What Home Solar Systems Can Be Used For
September 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
There are many various uses for home solar panels. Solar systems for household applications can come in two different types, those that absorb the sun’s rays with photovoltaic cells, for the purpose of generating electricity and those that are designed to simply heat water. Both solar systems can save you decent amounts of money in the short run, as well as in the long term. Solar power systems have many merits. They can relieve some pressure off of using your power grid, saving you much money when the sun shines. With sufficient battery backup, you could even have power during the night, or when the grid is down. Some individuals use solar electricity to completely meet electricity supply requirements for their entire estate, completely relying on green energy.
Solar panels for home use can be used to heat up your water supply, saving you your hard-earned cash. In colder areas, where the water table temperature is less than 60 degrees, the application of solar power can heat up water to a reasonably high temperature. This could relieve some pressure on water boilers, because it shouldn’t require much time to make water hot. For ambient temperatures above 60 degrees, and where you have sufficient sunlight, you may be able to forget about your boiler entirely. Even if you just heat up the surrounding water, this can reduce your heating bills by 40-60%. Instead of solar systems having a photovoltaic cell array, one can apply those systems that have several pipes running inside their frames. When the water goes through, the energy from the sun heats up the water (more or less depending on the kind of piping utilized). If this water is pumped through evenly before it is fed into the hot water inlet, it will be a little warmer.
Home solar systems do a lot more than just heat water and produce electrical energy. Solar systems help us preserve the environment. First of all, they work on energy that is never-ending, renewable, and absolutely free. Generating electrical energy from the sun doesn’t entail the use of our natural resources, plus these panels don’t produce any harmful emissions. Whether you are still hooked up to the external power network, or fully support your energy needs yourself, using solar panels can help minimize overall energy usage. This will alleviate the burden on cogeneration plants, many of which to this day burn fossil fuels such as coal and heating oil to generate electricity.
With the appropriate solar panel power system in place, not only will it pay for itself in a short space of time, but it will actually make you additional money. How will it make you money? If your solar panels are hooked up to your main power network still, and you produce more electrical energy than you can use and/or store, it goes directly back into to the main power network. You essentially become a small-size power plant, and by law, utility companies are to buy this unused power from you. You should make all arrangements beforehand, but even ten or fifteen dollars a week is better than nothing.
As a rule, the majority of people who use home solar panels will remain hooked up to the main power network just to receive extra income. In conclusion, not only can solar systems be utilized to save you hard-earned dollars on your bills, but can also be turned into an additional source of income.
Solar Panels For Homes: How To Choose Them Appropriately
August 17, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
The sun is a source of renewable energy called solar energy. Solar cells are employed to turn this energy into electricity. Solar cell is also known as photovoltaic cell or PV for short. A single solar cell generates only small amount of electricity, so solar cells are interconnected and packaged into panels. Solar panels for business purposes and solar panels for homes are available.
As a rule, solar cells are manufactured of crystalline silicon. When open to sun, wafer-based crystalline silicon cells produce electricity. An average of 13% of solar energy is converted to electrical power. Presently, 18% is achieved, but 30% is a targeted figure by researchers.
If you are contemplating to install a solar-powered system for your house or your business, solar panels for homes are the major piece of hardware you should buy. Basically, methods of manufacture and materials used vary for each type of panels available in the market, so you should know the requirements of your system to be able to pick the right home solar panel.
One thing to consider is whether your system will be stand-alone or grid-tied. In addition to that consider your geographical area and choose the right solar panel for your location. If you live in a place where the sun always shines, buy the concentrating solar collectors. These kinds of panels are angled to collect direct sunbeams. Otherwise, choose the non-concentrating solar collectors, because they are able to absorb reflected sunbeams as well.
Solar panels that can be used in your residence are available in a variety of power output ratings, from 60-190 watts. If you need greater output than 190 watts, you will need to get more panels and set up an array of panels.
Depending on the brand name, one solar panel is priced approximately $1,000. Mitsubishi, Sharp, Evergreen, Kyocera, Sanyo and Uni-Solar are popular brands. These products come with 20 years of warranty. Preferably, select brands that have low manufacturing impact on environment.
You need to think about the efficiency of individual brands because systems with greater efficiency will pay for themselves in less time. Efficiency of between 16 and 18% is already good, so you sould expect around 10-year payback period. This will be cut to four years when panels with 25% efficiency would be available in the future.
