Posts Tagged solar power

Residential Wind Turbines – Do You Really Need It?

May 24th, 2010 Posted in home | no comment »

If you are planning to use some residential wind turbines, then you should already know that this is one of the most practical things that you can do. This way, you will be able to save lots of money because you will no longer have to rely on commercial electricity. And since your main source of energy is renewable, you are assured that this is very safe for the environment.

However, it is very unfortunate that there are still a lot of people who are doubtful about these residential wind turbines. They thought that this is something that only the professionals can do. Also, they are a little hesitant because they do not know where they can get the materials that they are going to use.

However, if you are going top think about it, you will realize that this task is actually very simple. And even if you are just new with these kinds of things, you are assured that you will be able to build your own residential wind turbines.

There is just a need for you to plan things out very carefully so that you can accomplish this task successfully. You need to determine how much power you to produce, the appliances that you intend to power, and energy that you want to store, and a whole lot more.

If you want, it is also a good idea if you are going to get a guide that can help you out with all of the procedures. This guide is very useful because it can walk you through the whole process. It also features some instructional videos and other visual guides.

There is also no need for you to be worried about the availability of the materials because they can be found everywhere. There are various specialty stores that you can always turn to and most of these items are very affordable. It is also much better if you are going to get yourself a kit which contains all the materials that you are going to need.

It is really much better if you are going to build your own residential wind turbines as compared to when you purchase a pre-made one. This is certainly much better because it is a lot cheaper and more exciting.

You also need to be certain that you will be able to maintain these residential wind turbines so that they will really last for years.

Tired of high electric bills? Discover how thousands of families are using homemade homemade wind power systems to power their homes! Also, read to find out even more on how to DIY wind turbine.

The Cost of Solar Power Set up

May 9th, 2010 Posted in environment | no comment »

Many years ago, it could happen to be impossible to make use of solar power at home because the set up cost was too expensive. Nevertheless, with the advancements in technologies, households and offices can currently make use of solar power since the solar power system kits tend to be more inexpensive. Homes which have solar power products can anticipate added marketplace value and apart from that, you are able to anticipate a significant reduce in your electric expenses.

How much is the cost for installing a solar power system? Should you reside in the US, you can take advantage of the financial incentive provided by the government to make the installation cost a lot more affordable.

Before you finally choose to make use of a solar power system for your home, you need to calculate your electric needs. Figure out the kWh that your home consumes in a month and in a 12 months. You can discover this kind of info on the monthly utility bill. Analyze the bills so that you will know which months have the greatest consumption and the months with the least usage.

New homeowners can compute their electricity usage by looking at your electrical appliances. Just calculate the load depending on your devices, lights, and other things that consume electrical power.

Electrically expenses are showing a ongoing upward trend and so lots of people are now complaining about their month-to-month expenses. A very good answer is solar power. Wherever do you reside? The place where the home or establishment is situated is a major consideration. In the US, you can set up the solar power system in any of the states. If you can find solar contractors locally, you can seek their assist to figure out the appropriate dimension of the system.

1-5 kW of solar power system is already enough to meet your home’s electrical power requirements. You don’t have to cut off your current power supply so that you can utilize solar power. You can merely make use of the photovoltaic systems like a product. This action alone can already decrease your monthly expenses. Do you’ve sufficient room for the solar system? For every square foot, you are able to already yield 10 watts; you are able to start your calculation from there.

Here’s how you can compute the total cost: the retail price of the system plus the cost of building permits, less federal tax credit of $2,000 and the local or state rebates/tax credit, minus other incentives equals to your net investment. You are able to check around for the best and most appropriate solar power system in the marketplace. If you reside in California, it will be simpler to find local sellers of solar power systems simply because many homes in the town are already solar powered. For those living in other places, it will be simpler to shop online. There are plenty of online shops that provide photovoltaic systems but try to stick with the reliable and established manufacturers that provide 10-15 years of warranty.

Instead of paying for expensive month-to-month utility expenses, why not invest in solar power systems? The total cost will depend on the size of the system, your area, along with other related elements. Inquire at a nearby agency concerning the offers provided by your state so that you may also save money. It’s a sensible choice to invest in solar systems simply because you will benefit greatly in the succeeding years. Check around now and figure out your available choices.

