Monday, December 31, 2012

The Benefits Of Using Solar Energy For Your Home's Energy Needs

By Jeffrey Barkley


Now that you have your beautiful new solar power generation system in place all you need to do is sit back and enjoy 25 years of energy savings. Wrong! While maintenance on these systems is cheap and simple, failing to do it can cost you both in replacement parts and the fact that your system will stop functioning as well as it could.

Assess your energy needs carefully. Find out how many solar panels would be necessary to cover your usual energy needs and look for ways to reduce the amount of energy you use. Perhaps you could invest in skylight tubes to benefit from natural sunlight instead of electricity. You could replace your light bulbs with more sustainable ones and change your schedule so you can use natural lighting most of the time. You will find that making a few changes to your lifestyle can have a huge impact on your utilities bill.

There are many reasons why selecting solar power is a wise choice. First, whenever you install a solar panel, you don't have to do much to maintain it. Second, due to the fact you don't have to do much upkeep, you don't have to spend a lot of money once you get past the initial investment. Nothing can be more cost-effective than a free source of energy, the sun. Third, you are helping to protect the environment. Your carbon footprint is being drastically reduced when you choose solar power.

You will only get energy when the sun is up. You may not need direct sunlight; you can still generate power as long as the UV rays are penetrating the atmosphere. But in terms of gathering electricity at night, it's simply not going to happen.

Find a solar energy specialist and have him or her inspect your property and assess your energy needs. You will also need to determine whether or not your property gets enough exposure to the sun. You might have to cut down a few trees to reduce shadows, but in some cases, other sources of green energy might be better options for you. Solar energy is usually the best option in the South-West of the U.S.; even a slightly overcast sky is not ideal to produce solar power.

Are you ready to pay for the installation and maintenance or repairs that need to be done to the solar panels? Solar panels usually need a professional to install them, unless you have the experience. They also will need maintenance on a regular basis. Is the cost going to be worth it?

Few people think of ways to use passive heating when they are designing their homes. The fact is that passive solar heating is becoming very popular with architects and if you are thinking of building a house, you should give thought to working this into your design. By using differential heating, you can create a manner of ventilating your homes by creating zones of differential temperatures.

This information is just the tip of what you need to know before getting a solar system installed in your home. Keep doing your research and you will soon be able to start planning your new, greener life.




About the Author:



Friday, December 28, 2012

A Bit About Geothermal Energy Primer

By Stephen Spreadbury


As we look to alternative power sources for our power hungry world, geothermal energy is getting attention. Here is a brief overview of geothermal energy.

Outline of Geothermal Energy

There are many differing kinds of energy available to power our world. For years , folk have utilized the power of burning ordinary fuels, for example coal (also used to supply steam power) to create energy. In recent times, there has been a shift to using renewable resources to form the energy we need. These resources include hydroelectric power, solar electricity, wind power, biomass energy and geothermal energy. While many individuals know about the 1st 4 of these resources, geothermal energy is less well known.

The word geothermal comes from 2 Greek words, "geo" and "therme". These words mean "earth" and "heat", which pretty much describes what geothermal energy is. Geothermal energy is energy that comes from the heat of the Earth, deep underground. The Earth's core, where chemical reactions create enormous amounts of heat, is 4,000 miles below the Earth's surface. In this core, temperatures can reach up to 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and this acute heat can produce energy.

While these are the basics of geothermal energy, there are many other parts in the midst to make this sort of energy serviceable. We can't tap right into the Earth's core to get this heat, for plenty of reasons. So as an alternative folk must create systems that harness the residual heat that's in the magma (molten rock) under the Earth's crust. This heat is able to be utilized by utilizing the water reservoirs that are within the magma? These water stores can reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Think of Old Faithful in Yellowstone.

A well can be drilled down into the superheated water contained in the Earth's magma - the geothermal reservoir. Once these geothermal reservoirs are plugged into, the heated water and steam can rise to the surface, and be used to power geothermal power plants as well as in smaller scale projects for personal household use. When utilized in geothermal power plants, the steam from the heated underground water is commonly used to power turbines, which then generate energy which can often be harnessed as electricity.

By employing the Earth's own heat and water, energy can be created that can be utilized on a small or sizeable scale. This renewable resource (you can't deplete the Earth's heat) is also cleaner and safer than many other sorts of energy, making it a great type of ecologically sound energy source.




About the Author:



Monday, December 24, 2012

Cutting Energy Consumption In Order To Maximize Solar Energy Output

By Antonio Fussell


Solar energy is a wonderful way of using the sun's natural energy to power your home. However, you may not know whether it is right for you. Solar energy is not used by many people at the moment, so you need to find the right information to help you make a choice about whether it is something you want for your home. Here are some solar energy tips to help you make that decision.

Is there a way for you to power your outdoor lights and waterworks using your solar energy? This helps to save a lot of money due to the amount of energy outside water sources and lighting takes. Do everything you can to make sure you pick up the slack for outside energy sources as well.

Solar energy is accessible to everyone. From simply making use of passive solar to purchasing individual solar items to installing a several thousand dollar solar system, people of all means can benefit from the use of solar power.

Making sure that your solar system is tied in with your regular system is a great idea all around. This way, you will always have power even if your own rig doesn't produce enough, and if you have anything extra, that power is going back to the main grid and you can actually make money from the town or county by selling power to everyone else.

Make sure solar energy is the best option for you. You should know that most solar panels will work best if the sky is clear. The best area for solar energy in the U.S. is in the South-West. If you live in a state where you cannot count on clear skies and warm weather throughout the year, you should think about investing in a different kind of green energy. Perhaps a small wind turbine or geothermal energy could be better alternatives.

