Shifting to a Green Lifestyle

In the 1990's, emissions laws were being enforced throughout the United States.

Many colleges and universities began looking at the possibility of solar powered cars. The finding were that the solar collectors for the cars to run were too large to be put into the vehicles.

Development continues on the solar collections to make it possible. For those skeptical, don't be surprised if it doesn't all come together in the near future. There are many organizations throughout the world working on doing just that.

Students are aware that using fossil fuels for cars has a negative impact on the environment. Students investigate the amount of pollution a car creates. Students have the opportunity to work together with their research and other students to investigate how to use solar energy for cars. They research the challenges involved and work to find solutions.

For the past 20 years, Panasonic has offered the Panasonic World Solar Challenge. More than three hundred teams from around the world have brought their car to the event. Many find developing solar powered cars to be the challenge of a lifetime. They continue to find ways to get one step closer to being successful. The next Panasonic event takes place in October of 2007.

The Winston Solar Car Team began an education program in 1993. They provide learning materials, on-site visits, and workshops for high schools across the country. The program is designed to motivate students in the areas of science, engineering, and technology. The program consists of a two year education program. At the end of the program students have the opportunity to display their work.

The first Winston Solar Car Challenge took place in 1995. Ninety schools participated in the program with nine schools building cars to race. The 1997 challenge involved three hundred and fifty schools in five countries. Eight cars qualified to run in a six hundred mile race from Dallas, Texas to San Antonio, Texas. As the participants continue to grow, so does the challenge. The 1999 race was a sixteen hundred mile race. In 2002 Dell Computers became a sponsor of the event.

Solar powered cars still have many bugs to work out including how to keep them operating on a daily basis, day or night. New designs continue to emerge, and the challenge of solving this mystery continues to grow around the world. Regardless of who successfully completes the concept of solar powered cars, it will offer a safe alternative to using fossil fuels, and that will be a benefit to each of us.

Solar energy is a great resource that scientists have long explored as a means of providing energy to meet human needs.

Thanks to advances in technology, there are now prototypes of various machines that run on solar power. These include solar powered cars, solar-heated homes, and solar-powered water heaters.

In fact, many of these machines have gone beyond the prototype stage and are being used in many green homes throughout the world, where their owners are determined to help save the environment by decreasing their reliance on fossil fuels.

There are many ways to harness the power of the sun to allow our turbines to run, our water to be heated, and our homes to be conditioned at just the right temperature.

One such method is the use of the solar panel, which you can often glimpse as a black platform filled with shining grids that glisten in the sun. This array of thermal collectors is connected to an appliance that can run on solar power.

The ability of appliances to run on solar power rests in the power of the individual grids on a solar panel.

Each grid, called a photovoltaic cell or photovoltaic module, is arranged in a strategic array that is meant to collect the most sunlight and use the consequent energy most efficiently.

Such photovoltaic arrays are in wide use nowadays, and have enjoyed an upsurge in production as their manufacturing costs have since diminished.

Photovoltaic cells use semiconductors to utilize sunlight and turn it into electricity. You can see such cells in your solar-powered calculator, emergency telephones on the roadside, and even in some large industrial complexes.

With the lower cost of maintaining and manufacturing solar panels, you can use solar energy to heat your water and provide insulation for your home.

If you are interested in using solar energy to heat your water and your home, then you might want to take note of the following tips.

Remember, that even if using solar energy has decreased in price, it is still relatively expensive compared with other energy providing and utilizing technologies.

- Always inquire in as many solar energy panels providers as you can. Look for a solar panel and heating package that can fit your needs and budget.

Look for machinery that can allow you to heat water, your home, and even power your cooking apparatus. If you can use solar energy widely in your home, then you can save on your electric bills.

- Solar hot water systems can use sunlight in various ways to heat different sources of water in your home. You can have hot water through your faucet, or even route lines to heat your swimming pool.

Inquire at your solar energy panels providers on what packages they have for water heating, and if their apparatus can heat swimming pools. Swimming pool water contains different minerals, so it may require various modifications in conventional heating apparatus in order to keep the minerals from precipitating out of the water.

