the solar system bredeson

the solar system bredeson

There is a lot of confusion and very little consensus about what "going green" really is and what it means to go green. If we are approaching it from a save the environment or planet point of view then it even gets more confusing, isn't our planet blue. If we are doing it to save the planet, maybe we should call that going blue.

On the surface at the pinnacle or "pointy end" of the subject, there are two primary reasons to be going green. First and foremost in most peoples mind is that they will be saving money. The second reason is that they will save the environment. I know that sounds protectionist and greedy, but it is human nature to look after your house first. How much global impact will you have by turning off a light when some company on the other side of the globe is melting down motherboards from old Pentium 3's with hydrochloric acid in a river that leads directly to the ocean and the fish your pregnant wife is eating?

Outside of transportation, the largest pollution source is the production of electricity. It only makes sense to save electricity, save money and the environment at the same time. Simply turning off a light will help, and it is a collective effort if we want to make an impact. One of the biggest impacts you can have on the environment is to simply lower the amount of electricity you personally consume.

The less electricity you consume as an individual will lessen the impact on your local power supplier, but that will not reduce their carbon output, and this is where the big picture comes into play.

Everyone has heard the term "peak and non-peak" hours when it comes to your electric bill. To translate what that means is that during "peak" hours your provider cannot supply enough electricity to the community through their "normal" power generation and they either need to "buy" electricity from the grid, or they need to fire up the 16 or 20 cylinder diesel generators (normally more than one) to cover the overload. This is expensive to the power supplier, the environment and to you also, hence the term "peak".

Power stations run at a constant "speed" or output. It often takes hours for a power plant to change their output if they even can (many plants are either online or offline).

The power grid is very complex, but the basic purpose is to shift or divert power to where it is needed so it is not lost. Outside of a battery (or hydrogen technology) electricity is lost at the same rate it is created. If nobody is there to use it, it is simply gone.

Using electricity while your local power supplier has an overabundance (surplus production) and not using it when your provider is overloaded is one of the best things you can do as an individual to make an impact on the environment and be going green.

If you are interested in green energy, or if you just want to keep up on reviews and the latest trends then Jim can help.

This LINK will get you started.

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