Oftentimes, we associate renovation with our existing budgets, or on a larger scale, on the current economic state. However there may be some renovations for your home that you should not postpone. In fact a lot of home renovations when dealt early can actually help you spare some money in the long run. Renovate your home not only for aesthetics purposes but also to make your home eco-friendly. Here are some home renovation ideas:

1. Add a small extra padding for your attic. This will help reduce energy use and thus be more cost-effective in the long run. Proper insulation can slice heating and cooling bills by 10%.

2. Renovate your windows by upgrading old single-pane windows with Energy Star qualified windows. These window types can save you a lot when it comes to energy bills. Energy Star qualified windows normally more than a couple panes of glass, warm edge spacers between the window panes and better framing materials

3. Water heater is another of most home’s major energy expenditure. Not only that, it accounts a large chunk of the household’s monthly energy bill. It’s time to renovate your heater if your present one is more than 10 years old. Why? If your water heater is old, it is most probably working at a less effective rate, with an efficiency level of 50 per cent or lower. However, you can still spare some money by insulating the water heater with a water heater jacket. You can buy water heater jackets at most hardware stores or by lowering the temperature setting on the water heater.

There are many benefits in making energy saving renovations to your abode. These renovations can shrink your energy use and thus save you money in the long run. Energy-saving renovations can improve your indoor air quality, and your overall comfort level.

Find experienced and competent Singapore Renovation Contractor to perform your Home Renovation from our site!

Energy is no longer a commodity, it’s a necessity in today’s world. Today most of our work and life depends on electricity. Research has shown that in the next 15 to 20 years Asia will be consuming more energy than any other part f the world. This is gradually going to become a pressing issue unless it is addressed soon. Asians pay very high electricity bills as compared to those who live in the US or Canada. It’s time for Asia, especially countries like India to take a good look of where this is heading so that we have a solution before it gets to be a major problem. Currently products such as APFC try to address the problem of high power consumption. Let’s look at what APFC’s are along with what / who uses them currently in a bit more detail. APFC control panels and capacitors refer to automatic power factor control panels. These are used to improve the power factor(PF) of electric devices such as motors. APFC’s achieve this by switching the power through multiple capacitor banks.

Currently a variety of industries use APFC’s within their power supply infrastructure. Some of these industries are mentioned below: - Security Companies - Banks - Hospitals - Commercial Industries - Large Holiday Resorts - Information Technology Parks - Airports - Dockyards - And many others. To cater for such high and varied demands there are different types of suppliers that you can source APFC control Panels from. These range from - APFC Control Panel Manufacturers - Panel Builders - Integrators - Energy Services Companies Due to industries and businesses which operate 24 by 7 (also considering the entry of multi nationals within the country), these types of companies need to operate heavy electrical equipment on a continuous cycle. Naturally the demand for APFC Control Panels has increased dramatically. Currently large industries and businesses face electrical load fluctuations which result in wastage of energy. This energy load is created by large machinery, data centers, freezers, air conditioners, etc… These large electrical loads results in a lagging power factor which in turn wastes energy. Industry standards dictate that the Power Factor ideally should be maintained at Unity which is not something that businesses and industrial outlets can maintain. Historically the power factor has always been less than 1.

So what is a Power factor (PF)? Power factor in technical terms is defined as the ration of Power utilized (KW) along with the Power Drawn (KVA). In common terms when power is applied to any electrical motor, the power for the complete motor is not converted as power utilized (KW). Thus depending on how the induction of the motor is designed reactive power (KVA) is drawn which results in excessive use of KVA. To combat this KVA drawn, the inductive KVAR needs to be removed or nullified. This can only be achieved by introducing an opposite KVAR to obtain the right PF maintaining the system balance. Most Industrial and electrical motors consume KVARs . If the loads can be fixed loads then this can be overcome by manual switching of capacitors. This is usually not the case. That’s where APFC kicks in where-by it overcomes the drawback of the lagging power factor. APFC removes the requirement of manual intervention and maintains a high power factor. The principle of Power Factor (PF) is used in APFC is to supply KVARs via a capacitor there by reducing the power drawn from the supply line. Thus for an Industry with dynamically changing loads, APFC (Automatic Power Factor Compensation) provides the best return on investment, since the KVAR investment required is smaller when compared to a fixed capacitors.

