gauge future levels in the effort to produce less.

The fact that we each stand to get a direct benefit in terms of cost to reducing our carbon footprint should have people more than a little interested. That cost benefit is that you save money! The word will continue to leak out while, hopefully, carbon dioxide doesn’t.

Press and media outlets have elevated the issue in the public consciousness through their increased coverage. Being concerned about the issue is something that many of us are, thanks in part to the continuing debate and disagreements over the issue. After all, so much is at stake for our future family members.

Fighting against global warming does not have to take a lot of effort or money out of your pocket. There is entirely too much emphasis placed on vehicles and appliances that are energy efficient. Every little bit helps, and if you do not have the budget for the big items, there are less expensive ways to become proactive.

Your home is the key to helping you combat global warming.

If you are not using an electrical appliance, such as your computer, shut it off. As an added bonus, your electricity bill will decrease, saving you money as you help out future generations.

Reducing electrical usage by turning off all the lights and appliances is simple. This is not only a free way to help out, but you can also save money at the same time!

Another way you can help is by making sure your thermostat is not turned up too high so enjoy the comfort of wearing a sweater instead. The amount of reduction in toxicity your home produces can be substantial with a change in just a few degrees.

Many people do not understand the benefits to using energy efficient light bulbs, or how that differs from traditional ones. Another benefit that many users of these energy efficient light bulbs discover is an increased amount of savings on their electric bills.

A typical energy efficient bulb can operate for a year or two, making them last much longer than traditional light bulbs. Depending on where you shop, you may be able to buy these lights for around five dollars per multi-pack.

The contributions to combating global warming are not constricted to homeowners, as renters can help to. If you feel cold air sneaking into your house when it shouldn’t, speak to your landlord about making window repairs.

Though many people hesitate to bring items such as the hot water heater or insulating blanket up to their landlord, these tips can result in saving him or her money in the long run.

Not everyone can afford to buy an energy efficient vehicle such as a hybrid, and those people can still help out by examining their day to day transportation habits. First, examine how often you drive and if those drives are really necessary.

Could you walk, join a carpool, or take public transportation instead?

If you want to help fight global warming, you can easily do so by choosing to simply not drive three times you normally would during the week.

The first alternative energy source to be covered is solar energy. It has been around for quite a while now and most people have seen the odd solar panel on a neighbors roof. Indeed, mankind has always used the Sun's energy since earliest times but only in the past 60 years has it developed to the extent that we are now familiar.

At this stage we use heat and light from the sun to create energy.

Heat energy provided by the sun is used for many things like heating water, heating a room or cooking food. As the Sun's heat was tangible, the inspiration for using it as an energy resource was not a great leap of the imagination. In reality, the Sun was used by many of these civilizations not only as an energy resource but also as a god, indicating the importance that they gave it.

Getting energy out of sunlight is still a fairly new development by comparison. The technology developed to do this is called the photovoltaic (PV) cell. It was first used in the 19th century but only started being produced commercially in the 1970's.

The principle behind it is that photons in sunlight hit the PV cell causing an electron to be displaced from the atom. Many cells and more sunlight cause more electrons to flow. This is how direct current (DC) electricity works. Direct current can be used as is, stored in batteries for later use or converted to alternating current for use in homes.

Wind power is another source of renewable energy that is becoming popular. I think this is because it is fairly well understood by most people as a concept. It may also be because plenty of wind turbines are popping up all over the countryside.

A wind turbine is a modern day windmill, it uses the power of the wind to turn blades. The kinetic energy is utilized by the generator to create electricity. Many developed and developing countires are increasing their production of wind turbines each year. They promise to deliver clean and cheaper ways to create energy.

Wind turbines or windmills can even be built in residential homes at a reasonable cost. It is quite simple to build a windmill or turbine from scratch or a pre-built variety can be purchased. Before you even think about this however, you need to establish if there is enough wind to make it viable and locate a good spot in your yard for it to go. You may also want to notify your neighbors that you are erecting a turbine as it could be an issue with some people.

Other familiar renewable energy systems exploit the kinetic energy in water to create usable energy, like electricity. This is hydro-power and a dam is an obvious example of this process in action. Geothermal energy can also be used to some extent. This is using the heat from the earths core to heat water which can be turned into steam that can turn a generator or be used as is.

