Using solar power energy to as your home energy is a great way to save on bills and at the same time protect the environment. There are some steps you need to take before adding home solar power however. I am going to outline some of the basics of what a solar power system is and things you need to know before installing it.

Features Of Solar Power Energy

You will need to know how your solar power energy system is going to work. More than likely this system will not provide enough power to fuel your whole home, but will be a supplement to your home’s current power. There are some systems that completely rely on solar power for everything, but those can cost in excess of fifty thousand dollars to set up. In addition, it is only wise to set up a system like that when your home is being built as you will need to be in complete control of the energy efficiency of your home in order to use the power effectively.

There are some advantages to being on the grid and using it to supplement your power. The first is that you can be safe and secure knowing that you have a backup to your solar power energy. The second advantage is that any extra power you generate you can sell back to the electric company. This can help to offset the cost of the installation of the system. In addition if you add a battery onto your system you can also have power when the local system goes off line. This is a great help for people that are in areas where losing power would prove extremely dangerous.

In addition to solar power energy, you can also supplement your system with hydro power. Hydro power is a great back up to your solar system on cloudy days or in the winter. If you are lucky enough to have property on a river than investing in a hydro system to supplement your solar system is a great idea.

The next thing you have to consider before installing a solar system is how efficient your home is. I would suggest replacing all of your light bulbs with energy efficient florescent ones. In addition, replacing old appliances with new energy efficient ones and replacing old windows with new thermal efficient double paned ones will greatly reduce your power consumption. Before switching to a solar power energy system, take the time to try to reduce the amount of power you use by as much as possible.

No Tags

Source: solar energy

It is believed that the average cost of solar energy works out to between ten and twelve dollars per watt of electricity consumed and this cost can in fact be lowered further by participating in incentives offered by the state. As far as average cost of solar energy vis-à-vis the solar system is concerned the cost of installing such a system would be another twenty thousand dollars though it is entirely up to you how much you wish to spend to obtain your electricity from a solar energy system.

Portable Solar Energy Systems

However, if your objective is to only power up your computer as well as a number of tiny items then the average cost of solar energy could work out to be considerably lower since you would only be paying between seven hundred and one thousand dollars for a portable solar system. In fact, with such a low average cost of solar energy, you should consider buying portable solar systems to power up an RV, boat or even use it when camping.

Besides considering the average cost of solar energy, you can also save on water bills and also take heart from the fact that such a system pays it back in just three years or even sooner. In fact, when you are building a home for you it would pay to factor in the average cost of solar energy and include in the design of the new home a passive solar design and ensure that you have place to keep a solar energy system facing the south.

Another heartening feature to using solar energy is that the average cost of solar energy has started to come down to the tune of about four percent each year and this has been going on for the past fifteen years, and as new efficiencies are incorporated and economies of large scale manufacturing are realized, there is every reason to hope that the average cost of solar energy will come down even further.

Some figures even put the average cost of solar energy for residential homes at between eight and ten dollars per watt and by availing of government incentives the average cost of solar energy can come down to as little as between three to four dollars per watt, which works out to roughly ten to twelve cents per kilowatt hour, though without incentives this figure could double.

Thus, having ascertained the true cost of installing solar energy, you will certainly find that solar energy works out to be a more viable alternative to using conventionally produced energy. It is thus a good idea to install solar energy in order to achieve independence from power obtained via the grid and at the same time ensue getting clean and efficient energy for your home.

No Tags

Source: solar energy

In order to run a commercial operation, the largest energy expense and one of the largest costs are those for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. With the help of commercial solar energy systems it is possible to lower these costs significantly and improve finances. For space heating, space cooling or water heating the commercial solar energy systems provide energy savings from day one and naturally use environmentally responsible clean solar energy.

Benefits

All costs can be reduced as soon as you install a commercial solar energy system in your building. On an average, all costs can be cut down by half, and water costs are reduced by almost 80 %. Such a system is attractive too due to the benefits from the government. There are attractive tax credits, property tax exemptions and accelerated depreciation. Once you invest, within two years you get a return on your investment.

