Solar and Wind is Green Energy

Full Table – Sunny, Partly Cloudy, and Cloudy Days a Year City Years Included in Average Sunny Days A Year Partly Cloudy Days A Year Cloudy Days A Year ABERDEEN,SD 28 101 101 163 ABILENE,TX 56 149 95 121 AKRON,OH 47 68 99 198 ALAMOSA,CO 33 148 137 81 ALBANY,NY 57 69 111 185 ALBUQUERQUE,NM 56 167 111 87 ALLENTOWN,PA 52 94 110 161 ALPENA,MI 36 67 104 194 AMARILLO,TX 51 157 104 104 ANCHORAGE,AK 44 61 65 239 ANNETTE,AK 41 40 60 265 APALACHICOLA,FL 62 128 113 116 ASHEVILLE,NC 31 99 113 153 ASTORIA,OR 40 50 76 239 ATHENS,GA 52 113 105 147 ATLANTA,GA 61 110 107 149 ATLANTIC CITY AP,NJ 37 94 111 160 AUGUSTA,GA 44 112 106 147 AUSTIN,TX 54 115 114 136 AVOCA,PA 40 70 106 189 BAKERSFIELD,CA 55 191 81 93 BALTIMORE,MD 45 105 108 152 BARROW,AK 54 66 52 187 BARTERIS.,AK 34 53 66 192 BATON ROUGE,LA 42 99 119 147 BECKLEY,WV 32 60 95 210 BETHEL,AK 34 62 65 239 BETTLES,AK 5 86 93 187 BIG DELTA,AK 3 60 93 212 BILLINGS,MT 56 89 112 164 BINGHAMTON,NY 44 52 102 212 BIRMINGHAM AP,AL 37 99 111 155 BISHOP,CA 29 201 89 75 BISMARCK,ND 56 93 107 165 BLOCK IS.,RI 19 98 113 155 BLUE CANYON,CA 31 174 64 126 BOISE,ID 56 120 90 155 BOSTON,MA 60 98 103 164 BRIDGEPORT,CT 46 99 107 159 BRISTOL-JHNSN CTY-KNGSPRT,TN 58 88 112 165 BROWNSVILLE,TX 52 96 131 138 BUFFALO,NY 52 54 103 208 BURLINGTON,VT 52 58 101 206 BURNS,OR 11 120 94 151 CAIRO,IL 30 113 104 149 CAPE HATTERAS,NC 38 109 101 156 CARIBOU,ME 54 59 100 206 CASPER,WY 45 107 111 147 CHARLESTON AP,SC 47 102 109 155 CHARLESTON,WV 47 65 111 189 CHARLOTTE,NC 49 109 105 152 CHATTANOOGA,TN 65 104 106 155 CHEYENNE,WY 60 106 127 133 CHICAGO,IL 37 84 105 176 CHUUK,E.CAROLINE IS.,PC 49 0 45 318 CLAYTON,NM 28 162 99 104 CLEVELAND,OH 54 66 97 202 COLD BAY,AK 42 10 50 304 COLORADO SPRINGS,CO 44 127 120 118 COLUMBIA,MO 26 104 91 169 COLUMBIA,SC 48 115 103 147 COLUMBUS,GA 49 110 104 151 COLUMBUS,OH 46 72 103 190 CONCORD,NH 54 90 109 166 CONCORDIA,KS 30 131 95 140 CORPUS CHRISTI,TX 53 102 121 142 DALLAS-FORT WORTH,TX 42 135 97 133 DAYTON,OH 52 77 100 188 DAYTONA BEACH,FL 52 97 132 136 DEL RIO,TX 16 121 106 138 DENVER,CO 61 115 130 120 DES MOINES,IA 46 105 97 164 DETROIT,MI 37 75 105 185 DODGE CITY,KS 50 137 104 124 DUBUQUE,IA 21 92 99 175 DULUTH,MN 47 77 102 187 EL PASO,TX 53 193 100 72 ELKINS,WV 49 48 103 212 ELKO,NV 56 130 99 136 ELY,NV 56 131 109 125 ERIE,PA 40 63 97 205 EUGENE,OR 53 75 82 209 EUREKA,CA. 90 77 100 188 EVANSVILLE,IN 55 102 100 163 FAIRBANKS,AK 45 70 86 210 FARGO,ND 53 88 109 168 FLAGSTAFF,AZ 43 162 102 102 FLINT,MI 54 66 105 195 FORT MYERS,FL 54 98 168 99 FORT SMITH,AR 49 