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Posts Tagged ‘renewable energy’

Go Green Energy. Drastically Cut Your Power Bills

October 5th, 2011 No comments

Perhaps you are convinced of the concept to go green energy,but you may be asking “How do you do it?”

Let’s look at the laws of thermodynamics to understand fully how you can go green energy. Energy exists in many forms and these include electrical, chemical and solar energy. What a lot of people do not realize however, is that the energy remains the same. The change is to various forms. It is not destroyed.

Downgrading occurs (according to another law of thermodynamics) when energy is converted. In science, this is referred to as “entropy.”

You may be wondering. So, what is the relevance of these laws for me? Isn’t my concern just the bricks, materials, wood and mortar of my house?

If your goal is to go green energy and you have realized the benefits, these are criteria that must be taken into consideration.

For example a home that is heated electrically, is not nearly as energy-efficient as a home that is siphoning free energy from the sun! Electrically heated homes are based on fossil fuel energy. Almost 85% of the potential of this coal-energy is lost through the processes of transporting , refining, generating, transmitting and transforming by the time it reaches your home. Think about that!

What is more, it is a fact that the resources of fossil fuels are rapidly decreasing. Quite frankly, that is scary! The solution is evident. and that is to go green energy and to turn to one of its sources, such as , power from the sun. Other types of renewable energy are also available of course, such as wind power. The power of the wind blowing, has also been utilized by mankind for centuries.

Many steps of conversion, however, will be eliminated by the use of solar power. This is unlike electricity. This is an incredible fact that not everyone is aware of.

You can install easily, energy-efficient solar panels and also upgrade to better designed windows which will insulate your house better. To be frank the simplest way to go green energy is to seriously look into installing solar panels. The point is to decide to take action now.

To find out how: check this article on solar panels Remember to pick up your FREE REPORT on Money Saving Tips With Green Energy.

How does New York Solar Panel Works?

May 18th, 2011 No comments

A lot of information as regards the solar energy is coming out for the public nowadays. We all know that this source of power has been introduced worldwide to give help to the people in putting a stop on the disadvantages brought about by the deadly gases emitted by burning fossil fuels. This project has been patronized by citizens of New York since it provides numerous benefits to them. This system is working through the use of a device called Solar panels. But what is this panel all about? For the benefit of each and every one of us, allow me to present to you the cycle on how New York Solar Panels work.

Step 1: Solar Panel’s sunlight collector absorb heat coming from the sunrays. This part of the solar panel is composed of silicon that is custom made to be a good semi-conductor. This is the portion in which the solar panel starts its process by harnessing the energy from the heat of the sun. One good trivia regarding the silicon attached to the solar panel is that it does not have a perfect shape so it could attract more heat from the sun and a good place for the exchange of photon and electrons that produces the solar panel’s electric current.

Step 2: The metal built-in in the sunlight collector attracts the electric current produced by the exchange of photon and electron and by the moment this metal absorb the electric current the solar panels starts to generate and this is the signal that you are starting to have the electricity that you wanted to have.

The third and the last step is the conversion of Direct Current into Alternative Current. Direct Current is the Electric current produced by the exchange of photons and electrons, and it needs to be converted into an Alternative Current through the use of the converter box so that it will be ready for distribution through the use of breaker panels- the one that distributes power to all appliances.

One trivia as regards some solar panels is that when your panels are collecting too many electricity coming from the heat of the sun and your household is not consuming all of them, the excess power will flow into the municipal electric lines and can be used by other citizens. This will be one way of helping other people in your place.

What a great cycle! Now you already know how New York Solar Panel works, why not try to have one?

Find ARE Sun Solar at (888) 902-2295, 255 Old New Brunswick Rd, Suite N280 Piscataway, NJ 08854 to have a free PA solar energy report for your PA renewable energy project.

Portable Solar Panels And How They Can Help

February 18th, 2011 No comments

Electric companies are charging people a fortune to employ their services these days. While there are some places that are more affordable than others, it seems like everyone is looking for a little bit of financial relief. One thing that you might be inclined to consider would be portable solar panels for a number of different reasons.

You are going to want to keep in mind that there are several different things to consider about these impressive little devices. Through this particular article, you are going to get a very brief yet detailed look at why you are going to want to consider the purchase of one of these panels for yourself. You are also going to get a decent look at the various ways that you could benefit from their use.

