Solar Energy Information – The Basics
Solar energy information is in dire need today, and more in the form of a sort of “update” – there seems to be an ongoing misconceived image in the mind of the masses presently, one that reflects outdated information from decades ago. Mainly this is due to the energy outputs of photovoltaic cells, and the cost of installing these to the home for producing electricity.
Yes, back in the seventies it did cost quite a bit to power a small home, often within the $10,000 to $12,000 dollar range. But the fact is that there have been many developments over the past few decades – let’s take a closer look…
Much has changed with solar energy. Information can be easily found these days about the energy output that solar cells produce today, and if you’re unaware, you’d be quite surprised. Even more, the accessibility of solar cells to anyone of all walks of life is a tribute to the low cost of acquiring them.
Many today actually build their very own solar panels by piecing inexpensive solar cells together in simple arrays – these do-it-yourselfers throw together 3×5 panels as a weekend project with their kids, for around a hundred bucks or so, and with the single panel they can power a dormitory sized refrigerator, a laptop computer and a stereo system all at once.
This kind of solar energy information is an eye opener, is it not? Remember also that there are a lot of government programs out there to benefit anyone and everyone who turns to the use of alternative green energy uses – tax breaks, grants, bonuses, etc. – and there is also the fact that within most municipalities, local laws mandate that if you are creating enough electricity to have a surplus of electricity and are still connected to the power grid, the local power companies must buy the surplus electricity back from you. The stories that you may have heard about people watching their kilowatt-hour meters running backwards and collecting checks every month from the power companies are true.
But the best solar energy information is that it is clean, it does absolutely nothing harmful in any way, shape, form or fashion to the environment, it burns off nothing, nothing is depleted, and it is a constantly and eternally renewable sources of good, clean, free energy. If there were a jillion solar cells collecting the sun’s rays for converting into electricity there would never be a drain upon the sun – the sun hurls out countless gigatons of energy out into the universe… it’s free, so why not grab up all that you can? There’s absolutely no reason not to utilize solar power, and more than a mere handful of reasons to do so.
If you’re interested in learning more about solar energy information and other things related to alternative energy, then you’ve got to check out the EcoPlusHome project.
Bryan Kenny and his family are an average North American family with one exception…they’re living in the EcoPlusHome.
The EcoPlusHome is a prefabricated home powered by alternative energies like solar thermal, geothermal and photovoltaic. Bryan and his family will show the world that it is possible to live self sustained for a 12 month period by showcasing their journey living in the EcoPlusHome on their blog.
Bryan and his family welcome you to join their journey to self sufficiency on their blog http://ecoplushome.com/blog..
Filed under Energy Saving | Tags: best solar energy, solar cells, solar energy, solar energy information, solar home, solar powered homes | Comment (0)Home Energy – America As the Biggest Consumer
When it comes to having the largest consumption of home energy, America is considered to be as the first in the list around the world. Of course, America is one of the most advanced and progressive countries around the world in terms of technology. In America, almost every house has a lot of appliances and gadgets that are powered by electricity. It is also considered as one of the biggest continents with a huge population and therefore has a lot of homes that consume energy. This also includes water consumption.
America is known for having a lot of energy sources. Hydro Power Plants, Wind Energy, Solar Energy and Nuclear Power Plants are just a few to mention. These power plants are necessary in order to cope up with the energy needs of every household in America. Unlike in other countries where energy is quite scarce and expensive, America enjoys the luxury of having cheaper electricity costs. But, this does not mean they are not aware about the energy crisis that the whole world is facing; America is very aware of it. That is one ground why they keep on searching for ways in order to save up energy.
A lot of energy efficient appliances and gadgets that are being sold in the market these days were developed in America. This only shows that they are very aware about the energy crisis and are doing their best to help other countries save up on home energy. They also came up with an event which is held yearly. This yearly event is called as “Earth Hour”. The goal of this annual event is to save a lot of energy by just sparing 2 hours of time not consuming energy. This event is being observed globally and is very successful. It does not only help save a huge amount of energy but it also helps our planet survive by minimizing the effects of global warming.