123 95 147 FORT WAYNE,IN 49 78 102 186 FRESNO,CA 46 194 73 98 GLASGOW,MT 39 86 111 168 GOODLAND,KS 72 143 117 105 GRAND ISLAND,NE 54 123 102 140 GRAND JUNCTION,CO 49 136 106 122 GRAND RAPIDS,MI 32 64 96 205 GREAT FALLS,MT 57 79 106 180 GREATER CINCINNATI AP 44 81 98 186 GREEN BAY,WI 46 85 102 178 GREENSBORO-WNSTN-SALM-HGHPT,NC 67 109 107 150 GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG AP,SC 33 121 100 145 GUAM,PC 20 16 134 215 GULKANA,AK 5 67 89 209 HARRISBURG,PA 53 87 109 169 HARTFORD,CT 41 82 108 175 HELENA,MT 54 82 104 179 HILO,HI 50 36 132 197 HOMER,AK 15 65 75 225 HONOLULU,HI 47 90 181 94 HOUGHTON LAKE,MI 30 65 100 200 HOUSTON,TX 26 90 114 161 HUNTINGTON,WV 34 63 99 203 HUNTSVILLE,AL 27 100 101 164 HURON,SD 56 104 107 154 INDIANAPOLIS,IN 64 88 99 179 INTERNATIONAL FALLS,MN 56 76 101 188 JACKSON,KY 14 73 97 195 JACKSON,MS 30 111 104 150 JACKSONVILLE,FL 47 94 127 144 JOHNSTON ISLAND,PC 24 99 159 107 JUNEAU,AK 47 44 41 280 KAHULUI,HI 37 131 145 90 KALISPELL,MT 45 70 81 214 KANSAS CITY,MO 23 120 96 149 KEY WEST,FL 43 104 155 107 KING SALMON,AK 42 51 69 245 KNOXVILLE,TN 53 97 107 162 KODIAK,AK 25 59 74 232 KOROR,PC 48 4 80 279 KOTZEBUE,AK 52 100 72 193 KWAJALEIN,MARSHALL IS.,PC 39 18 70 277 LA CROSSE,WI 17 95 97 173 LAKE CHARLES,LA 34 98 115 152 LANDER,WY 49 114 122 129 LANSING,MI 41 71 104 191 LAS VEGAS,NV 47 210 82 73 LEWISTON,ID 42 91 78 196 LEXINGTON,KY 51 89 101 174 LIHUE,HI 46 56 184 125 LINCOLN,NE 28 117 99 149 LITTLE ROCK,AR 35 119 100 147 LONG BEACH,CA 38 159 119 87 LOS ANGELES AP,CA 60 147 116 103 LOS ANGELES C.O.,CA 34 186 106 73 LOUISVILLE,KY 47 93 102 171 LUBBOCK,TX 49 160 102 103 LYNCHBURG,VA 49 112 107 147 MACON,GA 46 112 107 147 MADISON,WI 49 89 96 180 MAJURO,MARSHALL IS,PC 44 8 84 273 MANSFIELD,OH 30 73 101 191 MCGRATH,AK 55 67 72 226 MEDFORD,OR 67 117 79 169 MEMPHIS,TN 43 118 96 151 MERIDIAN,MS 50 108 110 148 MIAMI,FL 46 74 175 115 MIDDLETOWN/HARRISBURG INTL APT 61 85 112 168 MIDLAND-ODESSA,TX 47 165 96 104 MILFORD,UT 40 151 104 111 MILWAUKEE,WI 55 90 100 175 MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL,MN 57 95 101 169 MISSOULA,MT 51 75 83 208 MOBILE,AL 47 102 116 147 MOLINE,IL 62 101 100 164 MONTGOMERY,AL 51 107 107 151 MOUNT SHASTA, CA 22 164 83 118 MT.WASHINGTON,NH 68 45 75 246 MUSKEGON,MI 53 75 88 202 NASHVILLE,TN 54 102 106 156 NEW ORLEANS,LA 47 101 118 146 NEW YORK (JFK AP),NY 37 98 116 152 NEW YORK (LAGUARDIA AP),NY 47 96 117 153 NEW YORK C.PARK,NY 42 107 127 132 NEWARK,NJ 53 93 112 160 NOME,AK 51 91 69 205 NORFOLK,NE 50 117 103 146 NORFOLK,VA 47 106 107 153 NORTH PLATTE,NE 