Northern Tool + Equipment Communities were created to allow users to submit photos and stories of what they are passionate about.

The communities consist of:

The Power of Alternative Thinking:
Photos of alternative energy products, projects or processes that are helping to minimize the carbon footprint in their area.

Show Off Your Ride:
Photos of modified, tricked-out and supped up rides including: cars, motorcycles, trucks, watercraft, unique vehicles and more.

Your Tools + Equipment On Display:
Photos of Northern products in action, installed or simply on display.

So we all know by now that the Department of Energy is going to be installing an absolutely massive Solar Wall on their headquarters in Washington D.C..  What some of you might not know, however, is that there are other buildings all over the world that use solar walls as we speak as a great way to cut down on power consumption, and in the process, eliminate a great deal of greenhouse gases.

I just found a pretty awesome little video to end your fantastic week this fine Friday with.  This video is of the “SolarWall, solar air heating system provided by Conserval Engineering” in Manitoba, Canada.  While it’s nowhere near as fancy, as cosmetically beautiful or as large as its soon to be built cousin in Washington D.C., the fact remains it IS a Solar Wall, and it IS doing the exact same things.  The point is, anyone, anywhere can start implementing solar technology into their lives, you don’t have to have the budget of the Government, or the design skills of a New York City Architecture Firm, you just have to fine the right products, and the right people to help you do it.

So, check out the video, then I highly suggest you head over to Northern Tool and check out our amazing line of Solar Energy products.  This is the year to turn things around, and what better way to start than cutting down your home energy costs AND saving the environment at the same time.  Start now!

Just a very quick note to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas this beautiful December 25th!  Thank you for being such great, loyal and entertaining readers, thank you for going green whenever you can, and thank you for visiting our blog!

Take today to have a wonderful and Merry Christmas with your families, loved ones, friends and pets!  In Short, from all of us at Northern Tool, to all of you…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Image by Sarah Parrott via Flickr

Wow, it is already Christmas Eve.  Not going to lie, I have no idea how we got from August to Christmas Eve without me having really any idea.  Time truly flies, whether you’re having fun or not!  That said, today is officially the LAST shopping day before the big C-Day, so I’d advise you leave wherever you’re working and get your final gift purchases locked up!

One favor, call it my gift this year, make sure those last-minute gifts are all good and green, can you?  It’s not as hard as you think it would be, I promise!  I just found a great post that had some seriously awesome gift ideas that are both green, and last-minute worthy!  Without further ado, here, according to the Discovery Channel, are some great green gift ideas:

• “At Gaiam, today’s the last day for a free upgrade to FedEx 2-Day shipping-plus 15% off orders of more than $75. Keep your friends and family warm and cozy with organic cotton blankets, fleece robes, and vegan slippers, or shop the rest of the site for gifts for men, women, baby, and home.”
• “Satisfy the pet lover in your life with gifts from Olive, like Pawz dog boots, polka-dotted collars, cotton pet sweaters, and whimsical cat bowls. The site offers two-day shipping and-for the truly last-minute-electronic gift cards delivered right to your recipient.”
• “Go the Fair Trade route with a gift certificate to Global Exchange. It arrives electronically just a few minutes after you order it (so it’s perfect for giving to unexpected Christmas Day guests); recipients can choose from a wide variety of Fair Trade items, including hand-beaded bangle bracelets, glass bead necklaces, and woven earrings.”

If none of those work, I actually have the PERFECT gift…Northern Tool is having an amazing Last Chance Christmas Sale with some items up to 50% off.  50% off, I’m sure you could find quite a few things worth snagging, now couldn’t you!

P.S.  Don’t forget the Milk & Cookies tonight!

Image by Sarah Parrott via Flickr

Happy Wednesday, we’re almost there!  If you’ve ever read this blog you know, we ADORE solar power.  Solar powered cars, houses, heck, anything that uses the power of the sun to run makes us happy and its why we at Northern Tool are trying hard to supply all of YOU with solar powered products.  When we find great news about solar power, therefore, it makes our whole week.  It’s only Wednesday, but consider our week made.

Why?  Simple, the world’s LARGEST solar panel manufacturing plant is about to be built.  Granted, it’s being built in Dubai, which is unfortunate as it then requires a great deal of energy to actually transport all of those beautiful solar panels, but nevertheless, it is being built.  The fact that it’s being built means there is quite obviously a demand.  According to reports, “Construction is to start in November, and is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2010. The roughly 93 000 square meter manufacturing plant, Solar Technologies FZE, will be able to produce solar panels of up to 5.7 square meters.”  Yes!

