Putting Solar Energy To Work – More Than Just Panels
Putting Solar Energy To Work – More Than Just Panels
Two exceptions I’ll note here from the beginning, nuclear and geothermal energy, the sun account for all the forms of energy in the world. Biomass,wind, waves, biofuels, and hydroelectric power all are examples of indirect forms of solar energy. If we look at the ones that aren’t nonrenewable forms of energy, like for example coal, natural gas, and petroleum are really indirect forms of energy. The reason for this is they are derived from organic matter made by the sun.
In the other hand, direct forms of solar energy can be used as the energy gets to us. Some people like to build skylights in there homes (called daylighting). But let’s focus on the two that matter to us: solar electric and solar thermal, basically they are what produce heat and electricity.
Two ways to capture thermal energy
The two types of solar thermal systems to capture the energy of the sun, active and passive. In the active solar thermal, solar panels capture the sun’s energy as heat when it gets pass the collector and transfers that heat into fluid. The fluid moves through the collectors by a fan or circulator, it can be used immediately or stored for later.
Passive solar systems work a little different, it captures the sun’s energy as it enters a building without a circulator or a fan. When it’s inside the home, the heat can be stored in the mass the building and spread between conduction, convection, or radiation, or even forced means, such as fans.
Home Solar Panels
So we know that electric and thermal provide energy in our homes. Most of the thermal panels for homes uses are of the flat-plate type. Evacuated-tube panels also are used but, they’re not as common. Solar panels or PV or photovoltaic panels or whatever you call them, are all flat-plate type. You can get flat-plate style glazed or unglazed versions. The difference is the unglazed are flexible the glazed, firm. Regardless of which you go with, the semiconductor material of the cells has to well protected from moisture. The firm solar panels are encapsulated between glass on the part where the sun hits it, but on the back just vapor impassable material.
Flexible solar electric panels don’t have glass protection, but they have a transparent, UV-resistant protector to prevent damage to the cells.
So there you have it passive, active and all the home solar panels and how to put solar energy to work.…
Solar Lighting: Giving You the Right Choice
Solar Lighting: Giving You the Right Choice
Preserving our nature is the least we can do to make our life worthy. As human beings, it is our primary duty to take good care of the surrounding where we live. Without this environment, where else do you think we live? So, before everything gets burned, make a choice now. One of the options that you can do to preserve the natural environment is to avail the solar lighting products. Get to know the benefits of it to make a wise decision.
1. The common problem in rural areas is the lack of light sources at night. Usually, works stop at six o’clock in the evening because of the darkness after the sun sets. But according to some studies, villages that use solar lighting had observed progress in their economic activity and status since workdays were extended to nighttime because they had used the solar powered lights.
2. Also, try the solar lanterns as an alternate to the kerosene lamps. Do you know that when you use that kerosene lamp, you are endangering yourself and your family? Yes, base on the estimates of the World Bank, 780 million children and women that breathe kerosene fumes inhale two packs of cigarettes a day. So, why settle for a light source that would benefit you now and make you suffer later.
3. Another danger that kerosene lamps give you is fire hazard. Make yourself be known to the safety that solar lights give, that kerosene, gasoline, and diesel fuel that are stored for lamp use cannot give.
4. It is far better to study with solar lights than with the lamps. It is better and easier to read with solar lights than with the candles that might burn your books if you mess up with it.
5. Solar electricity is at its best for the developing countries. It will make them save money from purchasing the conventional power with the power distributor. It is cheaper and available in every place where sun appears. All you need is the sunlight and it is free everywhere. You just need the equipment to make use of it.
6. Just in. Use of solar electric systems may help reduce the chances of worsening the local air pollution. When you refrain from using kerosene lamps, you also lessen the effects of air pollution and that is a big step for preserving the nature.
Those are just six of the many benefits that you can get from using solar lights. Once you started using it, you will be discovering more onsets that you never expected from these light instruments. Hence, make a choice.…
Secret Solar Energy Advantages
Secret Solar Energy Advantages
Introduction
Most people hesitate to install solar power solutions in their homes thinking they are expensive and cumbersome. Well, they don’t have to be. You probably have no idea how easy it is to employ these power solutions. Moreover, they will help cut down your power bills, AND you will contribute to a greener world.