When it comes to saving home energy, America is perhaps very cautious. They keep on searching for ways and ideas in order to reduce their electricity consumption to the fullest. For this reason, LCD monitors and televisions were developed. Previously, people use CRT monitors which consume a lot in terms of energy. But, with using LCD monitors and televisions, you can save up energy up to 70 percent. That is a huge amount of energy saved. When it comes to lighting system, CFL bulbs are now being used as it can save up around 70 percent of energy, provide brighter light, and are 15 times more durable as compared with incandescent bulbs.
Jason N. Bowden is a person who has a lot of knowledge and experiences when it comes to saving home energy. He shares his knowledge to other people through specific ideas about efficient home energy saving. He also compiled all his experiences and knowledge in his book “Home Energy Savings Secrets REVEALED: Tips And Methods To Save Energy and Money” so that other people may also benefit from his home energy saving secrets. You can also visit his website http://www.ultimatehomeenergysavings.com and learn more about how you can effectively save home energy and money at the same time.
Filed under Energy Saving | Tags: energy crisis, energy efficient appliances, home energy, power plants, saving home energy | Comment (0)4 Ways to Make Money From Home Renewable Energy
Home renewable energy can be harnessed using simple tools like wind turbines and solar cells which you can buy and have professionally installed or nowadays you can make on your own using simple guides which hold your hand and walk you through how to build them on a budget, even if you’re not especially handily inclined.
I say solar cells and wind turbines because they are the most practical for home use and the easiest to build yourself. Why would you want to do this, however? Consider these four reasons to use home renewable energy.
First and foremost, you can save a great deal of money on your monthly power bill. It was recently estimated that the average homeowner and America spends $2500 each year to power their homes. Imagine having that much extra in the bank to spend as you pleased because you are generating your own self sufficient energy.
Tax breaks are another incentive to generate your own electricity and can save you a great deal of money come tax season because the government absolutely loves homeowners who generate their own electricity because they’re actually saving the country money overall.
Future homeowners of your home can enjoy the savings which you enjoy once they buy your house assuming you leave the tools as part of the house. The point is is that this drives up the value of your home considerably when it comes time to sell, so keep that in mind.
Easily the best reason to embrace home renewable energy is the money that you can not only save but make. Every ounce of energy which you produce but don’t use yourself gets fed back into the grid and you walk away with a tidy profit in the form of a check from the power company which the government subsidizes them to send you.
Many homeowners exponentially increase their energy output by building multiple home renewable energy tools so that they create a very attractive five figure income for themselves which is completely on autopilot and effort free once the tools are in place, probably the best thing about making money from this technology.
If you thought that building your own home renewable energy tools wasn’t for you, get that out of your head. You can generate your own electricity and be the envy of all of your friends simply by using energy guides to teach you and walk you through how to build your own tools using everyday materials which you likely have lying around your house to generate your own home renewable energy.
Filed under Energy Saving | Tags: home renewable energy | Comment (0)Top 3 Fun Solar Power Projects
We all heard about the benefits that solar power can give us. There are believers who say that no matter in what kind of climate you are living in you can use solar energy. I can partially agree with this statement, simple solutions will most likely work even in the moderate climate. If you are thinking on going green with a house which does not get sufficient sunlight or the weather conditions are not ideal most of the year, then you most likely loose money. This is the reason why I have compiled a list of the top three best solar projects if you are considering installing solar panels.
Number one: Shed light on your yard
This is one of the easiest and cheapest methods of getting to know the basics of solar energy. All you need is a single light bulb and 10$ as an investment. Next step is to place it in the best position so it lights up the whole surroundings, if you do not get it at the first occasions it is easy to change the light source’s position. Another great idea after you have gotten the hang of this one is decorative yard lights. They rely on the same concept as the one before, the only difference is that you are powering up multiple lights which are changing their color. These lights will surely give a magical feeling for the yard.
Number two: Portable Showers
I know, I know it sounds funny, but whenever your camping or in a place where there is no heated water it will be a winner. What you need for this is a big black plastic bag which you fill up with water and then leave it out on the sun. After the temperature has reached around 100F you can hang it up on a tree and enjoy a refreshing warm shower in the wilderness. Also this can be used to clear the skin from the chlorine after a swim.
