Posts Tagged ‘solar power’

Solar Power for Camping Trips

March 12th, 2010

Perhaps you’ve already heard about solar power systems. People often think that solar power is very expensive but that was years ago. Today, you can already find more affordable alternatives in order to enjoy the free energy from the sun. Many individuals love to go camping and if you’re one of them, you may as well carry a solar power system with you.

But are the systems reliable, portable enough, practical, and readily available?

RV camping can be a lot more fun if you have a solar power system with you. However, some campers simply find the whole system as unnecessary. The camping spaces are usually fully hooked up so you won’t need the system unless there is power failure. The trips are usually carefully planned and you will need to reserve for the hook-up. You can also go on an RV camping without the hookup. You can explore quiet and remote places for a couple of days. In this case, the solar power system is a must and it’s practical to have them around. Before you go camping, you must determine your electrical requirements. The camping schedule should also be appropriately chosen to make sure that there will be plenty of sunshine. The batteries can be charged using the system. Once you determine the load, you can now estimate the size of the system. Purchase the needed materials and start the installation of batteries, solar panels, and inverters. These are needed to produce the required energy.

Today, there are several solar power systems that are suitable to RVs. Shop around and you can find one that will suit your budget and needs. If you’re planning to bring electrical devices, you must calculate their energy needs so that you won’t use up all the solar energy. Try to limit the number of electrical devices you bring; besides, you’re going camping to explore nature so you can do away with the convenience of these devices.

Even if you’re camping without RVs, you can still make use of the solar power system. You can already find lightweight and portable units that generate solar power. There are flexible panels that can be carried to campsites and you will just spread them on the ground where there is direct sunlight. The generated power is enough to light a small bulb and a heater. Special backpacks collect sun’s energy and convert them into electricity which can be used to recharge your iPod, camera, and cellular phone.

Solar power is no longer limited to homes, offices, and other bog establishments. Now, it is already possible to carry solar power systems anywhere you go. Camping will be more fun if you bring a solar power system with you. Forget about conventional generators that consume fuel. You can get free electricity from the systems that are sold in the market. In the US, solar power is already recognized and many households are now using them.

Next time you plan to go camping, make sure that you bring a dependable solar power system. Plan your outing carefully and make sure that you pick the right date and day as well. If it’s sunny, you can produce more energy. Bring limited electric devices and bring only the essentials. Solar power is clean and renewable so you can stay out camping for as long as you like without worrying about energy consumption.

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Solar Power in the US

March 6th, 2010

Sunlight contains energy and if you can capture it using a special gadget, you can turn it into electricity. For many years, solar power was always overlooked. But now that the world is becoming warmer, the sources of fossil fuels are depleting, and the cost of electricity is continuously rising, many people now realize the importance of solar power.

With solar power, you will no longer have to worry about electricity once you’ve installed the solar power system. Aside from that, you will get clean and renewable energy. When you install a solar power system, you’re able to hit two birds with one stone – you’re able to save the earth and you can save a lot of money in the coming years. The system can last for about twenty years and that’s like a lifetime already. With proper care and maintenance, the system might reach thirty years of service.

In the US, solar power is gaining popularity. Years ago, it would have been impossible to use solar power in homes because it was too expensive. But thanks to modern technology, many homeowners in the US as well as businesses now make use of solar energy. Power bills can surely be reduced thereby saving the environment and the pockets of homeowners or businesspersons.

Some places in the US enjoy a lot of sunlight particularly Los Angeles California. There are so many solar power systems available today and solar panels are just one of them. Despite the many benefits of solar power, have you ever wondered why very few people use it? At this point, experts claim that solar power is still inefficient. To generate more electricity, then larger solar panels are needed which are quite bulky. Just imagine putting a large and ugly panel on your rooftop which can destroy your home’s overall beauty? Ready made solar panels are quite costly that ranges from $35,000 – $250,000 depending on the size.

Scientists are still conducting researches and at present, solar power is said to be more efficient now unlike many years ago. Drastic changes were made thereby improving the solar panel’s price and appearance. With the invention of the photovoltaic cells, solar power was greatly improved. The cells will be placed on steel substrate to capture sunlight and the energy will be stored within the battery. The photovoltaic panels contain n layers of cells thereby increasing its efficiency. These new panels make use of the ‘amorphous silicon thin alloy technology’. Through this technology, the cells are not bulky anymore and highly efficient. With stylish photovoltaic panels, your house or office will still look pleasant eve with the panel on top.

