What We Know About Renewable & Nonrenewable Energy




There are several debates about the two sources of energy, the renewable and the nonrenewable. We produce and use energy from these two sources for various purposes. Energy plays a crucial role in our daily life and we cannot imagine a situation that we go without electricity.

Almost all our utility equipment inevitably need electricity for their functions. However it is appropriate to evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two forms of energy. The assessment here starts with Nonrenewable energy:

Nonrenewable energy is derived from the earth. It can neither be repeatedly used nor replaced in short period of time. The coal, oil, natural gas, all belonging to the fossil fuels, constitutes this category.

The present technology makes it too easy to mine the coal and oil from the earth-bed to utilize as energy sources. This process is relatively cheap, affordable and widely available. But the main disadvantage of this form of energy that it is irreplaceable and would exhaust from the earth, by prolonged exploitation. This is because the fossil fuel energy is developed from the decayed bodies of animals and plants remaining buried as deposits for millions of years in the earth- bed.

These are transformed into combustible materials that come out as fuels. By constant exploitation at the present level, these deposits may not last long, for the use of the generations. Nonrenewable energy also contributes adversely to the nature, by way of pollution of the environment resulting from carbon emission. The mining and oil production paves for atmospheric pollution and causes climate change.

Besides destroying the eco-system, oil production leads to pollution of our water beds like lakes, streams and wells and destroy the animals and plants in large scale.

So how about renewable energy? The powe produced from renewable sources is termed as renewable energy. The sources like solar power, windmill power, tidal power, hydro power, bio fuel and biomass are the best examples for this type of energy.

Renewable energy does not cause atmospheric pollution in any manner. It is renewable and efficient and can be produced with locally developed systems. A disadvantage with this energy is that it cannot be economically exploited, stored and reused according to the requirement.



The cost of production will also be exorbitant than the other types of energy, in the present day scenario. It is wrong to believe that the sources of renewable energy always produce clean energy. For example, the wood is a renewable source of energy but when wood is burned in a furnace, the carbons that emit from combustion pollutes the nature.

It similarly happens so, when bio- mass is burned to produce energy. From a comparative analysis, it can be found that the sources of nonrenewable energy are going into extinction by vigorous and irrational exploitation, to meet a major portion of our increasing energy needs.

Hence in the coming years new forms of energy are to be developed that would not pollute the environment. The costs are one of the forbidding factors for exploring the renewable energy at the required level. But the energy generated from solar power will be clean, renewable and possible without exorbitant cost.

How To Choose The Right Cordless Power Drill




To do most of the technical works around our home a cordless drill is very essential. To do works like fitting curtain rods, constructing a platform or fence, doing electrical wiring or installing a shelf in a room, you need drilling holes and driving screws.

If you were to visit Sears, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Lowes, you can see about 20 various kinds of cordless drills hanging on display. How would you choose the right one for you?

In the last two years cordless drills have changed a lot and the latest model features, small sized, with powerful motors and quickly chargeable lithium-ion batteries. Most of the drills now are having only half of the size and weight of those used before two years ago.

Your father or husband won’t have a different opinion, because the cordless drills will do exactly the work what you expect them to do. Even if you work whole day with these drills, they provide you extra energy to do any hard job without getting tired. Size, torque, speed, batteries and clutch are the five important units of capacity of a quality cordless drill. It is expected to pay $80 to $100 for a quality 180inch/lb subcompact cordless drill.

$150 to $220 for a quality 320-400inch/lb compact drill and more for a quality 500inch/lb full size cordless drill.

The latest model cordless drills are smaller in size than those of a year ago. The new subcompact lithium drill weighs 2 lbs, where as an equivalent Nicad powered drill of two years ago weighs 5.2 lbs. These are easy to hold and portable to any difficult site. These new drills have lights in them allowing you to see inside of any rooms under normal conditions.

Latest drills are easy to put in your kitchen drawers. Torque or rotational force is the actual power (not battery voltage) of a cordless drill. This torque is rated in inch/pounds and it is the measurement which decides your choice of purchase according to the task to be done.

For most of the drilling, screwing and repair tasks around home, a 180 inch/lbs is adequate and for most home construction and remodeling works a 320 inch/lb is suitable. You consider a higher torque full size one only if you required to set a lot of lag bolts while building a deck, to drill holes in concrete or a large specialty attachment like a bulb auger.



Before purchasing a cordless drill take note of its specifications on the box or go to the manufacturers website to see the torque numbers. New lithium powered drill has two or more variable speed settings. Normally a 0-600 rpm, which is used for drilling large holes, driving large screws and precision works and a 1-1600 rpm model is used for drilling small holes, counter sinking and setting of smaller screws.

While using your drill start with the low speed setting and then switch to the higher speed when the task got tamed. Gradually you can work accurately with the higher speed. When you purchase, go for a multi speed drill since single speed drill is slow and poor in quality.

Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Cells – Is It Practical?




The Photovoltaic cells which are known as PV in short form are the devices which convert sunlight into power, this eliminates totally use of mechanical generators and thermodynamic cycles.

The full definition of Photovoltaic is in the name itself; photo means light and voltaic means electricity. Due to the advancement in the technology the prices of solar panels have been dropping every year as compared to the prices a decade ago.

The prices still are very high that is the reason why most of the household are not shifting to solar power; the prices could be more due to the technology which has become superior over the years. In the past, electricity produced was not that high but with the modern technology and use of photovoltaic cells, now more watts are generated.

The prices can further reduce with advanced technology, mass production and also making it more popular with the general masses. Even if you get partial supply of the solar power, you can still save lot of money on the energy bills and run most of the appliances on solar power.

The price of photovoltaic cells mainly depends upon the quality, age and technology. Wind turbines have been there for hundreds of years, but the technology in the solar cells has improved greatly. In some case the entire energy demands can be met with solar power alone.

There are instances where people are producing surplus power and earning money. Both solar and wind power is the answer to the growing demands of the energy in coming years.

Presently silicon based solar cells are available which are quite efficient in providing neat, fresh and clean energy using sunlight. Silicon costs $75 to $80 per kilo that too for long term contracts, it is a material of choice for the electronic industry, because it is not toxic and is very efficient.

But the prices are still very high. The organic semiconductors which are carbon based have become quite promising, it is due to the lightweight and flexible solar cells that may eventually become quite cost effective to generate since they may be printed on the large sheet which are cheap and that too at room temperature.

The most expensive of all types could be the Monocrystalline silicon, such material is very effective. The polycrystalline silicon though is very cost effective but its efficacy is not that good.



Photovoltaic solar cells are very effective in generating electricity using sunlight. The economic meltdown might have affected this technology also, but it is still the most acceptable source of energy which does not affect the environment and the source of solar energy is unending. It might be costly investment in the beginning but one is assured to recover the cost in few years.

The best part is that not only you can store energy and use it in the evenings and nights, but whatever surplus you produce can be an extra income for you. You have option to sell extra power to the utility companies and get rebate in your energy bills. There are many subsidies and incentives given by the government also.