Joining The Debate on Solar Panels Are They Really Worth It

Joining The Debate on Solar Panels Are They Really Worth It

Solar power has been around for decades, but it has failed to become widely popular. This will change as energy prices continue to rise and oil reserves dwindle. Purchasing solar panels is a big decision that should be made appropriately. The first step is to weigh the pros and cons of this important investment.Before any decision is made, those looking to purchase a solar power system must consider the area they live in. Some local governments charge fees or taxes for the use of large equipment. Also, cities and towns have zoning laws that may require inspection of the property in question. This is to insure that installation can be conducted safely.The greatest advantage that solar power provides is cheap running costs. Most solar panels are guaranteed to last for 40 years, which is longer than any loan will take to pay off. After the initial investment, electricity is virtually free. On top of that, since there are no moving parts, very little maintenance is required. Cleaning the panels annually is all that is needed.Incentives are another great reason to invest in solar power. Many energy companies offer credit for electricity that is sold back to them. Also, most governments give tax breaks to those who use renewable energy or buy energy-efficient appliances.Another reason to go with solar power is for the independence it provides. There is no need to worry about power lines falling down, transformers blowing up, or blackouts. People who make the switch will also help reduce the worlds' dependence on non-renewable oil.The last advantage is for the planet. Solar power doesn't pollute or emit greenhouse gases, so it doesn't contribute to global warming. It's clean, efficient, quiet, and renewable. What more could Mother Nature ask for?The biggest drawback to solar panels is the upfront cost and installation. Depending on energy needs, prices can shoot up very fast. Households consume anywhere between 800 to 1500 kilowatts per month. The initial outlay in cost is well into the several thousands in pounds, euros or dollars and unless people are routed to their property they may never see the cost be outweighed by free electricity. Another issue is the large footprint panels need to generate enough electricity to power a house. This creates a problem for people who live on small areas of land.Mother Nature can create a disadvantage in the efficiency of solar energy. Night-time, snow, rain, and clouds are all variables that can hinder power generation. This can be helped by having a battery to store energy for future use. However, persistent bad weather will cause stored energy to run out. Purchasing a battery and inverter can potentially raise the cost of the entire system by thousands of pounds as well.Deciding on solar energy is very hard. It can be expensive, but financial incentives can help reduce the high price. Batteries will provide protection from power outages and inclement weather. Electric bills will be a thing of the past, and it's healthy for the environment. To the point, solar power is a long-term solution where the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Is passive solar energy the right choice for your home What you need to know

Is passive solar energy the right choice for your home What you need to know

Many people like the idea of using solar energy to help reduce their home’s energy use. They tend to focus more on active solar systems when they think about how solar energy can help them make their home more eco friendly. Regardless of whether they are used to power a home or to heat water for heating systems, solar energy tends to equal solar panels for many people. There is another form of solar energy that you can use in your home. It is passive solar energy. Instead of using solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, passive solar systems allow the sun to heat a home and provide lighting. If you are interested in finding out more about passive solar systems here is what you need to know. How to utilize passive solar energy Utilizing passive solar energy is quite simple. All you need to do is to install windows that are south facing in your home. This will allow the maximum amount of light into your home and will also allow the solar energy to heat the interior of your home as well. This is the basic principal of passive solar energy. The key is to use energy efficient windows that will not let heated air escape as quickly from your home.

Changes to your home may be needed Some changes to your home may be necessary and some may be expensive. If you have a home that does not face south you may need to see if any of your windows do. If not you have the choice of either installing windows in the southern walls or working with a different type of energy efficient heating system. You may want to ensure that your home has a sufficient amount of insulation so that it can retain heat as efficiently as possible. By doing so you can ensure that you are using the least amount of energy possible to keep your home heated. You also may want to check out the pricing on solar hot water heating panels. These can be quite affordable especially if you use a panel that has been reconditioned or put together from other existing pieces of solar paneling. Another alternative is to use a heat pump in order to warm your home. This draws some of the heat that is naturally present in the soil and uses it to heat a home. It can be used in conjunction with other heating systems in order to keep a home warm without a massive ecological cost.

