Solar Slang » Solar energy

Step by Step Solar Energy Classes

Gordy Perry — Sun, 23 May 2010 10:07:14 +0000

Solar power systems for home come in a wide variety of types and sizes. One of the first things you’ll need to know is exactly how you’ll be using your free energy. The PV cells of a solar array absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays and convert that energy into electric current… but that doesn’t mean you can use it right away. The ‘juice’ created by the photovoltaic process is direct current (DC) and needs to be changed to alternating current (AC) before it can be used for your household electric needs. This requires the use of an inverter. There are some uses for DC current within the household, but most solar power in homes consists of electricity that’s been already transformed into a more standard usable form.The next thing to consider is how you’ll be gathering this free, clean, renewable energy from the sun! When most people think of home solar heating panels they think of those great big monstrosities that used to clutter rooftops back in the 70’s and 80’s. Those ugly eyesores did little to promote the industry, and if anything they hurt the image of solar energy for decades to come. Luckily in today’s world, advances in PV cell technology have made it so that you can harness the sun’s rays in a multitude of new ways. Rooftop solar panels installation is much simpler, easier, and a LOT more attractive these days! Panels are smaller and better looking, and they can be mounted flush to the roofline. Solar shingles are another way to go… you can build entire home photovoltaic systems that look the same as asphalt shingles or ceramic glazed roofing. By tiling the top of your home with thousands of these tiny cells, you can harness free green energy year-round. These systems go up easily with just a few solar panel installation classes, and in a few days or even hours you can begin lowering your electric bills while making the planet a cleaner place to live.Solar heaters for pools are another popular do it yourself project. You can install a diy solar pool heater in just a matter of hours, saving you hundreds of dollars over the summer in pool heating costs. Either the sun warms water in an insulated tank, or a vacuum tube system is utilized to make the most of the day’s UV rays. Water tanks can also be used in the home – for showers, dishwashers, washing machines, or anywhere hot water is required.You can even take solar energy classes that will instruct you on the guidelines of step by step solar system setup. From determining the angle of installation to drilling the struts that will support the array, one of the best ways to learn is through watching home solar panel kit videos. The visuals and knowledge obtained by learning from these videos will give you the confidence to begin solar panels installation on any scale project, small or large. You don’t have to have previous experience with any type of green energy – the instructions are all that you need.And when it comes to installation, usually only a few small tools are required: a laser level, a chalkline, a drill and a socket set. In most cases connectors will snap together, but you may also need a soldering gun. The hardware that comes with a home solar power kit is designed to attach to the backs of your PV panels and then be bolted or clamped right to the mounting struts. In many cases these mounts will be adjustable so you can tilt them toward the sun no matter which month it is. This allows you to maximize your solar exposure as the sun changes position (relative to your roof) throughout the year.

Facts About Solar Energy: Do You Solar Power Usage facts?

Gordy Perry — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:32:50 +0000

Have you ever wondered about solar energy and what is all about? Well, by reading this article you will learn some interesting facts about both solar energy and solar power systems. You would be better to be aware of the following facts before using solar power at your home. General Solar Power Facts: Solar energy has more than one use. It can be applied for water heating using photovoltaic cells, electricity production and as well as for drying laundry. Solar power may be applied to power cars, calculators or other small appliances, and as well as heat swimming pools. The popularity of solar power is increasing more and more day by day. The most interesting moment is that today the demand worldwide for this type of alternative energy is greater than its supply. Facts About Solar Energy Systems: The home solar power system is normally made of solar cells, a battery, an inverter, a charger and a wiring support structure. You need one to two days to install a one kilowatt solar power system. It may cost you up to $10,000, though the price can vary and doesn’t consider the incentives offered by the government. A kilowatt solar panel generates 1,600 kilowatt hours on average in sunny countries and twice less (about 750 kilowatt per hour) in a cloudy weather. There are many other facts about this alternative power. But you already discovered the most important ones.

