Dec
07
Posted by admin
If you have been considering a solar or wind energy solution for your home or place of business, you may have been discouraged by the astronomical cost of installed solar panels, or wind turbines.
For those small end users who don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on such extravagance, you may want to consider building a solar panel or homemade wind powered generator yourself. By building it yourself, you are obviously saving a lot of money upfront on parts and labor because you are buying the components locally, or on ebay, and assembling it yourself.
If you are concerned that you do not have the required skills for building a solar panel yourself, you would probably be wrong. The fact is that building a solar panel is really fairly easy for the average do it yourselfer. Basically you are buying solar cells, and assembling a weatherproof panel with the cells wired in series to produce electricity. A homemade wind turbine may be more complex, but these are also project that a person with an average DIY ability can create themselves.
When you build your own solar panels, or wind generators from available plans, you can take pride in knowing that you are saving money on your energy costs from something that you made yourself.
It’s a good feeling to be able to make some of your own electricity from the free sources such as the sun and wind.
Oct
02
Posted by admin
Solar energy has become one of the most popular alternative forms of electricity used to power up a variety of electrical appliances. This is partly due to the many benefits that solar energy can provide that other alternative sources of energy cannot. For one thing, solar energy can be tapped virtually anywhere. The sun shines approximately 12 hours each day, providing you a constant supply of energy that can be converted into usable electricity to power up your electrical appliances and gadgets. Even on a cloudy or rainy day, you are still able to tap into the sun’s energy as a source of electricity.
The question that most people have when considering solar energy as a viable source of power for their homes and business establishments is: “what happens when the sun goes down and night falls?”. Would you still be able to benefit from using solar energy as an alternative source of energy? The answer is a resounding yes.
The reasoning behind this answer is the way in which solar panels are constructed in order to provide an alternative source of electricity to your home. For as long as the solar panels are able to tap into the sun’s energy, they will continue to convert this energy into a form of electricity that can be used to power your electrical appliances. Since many households are empty most of the day with the parents at work and the children at school, the converted energy processed by the solar panels is then stored into solar batteries. This allows the household to utilize the converted solar energy to power up their home at night.
Solar batteries are described as deep cycle units that are specially designed to be discharged and recharged for hundreds, or even thousands of uses. These batteries come in a variety of storage capacities. The storage capacity is dependent upon how much solar energy is used to power up electrical appliances in the home when the sun sets.
If you are considering installing solar panels in your home as an alternative source of electricity, one of the things that you will need to take into consideration is the amount of time that you spend at home along with what part of the day you need this electricity the most. This will help you determine just how many batteries will need to be installed with your solar energy system in order for you to maximize the overall output.
Sep
06
Posted by admin
Selecting a location to place your solar panels is extremely important in order for you to get the maximum electricity output. Here are a couple of rules of thumb for helping you select the best location to place your solar panels.
Exposure Factor
Ideally, the panels should be installed where they will be exposed to the sun’s energy throughout the entire day. By being exposed to the sun’s energy throughout the entire day, the panel will obviously be able to produce more power over a longer period.
Avoid any Blockages
Most solar panel arrays are installed on the roof area. Apart from the fact that it is the one location in your home that provides maximum exposure to the sun, it is also usually the place with the least amount of blockage. Any object that can cast a direct shadow on your solar panels will directly minimize the amount of electrical energy that it is able to produce.
Because of the fact that the sun moves into different positions at certain times of the day, it is important to select a location where the possibility of the panel being blocked by shadows or other objects is minimized.
May
01
Posted by admin
Every day, households around the world are using up the planet’s resources for energy. If this continues, these energy sources will be depleted quickly -unless alternative renewable energy sources are utilized.
One of the energy sources that modern technology has recently put to good use is solar energy. Solar energy isn’t anything new, but new technology advancements have placed solar power more into the mainstream, and it may one day be one of our primary sources of power. -
Advantages of Solar Energy
Since solar energy comes directly from the sun, it is not only renewable, but also accessible in any part of the world. As long as the proper equipment is utilized, unlimited amounts of solar power can be collected and put to good use.
Solar power is also one of the cleanest forms of energy, since it creates no pollution, and produces no greenhouse gases or waste products. For residential uses, the use of solar power minimizes negative impacts on the surrounding environment, making it a safer alternative to wind or hydro power.
Not only is solar energy non-pollutant, in terms of gases, but it also causes zero noise pollution - since there are no moving parts in any of the devices which are used to capture the sunlight. Due to the fact that no moving parts are used, maintenance costs are low as well - only occasional cleaning and periodic battery replacements are needed. Most manufacturers of solar panels provide twenty-year warranties for their equipment, guaranteeing long-life operation.
Solar panels placed on rooftops also double as a heat absorbers, slightly cooling the top area of the house which is directly below the roof.
