Home Solar Energy – Easy Steps To A Warm House

Whether building your House or remodelling it, it can be made in to a solar energy house by throwing some simple changes in your plan. If the electricity and gas become costlier then turning to solar energy is not only a cheaper solution but is natural and environmental friendly too, because this alternative form of energy production gives of absolutely zero emissions into the atmosphere by making use of most natural source Sun as its driver.
On reaching it disperses evenly and can be channelized to a particular area like your home. How can you get the required amount of sunlight to heat a home? It?s quite simple and only takes some simple extra measures to get it started.

Steps to building or remodelling your Home

Building your own home can have multiple choices regarding home heating source. Solar heating works much cheaper than electricity. In case your choice is solar heating then your home needs to be east facing i.e. in the direction of the rising sun. Thus your home gets the maximum sunshine during the hot period of the day. Fixing Solar Powered Glass Windows also helps to lock the warmth of sun that comes through in the home during the day without letting it escape thus keeping your home warm even after sunset.

Only condition is that the door should be kept closed in order to lock the heat and install insulated curtaining on the windows at night so that warmth remains in the room through out the night. Also ensure that there are not many windows on West side of the house because setting sun may cause the home to cool down quickly.

In case you wish to use the sun as a natural heating source then it is extremely simple to remodel your house. Even though your home is not facing the rising sun, it is quite easy to shut in the sunlight that comes in by building a sun room on the east side of your home to trap the morning sun light thus heating up the room naturally and then with the help of ceiling fans circulate the air into the other parts of the house.

During the day this will not only keep your warm but reduce the mount of time used on other source of heat. While remodeling the home installing solar power windows specially designed to attract the sunlight, will allow trapping it in without letting it to escape. Thus heating your home naturally.

Using solar energy to heat up your home naturally is not only the best way to reduce your energy bill but is environment friendly to because it gives off absolutely zero emissions. A backup heating arrangement can be installed incase the sunlight is not sufficient to heat effectively due to clouds. Thus reducing your electricity bill considerably.

Home Solar Energy System – Why You Should Consider A Home Solar Energy System

I’m fairly certain that the majority of people would like to be free from the costly grip of the power company, and in turn be able to reduce their monthly bills. The problem is that most of us don’t know how to do this. But what if there was a step-by-step guide that could demonstrate exactly how to build your own cost-efficient, home solar energy system? Would you want to check it out? I’m assuming the answer is yes, so I will continue on.

The reality is that having a solar energy system installed in your home can be very expensive, to the tune of around $20,000. That said, the only way to do this cost-effectively is to build your own. On the surface, this might sound like an arduous undertaking, but luckily, many people that have gone before us and paved this path already. There are several, simple to follow DIY tutorials that you can take advantage of.

With today’s increasing awareness of global warming caused by the excessive burning of fossil fuels, more and more people are looking to reduce their “carbon footprint” and take more responsibility for the care of the Earth. If you want to be a part of today’s green revolution, then home solar power is a great option. It’s renewable, clean and doesn’t really require much upkeep after the initial installation. Installing your own system is not only great for the environment, but it will also provide you with a great back-up source of power in the case of outages in your area, and additionally save you money at the same time. Solar energy itself is free and endless. There is no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of it in our own lives.

For a step-by-step guide to create your own home solar energy system, check out a great resource on the subject here.
http://homesolarpowersystem.blogspot.com

Solar Energy for the Home

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Solar energy for the home can be a great way for you to reduce your reliance on the energy companies and oil prices. As well as decreasing your reliance on fossil fuels you will also be lowering your carbon foot print and making your own contribution to global warming smaller.

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The only real draw back of using solar energy for the home is that it has a high initial cost to get up and running. There are many state and federal programs that can ease this a bit though, such as grants, tax breaks, and government loans. While the initial investment is high the system will pay for itself eventually by reducing or completely eliminating your current power bill.

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Solar energy systems also require very little maintenance because there are no moving parts. A solar panel will usually just continue to put out power until something actually damages it. There is some power loss from the panel as it ages but this is a very small amount.

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A large part of the install can be done by yourself if you are handy around the house but you will need a professional for parts of it, like connecting your system to the grid. There may also be certain items that will require a professional depending on the building codes for your local area.

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The very basics of the system are the panels, the inverter, the interlock, and the monitoring equipment.