So, now you know all the necessary facts about solar energy and I’m sure this will add one more reason for using alternative power sources at your home and office. Also read: Build DIY Solar Panel – Home Free Solar Energy Solutions – Useful Tips For Solar Power Set Up

Advantages of Solar Power Vs Disadvantages of Solar Power

Gordy Perry — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 11:14:44 +0000

Many households are considering of converting their home energy to be solar powered for the purpose of cutting down their electricity bills while saving our planet with this environmental friendly power source. But, not many are taking their action to make the real conversion to a solar-powered home because they are still doubt on the advantages of solar power that they can really get after the conversion while they do worry about the potential problems that may encountered after they make the conversion. Let briefly go through the advantages versus the disadvantages of solar power, so that you are cleared before you make your decision on whether to use solar-powered energy at home.Advantages of Solar PowerSolar power is a renewable source generated from the sun, meaning that the solar energy source is never going to finish. So, we do not need to worry about we may jeopardy of the energy source if you over use it.Solar power is environmental friendly energy source. Unlike oil, the use of solar energy will never causes green house effects or emits carcinogens into the air and causes the air pollution.The sun is FREE. Unlike the traditional energy source which you need to pay more if you use more, there is not limit on how much you can use the energy generated from solar power, and you do not need to think of the electricity cost when you use a solar-powered energy generator, because the sun is FOC (Free of Charge).Little maintenance cost on solar power system. Solar cells can last for a lifetime and because there are no moving parts, it needs very little maintenance. You do not really need to allocate significant budget for it maintenance cost.Disadvantages of Solar PowerThe key stopping factor that makes most of people who are interested to install solar power system is the total cost is expensive. A solar power system that provides enough energy to power an average sized home can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $20,000. Seeing the potential market demand on solar power system, the industries with continue research efforts are trying to reduce the material costs. Moreover, there are many simple-to-follow DIY instruction manuals had been made published to teach people how to build their own solar power system using cheap materials which can be found at local market.The solar power can be generated without sunlight, which means the power cannot be created at night, during rain and winter season when sun is hiding behind the cloud. This had been one of key discouragement of using solar power as the alternative power solution.If you build the solar panel at the roof of your home, it becomes part of the house. You may need to sell it together with your house if you decide to move to a new home. And you need to reinstall the solar power system at your new home.SummaryYou should clearly understand of both the advantages and the disadvantages of solar power system before you go ahead to convert your home to be solar-powered so that you can really benefited from the advantages of solar power while handling the disadvantages of solar power to minimize the impacts.

Future Of Solar Energy: What Are The Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy

Gordy Perry — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:56:15 +0000

The future of solar energy can be predicted due to the development in modern technologies of the 21th century. Many buildings have been built in passive solar systems. As the price of solar cells continues to reduce, they will be more spread all over the world. The main objective of the USA solar industry in the future is to provide 50 percent of the U.S electricity by 2025. While talking about the future of solar energy we should consider Germany and Japan which are also leading countries in solar power industry. But United States is already reaching them. For example, let’s take California. Between 2000 and 2001 this state experienced soaring energy costs which has motivated the leaders to diversify energy resources. Finally in the year of 2006, the California Solar Initiative was created and it generated 3000 megawatts of new solar electricity within 11 years. This figure is equal just to the placement of solar systems on one million roofs. Like other energy sources solar power has also its advantages and disadvantages. So What Are The Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy? Solar Energy Pros:

It is a renewable resource. It is free. Solar power does not result in production of any toxic substances, except the processes involved in the manufacture of materials. Small solar energy generators are easy to set up. Solar systems are very low maintenance. They have no moving parts (except the pumps and fans). Solar panels can work for a long time. It is almost always easy to predict the amount of power a system will generate, if you have the right data.

Solar Energy Cons: High costs; Not all locations are suitable for this type of alternative energy.

However, the future of solar energy is really promising.

Solar Energy Facts For Kids In New Zealand

Gordy Perry — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:29:45 +0000

Solar energy facts for kids in New Zealand are considered unnecessary by some. When winter hovers over New Zealand, it may seem that day after day is cloudy and grey – especially in some parts of New Zealand. On such days, it is difficult to imagine that solar energy could supply enough electricity for a New Zealand home. Most areas of New Zealand, however, have plenty of solar energy that can be harnessed.

