Magnets For EnergyFacts About Solar Energy
Written by admin on February 12, 2010 – 6:31 pm -
Solar energy consists of the light and heat emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
With today’s technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy – such as heating or electricity.
Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.
But in order to be able to benefit from the use of solar energy, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.
Environmental Facts about Solar Energy
All life on earth is dependent upon solar energy. In fact, without solar energy, there would be no life at all. Even the lowest life forms, such as plankton and microbes, need solar energy (in the form of sunlight) in order to survive.
Solar energy is completely environmental friendly, producing absolutely no carbon emissions or other harmful byproducts whatsoever.
Solar energy can be used successfully and cost-effectively just about anywhere on the planet. You do not need to live in a tropical or desert climate in order to benefit from the use of solar energy. Solar power has been used successfully in many cold climates and even in the polar regions.
Every area of the United States of America receives enough sunlight to benefit from and make use of solar energy and solar technology.
Currently, the cheapest and most effective way of using solar energy in your home is through the use of solar water heating systems. In fact, solar water heating systems have been commercially available in the United States for over a 100 years.
Solar energy can be used for heating homes effectively in cold climates, as well as in warm climates. In fact, for decades now, solar heating has been in use several cold-climate northern European countries.
Solar energy technology has advanced to the point where it can be now be a viable and cost-effective replacement for regular grid-electricity.
Solar energy is rapidly increasing in popularity – so much so that the demand for solar-powered gadgets is currently greater than the supply.
Facts about Solar Energy Usage
Solar energy can be used to provide electricity, heating and hot water for homes.
Solar energy can also be used to heat swimming pools. Many pools in Scandinavia and Europe are in fact heated with solar energy.
Solar Energy can be used to power vehicles, such as solar powered cars, and even a solar powered airplanes. NASA has successfully designed, built, and tested an airplane which is powered wholly by solar energy.
A few examples are: solar battery chargers, solar flashlights, solar calculators, solar radios, solar-powered attic fans, solar power backpacks (to recharge batteries for small devices), hybrid solar chargers (for cell phones, satellite phones, and more), solar-powered garden lights … and much, much more.
To find more information about solar energy, and to get a full understanding of solar power devices, see Facts about Solar Energy and Portable Solar Power.
Tags: about, energy, facts, solar
Posted in Solar energy | No Comments »
Solar Power – The New Energy Source
Written by admin on February 9, 2010 – 8:00 am -
If you want to go to solar power for your home or business then now may be the time to do it. Though you will probably still have quite a bit of out of pocket expense, if you live in the United States then you will most likely qualify for tax incentives to offset some of your cost. You should keep in mind that these systems are expensive but they may save you a lot of money as well.
A special system can be installed that will convert sunlight to solar power and run the electrical devices in your home or business. You will need a special box that will hook up to your current system as well as solar panels. These items may need to be installed by professionals for safety reasons. You local power company will need to approve and help with this as well.
Some companies sell do it yourself kits and videos. To me these seem more suited to science projects. As much as I would like to try these I am also very skeptical. Anytime electricity is involved there is a certain amount of risk. I have a hard time believing I could set up a system like this without starting a fire or getting electrocuted.
I have no doubt that solar energy is the way to go if you can. Not only can this cut your electric bill but it is also earth friendly. In years to come we may well see the end of fossil fuel use in countries around the world. This fuel simply can’t last forever and alternatives must be found.
Solar energy can be used with other energy sources to make sure you always have enough energy to run your home or business. Your regular power supply is still hooked up even with the solar power supply. This means that even if there is no sun for weeks at a time you can still have power you need.
At least one site did mention the need for permits. This may be a very complex project and you will need to do some research before trying any do it yourself kits. There are special boxes needed and it sounds fairly complex.
Some of the products that run on solar power are nice and you don’t need a special system installed. The outdoor lights look really great. They are easy to install and no cords to run or trip over. The cars are still a long way from being marketable though.
