By Bill Van Wycke

A solar hot water heater will not only help you to save money on your energy bills, but it will also help the environment and make your home greener. Whether you reside in a cooler environment, like some places in Canada, China, UK, or a warm climate like Texas, Arizona, Hawaii, or Florida; then this passive solar water heater will still keep water hot and help you reduce your electric bills.

While heating your water with solar power, your existing heater doesn’t need to use up as much power to artificially warm up the water as it is already hot. By using less power, your electric bill will drop and so will the requirement for more electricity to be produced overall, which for one day may seem to be insignificant, but over 1 month, 1 year, 5 years it would have a massively positive impact on your overall expenses and the natural environment.

Step 1 – What Solar Hot Water Heater Plans are You Following?

The most vital do-it-yourself step is to research and find out exactly what’s involved in creating your own solar water heater. You have to see if you have the essential skills and feel up to the task. Locating clear step-by-step solar hot water heater plans and guide is vital to aid you with your assignment as there are too many instructions out there that skip steps, are out of date, or incomplete leaving you sitting there staring at your partially built unit thinking that there is no way this can be considered a solar powered water heater.

Step 2 – What is the Best Design for Your Home?

There are various types of solar hot water heating systems available; such as an all in one unit, to much more complicated, larger, units that can supply a much larger quantity of solar heated water for your dwelling. The best design depends on a lot of factors, from the size of your residence to the quantity of heated water you will need on daily basis.

Step 3 – Selecting the Perfect Position for Your Solar Water Heating Unit

While building your own solar water heater the first thing you have to do is to determine the best place to position the solar collector panels; where they will catch the most amount of sunlight. In most case this is usually on the roof. Next you have to make sure that your roof can take the weight of the solar collector panels and also try to keep them towards the back or side of your house so that you don’t lose any curb appeal if you decide to sell your home in the future.

Step 4 – Shut Off the Water and Flush out the System

You will have to shut off the water main leading into the house and also purge the system of any water by leaving all the faucets in your house on. Once empty, you can turn off the faucets. Then make sure to remove all electrical power going into your present heating system, as you will need to hook up your solar hot water heater to your existing heater.

Lets recap what we learned in this article:

• Make sure you get and follow the best DIY solar hot water guide and select the best system design for your home.
• Select the optimum place for your solar water heater and purge the system of water before attaching your solar powered water heater to your existing heater.

Bill enjoys writing about green power, giving tips, and helping other people save money on electricity and save the environment through his website.

By Jared Owen

More and more homes are taking advantage of solar energy. If you have been thinking of installing a system in your home and have been put off by the high prices of buying, then you may well be interested in building your own. Homemade Solar Energy works just as well as any manufactured system and will cost you a fraction of the price.

How much will you need to spend?

If you are starting this project with no tools at home and with absolutely no experience, you will need to buy the manual and a few basic tools. The overall cost if you have a well equipped workshop could be less than $60 with the majority of the costs being for solar cells. The best online instruction manuals will cost you no more than $50. For those starting from scratch, you will need a soldering kit and paintbrushes as well as a saw which means that you will have to outlay around $250, but every panel build thereafter will be just a small investment.

Once you build one, how long will it last?

Manufacturers state that the lifespan of a solar panel is around 30 years. Although there is a misconception that homemade panels don’t work as well or last as long, this is not true. People who have the ability to build panels have the ability to maintain them. This means that without any further investment, you can maintain them and ensure that they last longer. It is true that the effectiveness of the panels will decrease as the lifespan lengthens, but many diy enthusiasts have managed to maintain them for decades without any major loss in energy production.

Discover what Rebates and Incentives you could be entitled to before you spend any money.

Visit Cheapest Solar Panels to reduce your solar panels costs.

Take advantage of Hybrid and Tie Grid Systems, Net Metering as well as Government and local incentives.

To see how you can build your own solar panels for 1/3 of the cost of buying them visit Diy Solar Panels

Included are step-by-step instructions, video tutorials, component lists and tax rebate forms plus much more.

By James W Kao

Not long ago, CBS’ “60 Minutes” program broadcast a story on e-waste and global dumping. The reporters followed a trail of electronic recycling items from a Denver-based company all the way to Hong Kong, China and caught the so-called “recycling” company red-handed engaging in global e-waste dumping.

