Alternate Energy in Your Backyard???

Many people may not realize this, but I actually am a big proponent of developing other energy sources besides those that rely on fossil fuels. 

I'm not a vehement activist that insists that we're killing the earth, but I do believe that having more alternatives provides more self-reliance--in a day when we increasingly depending on outside sources for the "essentials" of living, it makes sense to me to be able to at least reduce our dependency on them, even if we can't totally eliminate it.

I've studied up quite a bit on the different sources of energy--solar, wind, hydro, etc.  Each has their benefits and drawbacks.

If I lived somewhere with ready access to a flowing stream with at least 8 feet of rise or water "head", then that would be my first choice.  Standing water has a downward pressure of .433 psi per foot of height--the same water head I just mentioned.  The higher you go, the more pressure you get.  In fact, using a "ram pump" you can even use flowing water to pump water uphill.The technology has been around for hundreds of years, and they are relatively simple to build--just needing some plumbing fittings and hardware, plus some drilling, etc.

I remember reading an article about a person searching with a metal detector around some old mining claims in California's Sierra Nevada. He kept hearing a "thump, thump, thump" and couldn't figure out what it was until he came on a falling down shed at the edge of a river.  There was an old ram pump in it that was used by the miners to provide water at the top of their sluice boxes--30 or 40 feet up the hill.  The pump had been put in the 1800s, and was still pumping along, long after it's owner had passed on...

There are numerous ways to use hydro power--low flow with high pressure works best with a Pelton type turbine. Low pressure with high flow works better with a different type of turbine--even an old fashioned water wheel can be geared up to run a generator.  If you live near a flowing river, a moored turbine that hangs below a raft in the river can create power as well..

Anyway, since I live in a residential area, the only time I see any kind of hydro power is when it storms, and the gutters flow along my property.  Whoever built our subdivision in the early 60's put in these gracefully curving streets... problem is, my street is on a mild downhill slope with a curve at the bottom.  I live on the outside edge of the curb, so when it storms, all the water collects on my side of the street, and tends to back up due to the curve slowing down the flow... enough of that.

So, solar and windpower are the only other major options available to me. 

Windpower might work--I know a guy that lives on a small farm west of Logan, Utah that powers his house, three shops--carpentry, welding and auto, etc. with two small wind turbines and a battery bank.  He does have a large natural gas generator for backup, but he is totally off the grid, and seldom needs the generator.

Windpower is generally not an option in an urban or suburban setting as the wind is deflected around buildings, slowing it down, etc., plus you need to put the generator up in the air quite aways--60 feet or more in most cases.  Also, the generator "generates" noise as well as electricity, so neighbors aren't too keen on them, plus most zoning ordinances don't allow them.

Even so, I'm looking into a small vertical blade turbine to help charge the batteries for my Ham Radio outfit for emergency situations... they are more compact, and some designs are much quieter than a typical "propellor" type generator. I'll let you know how that works out.

Solar panels can be used, but their price can quickly outstrip that of a small windmill, plus they need to"track" the sun to gain the most efficiency, which isn't really great anyway.

Solar panels is a good topic for another post, so I won't jump into it right now, but in closing, I'll leave a link on Wind Power at the Mother Earth News (MEN).  I've been a fan of MEN for over 30 years, though the magazine has increasingly been politicized with ever increasing articles on global warming, reducing your carbon footprint, the problem with fracking, etc. Still there are often good tips on how to be more self sufficient...

Here it is:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/home-wind-power-zm0z13amzrob.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=04.12.13+GEGH&utm_campaign=2013+GEGH&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email#axzz2Qg643ECL

Leave some comments on the blog as to what you think about alternative energy.  If any of you have experience with it, let me know. If you scroll down the the end of this article, there should be a link that says "No Comments" (if no one has left a comment), or "Comments" if otherwise.  Click on it and give us the benefit of your experience and opinion.

Regards,

Smitty