Lastly, you got to check out the Energy Saving method that save the earth and my bill too. I didn’t know that I can make my own solar panel that only costs me less than one thousand dollar.

Solar Energy Pros and Cons

Jul 26th, 2009 Posted in environment | no comment »

Knowing the solar energy pros and cons is one of the most important things in deciding whether or not you should buy this source of power. The uses for solar energy are nearly endless, some of the most practical uses are: generating electricity, central heating, hot water and cooking

Solar energy comes from rays generated from the sun. Solar energy is extremely helpful for the environment. However, when the rays emitted from the sun enters earth’s atmosphere, it dilutes quite a bit

We’ll start with the cons. One big disadvantage is that you need the rays to make use of solar energy. Locations were sun rays are scarce can pose a problem for this source of energy.

Your house roof may not be at a good angle for collecting solar energy, which would make installation on your roof less effective or in some cases, not possible. This can pose a big problem for those wishing to convert to solar energy.

There are many benifits in using solar energy too Electric heating is more expensive than solar energy. That is one of the biggest advantages of solar energy. By just using solar energy you can save a lot of money on heaters. In return you will get lower electric bills and it also means that you dont have to maintain heaters.

Remote areas are great for solar energy. There are remote areas where power companies have no means to access your home. Cooking, heating, and electric problems are all solved with the usage of solar energy.

Solar energy is less expensive than electric heating. That is a big advantage of solar energy. By just using solar energy you can save a lot of money on heaters. In return you will get lower electric bills and it also means that you dont have to maintain heaters.

Solar energy can be great for desalination of water, if you are in an area where fresh, drinkable water is scarce. Solar energy evaporates brine and leaves the salt crystals in the bottom of the basin. Water then condenses back into another basin, where it becomes drinkable.

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Wind and Solar Power Home Saves Energy

Jul 26th, 2009 Posted in lifestyle | no comment »

With all the advancement in science and technology, it’s a shame that we have not turned more to the other Renewable Wind And Solar Energy resources. There’s no denying that the world is most accustomed to oil, coal and gas as its power source. They are not so without good reasons. To be fair, these energy means have served us well over history but we are in a different situation and our planet is in another condition from yesteryear.

Truth be told, we have derived great benefits from our traditional fuels but there’s not a negative side-effect of modernization larger than that of the toll our energy wastes have taken on the environment. Hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, floods, melting icebergs, shriveling forests, global warming and so forth are but natural consequences of our own doing. The fact of the matter is every one of us has a part in them directly or indirectly.

It does not require high intelligence to figure that the first step to cutting down of energy consumption is conservation. That will not only reduce the harm to the environment as a result of wastes but the decreased demand will consequently contain the escalating price of fuel. It has become starkly obvious that conservation alone is not enough to battle the energy problem today. We must couple that with turning to alternative sources of green renewable energy.

Besides money, there are other costs associated with energy. Fuel wastes and the ravaging of our natural habitat as a result of non-renewable energy exploration are the prime culprits in this regard. As we increasingly consume fuel and deplete the reserves of oil, coal and gas, it will continue to get worse unless breakthrough efforts are garnered across the entire populace wherever possible to really make an impact.

We should then be going more in the direction of Renewable Wind And Solar Energy and enlist as many participants as possible. Not only does it check the price increase in the conventional major sources of energy, namely oil, coal and gas, it inherently conserve the environment from pollution and ruins. The two foremost environmentally friendly methods of utilizing the earth for energy are Wind and Solar Power Home generation. Even private households can easily get in on the crusade with small-scale DIY solar power home.

DIY guides for home Wind And Solar Power Generator are found in abundance on the internet. Competition is fierce and scams are rampant. But by following a few simple pointers, one should be able to identify the bona-fide ones from the pretenders. Any kit worth its salt should feature money-back guarantee, technical support and free lifetime updates. Short of that, pass.

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Thermal Solar Power Systems

Jul 19th, 2009 Posted in environment | no comment »

There is a category of solar power designs which generate heat directly from the Sun. They are called thermal solar power systems, and are a reliable and inexpensive way to make your life more self sustainable for years to come.

The field of thermal solar power is large, and ranges from a simple system to heat your water tank, up to full fledged steam power facilities in use today. With a little thought, one can imagine a wide variety of applications for thermal solar technologies.