By installing a commercial solar energy system you are reducing your dependence on fossil fuels. In this way it gives you improved financial planning ability because you have less exposure to rising fossil fuel costs. You are demonstrating a commitment to supporting a healthy environment and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

How It Works

The commercial solar energy systems store the power of the sun and heat buildings in winter and keep them cool in summer. Through the system hot water is provided and there is integration with the traditional ventilation systems. Most of these commercial solar energy systems have fewer moving parts than traditional systems like the solar wind energy systems. The engineering of these systems is excellent, and hence they have low additional maintenance costs as well. The parts that you need for the operation of the whole system are the solar modules, the inverter, an electric panel and the utility grid. You can even opt for net metering, which is an agreement between a utility company and you.

Thermomax

For a good commercial solar energy system, the Thermomax solar energy system can also be considered as it is an efficient solar heating system. The best thing about Thermomax solar thermal collectors is that it works in all weather conditions, because it does not need direct sunlight to work. That is because Thermomax has a system of diffuse radiation, as well as direct radiation, which can deliver the sun’s energy even on cold, cloudy and foggy days.

How It Works

This commercial solar energy system works with the help of vacuum tubes, and that is why the outside air temperature has little influence. Hence you can get hot water in bad weather and heat water in a tank which is already hot. It is a highly efficient system and it is easy to integrate it into the existing hot water system of the building. Thermomax is the most practical commercial solar energy system available today.

No Tags

Source: solar energy

Solar energy consumption is on the increase. That’s the information coming from governments and international watchdogs, and it’s also a trend you can follow in the stock market. What’s more, not only is there a greater demand for solar power, but the range of solar products available to the marketplace is diversifying rapidly.

Any experienced business person will tell you that this marks the start of a boom in the industry, and that a period of rapid growth can be expected to follow. With that in mind, can you afford to wait before you get involved?

Getting ahead of solar trends and getting involved in this growing business is something you can do at many levels. For the casual investor, there are many promising solar product manufacturers whose share prices are on the rise.

There are also charitable initiatives, giving you the opportunity to make a financial investment at the same time as investing in the future of third world communities for whom solar energy can be a lifesaving resource. And, of course, there’s direct investment in solar products – getting your home and business ready for a new, brighter age. As our planet teeters on the brink of environmental crisis, it’s important for individuals to show leadership and make the change to solar energy so that others are encouraged to do likewise.

In the past, investing in solar energy has been a precarious way to manage your money. Every business person knows that the financial success of an industry depends not only on the value of its products but also on the faith with customers and other investors place in it.

Now that solar energy companies are really starting to be taken seriously, with solar trends on the rise across a broad spectrum of products, it’s not only safe to go solar with your money, it’s the smart thing to do. If you really want to make an investment which will benefit both you and the planet, now’s the time to do it.

Everybody wants green energy. Being able to get the power we need without damaging the environment is an obvious goal – but what’s the best way to achieve it? Should we be opting for wind farms, hydroelectricity, or solar energy as alternative power?

Renewable Energy is energy created from resources that are regenerative – or renewable – meaning they cannot be depleted. These resources are safe for our environment and produce energy without the harmful pollutants and emissions associated with fossil-fuels.

Wind farms often receive a bad press, especially when they’re situated near homes or in popular hiking areas. They can make a lot of noise and because they have to be placed on skylines for maximum efficiency they often spoil views. Offshore wind farms are less problematic in this way and can take advantage of fierce sea winds, increasing their output, but they rely on a nation having a lot of suitable coastline.

While the Netherlands does very well with its wind farms, the US is, considering the comparative size of its population, at a distinct disadvantage. For the home-owner, small wind-powered generators are available, but they’re not very efficient and often result in complaints from neighbors.

Hydroelectricity is a much more effective way of generating power, using the natural energy of rivers or tidal forces. However, there are a limited number of suitable locations for hydroelectric generators, and often these are in areas which already provide fertile farmland, so a lot of people have to be displaced and lose their land in order for them to be built. They can also have a damaging impact on local wildlife.

Of these three major options, only solar energy as alternative power passes the test of being truly non-polluting, practical and easy to access. Modern solar panels can still function effectively even in areas where it’s frequently cloudy. They don’t get in anyone’s way and, once installed, they require very little maintenance. For these reasons, the greenest way to generate the power we need is by harnessing the power of the sun.