While wind power systems and other alternative sources of electricity are becoming popular, and even common, in many parts of the world, Canada has been utilizing this form of electricity for years. Wind sourced energy has become a natural part of business and residential energy systems in Canada for quite a while. If you are considering moving to Canada soon, or even doing business with a Canadian company, you should really learn more about the way Canada uses wind energy.

Canada has been very proactive in how it has been seeking to use the wealth of the natural resources it has. It knows it has to supplement the power generated by the more traditional methods of hydro power stations and fossil fueled power stations.

Using wind energy to power wind turbines to generate electricity is fantastic for the environment. With this as one of the major factors, the Canadian Wind Energy Association has made a strategy that will greatly increase the energy produced using the power of the wind to 55,000 MW by 2025. And the wind is a resource will not diminish and need to be replaced in the future.

Ontario was the first province to embrace the use of wind power, but Quebec and Alberta have now joined in and others are making good progress in this field. When this century began all of the provinces had done something about implementing a plan to move towards using renewable energy. They all know that they have to build wind farms, or some other method of sourcing alternate energy, as the traditional methods are running out of supplies.

There is only the province of British Columbia that does not currently have a way to source power from the elements. But they are now making progress and will catch up with other provinces soon. They have negotiated a deal to purchase 300 MW of electricity that has been generated by the use of wind farms. The future where all of the citizens of Canada can benefit from the generation of renewable energy is becoming a reality.

Even with all these plans in place and the building of wind farms flourishing, compared with traditional sources wind power is only responsible for a small amount of energy produced. The wind farms that are currently operating in the country are generating about 2300 MW but as the number of wind farms increases so will their output.

In the United States the border cities of Chicago and Detroit are also taking an interest in what is happening in Canada. They are giving a lot more thought to the use of renewable energies, including the wind, to power the large number of factories in their area. The benefits to their budgets and the environment would be incredible. Even if relying totally on wind power to fuel the cities is not practical, there is also the possibility of developing hybrid projects in order to lessen the drain on fossil fuels.

The benefits of utilizing wind powered green energy is not just for local governments and businesses, domestic users can benefit from this trend of using alternative energy sources as well (such as the Feed in Tarriff program). Residents can buy equipment to generate their own power from personal turbines. A small turbine will cost about $5000 and will generate something in the region of 25% of their energy requirement. If you have the room for something a bit larger then maybe you could get a turbine that can produce 50% of your energy needs, but only if you are prepared to pay $7000 for the privilege. Even an outlay of %600 will get you a machine that will produce 200 watts, ideal for that off-grid cabin in the woods.

It’s possible to run your business through more innovative ways by utilizing inventions like wind power and other alternative energy solutions that make your process more environmental and efficient!

When searching for the right generator for home use, it depends on what exactly you are wanting to do with it. Are you just looking for a small generator to power lights and a few small appliances?

In that case a small portable electric generator will do just fine.

For others it means a generator big enough to power their entire home.

What Size Generator is Best?

One of the best options, in my opinion, if you are looking to power your entire home, is to either purchase a bigger commercial size unit or build your own wind or solar generator according to what you need.

As a child growing up we did not have alectricity but we used a small generator to run things like washers, lights and small appliances and it worked just fine.

Be very careful, however, what size generator you plug something like a vacuum cleaner into.

You can blow a vacuum cleaner by plugging it into too small of a power source! I know – I did it.

When we needed to run bigger items we ran power into the house from a big noisy diesel generator unit we had outside that was powering our shop, and that thing was big enough to power ANYTHING and EVERYTHING we could ever dream of having in our home!

Building your own generator for home use.

You can find some really great guides on building your own solar and wind system that will power your home,too.

If you have access to a means of solar or wind energy or can build your own kit using either of those methods, that is by far the best option as far as long term re-usable energy…

Propane is another source of energy that will power many of your appliances and even your generator for home power.

Propane won’t evaporate as quickly as regular gas. So you can store enough to last for several years if you want to.

The amish have lived for generations without electricity and while they have used wind generators for centuries, most of their appliances are fueled by propane.

You can power anything and everything from lights and heating to washers and dryers with propane.

Small generators for emergency power.

If you are simply looking for a small back-up emergency generator, then a 1500 – 8000 watt generator is all you will need.

