Photograph by Tim Wimborne, Reuters This story is part of a special series that explores energy issues. For more, visit The Great Energy Challenge. For years, the energy world has puzzled over how to harness the sun to make rooms cool. That may sound counterintuitive to those who think primarily of the uncomfortable heat beating down on roofs and windows …

A large amount of people are starting to realize it’s feasible to continue enjoying all the modern amenities they became used to while also experiencing the independence of off grid living. Off grid living means exactly that – living off the grid. You can enjoy freedom from power lines, electrical bills and the sky-rocketing rates being charged by resources corporations …

the report shows that in 2010, renewable energy supplied an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption and delivered close to 20% of global electricity production. Renewable capacity now comprises about a quarter of total global power-generating capacity. Including large and small hydropower (an estimated 30 GW added in 2010), renewable energy accounted for approximately 50% of total added power-generating capacity in 2010. In 2010, existing solar water and space heating capacity increased by an estimated 25 gigawatts-thermal (GWth), or about 16%.

In their new book, CLEAN ENERGY NATION Congressman Jerry McNerney, a renewable energy expert, and technology writer Martin Cheek assess the positive and negative aspects of various alternatives.

Jorge Ribal asked: Since Don Quixote de la Mancha’s times (and even before), wind energy has been used to help us on different daily life activities. Wind energy can be utilized in order to grind grain and even to pump water: that’s what windmills do. In that case, wind energy becomes mechanical energy to perform such activities. But when a …

Despite predictions in the United States and elsewhere of a nuclear "renaissance," the report concludes that the role of nuclear power was in steady decline even before the Fukushima crisis. The disaster will make the construction of new nuclear plants and extensions to the lifetime of current plants even more unrealistic.

There’s a lot of energy that we can harness if we only attempt to research and develop the technologies needed to do so. We will escape from the fossil fuels and the old electrical grids by turning to alternate choices to these energy sources. One of those alternate energy resources is wind energy. Air turbines continue to be developed that …

There is a lot of energy that we can harness if we only attempt to research and develop the technologies wanted to do so. We will be able to run away from the traditional fuels and the old electric grids by turning to alternate choices to these sources of energy. One of those alternative energy resources is wind energy. Wind …

There’s a lot of energy that we are able to harness if we only try to research and develop the technologies wanted to do so. We will get away from the ordinary fuels and the old electric grids by turning to alternatives to these power sources. One of those alternative energy resources is wind power. Wind turbines remain developed that …

“In 88 minutes, the sun provides 470 exajoules of energy, as much energy as humanity consumes in a year.” In Scientific American, Ramez Naam adds, “In 112 hours – less than five days – it provides 36 zettajoules of energy – as much energy as is contained in all proven reserves of oil, coal, and natural gas on this planet.” …

Dane Bergen asked: Wind power energy is one of the clean energy resources that have been widely used all over the world. The report says that this can overcome the electricity demands of high economy countries like US. One of the main reasons that increases the utilization and development of wind power energy is its purity. It does not produce …

The demand for oil products is on the rise and the countries are forced to produce more crude oil barrels to be supplied to the world market. It is a non-renewable resource and the humans are exerting over pressure on Mother Nature. It is very dangerous to exhaust a resource that cannot be regained in the short run. It is …

alternative energy for small business Environmentalism is the strong topic of discussion these days and in this context solar power has undertaken huge value Many people feel that the human race is having a negative effect on the environment because of how much pollution we put out by using the conventional power production that we use on a daily basis …

Michelle Bery asked: Wind energy is an environmentally inert, clean, and inexhaustible source of electric power that, as it turns out, is really just another form of solar energy. The sun creates wind by its uneven heating of the planet’s atmosphere. It’s moderated by the earth’s rotation and irregularities in its surface. The planet’s terrain, water bodies, and vegetation then …

geothermal energy facts Michael L Leigh asked One of the lesser known renewable energy sources geothermal electricity is created by using the heat contained underground by magma This magma heats rocks and sometimes travel directly through water sources below the surface heating it up We extract this water and run it through pipes which surround another set of pipes that …

energy conservation in schools Considering the fact that schools are used at least hours per week they can produce a significant energy draw With the large rooms high ceilings and big buildings there are huge energy bills for every school around the country By implementing energy saving measures a school can reduce their energy costs by thousands of dollars each …

how many homes will one turbine power The power to supply electricity is measured in watts The output of a wind turbine is directly dependent on the turbine’s size and the wind’s speed via the rotor Ranging from watts to five megawatts MW wind turbines are currently being manufactured with varied power ratings Wind speed is the most necessary component …

By Rex Graham “Wind scoops” pull Pacific breezes into the energy-efficient rooms in UC San Diego’s newest student apartments, cooling them the old-fashioned way in buildings aligned to capitalize on wind and solar rays. Non-potable “recycled” water nourishes native outdoor plants through an efficient drip-irrigation system. The apartments’ plaster, paving, carpet and metal wall studs are made from recycled material, …

make grass pellets For many years there was very little alternative in obtainable wood boilers The heating market for the last years has been dominated by means of oil gas in addition to electric boilers These fossil duel derived energy solutions provide minimum convenience and for many years the charge of oil in addition to gas has constructed it impossible …

why nuclear power is not available in the caribbean James Post asked WIND ENERGYBigger windmills mean lower cost per kWh Therefore the mainstream of the market is – MW Mega Watt – kW peak capacity windmills Their average yield is up to MW depending on wind conditions However big systems also bring big problems with them complexity of installation accessibility …