2008-2009 Essential Guide to Solar Energy, Photovoltaics, Solar Cells, Roof Panels, Heating, Lighting, Concentrating – Complete Guide with Practical … and Government Research (Two CD-ROM Set)

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by Thomas Mack

The sources of energy that we have relied upon for so long, such as gas and coal, are in ever-decreasing supply and it’s becoming more and more important to find alternatives that are renewable. Of these, solar energy is more and more being hailed as an ideal energy solution.

And solar power is gaining popularity as a source of home energy. Thanks to all the research and development, it is now accessible to anyone. An average family can have their own home-made system, meeting their energy needs. It’s definitely not rocket science.

The materials required to construct these solar panels are available in most local hardware stores. The whole process of building these panels could be completed by someone with reasonably good DIY skills. And the final connection into the power supply can be done by a qualified electrician.

Some locations are better than others for solar power, because of the sunshine levels. But the level of sunshine required is a lot less than most people think. And you can store the energy produced in special batteries, so that you have a constant supply.

It would be possible to build an energy-producing home solar system for $200 or less. That is a pleasant surprise to the many who have gone down this road. So you can absolutely rule out cost as a prohibitive factor.

The take-up of solar power by families is increasing all the time, as it becomes de-mystified, and because the entry costs are now within reach. You may have thought that it was necessary to introduce solar home power while designing, or constructing a house, but that’s not the case.

How would you like to see your electricity meter count down instead of up? Well you could have this situation if you produce more solar energy than you need. You would have the option of either storing it for later use, or of selling it to the electricity company (who will gratefully accept it).

There are many positive points that could be cited about solar energy, including the “clean, green” aspects of it. But the kicker has got to be the cost – both from the point of view of the low entry cost, and also for the ongoing savings that will be achieved. You could see a reduction of 80% (even 100%) in your energy bill.

if you are producing your own home solar power, you are helping in the great fight against global warming (and of course you are reducing carbon emissions). And once the system is up and running, the maintenance it requires is minimal.

The use of solar energy to generate electricity is a long-established reality. The uptake of home solar power systems is on the increase, and I believe that this trend is only going to continue.

When traditional energy sources are not reliable enough, or when you want to save on your energy bills, you can harness solar or wind energy to cool down your home. And an even better reason to do this is to help clean up the environment by using fewer pollutants in your energy production.

Furthermore, if you’re living off the power grids, and the weather is hot the whole year round, you should definitely consider alternative energy to cool your home. One option is a simple DIY home solar cooling project.

One way of cooling your home is by running water through the house. This can lessen the temperature of the building, while at the same time produce a calming and tranquil effect within the residence. This type of system doesn’t require a lot of energy, and can be run with solar or wind energy. There are buildings that allow lake water to flow through them.

A simple way to get water flowing through your home is by using a basic wind turbine. All you need are three blades, mounting, control system, batteries, tower, and a generator. You can pick a DIY kit online. When choosing the DC motor, be sure it’s adequate to run the pump you’ll be using. You can opt for a low-RPM motor, that generates 12 volts in 200 to 300 RPM.

If you’re making your own blades, you can use an iron pipe, cut in half. Once you have the required number of blades, place them in front of the motor. Then mount a thin, wide, metal object, to catch the wind. The tower should be at least forty feet tall, to be effective. At that height, your wind turbine can sustain the needed speed for the generator to run smoothly.

Some buildings incorporate passive cooling designs, to keep temperatures cool within the house. These can be in the form of awnings, window shades, reflective windows, and trees. You can use sod roof as well. This can help cool down a structure.

If your house has not yet been built, you can choose to use ecologically-friendly materials, such as straw and bale. These can provide proper insulation for your home. This is why you should talk to the construction company about your green requirements.

Both you, and the environment, will benefit when you use alternative energy to cool your home. There will be less carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere, and as a homeowner you’ll be utilizing resources that are freely available.

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To learn where you can find complete and step-by-step instructions on how to install DIY Wind and Solar Power systems, along with pictures, videos, and and diagrams, please see http://findportablesolarpower.com/diysolarpower/popular-diy-wind-solar-power-guides/
TO learn more about the types of DIY solar power projects you can try at home, please visit http://findportablesolarpower.com/diysolarpower

The US is not a leading user of solar energy for a very obvious reason: they can still afford to buy fossil fuels from the international market. In other countries the oil prices are ten times higher in the US and sometimes going for the alternative is a lot better in the long run. Today, more and more countries are looking at solar energy as a primary source of power. There are several countries which can be considered as at the helm of solar energy technology.

The number one use of solar energy is Germany. It captures almost 50% of the world market of photovoltaic cells. Nowhere else in the world can you find the most number of households with solar panels installed on their roof tops. Germany has this Renewable Energies Laws (EEG) which passed in 2000. The law certainly helped Germans feel the need to go renewable.

According to statistics, Germans invested nearly US$5 billion in solar photovoltaic systems and have contributed considerable in the growth of the solar energy market. Although most of the things that we see are solar panels, it doesn’t mean that Germany’s solar industry is not limited to the production of photovoltaic cells for electricity. Other notable usage in Germany includes solar panels for home water heating system. Some news indicate that the German solar hot water market earns fU.S.$1.5 billion per year.

The “solar park” in Arnstein, Bavaria, Germany is one of the biggest photovoltaic plants in the world. It became operational in 2006 and with more than 1,400 PV solar panels, it can produce 12 megawatts of energy.