EPA report supports DBSis decision to make all their advanced technology centers planet friendly

“Staying on the current path, commercial data centers will consume a disproportionate amount of our countrys energy. This is not good for the environment or for business.” said William A. Bachenberg, CEO, DBSi. “Something had to change to support the 15-30 percent compound annual growth rate in power and cooling most data centers are experiencing; and for companies like DBSi this growth rate is even higher. We saw the need and became experts at not only the management of high availability data centers but also at architecting energy efficient infrastructures while maintaining our 100% uptime record. We are one of only a handful of data centers in the country employing our degree of green technology, and meeting the stringent availability requirements of our clients.”

Green is not only good for the environment by reducing energy cost and carbon footprint, but also improves the efficiency and longevity of servers, storage, and network equipment contained within DBSis data centers. This proactive initiative by DBSi allows its customers to get more out of each data center asset while enjoying the competitive benefits DBSi offers its clients in both managed hosting and disaster recovery.

Bethlehem, Pa (PRWEB) October 1, 2007 — DBSi, the leading regional provider of high availability disaster recovery, secure managed hosting and data center services, releases information on its long standing project to optimize energy usage and reduce its carbon footprint.

DBSis Green initiative has taken a holistic approach to improving energy efficiency, focusing on areas such as the thermal dynamics within each of its buildings; electric distribution; cooling methodologies; recycling and overall data center design. According to the Uptime Institute most data centers loose two-thirds of every watt of electricity to cooling and inefficient operations; DBSis Green initiative is reclaiming much of this lost power for productive use by their servers, storage, and network equipment. Proof points can be found in the near 40% reduction in radiant temperature generated by DBSis facilities; an ability to cool its data centers at times without running its chillers resulting in near zero carbon output for this operation; providing services that enable virtualization of servers that can result in a consolidation ratio of 8 to 1, or better; and investing in technologies that reduce power distribution losses traditionally found in moving the power from the street to the computing devices.

On August 2, 2007 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its report to Congress on server and data center energy efficiency. In the report it noted that U.S. data centers consumed 61 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006, equivalent to approximately 5.8 million average U.S. households. The report also stated if change is not instituted the country could expect data center power usage to nearly double to over 100 billion kWh within the next 5 years.

In 2005 a Ziff-Davis survey showed that more than 70 percent of participating data centers identified power and/or cooling as a primary issue for their IT environments. Recognizing this problem was growing and not going to be easily conquered, DBSi instituted a Green initiative pioneering cooling and power management technologies discussed in the EPA report well before its contents were released. DBSis CEO took a personal interest in leading this effort utilizing proprietary DBSi infrastructure designs to reduce overall data center power consumption by 20 to 70% depending on the component within the facility. This has allowed DBSi to contain costs for customers and continue to offer long term contracts that reward them for their commitment. The combined power consumption of DBSis data centers is projected to exceed the energy used by over 30,000 average U.S. households; DBSis Green initiative will save the equivalent of 6,000 to 7,000 average households worth of electricity annually.

About DBSi:
DBSi is the leading regional provider of high availability disaster recovery, managed hosting, and data center services. Headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the companys business model is based on flexible, cost effective solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients. DBSi has provided customized solutions to mid-sized and Fortune 500 corporations around the world for over twenty-five years and offers the personal care and attention companies expect while providing enterprise level infrastructure and expertise. DBSi operates multiple advanced technology recovery and hosting centers which also contain hundreds of seats for workspace recovery; and through its high-speed fiber optic networks provides seamless connectivity between its facilities, clients and the world. For more information go to http://www.dbsintl.com.

DBSi, Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of DBSi, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks belong to their respective companies.
© 2007, DBSi, Inc. All rights reserved.

Winning Our Energy Independence: An Energy Insider Shows How, recipient of CalStart Blue Sky Award, tells how to fight global warming in new book.

Read the news:
David Freeman wins Calstart Blue Sky Award

“Few are more qualified to lead the way than David Freeman.”
- Former President Jimmy Carter

RSVP Please:
Cara Morrissey
Tel: 310 454 3080
Ballantines PR
Ballantines PR

On September 6, David Freeman received the prestigious CalStart 2007 Blue Sky Award for innovative leadership in clean transportation policy and technology that impacts and expands the clean transportation market on a global scale.

Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 26, 2007 — Gibbs Smith, Publisher is proud to announce the publication of Winning Our Energy Independence: An Energy Insider Shows How by S. David Freeman.