The State Electricity Board (SEB’s) in India has insisted on maintaining an average Power Factor above a specified limit(0.85 - 0.90 PF). This goes to prove that electricity needs to be used efficiently without which penalties added on top of the standard electricity bill. If this is the case in India at the moment imagine what will be in store in the coming years for other countries who face similar energy issues and shortage. The big question that APFC manufacturers are asked is whether there are any problems or issues with their own model of APFC. The main issues that arise in any APFC are: - Improper Design - Improper Component Size when being built - Improper Installation - Wrong connections to the Automatic Relay - A narrow band-width - Discharge Resistor or choke coils burning out. - Time Delay Relays bypassed . - Improper ventilation - Leaks within capacitors

Due to these factors the APFC manufactured results in - Higher Maintenance and frequent visits for servicing - Poorer PF raises the kVA consumed A well designed APFC control panel will have the following, make sure when investing in one that you check if these features are provided - Rust Proof Steel Material is used to create the APFC Panels - Independent fuses are used for circuits - Harmonic current needs to be minimized - APFC contains Micro-Controller along with some digital computation - The capacitors are protected against any kind of damage such as High Voltage, Low Voltage

We hope the information provided was useful. It’s important to note that when dealing with APFC its best to speak to the manufacturer directly so that you are able to understand what is supported and what is not. If your requirements are of a smaller scale then the range of APFC’s to meet those needs will also be a bit different as compared to APFC that may be required for large industrial requirements. Either way make sure that some of the basics that have been discussed in the article are being covered in the information provided by the manufacture.

We are a Pune based APFC Control Panel Manufacturers. We specialize in International quality standard APFC Control Panels. Our internal procedures place great emphasis on nurturing proficient skilled professionals in manufacturing varied electrical panels.

With so many people starting to understand the benefits of going green, there is a sudden interest in wind power but not too many people really know what it is all about. Wind power is simply using wind to make energy like electricity by the use of wind turbines.

Even though wind power is a great source of unlimited clean energy, it is used to produce a mere 1.5% of the world’s electricity. With every year, though, it is becoming more widely used.

With the increasing awareness of the benefits offered by wind power and of course, the peril we place our very planet in by not switching to alternative energies, wind power becomes a more and more attractive energy source. Some countries have made more progress than others - for example, Denmark currently produces nearly a fifth of their electricity from wind power.[youtube:c62xOPaS0YA;[link:Windmill power generators];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62xOPaS0YA&feature=related]

Portugal and Spain have able eleven percent wind power usage. And it is seven percent in the Republic of Ireland and Germany. Even though it would seem like a natural transition being wind power has historically been used for pumping water, grinding grain and propelling sailing ships, it has only been until the recent years that it was being used for the production of energy that can be used as electricity.

It is true that some people say that wind farms are less than attractive - but given all of the benefits they have to offer, it’s easy to come to terms with the aesthetics of wind power. Wind power does not produce pollution and provides clean and renewable energy.

But does wind power really stop with producing electricity for our homes, businesses, and schools? The answer is no and that is because there is a chance that someday, our cars could actually run with the help of wind power. There was a super car designed in California that can drive at speeds of up to 155 miles per hour without using the typical fuel that we are all used to.

The car uses a battery (which is solar powered) to start, but once started it can run on the energy generated by the circulation of air through the car. It seems that wind power has even more uses than anyone thought. With the potential to power not only our homes but also our cars, it seems that there are no good arguments to be made against the use of wind power.

Of course, those who live near the wind farms may think otherwise. There are complaints that the wind farms bring with them a lot of noise that can disturb the local residents. Then again, there are those who state that these wind farms produce less noise then a herd of sheep.

It is all in the eyes, or ears, of the beholder apparently. But in the end, decisions will be made based on what is best for the environment of the planet, not what the local residents want to have views of.

Want to learn how to build a wind generator? It’s simple and you’ll be able to build a strong generator that doesn’t cost very much money. Learning how to build a home wind turbine can really reduce your power bill and help stop pollution, too.

Wind power is a great way to produce the electricity we need to power our homes and businesses without burning fossil fuels and polluting the air. The ways that we produce energy now are bad news for the environment as well as our health; so it’s imperative that all of us start looking at wind power as a safe and effective alternative.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of conserving nonrenewable resources and protecting the environment; and with it, an increasing interest in the use of wind power. Installing wind generators allows you to power your home without using as much (or in some cases, any) energy from fossil fuel burning power plants.

You can usually generate all of the power you need this way. However, you shouldn’t call the electric company to cut you off. It’s good to have a backup source of electricity for those times when your wind generators aren’t producing enough electricity to power your home all by themselves.