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
The most obvious drawback of solar energy is its sole dependence on the sun. Once the weather becomes cloudy, or night strikes, energy collection comes to a halt. However, recent advancements of technology now allow the generated power to be stored in special batteries which provide roughly enough electricity to last a night.
This is why solar-powered devices, including flashlights, are gaining in popularity and are proving to be efficient energy savers. Solar panels can also be expensive, because of the materials that are used to create them. And even when these materials are taken out of the equation, the entire process, considering the other devices involved, can be a bit costly. This includes portable devices that utilize solar energy. But most of the cost involved is in the initial purchase and installation of a solar power system - not running costs.
Fortunately, there are some people who sell damaged solar cells, which are much cheaper. These damaged solar cells can be used to build fully functional solar panels, using the application of simple do-it-yourself techniques. Although in every part of the world, there is at least some point in time when the sun shines, it is also true that direct sunlight is needed in order to make the most of the sun’s energy - and to generate the highest amounts of power. This significantly restricts the placement of solar panels. And some areas in the world may receive little benefit, due to lesser sunlight.
What’s the Bottom Line?
More research and development continues to be invested into this growing technology, and that’s a good sign for the future of our households - as solar power may one day be used more frequently than other energy sources. Of course, solar energy isn’t perfect, but it makes a great complimentary addition to other energy forms.
Apr
16
Posted by admin
If you have never considered using solar power to power your home, you really don’t know what you are missing out on. Solar power would certainly be a great addition to your home in a time like now when many are seeking ways to save on their electricity bill. In this article, we will be looking at five benefits of using solar power that you need to take into consideration.
#1 - The first of the solar power benefits to consider is the fact that you can build your own solar generator for a small investment. This option will eliminate the need to have hundreds, or thousands of dollars available to spend on buying expensive commercially made units. Building your own solar generator can be made easy by purchasing a good do-it-yourself solar energy guide online. These guides are relatively cheap to acquire and also easy to follow, so that even a complete novice can follow without any problems.
#2 - Next of the solar power benefits that needs to be taken into consideration — it is free unlimited electricity that is derived from the power of the sun. This will enable you to have a continuous supply of electricity without interruptions. Having a continuous supply of electricity is important when you consider how susceptible we are to unpredictable power outages, which can be brought about by a system failure affecting your power company, or by natural disasters which are the frequent cause of downed power-lines. Having the capability to generate your own electricity will add to your convenience during those times.
#3 - Solar power benefits the environment as well, in that unlike other sources of electricity, it does not pollute the environment because it is a renewable source of energy. So, if you are someone who is concerned about the environment — generating your own solar power is a big step towards protecting the environment. You will be joining the list of people who have chosen to go green through depending on the natural power source of the sun.
#4 - Another of the solar power benefits that make it such a desirable source of energy — is the low maintenance. Because solar systems are comprised of a few simple parts, they generally won’t require frequent repairs. Many companies that sell and install solar systems often give up to a 40 year warranty on the units they install. And of course, that certainly says a lot about the durability of solar systems. You and your family will be able to enjoy free uninterrupted electricity for many years.
#5 - The last of the solar power benefits that we will be looking at is simply the reduction of your electricity bill.
And there is another added incentive of generating your own electricity.
If you construct a large enough system, and if you should generate more electricity than you need, your electricity company will pay you for the surplus electricity. So not only will building your own solar system help to reduce your electricity bill, but it can also help to put money back into your pocket from selling electricity back to the power utility.
Mar
22
Posted by admin
A few years ago having a home off the grid and using renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind power was impossible to imagine for many homeowners. Why? Because if you are going with a commercially installed system it was, and still is, very expensive to convert your home to use renewable energy sources from solar panels or wind turbines. And the fact was it would usually take years to recoup your investment. But recently all of that has changed.
Both solar power and wind power have become viable renewable energy sources sources in the last few years for the average homeowner. And the best thing is, you can easily build a wind turbine or solar panel for very little cost. This means you will be saving thousands of dollars by constructing them yourself, and then thousands more in energy savings after they are up and running.
Has there ever been a better time to go green? Not only is electricity still very expensive, but our planet is also in the worst shape it has ever been from an environmental standpoint. What do these two things mean to you? It means you should build a small renewable energy system and start generating at least some of your own electricity (even if it’s only 10-20% of your needs). It is not difficult to acquire the materials, and as long as you have a good guide to follow you should easily be able to implement your own system into your homes energy grid and start saving money on your electric bills.
Solar power is ideal for just about any home in America (and everywhere else). Wind power is also ideal for areas which receive a good deal of wind. You can even install both types of systems to compliment each other. On top of saving a lot of money on your energy bills, you will find that this is a very worthwhile family project which you will take a great deal of pride in.