Is Now The Perfect Time For Solar Panels

Is Now The Perfect Time For Solar Panels

If you live in Massachusetts, the answer is a convincing yes!As a result of the variety of incentives at both the state and federal level for solar panels, there has never been a better time to go green with solar energy. Nearly all residential solutions have the ability to pay for themselves in less than five years.The sticker price for a five kilowatt solar panel set up is around $25,000. This system is going to generate just about 6,000 kWh of power annually here in Massachusetts and supply over sixty percent of the normal residential household's electricity requirements.There is a Commonwealth Rebate that will deduct $2,000 off the top of the price. Moreover, for those who reside in a modest residence or have a moderate salary, you most likely will be given another $2,000 off. Or in case you were unfortunate enough to have your residence damaged during last year's tornadoes, you will be given an additional five thousand dollars reduction.You will also be given both federal and Massachusetts state tax credits. Currently the IRS tax credit sits at a massive 30% while the state credit is good for $1,000. Following the rebates together with the tax credits, you will be able to invest in a 5 kW solar panel array for $16,000, even less should you receive the moderate income or moderate home value adders.A system of that size in Massachusetts should provide an average of somewhere around $80 worth of electricity monthly to get a yearly savings of $1,000.But the best long-term profits come from selling your system's SRECs. One megawatt hour (1,000 kWh) is worth 1 SREC and a 5 kilowatt solar panel array should probably yield nearly 6,000 kWh yearly. Since the state has compelled the utility companies to generate an explicit percentage of their electricity using renewable techniques, they will be compelled to provide you with around $400 for every one of those six SRECs so they can say that you are producing electrical energy on their behalf. Thus that's another $2,400 in tax-free revenue straight into your bank account annually.Now you can understand how a $16,000 solar panel system can easily be paid in full in slightly less than five short years when it nets $3,400 annually including electricity savings together with SREC income. Solar panels can also be one of the better home improvement options open to the Massachusetts home-owner. For a cost of $16,000, it should increase the value of your own home by $20,000. That happens to be a 125% return on investment. Nearly all home improvement projects don't ever pay for themselves fully. Solar panels not only increase the value of your residence more than they can cost you, they are able to earn you money each year in the process. They are even exempt from property taxes for 20 years.And additionally we should keep in mind the main reason each of these stimuli exist in the first place - to save our planet. A 5 kilowatt solar panel system is going to slash your carbon footprint by about one-hundred tons of carbon dioxide over twenty-five years, the equivalent of planting 800 trees. Every year, it will prevent the equivalent of around three tons of coal or 20,000 cubic feet of natural gas from being burned to produce electrical energy.Needless to say from all of the incentives currently at your disposal that now unquestionably would be the perfect time for solar power. The Commonwealth Rebate together with the federal and state tax credits cut down on your startup expenses. Plus the electricity savings and also the SREC program add significant revenue and boost your home's resale value.Plus, there's no way to tell how much longer these stimuli will be around. The Commonwealth Rebate has already been reduced once plus the federal tax credit is threatened annually.Additionally, as this industry matures, a growing number of financing approaches are becoming available to homeowners, making solar power cost-effective for everybody. Without a doubt if you've always wanted to buy solar panels, there has certainly never been a more rewarding time than now!

Introduction to Solar Energy The Basics

Introduction to Solar Energy-The Basics

Solar energy can best be defined as light transmitted from the sun, which can be used for solar heating, solar photovoltaic's, and solar water heating. Solar energy also can be referred to as radiation energy that can be used for everyday human needs such as electricity, heat, and building technologies. Let us look at these different types of solar energy we use today. Solar Heating - There is many variations of this type of heating in use today. As we strive for new means of heating our homes and business, there comes along solar heating. Heating our homes by means of reflective metal or mirrors is a reality. By heating outside air using the energy from the sun we can redirect the heated air through duct work like a forced air furnace basically works. This means of using the power of the sun is a simple way to heat our homes during day light hours, subsidizing our energy cost. Solar Voltaic - This use of the sun is becoming the most popular way to generate electricity versus other means that use our planets depleting fossil fuels. Through the use of solar cells which are made into solar panels we can produce environmentally safe energy. A solar cell or solar photovoltaic cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the suns light energy to electricity. A group of these cells form a solar panel that collects the solar light energy from the sun to produce electricity. A group of solar panels needed to power a house or business is called a solar array. There are other components used to make up a solar panel system which involve changing the current to useable household current but this will give you an idea of how a system is designed. Other uses of this type of technology is used in such devices as solar yard lights, solar exhaust fans, and photo eyes used to control outdoor lighting. Solar Water Heating - Solar water heating has been used for many years by many European countries and is well established as a viable means of heating water. There are basically two types of systems in use today, a closed system, and a system that pumps the hot water. First, let us look at the closed loop system that has a capture tank mounted above the radiant coils, usually mounted on the roof. By using a series of tubes facing the sun the water will heat and be moved to the storage tank by what is known as "thermo siphoning",which is the same principle as hot air raising. By using our existing water pressure the tank mounted on the roof will feed when needed my turning on a faucet. The system which uses a small pump to circulate the water can be mounted just about any convenient location facing the sun. This is what is known as an open system because of the use of an external or auxiliary pump. The holding tank for this system can be mounted at ground level. This system is used mainly for larger systems needing more water storage. Solar Architecture - The use of building design where walls, windows, and floors are made to collect heat from solar energy is called passive solar building design. This type of building design does not use mechanical or electrical devices. House can be designed to store heat in the winter and reject heat in the summer. The principle of this solar design is to position windows facing south during the winter sun, and to have shading during the warm summer months. This type of construction is mainly for newer homes but can be applied to or adapted to existing homes and businesses. All this can be achieved by the use of stone, concrete, and tile to produce what is known as thermo mass. There are many other new discoveries being used to harness the power of the sun, one which I did not mention above but involves the use of a large magnifying glass concentrating solar energy on a spot, producing very high temperatures. The use of this type of heat is almost endless.The basic of solar energy is just the first in a series of articles that I will publish on uses of solar technology.