With new panels costing about $1,000 each, the entire system for your residence can cost you $20,000, if a contractor does the installation for you. If you do it yourself, the cost will be cut to less than 50%. You can save even more if you find broken panels and fix them yourself.
The market trend for solar panels slants towards more affordable panels. In addition, the federal and state governments offer incentives that help reduce the total cost of a solar energy system. Keeping these factors in mind, many homeowners are considering installing solar energy system for their homes.
$20,000 for the cost of a system that could power a standard-size house is still beyond affordability for the majority of people. The solution then is to install a solar energy system that only partially covers the energy needs. Solar panels for homes could be installed for $5,000 and are enough to take one third of the energy requirements. The number of residences powered by solar panels for homes is expected to grow in the future, thus sustaining a greener planet.
Earth4Energy – Want to Reduce or End Your Electricity Bills
August 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
There is a do-it-yourself manual available by the name of earth4energy that is empowering homeowners to create their own solar electricity. The reason for it’s incredible popularity is pretty simple to explain really… it saves people a ton of money, to say nothing about the positive environmental aspects.
Are you like millions of people that are growing increasingly frustrated with high energy costs? Maybe it’s just me but it seems like our utility bills are climbing faster and faster? Without a doubt the oil companies and governments a certain countries dictate what we pay for energy. But the truth is that it doesn’t have to end up that way.
Earth4Energy is the creation of a man named Michael Harvey who over 15 years ago looked into having solar panels installed on his home. A $20,000 estimate was like cold water in his face. A decision was made right there that he would build the zone sort panels and make the knowledge he gained available to the public.
The final product is in fact an easy to follow instruction guide that also contains videos where the viewer can get an over the shoulder look of how to build solar cells and string them together into a solar panel. And of course there are easy to follow instructions included in earth4energy on how to install your solar power system.
Using parts and materials from your local hardware store you can build a quality photovoltaic solar panel for less than $200 . Once more, there are no special tools required nor are there any special skills or prior knowledge or experience required. Anyone can do it.
When it comes to meeting our energy needs, there really is no doubt that we can take care of that on her own. Resourceful people have learned how to tap into the sun’s energy in order to generate electricity for their homes.
In fact, some people have completely gone off the grid which means that they generate all of the power they need without having to rely on any utility companies. If there is ever any surplus electricity generated it gets sold back to the electric company. And you can bet that the power companies are willing buyers.
Take the time to learn how you can take advantage of the sun’s powerful energy. The benefits include saving thousands of dollars on utility bills, doing your part to preserve the planet, and adding to the value of your home. Find out how Earth4Energy can guide you to energy independence.
Use Earth4Energy to Construct Solar Cells
August 13, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
There is a breakthrough DIY home improvement product available now called Earth4Energy. It’s all about empowering people by showing them how to take advantage of renewable energy sources. I am, of course, speaking of solar and wind power. It doesn’t really matter where you live, because you probably have one or both in abundance.
You can get a hold of the guide immediately by downloading it through the Internet. It contains a series of step-by-step video tutorials and easy to follow written instructions. All of the necessary materials and tools needed to build solar panels and wind power generators are listed.
The thing that makes this system really great is that it can be done by anyone. As a matter of fact, the man they created this system chose a diverse cross-section of people to test it on. He wanted to make sure that anyone could do it.
In order to build photovoltaic solar panels you must first start with constructing a solar cell. The solar cells are then wired together which form of solar panels that we all are familiar with. And, of course, the newly built solar panels must be installed and wired into the homes of electric service.
It kind of sounds like a very involved process doesn’t it? But the fact of the matter is that it is not difficult at all. Some folks have even turned their newfound knowledge into a business by building windmills and solar panels and selling them.
Did you know that to purchase and install solar panels on a home it can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars? The Earth4Energy guide, which can be purchased for less than $50, can teach you how to build photovoltaic solar panels for under $200. Once more, you can build windmills for less than $100.
They also increase the resale value of the home substantially. Solar panels add a great deal of value to the home. And it goes without saying that your utility bills will cost you a lot less money.
If you are interested in saving money and saving the planet, then this could be the thing for you. Try Earth4Energy out for 60 days risk-free and if you’re not completely satisfied you will get your money refunded with no questions asked.
