I live in central Texas. I want to install some solar panels on the roof of my house for electricity. Im just not sure how expensive it will be or if it even makes sense to do. My house is one story 2100 square feet.
More or less depends on things like orientation of the house, roof pitch, shade, etc. Here are the folks you probably want to start with:
http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_solar.htm
and
http://www.infinitepower.org/calculators.htm
I’m doing a science report on solar energy, but I’m having a hard time finding information on more recent advances and developments in the area of harnessing solar power or putting it to use.
Also, how do solar chargers for cell phones, etc, work? Do they usually hook directly up to a solar panel, or do they connect a solar panel to a small solar cell, or…?
one simple device i've seen is a solar collector designed to heat water for residences. one variety consists of a piping or tubing laid out in a spiral shape or a rectangular panel, facing south to harness the sun's rays to heat the water. it's the same principle, as the 'sun shower' used by outdoors enthusiasts.
some examples…
http://www.solardirect.com/swh/swh.htm
http://www.azsolarcenter.com/technology/solarh20.html
http://oscarsolarwaterheaters.com/
I'm looking for sites that contain statistics, charts, diagrams of how much fossil fuels countries use, and how much progress they've made in using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power.
Here's a site, but it only shows statistics for US, the site has many pie charts:
http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/energy-overview/
26 May 2009
I have come across an ebook which talking about building own solar panel and wind generator in less than $200. Anyone read this ebook before? Is the method taught inside it working? My friend, who is an engineer is thinking to purchase one and would like to know some review from those who have read it before. Thanks.
This is the website for the solar panel's ebook: http://ourguide.brinkster.net
Thanks again.
The only people I trust, since they have been into alternative energy since 1969 , is the folks who run a magazine called Mother Earth News. I've got the magazine now for 30 years and several times a year they publish information on how to make your own solar panels, wind generators, hydroelectric and solar drying and dehydrators, and tons of great ideas.
They also have an extensive library, including e-books, of authors who have published articles in their magazine. Get their magazine, like I said I've been getting it for 30 years or more and I still eagerly await every issue. It's all about sustainable living and doing things yourself. Plus it's only about $10 a year subscription.
Look at their online site to get some ideas and maybe look at their alternative energy library. Whatever books or DVD's I purchased from them have always been excellent
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy.aspx
I live in the St. Louis area, and I'm thinking about adding solar panels to my home, howerver, I cannot find a company that installs them that is local. I have browsed the internet and all I can find is companies in California.
Here are links to a companies in St. Louis.
http://www.missourisolarliving.com/
http://www.midamericasolar.com/
I believe Home Depot sells and installs solar.
Good for you for going solar.
Pay no attention to the poster above me. Solar panels are guaranteed for 25 years.
26 May 2009
Well, I am looking for a cheap way on building a solar panel, instead of buying by the manufacturing stores. I would like to stay in the budget up to 1,000 dollars. I want to have solar energy for my house because the sun is always shining. Is there a way I can make the Light power some of my house? What would I need? How much time would it take?
Where can I get the items I need?
You have a couple of options.
The first option is to put together a flat plate collector to generate hot water. If you live in a cold climate, you might have to use evacuated tubes and this will probably blow your budget. The hot water could be used as a pre-heater for your existing hot water system. Complete systems for domestic hot water will not likely fit into your budget.
The second option is a small solar panel to generate electricity. In order to fit into you thousand dollar budget, you will need something like this:
1) an 80W panel. This will set you back about $400. You can’t make the solar cells yourself, so it is just as well to buy a complete panel.
2) A small solar charge controller for about $100. This will take the power from the panel and make sure your storage battery is properly charged.
3) An inverter. This will take power from the battery and generate 120 volt AC power (like your wall sockets). A 120W unit will be less than $200.
4) A 12 volt deep cycle battery, perhaps $120.
5) A transfer switch to cut the power when the battery gets discharged and transfer to 120 volt utility power.