The first thing that you are going to have to do, will be to understand these panels a little better. You see, you cannot fully appreciate something like this until you can understand how it works. The features, functions and benefits are something that play a second position to understanding the mechanics of the device itself.

There are several different makes and models of these portable solar panels that you can choose from, but they all essentially work the same. They all feature a panel of special glass that is overloaded with cells. These cells react violently when they come in contact with UV rays. This violent reaction is what literally creates the energy to power things, and in the portable models, the energy is usually channeled into charging a large battery.

This essentially makes them ideal for those that like to experience the great outdoors with their RVs. This large battery that is charged by the sun will prove to be plenty of energy to run the various things in the vehicle overnight. This allows you to continue to be out and experiencing nature and away from the RV parks for the power source that they provide.

You can save a lot of money if you are able to use these at home. Given the portable nature of these devices, there is no reason that you shouldn’t be able to. You will find that there are different conversion devices that will allow you to plug in different devices and run them exclusively on solar energy and save yourself a good deal of money in the process.

On an even bigger scale, you are doing your part to help the environment in what seems to be a pretty serious time for it. This might require a bit of an investment initially, but it will pay for itself in no time at all.

Thanks for taking the time to read my article and I hope it has helped you a lotm, if you want more information, I highly recommend you to click here!: residential solar energy and how to make solar energy

Are There Really Any Advantages of Solar Energy That Are Affordable for You

February 18th, 2011 No comments

One of the main advantages of solar energy is that it’s one of the most abundant sources of energy on this planet. While there is a lot of talk about tapping into this energy source, individually there are many benefits for adopting this technology. The best thing about solar energy is that it can be used for small solutions as well as major ones. So you can start with small and simple solar solutions and then grow to something more robust. You would be surprised to know that the total sunlight that falls on earth is more than enough to satisfy the total energy needs on this planet 35000 times over. Now that is, truly an abundant source of energy.

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy. What this means is that it can be renewed easily without a lot of human intervention. Now, sunlight is something that we’ll get as long as this planet exists. Since it will never end, we do not have to worry about losing or exhausting it.

Solar energy is also a sustainable form of energy. While tapping into this energy we will never have to put our future generations in jeopardy. We can come up with ways to harness this energy and still leave a healthy and lively planet for our children and grandchildren to live and enjoy.

We all know that America is one of the top producers of greenhouse gases in the world, but do you know that nearly half of the fuel needs of this nation are supplied through imports. It is expected that this number will rise to 66% in the coming decades. Moving to solar energy helps reduce this dependency on fossil fuels. Besides, it helps keep you power bills low. Also, having a solar powered house is a great asset when it comes time to sell the property. With so many people looking to get a greener home, solar equipment in your house does add to its value.

Another benefit of using solar power is the stability you get in your power bills. Though we sign up for good deals with our utility provider we are always under stress waiting for the next big hike in the pricing. With solar power, you are immune to these price hikes since you don’t rely on the utility to supply you power. By using solar energy you are also reducing your global carbon foot print. Given that average American releases nearly 18 tons of carbon into the world, we really need to start looking to bring down our carbon footprint.

Sunlight is quite powerful and can truly drive your entire home. On a bright sunny day, you can produce nearly 1kWh of power from just a one square meter solar panel. You can expect to get about 6 kWh over the course of a sunny day. Since the average household uses about 30 kWh a day a five sq. meter solar panel in your backyard or roof should take care of your monthly bill.

Electric energy is one of the most widely used forms of energy on this planet. This is because most of what we do today is powered by electricity. Fortunately, solar energy can be transformed into electric energy easily. Presently, the majority of electric power is produced is by burning coal. If we switch to solar, we can save on all of that greenhouse gas pollution. Interestingly, solar units function at their best just when the need for electric power is also at its peak – middays; so solar units are great to satisfy peak time power demands in most nations.

If you really want to tap into all these benefits, this is the right time to do so. Government is urging people to adopt such new technologies. There are a lot of incentives, rebates and other attractive options government is offering to people moving to solar energy.

Want to find out more solar power ideas then visit Richie Vee’s site and see the many solar power benefits available for you.

