Published on: 06 December 2018
Last Updated on: 29 February 2020
Solar panel systems have taken the world by storm, and it’s not just in ‘sunny’ countries like Australia where solar panel installations have become immensely popular. In the UK, more homeowners and householders are opting for solar panels as well, and the fact that the cost of installing your own solar panel system has gone down tremendously in the last few years has contributed to its popularity. But if you are thinking of having a solar panel system installed, there are some major considerations you need to think about as well. For one, solar panel installations need to be done in the proper way and with the proper accreditation in order for you to take advantage of the government’s Feed-in Tariff programme. What else do you need to consider, then? Here’s a list of the essential factors you need to consider when installing solar panels in your home.
The investment:
Truth be told, having a solar panel installation isn’t a cheap affair. It is an investment, and it’s best you know this from the start. But the good news is that the cost of a typical solar panel installation has already gone down by as much as 50% compared to the cost of a system eight years ago. But here’s the thing: while it’s not cheap, you are guaranteed to recover your investment over time, especially since your energy bills are going to be lower and you can even earn extra money through the Feed-in Tariff scheme. With the scheme, whatever extra energy you have that you don’t use can be sold back to the grid, and you will receive payments from the government every quarter for this.
The supply of energy:
Your solar panel installation will still work quite well even if you are in the UK, with its inclement and unpredictable weather. Of course, the system will work best during the sunnier seasons, but it doesn’t mean that it won’t produce energy whilst it’s winter time or when it’s cloudy. But while it is still within reason for you to expect your system to generate energy, even on cloudy days, you can never really tell how much the system will produce. What you can expect, though, is that your energy bills will definitely be reduced – sometimes by as much as 40 to 50%.
Where to place them:
The placement of your solar panels is of utmost importance as well, so you also have to consider this, as confirmed by the specialists in solar in Manchester from Atlantic Renewables. Whilst your solar panels don’t require direct sunlight to work, they will have to be installed by a professional, preferably one who is accredited by the MCS (this is so you can get your Feed-in Tariff). The location of the solar panels matter, and so does the angle of placement. Make sure other buildings or structures or trees don’t overshadow your roof; but if this is the case, you have the option to install your solar panels on the ground as well.
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No matter whether you don’t include meat into your diet because of ethics or you just don’t tolerate it, you follow a vegetarian diet. It’s highly beneficial if handled properly – with enough protein, healthy fats, carbs, and vital vitamins. If all the rules are followed, you’ll gain at least 9 benefits.
Mood Improvement
A vegetarian diet is usually not rich with arachidonic acid, which is found in animal products. It was discovered that this acid and mood swings are deeply connected, so the less of it you include into your diet, the better your mood becomes.
Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis is a serious problem for many people, as it affects the skin, making it red and irritated. It was noticed that the symptoms of psoriasis improved greatly in people who gave up on meat.
Diabetes Symptoms Reduction
Most vegetarian diets improve the health condition of people who have been affected by diabetes. Moreover, this kind of diets reduces the possibility of being affected by the condition. Eating legumes, like black beans , will greatly help in this case.
Cataract Risk Reduction
There’s a strong connection between what you eat and different diseases, including cataracts. It was noticed that people who don’t include meat in their diet have a lower risk of being affected by the disease in old age.
Cholesterol Level Lowering
A vegetarian diet helps lower cholesterol levels, mostly because of the absence of saturated fats. However, it’s important to include unsaturated fats that are stored in nuts, seeds, and legumes. To be sure you eat organic sources of unsaturated fat, but them at organic shops like FoodToLive.com. You’ll find many products you need in your diet, along with detailed descriptions of the contents of each product. You won’t have troubles with cholesterol in case you eat organic sources of fats and vitamins.
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Vegetarians eat lots of products high in vitamins and antioxidants. It means their bodies are cleaner, and most diseases don’t affect them. Cardiovascular disease is one of those, so if you follow a vegetarian diet, you won’t get atherosclerosis and your heart will be healthier.
Obesity Prevention
Vegetarians not only eat better food, but they also choose it more thoroughly, which eliminates the possibility of binge eating. It most often leads to rapid weight gain and obesity. Besides, plant-based foods are usually low in calories and high in nutrients, which contributes to your slim and healthy body.
Read also: Tips to Lose Weight Naturally
Kidney Stones Prevention
Giving up on meat and switching to fresh plant-based foods will help you maintain a healthy urine pH. This is one of the main points of kidney stones prevention, as low pH leads to their formation.
Nutritional Norms Following
It was proved many times that a healthy vegetarian diet meets all nutritional requirements for any person of any age or way of life. Athletes get necessary proteins, infants get vital vitamins, and elderly get all nutrients necessary to support their bodies for longer.
If you still think that vegetarians have a poor diet and they are always hungry only because they excluded meat from their meals, consider this question once more after looking at all the benefits of a vegetarian diet!