Choosing Solar Panels For Homes
August 11, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
Too often people believe that solar units are expensive, complicated and are extremely large to fit on their houses. However solar panels for homes are easier to fit then you may imagine, and they save you a ton of money over the years. Despite the fact that they used to be quite expensive they are currently much less pricey and you will see them installed on many houses in your town.
You should be able to install your home solar panel systems by yourself provided that you have some fundamental construction experience, however if you are at all worried then getting the help of professionals to do it is advised. Many houses nowadays have them installed, and they are an excellent way to enjoy using nature’s green energy and saving money. The sun produces more energy in one hour than anyone could use in a lifetime, so why not utilize that resource. Solar systems help the environment, they cut down on the dependence of oil, and they also lead to less pollution and less global warming. It is believed that more houses should have them installed, but it is a matter of personal preferences.
Despite the fact that the initial expenses associated with the solar panels can be rather high, over time you will recover your investment in the savings you are making. Your decision about which solar panels for home to choose from is based on the square area of your roof and your budget. They also do require regular maintenance, and replacing them can be expensive so you will need to consider this when purchasing them. By fitting solar panels on your home, you are saving money and this is never a bad idea with the ever increasing electricity prices. Like everything the more solar panels that are bought will mean that the per-unit price of them comes down. And maybe once they become cheaper to buy more people consider this option of powering their homes.
Size is one of the biggest factors; the larger the panel the more sun rays you will capture. The more sun rays you can capture will mean you can squeeze more energy out of your solar panels, giving you the means to power more in your home. Solar panels come in many different sizes and you do not need a solar panel that is huge; depending on your needs you can power a great deal with small home solar panel systems. If you just want to save some money each month then getting a small solar panel will work well. If you desire to eliminate your energy bills altogether you will need a larger solar energy unit for your home. Don’t forget that solar panels can be bought in small panels and used together. This makes it more manageable and cheaper for you.
Not everyone can afford solar panels for homes; it varies on where you live in the world. Certain weather conditions impact the efficiency of the panels; rain, fog and hazy days will mean your panels will not function as well. Some people don’t like the look of them on their home. So, solar panels for homes are not for everyone and this is just your choice.
Using Facts On Solar Energy
July 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
Facts about solar energy help you to understand how solar energy works and how you can save some dollars without having to run a high energy bill. Solar energy is a inexhaustible resource and of the earliest method of energy use that is available at present. The important fact about solar energy is that the sun s beams are so powerful that if we are to convert that into energy it would mean that Earth will never run out of energy for at least another 4.5 billion years according to scientists. The sun does not create any other hazardous by products which could harm the natural environment.
During the early fifties solar energy was looked upon as an alternative to man made energy resources. Over some research it was found energy could be received at some cheaper source. The demand for solar energy has grown substantially within the range of 20-25% over the last twenty years. Solar energy is able to support home appliances, lighting and water heaters. As of the moment, solar energy is more heavy priced but in the near future with the increase in scientific studies, it will bring down the costs and also increase its efficiency. By 2025, it is expected to generate 2.5% of the world energy demand through solar energy. Solar energy can be considered as the fastest growing technology.
There are some basic facts about solar energy that one needs to be acquainted to; solar energy is measured in kilowatt hours and 1 kilowatt=100 watts. One kilowatt hour is equal to the total of electricity which is necessary to burn 100 watt light bulb for approximately 10 hours. 866 kilowatt is the use by an average American home. The Residential Energy use Survey conducted in 2001 shows that an annual energy bill was around $2000.
A reduction in unit costs has added towards an increase in growth rates and thereby making it an important energy resource. After year 2000, solar energy has shown a growth rate of 40% per annum. Solar energy is moving at a progressive rate in the developing countries too as the use of fossil fuel has doubled over the years. When compared to solar energy which is inexhaustible, fossil fuel reserves are diminishing. As compared to expensive power grids, setting up solar energy appliances is relatively easy. A disfavor of fossil fuels is that the prices have risen together with the price of transporting coal, oil and gas.
Solar Panels For Home And Business Applications
July 14, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
Solar panels are becoming an excellent and an increasingly attractive source of renewable energy for homes and businesses. This is due to three main causes; specifically, the growing costs of conventional energy, the decreasing prices of improved solar panels for homes as well as incentives offered by governments that make green energy an attractive option.
