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Posts Tagged ‘solar energy’
Saving Money on Gasoline
While gas prices have declined quite a bit from their peak, with summer coming, it’s quite possible that prices will rise again to unprecedented levels. The cost of a barrel of light sweet crude oil fluctuates with the market, but in the summer, the price always goes up. It’s important to think about how to save gas to prevent both the monetary cost and further damage to the environment.
You can save a lot of money on gas by purchasing a gasoline efficient hybrid vehicle, or for people who can’t afford that, it’s also possible to convert a regular car to run on water or electric power. The conversion kit to run a car on water or electric power is also quite affordable on even the most modest budgets. Imagine the money saved in the future! In the near future, provided technology continues to move forward at the same pace, it’s quite possible that most cars won’t depend on fuel at all, but rather run entirely on solar cells, water, or electric power.
Warm up your Pool with Solar Water Heating Systems
If you are a person that loves to swim, and if you own a swimming pool, then your family knows just how much fun they have during the warm seasons. Wouldn’t it be more fun if you could open the pool up earlier than usual, and the kids could stay in the pool a little later in the evening, or maybe you could leave the pool open a little longer in the early fall.
I found a product that can help you do so. It’s called – Solar Pool Heater, this kind is made for above ground pools, there is also another kind that is made for In-Ground pools. This one in the picture is for above ground pools and you can lay it beside the pool or mount it on a slant frame, preferable were ever it is convenient, and out of the way, but you should consider positioning it were it will lay in the sun all day. That way you will get more benefit from using the Solar Pool Heater as it will absorb the most of the sun rays against the black surface.
The Solar Pool Heater Systems for the In-Ground pool uses a different approach, with that system it is installed up on the roof, and collects the sun rays up there were it stays HOT! It installs easily in line with your exiting pump and equipment. The pool water circulates through solar channels and returns to the pool nice and warm.
Both of these Solar Water Heating Systems
uses No Electricity at all, just the power of the sun. You should expect 10 to 15 degrees warmer water. That would be very pleasant instead of getting that initial shock you get when you jump in the cold water, at first getting in. Here is a chart to help you decide what size system you may need.
Have Fun!!!
Solar Photovoltaic Growth in 2009 and Beyond
Solar PV growth has been amazing from 2008 into 2009. Solar PV systems have had a steady increase even with all the recent economic uncertainty in the US last year. 2009 ended with an amazing 18% increase over 2008’s installed solar capacity, and at this current pace it should be easy to hit many of the 2020 goals set by utility company’s and our government. It was the 4th quarter of 2009 that added 63% of the new PV projects, and has provided a large boost into 2010 and the momentum to do even better. It was California that dominated the new Solar PV market in completing large-scale PV systems by adding 52% of the new systems installed in 2009 alone.
These numbers came from Emerging Energy Research. It is great to see the US is keeping pace with Solar Power installations despite concern about the strength of the US economy. We can clearly see that as the solar industry keeps growing at this rate of progress it’s no wonder that the renewable energy will be one of the factors that will carry us out of our current economic slump.
If you are looking to get in on this rapid growth of Solar Power Systems
installations as a business, their are several online educational classes that you can check out.One educational and training online school about Renewable Energy Industry is called “Boots on the Roof” they have a large variety of classes for the eager to learn individuals about this new wonderful industry of ours. Renewable Energy Industry just may save our slumping economy and our environment!
A Career in Solar Energy Industry
Do you want a career in the (RE) Solar Business?
That is a good possibility. There are jobs to be had in this growing market, the time is right to make your move. With government funds and decreasing costs their is real possibilities for creating new projects and green job training. The first steps is to find the job you would like in the Solar Energy industry. You can research various careers and which skills are required. A good place to start is the online help wanted ads. The job descriptions posted on job search and company websites will help you determine what skills and credentials are needed for specific jobs. You could connect with professionals in the field who might be willing to share their experiences and answer your questions.
There are many specialties within the Solar industry to consider. What path you choose depends on what skills you have and what skills you are willing to learn. Opportunities are plentiful in fields as most notably energy efficiency, energy management, and building sciences. Fortunately, there is no shortage of training options. With more than $500 million in funds from the Economics Stimulus Act and other governmental grants earmarked for green job training, more options are coming. The level of training you require depends on your ultimate objective, your current skills, and any local requirements. So before you select your training program, be sure to consider the education and credentials required by your local jurisdiction to work legally and to qualify your customer’s systems for incentives.