Thinking About a Home Solar System? See Why You Need to Start With Solar Power Garden Lights

February 11th, 2011 No comments

Since solar energy lends itself to modular capability it’s a good idea to start with solar power garden lights as an introduction into solar power. By starting with this small photovoltaic system and expanding later you’ll be spreading its cost over time and start to understand the character of solar power. Doing it this way helps keep the costs down yet allows you to get your feet wet with this exciting technology. Let’s face solar power can be complicated so it’s smart to take advantage of solar power immediately and progress slowly. Eventually you can build up to a full home solar system yet start immediately taking advantage of the sun’s rays. Investing in this simple solar lighting is inexpensive. For about $15 you’ll get a wide variety of mounting schemes.

Attractive, cost-effective and safe, solar power garden lights are the preferred lighting alternative for many homeowners. The weather-proof lanterns are easy to install and maintain. Many styles are practical and affordable, while others are expensive and elaborate.

Bulbs powered by the sun have battery units which recharge during daylight hours. It’s good to position the lights in locations which receive the most direct sunlight throughout the day. After a full day of charging, they can remain illuminated for up to 10 hours.

Several types of outdoor solar lighting are available. In addition to traditionally shaped options, there are glowing butterflies, flowers, dragonflies, birds, rocks and many other designs available. While larger and more ornate styles can cost a bit more, there are simpler, smaller units that cost are very affordable.

The lamps usually turn-on automatically at dusk. However, there are some models which have on-off switches, and some that are designed to illuminate when they detect motion. The motion-detecting units often sell for a bit more than the standard models.

Some lanterns are intended to be secured on the side of houses, sheds or garages. These units have flat panels and mounting hardware. The models designed to mount on vertical surfaces are often inexpensive.

Lamps that are mounted on stakes can be secured into the ground. These offer a lot of flexibility in terms of location. They can serve as effective night-time markers for paths and driveways. Depending on size and style, stake-mounted units are among the least expensive option.

Some lanterns are created to hang from posts or trees. They are free to sway in the breeze, and can provide a serene backdrop to any garden. These models are among the less pricey.

For a cost-effective, weather-proof outdoor lighting alternative, solar power garden lights can be a great choice. Their varied shapes, sizes and colors can be coordinated with any design concepts. They are simple to install, and can easily enhance the beauty and security of any yard.

Looking to find the best deal on solar power products then visit www.home-solar-power-guide.com to find the best advice on solar power lighting for your home and garden.

DIY Solar Panels For Your Home – Building Your Own Solar Energy System

January 5th, 2011 No comments

Purchasing solar panels and paying to have them installed can be a costly endeavor. Many people want to go green and save money over time by adding solar power to their home, but they cannot afford to make the switch. Solar energy panel prices have slowly continued to decline over the years, but the price is still unaffordable for the average homeowner. Some people choose to add solar energy panels to their home by building their own solar panel system.

If purchasing solar panels is too expensive, do not give up. You can actually make your own solar energy system with just a few tools and materials and very little expense. The items required to construct your own panels include photovoltaic cells, rechargeable battery, solar plates, conductor wires and a semi conductor block.

Some people decide to build a solar power system for their entire house, but those who do not have a lot of time or money to invest in DIY solar panels can benefit from installing a partial solar panel system. The installation of just a few solar panels will help the environment and lower a homeowner’s monthly energy bill.

These manuals are specifically written so that anyone can follow the instructions. The manuals will help you determine how many panels you will need to meet your energy needs in your home. The number of panels is determined by your current energy use and the amount of sun light that is available in your area. If you generate excess power with your panels, the excess can be stored in a battery system for later use.

Your next step is to take the semi-conductor block and while keeping it below the panels and cells, tie it with enough conductor wires to hold it securely in place. Step three, double check to make sure the plates, cell and semi-conductor block have been properly placed and tied tight enough they will not shift, and the sun’s rays will directly hit them so they will absorb the maximum amount of energy from the sun.

The third step will be to go to your local hardware store to purchase the remaining items you will need to complete the entire project. Once you have all the materials, it will only take about two days to complete the project. The entire project will cost approximately $200 to $300 and will pay for itself within a few months.

DIY Solar Power Panels are easy to build and are cost effective. Solar power is now available for anyone that can follow easy instructions.

Want to find out more about Solar Panels, then visit Ilina Hadzhieva’s site on how to choose the best solar power for your needs.