The company behind the operation hopes that a plant of this size will help not only produce more solar panels, but reduce the costs as well, hopefully getting the technology into a great deal more hands, a great deal sooner. The best news of all is, you don’t have to wait to dive head first into solar technology.  Head over to Northern Tool and start doing some solar shopping!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Just yesterday, I talked a great deal about Passive Solar energy and how you could, with very little time, very little money and very little effort, heat your garage a whopping 10+ degrees this winter using nothing but passive solar energy.  All this talk of it, but what IS it?  What it is REALLY?

Thanks to YouTube, and Modern Technology, I found an extremely interesting, and extremely fact-filled video tutorial that explains the in’s, out’s and all around’s of Passive Solar Energy.  I personally had no idea just how intense, how effective, and how, well, FREE passive solar energy is.  Bottom line, if you’re looking for a DIY project that can literally change your life, this might be the place to start before you jump headfirst into solar panels, solar conversion kits and outfitting your home with the help of Northern Tool.

Check out the video, then enjoy your amazing weekend!

Image by westbywest via Flickr

So we’ve gone over how to harness the power of the Sun, we’ve jumped right into how to reap the benefits of a blustery day, and both of these will help you save not only money in your wallet, but the environment too.  Now, you’re probably wondering, how the heck do I save some money in the wake of gas prices that never seem to stop rising?  I’m glad you asked, for I just found an amazing buyer’s guide that will accompany the Solar and Wind Energy Buyer’s Guides that we previously discussed and posted on this blog.

So first and foremost, we’re going to cover the basics of biodiesel, what it is, where it comes from, and finally what you need to start using it in your own life.  Without further ado, here is Part 1 of the Biodiesel Buyer’s Guide!

“What is Biodiesel Fuel?

Derived from natural oils, Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines. It is registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is legal for use in any concentration with petroleum-based diesel fuel, for the operation of both highway and non-road diesel vehicles.

Contrary to popular belief, Biodiesel is not simply raw vegetable oil, but motor fuel made from any vegetable oil (such as soybean oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or recycled cooking oils) or animal fats, by means of a chemical process which removes the glycerin from the oil. The refining process, called “esterification”, employs an industrial alcohol (ethanol or methanol) and a catalyst (a substance which enables a chemical reaction) to convert the oil into a fatty-acid methyl ester fuel.

Biodiesel is a fuel for any diesel engine. It is made from natural oils rather than petroleum. Biodiesel performs similarly to regular diesel fuel and can be used with no modifications to the diesel engine or the vehicle. Biodiesel offers huge advantages, but like any fuel has some limitations. It is affected by cold weather to a greater extent than diesel fuel and typically delivers 2 to 3 percent lower fuel mileage.

Bottom Line: If It Runs On Diesel, It Will Run On BioDiesel.“

I think the bottom line mentioned up there is something that everyone, everywhere needs to remember.  If it runs on diesel, it will run on biodiesel, it’s as simple as that.  Actually getting it to the point where it’s a useable power source takes a bit of work, but it is do-able, and it is extremely simple once you get the hang of it.  Now that you know WHAT it is, tomorrow we’ll cover the advantages it has over using conventional gasoline, or petrol.  Trust me, once that topic is breached, you’ll be head over heels in love with the idea of biodiesel.

Ahh, the finale of our grand Wind Energy Buyer’s Guide.  Northern Tool put together a completely rad guide to just why you should do all you can to make wind energy a staple in Your life.  I don’t know about you, but I’m completely, 100% sold.  Now, to get my hands on some wind energy products!

That said, just as we did with the Solar Energy Buyer’s Guide, you know just about everything you need to know about Wind Energy, except for what you’re actually going to need to run your home with wind power.  That’s right, you’ve covered the when, the how, the why, and now, finally, we’ll get to the What.

So, without further ado, to let you get started, here is what you will need to start powering YOUR home:

What will I need to generate my own wind power system?

Whether you’re installing a stand-alone system or a hybrid system for your home, or connecting a system to a grid (an electricity transmission and distribution system) you will need quality equipment.