There are many advantages of using solar energy to heat your house and water. Using solar power to power your heating apparatus also entails that you emit less pollution compared with the use of other energy-generating methods.

Because electric grids and gallons of fuel are difficult to transport to remote areas, such as deserts and islands, solar panels can be economical and practical, especially since deserts and islands will often have sun all year round.

Solar panels are also more practical for transports such as boats or airline carriers, which need energy without having to transport gallons of fuel or carry heavy electronic grids.

Despite these advantages, solar power is still expensive compared with grid-based electricity. Current technology for photovoltaic cells is also limited: you will need a greater number of photovoltaic cells in order to gather enough solar energy to drive larger applications.

This can entail higher purchases and maintenance costs. More photovoltaic cells also require a greater land area, which can be difficult if you live in a suburban area, where lands and lots are limited.

Solar cells, moreover, produce a direct electric current, which must first be converted to alternate current, or AC, a change that results in an energy loss of about four to twelve percent.

Solar energy can still help save the environment, so if you are thinking about using it for your home and water heating, do as much research as you can.

Make inquiries and compare prices. If you find a package that fits your needs and budget, then you can go right ahead and help save Mother Earth.

It seems almost inconceivable to think that starting my car and letting it run for five minutes to get the heat or air conditioning going has any effect on the earth's pulse, but when you multiply that millions of times, there's no doubt that it has a serious effect.

Simple things that we do, or don't do, have an effect on our planet's precious atmosphere. How many times a week do you go to the coffeehouse and get your coffee in a paper or cardboard cup?

You might have thought about how many years it takes for that cup to decompose, but have you thought about the energy that went into the production and transportation of that cup? Multiplied by?

If you take the time to think about your daily activities, and how you can do them a little differently, you may find yourself not only helping the environment, but helping your wallet.

Do only full loads of laundry and dishes; cut your shower by two minutes; switch to energy-saving light bulbs; turn your refrigerator and air conditioner up a single degree and turning off your electronic devices at night are all painless ways to help.

Challenge yourself to think before you act for a few days and you will surprised at how easy it is to begin the process of going green.

Everyone knows that cars cause a lot of pollution and with gas getting more expensive, adding some "green" to your driving can help keep the green in your wallet as well as benefit the environment.

Here are some tips for greener driving that you can easily implement into your daily life:

1. Drive A Gas Efficient Vehicle - it stands to reason that the more efficient your car is on gas, the less emissions and the less you have to pay at the pump. Today, there are many options in hybrid vehicles so if you are in the market for a new car, make the gas efficiency one of your main concerns.

2. Tire Pressure - make sure your tires are neither overinflated or underinflated as both of these can affect your fuel efficiency. Make sure to check the tire pressure regularly and adjust as needed.

3. Car Maintenance - needless to say, if your car is not maintained properly, it will not be running at peak performance. Be sure to have the oil changed as recommended as well as the other suggested maintenance. Making sure your engine is running efficiently can improve your gas mileage up to 40%. It might cost a bit to have these things done, but you will save money with better fuel efficiency and a longer lasting car.

4. Air Conditioning - You want to use your AC sparingly, but it's actually more efficient to use air conditioning than it is to roll the windows down. So, if you must cool off, be sure to set the AC on low and turn it off when the car is cooled - make sure you have the windows tightly rolled up so none of that cool air can get out.

5. Heated Seats - heated seats use a lot of energy so the next time you want your tushy all warm and comfy, think about the impact to your gas bill and the environment.

6. Drive Consistently - try to drive at a consistent speed, or better yet, use the cruise control. Keeping your speed consistent will improve your gas mileage and lessen your CO2 impact. Also, try to keep it under 60 MPH as anything over that really decreases your gas mileage.

7. Commute - Consider commuting with co-workers or, if your company allows it, working from home. Even if you do these just a couple of days a week, you will be doing a lot to lower carbon emissions and you'll be saving a bundle on gas too!

Keeping your car in good condition and being aware of some of these fuel efficiency tips isn't that difficult and it makes good sense especially when it comes to the longevity of your car. Your efforts will be rewarded with a fuller wallet and a healthier environment!