If installing renewable energy systems is your career path, then hands-on experience is critical to your future success in the field. This type of training is also helpful for those looking to apply concepts learned in the classroom. Pursuing a career in the Solar Power
energy field could be very rewarding! Both financially, and environmentally, that would be a good choice for you and your family, and our children’s future!
Solar Power/Renewable Energy Source
I have come across some energy facts that I would like to share with you from the United States government. The US uses 20,680,000 barrels of oil per day. We are ranked number one. The next closest country is China, they are using 7,578,000 barrels of oil per day. Even though these figures are from a report from 2007, the use of petroleum continues to grow. We also lead in gasoline consumption to.
We have natural resources available right here in our country and other country,s around the world, that we could be putting to good use. We only use less than 1% of our total energy consumption for wind and solar. And the totals of all renewable energy which includes: bio-fuels, waste, wood and coal fuels, geothermal, and hydroelectric which includes wind and solar only amounts to a little over 7%. It’s amazing that we have any petroleum left. Finding new petroleum is only going to get harder and more expensive to extract from the earth!
We need to concentrate on our natural energy sources Now. Solar Energy for instance needs to be researched more than ever. I don’t believe we will ever run out of the sun’s energy, Do You? No, I don’t think so, but we could run out of petroleum someday and it’s only going to get more expensive. Why should we give all of our money to other country’s for oil, that gives them leverage over us for the energy we need, and costs we can’t control. Bad Ideal!
Technology exist today to build your own renewable energy system, it could be a solar hot water system, wind generator system, or a photovoltaic energy system, any of these systems would help us financially. Our children are facing tremendous energy challenges in the near future. Real possibilities exist like Home Solar Power
Energy to take your home Off-grid were all your utilities are self sufficient. Just think of the ideal of not owing the power company any money on a utility bill.
You’ll have an advantage with Solar Panels
These days more and more home builders in the United States, especially the largest builders, are including green features in their standard packages as buyers demand energy efficiency for a new home they may purchase. One particular builder, Miami-based Lennar announced plans to offer it’s new Power Smart SM Homes in all 16 states where it builds, beginning in Minnesota. These homes, designed to cut energy use 40%, will include efficient heating, cooling, lighting, appliances and windows. They’ll come with the government’s Energy Star label and the Department of Energy’s efficiency score. People are diffidently looking for ideals to save money, even when they are spending money, smart investment.
Bill Burgess, president of Lennar’s Minnesota region, said in a statement. “Prospective buyers are eco-conscious and truly embrace energy-efficient products even in this current economic climate.”
What is clear is that green home building has gone mainstream, as architects and investors alike recognize it’s value in cost efficiency. Whether you are building a new home or renovating your old home or just upgrading appliances, heating, cooling, windows, lighting or utilities, it is an excellent ideal to incorporate some form of renewable energy into the design.
Like converting the use of Solar Panels
for electric energy. That ideal will save you money, be a good investment, raise the value of your home, and will give your home an advantage when comes time to sell. Who doesn’t want a energy efficient home. Everybody!
Solar Power System – 5 Factors
Want to invest in and your family’s future? Ask yourself this question: “If I have a sum of money to invest today, can I expect a higher return with traditional investments or with an investment in a supplemental solar-electric system”? There is analysis shows that generating your own solar-electric energy is often the better investment. The factors of this analysis comes from five areas- natural resource assessment, technology, energy consumption, economics, policy.
The first factor- to consider is the energy that the sun provides us. You can perform an accurate analysis for each month of the year, The National Solar Radiation Database ( NSRDB ) can be found at the Renewable Resource Data Center ( RReDC ). For this analysis the data is found in, The Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors.
The second factor- is to consider which Solar Power System to invest in, Their are two different types, “Grid-Tied” or ( “utility-tied”) and ” Off-Grid ” systems. Obviously the “Grid-Tied” system is the one that is connected to your homes electric panel box, and with a true net meter ( your electric meter spins in both directions) to consume the electricity your household uses or sell to the utility company. Either way, an investment in a Solar Power energy system of any size can then earn a maximum return, up to the amount of energy that is produced. Most Solar Panels are warranted for 25 years.
