pratibha asked:


We all know how effective Solar Power is in this age of awareness, where we all want energy sources heavily and at the same time easy and cheap at cost. We are quite well versed with solar power now and so we need to know how this solar power system works, what it is actually and how can we use it effectively. Especially, the residential consumers should focus their minds more to understand it, because they have to deal with on daily basis and all the time. So a better understanding of things always helps.

Starting with the main source, it’s always better to use the roof, since it goes well with the usual solar power installation criteria. But, there are many independent residential solar power systems users who install who install panels to posts, grounds or wall. It depends on the consumer’s preference.

Coming to the volts, generally household uses more and less 110 volt (AC) power and that is where we have converters, as it easily turns 12 volts to 110 volts, which is pretty enough for home usage. Solar panels collect sunlight at 12 volt (DC) energy which is then transferred and stored by the deep cycle batteries. There is a regulator that is planted to make sure that the batteries are not under or over charged. This control system also adds to the life of the batteries.

In this transferred and stored form the energy will run any appliance or device that uses 12 volt powder or that has a plug that fits into a vehicle cigarette lighter. But, we should make ourselves clear that a 12 volt power does not run most household appliances pr electronics.

Now comes the high tide part, the cost, well it depends on your consumption requirements. Liberal use of insulation always helps in the long run, whether it concerns with keeping in or out the heat, insulation is your biggest card to play. Besides there are all kinds of other ways to make your home energy efficient including conserving energy at home? Energy efficient designed home is going to be future’s ideal, so u better start thinking about it.



Charlie

Astute asked:


The growth in renewable energy jobs throughout the European continent has occurred due to a concern for resource shortages. Petroleum reserves throughout the world are dwindling and public and private organisations are concerned with the aftermath of an energy shortage. The push for renewable energies in the form of wind power, solar energy, nuclear power and other resources has created a growing job market. You need to understand specific areas of the renewable energy jobs market in order to find the best job for your needs.

The greatest area of commercial growth in renewable energy jobs is in the hybrid car industry. Automakers throughout the world are searching for engineers, project managers and scientists that are capable of turning gas guzzling cars into Earth-friendly vehicles. The process of creating a single hybrid vehicle is daunting considering the century of progress made toward perfecting the combustible engine. You can find renewable energy jobs with any automaker in the world at this point as companies try to out-invent each other to find the best hybrid vehicle.

Solar power has turned from a viable primary option to a reliable secondary option among renewable energy experts. The number of solar panels that would need to be laid out throughout the UK and Europe to make installation feasible would blot out the sun. Solar energy is considered an important part of new home building, however, as strategically placed panels over a carport are a good source of passive energy. You can apply your architectural knowledge to determine the best way to use solar energy in the construction of new buildings.

There has been a debate among renewable energy experts as to the sustainability and environmental impact of ethanol and nuclear power. Ethanol is a by-product of corn and other agricultural products that has been found as an alternative to unleaded fuel. The problem that many scientists have with ethanol is the vast amount of production required to make corn into a fuel additive. Your expertise in engineering and project management can help solve these issues once and for all.

Nuclear energy has been controversial among renewable energy activists for years due to several incidents involving the release of waste into populated areas. Aging nuclear plants need to be updated and waste management issues need to be resolved before nuclear power can be feasible as an alternative fuel source. You can bring fresh ideas and a knowledge of electrical engineering to this industry to fulfill your desire to help make renewable energy a reality.



Gail

Charles Blaine asked:


There has been a lot of talk lately about renewable energy sources, but not everyone actually knows what they are or how they work. Solar Energy is certainly one of those types of renewable energy that has a little mystery surrounding it. So, What is Solar Energy?

It is actually the energy that is created from the sun. Specifically, the light and the heat from the sun are the primary components of Solar Energy. The truth is that this type of technology has been around since the ancient ages, but as the years have passed, our technology has continued to improve. Sadly, the other brutal truth is that to this day we are only utilizing a small fraction of the power that is available from Solar Energy.