First… let’s take a look at some of the different solar power systems.
The solar home lighting system: A solar home lighting system converts the solar energy into electricity for your home. This is done via cells that are charged with solar energy. That means the electrical equipment in your house will even work during the night, because of the solar energy stored in the solar cells. Install the solar home lighting system in your house and you will not have to worry about the power bills anymore.
The solar heating system: If you are worried that a solar heating system will turn your home into one big gadget, or that it will be an expensive investment, your concerns are misplaced. It’s not hard to find aesthetically-pleasing heating systems for your home these days. Investing in a solar heating system is a wise decision, and you will have your investment back within a few years.
The solar cooker: A solar cooker is a cooking device that can cook food for up to five people, and it uses absolutely no fuel at all. And if you are thinking that using a solar cooker will reduce the variety of dishes you will be able to make – don’t worry – you can roast and bake as well! And don’t forget – it’s free energy that you are using.
The Advantages
• Even if we cannot take advantage of the sun’s unlimited energy when it’s dark, on stormy, cloudy days… it’s always there! That means it’s a renewable resource. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of that!? And because the solar cells store energy during the day, you will also have power left during the night.
• The solar cells are silent.
• It’s a non-polluting source of energy. No carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released in to the atmosphere.
• Very little maintenance. No moving parts. Their life time is long.
The only disadvantage is that an installation can be expensive!
The Secret
The truth is that an entire solar power installation cost thousands of dollars. For the most part it will take several years to pay back, and the so-called “free energy” isn’t really free. However, lately it has become more and more economical to build your own home made solar panels. Home made solar panels that utilize deep cell storage batteries, can now produce the amount of electricity consumers demand. This is something most people don’t know. AND it’s not even hard to make solar panels at home. Some people have even turned it into a business, making up to $300 per unit!
There are some step-by-step guides available on the internet, but most of the are incomplete and are missing detailed instructions, pictures and videos. When choosing the right guide, it’s important that they live up to the following criteria:
• The guide contains fully detailed, easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions on building a home made solar panel.
• Explained by pictures and videos
• Other details on what required components to get from your local store.
• Life Long Updates to the manuals and videos, at no additional cost.
• Full Cash Back if you are not saving hundreds of dollars on your energy bill after using your home made system for a period of time.…
Solar Power For The Home – The Basics
Solar Power For The Home – The Basics
Do you want to invest in solar power in your home? Do you want to know the basics, before you invest? In this short article, you will discover the information you need, to be able to get started right with solar power in your home.
The first thing you may ask is how much will this cost you. The truth is that it varies. So, I aim to help you discover the costs first.
At the start, having an idea of your energy needs is essential. This can be done with some research.
Going through a recent utility bill, you generally can find the information you need. Knowing your energy usage is the first step, and what you are looking for, is to discover your energy needs over 1 to 3 days. Remember to factor in winter usage, which is generally higher.
Then you can decide whether you want to power your entire home or a part of it.
Once you have this information, you can move forward with getting solar energy in your home.
The main component of solar energy in the home, is solar panels. However, there are also some other things needed, such as solar batteries to hold the energy, and provide constant power.
The next thing you need is the inverter and cabling. I have found that there are 2 main options.
The first is to go through and get a solar power kit, and the other is to go through and get each of the components.
I have found that getting the solar power kit can make all the difference, and allow everything to work correctly with each other. Then all you need to worry about is getting a big enough kit.…
Thinking of Solar Energy For Your Business?
Thinking of Solar Energy For Your Business?
Depending on where your business is located, you may already be aware of solar energy at work. In warm and sunny areas of the world, solar energy has been used for many years as an energy source for both business and residential applications. The way it works is fairly simple, and it is easily recognized by viewing rooftops or surrounding property for the presence of solar panels, usually in groups, to generate the amount of power required. Solar panels can be mounted on the ground, or wherever possible, as long as the panel itself is facing the sun at the proper angle.