Introduction to Solar Energy The Basics 1

Introduction to Solar Energy-The Basics

Solar energy can best be defined as light transmitted from the sun, which can be used for solar heating, solar photovoltaic's, and solar water heating. Solar energy also can be referred to as radiation energy that can be used for everyday human needs such as electricity, heat, and building technologies. Let us look at these different types of solar energy we use today. Solar Heating - There is many variations of this type of heating in use today. As we strive for new means of heating our homes and business, there comes along solar heating. Heating our homes by means of reflective metal or mirrors is a reality. By heating outside air using the energy from the sun we can redirect the heated air through duct work like a forced air furnace basically works. This means of using the power of the sun is a simple way to heat our homes during day light hours, subsidizing our energy cost. Solar Voltaic - This use of the sun is becoming the most popular way to generate electricity versus other means that use our planets depleting fossil fuels. Through the use of solar cells which are made into solar panels we can produce environmentally safe energy. A solar cell or solar photovoltaic cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the suns light energy to electricity. A group of these cells form a solar panel that collects the solar light energy from the sun to produce electricity. A group of solar panels needed to power a house or business is called a solar array. There are other components used to make up a solar panel system which involve changing the current to useable household current but this will give you an idea of how a system is designed. Other uses of this type of technology is used in such devices as solar yard lights, solar exhaust fans, and photo eyes used to control outdoor lighting. Solar Water Heating - Solar water heating has been used for many years by many European countries and is well established as a viable means of heating water. There are basically two types of systems in use today, a closed system, and a system that pumps the hot water. First, let us look at the closed loop system that has a capture tank mounted above the radiant coils, usually mounted on the roof. By using a series of tubes facing the sun the water will heat and be moved to the storage tank by what is known as "thermo siphoning",which is the same principle as hot air raising. By using our existing water pressure the tank mounted on the roof will feed when needed my turning on a faucet. The system which uses a small pump to circulate the water can be mounted just about any convenient location facing the sun. This is what is known as an open system because of the use of an external or auxiliary pump. The holding tank for this system can be mounted at ground level. This system is used mainly for larger systems needing more water storage. Solar Architecture - The use of building design where walls, windows, and floors are made to collect heat from solar energy is called passive solar building design. This type of building design does not use mechanical or electrical devices. House can be designed to store heat in the winter and reject heat in the summer. The principle of this solar design is to position windows facing south during the winter sun, and to have shading during the warm summer months. This type of construction is mainly for newer homes but can be applied to or adapted to existing homes and businesses. All this can be achieved by the use of stone, concrete, and tile to produce what is known as thermo mass. There are many other new discoveries being used to harness the power of the sun, one which I did not mention above but involves the use of a large magnifying glass concentrating solar energy on a spot, producing very high temperatures. The use of this type of heat is almost endless.The basic of solar energy is just the first in a series of articles that I will publish on uses of solar technology.

Interesting Solar Energy Facts

Interesting Solar Energy Facts

It's truly important for all people to learn a few standard solar energy facts to ensure that they can truly appreciate the entire potential and various fields of applications for this plentiful energy supply. Solar power is definitely the most ecologically friendly and most desirable of all alternative energy resources. Presently yearly worldwide energy usage is around approximately 550 exajoules (523 Quadrillion BTUs) per year. Every year the earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land masses receive approximately 3,850,000 exajoules of energy from the sun's rays. Once this is taken into account anyone should be able to start to grasp precisely why the solar energy industry is eagerly working to improve processes to harness solar power. The Desertec foundation theorizes that covering just 1% of desert environments around the world with solar PV panels could very well power up the entire planet.Listed below is a brief background of historical solar energy facts:- The use of solar power by humankind is not new; countless ancient civilizations have utilized it in one form or another.- Leonardo da Vinci was actually among the 1st modern thinkers to conceive industrial usage of solar energy to heat up water.- The French scientist Edmond Becquerel observed the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with electrolytic cells in 1839.- In 1894, Clarence Kemp, an inventor filed and obtained a patent for the design of the world's 1st solar-powered water heater.- The world's 1st solar thermal power station was built by Frank Shuman in 1913.The station that was situated in Egypt utilized parabolic trough-shaped mirrors to be able to heat water in boilers to drive a 65 horsepower engine. The engine pumped nearly 6,000 gallons of water each minute from the Nile River to adjacent crops.- The first modern photovoltaic (PV) solar cell was designed at Bell Laboratories in the year 1954.The following are a number of more technical solar energy facts:- Solar devices are one of two types, active and passive. Active solar power devices use photovoltaic cells and passive devices are thermal based.- Solar photovoltaic systems are presently the most common energy transformation devices, which make use of solar cells in modules to make light directly into electrical energy.- Thermal based solar power systems sometimes use molten salts to hold solar energy at very high temperature because of their high specific heat energy qualities.- The International Energy Agency (IEA) has forecasted that by the year 2060 around 33% of the world's power demands are going to be created by using solar power technologies like photovoltaic panels, water heaters and solar electrical power stations.- The Nokia 1610 plus was actually the first commercial solar-powered cell phone introduced by the Finnish manufacturer in 1997.The following is a list of important solar installations throughout the globe:- Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is a collection of 9 power facilities situated within the Mojave Desert in California. SEGS maintains the classification of being the world's biggest solar power station having a bundled production capacity of approximately 354 megawatts.- In most cases big solar power facilities make use of photovoltaic cells for electric power generation, simply because they are currently much more cost-effective when utilized on a large scale. The planet's biggest photovoltaic power plant is found in Sarnia, Canada, which provides a production capacity of 97 megawatts.- The Andasol plant in Spain having an electrical power output of 250 megawatts is the second biggest solar electrical power plant in the world.- The world's biggest Scheffler reflector system located in Rajasthan, India is able to cook up to 35,000 meals a day.- The world's biggest thin-film photovoltaic power system "Waldpolenz Solar Park" is found in Germany.- Topaz Solar Farm, a 550-megawatt solar photovoltaic power facility that is presently being built, is going to be among the largest facilities after completion.Solar energy facts about solar-powered flight:- The Astro Flight - Sunrise, an unmanned air vehicle developed in 1975 was the 1st solar-powered aircraft.- The Gossamer Penguin, created in 1980, was the 1st plane only fueled by photovoltaic cells that was capable of carrying a person.- Helios, an unmanned air vehicle, operated in part by solar PV panels maintains the record for achieving the highest altitude of 96,863 ft, as well as a world record for sustained horizontal flight by a winged aircraft.- Vanguard 1, an American satellite launched in 1958 was the world's 1st solar-powered satellite. Amazingly the satellite still orbits and it celebrated its 50th birthday in 2008.- IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) is the 1st spacecraft to successfully demonstrate solar-sail technology in space. The Japanese deployed the spacecraft in 2010 aboard an H-IIA rocket.Because of the prolonged volatility of oil prices along with the fact that the average individual is actually more aware of their natural environment, there has actually been a greater push for the development of renewable energy. This elevated drive for non-fossil fuel electrical power will definitely aid to lower the cost of solar panels as well as various other renewable energy solutions. A need for corporations to appear environmentally aware has brought about significant ad efforts from energy giants including BP and General Electric, showcasing their financial investments in environmentally friendly sources of power. These energy titans are not the only ones getting into sustainable energy, the rising cost for natural gas, coal, and oil already have forced energy costs higher and made "green" energy sources which include solar power, a possible economic choice for many people. Demand pertaining to solar energy has increased at 30% yearly over the previous 15 years. In 2009, photovoltaic solar installations expanded by 20%, versus 2008, with above 7.3GW of photovoltaic solar panel installations across the globe. Earnings in 2009 from the photovoltaic solar industry also grew, getting to $38.5 billion.The attraction to solar power is obvious. It is a virtually infinite energy source. It's free of greenhouse gas emissions, typically believed to lead to planetary climatic change. In industrialized countries that use a huge amount of air conditioning units, it makes more electricity exactly at the time you need to have it-- during circumstances of highest electrical power usage. Once put in, solar power systems may very well operate for 30 years or more requiring a minimal amount of routine maintenance or management. At the same time, solar does come with some disadvantages, particularly the poor efficiency of photovoltaic solar modules, which is further reduced by the need to transform DC from the solar power cells into AC current. In addition, solar power relies on the weather conditions and also time of day, requiring battery storage or alternate systems to supplement during periods of weak power generation. Overall the beneficial solar energy facts considerably outweigh the unfavorable. These positive facts assist to exhibit this very important change in the direction of more predominant use of solar power, which definitely will provide a prosperous and healthier planet for many generations to come.