There are basically two different types of technologies that can harness Solar Energy: Passive Solar and Active Solar. They are called this due to how the sun’s rays are captured and processed. Passive solar capture is basically where you allow the sun’s rays to simply do their job. Often you will choose to have a building positioned so that it is in the line of the sun’s rays. From there, the sun’s rays will hit the building, which is made of energy efficient materials so that the sun will positively affect the building. However, active solar collection is the complete opposite of this. With active solar, you will use solar panels or solar thermal collectors to harness the power in the sun’s rays. These active solar technologies will convert this energy into electricity that you can then use to power your home.

Often you will see solar panels in big groups in very sunny places where business are trying to harness that power. However, the truth is that you do not have to be a big business to get that solar power. You also do not have to live in a place where the sun never stops shining to take advantage of it. In fact, anyone can start to take advantage of Solar Energy. Perhaps the easiest and best way to do this it to install solar panels onto your property. There is a misconception that solar panels are incredibly expensive. The truth is that for under $200 you can build your own solar panel. From there you will be able to supplement your homes electricity with the electricity that you are creating on your own. This will effectively start to reduce your energy costs.

Additionally, if you happen to be one of the lucky ones that live in a perpetually sunny place you may be able to create quite a bit of Solar Energy. If you can start creating so much energy that you start to have a surplus, you can actually start to make some money. In many cases, your power company will want to buy that extra energy from you. There is a great probability that your $200 investment could result in the elimination of your electric bill as well as a new source of income. What could be better than that?



Sally

Chris McGee asked:


There are pros and cons of using the sun to create solar energy. The question is … are the cons really so bad that a person should not consider sun power as an alternative energy source? If you answered yes to that question, you must enjoy paying your electricity bill. As for me, I don’t like spending my money on something I should be able to get for free – and neither should you.

The pros for using solar energy for electricity:

- Use the sun’s energy in turn saving our planet’s natural resources.

- Will lower your electricity bill, possibly even eliminating your bill completely.

- Will increase the value of your home.

- During power outages, you will have electricity.

- Homemade solar panels can be fun and educational projects for all ages.

The cons for using solar energy for electricity:

- The area needs lots of sun.

- Are considered to be a costly investment.

- Technology change frequently.

- Are not as effective during bad weather and cloudy days.

Every single one of us should be concerned about our planet’s future and do our part to conserve fossil fuels. Every single one of us should have the desire to learn how to become more self-sufficient. Every single one of us should be concerned about our finances and try to keep our bills to a minimum to improve our financial futures.

How do you get solar energy?

- Professionally installed solar panels

- Solar power kits

- Homemade solar panels

In order to have a professional installation of a home solar panel system, as you know, is a huge hit for most of our wallets. The average blue collar individual, like me, can not afford this kind of an expense in today’s economy. It’s like a catch 22. The average person has a hard time affording their electric bill and at the same time can’t afford to install alternative energy devices to help relieve the cost of their electricity.

Instead of hiring a professional, there are solar power kits available and much more affordable. A solar power kit will come with everything a person needs to get started at setting up a home solar system.

The thing to keep in mind though, is … prior to hiring a professional solar panel installer or buying a solar power system kit, it is important to learn the details how solar power actually works. The best way to accomplish that is to build a homemade solar power generator, gain the knowledge and begin your road to independence.



Jorge

Anna Hart asked:


Solar energy facts for kids in New Zealand are considered unnecessary by some. When winter hovers over New Zealand, it may seem that day after day is cloudy and grey – especially in some parts of New Zealand. On such days, it is difficult to imagine that solar energy could supply enough electricity for a New Zealand home. Most areas of New Zealand, however, have plenty of solar energy that can be harnessed.

Solar energy can be calculated with a map such as the one on the Sun Wize website. This is called a world solar insolation map. “Insolation” means it is exposed to the sun’s rays. The map shows how many hours of each day a country is exposed to the sun’s rays – in the worst month of the year. In other words, the map shows how much solar energy the country gets each day.

When you find New Zealand on a world solar insolation map, you will see that most of the country gets between 3 and 5 hours of solar energy each day. Remember that 3 to 5 hours is the amount of solar energy in the worst month! On average, counting good and bad days, New Zealand gets approximately 2000 hours of bright sunshine each year.

