Lakes become deserts: The story of Lake Chad

Six thousand years ago, what is now Lake Chad in the country of the same name was the largest freshwater lake on Earth. What remains covers less than a hundredth of the same area. The paleolake Mega-Chad, as researchers have dubbed it, at one time more than filled the Bodélé depression, an area which now, six thousand years on, is the largest single source of airborne dust particles in the world.

We now know, thanks to examination of satellite imagery which has identified former shorelines and allowed researchers to date when the lakes had each of them, exactly when the paleolake began to decline, and we have been able to measure the rate. The process is fascinating – but the results are nothing short of amazing.

What’s amazing is that Lake Mega-Chad, having mostly dried up in a short burst (around six hundred years at the outside), was still enough to keep the depression dry ..

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Solar vs. wind energy

So far, I focused more on solar energy as a more efficient alternative to electricity. The thing is, solar energy is not the only option. Maybe for some of you, wind power is a more suitable solution. I did a little research, talked to Bob and here I am giving you some advices on how to choose between the two of them.

The first step in determining which renewable energy solution is best for your home is to begin by doing research. Often, consumers must choose between two of the most popular types of renewable energy solutions: solar energy and wind energy. Here are the 2 most important aspects you should consider when you decide which solution is best for you:

Location

Your geographic location will play a huge role in determining which solution is best for your needs.

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Simple Weight Loss Strategies

Everyone, at some point in their life, wants to lose weight. Whether it’s for an event such as your wedding, or to look good at a school reunion, or if your weight has been a lifelong struggle, you know how difficult it can be to start the new fad diet or make time to visit the gym regularly. There are several ways you can drop the unwanted pounds without needing to completely reorganize your busy day.

Simply eating fewer calories a day will help reduce your weight. You don’t need a fancy diet or to completely alter your grocery list. When you eat, even if it’s a lunch out with friends, just eat smaller portions. You should however consider the many food decisions you make on a daily basis. Even something as simple as skipping the mayonnaise or choosing a grilled chicken sandwich instead of ...

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Alternative uses for solar panels

Now that I’ve told you one or two things about solar panels, it’s time to open your eyes regarding all the multiple uses of solar panels. The are many advantages of solar energy: it increase home value, it has a minimal impact on the environment, provides a free energy source and it’s totally worth the investment (the average cost for a solar panel is about $350 for every 85 watts). The best thing about them is that they can also be used to power equipment, vehicles, boats, and others.

I’m gonna give you 4 alternative uses for solar energy that you may not know yet:

RV and boat solar power

We still have a little bit of waiting to do in order to have mass-produced solar power cars, but we can start to see solar panels attached to vehicles – ...

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Choosing The Best of the 3 Types of Solar Panels

I’m back and hopefully by now you have decided if solar panels are right for you! It’s time you find out everything you need to know of the 3 types (that’s right!) of solar panels.

Solar panels provide an ideal, environmentally friendly, source of energy without requiring a lot of maintenance. Solar panel technology continues to improve, and luckily for us, to become more affordable for the ordinary people who want to go green.

Generally, all solar panels are designed to produce the same amount of energy from the sun, which is half a volt per solar cell. A standard 12 volt solar cell (which produces about the same amount of energy as a car outlet) will generally have 36 cells and be about 25 inches wide by 54 inches long. Most households install multiple solar cells so they can 24 volts, 48 volts, or more of solar energy output.

Now, here comes the tricky part. You need to know the differences between the types of solar panels before actually choosing one. They differ in size, materials, and efficiency. Here’s what you need to know of the 3 types of solar panels you may select:

Monocrystalline: Monocrystalline solar panels are the most...

 

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Sea Rise Threatens Over $40bn Worth Of National Parks Infrastructure

Alarming recent reports are suggesting that the rise in sea levels could threaten over $40bn worth of national infrastructure and natural assets, providing further evidence of the economic threat that global warming provides. Across the country with sites ranging from the Boston National Historic Park, the Recreation Area in New York City to Golden Gate National Recreation – and many more in-between – policy makers are increasingly vocal in the need to act soon to minimize the potential damage that these historic sites are facing.

The threat posed by rising sea levels towards such places is nothing new – it has always been a closely ...

 

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Are solar panels right for you

OK, so I know last time I told you that I will let you know everything you need to know about solar panels, but I was talking to Bob the other day, stealing tips from him for you guys, and he told me that solar panels are not for everyone, and before you jump in a store and buy whatever you find, you should figure it out if they are right for you.

If you are like me, you probably want to install solar panels because you want to reduce your energy costs and also, maintain a small environmental impact.

Here are some tips to help you make the best decisions about investing in solar panels so that the payoff is satisfactory for years to come:

Think about how much do you afford spending on solar

Even if you decide to invest in the least expensive solar panels on the market, it is important to be aware that the initial investment you make into solar panel technology can be expensive. You will not only have to invest in the solar panels themselves, but you will also have to properly install them into your home or office building.

It’s a good thing that the U.S. government offers some significant tax incentives to help reduce the cost of solar panels. But even with those tax incentives

 

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Why are electricity bills rise nearly 4.8% ?

Rising costs in electric consumption and retail cost to produce are set to see a near 4.8% rise in household bills this summer. Depending on which side of the debate you fall on this is either an unnecessary consequence of President Obama’s energy policy, or an essential compromise to help check the rise in carbon emissions that will, in time, lead to an overall drop in electricity costs. Both sides of the debate make compelling arguments, but certainly in the short term the simple fact seems to be that if we continue to use more power, it has to be generated somewhere – and that costs money.