How do they work?
Solar panels use light energy from the sun, called photons, to generate electricity. This happens because of the “photovoltaic effect”, which is the creation of voltage (an electric current) when the sunlight shines on the cells embedded in the panel. The solar cells are solid state electrical devices which are activated by a light source, in this case, sunlight. Conducting wires carry the current to an inverter, which transforms the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). At that point, transformers and other control circuits can be used to customize the voltage and power supply required for the business or residence.
The panel itself.
Each solar panel can be in the form of a flat grid-like screen, cladding, roof tiles or other forms. They are attractive and immediately give the message that you are committed to preserving the environment and lowering your carbon footprint. Many high-profile companies have converted to solar power regardless of where they are located around the world. Installing solar panels is always more economical during construction of a building, but can be installed in some form on mostly any building, or on the ground. The return on investment will be over a number of years, usually 25, but can be reduced by tax credits, feed-in tariffs and other incentives.
Since sunlight is required to produce electricity with solar panels, there are a few low sunlight areas where solar panels would not be economical. Even so, the usage of solar panels would benefit the environment.
The advantages of producing your own power are many, especially if your business requires larger quantities of water, or requires more electrical power than most. Solar power replaces or reduces the cost of business electricity due to self-reliance or a reduced power bill from your business electricity provider. Should you produce more electricity than your business requires, you can “sell back” the unused power to an electric company for a profit!…
What Does Solar Energy Entail?
What Does Solar Energy Entail?
Countless individuals employ solar energy every day without realising that they are utilized it, as it has been utilised in different forms for countless years. Solar power is a popular theory around the globe though very few people wholly comprehend what solar power is. Probably the initial incidences when solar energy was utilised was back around the 1800’s when travellers collected radiation from the rays of the sun utilized a box and utilized it to prepare food with.
Gathering of Heat and Light power from the sun’s rays is the main way of harnessing solar power, this may be utilized in a array of ways either in your own home or in your business. Based on reports from scientists, a extremely small fraction of the power from the sun is actually being captured. It can be viewed that not enough is done by certain nations to produce solar energy, but moreover the belief of persons in less industrial counties is simply that they don’t need to capture the suns power while other energy sources are more affordable and more easily available.
Heat engines and Photovoltaic Cells (also know as panels) are the most common approaches to control power for the Sun’s rays. You can get two methods, passive and active and these labels express how the power is collected and changed to heat or electricity by the technology. Photovoltaic collectors are frequent in modern culture, regardless of whether you did not recognize the term you might have seen and utilized them seeing that they are repeatedly used to power little electric gadgets such as watches and calculators. Equipment produced for gathering solar power as well as photovoltaic devices are labeled into active systems as they capture the power and change it into electrical power we can use somewhere else.
While designs and construction materials that allow it to be simpler for folks to convert heat and light into energy are classified into passive technologies for harnessing power from sunlight. The sunlight is controlled or manipulated, but not converted to electrical power. Everyday forms of Passive Solar Technology comprise of solar heating systems that exploit the sun’s rays to heat water as an alternative to employing electricity, gas or oil, leading to a decline of power expenses. They additionally include light wells as part of house design, these disperse light in a particular manner to help illuminating a building.
Solar Power can be used in several means by folks throughout the planet, even if they will not be wholly convinced what solar power is. Uncomplicated Illumination is by far the more wide-ranging use of Solar Power. The quantity of synthetic light that is needed in a room is minimized when windows and skylights are incorporated into a house. Solar Water heaters are widespread and not only can they be utilised to provide hot water but they might be utilised in central heating systems and even to warm up swimming pools.