With over 80% of recycled electronics and computers ending up as high-tech e-waste in developing countries such as China, India, and Africa, we need to step up as responsible citizens of the world and choose computer and electronics recycling companies very carefully. We must support only those electronics recycling companies that are running both a socially and an environmentally sound operation, end-to-end. To understand how global dumping occurs, it helps to first understand the business model for electronic recycling.

To sustain as a business, electronic recyclers must generate enough revenues from all its recycling and reuse services and the reclamation of precious metals and other recycling materials, minus operating costs and the cost of de-manufacturing those items that yield no value (yet harm the environment).

The difference between an environmentally responsible computer and electronics recycling company and an irresponsible one can be broken down as follows: a) the way they generate reuse revenues; b) how they reclaim precious metals and recycling materials; c) how they manage the de-manufacturing process of low-value, toxic elements.

Consider the precious metal reclamation process for a moment. A responsible company would need to invest in having a safe working environment with proper protective gear for it workers and proper waste treatment procedures to prevent environmental contamination. In addition, a responsible electronics recycling company will operate using specialized de-manufacturing equipment that protects the workers from the harmful materials or dust that escapes during the de-manufacturing process.

An irresponsible recycling company avoids any investment in the de-manufacturing area. In fact, irresponsible recycling companies never lay eyes on the workers who eventually break apart the leftover electronic parts. As seen in the “60 Minutes” program, those workers are typically low-paid laborers from remote villages, who use bare hands and primitive tools such as chisels and hammers to pry the precious materials from the discarded items. The final discarded parts are then dumped anywhere – in rivers or streams or burned in a swamp – causing major public health issues.

The most hazardous materials found in e-waste are not the reclaimed precious metals, but the low-value, toxic materials such as Mercury found in switches and flat screens and the brominated flame retardants used on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casings. These are the materials that require major investment in the de-manufacturing process. In summary, the cost to operate a safe operating de-manufacturing facility makes responsible electronic recycling much more difficult than the much used alternate: global dumping.

Yielding to the higher reclaim prices offered by the irresponsible global dumpers, many so-called recycling collectors send their materials to irresponsible recyclers, who in turn “sell” the recycling cargo to exporters. A few handshakes later and the e-waste cargo arrives at the ports of the global village’s poorest countries. Since the U.S. prohibits dumping of electronic waste in other countries, most of the e-waste cargo is shipped under the label “Used Equipment,” whereas in fact most of the recycled electronic waste is either too old or too out-of-order to have any reuse value.

In order to identify a responsible recycling company, one must first be able to pinpoint the telltale signs that a recycling company engages in global dumping.

Irresponsible recycling companies:

1. Avoid educating the public about the e-waste crisis either on their company Web site or in their company marketing collateral. Irresponsible electronics recyclers make it look very easy so that the consumer won’t ask any questions.
2. Omit details about how they track and manage the recycling process to avoid global dumping. Again, the less the consumer knows, the easier it is for an irresponsible electronics recycler to engage in some form of global dumping
3. Host greenwash events with reputable nonprofits that don’t understand the proper recycling process. By making the electronics recycling process sound easy and by hiding under the guise of fundraising for schools, chambers of commerce, police association leagues and other nonprofits, these electronics recyclers further disarm the general public about “donating” their unwanted electronics at “fundraising” events. Electronics recyclers participating at a greenwash fundraiser do not charge any recycling fees, yet generate enough funds to donate to the nonprofit and can still pay the high costs of de-manufacturing toxic elements. This business model doesn’t exist because it is simply too good to be true. It’s also an abuse of the goodwill of the nonprofits involved. The truth is, these fundraising “recyclers” collect items that can be reclaimed for cash and then dump the rest on developing countries. They incur minimal handling costs by selling them as “exports.” That is how 80% of computer and electronics recycling materials in the U.S. end up as e-waste in developing countries.
4. Fail to provide either a permanent address for their electronics recycling facility or a proper permit to operate as a recycler. Many use a P.O. Box or just a phone number that they publish during neighborhood pick-up campaigns. When you call, it always goes directly to an answering machine. There is no one available to tell you more about their services.

Now that you know how to identify an irresponsible electronic recycling company, let’s review what a responsible electronics recycling company looks like.