For small scale users like ourselves, thermal solar power can be integrated into our homes. The most practical applications are for hot water and home heating, and there are a variety of designs in use. Equally as important is that thermal solar power systems are affordable and easy to use.

Other possibilities exist with pebble bed heat exchangers, which are designed to store excess thermal energy. These heat exchangers give our systems some operating flexibility. With this reservoir of heat, we can consider different applications for our thermal solar power system.

These pebble bed heat exchangers can be designed into your floors, walls, workshops, or other places around the home. They can be used for household heating, greenhouses, saunas, and as air driers for clothes. We had one design whereby a user wanted to heat up a nesting area in their chicken coupe!

The typical operating temperatures for a thermal solar power system will range from 120F to 180F. We have technologies to boost these temperatures from 200F to 350F. Industrial grade technologies can achieve temperatures in excess of 700F. Most of us with fall in the hundred degree category, but for the tinkerers, mechanics, and home enthusiasts we may want to push 300 degrees for our special applications.

The solar collector is the most important component to a thermal solar power installation. A few different types include flat plate absorbers, evacuated tube absorbers, and parabolic trough concentrators. Their main purpose is to absorb solar radiation and generate heat for the system. With a good sized solar collector system, significant heat can be generated and distributed to multiple locations.

The lifeblood of the thermal solar power design is the circulating fluid. The circulating fluid is heated in the solar collector, and then pumped to all the system users. This fluid is typically oil, glycol, or water which is matched to the system temperatures and equipment in use.

Thermal solar power is a good first step for anyone getting involved with solar energy, and especially those with good amounts of Sun. The simplicity, potential savings, and environmental benefits make them an easy decision for those retrofitting or building a new home.

Thermal power systems are typically less expensive than solar power electricity, and can create household hot water and heat reliably. With the addition of pebble bed storage and higher operating temperatures, then the amount of potential uses suddenly becomes many. With the markets of sustainability re-growing their roots we expect to see a variety of new designs and installations in years to come.

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Solar Panel Tracking Systems

Jul 17th, 2009 Posted in environment | no comment »

Tracking systems are performance boosters for a solar power system. They do so by adjusting the position of the solar panels to receive maximum Sun. Solar power tracking systems should be considered by anyone interested in boosting their energy production.

The Sun changes daily, monthly, and seasonally the way it carves its path across the sky. Therefore the angle of beam radiation is constantly changing. The solar panels should be oriented perpendicular to the Sun at all times to best receive this radiation. A solar power tracking systems helps us achieve this.

The amount of energy gained will depend on your location and the type of tracking system used. We looked up the solar energy tables for the state of Washington, and the difference between a fixed solar panel system and one with tracking was ~40% more in the summer months. The spring months showed a 25% increase, and winter about 10%.

The most cost effective tracking for solar panels is a manually adjustable one axis system. The adjustability is on the horizontal axis, so the solar panels can rotate toward the southern horizon. By making seasonal adjustments to our solar panels we increased our performance by 20% in the summer and winter months.

The next advancement in solar power tracking is automatic control of the one axis system. With the right set of equipment the solar panels can rotate with the daily path of the Sun. These systems provide strong increases throughout the year, sometimes as high as 45%.

The most advanced solar power tracking is a two axis system with electronic controls. These systems can rotate on both their horizontal and vertical axes, for maximum flexibility. Two axis systems are the most accurate for tracking the Sun, for the added cost and complexity.

Two axis tracking is used with systems requiring high temperatures on the receiving unit. Usually these are systems with solar collectors designed for beam magnification. The most dominant applications for solar concentrators are currently thermal generating stations and stirling engines.

Two axis systems are not so practical with photovoltaic solar panels. The tracking on the second axis provides only 5% additional energy when compared with the one axis system. For solar panel installations, then, it is more convenient to stay with a one axis system for most applications.

There are two general functions in mind when designing for solar energy. These functions are solar power electricity, and thermal storage or heating. No matter what the design purpose is, a good tracking system is an easy way to boost performance from your solar power system.

If you desire an extra level of performance with your solar panels, a one axis tracking system is recommended. A manually adjustable system, such as Rotek, is a low cost solution and will provide modest gains. An actively controlled tracking system at moderate cost will provide very good gains. You will have to make a compromise between the upfront costs and desired performance when making this decision.

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