Third factor- Energy Consumption, with the use of a System Meter you can monitor your systems performance, it is better to produce more electricity than your household is consuming. That way you are not paying for kilowatts.
Fourth factor- Economics, even if your making good percentage off your stocks, and the interest is compounded and reinvested back into stocks, That’s Great, but something is missing? “Taxes” saving on utility bills are like post-tax income. You pay taxes on interest income, you don’t pay taxes on money you save.
Fifth factor- Policy, dramatically affects the return on investment in solar-electric energy. Exiting policies provide some important incentives for solar-electric energy and other forms of renewable energy. An excellent resource that lists renewable energy incentives is the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE).
Results are- Immediate personal reward is that there is money to be made with an on site Solar Power Electric Generating System. And is considered a low-risk investment into your future.
Harvesting the Suns Power for Solar Energy!
A Home Owner that is enthusiastic about the environment and saving money, one good choice is harvesting the power of the sun for making Solar Energy. Solar Power Energy is a form of renewable energy that does not pollute the earth no matter how much you use. Harvesting more of this kind of energy will not in any way decrease the supply of solar energy on earth. It is a endless supply of a natural energy just waiting to be used in an environmentally friendly way, and can not be used to pollute or hurt our earth as for their is no left over waste that can be dumped into our soil or water system to pollute anything.
With your own set of Solar Panels, you can maintain the cost per watt of energy as long as the photovoltaic panels work for you. With conventional sources of energy, you are expected to pay more and more every year due to inflation and the ever depleting source of fuel, even as the costs for it just keeps rising.
Can you recall how much we had to pay on our energy bills 10 to 15 years ago? It absolutely hurts us today to see how much more were paying for it now. And can you honestly say that the price for energy may decline. I don’t believe so. That’s why if any time would be to start thinking about an alternative energy source then, NOW is the right time to start. Just taking baby steps toward the process of changing the way we think about harvesting energy could save us all a ton of money, I am sure we would like to use for the money for other necessary things.
Their are
many other amazing facts about Solar Energy that makes it the worlds preferred source of renewable energy. But how can we take advantages of harvesting the marvelous source of never ending power? There are many ways will talk about in later posts, but for now a good place to start is with Solar Panels for electricity.
There are many diy solar energy guides out their to help people understand that if your willing to learn and get your hands a little dirty you can build your own Solar Power Energy System at a fraction of the cost, as to hiring a solar energy company to install the whole system, which they would be more than happy to do so.
Solar Power System Component # 4
Setting up a Solar Power System.
This component is a must have.
System Meter is the fourth component we can talk about in the series of components you’ll need to have to build
a Solar Power Energy System. A system meter measures and displays several different aspects of your solar-electric system’s performance and status, tracking how full your battery bank is, how much electricity is being used. Operating your solar-electric system without metering is like running your car without any gauges hooked up to track the performance of the engine, even though you could leave it out, but that would be unwise, you need to keep track of how much energy is being made, how much energy is being stored, and how much energy is being used.
Think of the component like this, it is your fuel gauge and you need to know how much energy is coming from your panels and how much energy is being used up. Some inverter manufacturing company’s now provide wireless meters to allow system monitoring from any room in your house, so you can keep an eye on the monitoring of the system at any time.
How could you know if your system was working to it’s full potential, or if you was making effective energy usage decisions?
Real Time Solar Monitoring. You can gain access to energy data to gain an understanding of how you could optimize your solar energy system. You can get connected to one of the web-based systems. Here’s how it works. Data from sensors at the inverter and the main electrical panel is sent to a communications gateway. The information is then sent out to the internet broadband, modem, or wireless, where it’s processed into data and is present on web pages for access. You can keep track of real time data on your home computer.
Solar Power: Efficient and Affordable
In the past, residential solar power was reserved for homes that were far off the beaten track. These were often ranch homes in the American Southwest where sunlight is plentiful and civilization relatively scarce. When you’re miles from the nearest access to the power grid, it just makes sense to become self-reliant. More recently, everyday Americans in cities, towns and rural settings are exploring the potential of photovoltaic cells.
Technology has improved over the last few years, and just as computers drop in price once they’ve been around a while, solar power systems are becoming less expensive and more tantalizing to the average homeowner. Once solar panels are set up and fully operational, they can reduce energy bills and provide real peace of mind. It’s nice to know that in providing energy for your home you’re not also leaving a carbon footprint.