Commercial Solar Power – Understanding Molten Salt Batteries
Solar power is often discussed in terms of dealing with home energy needs. Why not in larger terms? Well, the problem is storage. Most devices have been inefficient at storing the massive amounts of energy produced on solar farms. This is where molten salt batteries might change things.
The primary Continue reading Solar Power – Commercial Solar Power – Understanding Molten Salt Batteries
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If your youngsters comes home from school and says that they are learning about photovoltaic solar energy, don’t tell them not to use that sort of language around their mother until you Google it. Photovoltaic solar power is the energy for home solar power systems, pretty cool stuff. It is possible that you have heard it spoken of as solar power electricity, solar Continue reading Solar Power – Home Solar Power Systems – What Makes it Work?
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Solar Panels For Homes Why People Are Choosing Solar Panels For Homes
Installing solar panels for homes is steadily becoming an increasingly more fashionable thing to do both here in the US and other countries throughout the world, and for good reason. Solar panels for homes are not just for the wealthy and eco-conscious. With recent price reductions and government Continue reading Solar Power – Solar Panels For Homes Why People Are Choosing Solar Panels For Homes
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Also known as PV, photovoltaic is an array of cells comprising of photovoltaic material which transforms energy from sun into direct electricity current. Presently, the materials used for photovoltaic solar power generation include polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, copper indium sulphide, cadmium telluride and microcrystalline silicon.
As a result of Continue reading Solar Power – Photovoltaic Solar Power
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If you want solar power to give you the energy for your home, then you can either pay another to install a solar power system or install it yourself, or “D-I-Y.” You need to be sure you weigh the choices carefully, as there are pro’s and con’s to each. Here are some of the reasons you should consider as you make the choice to install the system.
One very important Continue reading Solar Power – Do You "D-I-Y" a Solar Power System, Or Pay Someone Else to Do It?
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If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…
More than a century ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to create steam to drive a steam Continue reading Solar Power – Latest Solar Power news – Understanding solar power
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For about 15 years I’ve been hearing about energy efficient mortgages. That is mortgages that are set up to encourage energy efficient improvements or designs.
Well it appears that we should utilize one of these for our Ann Arbor solar project, but even though I’m a mortgage expert I don’t know anyone personally who has experience with these.
So, a new research project. Here are the links I’ve found so far:
This is from 2009 and is fairly useful: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4738&src= It mentions a $8,000 cap for FHA but also mentions an additional $4,000 for weatherization.
Federal Citizens Information Center in Pueblo: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/fin-energy-eff/eff.html
Example: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/fin-energy-eff/feehome_emm.html
Notes on Fannie Mae Program: www.p2pays.org/ref/19/18219.pdf
Residential Energy Services Network information on mortages: http://resnet.us/mortgages
FHA mortgage letters, guidelines, and example: http://resnet.us/ratings/fha_guidelines
http://www.greenmortgagecompany.com/documents/US-C-218-3659.pdf
Fannie Mae Energy Addendum Form: http://www.greenmortgagecompany.com/documents/US-C-218-3659.pdf
http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US36F&re=1&ee=1
Not terribly useful article on FHA EEMs: http://www.fha.com/fha_article.cfm?id=69
FHA pages: http://www.fhasecure.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/eemhog96.cfm
http://www.fhasecure.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm
Judging from this it looks like FHA limits the improvement cost to 5% of the median area price. ($165,000 in Ann Arbor), this means about $8,000 which isn’t going to buy many solar cells!
This site discusses the Energy Star mortgage which is a pilot program in a couple states. (not Michigan) http://energyprograms.org/index.html
Good Fannie Mae presentation from 2003: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2967012/Energy-Efficient-Mortgage-Michelle-Desiderio-Fannie-Mae-April-Energy-Efficient
FHA site including their EEM letters: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/eemlette.cfm
FHA fact sheet that says if homeowner has the skills that lender may allow homeowner to provide the labor: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/38235736/FHAs-Energy-Efficient-Mortgage-(EEM)-Fact-Sheet (There are a lot of good EEM documents on this site. Search for Energy Efficient Mortgage.
Here are some interesting energy saving window panels that can take a single pain of glass up to energy star standards with just an interior storm window: http://www.windotherm.com/
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What are home solar power panels? The primary function of a solar panel is to transform sunlight into usable electricity. This effect is a physical manifestation of the photovoltaic effect. Solar panels are made up of solar cells that are gathered together within a frame. Each solar cell has the capability to convert the sunlight into useful electricity. However, the conversion rate of each cell is somewhat limited when measured in total wattage output. Basically, each cell only produces an amount of electricity equivalent to 1 to 2 Watts. Therefore a very large number of solar cells need to be integrated into each solar panel, and usually a significant number of panels are connected in order to form a so called solar panel array. This procedure is necessary to produce a usable quantity of solar power for a complete home.
This joining of solar cells collectively in order to establish higher power is an inherent advantage of the solar cell system. It follows that when you require additional power for personal consumption, you only have to add more panels.
There are several types of solar power panel, which have different power generating characteristics ad features dependent upon the material from which they are made. They can be made up of either thin-film, monocrystalline, or polycrystalline modules. The Thin-film solar cell consists of alloys (amorphous-silicon) which are stored in thin layers deposited on a substrate. This means it can be quite supple (dependent on the substrate used) and is therefore more easily applicable in certain environments.
Monocrystalline, on the other hand, is created from one silicon crystal rod and can be considered as having a rigid structure. The silicon rod is cut into thin wafers in order to provide the base within which solar cells are formed. Polycrystalline solar cells are processed from numerous silicon crystals that are heated together, and then cooled in molds to form ingots of silicon. The ingot is then cut into wafers and processed as before in order to produce solar cells.