In the U.S., more than 10 thousand homes are powered entirely by solar panel systems. Besides, 200,000 homes use solar panels for their energy requirements. That in turn results in substantial savings on electricity bills. Subsequently, the use of conventional resources (fossil fuels, etc.) is reduced, resulting to less environmental pollution.
The installation costs for a home of a typical family can be $18-20 K if done by a professional contractor. These high costs prevent families from using solar panels. However one can save on installation via tax credits and state rebates. Moreover, if you do it yourself, the cost would be only about one-third before tax credits and rebates.
You can have two choices: a stand-alone unit which needs storage battery to function properly or a grid-intertied unit.
A worthwhile upgrade to your home would be to convert to grid-intertied solar energy system. As always, planning is the key to successful conversion.
First, calculate the energy you will need based on past consumption. You have to choose the right size of your solar energy system. An oversize energy unit will generate more power which you could sell to the power company, but you can only receive credit for it and not cash.
Next, understand if your home is suitable for a solar energy system. These factors are to be considered:accounted for: available space on the roof, building orientation and climate. A rule of thumb for estimating needed roof space is 80 to 100 sq. ft. per kW. A building should face south for the solar panel system to be efficient, and there should be no objects that may get in the way of sun rays.
Though you can install the solar panel units on poles, solar panel systems are as a rule mounted on rooftops. With the help of steel bolts, the supports are attached to roof rafters. The solar panels are then installed on the mounts.
Solar panel kits are readily available in the market. There are vendors who sell their solar panels on the Internet, but it is not advisable to buy from them unless you are an experienced DIY solar panel system builder.
Standard set of hardware you will need for a stand-alone system without a battery that is tied to the grid includes: solar panels, power inverter, power meter, mounts to be installed on the roof, a couple of heavy duty safety switches, wires and conduits. A DIY kit for a 1-kW system would cost a little over $3,000.
If you don’t have prior experience in this area, you are to pick a respectable vendor who is known for high quality service. It is prudent to buy DIY kits with accompanying installation manual with at least enough illustrations. The vendor should preferably have contact telephone number, and better yet, could provide an engineer in case you need advice. Alternatively if you are lucky enough to have a friend who had prior experience with installing home solar panels, then ask him to assist you in the buying of the hardware as well as in the installation.
Many have shown that solar energy can save one money and the Mother Earth. With the variety of improved, inexpensive solar panels for homes and businesses, solar electricity is the best option for most of us, so go back to that home improvement project: install a home solar panel system.
What Home Solar Panels Can Be Used For
July 4, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
There are many various uses for home solar systems. Solar panels for household uses can be in two different kinds, ones that absorb the sun’s rays with photovoltaic cells, for the purpose of generating electricity and others that are designed to heat water. Both solar systemsallow you to save fair amounts of money fairly quickly as well as in the months to come. Solar power generation systems have lots of advantages. They are able to alleviate a great deal of pressure off of using your power grid, saving you some money during the day. With sufficient battery back-up, you could even have power after the sunset, or when the regular power supply is down. The majority of individuals utilize solar electricity to fully meet electricity supply requirements for their entire estate, fully relying on solar energy.
Solar panels for home use can also heat up your water supply system, thus saving you money. In colder locations, where the water table temperature is less than 60 degrees, using solar can heat up water to a relatively high temperature. This can alleviate a great deal of pressure on boilers, because it shouldn’t take as much to heat up water. For ambient temperatures above sixty degrees, and where there is much sunlight, you may even be able to forget about your heater alltogether. Even if you heat up the surrounding water, this can cut your heating bills by 40-60%. Instead of solar panels having a photovoltaic cell array, you will be able to use those systems that have several pipes running inside the body. When the water goes through, the sun’s rays heat up the water (to a greater or lesser degree depending on the type of piping). If this water goes through continuously before it runs into the hot water intake, it will be a little warmer.
Solar panels for your home are capable of doing significantly more than just be used for heating up your water supply and generating electric power. Solar panels help to save our planet. For one thing, they use energy that is plentiful, renewable, and completely free for any person to benefit from. Producing electric power from the sun doesn’t entail the use of our natural resources, plus solar systems don’t give off any harmful emanations. Regardless of whether you are still hooked up to the external power network, or fully meet your own power consumption requirements, using solar panels can help minimize overall energy usage. This can ease the burden on cogeneration plants, many of which to this day run on fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum products to create electrical power.