When you have windy conditions, you’ll usually generate more power than you can use though - and you can sell this unneeded energy to your utility company! While you’re not going to get rich doing this, it helps your wind generators to pay for themselves even quicker. You’ll also be supplying clean, renewable energy to other consumers; which should make you feel pretty good too.

If you’re concerned with protecting the environment, using wind power is a great step to take. There is an upfront cost, but over time, your wind generators will pay for themselves and then some in terms of low (or no) electricity bills.[youtube:vfCvu1sZAgY;[link:How to play guitar];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfCvu1sZAgY&feature=related]

Some states have programs to reimburse you for a lot of your expenses with the installation of the wind generators. Even if there are not any programs that you are able to get, the shear fact that your electric bill will decrease by a lot of money means that over time, the expense of installation will have paid for itself. After that, you are truly looking at free energy.

Many people also assume that the installation of such a set up is something that they cannot do on their own. And since general contractors can cost so much money people find that they shy away from the whole thing all together. This does not have to be the end of it all.

The thing is though, with a little bit of guidance and some typical tools, you could very well have yourself up and running with wind power in no time at all. There are a lot of websites out there that will take your through the entire process. By following a step-by-step instruction list, you will be able to properly install everything and be ready to go in no time at all.

Looking for something that’ll teach you to make your own residential wind power fast and cheaply? This is a great place to start. You can learn to build wind generators in your own backyard and save big money on your energy bill.

I caught up with Kris Ebb who is working in UK North Sea as a maintenance technician and mechanical engineer. I was interested in learning more about his career.

How long have you been working in the industry? I’ve been working as a mechanical engineer in the industry for the last five years.

How did you get into this line of work? Prior to working in the Offshore industry, I was in the Royal Navy as marine engineer for six years. After I left I simply transferred my skills to the offshore sector.

What does your current role involve? I’m presently employed by the lifting and handling contractor, Sparrows Offshore Ltd. Our company leases the heavy lift cranes to the oil firms operating in the North Sea. My role is to service and maintain the crane equipment to ensure it can remain in operation at all times. Our cranes can sometimes be in use 24 hours per day in range of harsh weather conditions, so it is essential they are frequently serviced and inspected. When I’m on the platform my duties include; inspecting hydraulic systems, checking splines on each motor, and running function tests on the crane and its components.

How long do you work on the offshore? Right now I work 154 days out of the year, with any one trip lasting no more than three consecutive weeks. Our company has crane equipment on lease in a number of locations both in the UK North Sea and in International waters, so my job means I move about quite a lot.

What do you aspects of your jobs do you enjoy most? I relish a challenging task, and the travel that’s involved. I also enjoy a flexible and varied lifestyle as well.

What would you say is your memorable memory in the North Sea? It would be really hard to pick one as I have a lot of good memories working in the North Sea! However I would say that I have had some fantastic experiences working alongside some highly skilled and unique individuals. The folk that you work with Offshore really make a huge difference to your day at work.

What advice would you offer to those pursuing a career Offshore? Getting their first start is not easy. It takes a great deal of persistence and determination. I would advise them not to be afraid to spend the money to get the all essential Survival and medical tickets. They should do as much research as they can, and develop their skills into a discipline that’s in demand. If they are hard working and professional their effort will be recognized and they will go a long way in the industry.

Thank you for the interview Kris, we wish you continued success with your career in the North Sea!

Looking for the perfect oil job? oil jobs

David Emery has been working in the North Sea as a Non-destructive rope access technician for a number of years. Jack Kane caught up with him to gain some insight into his career.

How long have you been working in the industry?

It’s been seven years since I started work as an NDT tech in the North Sea.

How did you get into this role/position?

I was offered a re-settlement package after I left the UK armed forces in 2001. I did some research and decided I would like to relocate to work in the North Sea. It was then I made the decision to train in Non-destructive testing and rope access.

What does your job as a N.D.T technician involve? Where are you based?

As an N.D.T technician my job involves testing the integrity of metals and welds with various types of equipment to ensure they remain structurally sound. I’m currently working in the Brent Field for a company called RBG Ltd which is sub-contracted to Shell UK. I’m part of an eight man team. Our current duties involve maintaining the inside of the columns which sit underneath the rig. We gain access to the columns by abseiling via rope. Safety is of paramount importance. The columns are a gas tight sealed area, this means we have to use full breathing apparatus as it is a hazardous area. Once inside the columns my responsibilities include checking the integrity of the structure with various types of testing methods and equipment, such as Ultrasonic testing and Magnetic particle inspection. Other members of the team repair and clean it. Our overall goal is to ensure that this particular part of the rig remains fully functional for the next ten to fifteen years.

