admin answers:

Sun heats the surface of the earth unevenly.

Uneven heating give rise to large scale winds.

Wind turbines are strategically placed to capture as much wind power as they can.

The wind blows on propellers that are attached to the shafts of electric generators.

So the heat of the sun is converted into wind energy, then that wind energy is converted into the rotational motion of the shaft which is ultimately converted into electricity (and heat).

admin answers:

You can use a bicycle wheel, with blades mounted, to drive a bicycle generator. Fashion blades by cutting large diameter PVC tubing lengthwise (splitting it) on a taper so the blade is thinner at the tip. You can make two blades from one piece of tubing if you cut it properly. You can mount them to the spokes, between the hub and rim.

I haven’t seen these bicycle generators around for a while, but I assume they’re still available, with a small knurled wheel that drives from the rim of the wheel. The generators have very good output at low rpm, so they are ideal.

admin answers:

Solar cells or wind powered turbines, but initial cost is horrendous.

However, in the UK at the moment there are Government backed schemes for these Green Energy sources where you can actually put power back into the National Grid, when you are not using it, or generating an excess for your own usage and get paid for it. Again initial costs are mind blowing.

admin answers:

Where I live there is a five star rating on all new housing so people have to install either solar or a rainwater tank. In europe there is even a 10 star rating system. As we are in a long term drought our water use is limited and many people use a grey water system for flushing their toilets and watering their garden. Solar passive design of a house can go a long way to reducing its energy needs and requires being smart rather than costing a lot. The retrofitting of existing housing stock is expensive but there are many simple inexpensive things you can do like switching off lights and unused appliances at the socket, install a reduced flow shower head and a dual flush toilet. Check the energy use of appliances before you buy them. If you’re cold put on a jumper before you crank up the heating. If a room is always hot grow a tree or vines outside to cut out the sun. Buy second hand and choose items without packaging and that are produced locally. It’s about your behaviour as much as the buildings you live in.

admin answers:

Technicians go to trade school. Designers and planners need a BS in Engineering.

admin answers:

Mostly mechanical engineers, but electrical engineers for the generators, structural engineers for the structure.

Most things are designed by teams that cover multiple fields.

Edit: correction: technicians and workers make the wind turbines, engineers design them.