Homemade Solar Panels – Taking Advantage Of The Sun’s Energy

January 5th, 2011 No comments

Just because your house cannot be connected to a major power line does not mean that you have to spend your days in darkness and without power. Living off grid connections makes power accessibility a concern for some

Americans, but each year breakthroughs in solar powered technology allow homeowners and property managers to live comfortably with the usual electrical hookups required for everyday life. Whether you need a full house, a mobile recreational vehicle, a basic cabin, or even as little as a light bulb for a tool shed to be connected to a power source, there is a solution for you without having to resort to a high frequency grid network.

As little as a decade ago, solar power was considered far too expensive for ordinary houses to rely upon for anything more than decorative purposes.

Since then, however, consolidation of paneling and electrical frequencies has caused a technological revolution and an explosion in popularity of the greatest renewable resource — energy from the sun. While solar panels are still very expensive — thousands of dollars for a single unit — they have a far higher efficiency that allows a few panels to provide full power to a standard household. Indeed, it is not uncommon for families living in low cloud cover areas to rely entirely on solar power, saving thousands of dollars in utilities each year. Solar panels can begin to pay for themselves in only a few years time!

Of course, the corollary to all solar panels is the degree of light which a unit receives on a daily basis. While cities in the Midwest like Kansas City, Houston, or Denver may enjoy as many as three hundred cloud free days each year, it is understandably less practical to purchase solar powering in cities such as Boston, Miami, or Seattle. The best means for living off grid connections in a city where solar power is not practical is to turn to another means of powering. For many parts of the country, wind energy is just as practical (and affordable) as solar.

Increases home value – Installation may increases the value of your house and help you get more money when selling your home.

A homemade solar energy panel system comprises solar panels, battery box, rechargeable battery, DC meter, and an inverter. There are different types of solar cells that you can use. This is dependant on your budget. There are also many designs of solar panels from where you can choose the one that would best fit your roof or ground wherever you want to install your solar panel. After you are ready with the solar panel you will need to place it in a suitable area. Make sure to keep the panels in direct sunlight to get the best results.

There are now a few great DIY guides on the market that are very inexpensive. These guides provide tutorials that give step-by-step guidance on how to build and install a solar panel on your own. Making the first solar energy panel can be a little confusing at the start but if you follow the instructions carefully you should be able to install it within a couple of days. After that you can add one panel every month. The more panels you have, the more you will be able to save on your electricity costs.

Learn more about Solar power and Solar panels also what it can do for you.

How Solar Panels Produce Usable Energy – Solar Cells and Electricity

January 5th, 2011 No comments

Many of us have used solar-powered equipment, most notably the ubiquitous solar-powered calculator that operates without the use of batteries.

This concept was dropped however until the industrial revolution, when a number of thinkers and conceptualists decided to start moving the technology onwards and upwards. This then continued to some extent up until the real revolutionary movements of the 1970′s. Today, we know that solar energy is something that is undergoing a great deal of research, as more and more of our resources dwindle.

Solar panels produce usable energy in the same way that batteries or other electrical outlets do, at the heart of the matter. They are able to cause electrons to flow through a circuit. A solar panel is actually composed of separate smaller solar cells.

There are several different reasons why a person would be interested in becoming part of a grid tie system utilizing solar energy. The primary reason for many is the fact that it drastically reduces your electricity bills, since there are no maintenance fees and you are in essence creating all of your own electricity.

You may even be able to make a profit off of it if you are generating a large amount of energy. The government often allows tax breaks or rebates for the cost of construction, in an effort to improve the environment.

This government interest is also one that can be reflected personally. Switching over to alternate energy sources is an important first step in helping to clean up the planet and prepare for the future.

Buying into a grid tie system allows people to do just that from the comfort of their own homes, while at the same time saving money and being able to say they made a difference. The first step is to gather more information about solar energy and how it could work within your own household, which is much easier than many people think.

Learn more about Solar power and Solar panels also what it can do for you.

Building Solar Panels – What Solar Cells To Buy

January 5th, 2011 No comments

When you’re planning to go DIY in making and installing solar panels, then you will need to purchase the parts of the whole system. This means that you will have to buy the cells, parts for the frame, the wires, batteries and inverters, among other things.