1. Look for an electronics recycler who states a corporate commitment to addressing the global e-waste crisis.
2. Use computer and electronics recycling companies that actively educate the public about the e-waste crisis and the socially responsible way to recycle and de-manufacture.
3. Make sure your electronics recycling company can demonstrate its thorough process in evaluating reuse items, items for de-manufacturing and also its monitoring system to keep track of the entire de-manufacturing process.
4. Support electronics recyclers who use only U.S.-based de-manufacturing facilities that have the proper permits, de-manufacturing machines and processes and safety and health monitoring system for their workers.
5. Use computer and electronics recyclers that generate enough revenues from services to be able to allocate the proper budget toward responsible processing of toxic materials.
6. Choose an electronics recycler that is well respected by environmentalists who have been focused on the e-waste crisis. These environmentalists have seen firsthand how dumping occurs and are very knowledgeable about how to identify responsible recyclers.

GreenCitizen, Inc., is a socially responsible recycling company addressing the global e-waste crisis. GreenCitizen currently has three recycling centers located in the San Francisco Bay Area, one in San Francisco at 591 Howard Street (at 2nd Street;) one in Burlingame at 801 Mahler Road, Suite I (just north of the Hyatt) and one in downtown Palo Alto at 161 Homer Ave (next door to Peet’s Coffee and Whole Foods Market). Find out more about electronics recycling and how to help stop global dumping at http://www.greencitizen.com/ now! Join http://www.greencitizen.com/Community/home.php an eco-conscious community and plant some green wisdom of your own with like-minded citizens.

By Jay A. Jenkin

Climate change has the potential to affect the way we live and work. This rapid change in weather across the world can also damage the environment and wildlife we enjoy. This guide will teach you how to reduce your impact on the environment and climate change.

The best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is by cutting down your overall energy emissions. If you are building a new house, you can reduce the amount of heating your home needs by orienting your house in such a way that it is warmed by the sun. If this is not an option, try wearing more layers of clothing instead of turning the heat up. You may want to switch to gas heating as it produces much lower levels of emissions compared to standard electric heaters. Make sure that your thermostat is set to 68 degrees or less. 5 to 10% of the energy required to heat your home can be saved for every 1 degree you turn the heater down. Make sure you only heat the rooms you are using and close off doors to keep the heat in. You should also make sure that your heaters are well maintained.

For those houses that have air conditioners, a quarter of the energy used is by cooling. Keeping the sun out can reduce the amount of cooling required. Use drapes, shades, shutters and/or vegetation to shade windows and walls. Sometimes you may only need to use a fan. These are often much cheaper and use much less energy.

What you eat can also largely impact green house gas emissions. Try to eat less red meat, as large animals produce a lot of methane, which effects climate change. You can also buy locally grown and produced food. Ingredients that have been acquired from long distances away will have large fossil fuel impacts due to transportation. Many people are now eating those fruits and vegetables that are in season. Fruits and vegetables that are out of season often need to be transported long distances or have been refrigerated for long periods of time. Local food not only helps the environment but your community as well. You may also wish to reduce the amount of packaging in the food products that you buy as the packaging process produces green house gases.

Driving less is a great way of reducing your carbon footprint. Vehicles are large contributors to green house gas emissions. You can plan ahead and find the quickest route possible and avoid heavy traffic. You may also be able to carpool, take a taxi, walk, cycle or take public transport. If you are purchasing a new vehicle make sure that it is fuel efficient, this will also reduce your fuel costs! You should also make sure your car is well maintained and serviced.

Although many people feel they cannot help prevent climate change themselves, these are just some of the few ways you can make a difference right in your own home. Remember to keep all appliances well maintained, buy locally and drive less and you will be on your way to helping the environment.

Jay has been interested in health and energy issues for many years now, although he is fairly new to article writing.

Please visit his latest website at http://airbrushkit.net/ which helps people find the best Airbrush Makeup and information and pricing on all types of airbrush kits.

By Clare Al-Aufi

It’s easy to throw away something that is beyond repair, but what about things that are still perfectly good that may be useful for someone? You could donate some of these items to charity, but charities often only take certain items, leaving you with leftover items to get rid of. Freecycling is a great way to get rid of useful items that you no longer want, and it’s also a great way to find things that you need for free. You can get rid of unwanted clutter while at the same time having access to plenty of free stuff if there is anything that you need. Freecycling is good for the environment, because it means that all of these items are spared from being placed in a landfill. Thanks to the Internet, freecycling is easier than ever!