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When the sunlight shines on a solar panel then there are electrons freed up in the panel. The electrons start to move and produce direct current electricity. The panel itself is made up of individual solar cells. Each of these cells will produce about a half of a volt, so if you have a 24V panel then there are going to be 48 individual cells in it. The actual current or amperage that the panel is capable of is determined by the size of the solar cells in the panel. The larger the cells then the more current your panel will be capable of producing.

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The next components are the inverter and the interlock. The actual operation of an inverter is fairly complex but what it does is fairly simple. It takes the DC power generated from the panels and converts it to AC so that it will be compatible with the appliances and lighting currently used in our houses.

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The interlock is basically the switch that ties your system to the grid. This helps determine where your power is coming from at a given time, from the power company or from your solar energy system. It should also contain some safeties that will prevent your system from feeding power back in to the utility companies lines in case of a blackout. Feeding this power back in could be very dangerous for any electricians that are working on those lines during a power outage.

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The monitoring equipment of course does just that. It follows the status of your system and some of the more complex units can keep track of how much power you are generating and how much you are using.

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If you need some help finding affordable solar power equipment and panels then check out SolarPanelsCheap.com

The History Of Solar Energy

Throughout man’s history the sun has always been a subject of speculation and worship. In fact, most ancient cultures have deified the sun, due to its life-giving and energy-giving qualities.

Thus, the subject of solar energy is one of the oldest subjects on Earth. It has gone through many evolutions and has been the subject of many schools of thought – starting with religion, and ending up in the field of science.

In fact, though not many people know this, a large portion of the western civilization celebrates the returning of the sun each year, just as the ancients did thousands of years ago.

I am, of course, referring to Christmas – which dates back to the celebrating of the winter solstice, the point in time when the Earth has reached its furthest point away from the sun, and starts returning.

Of course, the story of Christmas has radically changed from its original meaning. It has gone through its own evolution. Originally being a celebration of the sun’s return, it then became the celebration of the birth of Christ, and eventually wound up with a friendly old man bringing Coca Cola on Christmas Eve. But this last point is simply modern marketing at work.

The First Uses of Solar Energy

It is almost impossible to exactly date the first uses of solar energy.

But we do know that the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, among others, made use of “passive solar energy” in their building designs.

Passive solar energy is the use of a building’s architecture to capture the sun’s heat and light.

In 200 B.C., the Greek scientist, Archimedes, used concentrated solar power technology, (now referred to as “CSP”) by combining the reflective properties of many polished bronze shields, in order to focus sunlight and thus set fire to an invading Roman fleet while it was besieging Syracuse.

(In 1973, The Greek Navy recreated this scenario as an experiment, and succeeded in setting fire to a wooden boat 50 meters away.)

Socrates and the Romans

Even the famous Greek philosopher Socrates has commented on the benefits of facing one’s house toward the south, in order to make use of the heat provided by the sun in the winter.

The Romans also used this technique, of facing their houses southward, but they took it a step further. They also installed more windows on the south side, allowing the heat and light of the sun to freely enter the buildings.

Throughout the first four centuries after Christ, Roman bath houses employed passive solar heating. The Romans built the bath houses with large, south-facing windows, to let the sun’s warmth in. This aspect of passive solar technology is still used by architects today.

With these methods, they were able to reduce the amount of fuel they needed to heat their buildings. And considering that you had to go out and chop your own wood in those days, it was well worth it.

The Many Benefits of Homemade Solar Energy

Many people today believe in the importance of going green. As a matter of fact, there are cars right now that are environment friendly. There are also a lot of campaigns against air pollution, burning garbage, etc. When it comes to electricity production, there is also a way to go green. By depending on homemade solar energy to bring electricity to your homes, you will be able to have a more harmonious relationship with mother earth.

Using electricity provided by solar power has so many benefits. Aside from promoting eco-friendliness, it also aids people in saving on electricity charges. Solar power is also renewable which can bring about energy conservation, becoming one way of ensuring that fossil fuels do not immediately run out. Solar power produces both heat and electricity which are two very important elements that we need to survive. By constructing and using the so called solar panels, we can gain solar power, which means that we can get power into our homes in a more efficient way.

Perhaps the most interesting benefit of solar powered electricity is the fact that users get to provide their own energy, thus decreasing the need to rely on utility companies. Bear in mind that almost every year, electricity rates go higher, forcing us to shell out more money every month. With solar panels, however, rising electricity charges may not have a bigger effect on people.