Keep in mind that electricity of any kind can be dangerous. Check all local laws and follow any safety instructions before you try to do any electrical work on your own. Professional advice may be helpful. If you know an electrician then they may be willing to give free advice on this matter.
Prices will probably come down in coming years. If you can’t afford this now then you may be able to before long. Solar power will most likely be around for a very long time to come and one day everything may be run at least in part by this energy source.
Solar power provides an efficient and environmentally friendly source for energy. In order to promote a greener society, wind power should also be considered as an alternative option.
Tags: energy, power, solar, source
Posted in New energy sources | No Comments »
Free Wind Power Generator Plans
Written by admin on August 2, 2009 – 3:52 pm -
http://EnergyForEarth.net – Free Wind Power Generator Plans Wind Generator Plans, Free DIY build wind generator plans, parts, workshops. Free plans. … Ready to install your own wind power system? Let us do the engineering or we can just Wind power generator and alternative energy – small scale homemade … · Science/Tech Small scale wind power generators for generating renewable green environmentally friendly energy. Diagrams, designs, and data are available for free. … Click here to see a summary of Eskom’s plans to dispose of nuclear waste safely …Free VAWT Wind Turbine Plans – Wind Feb 17, 2009 … Download the Free PicoTurbine Plans. PicoTurbine Windmill Plans – 27 page … Build a wind or water power system with around a PM Generator ..Chispito DIY Wind Turbine Plans – Wind May 18, 2006 … Make a simple, affordable DIY wind turbine generator. … Free VAWT Wind Turbine Plans Make your own 250 Watt vertical axis wind turbine Power Your Home With Free Wind Generator Plans Oct 30, 2008 … Power Your Home With Free Wind Generator Plans. … Power Your Home With Free Wind Generator Plans. 30 Oct. 2008. EzineArticles.com. ..DIY Wind Turbine Plans – Instructions Building Wind Turbine Jun 30, 2008 … All you need is a good set of diy wind turbine plans in order to … Solar Power Generation – Learn How You Can Make Free Power at Home! …Wind Power Generators — Windmills · Alternative Energy Inexpensive plans for a 9ft diameter wind generator. Kits for some of the part also offered. Colorado Wind Power YouTube – Power Your Home With Free Wind Generator Plans Jan 15, 2009 … http://EnergyForEarth.net-Wind power is an excellent source of clean renewable energy. Homeowners all over the world are discovering the …YouTube – Power Your Home With Free Wind Generator Plans Jan 15, 2009 … http://EnergyForEarth.net-Wind power is an excellent source of clean renewable energy. Homeowners all over the world are discovering the …Wind power – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Alternative Energy Denmark has active plans to increase the percentage of power generated to over 50%. …. [59] Wind power generation in the U.S. was up 31.8% in February, …OneToRemember – sustainable living bookshop – Free VAWT Wind … Wind Turbine Buyers Guide – Free · 12 wind generator/turbine plans on one CD · Basic guide to wind power. Price: £ 0.00 ($ 0.00, € 0.00, R0.00) .. Free Wind Power Generator Plans
Duration : 0:8:46
Tags: "Work, Advantages, alternative, benefits, Bill, build, cell, cells, cheap, conservation, cost, costs, diy, earth, earth4energy, earthenergy, Efficiency, efficient, Electric, electricity, eliminate, energy, environment, Free, fuel, Generate, Generator, global, green, grid, heat, heater, HELP, home, homemade, house, how, instructions, kits, Live, make, manufacturer, Market", money, natural, panel, panels, plant, power, renewable, residential, resources, review, save, scam", sell, solar, sun, system, Technology, transformers, turbine, turbines, wind, windmills
Posted in Wind power | 9 Comments »
Renovation Nation: Solar Panels
Written by admin on August 2, 2009 – 3:52 pm -
Follow Steve Thomas as he checks out a net zero house that generates all its own energy using solar panels. Watch more at http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/renovation-nation/
Duration : 0:6:35
Tags: house, nation, Net, panels, Renovation, solar, zero
Posted in Solar energy | 25 Comments »
DIY Solar Panel System Cost
Written by admin on August 2, 2009 – 3:52 pm -
http://www.solardave.com/index.php/cost-of-a-partital-diy-solar-panel-system-video/
SolarDave: Please tell me about your solar panel system and how you saved some money?