Just don’t forget that you will need to store fuel for it. Propane and diesel stores better than regular gas so keep that in mind when looking for a generator.

While we agree that stockpiling food and safe water, etc is the MAIN concern for our families, having a small generator for home use makes us feel better prepared and more ready for whatever may happen!

Before purchasing a generator for home use, you will want to visit Viola Bontrager’s site to research more Emergency Energy Options .

Homemade Energy is fast turning into the flavour of the day in energy conservation circles. Householders are becoming fed up with the problems associated with using traditional energy sources.Tired of rising costs, changes to the way we live and in extreme even being subjected to rationing, a lot of householders are looking toward the newest trend in energy production DIY Solar Energy Kits.

A number of companies are as we speak now manufacturing homemade energy handbooks, available via download over the net, which give you step-by-step instructions on how to assemble the items for your own DIY solar power kits. The instruction guides cost between $40 to $60 and the materials that make up the kit will come to a cost of approximately $200, much more affordable than buying and installing an off the shelf kit. (The costs may run into many thousands of dollars).

The instruction guides usually come as a instruction book as well as a video series that have easy to understand pictures, instructions and examples.

Having assembled and installed my own DIY Solar Power Kits, I can confirm that the process is an easy and painless task, and the outcome in terms of saving money are fantastic.

The freedom a DIY solar Power Kit, allows you to feel that you are no more dependent on the grid and their spiraling fees for your energy needs is a liberating one for sure. When was the last time you could leave a bedroom for an hour or so and leave the heater switched on with no concern for cost or the effect you are having on the environment? As solar power is renewable and doesnt cost anything you can allow yourself to be more liberal with your power consumption.

Most consumers use solar kits to supplement the energy company supply, this gives them the flexibility to avoid power outages (particularly useful for maintaining an internet connection) and particularly in times of heat waves and the power outages that come hand in hand, you are able to remain cool by being able to run fans as well as keep some air conditioning units running.

Jon Elsdon is a Solar Power Consultant and Environmentalist. Jon is editor of DIY Solar Power

The world’s nations are concerned about the potential end of fossil fuels and the effect this would have on their energy infrastructures. Equally of concern is the economy, both the global economy and the economies of the individual nations. There is broad agreement amongst them that these two concerns – green energy and economy – are intertwined. Amongst the nations looking for solutions is Canada.

The combined world investment in natural gas, nuclear and coal powered electricity in 2008 was still smaller than the total investment the world’s nations and multinational corporations and organizations made in renewable energy. In fact, initiatives in green energy solutions attract nearly 148 billion US dollars per year. The largest shares of this money will end up with those nations who invest in and create renewable energy technology and thus nations that commit to green energy will have the advantage in the world economy. Canada is adjacent to one of the world’s economic powerhouses, the United States, and if it decides not to bring in investments in renewable energy, the US will.

The United States Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 invests nearly fourteen times as much in renewable energy than Canada’s Federal Budget of that same year.

Another cause for concern and research and development in renewable energy is the need to reduce carbon emissions in order to halt or slow climate change. The International Energy Agency calculates that the nations of the Major Economies Forum need to spend three to six times more per year than they are currently if they wish to reach their goal of fifty percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2050.

Canada has stated that it favors research into the capture and storage of carbon emissions. The government also claims to be investing heavily into the necessary Research and Development toward that end. However, in comparison, the United States and Australia, both of whom have an ambivalent attitude toward the reality of global warming, still spend hundreds of millions of dollars more yearly than Canada.

Canada is already ahead of most nations in at least one area of renewable energy – hydroelectricity. The provinces of Labrador, Yukon, Manitoba and Quebec already get more than ninety percent of their power from hydroelectric dams. Nationwide, most of Canada’s electricity comes from these dams.

It is noted that Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies have strong potential for solar energy. Right now, little of Canada’s energy comes from solar power. However, there are solar-powered systems across the country set up for non-electric space and water heaters. By 2025, government studies demonstrate five percent of Canadian energy requirements will be filled by solar power.

Canada has many remote areas with small and spread-out populations and this makes providing electricity to them difficult. Since the standalone diesel fuel systems that had to be used to provide power in these places were so costly, energy providers in these regions began using standalone units powered by PV cells instead. When exposed to light, the semiconductors within the photovoltaic cell directly generate electricity. This has proven especially beneficial in the northern part of the country.