Solar energy can be calculated with a map such as the one on the Sun Wize website. This is called a world solar insolation map. “Insolation” means it is exposed to the sun’s rays. The map shows how many hours of each day a country is exposed to the sun’s rays – in the worst month of the year. In other words, the map shows how much solar energy the country gets each day.

When you find New Zealand on a world solar insolation map, you will see that most of the country gets between 3 and 5 hours of solar energy each day. Remember that 3 to 5 hours is the amount of solar energy in the worst month! On average, counting good and bad days, New Zealand gets approximately 2000 hours of bright sunshine each year.

Solar Energy Facts for Kids

Solar energy facts for kids might include many things, depending on the age of the children involved. A small child of 6 years might understand only simple concepts such as the heat generated by solar energy. Older children of 14 to 17 can grasp the technology of solar panels and generators, and how they convert solar energy to electrical power.

We will not attempt to sort the following facts by age or importance, but simply present them as a collection of ideas to be explored.

* In New Zealand, a solar energy water heating system can save as much as 75 per cent of your family’s water heating costs.

* The word “photovoltaic” comes 2 words. “Photo” refers to light and “voltaic” refers to electricity. A photovoltaic array system changes solar energy collected from sunlight into electricity.

* Cover the roofs of every New Zealand home in photovoltaic (PV) panels, and together they would convert enough solar energy into power each year to supply more than 25 per cent of New Zealand’s needed electricity.

* Solar energy can provide the total electricity needed by a normal three bedroom New Zealand home that is energy efficient.

* Solar energy is quiet, easy to install, and needs little upkeep from the New Zealand home owner.

* Any New Zealand child can, with a little help, build a solar energy stove to cook a small banger.

* Solar energy has been used for many years by New Zealand mums to dry clothing outdoors.

* Germany, a country that is much cloudier than New Zealand, converts solar energy into electricity more than any other country does.

* Solar energy is greater than you might think on cloudy days, since the sunlight that gets through reflects off the bottoms of the clouds.

* Solar energy can turn ocean water into healthy drinking water.

* Solar energy can be used on boats and ships around New Zealand.

* Solar energy is absolutely free to New Zealanders. No other country can charge money for it.

Suggestion for New Zealand teachers: Have a contest to see which group of students can discover the most solar energy facts for kids. Younger children will have fun simply listing solar energy facts for kids. Older students might be required to expand each discovery statement.

Disclaimer: The author receives no compensation from any company mentioned in this article. The information is presented solely for educational purposes.

Facts About Solar Energy Systems

Gordy Perry — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:49:08 +0000

Solar Energy Systems The use of solar energy or solar panels, has been catching on during tha last year or so. Originally due to the “Go Green” mentality , solar energy and wind turbine was a great way for us to conserve energy and be apart of earth conservation. But the recent boom in home made energy efforts , combined with current economic climate, leads many to believe that saving money is the newest reason for the solar energy upswing. Solar Energy Help Solar energy systems are actually not that complicated to build. Fpr the most part you can get everything you need from home depot. For under $150 , many have constructed 2 or 3 solar panels in there backyard, and some have even made small ones for the roof. Some Facts About Solar Energy The average household uses about 850 kilowatt hours a month, about $90. 30% of which is used solely for heating water. With lights being a close second place in over all usage. Solar energy panels that can be bought are around $10,000 for a 10×10 foot Solar System. Solar energy can –

Be used for creating electricity Dry clothes Heat water through the use of Photovoltaic cells Be used for powering cars Heat swimming pools Be used for lighting and small appliances Even be used for heating food

Standard Solar Systems Premade-

Usually about 10 ft x 10 ft Typically creates 1000 watts of energy (Burn a light bulb for 10 hours) 1600 hours of electricity a year.(Considering you get 5 hours of sunlight a day) Saves 170 lbs. of coal from being burned Stops 300 lbs of CO2 from being released Cost $10,000 Energy can be stored in batteries

Homemade Solar Energy Panels-

Total cost of materials- $150-$200 Usually 8×8 ft Absorb 1200-1600 kilowatts per year Save the average family $500-$750 a year

Energy can be saved to batteries (The batteries can be acquired freely) They can be created within 2-3 hours depending on size of panel and ability of person. Can be used for heating water, drying clothes, running small appliances, charging cell phone batteries and car batteries, bigger ones can light 2 or 3 rooms.