Adam Stevenson: The total of the system and materials was $22K. I ended up spending about another $1,800 in permit fees and a structural engineer and $400 for an electrician, several hundred dollars for a guy to come help me out for the two afternoons he spent with me.
Xcel (Energy) gave me $16,538 rebate. Fix cost based on the number of kilowatts you are installing and has nothing to do with how much you pay the permit office or the electrician.
My final cost after rebate was $7,237. (SolarDave note: that is cheap!)
I started my research in solar probably about a year before I actually installed it went and got a couple of bids from some of the local solar people both from contractors that my friends have used as well as just searching the internet and while talking to one of the guys I find of developed a good feeling from him, and I asked the question “Would it be possible to do some of the work myself” and kind of learn along the way he said “Sure I absolutely support the do-it-yourself-er (DIY) so I said why don’t you throw me bids, what it would cost just come home and have solar one day and what it would cost to have it done where I do some or all the work myself. And throw them both to me and I said let’s try the second one.
The guys name is Steve Cross from Sun Spot Solar.
I gave him my electric bills and said this is how much I think I need to generate and he said I agree and lets do these types of panels 180 watts each, you will need some where around 19 to 22 we figured out 21 fit pretty well.
So I went and got all the permit information from Golden (Colorado), filled it out. He came by 1/2 hour one day he type all the Xcel application on the internet and I kind of ran the process and when I had a question I would just send him an email and he helped me out.
I think in parallel we order the equipment – he dropped off in my driveway. Then one of his installers came out and helped me for two afternoons and I pretty much myself put in the whole rack system on the roof and the installer came out and helped me kind of a two man job carrying the panels up, putting the panels down and bracketing them down.
I think we sketch out on the side of one of the solar panel boxes how they are all going to wire together so that we get three rows of series – 7 series strings so the amperage works out.
I let his installer run the conduit because that is pretty much a one person job and then I paid an electrician to plug it all in for me.
Duration : 0:3:2
Tags: panels, solar
Posted in Solar energy | 25 Comments »
Hydrogen Genorator powered from Solar Panels! Free power
Written by admin on May 11, 2009 – 10:12 am -
Solar Energy put to good use by powering a Hydrogen genorator!
This is only a proof of concept but a step forward.
Free Electric and Gas!
Duration : 0:2:7
Tags: 12 volt, AC, browns gas, DC, free electric, free gas, gas, HHO, panel, power, solar, sun
Posted in Solar energy | 11 Comments »
Energy X-Prize: Reduce Home Energy Usage
Written by admin on May 11, 2009 – 10:12 am -
Our “crazy green idea” tackles the demand side of our energy crisis and gives Americans an incentive to reduce their energy consumption!
See http://web.mac.com/jondreher for more information, including our sources and calculations!
Duration : 0:2:1
Tags: CFL, Consumption, Efficiency, electricity, energy, environment, Insulation, money, renewables, solar, wind, X-Prize
Posted in New energy sources | 20 Comments »
Clean Energy – Wind vs Coal
Written by admin on May 11, 2009 – 10:11 am -
Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/04/28/Clean_Coal_Myth_or_Reality
Sierra Club’s Bruce Nilles argues for complete replacement of outdated coal power plants while ‘clean coal’ advocates Joe Lucas and Ray Lane challenge him, arguing that wind and coal are complimentary. “There’s no such thing as a perfect energy source,” says Lucas.
