This Old Hippie.com

e-bike short errands

Especially for short distances around your town… And if you have quite a few errands to run, why not take in the scenery and up close and personal

Now, of course your not going to get rid of your car for an e-bike…Like old ” Ed begley Jr.” But, leaving it in your garage if you can manage to do all your running around by e-bike is definitely the way to go!

A thing to remember is you have roughly about 20 miles, before you will have to recharge the batteries.

So, plan out your trips wisley And who knows where your errands take you…You may, just be able to recharge somewhere else, giving you a bit more mileage!

One thing to consider before purshasing one your self. Is to see if a rental may be more affordable or borrow a friends if they will be willing to part with it for the day. The other option is just to go out and buy one your self.

The price ranges from about $1,499,99 to about $1,999,99 ( Not, cheap by any measure…)

But, while they do cost quite a bit more then your coventional bikes, they are pretty cheap compared to other motorized options. ( As far as disposing of the batteries once you have completely killed them… Just visit Earth911.com enter your zip code and they will tell you exactly wher you can bring them to be recycled!)

Well thats my take on the e-bike and how much the environment can breath a sigh of relief… The next time good old mother nature is checking you out in your bicycle shorts!

led lighting bulbs

The introduction of LED light bulbs into the market has been hindered due to several factors. Namely: lumens (brightness) color (led produce blue radiance vs. white) market promotion and affordability.

Although LED bulbs for residential and commercial applications are not quite where they need to be, they are starting to scratch their way into the market this year with more force than ever before. Continue Reading »

Solar Panels Home System

Solar thermal technology provides space heating and/or hot water and is a frequently forgotten member of the solar family. These highly effective systems are popular in many parts of the globe, from China to Canada to Zimbabwe. The panels are typically 70%-90% efficient, compared to around 20% efficiency for solar photovoltaic (pv) systems. Solar thermal energy displaces the use of the existing hot water heater and heating equipment, typically displacing either natural gas or electricity.

Solar thermal is a more mature technology than solar pv systems that produce electricity. It has been used for centuries for water heating. Even Leonardo Da Vinci had one on his home for heating water.

When considering the installation of such a system, it is important to consider the following items.

Southern Exposure
In the northern hemisphere, it is best to point the panels facing south. If the mounting surface is not angled to face due south, the efficiency of the system may decrease. If the panels are at a southeast angle for example, performance will improve in the morning, but suffer significantly in the afternoon.

Solar thermal panels are usually mounted in a fixed position and do not have tracking equipment to follow the sun. This is because the panels have copper pipe connected to them and a fluid running through the panel. They also can be heavy and a bit clunky to follow the sun’s angle.

It is important to consider your solar window and how much shade may interfere with the system. Solar thermal panels generate heat, instead of an electric current, so they are not as sensitive to a little shade as pv panels. It is however recommended to have clear solar exposure from 10 am-2 pm as a minimum.

Remember that the sun is lower in the sky in the winter months. If your solar system will provide heat, a good winter solar window is very important. If the roof of your home is not ideal, it is sometimes possible to mount panels as an awning, on the ground, or on a garage.

Space for Solar Equipment
Solar thermal systems in cooler climates require room for a solar storage tank near the existing hot water heater. This heater becomes the back-up when there is not enough sunshine to heat the water. Therefore, you will need space for a tank up to 30 inches in diameter for most applications. It needs to be in a space that will not freeze and will have a pipe connecting it to the existing hot water heater.

Heating Equipment
If you live in a cooler climate and you have enough room for panels, the solar system can assist with heating your home. Solar works best with forced air furnaces and radiant floor heating systems. Radiators that use boilers operate at a higher temperature and are not usually good for interfacing with solar.

Efficiency
Before forking out a bunch of money on a solar system, it is a good idea to consider energy efficiency first. Weatherization and conservation are often a low hanging fruit for energy and money savings. Water-saving shower heads, front loading washers, and washing clothes with cold water can help to maximize your solar energy.

The sun can heat between 50%-100% of the water used in a home, depending on climate, use, and system size. Efficiency helps increase that percentage, especially on cloudy days.

Yesterday, the whole tribe of ours decided to go around our neighborhood and do some cleaning up. And it was a real neat thing to see others out there doing basically the same thing. We met with this other family and started discussing how great it was that were out here instead of sitting on the couch at home. doing something to better our planet, and how it has rubbed off onto our kids…”It’s an awesome feeling!!” Continue Reading »

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OK,  a lot of these tips would be geared towards homeowners or landowners, but renters should find some valued benefits as well!

Continue Reading »