Aside from the cell, photovoltaic shingles were also invented. Basically, the shingles modified solar panels. If you don’t want to use bulky solar panels, this is an excellent choice because of its aesthetic and convenient design. The photovoltaic shingles look like ordinary shingles and are colored black.

The photovoltaic cells and shingles have definitely enhanced the solar power technology. Who knows? Perhaps in the future, experts and scientists can now develop smaller cells, panels, etc. Check out LA and see the solar powered homes there. You can now start calculating your home’s electrical requirements so that you can determine the right size of the power system. Start with a small project and work your way up but if you can afford to pay for ready-made ones, go ahead.

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Solar Power and Global Warming

February 23rd, 2010

Who wouldn’t want to get a lifetime supply of free electricity? Well, that can be realized only if you install a dependable and durable solar power system. Solar power is free but only after the installation of the power system. Conventional electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels that in turn contribute to global warming. The effects of global warming are quite evident nowadays. Many people are now interested in saving the environment to prevent the devastating effects of pollution. One way to decrease pollution and environmental concerns is through the use of solar power.

Solar power can be used in different ways especially in households. You can use it for lighting, for cooking, for heating the house, and many others. Utility bills are very expensive and you can cut it down by installing a solar power system. The system has solar panels that collect sunlight and converts the energy of the sun into electricity. You can readily use the electricity or it can be stored in the batteries.

The sun’s raw energy can’t be used to power homes and it needs to be converted first through the inverter. If you have a solar powered house, you can make use of renewable and clean electricity. Even if you can’t cut off your traditional electrical supply, you will be able to reduce the consumption thereby helping the environment. Electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels that contribute to pollution and global warming. The supply of fossil fuels is also decreasing and the world might face electricity shortage soon if they don’t conserve energy. It would be best to start using solar power now.

Through the efforts of SEPA (Solar Electric Power Association), the public is made aware of the many benefits of solar powered homes. This is the best time to make substantial efforts to save the environment. Solar power can’t possibly replace conventional energy sources today but who knows. If the technological advancements can help in the enhancement of solar power systems, perhaps in the near future the whole world can go green.

Pollution is widespread and it poses a great threat to the world. By reducing traditional electricity consumption, you can also lessen pollution. Solar power can provide clean, renewable, and free electricity. It doesn’t produce harmful emissions. You can enjoy free electricity as long as the system is working properly and as long as the sun rises.

The solar power systems are not that expensive these days. In fact, you already get a solar power kit for as low as $200. Still, the large solar panels are expensive. The federal government in the US offers incentives, loans, grants, rebates, and other financial options to help homeowners in installing a power system. Take advantage of these financial options so that you can start helping the environment.

Solar power systems can serve your home for about twenty years when properly maintained. It’s like an entire lifetime if you start now. If every home around the world patronizes solar power, global warming can be greatly reduced and Mother Nature can heal herself. Try to learn more about solar power and if you can afford to install a system at home or in the office, don’t hesitate because you’re doing the world a favor and you also get a lot of benefits.

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The Cost of Solar Power Installation

February 19th, 2010

Many years ago, it would have been impossible to use solar power at home because the installation cost was too expensive. However, with the advancements in technology, households and offices can now make use of solar power because the solar power system kits are more affordable. Homes that have solar power systems can expect added market value and aside from that, you can expect a significant decrease in your electric bills.

How much is the cost for installing a solar power system? If you live in the US, you can take advantage of the financial incentives offered by the government to make the installation cost more affordable.

Before you finally decide to use a solar power system for your home, you need to calculate your electrical needs. Determine the kWh that your home consumes in a month and in a year. You can find such info on the monthly utility bill. Study the bills so that you will now which months have the greatest consumption and the months with the least consumption.

New homeowners can compute their electricity consumption by checking your electrical appliances. Just estimate the load based on your appliances, lights, and other things that consume electricity.

Electrically bills are showing a continuous upward trend and so many people are now complaining about their monthly bills. A very good answer is solar power. Where do you live? The place where the home or establishment is situated is a primary consideration. In the US, you can install the solar power system in any of the states. If you can find solar contractors locally, you can seek their help to determine the appropriate size of the system.