With the appropriate solar panel power system in place, not only can it pay back the investment in a short space of time, but it can indeed make you additional money. How can it generate additional income for you? If your solar panels are hooked up to the grid still, and you produce more electric power than you can use and/or store, it is fed directly back into to the grid. In essence, you turn your solar system into a small power generation facility, and according to the law, utility companies must buy this surplus power from you. You should make arrangements first, but even twenty dollars per week is better than nothing at all.
As a rule, the majority of users who utilize home solar systems will stay hooked up to the grid, just to make additional money. In closing, not only can home solar panels be utilized to save you money when paying your bills, but can also be turned into an extra income stream.
See How to Use DIY Solar Power to Create Electricity
June 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
A few of the home and want to learn how you too can take advantage of DIY Solar Power then this is the place to begin. It is as inexpensive as it’s ever been and quite affordable for all. In many cases solar power systems pay for themselves in just a few short years. Of course, it all depends on the system and how sunny your location is.
There is a myth that needs be cleared up as well. There is no need to live in a place where the sun is always shining. A geographic location that gets a moderate amount of sunshine every year will work just fine. You don’t have to live in the Mojave Desert to take advantage of it. DIY solar power often emanates from a manual.
The manual clearly illustrates the steps necessary to make solar panels. At all begins with building solar cells. When solar cells are wired together they form photovoltaic solar panels. The solar panel is then installed and the electricity is wired up to the home. Of course it’s easier said than done, but truth be told, it really isn’t difficult at all.
In fact, the vast majority of guides take into account that most people do not have a great deal of skill when it comes to carpentry. And the solar panels can be built without the use of special tools. The materials necessary for construction can be purchased just about anywhere. Your local hardware store will have everything that you need in stock.
Everything you need can be delivered to you as well when you order online. DIY solar power guides can be purchased online and downloaded to your computer. How-to videos are included with the top instructional guides. The videos show how panels are made of solar cells that are strung together.
Next up is wiring and installing the system on your home. Solar energy can be used for many things outside the home and is easily stored in batteries. Common car batteries that have been discarded can be used to store solar energy. It is great for outdoor use like camping.
It’s incredibly convenient to have a ready source of electricity wherever needed. If taking advantage of renewable resources is something that interests you then take a look at DIY Solar Power. The savings can be measured in both money and environmental waste. Doesn’t get any more natural than residential solar.
Earth4Energy – Want to Slash or Eliminate Your Electricity Bills
June 14, 2010 by admin
Filed under Energy Efficiency
There is a breakthrough guide available by the name of earth4energy that is showing homeowners how they can construct their own solar power systems. The reason for it’s incredible popularity is pretty simple to explain really… it saves people a ton of money, to say nothing about the positive environmental aspects.
You find yourself becoming frustrated because of soaring energy costs? Does it seem as though every time you receive a utility bill that it is more expensive than the prior month’s? There is no question that we are at the mercy of insatiable oil-rich governments and seemingly constant geopolitical strife that we have no control over. But the truth is that it doesn’t have to end up that way.
Earth4Energy was created by a man named Michael Harvey that wanted to have solar energy power his home. He was quite shocked when he got an estimate for $20,000. It was clear from this though surrounded that Michael took his cue and learn how to build photovoltaic solar panels and teach others how to do it as well.
The final product is in fact an easy to follow instruction guide that also contains videos where the viewer can get an over the shoulder look of how to build solar cells and string them together into a solar panel. And of course there are also installation instructions contained in earth4energy that make putting your system to work very easy.
Using parts and materials from your local hardware store you can build a quality photovoltaic solar panel for less than $200 . No special skills or tools are required to get the job done. Anyone can do it.
Modern technology has made it so those that want to generate their own power can. By harnessing and unlimited supply of energy, the sun, they have learned how to generate their own electricity to supply the power that they need.
Some folks are completely off the grid and no longer our reliance upon utility companies to supply them with power. In some cases they have become so proficient at harnessing the sun’s energy that they can sell back surplus electricity to the power company. There is no question that the utility companies will want it.
Take the time to find out how you too can harness the sun’s energy. There are plenty of benefits to be sure including being eco-friendly, saving a great deal of money on utility bills and increasing the value of your home. Check out Earth4Energy to learn how you too can be energy independent.