You should be able to put it all together for $1000. However, you need to treat this as a hobby. The power you will generate is worth less than $10 a year, and is about enough to power a DSL modem and router (i.e. your internet connection). If it lasts 25 years, your investment (or loss in this case) will be about minus 9%. Of course, the battery won’t last that long, but the other parts could.
The actual power you can generate can be estimated from solar insolation maps. I will post a link below to a few that might help.
Collecting heat is probably more valuable (e.g. using a heat collector rather than a photovoltaic collector for electricity).
You can probably find plans on the internet for do-it-yourself flat plat collectors using plumbing parts, and electronic circuit diagrams for things like solar charge controllers, but I think this will be too complicated for your first project unless you really like tinkering. Buying components and integrating them yourself (figuring out how that get everything interconnected) will be loads of work for you first project.
Don’t be discouraged by the economics. You will learn countless things in the process and knowledge is always a good thing. Someday as prices come down on silicon cells (perhaps a new thin film technology) and evacuated tubes are made by the hundreds of millions you will be able to use your skills to make a much larger and cost effective system.
Have fun.
Step number one in getting started with any solar power setup in your home is to perform an energy audit. This is where you evaluate the amount of power (in kilowatts/hour or kilowatt hours) that you’ll need in any given day.
You will also need to take into account the site where your home is located. Geographical considerations such as climate, number of peak hours of sunlight per day, number of days of peak sunlight per year, and average rainfall will play a big role in how efficient a solar system you can design.
Any solar electric system will need, at the very least, the following components:
a collector (usually solar panels);
a mount (to put it on);
an inverter (to convert 12 volt DC power to 110 volt AC power);
a circuit breaker or fuse box and fuses & switches (to regulate the power transferring from the panels to your outlets and/or storage batteries);
(optional) one or more storage batteries;
(if you get a battery) a charge controller (to keep from over- or undercharging the battery and severely reducing its lifespan);
Once you’ve purchased all the elements of the solar system you’ve just designed, installation is fairly easy, though the simplicity of installing a solar power system does not mean you should necessarily do it yourself. There are numerous advantages to hiring a professional installer with training in both electrical systems and solar electrical systems, including knowing how to set everything up to code, should the building inspector ever have the need to look it over (ie. for insurance purposes).
If you find the right solar professional, they will instruct you in those parts of the installation that you are capable of and allow you to do some of the work yourself, saving you on some of your labor costs.
Even if you don’t decide to have a professional install your solar system, it would be well worth your while to consult one with your design to make sure it’s a viable design, one that’s taken all the necessary considerations into account. For example, there is a wide selection of panels, controllers, inverters, and batteries, each one manufactured with different requirements, each one not necessarily interchangeable with the other.
To further minimize the chances of incompatibilities between components in your solar system, consider purchasing all the elements of your set up from the same company and consulting with someone on their sales team that is knowledgeable in solar electric power.
In fact, many companies sell solar kits that contain all the components you would need to set your house up with solar power, with the certainty that all the components are compatible.
Whatever you decide, you don’t have to break the bank to try and supplant your entire power grid reliance with solar power right away and all at once. If you’re interested in availing yourself and your household of the multifold benefits of solar power, start small. Get yourself a single solar panel and see how well that works for you. When you’re ready, add on more panels, batteries, etc., one at a time as you can afford it and as your needs evolve.
Michelle Bery
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/how-to-get-started-with-your-own-home-solar-electric-system-125012.html
Here are 7 basic fundamentals that will cost you nothing or very
little and save you cash for many years to come!
1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the
land
Orientate your living areas to the south side of the house,
which receives most of the sun throughout the day (north if you
live in the southern hemisphere).
2. Insulation and draught proofing
Make sure your walls, roof and floors are insulated and fill any
gaps where draughts might come through.
3. Ventilation
Position doors and windows opposite each other to allow for a
cooling breeze to flow through the house when the air cool down
in the evening of a hot summers day.
4. Windows
Windows on the south side of the house should be bigger to allow
more sun to penetrate the house during the day and windows on
the north side smaller to prevent heat lost at night.