What did the training involve, where did you train?

I trained at a company called Talon in Aberdeen, Scotland; The training which lasted for four weeks qualified me in a range of testing methods such as magnetic particle inspection, Dye-penetration, and Ultrasonic. I am now trained to Level 3 standard and am often re-assessed to maintain my qualification.

Was the training difficult?

Anything you learn which is new is always going to be difficult to start with, and certain parts of the course do require a considerable amount of study and practice. Once you get into a routine way of doing things, your confidence grows, and with time and repetition it eventually becomes second nature.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The people. I enjoy working as part of a team and the satisfaction form a well done job. As I come from an army background I really working with people as they make such a difference to your every working day. I find the majority of people employed in the UK North Sea are a pleasure to work with.

What is your favorite memory working in the North Sea?

There is one memory which stands out in particular when I was working in the southern sector of the North Sea inspecting the unmanned satellite rigs. We were dropped of by helicopter and left alone for six hours to inspect the rig. It was life changing experience feeling so remote and isolated on such a small structure in the vastness of the ocean. It was a glorious sunny day and a time in my life I will never forget.

What advice would you give for people considering a career in the industry?

My advice would be to do as much research on the path they are interested in following before they commit to training. The training is expensive so I would urge them to make sure they not only have the money put aside for the training but also to have enough money to cover them for six months after, until they gain employment. The oil companies just now are keen on hiring people with experience, and there are a lot more qualified workers than there used to be. This means they can pick and choose who they want just now. I would also urge them to be as prepared as possible, and to persevere until they get their foot in the door with their first job. From my experience I found it worked better not to hassle the companies but to be polite and make them aware you are available and willing to work. It always helps if you get on first name terms with the person that’s in charge of recruitment. If you persevere, and are professional and courteous on the phone eventually you’ll get a call back.

Looking for the perfect oil job?

categories: oil careers,offshore,engineering,Energy,Recruitment

Life everyday in the house can be full of struggles for some especially with all of the economic issues going around. Normal people generally have tons of bills to pay which is why they need to work so hard to afford them all and make sure that they don’t have any increasing debts to pay off.

Some of your monthly bills can’t really be adjusted. Your phone bill, your internet access and of course housing are usually not elastic. There are areas where you can cut costs, but these are not generally among them.

One of the important utility bills that most people fail to lessen are the electric bills. Even if you spend additional time unplugging unused devices to save electricity or force yourself to switch of the lights when you don’t need them, you can still get tired with the efforts that need to be done. It also becomes tough to follow if you live with other people who may not be as interested to conserve electricity.[youtube:qH4AMThBcgg;[link:Easy blues guitar lessons];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH4AMThBcgg&feature=related]

Using as much electricity as you need is actually okay as long as you are using not using your primary paid electricity source because that is what makes your electric bill high. By using alternative and renewable energy sources you can freely use the electricity that you need without paying any additional fees after you have the right equipment.

Solar and wind are the most popular alternative energy technologies. You probably know the basics about solar power already. It’s a great non-polluting energy source. Wind power is something you’ve probably not really considered for your home, thinking you’d need a huge wind farm in order to get the electrical power your home needs.

In fact, all you really need is a few small wind turbines which you can install on your roof. The materials you’ll need can easily be acquired online or at your local scrap yard at a low cost.

If you live in an area which tends to get strong, steady winds, you may be able to generate the bulk of your own electricity! The more turbines you have the more power you’ll produce and the less you’ll have to pay your utility company for each month.

Wind turbines generate electricity using its electrical generator and rotors the same way solar panels produce electricity using multiple solar panels. However wind turbines can continue to work even at night allowing you to store greater amounts of energy if the wind is good.

Wind turbines may not work for every homeowner, but even those with a rooftop to mount their turbines on in a densely populated urban area will find these turbines to produce a significant savings on their electricity bills. Wind power can be put into use at a low cost and with relative ease, allowing users to have access to all of the electrical energy they need, even on a tight budget.

Learn how to build some diy wind power for your own house and save cash on your electric bill. Building your own wind power generators may save you hundreds on the cost of buying one at the store as well and still make lots of power.

If you are looking to reduce your power bill or get off the grid completely, residential wind power is currently the simplest and cheapest way to do it.

A problem with wind power right now is that it is fairly expensive (though not as expensive as solar). If you were to go out and buy a wind turbine, you’ll find that they might cost you $2000 to $6000 dollars.

