Solar Power Electricity Can Eliminate Your Power Bill
Solar Power Electricity Can Eliminate Your Power Bill
Most people already know that adding a solar energy system to your home can reduce your electricity bill considerably. However, many people do not realize that solar power electricity can eliminate your power bill all together. I am not making this up at all; in fact there are many people who are already living “off the grid” and even some who are getting paid by the power company because they are creating more power than they need!
My family installed a solar energy system on our house approximately 2 years ago; within 2 months the system had paid for itself in savings. Solar power electricity systems used to be a complex, expensive, and bulky; these days you can actually build a professional solar electricity system yourself. This is exactly what I did without having any electrical or solar energy knowledge. The time of solar power electricity not being economical is over. Previously you would not see a return on your investment for many years, however with the technological advances in solar panels and batteries you can now build your own custom solar electric plant cheap enough to see it pay for itself and save you enough money for a nice vacation within your first year!
Right now, about two thirds of my family’s electricity is supplemented with solar power electricity. This means my electricity bill dropped by 2/3, and soon we will install a second panel and not have to pay the electric company at all! I am completely blown away with how affordable solar power electricity is and I expect that many more people will be adding a solar energy system to their homes as more and more people find out that they too can be rid of the power company.
It is a great feeling knowing that we are producing our own energy with solar power electricity and are no longer paying expensive energy bills every month. The best part is since I have installed my system and started blabbing about it to all the neighbors, 7 other houses on our street have added their own systems! My goal is to get my entire street using solar electricity!…
Pros and Cons of Residential Solar Systems
Pros and Cons of Residential Solar Systems
You hear a lot about solar energy as a good source of electricity for homes. One of the nice things about it is that an individual can have a solar system installed on their own home. Many other green forms of energy can only be implemented by the power company. So is residential solar energy a good idea? Like anything else, there are pros and cons.
Pros
Production of solar energy does not pollute the environment. There are no greenhouse gas emission released into the air by solar panels. This may not seem like a big deal when you’re only talking about one house, but it adds up.
Solar energy is plentiful and renewable. Other forms of energy are found in finite quantities. When supplies get low, prices go up. And a lot of the resources we use come from foreign countries. Not only are we financially tied to these countries, but we inevitably get more involved politically than we would otherwise. Solar energy is everywhere and will continue to be here forever.
Solar cells require very little maintenance. Years ago solar panels had the reputation of being unreliable and easily broken. That’s not true anymore. Today’s solar panels will last for many years with very little upkeep.
A solar system can make you self-reliant. If the power goes out in the neighborhood, you’re not affected. Rolling black-outs in your city? Not your problem. What if the power company raises their rates. Your electric bill is only affected to the degree that you buy power from them.
You can still use the power company as a backup. There are times that your system may not be able to produce enough power for your needs. You can still be hooked up to the grid and buy power to supplement what your solar system makes.
A solar power system is scalable. You pay less for the first unit of energy than you do for the last unit that you buy each month. Even a small system will replace the most expensive units of electricity that you would otherwise buy. You can figure out what the optimum size system for your house is. You can use the mix of solar and purchased power that makes the most financial sense to you. Some power companies will even buy excess electricity back from you!
Cons
There are disadvantages too, and you need to take them into consideration before making a decision. The cost to install a solar system are quite high. Prices have come down in recent years, and they may come down further. Nevertheless, it still take several years to recoup the costs.
Solar panels cannot collect power at night. This weakness can be mitigated by purchasing some means to store the energy or by buying power from the power company at night. Panels also collect less energy when there is less direct sunlight. This impacts some geographical locations more than others. Many power companies don’t have the infrastructure to buy back your excess power – yet.…
DIY Solar Panels – Your Very Own Energy Supply
DIY Solar Panels – Your Very Own Energy Supply
Ever tried building your own DIY Solar Panels? If you have, I am sure it was because having to purchase a commercial solar panel system is very impractical and expensive. DIY solar panels allow you to enjoy the same financial savings of mass market at a fraction of the price.
A normal solar panel system will cost you over $4000, DIY solar panels, in contrast, can be built for as low as a couple of hundred dollars. Add the considerable savings you will bring in by reducing your monthly power bill and it’s simple to see why lots of people are considering the choice of building their very own panels.
To ensure your DIY project will be a success, you must get a high quality guide or manual which clearly walks the user through the exact steps you have to do. Make sure the guide you choose offers video tutorials along with written and illustrated instructions.