Installation of Solar Energy at Your Home by Your Self

Installation of Solar Energy at Your Home by Your Self

Solar panel installation training Installation of solar energy is currently very popular. A significant increase in the demand for electricity in the House on the green technologies such as solar system is very important. The price of the installation is not as high as you think. It is not as difficult as you think. How you decide to use solar energy in your home, you reduce energy costs. But before solar energy installation, you must be assigned to someone about how to install solar panels. Solar Panel training courses is very important to be considered before installing solar panels in your home. Let’s start with basic. Here's a list of tools that will require the installation. Cordless drill, wire cutters, some of them are very important and are the keys. This parameter is very important, as the installation of solar panels may have best results only when the sun hits the solar panel. This means that there are no obstacles between the Sun and the solar panel. When you install the system on land you have to put the solar panels at least six feet from the ground, in order to avoid the risk of accidents to children, animals.

Solar photovoltaic training Installation instructions for detailed instructions: this is how you could do all this; there are many guides that detail is at the heart of the installation of solar panels is a battery. And some believe, the cost of the battery is the same, or sometimes a value of solar panels. It depends on two parameters. How long you want to than batteries of the system to manage your home electricity, 2 days, 3 days? For example, what kind of system you want to install (Volt 12 volt lighter installation or more 24 or 48).Solar cells produce zero sounds by any means. They may not be able to create a simple Peep even when you delete a message direct sunlight. Conversely, huge devices that are used to move the oil are incredibly hoarse and thus really wrong. Solar energy creates just no pollution. Solar often serve you for a great time with only once a year to think about cleaning. Solar pv course Solar cells produce zero sounds by any means. They may not be able to create a simple Peep even when you delete a message direct sunlight. Conversely, a huge device that is used to move the oil is incredibly hoarse and thus really wrong. Solar energy creates just no pollution. Considered a key, advantage that produces solar energy much more useful when compared to oil. Burning oil is the secret of dangerous greenhouse garden pairs, cancerous carcinogens and carbon dioxide directly into our cherished fresh air. Really minor saving must support solar cells functioning. Solar often serve you for a great time with only once a year to think about cleaning. The energy produced by the Sun, how many homeowners now use to generate electricity for their homes, called solar energy. This is an alternative source of energy to power we get from electric power companies charge us high electricity bills. With solar power, you can install solar panels, also called photovoltaic cells on top of your roof, and these panels to collect energy from the Sun that you can save and use at night through a net metering. Each solar panel can produce up to 24 volts DC depending on where you enter the solar panel. It is best to put solar panels on your roof with parts of no trees that will cover and interfere with the accumulation of energy.

Importance of Solar Energy

Importance of Solar Energy

Many of us homeowners are complaining about the huge bills we are paying to electric companies that provide electricity for our homes. We want to look for ways to save money and be free from these power companies who charge us a lot. Well, with the discovery of alternative sources of energy we now have an option of generating our own power at home. Solar energy refers to the energy we acquire from the sun which is not considered as the best alternative source of energy. Solar energy is at present gaining popularity all over the world because of its effectiveness and usability. Many environmentalists believe that solar energy is very important and can help a lot in keeping our environment clean. Solar energy is important because it does not produce any chemicals or emit any waste that is harmful to the environment. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy does not pollute our environment. Solar energy is also considered the most abundant source of energy because it is available most of the time. You can even store and use it at night using storage batteries.

Solar energy can be converted into electricity through two different ways. The first way is to use photovoltaic cells, commonly known as solar cells, to collect energy from the sun and convert it to dc current. The second way is by utilizing solar power plants. There are more than 15 solar power plants today in the US. Using solar energy, you only need to make an initial investment by setting up the solar panels and a few other equipments then after that you will no longer spend money because you can use the solar panels for many, many years without necessary maintenance or if there is any it won’t cost you a lot. Unlike other alternative energy, you do not need to wield much effort in collecting solar power because it is available most of the time. This renewable source of energy is environment-friendly that why it is one of the highly recommended energy source that we humans should use. Try checking out the benefits you can get from solar energy and decide now on what source of energy fits your needs.