Some people may have second thoughts about using solar powered systems because of the cost to purchase and to have it set up. Having solar panels installed in your home may sometimes reach the cost of thousands of dollars. However, when you think about the benefits and the total percentage of savings you get yearly, having a solar powered system can be better than paying utility companies just to get electricity.

Nowadays, there are also solar panel kits available that are not that heavy on the pocket. To save on money, you may also choose to install the system yourself, especially because the kits normally come with instruction manuals that you can just follow in order to successfully install a solar powered system by yourself. By installing a DIY kit, you may not need to hire professional installers, thus, you get to save money. There are also some government programs in a number of countries that provide rebates and sometimes tax credits to people who use solar panels which also means more savings.

The demand for homemade solar energy is little by little rising because of how advantageous it is. A lot of manufacturers are now able to offer less costly solar power systems. There are also different types of solar panels that can give you the choice of which solar panel is best for your home. If you want guaranteed efficiency and savings, find out first the total amount of power you need, the amount of sunlight you get in your place, etc before purchasing solar panel kits. Look for systems that are easy to afford, easy to buy, and proven effective.

Solar Energy Negatives

Change is a watch word for our planet, and changes have been made that have enhanced the Earth. Scientist are exploring the negative effects of solar energy in order to safely replace the energy sources that we presently use with this form.

Solar energy has the ability to give us cheaper if not free electricity to our homes through the use of solar panels. However, before you jump on the band wagon and go out and try to start this new power trip there are a few things you should know. There are some people who believe there are many negatives to solar power.

Many people believe that thermal solar energy has many health risks when it is used to heat water and the air in their homes. This can happen when it has not been set up properly or the manufacturer made errors when producing it.

If it is unable to store the water properly it can cause fungus and molds to grow making anyone who drinks or uses the water sick. To make sure that this does not happen you can make sure that the units used to store the water have been built from materials that are made to prevent this.

PV solar energy also as health risks that you need to be careful of. PV (photo-voltaic) panels require millions of silicon dioxide in order to be used. That number is lowered when they are exposed to heat. The materials that are released during the refining process will increase the rate of toxicity and can affect your health. This is one of the more serious negatives of solar energy that is responsible for eleven to twenty one deaths per each quadrillion joules of energy that are created.

But do not let this deter you completely. Study up on the different types of solar panels and the negatives as well as the positives. You might find that they are worth it in the end.

How is Solar Energy Used

We simply need to think back of the last time we lost power when we had to light some candles and wash ourselves with cold water. Luckily for us the power came back but what if it didn?t come back. We have to stop thinking that everything lasts forever because nothing does and the sooner we realize that, the better we will be, it is time to start thinking outside the box, and look up high above into the sky and realize that solar energy is here for us to use. It shines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week non stop around the world, it is here now and for a long time to come.

The sun is a very intense ball of fire or gas way up in the atmosphere. We only see it when we are awake but on the other side of the globe others also get the daytime when we get the night. Did you know that some people use a great deal of the heat generated from the sun in order to heat their homes, power electricity and provide hot water to their love ones and businesses. Thinking about all the machinery that runs with electricity, it is hard to imagine running it by rerouting the sun to the machinery. Scientists have started to make this possible by utilizing this free energy to power everything from, home heaters to heating water, from powering home appliances to electronic devices and even the space shuttle is using solar power.

This solar power energy can be redirected and concentrated using special boxes (solar panels) that attract the light during the day to heat water and homes throughout the night. Solar power is becoming very common, extremely important and provides a natural way to heat, collect electricity and heat water with just a little more effort. We live in changing times; in the future we may have no other choice but to look at natural resources in order to have these necessities and conveniences. To have a home solar power system installed or have one made yourself can save you a huge amount of money and the investment you made to modify you house to implement a solar system can pay itself off many times in a short period of time. Solar power is important now and in the future.

Is Solar Energy Reliable?

Solar power is becoming a way of life for many people across the globe. From isolated communities to inner city suburbs, solar energy is becoming a very popular choice to better the environment.

Solar energy has been in existence ever since life on our planet began. We have been using the strength of the sun in many different ways, past and present. The more modern technique of using solar energy has been through the use of solar panels.

Solar energy is 100% reliable, if our planet did not receive this energy, or if the energy increased or dropped significantly, then the earth would more than likely struggle to support mankind. However, some methods regarding how we use solar energy are by no means 100% reliable.

The more modern method of harnessing solar energy has been through the use of solar panels. The technology used to turn sunlight into electricity is still in its infancy. Newer and better technologies are emerging every year, and one day we can be hopeful that solar panels could easily support a large household in a reliable way.