References:
globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/9-health-benefits-of-a-vegetarian-diet/
If you decide to up your game in gardening by widening your space and growing more crops, plants, fruits, and veggies, it’s time to consider investing in a greenhouse. Nothing beats the convenience of harvesting organic ingredients and producing straight from your garden. Not only does this help you save money, but it also allows you to explore more variety of seedlings to grow.
Greenhouses are an excellent environment for fruits and vegetables to grow in their best state. Because of the safe enclosure, insects and external conditions cannot adversely affect their growth and condition. This safe haven ensures your plants' nourishment to reap the best quality of produce later on.
However, before installing a greenhouse, you should acquire more knowledge and learn helpful techniques. Here is everything you need to know before installing a greenhouse.
Type Of Greenhouse Design
In order to buy or build a greenhouse, you first need to figure out how much-growing space you will need and what type of greenhouse design is best for you. You will have to continue using the same greenhouse for many years, so choose a size that will provide ample space for all the crops you wish to grow and care for. Opt for a reliable greenhouse company that includes installation services.
Purchasing With Installation Included
Some greenhouse specialists like Swgreenhouses.co.uk will include installation with your purchase, which means you don't have to worry about installing it yourself in your own garden, which can save a lot of worries.
Upon choosing the company or provider, don’t forget to seek advice on what type of greenhouse would best fit your needs and preferences. Here are two types to consider:
Attached
A lean-to or attached greenhouse offers the advantage of not having to build all four walls. It can significantly reduce greenhouse construction or installation cost. Since the foundation is already within your house, the greenhouse will remain stable and sturdy. Many home gardeners choose this greenhouse option because it’s easier to construct and cost-effective. The ideal area in your home to install an attached greenhouse is to find a place with enough sunlight.
Freestanding
The other option you can choose is freestanding greenhouses. It is the best bet if you want to place your greenhouse in different locations within your home. While they may require a heftier initial investment, you can see how cost-effective they can be in the long run since you can grow more plants in them.
It also enhances your curb appeal as they become an extended sanctuary of your home. You can add decor or furniture and keep your greenhouse an additional space to entertain guests or spend time with the family. Because of their multiple purposes, freestanding greenhouses can be an excellent investment.
Consider The Plants You Want To Grow
Another important step before constructing or installing your greenhouse is deciding the kind of plants you’ll grow. This will help you determine the requirements for growing them and guide you in designing the greenhouse. If you don't know what kind of plants to grow in your greenhouse, you can't properly plan the proper temperature or lighting.
To care for your plants and vegetables, you have to factor in their sunlight and water requirement, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Choose plants that are matched to how your greenhouse can supply these elements. Also, note that you'll need to buy greenhouse tools, equipment, and accessories based on your chosen plants.
The good news is that you can grow any plant in your greenhouse. This is because the greenhouse's main benefit is that you can control all these necessary elements to keep your plants strong and healthy. But you will need to decide what types of species grow well together and keep your greenhouse successful and effective.
Whether you’re thinking of growing spiky plants that can be used to decorate houses or fruits and veggies that can be grown organically, the key is to be familiar with several plant species and their corresponding care requirements. After all, you'll be able to plan which plants can grow together if you have a broad understanding of the plants you're growing.
Choose Your Location
Choosing your location is important when deciding to invest in a greenhouse. If your greenhouse is near your home, you can visit and monitor it more often. However, if it’s a bit far, you might not be able to care for it frequently. Make sure it’s strategically located somewhere you or your family can easily access.
When choosing the best location, the general rule is to select a place where the sun shines much longer and more often. Thoroughly study and assess your residence, and see where the sun rises and sets daily. Consider these factors when deciding where to install your greenhouse. Find an area where your greenhouse will have protection against strong winds and frost pockets in case these instances occur.
Light, Water, And Ventilation
Finally, you have to ensure that your greenhouse will have convenient power sources, water, and air ventilation. This will enable you to install lighting and water fixtures easily. Your greenhouse must meet some requirements regardless of style, size, or construction method. Consider the aspects below:
Electricity
You can control temperature easier when you install fans within the greenhouse. Wire the outlets safely and securely, and acquire all permits when installing a greenhouse. Aside from using a commercial power supply, you can consider installing solar-powered panels to generate electricity for the lights necessary in the greenhouse.
Air Ventilation
Air ventilation can be increased through the use of indoor greenhouse fans. They help alleviate extreme temperatures and climates. Airflow prevents warm air from rising, whereas cold air gathers below near the plants without airflow. Install fans or roof vents to promote more ventilation.
Water
Your greenhouse must have water access. Many greenhouses use garden hoses that are attached to a nearby resource. However, you can also go for automated sprinkler systems, which can be scheduled or turned on manually without having to go through all plants one by one.
Conclusion
Your greenhouse investment will ultimately depend on you. You can do it yourself or hire professionals to install them successfully in your home. However, it’s crucial to know the details and aspects mentioned above to make your greenhouse construction project a breeze.