How Solar Energy Helps Green Technology

How Solar Energy Helps Green Technology

One of the most compelling bases why people must now shift to green technology is that the world is now fast getting destroyed by certain practices that harm the environment. A most glaring example of this is the rampant use of fossil fuels in order to create electrical energy. It is just fortunate though that there are now more people who have become aware of the problem. Now, they are also looking for the best solutions and one of these is DIY green energy. Through this kind of energy, the demand for electricity is still met although only partially, but without the usual damage done to the environment.Solar energy is one prime source of electricity and this has been tapped too with the use of green technology. Once solar panels are installed and the necessary circuits and energy storage are set up through a DIY green energy kit, an alternative source of electricity has been achieved. Unlike most power plants, this does not burn any fuel that releases carbon emissions into the air. Because there are no emissions, it does not contribute at all to the thinning of the ozone layer. This is the reason why solar energy is often called as one of the most earth-friendly electrical energy sources.DIY green energy means that it is something that an ordinary homeowner can build. There are solar energy systems that are simple enough for an individual to construct without the assistance of an expert. Actually, it is not only solar panels that can be attributed to green technology. There are still many other alternative sources too. However, it is solar energy systems that are most commonly found. These also happen to be the cheaper of the green energy sources, which is why this is often the option of households that no longer want to rely too much on the power utilities in their area.Solar energy definitely helps the development of green technology a lot. Green technology would have been a something that is good but is far beyond the means of the ordinary citizens in the country. With solar energy though and with the systems designed to capture this and to transform this into electric energy, people have acquired easy access to green technology. Now, many households have become very interested with alternative sources of electricity. And, when it comes to this, DIY green energy becomes the most favored option for its realization.

How Dependable Is Solar Energy

How Dependable Is Solar Energy

Solar energy has been portrayed as the best alternative source of power available, and in many cases this is true. But how reliable is solar energy as an alternative power source? Let us look at some examples of how the sun has been used in the past to answer this question.The Sun and its HistoryThe sun has been utilized throughout human history to heat water, dry clothing, cook and to warm homes. Even before the invention of electricity humans have learned to utilize solar power. Ancient Greeks 2,000 years ago had developed the first architectural designs to take advantage of solar heating. Even the Romans had used solar energy to attack enemy vessels, as large magnifying glasses were used to direct the suns rays to burn the sails of enemy ships.We can see that throughout history man has used solar power and reliably depended on it. What about today in modern time? Is solar power being used any more, or less, and how reliable is solar energy today?Solar Energy TodaySolar power is still being used today just as it has been used for thousands of years. People in developing countries still heat their water, cook their food and warm their homes with it. But with the invention of electricity mankind now uses solar power to produce electricity. One of the modern techniques to harvest the suns power is through the use of solar panels, with solar panels converting solar rays into electricity.By generating electricity from the suns rays many people around the world, especially in isolated communities, depend on solar energy for their electricity needs. More and more people are utilizing solar energy in this way, and it is becoming a very popular and affordable way to produce electricity.How reliable is Solar Energy?Is solar power reliable? Yes it is. However, the technological methods that we use today to turn the suns rays into electricity, is not 100% reliable. Solar panel technology has definitely come a long way, but it is still in its infancy stage. Every year better ways to harness the sun's energy are emerging, but the main obstacles at this level of technology, preventing solar power from being 100% reliable, is the weather.During cloudy and rainy days electrical power output from solar panels drop considerably. Its possible though to achieve 100% reliability from solar power, by integrating solar panels with a wind turbine to produce enough electricity for a household. In this regard the sun is a viable and reliable alternative energy source.

Home Solar Energy Products

Home Solar Energy Products

Environmental impact, financial benefits and energy independence, are the main reasons for using solar energy. Solar energy does not cause harmful pollutants responsible for global warming and, the best of all, it is entirely free. Pollution and the high cost of electricity both are expected to become the main problems in coming years. Solar energy is a clean and economic source of energy that can be use for electricity, solar heating and solar cooling reducing utility payments. Furthermore, this is an efficient way of reducing the high addiction energy companies dictate to the general public. In crowded cities particularly, electrical failures can leave residents with no light, no water running, in other words, and no electricity. If setting a personal solar power plan, this event might become a part of the distant past. The first thing in installing a solar energy system is to figure out how much solar energy can be absorbed based on the daily average solar radiation for each area.

The solar panel system produces energy and transmits it to the utility company’s electrical power grid. In this case, the owner can be selling green energy and powering his home as a two-way advantage. There are also solar power panels which generate Direct Current (DC), electrical energy that needs to be converted in Alternating Current energy and then to transmitted to the electrical control panel which feeds the company’s power grid and the owner’s house. During the day, the solar power system is generating electricity onto the main grid, and at night, the electricity saved during the day can be use for lighting and other electrical loads. Among the vast variety, of solar power systems Grid-tie systems seem to have the best report of quality and prices. Grid-tie systems consist of the following items: residential solar panels (the quantity and type of solar panels determine the amount of power generated depending on geographic area), the combiner box, DC breaker, the inverter (transforms Direct Current in Alternating current) and the grid power control, that stops electricity exchange between the solar power system and the electrical system.

There are also other solar energy products such as solar fence, solar ovens, solar powered fountain, solar powered water pumps, which can be used for almost any pumping application from indoor to outdoor water pumping tasks on the yard and garden. Maybe the most used solar energy product is the solar powered air conditioning. The solar powered air conditioning is not only economic, operating at a maximum of 500 watts, more than half what ordinary air conditioning units consume, but it also brings environmental benefits such as using zero electricity generated through pollutant means. For many people, a solar lifestyle seems far from being real, but there are various methods to incorporate solar power into a daily lifestyle without spending a lot of money by implementing energy savings tips, and the first step into "green" living, is the purchase of solar powered devices. It can come as a surprise, but an installation composed out of 3 large solar panels, is capable of covering all investment costs, by reducing power bills to zero, in less than two years. The two most popular home solar products are solar heat pumps and solar panels. Both can be installed by many solar energy melbourne businesses.