Many people have had great success using solar panels to power their home, and this can be down to a range of factors. The main problem associated with the reliability of solar panels is the cost. Due to the more expensive panels been out of the price range of your average consumer, more and more people are opting for budget solar cells, which provide a much lower output, resulting in the disappointment of the consumer.

The people who achieve a reliable and efficient power output from solar cells either integrate these solar panels with a small home wind turbine or ground source heat pump.

The “green dream” is by no means a dream. We do have the technology available to provide 100% of a households power supply, yet cost is the bridge that places the green dream a long way away.

http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com

How is Solar Energy Produced?

In this day and age of growing technology, scientists are working diligently to find ways to harness solar energy in order to power the Earth. Producing cars and products powered by solar energy will reduce the emission of harmful gasses and chemicals into the atmosphere. Our Earth is a precious commodity and we need to take care to protect it.

What is solar energy? Solar energy is radiant heat and light that is emanated from the Sun. This light helps to influence the climate on Earth and allows not only humans and animals – but also fish to live. Solar energy has been harnessed for power since the ancient times by humans through the use of different technologies.

The Earth can receive 174 petawatts of solar radiation or insolation in its upper atmosphere. Close to 30% of that is reflected back into space and the rest is absorbed by the clouds, land masses, and the oceans. The spectrum of solar light on the surface of the Earth is predominantly spread across near infrared and visible ranges and a small part in the near ultraviolet. The solar light that is absorbed is able to heat the land surface, atmosphere, and oceans.

Solar energy as well as hydroelectricity, wind, and wave power make up 99.97% of the renewable energy that is available on the Earth. The total amount of solar energy that the Earth?s atmosphere, land masses, and oceans absorbs is close to 3,850 zettajoules a year. Studies show that in 2002 this was more energy in one single hour then what the world would use in a total year.

The amount of solar energy that the Earth?s surface can capture is so large that in a single year it will be twice the amount that we can obtain from non-renewable resources of oil, coal, and natural gas. Because of this consumers themselves are seeking to purchase their own solar energy systems to help save them money and to keep the Earth safe.

What is Solar Energy? How it Works and Why

Solar energy is radiated from the sun through forms of heat and light, this powers the Earth’s climate and sustains life. Today’s technologies can make use of this energy resource. Simply, solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electric power. The technologies that are used to convert the sunlight into power are called photovoltaics, there are also other technologies that have been used such as concentrating solar thermal devices but a lot of the experimental devices such as thermal converters, solar chimneys and solar ponds have also been used.

Solar energy is a much safer and energy efficient way of creating electricity, the use of solar energy has now become an important component to consider when designing a building. This is what thermal mass is used for; because it preserves the heat that the sunshine delivers to the building and can then transfer that heat into electricity. There are also solar water heaters which are a much more efficient way of heating swimming pools, and are a great idea for large hotels and sports pools, which use up a lot of the earths non-renewable fuels.

We also use solar power in agriculture, in particular greenhouses, in case you’ve always wondered what they are for, now you know, because they grow specialty crops, which are difficult to grow out side in the normal atmosphere, instead, the greenhouse uses the photovoltaics, which cause the plants to photosynthesize, which causes them to grow faster and stronger. There are also photovoltaic-powered water pumps for grazing cattle. There are also evaporation ponds which can work in the city and in the country; they are used to harvest salt and clean streams of contaminants.

In the poorer areas of the world, solar distillation and disinfection techniques produce potable water for millions of people. Also for families, and large buildings, family-scale cookers and larger solar kitchens concentrate sunlight for cooking, and in the more industrial work places, more sophisticated concentrating technologies magnify the rays of the sun for high-temperature material testing, metal smelting and industrial chemical production. A range of prototype solar vehicles provide ground, air and sea transportation.

How do the solar power technologies work? Here is an example:

The simplest form of solar energy collection is the FLAT PLATE COLLECTOR, this is a long flat rectangle which ideally would be fixed on to a roof or building in a sunny area.

Dark metal plates absorb and preserve the heat. Coils of tubing are looped throughout the collector, next to the metal plates with air, water or an anti-freeze solution circulating within them. The heat is transferred into the coils and thus the fluid/air as it circulates through the tubing. The air or fluid is either used immediately (as hot water or to heat a room, pool, etc.) or it is transferred to a well insulated holding tank for later use.

These are capable of reaching temperatures of 82 degrees Celsius which is great for heating water or a room.

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