Number three: Sun Tea
Lastly a fun little project which can amaze children and most likely you can add a science lesson to it, is the sun tea. Get a big glass jar and fill it up with water, then you add the tea bags and close it shut with a top. As a last step you need to put it to a place where the sun is shinning and leave it for a couple of hours. For this you won’t be needing any oven or microwave to heat up the water and the taste will be excellent.
In conclusion solar power has many benefits, i have only listed a few fun projects which are easy, cheap and fun to do.
Antonia has been a professional writer for a couple of years now. Her newest interest is in Battery chargers for cars. So come visit her latest website that talks about the best car battery chargers
Filed under Energy Saving | Tags: best solar projects, solar energy, solar panel, solar power, solar power projects, solar projects | Comment (0)Simple, Yet Powerful Steps to Reducing the Cost of Solar Power
Are you afraid that solar energy is just too expensive? Have you received bids on your new home, or a solar project you’ve been considering, and decided you just can’t afford it?
Well, you may want to reconsider. There are currently a number of government incentives available to help offset the cost of installing a solar power system. The U. S. Department of Energy, shows the following under Consumer Energy Tax Incentives:
“RESIDENTIAL RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDITS
Consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016; the previous tax credit cap no longer applies.”
While a tax credit won’t pay for the solar power installation for your home, it will certainly help offset the initial expense. A tax credit generally provides significantly more tax relief than a deduction, and can be used to offset your income even if you choose not to itemize.
Also, many states offer rebates to defray the cost of purchase and installation, as well as state income tax deductions.
These incentives alone may significantly close the gap between a solar power system for your home and a traditional gas, coal or utility-provided electric system.
If you’re a Do-It-Yourself kind of person, or…you’re able to follow instructions to put things together, you may significantly reduce the cost of installing solar power in your home by designing and building a passive solar system for your home….or building your own solar panels, and using them either for smaller energy needs, such as landscaping, hot water heaters or battery recharging…or building and connecting panels for a larger array for a larger, and possibly off-the-grid system.
There are several good books available on how to design a passive solar system, with or without an architect. Amazon lists a number of them including The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling by Daniel D Chiras, and Green From the Ground Up: Sustainable, Healthy and Energy-Efficient Home Construction (Builder’s Guide), that contains an entire segment about passive solar design, written by David Johnston and Scott Gibson.
While it may take your time, energy, and commitment, building your own solar panels for both small projects and/or a full home solar energy system can be rewarding while providing a significant cost savings. There are many good books on the market to help guide you, just go to your local bookstore to check them out.
Another aspect to consider is how large does your system need to be to meet all of your needs? How much energy are you currently using…and what can you do to reduce your consumption…even before you determine your solar energy system needs? For example, are you using CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs? CFL’s not only consume less wattage, they also burn cooler, thereby emitting less heat. Have you checked your door seals…and your HVAC system for duct leaks and filter blockages? And..what about your energy habits? Is everyone in your household conscious of turning off lights as they leave a room, and unplugging appliances and power strips that draw even a small amount of power when not in use? Being energy efficient now will reduce your environmental footprint…and it will help you reduce how large your solar power system needs to be, enabling you to reduce your initial outlay for a solar energy system.
On a more global level, there are two alternative methods to reduce the cost of solar power. By either taxing coal, gas and oil, (which seems the better alternative at present) or providing government (taxpayer) subsidies for renewable energy, the economic incentives that lead to economies of scale would drive the cost of solar energy down significantly.
However, neither of those alternatives may be necessary in the near future. With fossil fuel energy costs rising rapidly, solar energy makes more sense for more homeowners and businesses. As more people select solar energy, mass production of solar power components is driven down. Nearing parity already, solar power will soon be the cheaper option in any event.
Timothy Peters is a solar energy enthusiast and author. He lives in Spokane, WA and enjoys teaching others how to save money on their utility bill and help the planet through solar energy. If you want to find out more about solar power costs, then check out his site at: www.HomeSolarPowerExplained.com.
Filed under Energy Saving | Tags: home solar power, solar energy, solar power, solar power costs | Comment (0)