Putting together your own DIY is not complicated at all and it is a project worth doing. It is also an outstanding learning tool for your children about green energy. Let them be involved with the process from afar and it will increase their understanding regarding the necessity for energy conservation and the current global warming crisis.
The only secret to have a successful homemade solar panel project is to get an excellent design manual or guide that can aid you all the way through the steps involved. Nowadays, building your own homemade solar panels has become a popular topic. Therefore, there have been plenty of guides which have sprouted up lately and unfortunately, not all of them are high are great. Truth be told, some are full of error and even confusing information. I can’t give too much weight on the importance of getting an excellent quality design guide.
However, if this is the first time putting together your own solar power system, it may be hard to differentiate between the good and bad. After finding a DIY guide, make sure to look for testimonials and reviews from other websites that can help validate what is being advertised. Look for forums from people who have previously built their own systems and are eager to tell you their experience and set you on the right track. Having someone who can give you an idea on where to start is very useful, particularly for your first DIY project.
Apart from the significant monetary savings, replacing your conventional energy supply with solar energy is an environment friendly option. Solar energy is a considerably lifetime source of energy which has no harmful greenhouse effect.…
A Look at Clean Energy and Solar Heating Tubes
A Look at Clean Energy and Solar Heating Tubes
When most people think of green or clean energy they picture rows of solar panels positioned on the roof, or a group of wind energy generators producing electricity from the wind. Although these are correct views of energy sources create clean energy, it leaves out one of the most efficient, and applicable of all alternative energy installations – solar heating tubes. This kind of of clean energy technology is used to provide hot water to homes and commercial buildings.
The scientific and technical knowledge supporting this kind of clean energy have already matured as to have commercial and industrial applications, as well as domestic ones. Millions of individual homes and residential buildings that depend on such systems for their hot water supply are able to significantly reduce their electric power costs. In fact, China is the leading user of solar heating tubes, and it has been reported that as much as 30 million homes (which covers homes or apartment units) derive from 60 to 70 percent of their hot water from solar heating tubes and not from traditional electric power sources.
Why only 60-70% and not their entire hot water requirement? This is the only glitch with clean energy that depends on the sun’s radiant energy, and it happens because of the patterns of nature. Keep in mind that, the sun goes up and down each day. As a result, solar heating tubes are only able to operate when sunlight is at its peak, which is usually from around 9 AM to 4-5 PM. However once the sun sets, it’s like the energy source of the hot water equipment has been turned-off. And yet, solar heating tubes still get around sixty percent efficiency because the large storage tanks it uses can stay hot for several hours after the sun has set. This is the reason why most renewable energy professionals place optimal energy savings at the sixty percent level.
So what does actually mean for the commercial or residential building owner or landlord? For the most part, it means that, they would still have to use some electric power from their utility company or fuel supplier, to maintain a steady supply of heated water. So what does it mean from a financial point of view? Let’s examine this topic more carefully.
You need to take into consideration that you will need to purchase the solar heating system and spend money for its installation. This can be substantial capital investment, and most property owners will use the equity in their building to put their equipment purchase on a type of payment plan, like a second mortgage or business loan to cover costs. But the solar power system is going to begin working as soon as it is set-up, which means that electric expenses are going to drop significantly immediately. This drop in electricity expenses generates money savings that can be applied to the repayment on the loan for installation. What makes this investment more beneficial to property owners is that, most solar power systems can be repaid in a period of two to five years;and after this period the financial savings will go straight into the owner’s wallet. And from then on, the building can be supplied with hot water at an incredibly lower cost.
Aside from the reduction in expenditures and shorter period to receive your return on investment for the equipment, there is also a wide array of tax benefits available through such an investment. These too can help the owner of the property to recover the purchase price of the solar equipment quickly.…
How to Store Solar Energy
How to Store Solar Energy
Deep Cycle Batteries
Batteries used in boats, recreational vehicles and electric golf carts are called deep cycle batteries. These differ from car batteries because they are made to provide continuous power rather than just a quick burst of starting power.
Deep cycle batteries, despite their name, wear out after many cycles of charging and discharging. They are the low end of your battery options and should be used only if you are on a very limited budget.
Industrial Strength Batteries
Also deep cycle, but much more resistant to deterioration over multiple charging/discharging cycles, industrial strength batteries include these types:
o Flooded
o Gel
o AGM
Flooded
These are similar in function to older kinds of car batteries, but much more robust. They are called flooded because there are caps on the top of the battery that you open and pour in distilled water in order to keep the internal lead and acid components wet.