Solar Energy Facts for Kids

Solar energy facts for kids might include many things, depending on the age of the children involved. A small child of 6 years might understand only simple concepts such as the heat generated by solar energy. Older children of 14 to 17 can grasp the technology of solar panels and generators, and how they convert solar energy to electrical power.

We will not attempt to sort the following facts by age or importance, but simply present them as a collection of ideas to be explored.

* In New Zealand, a solar energy water heating system can save as much as 75 per cent of your family’s water heating costs.

* The word “photovoltaic” comes 2 words. “Photo” refers to light and “voltaic” refers to electricity. A photovoltaic array system changes solar energy collected from sunlight into electricity.

* Cover the roofs of every New Zealand home in photovoltaic (PV) panels, and together they would convert enough solar energy into power each year to supply more than 25 per cent of New Zealand’s needed electricity.

* Solar energy can provide the total electricity needed by a normal three bedroom New Zealand home that is energy efficient.

* Solar energy is quiet, easy to install, and needs little upkeep from the New Zealand home owner.

* Any New Zealand child can, with a little help, build a solar energy stove to cook a small banger.

* Solar energy has been used for many years by New Zealand mums to dry clothing outdoors.

* Germany, a country that is much cloudier than New Zealand, converts solar energy into electricity more than any other country does.

* Solar energy is greater than you might think on cloudy days, since the sunlight that gets through reflects off the bottoms of the clouds.

* Solar energy can turn ocean water into healthy drinking water.

* Solar energy can be used on boats and ships around New Zealand.

* Solar energy is absolutely free to New Zealanders. No other country can charge money for it.

Suggestion for New Zealand teachers: Have a contest to see which group of students can discover the most solar energy facts for kids. Younger children will have fun simply listing solar energy facts for kids. Older students might be required to expand each discovery statement.

Disclaimer: The author receives no compensation from any company mentioned in this article. The information is presented solely for educational purposes.



Florence

Pete Phelps asked:


In this age of rising electric bills everyone is feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, too many people think that rising utility cost is just a fact of life that can not be changed. Yet, you can save money on electric bills by making your own solar power for the home. Solar power used to be an expensive option, but not anymore. More and more people are installing their own solar power and saving money on their electric bills or cutting out the bill entirely.

The central component of making solar power for the home is the solar panels themselves. You can make the solar panels with a few simple components or purchase a kit, either option will save you hundreds over the cost of pre-made panels. The basic materials used in a solar panel are plywood, glass, copper wire, silicone, UV protectors, and of course, the solar cells.

Solar cells are what turn light into electricity, thus saving you money from not using the grid power. This is why the cells are the most important part of creating solar power for the home. While solar panels are available for purchase, they are often pricey and the upfront costs alone may negate any potential energy savings for years to come. By making your own panels in order to provide solar power for the home, you can reduce the upfront costs and begin recouping the cost of your panels much sooner.

Making your own panels in order to provide solar power for the home is not complicated and only requires modest skills that most people can learn quite easily or already possess. While electric rates continue to rise every year, a solar panel made today will continue to produce electricity for at least thirty years, all for the cost of the initial investment. Solar power for the home is inflation proof and will leave more money in your pocket over the long run.

With a small investment, a single solar panel can be built in order to supplement utility company electricity. While you will still be drawing energy from the grid, you will not be using as much. This alone can save hundreds of dollars over the cost of electricity every year. When building your own system in order to create solar power for the home, you have the additional benefit of adding to it and enlarging it as time and finances allow, instead of purchasing a large and expensive ready made system out right. You have a lot more freedom to grow your system as your needs and situation allow.

If you are building a home in a rural area that is not currently already hooked to the grid, you will pay thousands of dollars up front just to have the electric lines laid to your home. In this case, it is always less expensive to make and install solar power for the home. A solar panel kit you build yourself is much less expensive than bringing electricity in from the power company and will continue to save you money every year there after. Solar power for the home is the best option in rural areas that would otherwise be prohibitive in cost to run power to.

