Is Solar Power Really Better Than Fossil Fuel?
Is Solar Power Really Better Than Fossil Fuel?
Solar power is definitely a practical solution that can solve our energy dilemmas today. The world still hangs on to fossil fuel simply because it is cheaper. What they do not know is fossil fuel such as coal is slowly destroying the environment. Their widespread use has also put our future generations at risk of losing a safe habitat to live in.
Even though we are aware of this, there is nothing much we can do as individuals. Here are some facts to demonstrate how dependent we are on using fossil fuel in our nation alone:
1. The United States do not have enough fossil fuel of our own. We need to import more than half of our supply from beyond our shores. And this trend is on the rise. We are expected to import more than 60% of our fossil fuel in the future. Everybody talks about using renewable energy, but almost nobody wants to spend the money to install solar panels.
2. Of all the energy we consume as a nation, only about 1% are generated from renewable sources such as solar power. We depend heavily on oil, gas and coal. Why do we not all switch to solar energy? The reason is the same — cost.
Perhaps we are all too short-sighted, being concerned about issues that immediately concerns us while neglecting future (important) issues that can threaten our basic needs such as air and water.
The fact is solar power is indeed much better than fossil fuel.
First, solar energy is clean and is everlasting. It does not aggravate the balance of nature. It requires no human intervention whatsoever to mitigate any ill effects as a result of its use. Thus it is environmentally friendly to use solar panels on a massive scale.
Second, even though solar panels are expensive to install, their price is paid for in the form of savings in your monthly energy bills. Sooner or later, your solar power hardware will be completely paid for and all you have are pure monetary returns.
Third, installing solar panels at your home helps your property to appreciate in value. The value, of course, depends on the size of your solar panels, their age and the type of solar panels you use. This alone can help to defray your cost of owning solar panels. Other than this, there are rebates that you may be qualified for. Thus your solar panels can essentially be totally paid for sooner than you think.
If every household is convinced about the benefits of using solar power rather than fossil fuel, we have a good chance of living in a clean environment. This is true not just for our generation, but also for many generations to come.…
Real Value Homemade Solar Panels
Real Value Homemade Solar Panels
The sun’s heat and light can be harnessed with the use of solar panels and stored for later use. The technology is simple and extremely cost effective, especially when you opt for the real value make-it-at-home option. The pales not only attract the heat and light of the sun but also route and store them in special batteries for use at a later stage – through the night and in the case of a grid failure. Power generation companies are now actively investing in ways and means of going green. Thanks to the way we have abused our non-renewable resources.A�
Making the investment in energy conservation real value
Across the globe people are now researching on methods and looking for alternative energy sources. This head hunt is to primarily meet the ever increasing demand for power by an every growing world population. Solar panels help harness this electricity so badly needed. You can now sit at home and harness the energy released by the sun and grasped by our atmosphere via the solar radiation that makes its way to the planet. Today, without a doubt, the sun has emerged as a major contributor of one of the leanest energy forms on the planet.
You can go green with an installation that is as cost effective as it is satiating to your role as a global citizen. The most potent and reliable source of inexhaustible energy, the sun now empowers each and every home owner to use solar panels and take control of the solar energy that the earth receives. The conversion results in a usable form like electricity, day and night, and satiation of the power hungry lifestyles we live. The installation takes the fitting of a cell (photovoltaic cell) for the conversion of the energy harnessed in the form of photons into what we used as electrical energy.A�
Becoming a green engineer
The solar panels are but an array of solar cells. You can reap good dividends in long term with your investment in the conservation of the environment. The aim of engineering this project should always first be trapping the abundantly available renewable energy from the sun and then selling power to a grid! The high cost of installation is a myth. Within any budget you can now get down to buying a DIY kit that saves you on labor costs. What you need is an investment in time and energy and voila!
The construction equipment includes:A�
A� Wafer-based crystalline silicon solar cells
A� Plywood with suitable dimensions
A� Thermoplastic or Plexiglas
A� Wood molding
A� Fiberboard
A� Zener diode
A� Silicone caulk
A� Copper wireA�
Installing solar panels for long term benefits involves some knowledge of wiring and carpentry. All the help and guidance you need for the project is available online and all the construction material is available at the local hardware store. Once you get the array of solar cells and framework (wooden or plastic) ready, you are sorted thorough phase one. The wafer- crystalline silicon cell is used as the semi-conductor and the unit as a whole helps you to harness the solar power.…
Solar Pool Heaters For an Unending Pool Fun
Solar Pool Heaters For an Unending Pool Fun
We all love to take a splash in the pool. In fact, your kids may always ask if they can spend their weekends just playing on the pool while you are cooking barbecue in the background. Because of this, you might be bothered sometimes that the water in the pool might just be so cold for them hence what you need in your house are efficient Solar Pool Heaters that can help big time in making sure that your pool water comes at the right temperature while giving you the benefit of not spending a lot for the heaters that would normally call for a very expensive fuels or electricity bills.
In most Solar Pool Heaters, you will need the following parts:
o solar collector – this will be the device wherein the pool water is circulated so they can be heated by the powerful rays of the sun
o filter – this is the one that helps in removing debris just before the water is pumped into the collector
o pump – tool that helps to circulates water into the filter and the collector then back again to the pool
o flow control valve – this may either be an automatic or manual device which will divert the water of the pool water into the solar collector.
Before you decide to get the service of someone or a company that will install the Solar Pool Heaters for you, be aware of the few considerations to make before you allow them to build the heater on your place.
First of all, you have to understand whether the company possesses any experience in the installation and maintenance of the heating systems. As a rule, it will help a lot if you can choose a company that already shares a wide experience in installing the kind of system you that you desire. On the other hand, although the company has an experience already in getting this kind of job done, you may want to be sure in advance by means of asking how many years of experience they have when it comes to Solar Pool Heaters. If they have more years of experience then that would be better. To clear up everything, you may ask a list of their past customers in order to serve as your reference. Lastly, you can do your little search to know whether the company is licensed. Going for a legit plumber that has a contractor’s license is necessary in some states. In view of this, contact your city and county to obtain the information that you need regarding the law behind installing Solar Pool Heaters. On the other hand, the licensing board can further instruct about cases of any complaints against the state-licensed contractors that you are eying on. By going for the best contractor, you can be sure to get only the best heaters you can probably have.
Now that you know some facts regarding Solar Pool Heaters, it is time to install them up in your house the soonest.…
Green DIY Energy – How to Start Saving on Your Energy Bill Today
Green DIY Energy – How to Start Saving on Your Energy Bill Today
There are obvious benefits to switching to solar power. Whether you’re passionate about the environment or just keen to cut down your bills and assert your energy independence, going solar is a highly attractive option for the ethically and financially minded consumer. What a lot of people don’t realise though, is that Green DIY energy is within their grasp.
Solar technology has been around for a while, but has only recently become a seriously competitive option for the average household. Imagine a lifetime without electricity bills, without the hassle of relying on a supplier for your needs; no more over-billing, no more interference, just clean, green energy that’s as dependable as the sun itself.
One obvious hurdle to installing solar panels for your home or business are the start up costs which can be, frankly, astronomical. Solar technology is firmly established, yet remains priced at a premium; it is still likely to be a while before the cost of professional installation make sense for an individual house, so it’s worth considering what other options are available if you’re really committed to the idea.
Having solar panels installed by an outside company can cost a small fortune, so be sure to weigh up the pros and cons when considering your options for this fledgling alternative technology. Probably the most important equation you make in this regard will concern how long it takes to recoup your cost, as not everyone has the cash to splash upfront, even if the long term savings are highly attractive.
Increasingly, homeowners and businesses are seeing the benefits of building and installing their own solar panels; this way, the savings gained from your bills will quickly match up with and then surpass the amount spent on installation and set up. Surprisingly, and with the right information on your side, it’s easier than you might think to do it yourself.
As with any major home project, it is of course vital to have the right tools and equip yourself with the very best step-by-step knowledge. Some background on the basics of solar technology are vital, but serious, operational solar panels have even been constructed by grade school students, so don’t feel too intimidated.
If you’ve got the patience, and arm yourself with the right knowledge, you could have your own DIY solar panels up and running in no time. The net provides a variety of excellent, step-by-step resources for those seriously considering going it alone, so do your research and you could save yourself a lot of time, hassle and, most importantly money with your very own Green DIY energy!…
Storing Solar Energy – The Three Types of Collectors
Storing Solar Energy – The Three Types of Collectors
Methods of collecting and storing solar energy vary depending on the uses planned for the solar generator. In general, there are three types of collectors and many forms of storage units.
The three types of collectors used for storing solar energy are flat-plate collectors, focusing collectors, and passive collectors.
Flat-plate collectors are the more commonly used type of collector today. They are arrays of solar panels arranged in a simple plane. They can be of nearly any size, and have an output that is directly related to a few variables including size, facing, and cleanliness. These variables all affect the amount of radiation that falls on the collector. Often these collector panels have automated machinery that keeps them facing the sun. The additional energy they take in due to the correction of facing more than compensates for the energy needed to drive the extra machinery.
Focusing collectors are essentially flat-plane collectors with optical devices arranged to maximize the radiation falling on the focus of the collector. These are currently used only in a few scattered areas. Solar furnaces are examples of this type of collector. Although they can produce far greater amounts of energy at a single point than the flat-plane collectors can, they lose some of the radiation that the flat-plane panels do not. Radiation reflected off the ground will be used by flat-plane panels but usually will be ignored by focusing collectors (in snow- covered regions this reflected radiation can be significant). One other problem with focusing collectors in general is due to temperature. The fragile silicon components that absorb the incoming radiation lose efficiency at high temperatures, and if they get too hot they can even be permanently damaged. The focusing collectors by their very nature can create much higher temperatures and need more safeguards to protect their silicon components.
Passive collectors are completely different from the other two types of collectors. The passive collectors absorb radiation and convert it to heat naturally, without being designed and built to do so. All objects have this property to some extent, but only some objects (like walls) will be able to produce enough heat to make it worthwhile. Often their natural ability to convert radiation to heat is enhanced in some way or another (by being painted black, for example) and a system for transferring the heat to a different location is generally added.…
The Potential Importance of Solar Energy For the Future
The Potential Importance of Solar Energy For the Future
In recent years the energy crisis and associated problems like carbon emissions and global warming have grabbed the headlines and created awareness of the imperative need to make changes to the way we live and use – and abuse – our natural resources, in particular our energy usage.
Energy resources such as fossil fuels have always appeared to be in plentiful supply, or so we’ve been lead to believe, and, as a result, the way we’ve used those resources has been pretty cavalier. They’ve always been regarded as being in infinite supply and we’ve never really concerned ourselves with the effect of our ever-increasing reliance on them on the environment.
The effect has, of course, been disastrous, as evidenced by the effects of carbon emissions on the earth’s atmosphere and the resultant global warming. As a result, attention has turned to what we need to do to stop the advance of global warming and to the adoption of alternative energy sources, with the spotlight falling on solar energy in particular.
Solar Energy Abundance
Solar energy is energy from the sun that’s supplied to us freely and abundantly every day. And that’s the great thing about solar energy – it’s overly abundant (more than six thousand times the amount of energy used by the entire planet annually reaches the earth in one day!), and it’s there for us to take advantage of.
With fossil fuels rapidly disappearing and projected to be exhausted before too much longer, making use of the sun’s energy is now more important than ever.
Technology Getting Better And Cheaper
Governments throughout the world, lead by the United States in particular, are placing increasing importance on the need to adopt solar power more rapidly and more comprehensively. One of the major obstacles preventing more homeowners from having solar energy systems installed on their homes is the perceived initial expense involved.
This is a reasonable concern, but one that should diminish over time, as the technology used to produce solar panels gets better and the panels themselves become more efficient and cheaper. The price of solar panels has dropped dramatically over the last five years or so, while their efficiency has increased proportionally.
Exciting Things To Come
There are many exciting developments being discussed and developed in the area of solar energy. New ways to make the most of the energy from the sun are coming onto the market all the time, such as silicon being installed in drapes to capture the sunlight coming in through windows.
We’ll see solar infiltrating our lives increasingly in the future, as more and more everyday tasks and devices are converted to use more of the sun’s energy that’s currently going to waste. We’re seeing major advances in solar transportation in the form of solar planes and boats, and the solar car, currently in the experimental stage, can’t be too far behind. The day of the solar high-speed train can’t be too far away either.
Solar has been used to further the space race, so it’s already proven its worth many times over. With the threat of global warming increasing and the dwindling supply of fossil fuels available, it’s important that we take steps to develop alternative energy supplies as rapidly as possible.
Solar is a known quantity with limitless potential, and expanding its use into all areas of life is not only wise but essential for the future of our children and their planet.…
Learn To Build Your Own Solar Panel System – 3 Great Reasons Why
Learn To Build Your Own Solar Panel System – 3 Great Reasons Why
Solar energy is a new power source that has great potential for use in homes. It can provide a large amount of cheap green energy once the panels have been setup. This will help you to drastically cut down your electric bill. They can also be made very cheaply, if you learn to build your own solar panel system.
In many homes solar power has become a popular source of energy. People who have their own panels are making the most out of the sun’s light. When the sun’s rays hit the panel the energy from it is converted into electrical power. This power can be used to provide energy to everything in your house. Like many others if you learn to build your own solar panel system you will be saving hundred of dollars on your electricity bill every month.
There are many good advantages to using solar energy for power in your home. Besides some of the common reasons like helping to save the environment and tax rebates there are other great reasons to use solar power for your home. Below are 3 great reasons why you should learn to build your own solar panel system. These are the major factors to consider whether you want to create your own diy panels.
Reason #1- The first reason why you should make your own panels is because of all the savings to your electric bill. This is probably the most common and most convincing reason why people create their own panels. Without a bill or with a reduced energy bill you can put that money toward something more useful rather than paying your electric company.
Reason #2- The second reason why you should create your own is to add value to your home. The panels would be an asset to include with your house because if you ever decide to sell it you can sell the panels with it. Adding solar energy panels to your house will raise to it’s value, which is good news for anyone who was hit by the 2008 housing crisis.
Reason #3- The third and final reason on why should use diy solar power for your house rather than buy it from an electric company is because you will never have to worry about a rising electric bill. This can really take a burden off of your back because you will no longer have to worry about electricity cost rising.…
Green Energy – Wind Or Solar For Home
Green Energy – Wind Or Solar For Home
Green energy is one of the hottest topics today when discussing how to help with our world wide problem of non- renewable energy. The ability to reduce our home energy costs will help with the use of many of the non-renewable energy sources. We now have many solar home systems and wind powered systems that are available. These systems often will have a pretty hefty upfront cost but will pay for themselves in many different ways. When solar energy is being gathered on a home system and nobody is home, that energy is being credited to the home owner.
In other words the electric company is actually buying back the energy you are not using. What a wonderful thing to see the electric meter spinning backwards and giving you credits with the electrical company. This can be the same instance for wind power. You can actually dramatically reduce your energy costs. At the same time you are doing your part for a cleaner and more responsible way to approach using renewable versus the non renewable sources of energy in our world. By investigating these alternative sources we are in step with the goals our world is trying to achieve and that is to become a “greener place.”