1-5 kW of solar power system is already enough to meet your home’s electricity needs. You don’t need to cut off your existing power supply in order to utilize solar power. You can simply use the photovoltaic systems as a supplement. This step alone can already reduce your monthly bills. Do you have enough space for the photovoltaic system? For every square foot, you can already yield 10 watts; you can start your computation 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, less other incentives equals to your net investment. You can shop around for the best and most suitable solar power system in the market. If you live in California, it will be easier to find local sellers of solar power systems because many homes in the city are already solar powered. For those living in other places, it would be easier to shop online. There are lots of online stores that offer photovoltaic systems but try to stick with the reputable and established manufacturers that offer 10-15 years of warranty.

Instead of paying for expensive monthly utility bills, why not invest in solar power systems? The total cost will depend on the size of the system, your location, and other related factors. Inquire at a local agency about the incentives offered by your state so that you can also save money. It’s a wise decision to invest in photovoltaic systems because you’ll benefit greatly in the succeeding years. Shop around now and determine your available options.

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Can the US Solar Manufacturers Win the Battle?

February 14th, 2010

Whilst Mr. Obama has stated clearly that he wanted to make the United States “the world’s leading exporter of renewable energy”, it is China’s companies that quietly have established their domination in the green energy business, particularly in solar power. The Chinese have already dominated the market by successfully pushing down the price of photovoltaic panels by over fifty percent last year. This situation helps people who previously couldn’t afford to have their own home solar panels in the United States but on the other hand it’s not doing any good to the American clean energy equipment manufacturers. Many people worry that the local manufacturers can’t win the competition. Chinese companies are greatly supported by the government with cheap loans, labor and electricity cost, something impossible to find in the United States.

Will some protectionist legislation help to stop the Chinese solar products invasion? Not likely. The Chinese are furthermore preparing to build plants in the United States to assemble their products, something they learned from the Japanese automakers to combat the protectionist legislation many years ago.

It seems that the United States (and probably Europe as well) will become the consumers only unless they can push down their local products prices to stop the Chinese domination. Mr. Obama has to find a better solution to make his dream come true.

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Solar Energy – The Future of Generating Energy for the Home

January 30th, 2010

Solar energy for residential houses is nothing new. It has just been relegated to the background in lieu of rising cost of real estate; newer more advanced building materials, design and the limitation of resources.

Since man started building homes, sunlight played a major influence in the design. In fact, even in the more advanced urban planning method of the Ancient Chinese and Greeks, the orientation of the buildings is as much as possible directed towards where it could capture the most sunlight.

The ancients might not be as intellectually sophisticated then to use catch phrases as passive solar and thermal mass but when they build, they were building in compact proportion, employing overhangs, producing insulations and building in manners that direct the airflow within the structure and producing well lit, well ventilated spaces using the relative position of the sun to the orientation of their structures.

Lately, as the conventional sources of energy became more expensive, homeowners were once again turning to the sun for energy requirements.

Since the 1950’s, harnessing the sun’s rays has been developing and today the solar cell technology has achieved very efficient levels that modern (so-called green house) designs apply the sun’s power to provide energy for the home.

While solar energy is free, the device that will convert it to run our appliances is not. To provide solar energy for the home, solar cells called photovoltaic made from semi-conducting materials, are grouped into modules. These solar panels are mounted on rooftops, yards or open spaces where it can capture the maximum amount of sunlight.

Whenever possible, the panels will be installed facing south to get the most out of the sunlight but tracking systems are also used to follow the direction of the sun. The solar panels collect the energy from the sunlight. The process basically is that when the panels are exposed to sunlight, the electrons are separated form the atoms. This movement of the electrons creates electricity.

To store power, pumps are often used – circulating water in the cells. The water goes into a storage tank where the power is stored, ready for use. Sometimes, the use of gravity is employed if it will just the same store the heated water in to the tank.

In spite of all the development in solar energy though, the use of this technology is not enough to provide power to the whole house. The best method so far can only fulfill about 80% of a households power needs. The employment of solar energy for the home will still require the use of the conventional power distribution method.

Powering the homes by solar means will still, for a while be augmented by a local power distribution agency. To many, this is already a good starting point. Homeowners that feel that the high cost of powering their houses through solar power, is justified when compared to the price that is now being paid for conventional electrification method where horrendous amounts of CO2 are being dumped into the atmosphere just to generate a pitiful amount of electricity.

However, due in part to the rising costs of energy, the technology for solar energy has been undergoing rapid phases of development. Experts are confident that within five years, powering the home through the solar method will be made widely available for those who prefer it as its sole energy source.

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