43 115 109 141 OAK RIDGE,TN 42 109 98 158 OKLAHOMA CITY,OK 44 139 96 130 OLYMPIA,WA 54 52 84 228 OMAHA (NORTH),NE 18 110 102 153 OMAHA EPPLEY AP,NE 49 111 105 149 ORLANDO,FL 47 89 147 130 PADUCAH,KY 11 101 97 167 PAGO PAGO, AMER SAMOA,PC 34 13 147 204 PENDLETON,OR 60 101 91 173 PENSACOLA,FL 29 105 123 137 PEORIA,IL 52 95 97 172 PHILADELPHIA,PA 55 93 112 160 PHOENIX,AZ 57 211 85 70 PITTSBURGH,PA 43 59 103 203 POCATELLO,ID 46 106 98 162 POHNPEI,CAROLINE IS.,PC 48 2 66 295 PORT ARTHUR,TX 42 95 117 153 PORTLAND,ME 54 101 99 165 PORTLAND,OR 47 68 74 222 PROVIDENCE,RI 42 98 103 164 PUEBLO,CO 50 139 119 107 QUILLAYUTE,WA 29 51 75 239 RALEIGH,NC 47 111 106 149 RAPID CITY,SD 53 111 115 139 REDDING,CA 9 172 77 116 RENO,NV 53 158 93 114 RICHMOND,VA 50 100 106 160 ROANOKE,VA 48 102 112 151 ROCHESTER,MN 35 86 97 182 ROCHESTER,NY 55 61 104 200 ROCKFORD,IL 45 93 98 174 ROSWELL,NM 9 168 113 84 SACRAMENTO,CA 49 188 77 100 SAINT CLOUD,MN 50 97 102 166 SALEM,OR 58 77 80 208 SALT LAKE CITY,UT 69 125 101 139 SAN ANGELO,TX 47 154 97 114 SAN ANTONIO,TX 53 105 119 141 SAN DIEGO,CA 55 146 117 102 SAN FRANCISCO AP,CA 68 160 100 105 SAN JUAN,PR 40 73 203 89 SANTA MARIA,CA 45 176 110 80 SAULT STE.MARIE,MI 54 66 90 209 SAVANNAH,GA 45 104 110 152 SCOTTSBLUFF,NE 52 115 112 138 SEATTLE C.O.,WA 24 71 93 201 SEATTLE SEA-TAC AP,WA 51 58 82 226 SEXTON SUMMIT,OR 30 126 68 172 SHERIDAN,WY 55 95 113 157 SHREVEPORT,LA 43 114 100 151 SIOUX CITY,IA 55 104 104 157 SIOUX FALLS,SD 50 105 103 157 SOUTH BEND,IN 56 73 100 193 SPOKANE,WA 48 86 88 191 SPRINGFIELD,IL 48 104 94 167 SPRINGFIELD,MO 50 115 96 155 ST.LOUIS,MO 47 101 101 164 ST.PAUL ISLAND,AK 66 18 61 287 STOCKTON,CA 46 184 77 104 SYRACUSE,NY 44 63 98 205 TALKEETNA,AK 10 67 67 225 TALLAHASSEE,FL 34 102 129 134 TAMPA,FL 49 101 143 121 TOLEDO,OH 40 73 107 185 TOPEKA,KS 46 114 97 154 TUCSON,AZ 55 193 91 81 TULSA,OK 54 127 103 136 TUPELO,MS 10 119 97 150 UNALAKLEET,AK 4 83 67 215 VALDEZ,AK 21 58 54 254 VALENTINE,NE 40 123 105 136 VICTORIA,TX 34 86 118 162 WACO,TX 50 130 98 136 WAKE ISLAND,PC 43 121 149 94 WASHINGTON DULLES AP,D.C. 33 92 105 168 WASHINGTON NAT’L AP,D.C. 48 96 106 164 WATERLOO,IA 35 91 100 174 WEST PALM BEACH,FL 48 75 159 131 WICHITA FALLS,TX 50 151 93 120 WICHITA,KS 39 128 97 140 WILLIAMSPORT,PA 51 67 110 188 WILLISTON,ND 34 93 112 160 WILMINGTON,DE 47 97 104 164 WILMINGTON,NC 44 111 104 150 WINNEMUCCA,NV 45 138 89 138 WINSLOW,AZ 37 177 99 89 WORCESTER,MA 40 90 107 168 YAKIMA,WA 49 109 92 164 YAKUTAT,AK 48 41 46 278 YAP,W CAROLINE IS.,PC 51 5 87 272 YOUNGSTOWN,OH 52 63 97 205 YUMA,AZ 32 242 71 52