Let’s start with a look at current policy. EPA regulations have removed tens of thousands of kilowatts that were previously been generated by coal fired plants out of circulation. On top of this, and clearly because this power needs to be replaced from .....

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7 Steps to cut your Energy Bill

I hope you took my advices from last time on how to reduce your electrical bill! Right now, I’m gonna expand more on the topic and get into details with 7 tricks you can use to feel a significant change in your wallet when it comes to bills money. They are all tested by me and Bob, and believe it or not, they work!

1. Buy new models of appliances. The government offers many energy tax credits to help you replace older model appliances with newer models. Newer models might not only help to save you money on operating expenses, but they will help to reduce your energy consumption significantly.

2. Maximize the efficiency of your oven, dishwasher, dryer, or washing machine. Be sure to maximize their efficiency by loading it to its fullest capacity. You’ll get lower energy bills because you’ll be using less energy for the amount of items you’re washing or cooking.
3. Have a professional look at your HVAC system. By having your HVAC system inspected, you can be sure that it is operating efficiently. If it needs cleaning, you can arrange to have that done. If you arrange a proper cleaning for your HVAC, you can be sure that it is running efficiently. You can also update the HVAC system with a newer model—and get a tax credit from the government to do so, in many cases.

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30 Tips to Lower Your Electricity Bill

As promised, here I am paying forward what I’ve learned from Bob, my energy-guru neighbor. In case you still depend on electricity like most of us do and you are frightened at the thought of your monthly bill, I’m gonna give you some tips to reduce your energy bill. This time I’m just gonna provide you with a simple checklist of things you can do to reduce your energy bill—30 things in total! We’re gonna explore some of them and others more on the following days.

1. During the day, keep windows and doors closed. Use blinds and shades to cover doors to reduce heat and cool air loss.
2. During winter, set your thermostat as low as possible for your comfort level. Try 68 degrees or less.
3. When using an air conditioning unit of any sort, set your thermostat for 78 degrees or higher.
4. When you leave on vacation, set your thermostat for 85 degrees or higher during warm seasons.
5. Use a shade or covering with an air conditioning unit’s condenser.
6. Weather strip doors, windows, pipes, and ducts.
7. When using central air conditioning or heating, close vents to rooms in your home you don’t use.
8. Use your dryer when it is full—or air dry clothes.
9. Insulate your attic and ceiling. Proper insulation may reduce energy costs by as much as 25 percent.

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The Components of an Electrical Solar Power System

Last week we talked about batteries and how to choose the one that fits you best. Now it’s time to talk about the other components of an electrical solar power system. When he first started to make changes in his life so that he can go green, my neighbor Bob wasn’t aware of what are the components he needs to accomplish that.

He learned that a solar panel system is made up of more than just the solar panels. In addition to a series of solar panels and solar cells, a full solar system requires batteries, a voltage regulator, and inverter, and a cable system to connect all of the components.

Now, we talked about batteries last time. It’s time to focus on the other components of an electrical solar system:

Solar Panels

The solar panels are the devices that collect sunlight. These devices are mounted to receive

 

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Choosing the Right Batteries

I’m back with more info that will help you get started on the whole going off the grid process. As Bob told me, it’s very important that we are informed when buying important components for our solar power system. After all, we do want to build something that will last and will provide the amount of energy we need don’t we?

Batteries are critical components of any solar power system, as they are the component of the system in which the power produced by your solar panels is stored until you are ready to use it. They come in a variety of different sizes and types. In fact, there are 4 basic types of batteries you may choose from. As I told you last week, it is crucial that you first asses your energy needs.The battery you choose will depend upon your power needs as well as the other parts of your solar power system, including your solar panels and inverter.

Here are some facts about the 4 types of batteries you can choose from:

RV/Marine/Golf Cart

These batteries are designed for small vehicles and boats and also for small solar power systems. They are also named deep cycle batteries. However, they don’t have the ability to provide continuous service through many charges and discharges over the years. So if you use this type of battery, you will notice that it will not last as long as many of the other types of batteries.

 

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How to Find the Renewable Energy Solution that Fits You

Folks, it’s time to think about the money you are paying for your energy! Bills have gotten thicker, pockets have gotten lighter. My neighbor Bob started looking for alternative sources of energy about a year ago, after realizing that it’s either this or he will have to sell his house! He is now pretty knowledgeable in this area and he managed to keep his house and a little extra money in his pocket monthly.

Lucky me, Bob is happy to share some of the lessons he learned during this last year with the rest of us, who still struggle with our energy bills. Today we’re gonna talk about how to assess how much energy your household needs so that you know what kind of renewable energy technology to turn to.You should know that some renewable energy solutions are developed to cover the full energy needs of a facility, while others are used along with back-up energy systems.

Even if your renewable energy solutions are used as back-up systems, they can still help to reduce your energy bills and improve your environmental impact by taking on some of the electricity load....

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Acne at my age? - Patriot Direct

Acne at my age? - Patriot Direct

A Beginners Guide to Chinese Cookery

A Beginners Guide to Chinese Cookery

How to Find the Right Contractor

I’m back with some great tips from my renewable energy guru neighbor Bob! Hope you calculated how much energy you need by now, because now I’m gonna tell you how to find someone who can help you with installing your renewable energy system.

If you are like I am, the idea of installing renewable energy technology in your home is very appealing, but finding the right resources and contractors to complete the installation can be such a drag. Here are some tips for finding the right renewable energy contractor to complete the renewable energy technology installation in your home:

Settle for the one who can provide renewable energy consultancy

 

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