5. Landscaping
Position trees and plants to direct a cooling breeze into your
house, whiles shading it during summer. Plant trees that shed
their leave in winter.
6. Shading
Make sure external shading structures are wide enough to block
out the sun in summer, whiles still allowing the low winter sun
to enter.
7. Thermal mass
Polished concrete, tile or slate floors and brick walls will
absorb the heat throughout the day and release it slowly at
night, reducing the need to run expensive heaters. Carpet acts
as an insulator and will not retain the heat.
Although it’s far easier to achieve passive solar energy for
homes during the planning stage, you can incorporate many of
these elements into an established house without spending a
great deal of money or time.
It might be as easy as filling in a few gaps, installing an
additional window or moving your living area from the chilly
north side of the house to the sunny south side…
To learn more about solar energy, go to http://facts-about-so
lar-energy.com/
You’ll discover …
Please email any questions to info@facts-about-
solar-energy.com
Anita Van Wyk
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/employ-passive-solar-energy-and-start-saving-electricity-today-1274.html
26 May 2009
The need for alternative energy sources is getting urgent, hence the development of renewable energy is moving fast. Nationally and internationally various individuals and research companies are creating new and exciting energy systems. Some of these apparatus are great works and need improving for massive use. Politician’s world-wide are drafting policies and are making agreements to make greater use of these energy sources.
You can ask yourself why there is a growing need for other energy sources. What is wrong with the sources which we are using now? There are big problems with the fossil fuels we use today.
The first problem is that the fossil fuels are depleting in a rapid rate and are harder to retrieve. The consequence is that we can be facing an energy crisis in the future is we are not careful today. The energy prices will sky rocket and not be available for many individuals or countries. To avoid this doom scenario we need to find alternatives and used them to their full potential. Luckily this is already happening.
The second problem is that the fossil fuels that are widely used today are harmful for the environment. In the early seventies and eighties there were people and even scientist who preach otherwise, but today the negative effects are showing. The earth is warming up and climates are changing. There are parts in the world were there be more rain and sunshine and others parts will be come dryer then they already are. Another negative effect is that the ozone layer is getting thinner which also leads to a warming up of the earth. These two effects compliment each other and make it even more crucial to make another step in a different direction. This step will lead us to the use of renewable energy.
Another problem lies in the development of small economies. Because the energy prices for crude oil are going through the roof, these countries suffer even more. Many of these countries need crude oil for their electricity and means of transportation. These high oil prices have their effect on almost everything. The monthly electricity costs for households increase among others like transport cost and prices for basic products. Hence, these high oil prices make it harder for these small countries to grow there economies.
The solution for the above problems can be resolved by renewable energy. Our beautiful planet gives us the opportunity to make proper us of sunlight, flowing water, strong winds, and hot springs and convert these into energy. These energy sources are abundant and free to use. We must be sure that we convert the energy the right way, without causing other problems that can again hurt our environment. Luckily the many efforts by individuals and companies show that this can be done.
Bryan Wong
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/the-search-for-renewable-energy-50136.html
since global warming and the need for more greener energy like wind power increases, is it really possible you can make lots of money by buying these companies now that are worth virtually nothing, and wait until the world gets the need of renewable energy? (buying shares of stocks). Thanks
Nobody can predict the movement of any stocks whether going up or coming down. Many of the market professionals use fundamental analysis of companies along with technical analysis like chartology, option movements and relative price strength of stocks.
There might be many people who think the same logic as yours and made investment in renewable energy companies. Consequently, some of these companies' shares have gone up significantly where you might have to find a good spot to buy at certain time.
What you need to do is to study the company's performance (revenues and earnings and their growth) in relation to the stock price. Also, look into the company's financial condition (does it have a lot of debts?), market share of its products, product leadership, and earnings browth rates vs. its competitors.
Since you will be investing your hard earned income, be very careful in doing the preliminary studies before investing. I recommend you also read a couple of books on investment.