David Freeman, the Green Cowboy, explains Energy Independence

Wine and light snacks will be served.

Equator Books
1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291

Few are more qualified to lead the way than David Freeman. Please join us for a launch party
Monday, October 1, 2007
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Book Launch sponsored by Vectrix Electric Scooters and Spellbound Wines.

“GoLite on the Planet” Trek Provides First-Hand View of Environmental Effects On Americas National Parks and Wilderness Areas.

“Because so few of us get chance to visit remote areas, the damage that global warming is causing on the Americas crown jewels is out-of-sight, out-of-mind,” said GoLite Chief Executive Officer Kim Coupounas, whose company is supporting Skurkas endeavor. “The hope of Andys journey is to bring the plight of the backcountry to the front of peoples consciousness.”

Vanishing Wildlife, Melting Glaciers and Raging Wildfires
Many scientists believe that the American West is experiencing the affects of climate change faster and more severely than anywhere else in the USA. According to a report published in 2006 by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council, “a disrupted climate is the single greatest threat to ever face western national parks.” The report1 states:

All the Glaciers in Glacier National Park could melt away by 2030. Wildfires threaten to eliminate saguaro cacti from Saguaro National Park and Joshua trees from Joshua Tree National Park. Warmer weather is increasing the beetle population in Yellowstone National Park which in turn is endangering the enduring symbol of the American West: the grizzly bear. Beetles are destroying whitbark pines, a staple food source for the grizzly. Higher temperatures and earlier snowmelt have contributed to a four-fold increase in western wildfires since 1987.
“As Americans, we have too much, do too much, use too much. Andy Skurka is extending a personally accountable philosophy of traveling light in the wilderness to a global call to action to live lightly on this planet.” Said Ryan Jordan, co-founder of backpackinglight.com, another supporter of Skurkas hike

Eureka, Mont. (PRWEB) August 8, 2007 — Andy Skurka is walking. Everyday, all day. In rain, snow, and scorching heat. And nothing can slow him down — not cougars, bears or snakes. Not blisters or burning muscles. Since setting out from the Grand Canyon on April 9, Skurka has covered 3,653 miles & and hes only halfway home.

For more information on Skurkas trek and the Great Western Loop visit www.GoLite.com

The hope of Andys journey is to bring the plight of the backcountry to the front of peoples consciousness. When Skurka reaches his finishing point this November at the Grand Canyon, he will become the first person to complete 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, and ambitious journey that links the Wests long-distance hiking trails and traverses 12 National Parks. Areas that studies show are being quietly decimated by climate change

Andy Skurkas “GoLite on the Planet” walk has reached the halfway point. The nearly 7,000 mile odyssey — roughly the distance from Los Angeles to Istanbul, Turkey — is an effort to provide a first-hand look at the damage global warming is having on Americas National Parks and wilderness areas.

About GoLite
GoLite is the worlds premier producer of lightweight clothing and equipment for active, outdoor sports. Inspired, designed, and tested in Boulder, Colorado, GoLite® products offer uncompromised head-to-toe performance, durability, and versatility at the lightest possible weight to maximize a persons enjoyment and performance in the outdoors. Since 1998, GoLite has been pushing the envelope of theory, practice, & design innovation and has led a “lightweight revolution” that has changed an entire industry. GoLite is more than a name: it is philosophy, a lifestyle, and a commandment to do more with less. Environmental stewardship and social responsibility have been fundamental to GoLites mission and core values since its founding. GoLite is humbly committed to minimizing its environmental footprint - to GoLite on the Planet - through innovation, resourcefulness and partnership. GoLite Athlete Ambassadors regularly share “How to GoLite” techniques in outreach seminars around the world. For more information on GoLite® products, ambassadors, environmental or outreach efforts, visit their exciting new website at www.GoLite.com or call 888-5-GoLite toll-free within the U.S.

With less than a thousand miles to go, trek becomes race against snow, failing light and the jagged peaks of Continental Divide.