—–
Is clean coal hope for the future, or just misleading marketing jargon? Panelists weigh in on the possibilities and opportunities.
Coal-fired power plants are the largest U.S. emitters of CO2 and human-generated mercury, yet our nation is poised to build many new coal plants in the future. Panelists discuss new technologies for carbon capture and storage and IGCC, and the implications of energy policy decisions on the health of our economy and our planet. – Commonwealth Club of California
Bruce Nilles joined the Sierra Club in 2002 and currently directs its National Coal Campaign, the largest component of Sierra Club’s new Climate Recovery Campaign. The national coal campaign is working to reduce America’s over reliance on coal, slash coal’s contribution to global warming and other pollution woes, end destructive mining, and secure massive investments in clean energy alternatives. Bruce previously worked as a staff attorney for Earthjustice’s San Francisco office, and during the Clinton Administration as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington D.C. He received his J.D. and B.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin.
Ray Lane is a Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, focused on helping entrepreneurs with technological and market insight, organizational development, team building, selling and managing growth. Since joining KPCB, Ray has sponsored several investments for the firm in enterprise and consumer technology, as well as clean and alternative energy. These companies include Ausra (solar concentrator), GreatPoint Energy (coal to gas conversion), Fisker Automotive (plug-in hybrid car), Th!nk NA (electric car), Luca Technologies (biologically enhanced gas recovery from fossilized hydrocarbons), Xsigo Systems (virtual I/O switch for datacenters), SpikeSource (open source platform for integration and testing), MEVIO (social media network), Virsa (compliance for large enterprises) and Elance (marketplace for services). He also serves on the board of Quest Software.
Joe Lucas is the Vice President of the Americans for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE).
Duration : 0:4:16
Tags: clean, coal, electricity, energy, environment, environmental, False, green, industry, myth, policies, Policy, power, renewable, scam", solar, true, wind
Posted in Energy recovery systems | 25 Comments »
Sustainability, climate change and crazy biofuels policy
Written by admin on May 11, 2009 – 10:11 am -
http://www.globalchange.com Sustainability and global economic growth, climate change and global warming. Limits to water, food, minerals, energy and natural resources. Scandal of biofuels policy converting food into biodiesel or ethanol for vehicles / cars / aviation. Challenge of demographics and population growth, plus growth of economy in emerging nations. Africa and Asia urbanisation into megacities with huge infrastructure challenges. Global warming science is it correct? Truth about carbon dioxide and global temperature records. Ice cap gas analysis and future predictions for sea level rises, glacier melting, break up of ice caps, changes in Antactica and North Pole. Energy saving innovation and new business opportunities. Electric vehicles, low energy street lighting, carbon capture and sequestration, nuclear fusion, solar, wind, wave and tidal power generation. Changes in EU and US regulation on use of biofuels. Energy subsidies and government policy conforming with Kyoto commitments. Lecture by physician and futurist keynote conference speaker Patrick Dixon for 2008 Stein Am Rhein leadership summit – facilitated by Professor Prabhu Guptara.
Duration : 0:8:41
Tags: biodiesel, biofuels, carbon, climate change, economic, Economy, energy, Global-Warming, government, nuclear, power generation, regulation", science, solar, sustainability, Technology
Posted in Bio-fuels | 3 Comments »
Solar Power 101 – how does sunlight turn into electricity
Written by admin on May 11, 2009 – 10:11 am -
Please sign the Declaration of Endependence at www.endependence.info/declaration .
Short and concise explanation of solar photovoltaic systems. How do they work? Do I need batteries?
Produced by the on-line local action network, Endependence.info.
Show us how you are saving energy. We’ll copy your great ideas.
Energy independence, we can’t do it alone, but we can do it together.
Duration : 0:2:4
Tags: action, activism, alternative, augustwolf, carbon, dioxide, energy, environment, global, greenhouse, local, power, solar, warming
Posted in Solar energy | 17 Comments »