Guide on Buying Solar Energy Systems

Guide on Buying Solar Energy Systems

There are many investments that one does in order to make his future secured. A great avenue to invest in and reap the benefits for their lifetime is solar energy systems. For many home makers, to invest in solar systems is a great idea and this will help them save money and get tax incentives also. However, before one buys a home solar system, they should keep three things in mind; which are ease of use, efficiency and the cost. There are various factors which contribute to the cost of home solar panels. The cost of the system will vary with the wattage, type and brand of the solar system. There is also a difference in the margins that are applied to the systems by the sellers. The size of the home in which the solar energy system will be installed is also another very important factor which has a big effect on the cost. To make the purchase more viable, a larger home will need a larger home solar panel. The main thing that one must always remember is that when these solar systems are installed, one will have to incur a high cost and the saving that they will get will be over a period of time. One can use programs that are offered by the Federal and the state so that they can get incentives, subsidies and tax credits. One should use the solar power calculators which are available online to calculate the need for solar systems in their house and also the needed wattage along with the initial cost that one will need to incur.

One must ensure that the home solar panels that they buy will work in an efficient manner and will produce sufficient energy. One should also remember that the solar energy systems are very easy to use and there is very less maintenance work that is needed. Another important thing to see in these systems is the cabling as this has a direct impact on the efficiency of the system. By keeping few things in mind one can install these systems easily. Infinity Solar is a solar power installation business speicalising in home solar systems, photovoltaic solar panels, off grid solar sytems, grid solar systems.

Great Benefits of Solar Panels

Great Benefits of Solar Panels

In thinking of DIY green energy, the solar energy panels immediately come to mind. It is one of the cleanest sources of energy available. And the panels are possible to install in any location that needs energy. As long as there's sunlight in that area you can freely make use of the solar energy through the panels. There are many non-profit groups that provide solar panels on certain remote areas to help them make their life easier and also to teach them how important the environment is.DIY green energy like the solar panels is just one example of how far the research for renewable energy has gone. But this doesn't stop the professionals who have already devoted their time in discovering new things to help save the environment. There are also other groups that focus on proper information dissemination to help gain more people to support the cause or gather funds to continue it. Research needs a lot of financial aid but once it will gain success there are a lot of benefits that will surely be available to the whole world.There are now solar home kits that are available for a cheaper cost compared with the original price of the solar panels. This has now allowed more homes to shift to a cleaner solar energy than stick with regular source of energy which is geothermal or nuclear. Both are stronger but also cause more damage to the environment compared with the solar energy.DIY green energy information is now available on the internet for free. You can either choose one from there or consider attending one of the forums that groups for the environment is frequently conducting. From there, you will be able to meet the different people who are in full support for the cleaner energy source for the future generation's sake.DIY green energy need not be very complicated but there are different types of tools and materials involved in creating one. And if the solar energy might not be as effective in your area you can also consider utilizing a different type of energy; it can either be wind powered or hydraulic type. Both can be as effective as the solar type ones and it can also produce clean energy. Depending on what you feel will work best on you there are a lot of options that you can definitely choose from. Find out more about DIY technology by reading about it online.

Generating Solar Energy for your Home

Generating Solar Energy for your Home

Have you heard about solar energy for your home and its advantages? Solar power can be used to generate power for all your house appliances. Read on to know more about the aid of solar energy and how to install it. You can make a good investment with solar energy and also aid in conserving the non-renewable resources present in nature. Apart from reducing your electricity bill and generating electricity at home, solar power can be used for heating your home as well as water. The Sun is the ultimate source of energy. We make use of other non-renewable resources for generating energy. Sun rays when captured can be converted into electricity and used for running electrical appliances. Solar panels are harnessed for capturing the rays of the sun and then converting it into electricity. Apart from solar panels there are many other devices that are designed for harnessing the energy of sun. Some of these devices are solar cells, solar cookers, etc. Keep in mind while installing solar power for your home:

First of all you need to choose which shape of solar device you want to install for solar power. Most of the users opt for solar panels. Its installation is very easy. These solar panels are unfilled at any of the major companies. Before you order them you need to choose the quantity of electricity that is harnessed by you for your basic needs. After deciding the quantity of electricity needed you can order the panels accordingly. Look for the category of material. There are end two types, crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon alloy. Among them the following one is most recommended. You can out the features of the panel by checking at its weight, toughness and efficiency. After receiving the system you will need to maintain it properly. Whether you make solar panels or solar cells, they have to be taken care of. Try to clean them at least one time a month. During installation the angle also matters. For availing solar power for your home, the devices must be fit at an ideal angle.

Benefits of solar power for your home You should know that solar energy is the most dependable renewable energy. The most prominent part is that it fits any budget well. It is the most standard shape of renewable energy that can save you from those expensive electricity bills. The other benefit of availing solar energy for your home is that it is totally eco-friendly and releases no waste by-products. And the most valuable advantage is that the cost of energy produced by the solar energy devices is less than that supplied to you by utility companies in the long run. By making use of the solar energy system you can save as well as earn money. As you aid energy of the sun for free, you just need to to spend some money on the installation and maintenance of the solar power system. If you produce more energy than you need, you possibly advertise it back to the electricity companies. By using solar energy for your home you can lower your electricity bills by 75% every month. Discover How to Power Up your home and use home made energy to save up on your electricity bill!