Learn How To Make Your Own Solar Panels Government Incentives It is widely known that the Government provides huge checks for those that take it upon themselves to use Solar Panels and Wind Turbines for homemade energy. Although the incentives vary due to unique situations, they are usually enough to cover the complete cost of a homemade system.

Hot Water Solar Panels and Photovoltaic Panels Explained

Gordy Perry — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:08:48 +0000

There are currently two different types of solar panels for domestic and commercial use, one is to heat water and the other is to produce electricity. The solar panels for water are used more in the United Kingdom as they seem to produce the most cost benefits to the user. Due to the climate in the United Kingdom and the lack of continuous sunlight, solar panels generally work best between the months of May to the end of September when the sun is at its highest in the sky. The average home will need around 5 sq meters of solar panel to supply enough heat for their everyday hot water use. To extend the time zone by one month either side to include April and October you will need to have up to 20 meters of solar panel which will produce far too much hot water in the hotter months and then this will have to be discharged as this amount of hot water would be impractical to store. So the sizing for solar panels is very important to get right. There are two types of hot water solar panels, one is a blackened box with pipes running through it like a maze, the water is pumped through this box, the sunlight streaming in heats the box and the pumped water warms up by the time it flows through the exit. The other type of hot water solar panel is made up of a system of evacuated tubes, these are tubes made from borescope glass (pirex) and they are made just like a thermos flask twin walled with the air removed so the sun’s radiation passes through it more efficiently. Inside the glass tube a sealed copper rod is fitted, this rod has a small amount of pure fluid inside and then the air is sucked out to create a vacuum, then the rod is sealed. The fluid inside the rod boils at a much lower temperature than normal fluids, because of the lower air pressure in the rod, when the water boils it travels to the tip of rod then condenses, returns, and then the cycle continues (providing there is still sunlight). These types of solar panels work really well on partly cloudy days because the tips of the rods continue to cycle whilst the clouds pass over. The tips to the tubes insert into a header where water passes through, so the hot tips of the rods heat the water passing through. The average house will need to have 20 to 30 evacuated tubes installed. The main advantage of this type of system is that if a tube breaks it can be replaced independently. Both these types of solar panels work best in conjunction with solar hot water cylinders, most homes have some form of hot water storage. These are mainly heated indirectly by utilising a separate gas boiler. The water heated by the boiler passes through a copper coil inside the cylinder and indirectly radiates the hot water from the pipe to the water in the cylinder. A solar cylinder is different as it will have two copper coils, one at the bottom of the cylinder for the solar coil and one at the top for the boiler.In this configuration the solar coil is always used as a pre-heat, heating the water at the bottom of the cylinder, even on cold days because the in coming mains water could only be around 8 degrees. Even on most days in the winter the average solar panel, will achieve higher temperatures than this, thus slightly heating your cylinder. Hot water cylinders need to get to a temperature of 60 degrees once a week for 30 minutes to kill off bacteria and legionnaires disease etc. This is where the boiler connected to the top coil in the cylinder can come into play. If there is, for example, a spell of bad weather, the boiler can be set to come on once a week to boost the cylinder for 30 minutes at 60 degrees. Modern day solar panel installations also include pressure vessels for the expansion of the heated water, programmable temperature difference controllers, low energy water pumps, expansion valves and some form of heat dump i.e. to a radiator. The photovoltaic type of solar panel is used to create electricity mainly 12 volts; these are manufactured using labour intensive methods. They are generally made up of micro thin wafers of silicone panels connected in a series. Then the solar panels are connected to a bank of batteries to use as a storage system. This is then converted to normal household voltage using an inverter to step up the power.These solar panels are well suited to more of a sunny climate because of their expense in manufacturing, and less likelyhood of needing to heat homes as frequently as it necessary in the UK. There is now a new form of solar panel being produced called thin film solar. It is manufactured the same way as a newspaper is printed; just by simply printing on a continuous backing. In the case of these new solar panels the backing is a thin aluminium sheet, the cigs (copper indium gallium selenide) is the conductor and is printed just like an ink on paper. This new form of solar panel is not as efficient as silicone based solar panels but the cost in manufacturing is significantly lower and incredibly faster to produce. These solar panels can be formed into many shapes and sizes unlike the silicone based panels and, no doubt. we will all be hearing more about this in the future.