Source of Information: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Climatic Data Center

Alternative energy is using energy from the sun, wind or other green energy sources rather than fossil fuels which pollute our planet.

Homeowners, worldwide, are opting to use solar panels and often adding a wind turbine as well to meet their energy needs.

In this time of economic insecurity people are looking to become self sufficient, those who have solar energy don’t mind when the next blackout hits. Not only are they saving money but there is a good feeling with taking that step for a greener planet using alternative energy.

Electricity From the Wind 

When the wind blows the blades it spins the wind turbine which in turn makes electricity. A small windmill won’t run the whole house but it can be hooked into the electric panel in the house as a power source so it uses less from the power companies.

The giant windmills seen along highways are referred to as “wind farms.” They are providing a new source for jobs and helping to power our cities.

Small homemade wind turbines are being used on farms and backyards and a few roofs of homes in mostly rural areas. Placing a wind turbine or generator on the roof is not recommended due to weight bearing factors. Height is important for getting a steady  wind current.

Likewise with the discovery of the photovoltaic effect, which is the production of electricity from the sun, solar panels have only gotten more efficient at using the sun’s power that it is another source of energy to provide the home’s power needs. With enough solar panels to generate power to the home often there is an excess that the power company has to pay the homeowner for the electricity. Now that sounds nice.

Governments and Alternative Energy

Apparently, the satellites that orbit the earth operate solely from solar cells as well as buoys, lighthouses and warning signs on the highway. Surprisingly, many countries have been using solar energy for more than 50 years.

On Sept. 7, 2011, the Department of Energy issued a $340 million loan guarantee to SolarCity and U.S. Renewables Group Renewable Finance and Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s $1 billion SolarStrong project, which will put solar on the homes for service members living on base across all branches of the U.S. military.

Under the project, 160,000 homes on military bases  will  have solar systems under the SolarStrong project, which will likely be the largest residential project in the world.                                      

The Cost    

Does this mean that we are moving forward to having solar panels on every residential home in the U.S.?

That will depend on the the ability of homeowners to afford the cost of professional installation which can run anywhere from $6,000 to $20,000 according to the home’s need.

There are cost saving homemade solar panels and wind turbines that work the same but don’t last as long unless extreme care is given to protection from the elements.

According to experts, a professionally installed solar system last for 20 years or more and the Do it yourself panels last about 6 to 8 years.

This is a subject that continues to bring hope for a country so dependent on non-renewable sources. Where the sun keeps on shining and the wind still blows across the plains.

The history of Solar Power spans from the 7th Century B.C. to today. Some of man’s first experiments were starting fires with shiny rocks reflecting the sun’s heat. Later using glass and mirrors.

The harnessing of solar energy is not new. In fact, development of solar power dates back more than 100 years, to the middle of the industrial revolution. Several pioneering solar power plants were constructed to produce steam from the heat of the sun, which was used to drive the machinery of the time. At the same time, Henri Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect; that is, the production of electricity directly from the sun.

1954 Photovoltaic technology is born in the United States! Bell Telephone Laboratories produced a silicon solar cell with 4% efficiency and later achieved 11% efficiency.

Today’s cells are averaging at up to 20% meaning that for the amount of possible energy available the cell can only utilize 20% of that energy.

In 1958 the satellite Vanguard I was launched into space.  It was the first orbiting vehicle to be powered by solar energy.  Photovoltaic silicon solar cells provided the electrical power to the satellite until 1964 when the system was shut down. Since then solar power is used to operate nearly all satellites orbiting the Earth.