In order to build a solar panels that puts out a decent amount of power you have to be picky about what cells you choose. When looking at cells you’ll see that they’re rated by how many volts and amps they put out. By multiplying the two together you get how many watts each cell produces.

You can also buy used solar panels, given that they are still in good working condition, and harvest them.
Tabbed VS Un-tabbed If you plan on going the DIY route, buying un-tabbed solar cells would be cheaper than tabbed solar cells. There is no difference in quality or technology between tabbed and un-tabbed cells. The difference lies in the time that it will take for you to build your own solar panels and the risks that you take in the assembly process are also higher.

Once you’ve figured out how big the solar cells you want should be, you also need to decide whether you want tabbed or un-tabbed cells. The difference between the two is the time it takes to build each panel. Un-tabbed cells add about 2 extra hours to building each panel and if you’re not experienced at soldering, can be quite difficult.

Is The Effort Worth The Price?
So, is the effort involved in tabbing cells worth the money that you pay? Can you save enough money for you to say that adding more work hours is worth it? This depends on how much you think is enough. As an overview, 150 pieces of Grade B 3×6 tabbed solar cells may cost anywhere from $250 – $300, while 150 pieces of Grade B 3×6 untabbed cells can cost anywhere from $150-$200. A kit containing tabbed cells already include bus wires and diodes, while a kit of untabbed cells also include tabbing wires, bus wires, flux and diodes. The price and the contents of the kit can vary from seller to seller, but this pretty much gives you a picture.

As for shape and size of solar cells that really depends on you. I usually build 2′ x 4′ panels since the plexiglass I use comes in that size. I try to get cells that will end up wasting the least amount of this space. My favorite size is the 3″ x 6″ cells because you can fit 36 of them (a 72 watt panel) on a piece of 2′ x 4′ plexiglass and only have to trim a small amount off of the ends.

Where Can I Learn To Tab Solar Cells?
Tabbing and stringing cells is really simple. You’ll need to solder the wires and use some flux, bit with the right instruction and some care in doing so. A reliable solar panel guide or website should walk you through the process of tabbing the cells, as well as list down the necessary materials needed to do the whole tabbing process.

Aside from step by step guides, there are also videos available online which you can watch in order to learn how to tab the cells.

Learn more about Solar power and Solar panels also what it can do for you.

DIY Solar Panels – How to Make Solar Panels All by Yourself

January 4th, 2011 No comments

One piece of information that many green enthusiasts look for is how to make solar panels. The reality is that with the right knowledge and a few simple parts you can learn how to make solar panels, and you can do so at a cost anyone can afford.

source of energy. It has immense potential to benefit us in a number of ways. Continuous research and innovation has succeeded in bringing down the cost of solar cells and panels considerably. This has enabled more and more people to install solar panels in their homes.

Although solar panels are available in the market, it is also possible to learn how to make them at home. It is so because most of the solar panels that are available pertain to the need of big factories and hence it gets a little tough to find a solar panel that is suitable for households. So, it is better in these cases to build the solar panel for your home on your own.

The most important component is the solar cells themselves. For most people, a suitable solution is to choose your standard 2Watt Polycrystalline cells. These types of solar cells are less efficient than the more current thin-film cells, but the difference in efficiency is only about 7%. The cost difference is about 400% (in other words thin-film cells are expensive).

By choosing to use your standard cells, available on sites like eBay, you’ll enable yourself to build a 100 Watt panel for around $125. Some people even opt for chipped, or B-Grade cells, that produce the same amount of power but are defective by the manufacturer’s standards (ie chipped corners, etc). With this choice of solar cells a completed 100 Watt panel may cost less than $70.

With the parts in hand you are now ready to start putting everything together and making your solar panels.
How to Make Solar Panels – Steps Required
The steps to create solar panels are actually quite easy. If you do need help at this point we suggest buying one of the top guides to DIY solar power. They can help since they include illustration and video to show you exactly what needs to be done. Having said that the steps required really aren’t that difficult, and anyone is capable of building a solar panel.

If you would like to find out more about creating your own solar or wind generated power from home.

Dan Swanson works with home installments of Solar Panels and is a real enthusiast for promoting renewable energy sources.

Learn more about Solar Panels. Stop by Ilina Hadzhieva’s site where you can find out all about Solar Power and what it can do for you.