The efficiency of a home solar power panel is measured by the ratio of the output and input power. Generally solar panels return an efficiency range of from approximately 10 percent to about 19 percent. As might be expected, the higher the efficiency rating obtained, the more likely the cost of each panel will also be higher. When planning a new installation therefore, it is necessary to consider initial installation costs against better long term efficiency savings in order to make the right choice for you.
Determining the right solar panels therefore requires a knowledge of some specific parameters. These parameters will help you decide which solar panel to use in your application. Three important measurements to be aware of include ‘efficiency’, ‘rated power at STC’, and ‘rated power per square foot’. ‘Efficiency’ is the ratio of the output power of the solar panel to the input power of the sunlight reaching it. ‘Rated power at STC’ measures the total output in watts from the panel under Standard Test Conditions. ‘Rated power per square foot’ is the power output of the solar panel at Standard Test Conditions per square foot of the panel’s surface area.
Finally, modern home solar power panel designs maximize the generation of electricity from solar energy and are now a very viable option if you wish to harness this form of ‘renewable’ energy to meet your personal home consumption.
Wendy Gorman is a respected and proficient author and niche website developer with wide ranging interest around the net. For more information about home solar power she recommends you to visit the home solar power site and also take a look at some informative reviews of other products.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Gorman
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What Does Solar Power For Home Mean?
Did You Ever Notice?
Have you noticed that the homes have huge tinted windows in them while driving? One may wonder why anyone would want such tall windows of his house. The reason for this is because they are using solar energy to heat their homes and to provide the energy needed to power it. Any home can be built to use solar power with just a few minor alteration to make and you too can build a solar power house that will save you a lot of money in the future as you use solar power to heat your home, pump and heat the water and also to provide energy to your home to power appliances and lighting in your home naturally and effectively without a monthly bill.
How does solar power home work?
There are some suggestions in building your home solar energy. Depends on where you live which side of the house you should put more windows. For the most part, it is common to think that the sun rises farther south side of your home. This is the area where you want the most windows of your home. Thus, let the sun shine through and warm your house naturally. Also make sure there are no trees that are directly next to the house that can prevent the sun shining directly on the house. Do not use dark colors to decorate your home. Instead of using bright colors and light that draws the heat more evenly and more benefits.
With the addition of a solar source outside, where you can use solar power designed box to attract the heat from the sun can be converted into energy to power your home and warm water. The products you need to achieve this will cost a bit more than if you built a standard home, without using solar power. The beauty of solar power is that it is an initial investment.
Overtime when you totally rely on the sun to heat your house and all the other functions it might do, you will not have a monthly bill because you do not pay for the sun every month you do with other sources of energy. Use ceiling fans to reduce the amount of time it may be necessary to run your air conditioner. Ceiling fans can produce a much more heat and air without having hot and cold pockets throughout the home. Keep the doors closed during the day, the sun shines on the side of your home in order to save the heat inside your home longer.
By: Melissa Rose
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
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The rainwater harvesting industry is constantly looking for different ways of making rainwater harvesting more economical and practical. Rainwater harvesting means you can use between 30% and 50% less on mains water consumption, and since we are all now under strong government pressure to do this. The Code for Sustainable Homes recommends rainwater harvesting for its higher target levels (maximum of 80 litres per day per person) and new Building Reg Part G 17K coming in April 2010 will, mean that, for the first time, water consumption limits will be a legal requirement in new buildings.
Rainwater harvesting does, however, in most circumstances use an electric pump to take the stored rainwater to where it is needed, and this pump needs power. Steps have already been taken to reduce this pump energy use. There are now specially-designed gravity feed systems whereby a rainwater header tank is only refilled when empty rather than every time water is drawn. This avoids the pump hunting, reduces pump activity considerably and, therefore, reduces energy use. The next logical step has been to use solar energy to power the pump.
A solar panel the size of a small car windscreen can power a gravity-feed rainwater management system. The solar panel, in combination with a submersible 12 volt pump in the main storage tank and a battery ensure rainwater can be pumped to the rainwater header tank without any use of mains electricity. The control mechanism of the system and the pump are both powered by the battery that is kept topped up by solar power in daylight hours. Even on a cloudy day, tests show that the most up-to-date solar panels can give six times the charge necessary to run a rainwater harvesting system in a typical family home. In the unlikely event of the panel not providing enough charge to the battery, mains electricity is used as backup. Furthermore, unlike normal chargers, the standby mode of the mains charger takes no current at all, not even a trickle.
So in such a system, the powerful mains-electric pump is replaced by a small 12 volt pump which pumps to 8-10 metres high, enough to feed a header tank on a two story house. One or more relay pumps, with supplemental solar panels, can be added for taller buildings. It should be noted that this system does not provide enough pressure for garden sprinkling but gravity fed irrigation is fine.
For quite a while, solar pump kits have been available allowing rainwater to be moved without the need for mains electricity and without having to turn on and off manually. Water can be moved, for example, from a low level collecting tank in the garden (or even at the end of a polytunnel or greenhouse) to a storage tank at a higher level. The applications are numerous in allotments, equestrian properties, market gardens and for water features. These kits can supply a drip feed watering system through a header tank (so that water is available for gravity feed at any time, even through a time switch). In more sophisticated kits, when the float switch detects water, it starts pumping, then when the header tank is full, it turns the pump off.
Using solar energy to power the pump is a big step forward in making rainwater harvesting an attractive sustainable proposition by saving water while not using extra power to do so.
About The Author
Rainwater Harvesting Limited supplies rainwater harvesting storage tanks, pumps, filters & management systems to private and commercial properties. Find an extensive resource full of valuable technical information and advise at http://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk . The invaluable rainwater harvesting tank size calculator is at=> http://www.rainwaterharvesting.co.uk/calculator.php
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