Conversion of the Sun’s rays to electrical power via Photovoltaic Solar Panels is by far the most everyday Active Solar technology. However, there is a drawback involved within this technology in that a selection of areas of the globe receive sun rays at particular times of the year based on the season, setting and climate condition. While the sun is shining then people who utilize this collection technique have a tendency to try and produce as much energy as possible!…
Various Advantages of Going Solar
Various Advantages of Going Solar
The sun is unarguably the richest source of energy available to our planet. It has been powering our planet since the dawn of the time. However, with the recent evolutions in solar technology, it has become possible for us to use solar energy to generate electricity as well. Earlier it was only available for scientific labs or commercial organizations, but with declining costs of solar systems it has become reality for domestic users too.
Go Eco-friendly with Solar Power
You might already be aware that most of the sources of generating power use natural resources, such as fossil fuel, gas, atomic fuel etc. These natural resources are available in limited quantities on earth. You can contribute to preservation of the scarce natural resources if you rely on solar power. Unlike usual means of producing electricity, solar power does not pollute the environment as it has almost no wastage.
Save and Earn Cash with Solar Power
Rapidly growing need for energy has also been causing a constant escalation in prices of electricity. However, you can stay unaffected from these regular hikes in your electricity costs using solar energy. After installing solar systems once, you can generate your own solar power at almost zero cost. This means that you keep saving on your electricity bills using solar power.
Also, if you have become completely independent for your own power supply, you can supply the additional energy back to the power grid. In several cities in the United States, you can directly earn cash if you are supplying energy to the power grid. You will be certainly delighted to see your electricity meter spin backwards when you are supplying power to the power grid.
Earn incentives and tax credits
Most of the state governments in the country promote and help people who wish to use solar energy. This enables you to earn tax credits right when you decide to buy solar systems to install at your premises. Effectively, these tax credits lower down the overall cost of solar systems making them much more affordable to you.
In many states, you can also earn incentives when you install solar systems at your place. You need to apply for claiming these incentives. The amount of incentives you receive will depend upon total wattage of the solar systems and the purposes you are using it for. For instance, among a home user, non-profit organization and a commercial organization, all three would be eligible for different amounts of incentives despite using the solar systems with same wattage.…
Solar Energy Facts That Could Change Your World
Solar Energy Facts That Could Change Your World
There is a huge interest in learning more about solar energy facts these days because more and more people are interested in green energy.
Solar energy can be used for a wide range of things like heating our houses, heating water, and even running motors to cool and air-condition our houses. To help you learn more about solar energy facts, here are 7 of them to help increase your green energy knowledge.
1. The earth receives and amazing 174 pentawatts of solar radiation every day. But a large portion, about 30%, is reflected back into space, and is unable to be used.
2 The total solar energy absorbed by the atmosphere, ocean, and land masses is about 3.9 exajoules per year.
3. The amount of sun energy reaching the earth in one hour is more then enough to power the world for one whole year!
4. The amount of solar power that reaches the surface of the earth is so big in one year that is about twice as much then will ever be claimed from all of the Earth’s nonrenewable resources like coal, oil, uranium, and natural gas.
5. Sun light travels to our planet in approximately 8 minutes, travels 93,000,000 miles, and travels at 186,282 miles per second.
6. The great Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first people ever to predict solar industrialization way back in 1447. He was a famous philosopher and one of the greatest artists of all time.
7. The world record for a solar powered aircraft is for flying 4,060 km across the United States without refueling.
These are just a few of the many amazing solar energy facts are out there. If you are interested in creating more about free energy you should learn all you can about this valuable resource.…
Steps to Build Your Own Solar Oven
Steps to Build Your Own Solar Oven
A solar oven is a cooking device that receives 100% of its power from sunlight. This characteristic makes a solar oven environmentally friendly as well as portable, because it requires no gas or electricity to operate. It’s also easy to make and store one, so you won’t need to set aside much space.
You’ll need the following tools and materials:
Umbrella, Aluminum foil, Cooking pot with lid (black is better), Hacksaw, File, Black duct tape or electrical tape
Hammer, Beaker tripod and wire gauze, UV protection glasses or sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses, Work gloves, Meat thermometer (when cooking meat)
Step One: Solar Oven Safety and Design
Understanding the way solar ovens work and knowing the precautions you should take is important before you begin making your own. Basically, a solar oven cooks food by using the light and heat energy contained in the sun’s rays. You’ll be able to achieve temperatures approaching 300 degrees Fahrenheit by focusing this solar energy. This is hot enough to cook meat as well as boil and sterilize water, but it can also give you a serious burn so you need to be careful whenever you’re using it. Wear appropriate protective glasses to prevent your eyes from being damaged by UV light.