With the clean energy awareness level at an all time high, solar energy is one of the most attractive alternate energy options. Solar energy is a clean alternate energy option which is good for the environment. These days, solar energy is considered one of the most green energy alternatives.

Before you engage in installing the solar panels, you need to ensure that you have sufficient funds to complete the project. A half installed solar panel is of little or no use to you. Also, keep in mind that many tax credits do not get to you until you complete your tax return, so you may have to fund you entire investment until you receive payment.

Energy has become very expensive in today's world, and no one wants a huge bill from the power company. The gas pump is also getting people to re-think things. You don't have to be a slave to non-renewable energy anymore because you can use the more affordable, effective, and efficient solar energy, your cleaner energy alternative. Make sure you remember the tips you've read here in this article as you continue to gain a better understanding about solar energy. By using solar energy, you can "go green" as everyone calls it.




About the Author:



Monday, December 17, 2012

The Benefits Of Using Solar Power For Homes

By Anthony Bosco


Utilizing solar energy in your home or business is a great way to start saving money on your energy costs while helping the environment at the same time. Pay attention to the following tips to help you better understand the process and what comes with it.

The smallest unit of solar electricity generation is a solar cell. These are small wafers of silicon and generate about as much power as a flashlight battery. While not very useful on their own they can easily be joined together to generate more power. To put this into numerical terms, each solar cell produces one to two watts (W) of electricity. If you are reading this on a laptop, it will consume around 100 watts, so you need to wire 50 to 100 cells together just to run one item. Of course, the sun isn't always shining, so you will need even more cells to charge a battery that can power your laptop when it's nighttime or on cloudy days.

Although you will always get some energy as long as the sun is shining, you will want to maximize your efficiency. This means that your panels need to be in direct sunlight. They need to capture sun from dawn to dusk, so you might have an odd-looking setup based on the construction of your home.

Make sure your home gets direct sunlight. There is no reason to install solar panels if your home never receives enough sunlight to make that much of a difference. Decide whether you want to make changes in your landscaping to allow the panels to get the light they need. Whatever you do, make sure that you will be able to capture worthwhile levels of solar power.

Get your property inspected by an expert. Solar panels will work well in a sunny area; you might have to cut down some trees to improve the exposure of your roof or yard. Find the best location possible for your solar panels and assess your energy needs carefully. There are a few things you can do to reduce your energy consumption, such as switching to sustainable light bulbs, using skylight tubes to get natural sunlight and making a conscious effort to turn off the lights and appliances you do not use.

If you want to preserve the environment but cannot afford to invest in solar panels, you should think about switching to a different energy providers. In some areas, consumers have the choice between different providers, usually including one that relies on solar power. Your monthly bill might be slightly higher, but you will be able to claim an interesting tax deduction for this renewable energy. Perhaps this could be a first step in your efforts to preserve the environment.

Solar energy might sound like a no-brainer when choosing the best energy solution for you and your home, but there are some downfalls which you should be aware of, such as the upfront costs. Solar panels themselves can be very expensive, along with the other equipment that you need to deliver the power to your home. Although the long-term savings of installing solar energy to your home is substantial, the upfront costs can really add up. Be sure that you fully understand the costs to ensure that it is the right time for you to make the switch financially.

To conclude, solar energy is by far a cheaper alternative to regular power sources. There is a bountiful amount of solar energy out there that is just waiting for you to harness it. If you follow the advice in this article, you will be on your way to helping the environment and saving money through the use of solar panels in your home.




About the Author:



Saturday, December 15, 2012

How To Generate Free Electricity To Power Your Home

By Darren Blades


Electricity bills are ever increasing. You should now be thinking of an alternative on how to generate free electricity to power your home. There are many alternative sources of power out there, but only a few of them have been proven to be effective. Some of these alternative energy sources can be made from simple connections. You only need to have the required materials in order to set up a simple energy source at the comfort of your home.

People have actually tried several options in order to reduce their energy expenses. One of these options is the use of a magnetic generator. This generator has worked for many individuals and that is why it is the most preferred. You can also find other free energy sources such as bio-gas, solar and wind turbine. An advantage with these alternative sources is that they are non environmental pollutants. The challenge with them is that they are expensive to build and maintain.

It will cost you less to actually set up a magnetic generator. This kind of generator uses magnets in order to generate produce energy. It is made up of three magnets that are arranged in a systematic way. Two of these magnets are placed in such a way that they create a force field after the opposite poles are brought close to each another. The third magnet balances the force that has been created by the two magnets.

Magnets should be arranged in a specific manner in order to generate maximum power. The aim is to have uninterrupted power supply within your home. For that matter, you need to learn the step by step guide on how to construct this kind of generator. A non-faulty magnetic generator can produce up to 700 watts.

The magnetic generator is a machine that you can build yourself. Magnets will enable the generator to run continually without any interruption. With this kind of device at home, you no longer have to pay high energy bills every month. You only need to know the step by step plan that will help you to build it.

This kind of machine has a lot of benefits to homeowners. The obvious benefit is that your home will be supplied with free electricity. Remember that you can make this machine yourself as long as you have the required components. You will also not pay energy bills since you are not dealing with any electricity generating company. People using this kind of generator usually save up to 70% of their total energy bills.

This generator is also easy to build if at all you have all the needed materials. You only need to have three magnets and a few appliances in order to set up this machine. The machine is also portable. You can easily carry it from one place to another and use it accordingly. This means that you can use it anywhere you want.

You can only enjoy the benefits of this kind of generator if you construct it yourself. This is because you will purchase the right magnets and arrange them accordingly in order to get maximum amount of energy. Make sure that you are familiar with the simple steps followed when building this generator. This is actually an effective way on how to generate free electricity to power your home.




About the Author: