Building Your Own Solar Panels – Reducing Your Electricity Bill

Building Your Own Solar Panels – Reducing Your Electricity Bill

Looking for ways to save electricity can be maddening when you’re stuck with power bills that cost you hundreds of dollars per month. It seems that no matter what anyone does, the power bill continues to remain high. Have you ever noticed that the prices rise for everyone at the same times every year? It’s true, electricity is outrageous, and it’s just going to get higher.

Chances are that you use no more power inside your home than you always have, but for some reason, it’s higher than it was last year, and last year was higher then the year before. It’s not difficult coming up with the result of what next year will hold. Creating solar power can help you to save electricity and potentially eliminate your bill altogether.

Solar power is free and it comes from the sun. It works in the same fashion as electricity to power your home, however the main benefit is that it does not harm the atmosphere. There are no dangers to using solar panels. Unlike coal, there is an abundance of sunshine. Some people wonder if they can still power their homes when it’s raining or dark outside. The answer is yes, you can.

You can reuse the power absorbed from the sun onto the panel over and over again. You can even sell your remaining electricity from your panel to your local power company. There are a lot of people who worry that if they create solar power panels on their own that it won’t be effective. Thanks to online DIY guides, there is no way that you can go wrong. The instructions provided in solar panel DIY guides are simple and basic.

There is no use in going out and spending $30,000.00 that you do not have on professional installation, unless you want to. You can still save electricity by creating your own panels at home. Sure, the panels you create on your own won’t be as flashy or aesthetically appealing, but who cares? The power provided is free!

At first, you’re not going to completely eliminate your power bill because you’re likely to need a number of panels in order to power your entire home. There is little need for concern about price however, because it usually only costs around $200.00 for all of the materials needed to build one panel. And do not worry, you’re not going to need a lot of solar panels to save electricity.

If you do your research, you’ll find that there is an abundance of information all over the net pertaining to how to create solar power at home. It’s crucial to understand the importance between what works and what does not. Depending on the DIY guide you use, putting your panels together will either be difficult or simple. Make sure that the information you read seems legitimate before purchasing just any set of instructions.

Most people are able to save electricity enough to totally get rid of their monthly power bill. Doing so can usually save families and individuals a couple thousand dollars per year. Another important fact to be aware of is that electric companies go up on their rates every year. What they were charging last year may not be what they are charging this year. There is no way to stop this process because of the amount of money it is taking to use the Earth’s valuable resources. The longer people use these resources, the more limited they become. The only way out is by investing in DIY solar panels to save electricity.…

Alternative Energy Information

Alternative Energy Information

The term alternative energy has become known also as renewable energy, but what do we mean when we use this term of alternative energy information. Do we mean any energy different to what we are already using or do we mean any energy that is not finite.

Let’s look at a brief history of energy; wood at one point was the main source of energy for mankind. It provide warmth and building materials for shelter, however as time passed on wood was being used in great quantities and the supply was dwindling. Mankind therefore had to find an alternative form of providing the warmth we needed, it was now the turn of coal to provide this much needed energy, even up till today this is still a major source of fuel for a lot of our needs. We now also use oil from which we have derived petroleum this provides us means of powering machines, cars, plant equipment, to name just two things.

However these energy providers’ coal, oil, and also natural gas are all what we term as fossil fuels and these are not renewable, in fact they are what we known as finite fuels, and they will run out in the future.

So do we provide our grandchildren with a world without these resources or do we have a duty to future generations to look and use energy sources which are renewable?

A lot of people now believe that finding and using renewable energy more now, is of paramount importance to help this ailing planet (global warming) and for the wellbeing of future generations.

Governments and the Utility companies are now beginning to realise that this problem must be given a lot of importance and are only now investing in research and also the building of alternative energy plants.

Common or popular alternative forms of energy basically reduce the impact on the planets environment but unfortunately have their own limitations. Let’s now look at what these alternative sources are and their limitations.

Solar Power: The conversion of the suns rays into usable energy namely electricity and using the heat from the sun to provide hot water. Limitations: no sun no energy, this type of energy is excellent if you live in a country where you have long periods of sunshine throughout the year.

Wind Power: Use of the planets natural resource to provide mechanical and electrical energy.

Limitations: no wind no power, very restricted in built up areas more commonly used in open country side and on hills, can be unsightly and noisy if you live near what are now known as wind farms.

Magnetic Generators: Machine using permanent magnetism to generate electricity. Limitations: is a mechanical machine will therefore require maintenance and like all machines can break down if this is your only source of energy you will need a back up.

Geothermal Energy: the use of hot water or steam from within the earth’s interior. Limitations: requires expensive and complicated plant to tap into and use.

Biofuel and Ethanol: substitute for petroleum for powering plant and transport is derived from plants.

Limitations: not commonly available yet.

Hydrogen: used again to power plant and some transport. Limitations: growing concern for the safe use.

Nuclear Power: use mainly to produce electricity in power stations and some forms of transport. Limitations: disposal of the fuel at the end of its life and can be unstable with enormous potential for harm both to mankind and also the planet.…

What Solar Power Equipment Is Required For Your House?

What Solar Power Equipment Is Required For Your House?

Did You know that amazing Sun of ours emits enough energy in one hour to full the consumption needs of the entire planet for a year! The sun possesses massive amounts of energy and gives life to all living things on our planet. The individual organisms use the solar energy in various ways. The plants use the process known as photosynthesis to absorb solar energy to enable food production. Us Humans need it for vitamin E absorption and the generation of electricity through the use of solar power equipment.

To convert solar energy to electricity, the typical solar power equipment makes the use of photovoltaic cells which consist of conductor and semiconductor materials such as gallium arsenide and silicon. The individual solar cells are not very efficient so in order to supply enough energy to be useful, a large surface area is required. As well as your solar panels you also will require a battery for storage and an inverter to convert the power generated from direct current(DC) to alternating current (AC) which your house and appliances use. Also a metering system of some sort. The amount of energy generated through your solar power equipment depends on how many solar panels you have and their exposure to the sun. Good placement of the panels is essential for maximum efficiency. Due to the low efficiency of solar generation, most houses utilizing solar power generation use it to only subsidise their power requirements and are still attached to their electricity grid provided by their utility for reliability of supply.

The electricity generated has a wide range of applications from small calculators, cell phone charges and other small items right up to supplying the energy needs of houses and buildings. They are very useful for specialized equipment such as remote communication installations and satellites orbiting the planet. So you see solar energy is a very useful resource.

Our sun is the most abundant energy resource we have, providing sustainable, natural and safe energy unlike any other. So lets stop this pillaging of the Earth for unsustainable fossil fuels and look to the sky for our energy needs.…

Homemade Solar Energy – It’s Shocking What You Could Save!

Homemade Solar Energy – It’s Shocking What You Could Save!

Is your power bill costing you a small fortune?

If it is then I sympathise with you. I recently opened my power bill and was shocked to see that it had risen by over 25%! I did some quick sums, and worked out that if I continue to pay my quarterly power bill for the next 20 years it was going to cost me over $50,000 and that is just at today’s energy prices.

Well I wasn’t going to stand for that and neither should you!

Did you know that as at April 2009, the average US household pays about $110 per month for their power? And this cost is increasing….

As long as we remain solely reliant on the power companies to provide us with our electricity, we will continue to pay excessive amounts for our energy needs.

Well I have a way we can solve this this is it:

Homemade Solar Energy

Did you know that you can save thousands of dollars by installing your own homemade solar energy system? And what’s more it is so simple that anyone can do it.

Here’s how it works:

1. You install a homemade solar energy using online guides which are now readily available to download from the internet. These guides will provide you with all the details you need on how you build your system, where you source the best materials, instructional videos on how you go about installing the system and even how to get connected to the your local power grid. And best of all how you can do all of this cheaply.

2. Once installed your homemade solar energy system will power your day to day appliances, provide for your every day energy needs, and drastically cut your power bill.

3. But it gets better! When you are not consuming any electricity your homemade solar energy system will feed any unused power back into your local power grid. With a system that is connected to the grid you’ll have the security of having local power as a back-up, and best of all, your energy provider will pay you for any excess electricity that your system feeds back into the local power grid.

4. And of course you’re helping the environment by using your own renewable energy.

Obviously everyone’s circumstances are different and it may be that you are not suited to a homemade solar energy system, but isn’t if worth the investment to find out?

So why not do something about your spiralling energy costs. Consider installing your own renewable energy system, help the environment and save money with homemade solar energy.

The power is in your hands!!…

Solar Energy Benefits – 5 Reasons to Convert

Solar Energy Benefits – 5 Reasons to Convert

More and more people are getting into alternative energy sources including the sun’s heat for the solar energy benefits that users can harness from this power source. Surprisingly enough, people are too difficult to convince about switching from the usual power source to alternative, environmentally friendly forms.

So if you are still undecided on which kind of cleaner power sources you should try, here’s a rundown of solar energy benefits to help you decide if this change in lifestyle is for you.

1) Unlimited Source – since the major power source is the heat from the sun, you are not limited on how much energy can be taken from it. No need to worry if the source will run dry.

2) Cleaner Alternative – if you are one of the environmentalists that would like to protect the planet, then this is an energy source for you. In the process of harnessing the power from the sun, no harmful emissions are generated and so lethal effects on the environment is virtually eradicated.

3) Noise Free – aside from eradicating air pollution, noise pollution is also certainly lessened when you harvest power from the sun. Each unit is composed of panels, a battery to store the harvested power and other paraphernalia will never disturb you with irritating noise. Unlike big turbines and generators that can shake your night and of course your sleep, the panels are virtually noise-free.

4) Affordable Equipment – unlike before where panels were too expensive and might allow only a few to purchase them, a wide selection of do it yourself kits are out in the market these days. This gives everybody who is interested equal chances of embarking on this energy source.

5) Home Electricity Savings – since you will be producing your own power, you will actually reduce the amount you spend on your electric bill. By using your own solar panels or wind power generator, you should be able to notice a significant savings as one of your main solar energy benefits. In some locations, you can even sell excess power back to the hydro companies.…

Making Your Own Solar Panels At Home

Making Your Own Solar Panels At Home

Anyone who wants to save money on energy bills should consider building their own solar panels. It seems that everyone is stretching their budgets and trying to make their paychecks go as far as possible. Solar energy is free, and if you try making your own solar panels at home, you can harness this energy to lower those electricity bills.

Anyone who enjoys doing DIY projects will enjoy and appreciate making solar panels. If you have the right tools and equipment, this project can be easily accomplished. While building them was once a technology that was beyond the average individuals reach. However, with more modern advancements, it is now possible to obtain the materials to build this item.

It is always a good idea to start small. Build a small system and then you will get used to the process so that you can more easily build bigger versions.

Many kits are available with all of the necessary materials and instructions to create these solar panels. You can find them in a traditional hardware store or online. Do a little shopping around to come up with the best deal. These kits are usually very easy to

Once established, these panels require very little effort for their upkeep. You will continue to keep reaping the benefits of free energy. The fact that you built the solar panels on your own even saves you more money, as this is usually an investment for most people, but you are cutting costs drastically by building them yourself. Now that you have realized how easy it is to do this, over time consider adding on a panel at a time to your home, until all of your energy needs are cared for solely in this manner. Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to keep another source of power hooked up just in case you need to use it.…

Solar Energy Education – Training For a Renewable Future

Solar Energy Education – Training For a Renewable Future

The opportunities for those interested in solar energy education are increasing throughout the United States and across the globe each and every year. Renewable energy is a popular topic nowadays thanks to the environmental or green movement across the world. People are recognizing more and more that the environment must be protected and sustained instead of destroyed and used up without a thought given to sustainable and renewable energy resources.

Fossil fuel consumption is rapidly depleting the energy resources we have used primarily to heat our homes, cool our homes, heat and cool water, operate commercial businesses, and to power our appliances over the years. Continued use of fossil fuels at the current rate means we will deplete these resources before they can be renewed again. What is the answer? Renewable energies such as solar, wind, and geothermal, which are renewable and can never be depleted!

Renewable energy sources such as solar are a vital component when it comes to reducing our footprint on the environment and protecting the world around us. The result has been an influx of education courses and jobs that are flooding the solar jobs and renewable energy jobs industry. This is exciting news for anyone interested in becoming part of the positive environmental solution!

College Graduates or Current Professionals Can Get Educated in Solar

Did you know that several colleges and universities are now offering courses and degrees for students interested in pursuing a green energy job? It’s exciting to note that the classes and hands-on training are expanding too! Students can leave college with a degree that will allow them to specialize in a specific area of the solar energy industry and make a good living doing something they love.

Solar energy education is also a means for current professionals to pursue a career in solar technologies. It’s becoming a reality for many men and women working careers such as finance officers, engineers, architects, and roofers to get training to enter the solar industry using the skill set they already possess. Interested in switching careers? It’s not as difficult as you might think if you can find the resources available for education in solar technologies.

What Types of Jobs Are Available in the Solar Industry?

You could perform a number of different jobs in this industry including, but not limited to:

Architect – design solar homes or specialize in designing commercial buildings for solar technologies

Geologist

Plumber

Financial Expert or Consultant

Solar Engineer

Installation Expert – specializing in installation of solar panels and other solar technologies for either commercial or residential applications

Marketing and Sales – use your sales or marketing experience to sell solar technologies to homeowners or businesses

The demand for solar energy jobs and green energy jobs is increasing which means the education required to train people for these jobs is a necessity. Training for jobs in the residential or commercial areas of the solar industry is available through many different sources across the United States and throughout the world.…

Caring For Your Solar Panels

Caring For Your Solar Panels

If you spend the money to get solar panels, you need to make sure you are caring for them properly. The right care will keep them working properly and in good shape for many years. There is usually no reason good panels shouldn’t last for a decade or two and work great the whole time.

Make sure you keep any information that comes with your solar panels. Any booklets or brochures that have care information should be kept for future reference. This way if there are specific products or methods that need to be used on your panels, you will always have that information at your fingertips.

Probably the most important part of caring for your solar panels is ensuring that they stay clean. When you are installing them, make sure they are set at an angle so that things will be more likely to slide off them. Then check them regularly if you can. If it is safe, sweep leaves and snow off them so they can continue to work. Also, wipe off the glass sometimes to keep dirt and water-spots from reducing their effectiveness.

Check your panels at least once a year to make sure they are still safe. Make sure they are bolted down properly and that no other screws are coming loose. If anything is shaky figure out how to fix it right away before it can pose a hazard to anyone. Also make sure the cover isn’t cracked. Whether it is glass or plastic, if it has cracks, it can shatter and seriously injure someone.

Think of taking care of your solar panels as protecting an investment. These items aren’t cheap, and you are buying them to improve your life. It only makes sense to take a little time to make sure they are doing the best job that they can.…

Homemade Energy – Making Money From Building Solar Panels

Homemade Energy – Making Money From Building Solar Panels

Home made energy is not science fiction or something that some geek has managed to produce in his backyard. It’s a fact that thousands of homes are using home made energy to reduce their carbon footprint and their electricity bills.

Why aren’t more people doing it?

The main reason that it doesn’t get the media attention that it should get is that the only people who really benefit from homemade energy are those people who are using it. With no incentive from large companies to promote it, it has to be promoted by word of mouth and with the access to information that the internet offers, this is now becoming more commonplace.

The most popular methods of generating your own electricity is through solar panels and wind turbines. Panels are a little more complicated to build, but not difficult. If you can solder stain glass windows, which even my kids can do, then you can build a solar energy panel.

The best part of building your own energy devices is that they cost so little to build. With a small investment of $250, we had our first solar panel built and installed. We then did some research online to find cheaper components and were able to build a second solar panel for just $150.

Building Panels for Other People

After just building two panels, we were asked by a family member to build some for them. After that we built some for the next door neighbours and within three months we had built nine panels for other people and had enough money to build an additional six panels for ourselves.

Our word of mouth business may be small, but in times of economic difficulty, people want to save money and having something that people want is a great way to ensure a small, but lucrative business.…

  Lower Your Utility Bill with Solar

Choosing to install solar panels can be an excellent way to help you lower your monthly utility bills. If you’ve ever considered installing solar power one of the things that could be holding you back is the upfront costs. When you consider how quickly you can save with solar panels, the upfront costs may seem extremely justified. Here are some of the top ways that you can save money with solar power:

Cutting Your Utility Bill in Half

Even a small solar panel system will help you to cut your energy bill by 50% or more. If your home has solar panels, you can get access to credits from the utility company for the solar power that you are able to generate with the system. The power that you get from the sun is free once you install the solar panels and they will continue to work for 25+ years efficiently.

No Cost for Maintenance

You will be lowering your utility bill with solar while also making sure that you can continue to access quality power even with very little maintenance. With virtually no cost on maintenance, all of the fees associated with your system will be included with installation costs.

Locking in Your Cost for Power

The cost of energy is rising all the time but by installing a solar energy system you will be locking in your electricity costs at one set rate. You’ll be generating most of your own power and there’s no need to worry about what your electric company will charge you on a monthly basis. You’ll receive credits at the market rate from your electrical company, even as the cost of energy rises and you won’t have to worry about your extra costs because you’ve already paid for the power you generate through the system.

These are just a few of the top ways that you can lower your utility bill with solar. Consider installing this system today so that you can access the best in energy efficiency.

This post was written by Daniel Massaad, owner and expert solar technician at Energy Solutions Direct! ESD is one of the premier Tampa solar companies! Our licensed and certified contractors are masters of their craft; with years of experience servicing the great Tampa Bay area and beyond, the choice is simple. ESD excels at offering you the best in solar value!

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