Get started today and start saving money on your energy costs, and help our fragile environment at the same time.
Mar
13
Posted by admin
You might be very interested in starting a solar/renewable energy project for your home. But the thought of spending thousands of dollars for a commercially installed solar system is not financially viable for a lot of homeowners, especially in the current economic climate.
If you want to use the free energy from the Sun to provide at least part, or all of your energy needs then there is another option. A complete solar kit.
These kits provide you will all the necessary prefabricated materials and components that you will need to assemble a complete and working solar energy system for you home. Such kits are a solution which might very well fit the bill, without costing nearly as much as having someone come out and install a system for you. On this site you will find solar panel kits and accessories.
A few other resources to find some good solar starter kits are;
Real Goods Solar
VESTA 2.4kW Grid-Tied Solar Electric System
EOS 1.9kW Grid-Tied Solar Electric System
Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
Solar Panels & Solar Modules
55W Solar Power Kit for your RV.
Too Expensive?
As mentioned before, the cheapest solution is to build a solar system yourself entirely from scratch.
Building them yourself will be a far more labor intensive project, and the panels will be somewhat less efficient than prefabricated ones. However, if you enjoy building things then this will be a rewarding project that will teach you about the inner workings of solar panels, and how it is all wired together.
If you decide to go this route you can pick up one of the DIY Renewable Energy Guides in ebook form for under $50 which show you how to build a working solar panel, and how to set up your system to provide usable power. Our recommendation would be GreenDIYEnergy if you decide on this option.
Mar
07
Posted by admin
Frustrated about your energy bills? Solar energy is one of the wisest and most cost effective ways to save a lot of money over the long haul. The first impression a lot of people have is that it is technologically impossible for them to build a solar panel, but the truth is this project can be completed by any individual with an average DIY ability, and takes no more than a weekend to complete. If you are interested in learning more about this technology, then please read this report in order to learn more about the benefits of having a solar panel system for your home.
Introduction
If you are interested in building a solar panel array for your home then all you need to invest is some time, and a little bit of money. How much money and how much time will depend on your needs and abilities. But the average is around $200 or less for all the materials that you will need to construct a solar panel. The other thing you will need obviously are the right instructions, with easy to follow step by step diagrams which are pretty much “idiot proof”.
Choosing the right guide is paramount to your success. You will need to be sure that it provides clear information including, diagrams, and support. In any case, here are few key benefits to buiilding your own solar panel.
Quick advantages
There are many benefits of utilizing solar power to help meet your energy needs:
* Reduced effect of power interruptions.
* Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
* Can significantly reduce your electric bill.
* If you build a large enough system, the power company buys back the excess electricity that you generate!
Bottom line
Many of us are looking for ways to cut our energy usage and help the environment at the same time, there is no doubt that going solar is one of the smartest solutions to help you achieve that goal.
Jan
19
Posted by admin
The use of solar power is perhaps the most popular alternative source of electricity for home and business owners. This is because of the numerous different benefits that it is able to provide.
For one thing, solar power is free of charge. This being the case, tapping into the power of the sun to provide your home with a secondary source of electricity will not add to your monthly electric bill. In fact, many homeowners using solar panels to convert solar energy into usable electricity have been known to enjoy huge savings from their electric bills. They are able to save money without having to limit their use of their electric appliances and gadgets at home.
Another reason why solar energy is a popular alternative energy choice for many homeowners is because it only requires minimal investments to get started. Many commercial solar panels cost thousands of dollars to be purchased and installed in homes and businesses. However, there are solar panel do-it-yourself kits that work just as well and at a fraction of the price.
Tapping into solar energy as an alternative source of energy helps conserve the environment. Solar energy will not run out like the petroleum products that are currently used as fuel by electric companies throughout the country.
Selecting where to have your solar panels installed in your home is extremely important in order for you to get the maximum electricity output. Here are some tips to help you choose a great location where you can have your solar panels, commercial or homemade, installed.
Exposure Factor
The first thing that you will need to do is consider the best place to place your solar panels at your house. Ideally, the panels should be installed where they will be exposed to the sun’s energy throughout the entire day. By being exposed to the sun’s energy throughout the entire day, the panel will be able to convert more electrical energy output that can then be used to power the different appliances in your home.
Avoid any Blockages
Many solar panels installed in homes are usually done on the roof area. Apart from the fact that it is the one location in your home that provides maximum exposure to the sun, it is also the place where there is the least amount of blockage. Any object that can cast a direct shadow on your solar panels will directly minimize the amount of electrical energy that it is able to produce. Because of the fact that the sun moves into different positions at certain times of the day, it is important to select a location where the possibility of the panel being blocked by shadows or other objects is minimized.