The downside of using flooded batteries is that they emit a chemical gas discharge when in use. This is a caustic and potentially explosive emission, so these batteries are not safe to use inside an enclosed area such as your home, attic or garage,
If installed in an outside shed or weather-enclosure, you need to also install vents so the gas can be dispersed outside the enclosure.
Gel Batteries
Gel batteries belong to a category of batteries called valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA). Gel batteries aren’t really filled with gel at all. These are also lead-acid batteries, but are constructed in a way that you do not need to add water, and no hazardous fumes are vented during usage or storage. This makes gel batteries safe to use inside your home or in other enclosed areas.
These are a much better option than flooded batteries, but there is still one that is much better.
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
Most experts, including me, agree that AGM batteries are the best for storing solar energy. A woven glass mat is placed between the plates inside the battery. This mat absorbs and holds the electrolyte making them both spill- and leak-proof.
They are as safe as Gel batteries, but they hold their charge longer, discharge slower, and survive well over extended charging and discharging cycles.
If you can afford them, AGM batteries are the preferred way to go.
Solar energy scientists are experimenting with other high-tech ways to store solar energy. But for now, batteries are your best option.…
Solar Energy to Electrical Energy Through Solar Panels
Solar Energy to Electrical Energy Through Solar Panels
You may be thinking of buying or even making your own solar panels in order to stay away from your monthly electric bills. How do solar panels work? This is the main question that you have to be able to answer before you get your tools and start working on your homemade solar panels.
It collects radiation from the sun and then convert this energy to electricity. The solar cells function just like how large semiconductors work. When the solar cells are exposed to the sunlight, its positive-negative or p-n junction diodes convert the energy into electrical energy. When the energy strikes the surface of the solar panel, electrons are knocked out from their orbits and are released. The electric fields of the solar cells pull these electrons in a directional current. This is where the metal contacts of the solar cell will be able to generate electricity. You should remember that the more solar cells with high qualities are there in the solar panels, the more total electrical output will be produced. The whole process of converting sunlight into usable electrical energy is called the Photovoltaic Effect.
There are certain factors that affect how it works. Solar insulation is the measurement of the amount of solar radiation received by the solar panel. Your solar panel efficiency greatly depends on weather conditions. If the location of your panels is shaded, the direct sunlight radiation will be obstructed. It is best to place your panels away from obstructions so that it can receive sufficient amount of sunlight. It is also recommended that you consider the hemisphere on where you are located. If you are at the northern hemisphere of the earth, it is recommended that you place your panels facing south to receive maximum amount of sunlight. On the other hand, you have to put your panels facing north if you are located in the southern portion. However, you can also use mounts that can follow the position of the sun in the sky. You can use this to rotate your panels to get the maximum amount of sunlight exposure as possible.…
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Learn How to Make Your Own Solar Panels
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Learn How to Make Your Own Solar Panels
Learn how to make your own solar panels and you will spend only a fraction of the retail cost of buying them! You will be protecting your environment because you will be reducing your carbon footprint and you will also be saving on energy bills.
Learn how to make a solar panel with an easy-to-follow guide that comes with pictures and diagrams. You can also build a DIY solar water heater!
Building your own solar energy system involves a small investment but promises big returns! Do you know that they can retail at thousands of dollars? In fact, the average system can cost $27,000 to buy and professionally installed!
You can easily recoup the costs of converting your home to a cleaner energy source from the savings you will make on your energy bills. Even those that spend the money on pre-fabricated solar panel kits and their installation will tell you the energy savings helps them recoup their costs, within a few years. But you will save more and recoup the costs quicker if you make your own panels.
If your local utility will allow you to sell your excess energy back to “the grid” with reverse-metering, you will cut your utility bills into a negligible expense. There could be energy rebates available from your local utility and there might be some tax breaks for you to consider. Most especially, you will enjoy the benefit of controlling your monthly utility costs, which are on the rise.
The environmental impact is the main consideration for many people, but you’ll find that your solar panel system, when properly built and implemented, can add to the resale value of your home. There are a number of financial benefits to consider, obviously.
Whether you build one panel or build an entire array of solar panels, you will be surprised at how simple it can be. You do not have to be a handyman or technically minded. Complete beginners and even a 12-year old can easily follow the step-by-step guide.
Many people are getting intimidated thinking that building your own source of solar power is a complicated task, but there are thousands who are making their own with success.
You can make a 60 to 120 watt solar panels for less than $200. Collect and connect recycled solar cells and they will cost you even a lot less!
Build your own solar panels – it’s easy and affordable, and you GO GREEN!…