From Solar Energy to Solar Toy Gifts

From Solar Energy to Solar Toy Gifts

The sun the source of all energies on the earth rays radiant light and heat which we can harness and use them to make a better world.From earliest recorded history solar power has been important. The ancient people worshiped the sun as the ultimate source of power. They were able to use solar energy to make brick and build temples that stood for thousands of years. In fact over the last two or three thousand years we have more and more reasons to recognize sun's power over our lives. This mostly import-independent resource, enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, lower the costs of mitigating climate change, keep fossil fuel for better useage and helps us to consider the additional costs of the incentives for spending and sharing them wisely and could play a key role in de-carbonizing the global economy alongside improvements in energy efficiency and imposing costs on greenhouse gas emitters.Solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity and solar architecture as the solar energy technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar based on the way we capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic panels, to convert sunlight into useful outputs and increase the supply of energy while Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with favorable properties to reduce the need for alternate resources.Solar energy technologies produce just one thousand of global energy demand! These products are varied, and in different branches becoming increasingly cost-effective as more distributors enter the market.If you give a small gift to a child, it will be like a window to a new world for him. He/She begins to think about and at a glance a story appears to cover his immediate need. These kinds of objects usually improve his character and prepare him to grow and live in a real world.A toy makes him a good racer or a strong transformer, a hero.There is something new everyday; this time we need to be creative we need something more, an educational one.A toy which makes them a good inventor, designer, writer, star or magician..., a good individual who respects the other citizens, participates to have a safe and clean environment while has to keep it in a same way for new babies.Yes, we need a smart one, the one:• that all children and adults enjoy to assemble • that would be interesting to perform us a theoretical thing practically • that we learn from while having fun with • that we observe our improvements step by step instructions • that contains a kind of secrets • that opens a gate to future • that we enjoy its design and perfection • that allows kids to express their interestsThere are varied toy gifts and the best of them are from well known manufacturers containing interesting idea suitable for different ages as below:• OWI 6 in 1 Educational kit • National Geographic Power kit • OWI T3 Robot kit • Green Science Robot Kit 300A • OWI Super Race Car kit • OWI Salt Water Car Kit • Two's Dancing Flowers • OWI Frightened Grasshopper • OWI Mini Cockroach • OWI Frog • OWI chargers • Solio Hybrid ChargersThey are all alive under the sunlight. They are weak in cloudy sky and they sleep in the dark. These are exact things we should teach our children. Now your kids have an amazing experience to show off and feeling self confidence growing among the others.

Does Solar Energy Have Disadvantages

Does Solar Energy Have Disadvantages

With no corporate entities or government regulations to work with, solar energy is completely free following the installation of all the equipment. This type of energy is something that is untapped, renewable and clean which means that this will be a key makeup of the world's energy in the future.Despite a huge amount of advantages, it's true that disadvantages also come with solar energy. While it's crucial to have a balanced viewpoint, it's never good to focus on the downsides but you need to understand both sides. Solar energy cons? By taking a look at solar energy and the drawbacks, we can put into perspective the positives of the source.-- High installations cost. It's not possible to save money on energy bills in the long-term if you don't invest a lot of money in the foundation of your home's solar energy sources. Purchasing solar panels and hiring a professional to install them and wire them to your home is a hefty expense.-- Aesthetics. Solar panels can be placed on rooftops or on a ground-based grid, but many homeowners consider them unsightly because they often clash with traditional architecture.-- Little to no energy on overcast days. You may have it in abundance during the summer, but when shorter winter days arrive, you might find yourself trying to use less and less energy. It is impossible to control the weather, so if you live in a rainy climate or place with long, harsh winters, solar may not be your best bet.-- Sensitivity to pollution. The sad fact is that most people around you won't be as conscious of the environment even if you are. If you live in a heavily populated area with lots of smog, it can actually decrease the effectiveness of your solar panels to collect energy from the sun.-- Location dependency. City skylines can pose a huge problem to people who are based in urban parts because they interfere with the ability for your solar cell's to gather energy due to a lack of sunlight.While people in certain locations should consider these disadvantages seriously before committing to solar energy, homes or buildings in rural areas may be able to easily mitigate some of the downsides. For example, using a hybrid energy plan that draws from both solar and electrical power can provide a consistent supply of energy. Whether you adapt your home or office to solar power or stick with electricity, it is easier to make a decision once you have all the facts.

Design Your Building to Utilize Passive Solar Power

Design Your Building to Utilize Passive Solar Power

The sun is the oldest source of energy available on earth. The sun provides an abundant supply of energy that can be used in various ways. Whereas solar panels and solar systems are being designed to give you the benefits of active solar energy, solar energy can be used passively as well. Indeed, the passive usage of solar power offers you advantages like cost-effectiveness and other long-term benefits.However, it's important to design your buildings such that they can utilize solar power passively. In order to design your building to use solar power, you need to first be clear about the goals of using solar power. For instance, you can passively use solar power to heat your building or to provide a good ventilation to cool your building. In addition, you can reduce the need for artificial lighting by designing you building such that it uses sunlight as the main source of light.In order to use passive solar power in your building, a consideration of air space, thermal mass, building material, location of windows, construction of rooftops etc is quite important. Here are few important points that need to be considered while designing a building:- Buildings that get exposure to sun from east of south receive the maximum heat and light from the sun during morning hours. However, the buildings that are exposed to sun on the west of south receive maximum sunshine during the late afternoon hours. Therefore, you should model your building considering the usage and desired temperature during your desired time of the day.- In order to enable your walls to absorb solar energy during the day, build masonry walls that envelop thermal mass within them. This way, you can ensure that building walls absorb heat during the day and release the heat during the dark and cold hours of the night.- The rooms that require the maximum amount of heat during the day should be constructed on the southern side of your house. On the other hand, the ones that need to remain relatively cooler should be on the northern side of your building.- You should make smaller windows in the rooms that remain relatively cooler and do not get direct exposure to sun. This will help retain heat by avoiding heat loss through windows.- While deciding the size of windows, check how much of the carpet area of your room is getting daylight. For effective usage of sunshine for lighting, at least 15% of the carpet area should get direct sunlight.