The popularity for home use came in the 1970′s, during the Energy Crisis, when the price of fossil fuels rose to all time high’s and governments began investing in uses of solar, wind and geothermal energies. We realized the importance to find an alternative form of energy as we saw just how reliant we really are on non-renewable, finite resources like coal, oil and gas for our existence.

Then in the 80′s when fossil fuel prices dropped, sadly, the financing for alternative sources of power disappeared.

However, not all governments were short-sighted as solar power started being used in remote areas where running electric lines was much too expensive, such as tropical or desert areas. Today it is still used to power small villages in Africa, the Outback of Australia and mountainous regions. Solar Power has become the source, not an alternative.

It still is more expensive to make per watt than fossil fuels and nuclear power. But once in place it is free for the taking with low maintenance and gives added value to a home.

Now, with the help of individuals who are sharing their knowledge for building solar panels. It finally allows us to use the solar power we rightfully should have access to. Solar energy is infinite energy, never will end, as long as the sun is in the solar system

Homemade solar panel instructions from Earth4Energy is for everyone who wants to be a part of the History of Solar Power.

CLICK HERE To Get Your Hands On Instructions For A Piece Of Solar Power History 

Build a Wind Turbine to Harness Wind Energy

Wind energy is taking off in a big way worldwide, in both giant utility-scale installations and the small-scale wind turbine intended to power a single home.

Remote off-grid dwellers are finding wind energy an excellent supplement to solar during cloudy weather, and enjoying the extra freedom that more power input gives, especially after dark or during cloudy weather. On-grid folks are installing home wind turbines to offset rising power costs, and even selling extra power back to the utility.

Earth4Energy gives detailed instructions for building a wind turbine for your own windmill to power your household appliances for less than $200. These details are included in the package when you purchase The Earth4Energy Manual. (complete with diagrams)

Having a windmill in your yard adds a beauty and serenity that can only be good for you.

Watching the blades that you made turning in the wind producing energy for your home makes a powerful statement to your friends, family and yourself that you care about the environment. Oh yes, it also takes some of the pain out of opening your next month’s power bill.

A few benefits of building a wind turbine:

• Wind energy releases no pollution into the air or water.
• Wind power is a free and inexhaustible (“renewable”) or (infinite) source of energy.
•  When the wind system produces more electricity than the household requires, the excess can be sold to the utility.

CLICK HERE to get the Step by Step Bonus Video Instructions 

Benefits of Solar Power and How it Works

The Benefits of Solar Power:

• Solar power creates absolutely no pollution.
• Solar cells produce no noise at all.
• Solar powered panels and products are typically extremely easy to install.
• Solar power technology is improving consistently over time.
• Solar energy is a completely renewable resource.

When weighing the benefits of solar power to cost and cloudy days there is very little comparison.

CLICK HERE To Get the Benefits of Solar Power by Building Solar Panels for Your Home

Solar panels are made from silicon crystal. Today’s crystal is occasionally grown in shapes that collect the sun’s rays easier.

As you can see in the illustration it is a very simple process to gather Solar Power. Once the energy is collected from the solar panels it is sent to either storage units (not shown) or directly to your building’s electrical panel. With several solar panels you can collect enough power for your home and in some cases extra, as your meter turns backwards the power company pays you. I found that most power companies only pay you half of what they charge, but still getting your electricity for free plus a monthly bonus would probably feel pretty good.

An average home has more than enough roof area to produce enough solar electricity to supply all of its power needs. With an inverter, which converts direct current (DC) power from the solar cells to alternating current (AC), which is what most home appliances run on, a solar home can look and operate very much like a home that is connected to a power line.

The solar cells that you see on calculators and satellites are also called photovoltaic (PV) cells, which as the name implies (photo meaning “light” and voltaic meaning “electricity”), convert sunlight directly into electricity. A module is a group of cells connected electrically and packaged into a frame (more commonly known as a solar panel), which can then be grouped into larger solar arrays, like the one operating at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently used most commonly.

In the US many innovations are being researched and implemented with the support of the Obama Administration.  Giant solar arrays such as 2,600 solar panels placed on the rooftop of a Maryland University subsidized by federal and state governments are becoming increasingly more common. Hope for less dependence on fossil fuels grows.