But not if you do it yourself. And with the right engineered manual, you can make a professional looking and powerful wind turbine for a fraction of the price of retail turbines. You can make a working turbine for around 200-300$ quite easily. Turbines aren’t actually that complicated.

What will you need to make your own wind generator?

You’ll need a work area, good blueprints, basic tools and four to seven days.[youtube:c62xOPaS0YA;[link:Windmill power generators];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62xOPaS0YA&feature=related]

What are the parts of a wind generator?

There are four main parts - the blades and hub, the body and DC motor, the tail and the tower. It takes the longest to build the blades and the hub of the system, though it is still fairly simple.

You will have to order the motor for the wind generator. Your plans will tell you where to get the motor, what size you need and all the technical stuff you need to know to be sure you get what you need. It is the most important part as it is what converts the wind power into electric to power your home.

For the body it is best to use double walled stainless steel like that from a chimney pipe or wood stove. It is very cheap and easy to get and will last a long time.

The tail is simple and can be made from wood or plastic. You’ll need it so that the turbine is always pointing in the direction of the wind.

You can buy or build your own tower. The best thing to do is find an old TV tower and recycle it for you wind generator tower. Many people will even pay you to take them down and get them out of their way.

These are some of the basics of building a wind turbine (and believe me, it doesn’t get much more complicated). All you need now is a manual to get you started saving money and the environment.

Fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources cannot last forever. We are simply running out of them, and prices are skyrocketing. We need to change the way we use energy and the way we generate energy in order to make sure our lifestyle remains sustainable over the long-term.

There are some people who have already started thinking this way. New scientific breakthroughs in renewable energy are allowing us to create sustainable energy at lower and lower costs.

With good blueprints, even homeowners inexperienced in engineering or construction can create their own renewable energy sources, such as wind power generators.[youtube:UQWf_-OEHOw;[link:DIY wind power generators];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWf_-OEHOw&feature=related]

Homemade wind turbines can currently generate enough power to reduce the average household’s monthly energy bill by as much as 70% per windmill. With inexpensive plans they can also be built for as little as $200 using some recycled parts.

A basic tool set (hammer, saw, screwdriver…) and parts from any general hardware store is all that is needed. You can estimate the amount of power a generator can create using the following formula:

Power(Watts) = (Wind Speed)^3 * (Blade Diameter)^2 * 0.00478

The speed of the wind makes the most difference, because it’s value is to the power of 3 in the formula. An example calculation for a wind power generator using a good wind speed (10mph) and blade diameter (8ft):

W = (10*10*10) * (8*8) * 0.00478 = 305 watts/hour - x 24 hours and you can calculate 7.3 kWh generated per day by a wind power generator.

If you have an average home, you probably use about 12-20 kWh of power every day. Even if you don’t have great wind speed in your area, an initial investment of about $200 to build a wind turbine is small compared to the savings you will get in free electricity for your house. Wind power generators are very good investments, indeed.

Traditional energy sources are on their way out. Fossil fuel costs are shooting up because we are running low on them, so we need to prepare for the future. We need to change the way we think about how we get our energy and how much we are using to change our lifestyles into sustainable lifestyles.

There are some people who have already started thinking this way. New scientific breakthroughs in renewable energy are allowing us to create sustainable energy at lower and lower costs.

With the right plans, even homeowners who currently don’t know a thing about producing their own energy can make energy by installing their own renewable energy sources, like wind power generators.[youtube:UQWf_-OEHOw;[link:DIY wind power generators];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWf_-OEHOw&feature=related]

Wind turbines can be made to reduce the average home’s electricity bill by as much as 70%. They can be built, using economical plans, for as little as $200 using pre-used parts. The most expensive part might be a DC motor which can cost as little as $30.

A basic tool set (hammer, saw, screwdriver…) and parts from any general hardware store is all that is needed. You can estimate the amount of power a generator can create using the following formula:

Power(Watts) = (Wind Speed)^3 * (Blade Diameter)^2 * 0.00478

The speed of the wind makes the most difference because its value is cubed, then the blade diameter because its value is squared. Example calculation using a decent wind speed of 10mph and an 8 ft blade diameter:

W = (10*10*10) * (8*8) * 0.00478 = 305 watts/hour - x 24 hours and you can calculate 7.3 kWh generated per day by a wind power generator.

If you have an average home, you probably use about 12-20 kWh of power every day. Even if you don’t have great wind speed in your area, an initial investment of about $200 to build a wind turbine is small compared to the savings you will get in free electricity for your house. Wind power generators are very good investments, indeed.