The next biggest country in terms of usage of solar energy is Spain. The solar energy usage in the country, more specifically the photovoltaic cells usage, has a world market share of 27%. Spain has no sign of slowing down its aggressive and pro-active approach in solar energy. Solar fields are being constructed one of the latest ones is the 60 MW solar field in Olmedilla de Alarcn, near Cuenca.

There are other big solar plants in Spain and these include the solar park 12 miles outside of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain which have 70,000 PV panels divided into three 36-hectare arrays. The arrays produce an output is 13.8 megawatts and has been powering roughly 5,000 homes since it opened in 2007.

And the rest of the world follow Germany and Spain. Japan and the US still have a market share in the photovoltaic world market. The two countries both have an 8% market share, a far cry from Germany and Spain. Nevertheless, it is quite important that countries continue to improve their status in the world solar market.

Other notable country that uses solar power includes Alegeria, Australia, Italy, and Portugal. Aside from the rich European countries, people in Israel and India are realizing the importance of having alternative sources of energy.

These are the countries on the helm of solar energy technology. But, other countries are slowly catching up. The government of Israel, for example, required all residential buildings to install solar water heating systems in the early 90s. Today, business establishments like hotels and office buildings are trying to use solar power as an alternative from using fossil fuels whose prices continue to soar in the world market.

India is facing a similar energy crisis and they are also looking at solar energy to get them through it.

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You may be wondering how solar-powered lights work.  Solar lights are used when the sun goes down.  So how is this possible?

First of all, understand that lighting devices which relies on solar power generally use a backup battery to operate.  Solar cells are used to charge the battery during the day, and the battery powers the light during the night.  The solar cells might be attached to the device itself, or might be located nearby.

This type of lighting is often used in remote locations, where conventional power sources are unavailable, and lights can not be connected to the power grid.  They are also used for outdoor lighting, or as landscape lights around the home or garden.

Components of Solar Powered Lights

There are four basic components of a solar powered light.  Many solar lighting systems are sold with these components already integrated, but it is good to know what the components are:

- The solar cells
- The lamp
- A charge controller
- The batteries

When purchasing solar lights, the majority of the cost involved will be for the solar cells.  These are the most expensive parts of the device or system.  Be sure your system is installed within some type of weatherproof housing, so that the solar cells and electrical connections will withstand the elements.  Ensure that the electrical parts are protected from moisture at all times.

The charge controller is like the “brain” of a solar-powered light.  It protects the batteries from overcharging, and maximizes the electrical output of your solar cell array.  It also controls the duration  that the light can operate.  Without a charge controller, your setup will not function properly.

Uses of Solar Lights

Most solar powered lights are used to illuminate outdoor gardens and walkways.  The lights are generally cordless, and you can move them around easily without the need to dig ditches and run the wires underground.

One disadvantage solar lighting has, in comparison to conventional lighting, is that its stored solar power diminishes over time.  That means that while the light may be strong during the first few hours of operation, it will then gradually grow dimmer as the night goes on.  This might not be seen as a disadvantage by some, because most outdoor activities occur during the early evening hours.  Different solar lighting systems also have different capacities, and some last longer than others.

Keep in mind that solar-powered lights depend on the sun to operate, and their performance can be influenced by weather conditions.  If the weather is cloudy or rainy, then there will be less battery power than there would be on a sunny day.  There are also different levels of quality, where solar lights are concerned – the cheaper ones tend to be less efficient and do not last as long.

Hopefully in the near future, improvements in solar technology can make solar lighting less expensive, and more efficient, even during bad weather.

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Anna promotes and educates on the uses of clean energy and solar power.  Visit her website to learn more about home solar power, at http://findportablesolarpower.com/homesolarpower/

You may already have heard about everyday people making their own solar panels but did you know how inexpensive and easy this project can be? It’s true, and you’re not only saving a lot of money doing this yourself but also decreasing the costs of electricity in your home and helping our environment.

Solar energy is only one of the many different ways people are finding to decrease their energy costs and solve the environmental crisis we’re currently facing. It’s been found that we can easily use our electrical appliances from a simple solar or wind powered system that can be implemented into our home’s electrical system.

Solar and wind power are two of the most cost-effective sources of energy on earth. The sun’s rays and blowing winds are free to anyone who wants to use them. The key to taking advantage of this unlimited, free energy is knowing how to turn it into usable electricity to run your toaster or laptop computer.

If you’re interested in generating your own home energy, there are many resources that will show you step-by-step how to do it. You’ll learn how to build and install your own residential wind generator system using the basic of tools and easily found materials. What’s really astonishing, to me, that building your own solar or wind generator system will only set you back less than $200! You’ll also see the benefits from this system in only your first month of using it.

There was a time when we didn’t think about all the resources we use that affects our planet because we weren’t aware of the effects. Now that we’re learning of the environmental impact our current resource usage has on this earth, we need to consider where our energy comes from.

Governments and businesses continue to fight over the fact that we can no longer rely on our current energy sources that is costing us millions of dollars and diminishing the quality of our environment. We need to come to a conclusion now on what we have to do.

Think about what we can do to conserve energy and help the environment around us. When we think about the impact our current energy usage has, we need to consider how we’ve taken for granted the amount of energy we consume.

Learn more about alternative energy you can do yourself. You can learn how you can create your own alternative energy now and become less dependent on our ever diminishing resources.

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