* Wind turbine—The wind turbine is the core of your system. Your energy needs will determine the annual energy output you’ll require and the size of your turbine. Using this information, wind turbine manufacturers and retailers can help you decide which wind turbine is for you, while also factoring in local wind speeds and your specific energy budget.
* Tower—Though you can choose either a self-supporting (free standing) or guyed tower for mounting your wind turbine, most home wind power systems use the second option. Guyed towers can be hinged at the base, making it easier to lower to the ground for repairs and maintenance, or to avoid damage during hazardous weather. Towers should be installed high enough so that the bottom of the rotor blade is at least 30 feet (9 meters) above any obstacle that is within 300 feet (90 meters) of the tower.
* Batteries—For a stand-alone system, you will need batteries to store excess power for use when the wind is calm. Deep-cycle batteries are preferable, because they can discharge and recharge many times.
* Controller—A charge controller will prevent batteries from overcharging, thus extending battery life and performance.
* Power Inverter—The power inverter converts the low voltage DC to the 120 volts AC. For a stand-alone system, unless you plan on using battery power exclusively, you’ll need a power inverter. If your system is grid connected, this is the only additional equipment you’ll need.
* Hybrid System—If you live in an area where wind speeds are low, a hybrid system (combining wind power with solar power or fuel generators) may prove most effective. In this case, you’ll need to add a generator and controllers that can automatically operate the system.

So there you have it!  Now all that is left, is to head over and stock up from Northern Tool on all your wind energy needs.  They have what you need, so lets go!

Welcome back and happy Wednesday.  No worries, you’re almost there and the weekend is in sight.  Today we’re going to hit you up with Part 3 of the Wind Energy Buyer’s Guide…The Benefits of Wind Energy.  Parts 1 and 2 were all about the how’s, then where’s and the origins; today we are going to cover the most important thing to you and your pocket book:  The WHY.

That’s right, we are fine learning about the how’s and the when’s and the where’s, but if we’re honest, the real reason we’re doing this is to help our planet, and help our wallet.  The good news is, implementing wind energy into your life will do both of those things brilliantly.  So, without further ado, here are some amazing benefits of actually using the wind that we so often complain about:

What are the benefits of wind power?

* Affordable—Wind power is one of the most cost-effective energy resources available, costing just 4-6 cents per kilowatt hour. Additionally, wind power can help homeowners reduce or even eliminate utility bills entirely.
* Renewable—Unlike fossil fuels, the wind is free and its supply can never be depleted, nor is it exclusive to any one region of the world, so it’s not subject to shortages, embargos, or price increases. It is a completely renewable form of solar energy created by the sun heating the atmosphere in combination with the earth’s rotation and surface irregularities.
* Eco-friendly—Wind power is a clean resource, creating no waste and no green house gases. What’s more, the more wind power used, the less fossil fuels will be consumed, keeping toxic byproducts created by those fuels from entering the atmosphere.
* Economically stimulating—Because the best sites for erecting wind farms are in rural areas, wind turbines can benefit local economies. Unlike drilling or mining, the land surrounding a wind farm can still be used for agricultural purposes, allowing farmers to lease land to utility companies while continuing to farm their land.
* Tax Incentives and Rebates—If connected to a grid, wind power system owners may be eligible for a tax credit for the electricity sold back to the utility company. In addition, some states offer rebates or other incentives to help offset the cost of purchasing and installing wind systems. For more information go to Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (http://www.dsireusa.org/)

We’ll wrap things up tomorrow with Part 4 and final of our Wind Energy Buyer’s Guide! I hope this has been as inspirational as it has been informative!  Stay tuned!

So, you’re well versed on where harnessing the power of the blustery wind actually comes from, now you just need a bit more information on what different types of turbines there are that actually do the harnessing.  From the most ancient to the most recent, wind turbines have a long history and today we’re going to cover the “who’s who” of wind turbines.

It is no secret that wind energy is the number one fastest growing energy source in the whole world.  It is clean, it is renewable, it is readily available almost everywhere and it is not too difficult to actually capture and use.  What could be better?

So you know where it comes from, now you want to know how to capture it and what to use to actually do the capturing.  The age old question, are there different types of turbines?

Are there different types of wind turbines?

There are several types of wind turbines:

* Vertical-axis wind turbine—The main rotor shaft is arranged vertically, enabling the turbine to capture the energy of the wind without pointing directly into it. This works to the advantage of those who live in areas where the wind direction constantly fluctuates.
* Horizontal-axis wind turbine—These turbines have two to three blades and operate by facing the unit into the wind. An attached wind vane measures wind direction, enabling the turbine to best position itself to capture the wind.

Wind turbines are also available in several different sizes:

* Single, small turbines—These units are meant for individual use for homes, telecommunications dishes, water pumping or in remote areas where a grid connection is lacking. They can be coupled with batteries, solar power systems, or fuel systems to create a hybrid system.
* Utility-scale turbines—Typically, these large units (from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts) are combined with other large units to form a wind farm, providing bulk power to the electrical grid.

So while you might not be quite ready for the utility-scale turbines forming a giant wind farm, you’d be shocked, amazed, and pleasantly surprised by how much energy you can actually cultivate with just a small turbine or two placed strategically.  Again, combining the energy you store from the sun, with the energy you harness from the wind, the sky is the limit!