Miniature Solar Cells Market Potential

Gordy Perry — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:15:25 +0000

Miniature Solar Cells Market Potential Solar power is the technology of obtaining usable energy from the light of the Sun. Solar energy has been used in many traditional technologies for centuries and has come into widespread use where other power supplies are absent, such as in remote locations and in space. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129621&rt=Miniature-Solar-Cells-Market-Potential.html ) Photovoltaics (PV) is the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells for energy by converting sunlight directly into electricity. Due to the growing demand for clean sources of energy, the manufacture of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has expanded dramatically in recent years. While solar cells have been around for many years now, it is only recently that the advances made in technology have made it possible for researchers to make solar cells more efficient. Miniature’ solar cells are essentially those solar cells that are used to power small devices such as consumer electronic devices, microelectronics, and grid applications. This report examines how the advent of miniature solar cells is changing the landscape of the solar photovoltaic industry. The report takes a look at this industry through case studies along with a theoretical analysis of the concept of miniature solar cells as well. To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129621&rt=Miniature-Solar-Cells-Market-Potential.html Or Contact us at : Bharat Book Bureau Tel: +91 22 27578668 Fax: +91 22 27579131 Email: info@bharatbook.com Website: www.bharatbook.com Blog: http://bharatbookresearch.blogspot.com Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/3bbharatbookBharat Book Bureau facilitates companies to take the lead of their industry with best practice business strategies and intelligence, through a unique combination of published reports, databases, country reports, company profiles and customized research services. Bharat Book Bureau provides strategic information tools to the executives, business analysts, and knowledge managers that will help them to probe into and support critical, timely business decisions and strategies.

Visiting the UA Solar Decathlon Home

Gordy Perry — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:43:27 +0000

Thousands of people visited Washington, DC last week to view entries for the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The ua’s Solar Energy-Efficient Dwelling was among the contest’s entries, which were scored based on architecture, market viability, engineering and several other measures.

DIY Solar Panel Kits- Find Solar Panel Kits Without Getting Scammed!

Gordy Perry — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:39:52 +0000

If your looking for DIY solar panel kits then this article will assist you in finding a good one, no actually a GREAT one! There are many scams out there online that will steal your money if you don’t look properly. There are 2 steps that I consider to be important when looking for DIY solar panel kits and it will be the main focus of this article. STEP 1 The most important step you can take when you go looking for at DIY solar panel kits, make sure you look for reviews. Don’t look at just one but look at a few so you know for certain what you are getting. Also look for kits that offer other ways to save electricity such as how to build wind generators. Make sure that the reviews: State the pricing Any future updates Whether it has video or diagrams If people like it or complain STEP 2 Also make sure it has a money back guarantee policy. The worst feeling that you can feel while in a global financial crisis is throwing money away for something ineffective and inefficient and not being able to get your money back. I have seen many kits that satisfy step 1 but when it comes to step 2 it’s nowhere to be seen. There are many websites that offer to teach you how to learn to build your own solar panels but when you buy it, you feel like you have been ripped off, the information is limited, the diagrams are poor and the support is terrible. This is when you know you have been scammed. These are some sure ways to avoid all that.