Solar power for the home is also a sound environmental option. Many states and the federal government offer programs to reimburse some of the initial costs of installing solar power. This can offset the initial investment of switching to full solar power dramatically, thus making your energy savings more evident in a shorter time period. All in all, solar power for the home will save you money on rising electricity costs in very little time and with very little effort.



Joann

Tina Metcalf asked:


Seventeen years ago, two Cal Arts professors started the Side Street project, a Pasadena, California-based arts organization which every year reaches 1,000 children ages 5-11 and teaches them how to use tools and create unique objects out of wood.

Operating from mobile units, or travel trailers, these hands-on teaching programs are so economically conservationist, 80 percent of donations go directly to delivering services. To stretch the money even further, a year ago Side Streets purchased solar panels with a $50,000 grant from The Ahmanson Foundation – installation overseen by Side Street’s staff and volunteers.

This 3,000-watt solar array delivers needed power to light the mobile teaching units and to power tools and other electrical units within the trailers. The teaching trailers currently reside at 730 North Fair Oaks, on unused land donated by the city, but when this lease expires they are mobile enough to take up residence elsewhere, displaying what one Side Streets worker has dubbed “stability through mobility”. Like turtles in their shells, the trailers can move on a moment’s notice if need be, though they have one advantage turtles lack; mobile power through solar energy.

Side Street’s programs are becoming increasingly important as cash-strapped school districts, confronted by decreasing enrollment, lowered funding and an increasingly negative economy, are forced to close on-site art programs.

The combination of mobility and solar energy has allowed the organization to reach more children in a timely manner at less expense. Without the cost of office rent and electricity, Side Streets mobile units are now focused on expanding their services to include high school students, and expand program offerings to include art media other than wood.

To fulfill this objective, Side Streets plans to purchase two more trailers, hopefully also solar-equipped, which they will also convert to classrooms with interchangeable work stations. That way, they can reduce student costs more than 30 percent and still quadruple capacity.

This sort of thinking, so far outside the box it is mind-boggling, may represent a wave of the future in which mobile teaching units serve smaller and smaller but geographically disparate student bodies more effectively. Given the cost structure of modern school districts, it may in fact be an idea which has found its time.



Jay

Jonathan Gal asked:


A recent study indicated that the cycle of global warming is “locked in” and will not stop for approximately one thousand years. This is going to cause some catastrophic issues, including the loss of habitat for many creatures, flooding and of course the disease that breeds in such conditions, and many other problems.

So many people wonder what on earth they can do to help reduce the affects of the human population on the planet, and the answer is to look for alternative energies and resources. Currently the most promising alternative energy is solar power. It has existed since the late 1880s and has been perfected since the first true solar panels were created by Bell Laboratories in the early 1950s.

Today’s researchers, engineers and scientists are moving even farther through experimentation with new methods of gathering energy from the sun, and helping mankind to reduce their vast use of fossil fuels which have set us on such a destructive path.

Okay, says the average homeowner, what does all of that mean for me? Well, any homeowner can look around and see a few places where they could replace or reduce their electrical usage with solar power. Let’s begin at the front doorstep – are there solar accent lights in the yard? How about accent lights along the driveway or sidewalk? Is there a motion sensor light somewhere on the property? What about the back door, is that lit by an electrically operated light as well? Each and every one of these fixtures could be quickly, easily and affordably replaced with solar powered lights units. Not only will they save energy, they will save the consumer money on electrical bills and the annoying need to constantly replace light bulbs thanks to the use of LED lights in almost every solar lighting fixture available.

Where else? Let’s look at your cell phone. Do you leave it plugged into a wall charger all night? Do you have other gadgets and gizmos that require a regular recharging in order to operate? Well, you could invest in a small, portable and weather resistant folding solar charger. These items can easily power today’s most popular portable electronics like cameras, MP3 players and cell phones. Just imagine the immediate effects of every cell phone owner opting for a solar charger instead of their wall chargers!

Clearly, the solar power industry is just going to continue to expand and this is quite a relief to those who worry about the kind of impact our generation is going to make on the coming ages.



Yvonne