Currently 1.1 percent of Canada’s electricity is produced by ninety-nine wind farms. The Canadian Wind Energy Association states it could reach a capacity of 55,000 MW by 2025, meeting 20 percent of Canada’s needs.

Ontario is a demonstrative case of how new energy initiatives in Canada can enhance the economy. They recently passed the Green Energy and Green Economy Act of 2009. One of the provisions of the act is to offer low- or no-interest loans to homeowners in order to pay for the cost of using renewable alternative energy generators and to make their homes more energy efficient.

British Columbia is turning toward a green economy the creation of which has already produced 117,000 full time jobs and makes up over fifteen billion dollars of the province’s GDP. GLOBE Foundation of Canada has estimated British Columbia’s development of a renewable resource economy will make the province worth over twenty-seven billion dollars in ten years.

A great number of countries and markets are committing to a green market and economy. Canada demonstrates it has the resources and ability to do so as well.

Solar Power devices, green energy sources like the field of science is around every day. The children learn with fun optical equipment, telescopes and science lab equipment.

Self sufficient living is experiencing a resurgence of interest as many see pollution rising and natural resources being depleted. Many are also turning to this way of life as they consider the economic benefits of learning to live a more sustainable lifestyle. So what is self sufficient living anyway?

Self sufficient living means depending on sustainable resources to supply daily needs. This is in contrast to dependence upon utility and water companies. It also means we’ll learn to raise our own provisions and master the art of long term food storage. Many people even learn to make much of what they need for everyday life like soap, clothes, etc..

The fast pace of many people’s lives has caused them to reconsider their lifestyle and turn to a simpler, more self sufficient way of living as a better alternative. They see this as a more healthy way to live. Others are pursuing this in the interest of preparedness in light of increasing natural and man made disasters, as well as the looming threat of political unrest resulting from economic collapse.

Here are the major things to think about when considering the option of self sufficient living.

Power – There are several solutions available for helping people to develop alternative energy systems which are independent of the power grid. While many are satisfied with a generator and battery bank for power, this would be the least desirable as it still requires a dependence on fossil fuels. On the other hand, advances in solar power technology offer a better, more sustainable, and low maintenance alternative. It does require an up-front investment starting at around $10,000 for smaller systems, but this will of course pay back over time. Two other alternatives for generating your own electricity are wind and micro-hydro (water) systems.

Food – There has been increased interest in gardening in recent years as evidenced by an increase in garden seed sales. This is truly a part of self sufficient living that anyone can start right away. While there are many helpful books on the subject, this is one area in which it largely comes down to experience. Thus, the sooner you get started, the better. Even if you only have a small patio, you can start gardening in pots, even during winter months, you can grow some things in the house. The other aspect of food involves learning to preserve and store food. This is something that people used to be better at, but with the convenience of supermarkets, many do not consider just how fragile a family’s food supply can be. Natural disasters remind us of this when interruptions in transport result in shelves being emptied in only a matter of hours. Methods for food preservation and storage include canning, dehydrating, air vacuum sealing, and use of air tight storage containers.

Finally, everybody needs energy to live and for most of us that come in the form of electricity. There are various ways of generating your own power these days such as wind or solar. While many think that a simple gas generator is sufficient for a back up, keep in mind that such a system still requires fuel which might be hard to come by one of these days. Thus something more sustainable is preferable. A small solar power system can cost as much as $10,000 but it’s an investment that will pay for itself over time.

Homesteading – There’s no way around the fact that urban living is the least friendly to becoming more self sufficient. The topic of finding country property is one we’ll take up in another article, but keep in mind this can be done with the proper planning and persistence. For sure, rural living is the most ideal situation for becoming more independent.

In closing, if you’re interested in becoming more self sufficient, it is possible. It just requires a commitment in terms of time and energy to make it happen. Self sufficient living will position you and your family to be prepared to take care of yourselves and help others in a crisis. It’s really the best way to live.

Looking for the freedom of self sufficient living? Check out http://www.selfsufficientlivingblog.com, where you’ll find the resources and information you need to get started today.