Concentrating Solar Power

Concentrating Solar Power

Concentrating Solar Power or CSP is really a solar power technology that produces electricity at a minimal cost and might deliver it throughout days of peak demands. CSP has the capacity to produce cheap electricity by utilizing mirrors to collect sunlight and convert it to heat. This is usually the very answer why the U.S Department of energy (DOE) wants CSP to become competitive in the intermediate power market over the year 2015. Actually, CSP belongs to the four subprograms belonging to the Solar Energy Technologies Program or SETP. DOE offers to make this happen by cost-shared contracts with the industry and collaborative efforts. In CSP, mirrors are used to reflect while keeping focused sunlight onto receivers that can collect the concentrated solar power and convert it to heat. This heat can be used by a steam turbine or a heat driving generator to create electricity. The resulting electricity could be sold to the market with a relatively low price. Also, this electricity can be accomplished and sold even in periods of peak demands. The general public is slowly noticing some great benefits of CSP. These are practically why DOE wishes to improve and utilize CSP.

For the economic cost saving advantages of choosing CSP, DOE is currently funding and developing the way to further operate the low-cost electricity producing solar panel technology. Currently, DOE has plans to raise the utilization of CSP across the nation and work out CSP as a competitive power source within the intermediate power market. These goals should be made into realization by the year 2015 and by the year 2020, DOE wants CSP to be really competitive in the baseload power market. The SETP program of DOE, actually, looks after the strategies aiming to achieve CSP related goals. This is because CSP is na aspect of the four subprograms of SETP targeting towards competitive advancements of solar energy products. Other three subprograms are Photovoltaics, Market Transformation, and Systems Integration. Through SETP, DOE levels up its CSP research, development, and deployment efforts leveraging both industry partners as well as the national laboratories. Additionally, DOE hopes to achieve CSP goals though cost-shared contracts using the industry, advanced research at its national laboratories, and collaboration compared to other government agencies and organizations to deploy CSP technology. Also, outside companies and research organizations have collaborative efforts with DOE in making CSP among the best energy sources soon. Their collaborative efforts include:

Linear Concentrator Systems - not limited Research and Development or R&D on parabolic troughs, and also on other line-focus systems like linear Fresnel reflectors. Dish/Engine Systems - this collaborative effort includes dish structures, mirrors, and Stirling engines. Power Tower Systems - links to R&D within other CSP areas which can be highly relevant to heliostats, receivers, and overall systems issues for central-receiver solar plants. Thermal Storage - this consists of R&D on heat transfer fluids and thermal storage materials which will advance CSP systems. Advanced Components and Systems - right here is the R&D revolving on the characterization and also the testing of CSP materials, components, systems, and various cross-cutting CSP technology. Find out more about the basics of CSP operations contained in the main technology areas. If DOE will flourish in their goals, CSP will certainly be a great addition to the sources of electricity for humans. From the year 2015, if DOE succeeds, humans can have a cheap electricity source accessible for all. How much solar power do I need? Learn about solar power cost, solar energy news, and solar energy information at solar energy advantages.

Common Misconceptions About Solar Panels

Common Misconceptions About Solar Panels

It makes sense to consider all your options when thinking about solar panels, and there is much information freely available to ensure you're fully informed of the pros and cons. However, there are also many misconceptions out there, so it's very easy to get confused about this type of 'green' energy.Solar energy doesn't work in cooler, cloudier climatesThis is probably the biggest misconception when it comes to this kind of energy. To understand why, it's important to understand how solar panels work. Many people wrongly believe that the energy is obtained from the heat of the sun when actually it's the sun light that produces the energy. Because of this, even though some climates are not as warm as California or Devon, they still get the light from the sun. In fact, sunlight is even collected on cloudy days, even though it's not as strong.Solar energy is unreliableMany people worry that at night, when there is no sunlight at all, their system won't generate any power, and they, therefore, will be without overnight power. This is a common myth but the system doesn't work that way. During the day, most homes will generate more power than they use. This excess power is stored in a local grid to which your property remains attached. When your system is not producing enough power to supply your property, such as at night, there will be no interruption to your supply, as it will remain connected to the grid. In fact, the switchover at these times is so subtle it's not even noticeable.Solar power is ugly and will reduce the value of my propertyAnother common concern, even though it's incorrect, is that the panels used for solar energy are aesthetically not pleasing and, as such, will reduce the value of personal property. However, with modern technology and design, most panels actually blend in well with current residential roofing. Furthermore, research has shown that resale values are actually increased for houses with solar energy.Solar energy is costlyThe initial cost associated with installing solar panels is the highest. After that, utility bills are dramatically reduced, and there is a very strong return on investment (ROI) and a typical residential solar system will have paid for itself within five years. As well as this, many cities offer local rebates, while there are other rebates offered at state and government levels, along with other incentives to make solar power even more accessible.Solar power technology will improve and get less expensive so it would be better to waitIt's very unlikely that new technology will come out over the next decade or so and, while normal fossil fuel is being burned to make standard electricity, there is no indication that solar systems will be any cheaper to install or use. Consequently, it makes no sense to wait the many years this is going to take, as your investment will have fully paid for itself long before any new technology emerges.