The Freecycle network is a vast online resource for freecycling that is available worldwide. UK residents can go to the UK Freecycle site and select the region where they live to join a group in their area. Freecycle’s guidelines are simple and easy to follow. All items posted must be completely free and appropriate for all ages. Illegal items are prohibited. You can offer a free item or, if there is a specific item that you need you can post a wanted message to see if anyone has the item that you are looking for. If you find the item that you want, you then follow up with a received message. When an item has been taken, the giver posts a message to let members know that it’s no longer available.

Gumtree is the UK branch of the worldwide Kijiji free classified ad network. Similar to Craigslist, users advertise items for sale, but they also have a useful freebies section. You can give away items as well as find free items in your area by simply selecting your city from the list to access the page for your local area.

The primary focus of GreenGonzo is to help the environment by reducing waste through freecycling. The site has a handy search tool that freecyclers can use to find items in their area. Users can create email alerts that tell them when someone is offering an item they want. Free registration enables you to use the site to give away things you no longer need and find things that you do need. GreenGonzo is a relatively new organisation that is operated by a network of volunteers. Their goal is to expand the site until it becomes a global network that will help reduce waste worldwide.

Freegle is a new freecycling site that is rapidly growing and is now available in many communities throughout the UK. With more than a million active members, Freegle is dedicated to reducing landfill waste and helping the environment through freecycling. The name, Freegle, is derived from two words that describe what all items must be: Free and Legal. (Freegle) Freegle does not allow skill swapping or ticket vouchers. Freegle has groups located throughout all of the UK, including England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland. Freegle members strive to help the environment while meeting neighbours and helping the less fortunate by finding people things that they need.

By Ross Beckham

If you are a world citizen in the 21st century, one of the most common concerns that you will come across refers to the environment. Everyone is talking about the environment and more importantly, everyone is talking about the need to preserve and conserve the environment.

If you flip across the news channels or nature based programs, you are bound to hear the many grave concerns that are being expressed by a host of persons ranging from politicians, to environmentalists and down to lay folk about the concerns that the environment is currently facing the world over.

What exactly is the environment? Why are we all so concerned about it? In a very generic sense the environment refers to the milieu or context of and the surroundings in which a particular item exists. For instance, we may say that the political environment in Iraq is not conducive for democracy and peace. However, when we refer to the environment as it impacts Planet Earth, we are referring to the state of the natural world or of the ecosystem.

The natural ecosystem means the sum total of the organisms that exist on the earth and the interconnectedness of these organisms (including humans) with the earth and its resources. Hence, the ecosystem refers to the connection between the living (biotic) and the non living (abiotic) constituents of the environment.

In general, we differentiate between the built and the natural environment. The natural environment essentially consists of aspects of nature which exist and have their being without human intervention like air, the soil, water, the atmosphere, animals, birds, plants and humans themselves. On the other hand, the built environment consists of human creations like towns, cities, industries, vehicles and a host of other man-made structures.

The problem in the environment today is on account of the excessive and repressive interventions of humans on the natural environment in the post industrial era. The industrial era commenced in the 19th century and we saw rapid advances over the last century and a half. It witnessed huge advances and strides made by humans in the sphere of harnessing natural resources and advancement in areas of science and technology. Naturally, this was also accompanied by exploitation of natural resources including land, water, minerals and even space.

The growth of human intervention in the natural environment has been necessitated also by the rapid growth of human population over the last two centuries. The global population exceeds more than 6 billion currently and this has far reaching ramifications for the impact on the environment. It is not quite possible to sustain such a huge population on the planet with limited natural resources. Hence, environmental pressures and ecosystem breakdowns have occurred where human beings have over exceeded the capacity of the earth to meet human requirements which have expanded unsustainably.

The environment consists of quite fragile ecosystems, many of which are now extinct or severely threatened. The earth has enough to meet human needs but certainly not to meet human greed! It is quite true that we have not inherited this earth from our parents, but merely borrowed it from our children. Till date, the earth is the only known planet in this vast galaxy that has an environment conducive for life. The environment is all that we have to sustain us and our progeny. It’s high time that we paid less attention to our greedy desires and listened more closely to what the environment needs to sustain itself for the long term.

Now listen carefully –

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