Posts Tagged ‘solar panels’

Solar Power Generator

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

One of the best ways to help the environment is with a solar power generator.

There is a solar power generator for every possible need in each and every house. Each residential solar power system has to be rated to fit the needs of the consumer. For the individual consumer that has little electrical requirements it is possible to have your energy supply come almost entirely from an inexpensive solar power generator.

For those looking to make small moves toward bringing the use of solar power into their lives, one appliance at a time would work. This approach over time will not only reduce the consumption of energy from the local grid but will also help on your pocket book. One 25 watt solar panel with a small amp charge controller and a sealed battery could be maintained along with a DC to AC converter for less than $400 in today’s market.

This would not run too much but it is a step in the right direction. For those looking to help convince their parents of the money saving side of solar power make it an educational venture for all of the family. If all the savings from just one solar panel is reinvested into another solar panel, the savings will add up.

If just one step at a time is the approach taken, in time your whole house could be supplied by green energy. The best thing is that most solar panels work and produce electricity for 30 years or more. At the end of that time only one panel at a time would need to be changed at to keep your systems’ efficiency up. Best of all after the initial cost of the units, there is no monthly charge from the sun.

A solar power generator uses only clean renewable energy of the sun and should be just one of the ways to help the environment that you can achieve by yourself.

Home Solar Panels Will Save You Money

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Home solar panels are the anchor by which every residential solar power system generates energy. We at waytogogreen.org have been discussing this process of alternate energy many times.  They will save you money.  For maximum efficiency of a solar unit in the United States and Europe, the solar panels must be facing south. For Australia the solar panels should be facing north. If your home is situated with the roofing trusses running north and south, then a deflector may be used to maximize their solar efficiency.  This is necessary to produce the proper amount of solar energy from your solar panels. If alignment with the sun is not maximized then more solar panels will be needed to generate the necessary power for your needs.

Solar power is a renewable energy source that the U.S. government has recognized as a way to not only help the environment but also reduce this country’s dependence on foreign oil imports. With that in mind the great legislative bodies of this nation finally reapproved the residential tax credits after nine previous attempts. The extension of this bill not only allows homeowners to apply for a 30% tax credit but the $2000 limit was removed.   This is on all newly installed residential solar power units and any upgrades necessary to existing solar units previously installed but not working at maximum efficiency.

There are also local tax incentives depending on where you reside in the United States. For the fullest possible governmental assistance with your residential solar power system each level of government should be checked.  This includes state, county and city offices to maximize available assistance.

Don’t be the last homeowner on your block to invest in home solar panels. Their installation will save you money and the environment.

Passive Versus Residential Solar Energy

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

There are two ways to use the power of the sun in your home. There have been numerous articles about residential solar energy. But not much has been said or written about passive solar energy uses for the home. To discuss the differences the first thing would be to know the differences.

First residential solar energy is a small-scale use of business solar energy.  The use of solar panels is nothing new being on a good number of houses today. Most of the solar panels are located on the roofs of residential houses for personal use in that home. Some smaller panels are on top of light polls. The uses of this solar power also vary. The first wide scale product for the home that utilized solar power in America was for heating water. That was decades ago and this industry has progressed forward in leaps and bounds since. Now residents can power their whole house with solar power. The more the energy consumption the greater is the need for collecting the power of the sun, which means an increase in the number of solar panels. There is also the option to be hooked up to the local power grid and exchange power. Your system will feed the grid during the day and draw off it at night. Simplified, residential solar power is mechanical or in need of an active operating systems.

Now on to passive solar use in a residential home. It has been around for decades but never really called passive solar or used to its full potential. Remember skylights and large picture windows, this is passive use of solar energy. By allowing light to enter deep into our homes we can save energy by using this light during the day instead of turning on the light switch. The large picture windows combined with stone or thick tile flooring can absorb the heat during winter months and help keep you warm. This is a sustainable and renewable source that can be utilized with a low cost as long as you design your home properly. If you are building a new home or just adding on an addition to your existing home, think about added skylights. In the bedrooms they add a romantic touch and it just makes sense for that bathroom. Best of all once a skylight is installed there is nothing to wear out. This is a renewable reliable source of energy for years to come.