Vanishing Wildlife, Melting Glaciers and Raging Wildfires
Many scientists believe that the American West is experiencing the effects of climate change faster and more severely than anywhere else in the USA. According to a report published in 2006 by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council, “a disrupted climate is the single greatest threat to ever face western national parks.” The report1 states:

All the Glaciers in Glacier National Park could melt away by 2030. Wildfires threaten to eliminate saguaro cacti from Saguaro National Park and Joshua trees from Joshua Tree National Park. Warmer weather is increasing the beetle population in Yellowstone National Park, which in turn is endangering the enduring symbol of the American West: the grizzly bear. Beetles are destroying whitbark pines, a staple food source for the grizzly. Higher temperatures and earlier snowmelt have contributed to a four-fold increase in western wildfires since 1987.
For more information on Skurkas trek and the Great Western Loop visit www.GoLite.com

“Because so few of us get chance to visit remote areas, the damage that global warming is causing on the Americas crown jewels is out-of-sight, out-of-mind,” said GoLite Chief Executive Officer Kim Coupounas, whose company is supporting Skurkas endeavor. “The hope of Andys journey is to bring the plight of the backcountry to the front of peoples consciousness.”

Grand Lake, CO (PRWEB) September 7, 2007 — Andy Skurka, die-hard adventurer and environmental advocate, has traveled too far to let the elements slow him down. Since April 9, Skurka has been walking each and every day through some of Americas wildest and most remote landscapes. His walk, an effort to raise awareness about the effects of global warming on Americas National Parks and wilderness areas, now enters Colorado where Skurka faces the new challenges of early-season snows and shorter days.

In total, Skurka will cover 6,875 miles, roughly the distance from Los Angeles to Istanbul, Turkey. His route will have taken him through 12 national parks, more than 75 wilderness areas and countless mountain peaks in the Sierra Nevada, Cascades and Rocky Mountain ranges. The odyssey is scheduled to conclude at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on November 3.

About GoLite
GoLite is the worlds premier producer of lightweight clothing and equipment for active, outdoor sports. Inspired, designed, and tested in Boulder, Colorado, GoLite® products offer uncompromised head-to-toe performance, durability, and versatility at the lightest possible weight to maximize a persons enjoyment and performance in the outdoors. Since 1998, GoLite has been pushing the envelope of theory, practice, & design innovation and has led a “lightweight revolution” that has changed an entire industry. GoLite is more than a name: it is philosophy, a lifestyle, and a commandment to do more with less. Environmental stewardship and social responsibility have been fundamental to GoLites mission and core values since its founding. GoLite is humbly committed to minimizing its environmental footprint - to GoLite on the Planet - through innovation, resourcefulness and partnership. GoLite Athlete Ambassadors regularly share “How to GoLite” techniques in outreach seminars around the world. For more information on GoLite® products, ambassadors, environmental or outreach efforts, visit their exciting new website at www.GoLite.com or call 888-5-GoLite toll-free within the U.S.

Altering habitats for human needs has unforeseen effects.

Arlington, VA (Vocus/PRWEB ) June 28, 2007 — A new study published today in SCIENCE Magazine evaluates the ways that mankind has, over time, significantly altered its environment, resulting in increased vulnerability to natural disasters, species extinction, and disease transmission.

Yet nature domestication can in fact be beneficial for people and for the environment. Nations and institutions need to thoroughly examine the tradeoffs and possible impacts of restructuring landscapes and oceans in order to prevent irreparable damages. The study, “Domesticated Nature: Shaping Landscapes and Ecosystems for Human Welfare,” was conducted by scientists at The Nature Conservancy, Santa Clara University, and Harvard University. It examines specific cases where such alterations — originally intended to increase food production, reduce risk, and enhance global commerce — have ultimately caused negative, unanticipated impacts on human well-being and natural systems.

He continued, “If we think of everything as a tradeoff, we must then ask ourselves, What price do we pay by promoting more food production, or by killing large predators? What natural services will we lose as a result of these decisions - and how can we mitigate those losses?”

The authors of the paper also emphasize a forward-looking approach to conservation, taking into account demographics, population growth patterns, and management of protected areas.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at Nature.org.

Peter Kareiva also noted, “The notion of negative environmental impacts due to humans is not new. Rather, we are emphasizing that altering ecosystems can have both positive and negative consequences.”

In the report, researchers noted that throughout history, humans have successfully grazed and cultivated crops, suppressed wildfires, developed coastlines to protect against storm surges, hunted wild species and harvested oceans. These efforts have no doubt enhanced the well-being and quality of life for millions, and the success of global economies can be largely attributed to such alterations of our natural world.