Step Two: Apply Aluminum Foil to an Open Umbrella
The reflective surface of a solar oven focuses the sun’s heat and light, and aluminum foil makes a fine reflective surface when applied to a fully opened umbrella. Open the umbrella until it locks, and then cut a two-foot strip of foil for each of the umbrella’s sections. Next, cover the umbrella’s edge with foil, then apply one of the two-foot foil strips to a section of umbrella, ensuring that half the strip is on each side of the umbrella and there’s an even overlap on each side of the divisions. Overlap that first strip with another strip of foil on the inside of the umbrella, and apply tape to keep the foil in place. Repeat until the inside of the umbrella is completely covered by aluminum foil.
Step Three: Remove the Umbrella’s Handle
While you’re wearing work gloves and polycarbonate glasses, cut off the umbrella’s handle with the hacksaw, 1 centimeter above the umbrella’s locking mechanism. Smooth out the sharp edges with a file, and then hammer those edges toward the center to create a beveled shape. This can help prevent accidental burns while your solar oven is being used.
Step Four: How to Use the Solar Oven
To cook something with your solar oven, first open up the umbrella and lock it into place. Next, point it toward the sun, using rocks or other objects to prop it up and keep it aimed at the sun. Insert the tripod into a level portion of your solar oven and position the wire gauze on it. Fill your cooking pot with food, put the lid on and then place the pot on the wire gauze. Make sure that it continues to point toward the sun while your food is cooking. Finally, when you’re cooking meat, make sure you use a meat thermometer to be certain it’s cooked to a safe temperature.…
Important Facts You Need to Know About Residential Solar Energy Systems
Important Facts You Need to Know About Residential Solar Energy Systems
Residential solar energy systems have helped greatly in cutting down electric bills to many residents. Those people that find mortgage payments slightly high have discovered a way of adding relief to their lofty bills through the use of the systems. A solar power generator is one of the perfect examples of the solar power systems which can be installed in your home easily allowing you to have free electricity.
Residential solar energy systems are made up of many factors in terms of features, functionality, size and benefits. This article will look at each individual factor that makes up the solar power systems in length.
Features: Most of the solar systems are usually mounted on the roof tops where solar energy is in return generated to many homes. These energy systems exist in 2 ways i.e. stand alone and corporate connected (which means that their connection is on a power grid). The beneficial factor about those residential energy systems that are connected to a power grid is that there is power backup.
Functionality: Most of the solar power systems work efficiently by tapping sunlight in which the energy is converted into electricity through the help of solar panels. The solar panels ensure that the DC charge is sent through the precise wires where it is converted into an AC power possible to be used at home in one of the solar power systems.
Size: Those residential solar power systems that take precisely one side of the roof ensure that the entire house is filled with power making it possible for you no to rely on any other source of power. The company that is responsible for the installations should make sure that the best side of the roof is chosen in order to tap optimal sunlight for the system available. Remember, for you to have ease on the eyes and at the same time save a lot of space, think of the residential solar energy systems for your home.
Benefits: Being in a possession of any solar power systems harbors many benefits. One benefit is that the solar energy has no poisonous emissions in the air making it environmental friendly. They have a longer life of about thirty years making it easier for you to make whatever savings on the payments that have been made to you within the 1st 9 years. In addition, as the owner of the residential solar energy systems, you will have about twenty one years enjoying free electricity.
In conclusion, there are many misconceptions that are linked with residential solar energy systems. Some people believe that they can only work efficiently with the presence of intense sunlight on the solar panels. This conception is not true as the batteries can be used to store energy which can be utilized during the night and bad weather conditions for a period of time before the sun comes out again. Thus residential solar energy systems can run with or without the presence of sunlight.…