Solar Power For The Home

There are two ways to economize by using a solar energy system. The first benefit is significantly cutting your electricity bills. Remaining linked to the grid means you can earn some money from selling any extra electricity your panels produce. With installation costs still being very high, the typical residential solar power system takes around 18 months to have paid for itself - although making your own solar panels is a less expensive option.

Using solar panels can help to lessen your carbon footprint since solar electricity is green (renewable) energy and does not emit harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. The typical solar energy system is capable of saving around 2650 lb of CO2 per year - around 30 tons over its lifetime. According to Tony Juniper (director of Friends of the Earth), the next industrial revolution will be shaped by these clean green technologies.

Federal law allows for individuals creating solar power, to be paid by the utilities, after linking to the grid, for any surplus electricity produced. The system which accounts for a solar energy system's electricity production is called a net meter, and allows solar panel owners to sell excess electricity back into the grid. The most common of these is a single, reversible meter. On-site energy demand is filled first, as the solar energy system produces electricity. Then, instead of storing excess electricity in a battery storage system, any extra kilowatts are fed into the grid, reversing the electric meter. The utility company will credit the homeowner at the end of each metering period, and will usually send payment out monthly or annually.

An average of 164W of solar energy per square meter is delivered to the Earth's surface by the sun. In truth, covering around 1% of the Sahara desert in solar panels could create enough electricity to power the entire planet. That's what makes solar energy so incredible - we'll never use the amount that is available, it's more than enough. But because the energy sent out by the sun arrives as a mixture of light and heat, it can't be used as it is to directly power a car or a computer. However, the sun's energy can be converted into a power we can use, such as electricity, by solar panels.

Solar cells are the basis of solar panels. Because the electricity generated by an individual solar cell is not sufficient for most purposes, solar cells are linked to form solar panels. Solar panels are also called Photo Voltaic or PV modules and are produced in various types and sizes; the solar panel most typically used produces up to 50 Watts and is made from silicon solar cells. Solar panels may also be interconnected to produce more energy.

It may not surprise some people that we in America use more energy than any other country. Even though the US accounts for barely 5% of the entire planet's population, we are responsible more than one quarter of the world's energy usage. Israel at this time has a 100mw solar power plant which is able to provide more than 200,000 people with electricity; however they now have plans to put together an even bigger one - which will serve at least a million more people. Half of all solar panels produced worldwide are found in Japan, while Bavaria has the biggest solar power system. When considering these figures it's clear that America has a long way to go to reach the full potential of solar power.

Many people find it preferable to make their own solar panels. Since installation of a solar system for the typical American home can cost between $7,000 and $40,000 the popularity of DIY solar panels is growing. And it is less complicated than it may seem. For safe and effective DIY solar panels it's imperative that you use the right instruction guide. Going with the DIY solar panel option means not just long-term utility bill savings, but it's a way to save thousands of dollars in initial outlay.

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Tags: electricity, energy, Home Improvement, solar, solar kits, solar panels

September 25 2010 | Home Improvement | No Comments »

Build Your Own Affordable, Cheap Solar Panels

Solar energy is without a doubt today's number one alternative energy choice. It is no wonder then that one of the most searched for terms on the internet is cheap solar panels.

With the environmental disaster we are seeing unfold off the gulf of Mexico (The BP oil spill) more and more as a society we are finding our consciousness pricked into looking for cleaner and greener ways to help the environment.

For most people the idea of having their own solar system is indeed desirable, but there has always been the major stumbling block of the enormous cost of the solar panels.

Having a solar system installed can cost many thousands of dollars, money that many households simply do not have to spare, no matter how much they stand to save in the long run or how much they want to help the reduce their carbon footprints.

This alternative comes in the form of a DIY (do it yourself) kit. Now I'm sure some of you just tuned out at the thought of building your own solar panels, sounds complicated doesn't it? Well surprisingly it isn't, in fact it's all most child play.

The kits come in the form of an easy to follow video series and instruction manual which you can downloaded in a matter of seconds online

All the materials you need to build your own panels are available from most hardware stores (tip: save even more money by sourcing the parts from your local salvage or junkyard). Armed with the most basic handyman skills, you can assemble your panels in just a couple of days (I recommend freeing up a weekend to give yourself ample time).

It's a great project to get your children in on, provides them with an alternative to playing computer games all day, gives them a lesson in environmental issues and energy conservation. You won't believe the buzz they will get when they realize the solar panel they built is powering a laptop etc.

Not only will you stand to save a lot of cash by building your own cheap solar panels as opposed to purchasing them pre built, you will also cut (depending on the number of panels you build and your homes energy needs) anywhere up to 80% (in some cases above this) off your traditional power usage, this can translate to hundreds of dollars saved on every power bill.

So whether you are looking to help reduce your carbon footprint or simply want to save a few dollars, take a look at the following link for side by side reviews of the leading Solar Power Kits and build your own solar panels today.

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Tags: Alternative Energy, clean energy, do it yourself, energy, Environment, environmental, green energy, Home Improvement, residential solar power, solar, solar cells, Solar Energy, solar panels, Solar Power

August 16 2010 | Home Improvement | No Comments »