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The "fight" for a cleaner planet has been going on for a long time. People are trying to beat themselves because they and the things they use are the main polluters. Cars and everything that uses fossil fuels are among them, considering their emissions of exhaust gases into the atmosphere are huge.
At the global level, governments make efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, knowing these are the biggest polluters. That's why the desire to find alternative sources of energy from renewable sources has been present for a long time. While there are already certain options in use, as you can read here, new solutions are constantly coming up with improved performance and lower CO2 emissions.
Alternative fuels are essential for sustainable carbon-free energy supply and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. And while you're probably already familiar with their use, HVO (which stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) might be new to you. This low-carbon liquid fuel has gained attention lately because it seems like the long-awaited solution to pollution issues.
About The HVO Fuel
HVO implies using cooking oils and similar fatty waste as fuel. That's not an entirely new concept since the use of processed vegetable oils in diesel engines has been known for more than a century. Nevertheless, it's a new hype among eco-conscious consumers because it's plant-based and very clean. Its CO2 emission and the number of PM particles are almost 90% lower than diesel and kerosene, fossil fuels that are still widely used.
The base of HVO is vegetable oil, that is, used cooking oil, such as sunflower, peanut, grapeseed, etc. However, it can also be made of both food-grade and non-food-grade oils (like palm or soy), animal fat residues, and tall oil. In their original state, these liquids could not be used as fuels, so they undergo hydrotreatment. It serves to change their consistency and composition for use in standard diesel engines.
Hydrotreatment involves the use of hydrogen to eliminate oxygen from the oils. This treatment takes place at very high temperatures, and then glycerides, or fat components, are separated. That's a refining process that leaves this new fuel with minimal impurities, meaning that, during its combustion, there will be no harmful by-products and gases. That means less damage to the engine itself but also drastically less pollution.
The Use Of HVO
In general, HVO represents an alternative to fossil fuels, especially diesel, one of the major pollutants globally. So this new energy source can be used in all engines made for diesel. It means that its most common application will be in car engines. Still, it has found its purpose in off-road and agricultural machinery, boats, and generators. Some of the major truck makers have already made vehicles powered by HVO, as in this biodiesel-powered racing truck.
This new fuel from reputable manufacturers like SyntechBiofuel.com is equally usable in modern diesel engines as well as in older types that don't have electronic fuel injection. They will have almost the same performance in operation as if regular diesel was used, only with much less damage to the engine, the entire circuit, and the environment.
Alternative fuels also have a huge potential to become the primary energy source for heating systems. Oil and gas still dominate in this area, but more and more households and industrial facilities are turning to alternative solutions. For instance, heat pumps are a popular yet costly solution.
HVO can be an even better and more cost-effective option if you plan to go green, that is, to switch to it from standard heating systems that use oil or kerosene. This venture won't cost you extra money because there's no need for system modifications and add-ons, as would eventually be the case with heat pumps.
Benefits Of Switching To HVO Fuel
As said, using HVO cuts the emission of harmful gases by up to 90%, depending on what makes the base of this fuel. That results from clean combustion because there are no impurities and PM particles in this processed liquid. Moving on, it means that engines will utilize a higher percentage of fuel, so their consumption will be lower. Simply put, HVO is a cleaner and more economical solution than diesel.
This fuel is also sustainable, as it's made from waste (used cooking oil and animal fat). It also emits much less greenhouse gases than other fuels. As there's no carbon in HVO, there are no toxic and potentially carcinogenic combustion by-products.
Another advantage of using HVO in standard diesel engines is that there is no need for their upgrades. But if you plan to use it as a replacement for heating oil in oil-fired boilers, there might be some minimal changes to your existing system. In any case, this can bring significant savings to both individuals and companies that, for some reason, have relied on fossil fuels until now.
Because it doesn't contain oxygen molecules, HVO has a fairly long shelf life. So you can store it in specialized containers for up to 10 years without fear it will lose its properties and viscosity. For the same reason, HVO's freezing point is lower than that of ordinary diesel. Also, it won't harm the environment in case of accident spillage or leak.
How HVO Differ From FAME?
FAME is biodiesel, which isn't the same as HVO, although there are certain similarities. For starters, both are plant-based. But what makes a significant difference is how they're made. FAME utilizes esterification, which turns fatty molecules into esters and keeps oxygen molecules in it.
As explained, HVO is obtained by a refinery process that removes oxygen from fats, leaving them ester-free, clean, stable, and non-prone to oxidation. So, unlike FAME, hydrotreated vegetable oils can't spoil, thicken, or degrade during storage.
HVO is the fuel of the future, and there are many good reasons for that. It's a clean, non-toxic, sustainable, and economical alternative to diesel. It contributes to reducing the global carbon footprint, bringing no harm to the living world and the environment.
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