Other consequences of domesticating nature highlighted in the report include:

“To a conservationist interested in sustainability, we have degraded nature, but to an agronomist, we have altered wild land to better serve humans,” concluded Kareiva. “Yet nature domestication can in fact be beneficial for people and for the environment. Nations and institutions need to thoroughly examine the tradeoffs and possible impacts of restructuring landscapes and oceans in order to prevent irreparable damages.”

“The world is at a tipping point whereby the alterations of landscapes and oceans are causing a net decline in human well-being around the world,” said Peter Kareiva, chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy and lead author of the report. “The effects of domesticating nature can be seen everywhere, from noticeable problems like pollution to less apparent issues such as devastated coastal zones and deadly algal blooms caused by excessive nutrient run-off into watersheds and river basins.”

Researchers did note that not all efforts to tame nature produced negative results: For example, while fewer than 40% of the worlds rivers run wild, dams also provide a significant and clean energy source through hydropower.

Increased exposure to hurricanes: Levees intended to protect farmlands can lead to the loss of wetlands downstream, eliminating a vital natural barrier for natural disaster mitigation. Species extinction from over-harvesting and hunting: Marine and land ecosystems without top predators can experience dramatic shifts in species populations. - In Utahs Zion National Park, the lack of cougars allows predator-free mule deer to roam free - exacerbating stream bank erosion and harming fish.
- Over-fishing off the coast of Namibia has resulted in blooms of undesirable large jellyfish which had once been an uncommon catch for fishermen. Since the 1970s, the tonnage of unwanted jellyfish caught compared to commercial fish has tripled.
Invasive species and disease transmission: Commercial shipping routes created to facilitate global commerce have increased the spread of invasive species around the world (invasive species cause the U.S. $100 billion per year), and worldwide travel can lead to more rapid disease transmission.
The study also notes that wild nature may no longer exist anywhere in the world, because even protected areas such as National Parks are suffering from air pollution, invasive species and erosion problems due to heavy human traffic.

Yet researchers also found that the inadvertent consequences of these adaptations have been appearing with increased frequency in recent decades, and many of these unforeseen effects are negative. For example, the report notes that more than half of the worlds forests have been destroyed as a result of land conversion, and todays experts estimate that deforestation accounts for nearly 25% of all carbon emissions worldwide.

Contact:
Cristina Mestre
703-841-8779
www.nature.org

“Mark my words; Harry Potter, the boy who lived, will return,” said Niflhaim. Mark my words; Harry Potter, the boy who lived, will return

“She will change her mind,” Niflhaim assured. “J. K. Rowling can say anything she wants to the world right now, but when the time comes, she will change her mind for sure.”

J. K. Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter, stated that The Deathly Hallows will be the last book of Harry Potter series. She said that she has no plans to write the eighth novel of Harry Potter. However, Niflhaim counter stated that what Mrs. Rowling said was just a temporary statement of overwhelmed feeling.

They have less than 5 months to reach the goal. Niflhaim, the creator and originator, has invited friends; Mrs. Gail McLeod and Lady Valerie Bouthyette, to help working on the book project. Still, they need all the help they can get. Everyone is invited to participate on the book project.

Niflhaim is a fiction and fantasy author who always breathe behind the darkness. No record found on him (or her). Currently working on Shybook project.

New York (PRWEB) July 23, 2007 — Just a couple of days after J. K. Rowling launched her long famous novel series, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, an unknown author stated that The Deathly Hallows will not be the last book of Harry Potter.

About Shybook

To participate, please visit: http://www.Shybook.com/

"Or at least, it will not be the end of Slytherin,” added Niflhaim. “As we all know, the evil never dies. It just slipped away from your attention, until everything cools down. And of course, there will be someone in the good side who will stop the next evil plan.”

About Niflhaim

“Mark my words; Harry Potter, the boy who lived, will return,” said Niflhaim. “I love Harry Potter. Id hate to see him gone this fast. Besides, it would be my greatest pleasure to see someone in the Slytherin House slaughter the Gryffindor students one more time,” Niflhaim added, with a smirking smile.

Shybook (www.shybook.com) is a book project for Christmas. The goal is to write a novel, deliver the manuscript to the publisher, and then, get the book listed on Amazon.com. The book must be available to the public worldwide just before this years Christmas.

“Let us see how long she could live without Harry,” Niflhaim concluded.

Visit the website at; http://www.Niflhaim.com/

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