By taking a look at the green energy alternatives for our homes we can all look to do our part in helping get to a more reasonable way of using our resources and get away from the careless attitudes toward our planet that we have shown over the last several decades. We all need to do our part to help preserve our wonderful world and abandon the ways we have been ruining our planet. Since this green energy movement is gaining momentum there have been many people busy devising new ways to capture energy. One of Hollywood’s long time stars Ed Begley Jr., has been a “green” fanatic for years. He actually has a stationary bike hooked up to a device which will power some of the smaller appliances in his home when he rides the bike.
He toasts his toast in the morning by riding his bike. He is one of those guys who actually “walks the walk”. His methods may be considered extreme but he is pretty inspirational about how he truly pays attention to our earth and how he lightens his load while here. I think in today’s world and economy the idea of home energy and green energy is rapidly growing and here to stay. These renewable energy options are available to all of us and will not just benefit us, but will help diminish some of the problems we have created along our way.…
Solar Power in Remote Areas
Solar Power in Remote Areas
For the purpose of this discussion, a remote area is one at which the power grid has not yet arrived.
Most folks think that electricity is available where ever you go, and for the most part that is quite true. Yet, even in these ultra modern times, there are still many places the grid has not reached. And to make matters even worse – if you want to get grid power pushed through to a new area – the cost has become excessive. We’re not talking about a few hundred yards off the grid, that is tolerable. But even a mile or two away and the costs jump into the tens of thousands of dollars.
This is where a stand alone power system really shines. The overall cost of such a system will usually be far less than the cost of running transmission lines. But that is not the only advantage.
The reliability which such systems have achieved surpasses even that of the grid. Actually, when you think about that, the grid is anything but reliable what with the constant power outages everyone experiences.
Have you ever wondered how some of the navigation light systems function far away from land? Solar power. It’s the same thing with many of the remote microwave repeater stations. Solar power. The list goes on.
My own house qualifies as a remote location, being – as it is – on a small island without grid powered electricity. Yet we are able to have completely reliable 120V AC power year round.
There really is no secret to it. For those of us living with solar energy, it is just something we are used to. We set up our bank of solar panels, buy a suitable battery bank and an inverter and we’re in business.
As we speak, I am typing this on my solar energy powered computer. My wife is busy watching her solar energy powered big screen TV. Whatever electrical gadgets we have here, they are all run by solar power.
The real beauty of many remote areas is that they are, well…remote. Peace and quiet abounds. There is a certain appeal about that to some people, particularly knowing that the sun will give us power to run whatever we like.
Do you think you might like to latch on to some remote property? Perhaps have your own solar system? You can find out how to do that by visiting here now.…
Free Solar Cells
Free Solar Cells
People who are considering using solar panels in their homes need to know a thing or two about photovoltaic. The need to acquaint one’s self about its ins and outs is of great significance most especially if you want to transfer to this source of renewable energy. Solar cells play an important role in the process. The needs to understand the role of these cells in absorbing the sun’s energy and transforming it into something that can brighten your home, switch on your fridge, make your cell phone work and so on.
Solar cells are also called photovoltaic cells. Clearly, this is a device used in converting sunlight into usable electricity. An electric current is generated from the particles of light that is absorbed by the semiconductor when electrons collide with the photons inside. The attraction and repulsion of the electrons that move and fill the gaps in semiconductors of a solar generator is then transformed and becomes a good source of electricity.
A group of solar cells that produces electricity is called a solar panel or solar module because the joining of solar cells is referred to as a module. If one wants to produce more electricity, more solar panels is required. A group of solar panels connected with each other becomes a solar array. The rule is simple when it comes to solar energy, if you want more power, a larger solar panel required. If you have small power needs, small solar panel is then needed.
Solar technology seems to have nowhere to go but up. Many people are now considering the use and applicability of solar energy not only on their calculators but their homes too. Demand for solar cells is significantly increased over the years. In the near future, this commonly perceived as an expensive method of electricity generation will ultimately be the choice of the masses because its production costs are expected to reduce drastically.…