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Do you want a Solar Energy Home?

Have you ever considered the benefits of a solar energy home?

Do you wonder if your grandchildren will have the energy they need to maintain our current standard of living?

Do you just want to reduce your dependence on foreign oil and other non-renewable energy resources?

Solar Energy Benefits

Solar energy homes provide their owners benefits others don’t enjoy. The main one is a lower energy bill. In order to save the most money, it is important to think about the payback on your investment on every decision you make if you are using solar energy in your home in order to save money. Compare the price to the expected savings to determine if something is a good investment. If you are doing it to save the environment, you may not care about price as much, but most people want to save money.

A few of the solar energy items discussed are listed belowHere are a few of the things you will learn about:

• solar panels
• solar water heating
• solar lighting
• green energy plans
• solar tubes
• energy conservation

Solar tubes are a relatively inexpensive way to bring solar energy into your home in rooms that don’t have a lot of (or any) windows. Basically, what you do is install a reflective tube with a clear cover on your roof to let light in. You can also go with a skylight, but they are much more expensive and don’t work if you have a standard ceiling that is several feet below your roof.

Solar water heaters are very popular when building a solar energy home. They are more expensive than a traditional water heater, but can substantially reduce the cost of heating your water. You can usually upgrade your existing water heater, but it is cheaper if it is installed when your solar energy home is being built.

Solar lights are another easy and inexpensive way to use solar energy. These are typically used outside as accent lights. They harness the suns energy during the day to power the light after the sun goes down. They are very handy and you don’t have to worry about running wires underground to your lights.

Solar panels that generate electricity are the thing that most people associate with solar energy. Usually, you see these panels on the roof of a house. They harness the suns energy and create electricity that is stored in batteries for later use. It is possible to sell electricity to the power company if your home is extremely efficient. I wouldn’t recommend planning to sell electricity though, just focus on trying to get enough electricity to power your house and save a bunch of money on electricity.

There are tons more items, gadgets, and appliances that harness the suns power and help break the dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources. These are a few of the most popular. Put everything together and you can have your own solar energy home!

Alternative Energy You Can Afford

If you are thinking it is not very feasible to live off the grid, there are alternate power solutions and you will be surprised to learn that they are not only cost-effective but also extremely feasible. There is an informational product called Earth4Energy can help you get started without spending a ton of money. You may even get addicted to renewable energy!

When you are ready to get started, learn about how to have a solar energy home work for you. You will find more information about Earth4Energy and how to get started.

Conserving Energy

You never want to waste energy, but if you are living in a solar energy home, it is even more important because you most likely won’t have a surplus of electricity. If you happen to be living “off grid” then it is vital that you don’t waste the electricity you have because you can’t tap into the electric company if you need more.

There are a lot of resources out there that will help you save electricity which then saves you money. I have put in a quick video that can get you started saving electricity and saving money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ADp0vlcyq4

Get Renewable Energy from Your Electric Company

If you want to help the environment by using solar energy, but just can’t do the things people associate with a solar power home, don’t despair. There is a way that you can buy green energy from your power company. This way you can help save the environment and have a clear conscience even if you can’t put up solar panels or other solar energy devices in your home.

Many electricity companies have a green energy plan. Basically what happens is that you indicate that you want to support the use of green energy and select a plan that gets some amount of energy from solar, wind, or water sources. You will typically pay a little more for this, but if it helps the environment many people are willing to pay more. I personally use Ambit Energy for my electricity service. They have competitive rates and a nice green electricity plan. Check with your electric company and see if you can get green energy.

If you live in Texas, New York, Illinois, and soon Ohio, you can check out Ambit for all your energy needs. You can also check out the Ambit Energy business opportunity so you can make some money while helping to save the planet.

Hiring a contractor to do the installation for you can be quite expensive. Therefore, it is important that you get quotes from several contractors before making a choice. For installing Home Solar Energy Systems, a contractor’s price may vary from fifty dollars per hour to three times that charge. A reputable contractor should provide you with an all-inclusive price quote for the installation of your Home Solar Energy Systems. On the other hand, some entrepreneurs try to offer an “estimated” price. Unless a contractor has a long history of satisfied customers you can contact, it is a bad idea to go with one who will not give you a firm price. Otherwise, you may be charged thousands of dollars for unnecessary expenditures on tools and services.

Advantages of Home Solar Power Systems are that there are no moving parts to break and very little maintenance required. Whatever the size and purpose of such systems, there are two basic types of home solar energy systems:

1. Active systems are good when there are periods without sunlight. Such a system is connected to a power grid for additional supplies of electricity.

2. Passive systems are entirely dependent on sunlight and are a fine choice where clouds and rain are not an everyday occurrence.

Home Solar Energy Systems

With a renewed interest in non-polluting energy production, there has been more research into and better acceptance of Home Solar Power Systems than there has been in the past 40 years since their debut. The earliest systems required a high investment in the structure and were only considered effective for certain regions of the country. However, as global warming, air pollution and the rising cost of electricity are becoming major environmental issues, interest is now high for solar energy systems. This is truth for individual residential systems or large plants which supply energy to entire communities.

Home Solar Energy Systems Have a simple theory that requires complex structures:

The theory of how Home Solar Energy Systems work is fairly simple. Photovoltaic cells, designed to convert sunlight into electricity, are pointed to the sun and connected to a device that operates on 12 volt direct current. They can also be connected to storage batteries to save any power not used by the device. Then, when the sun goes down, the unit can continue to operate from the power stored in the battery/batteries. Some initial challenges had to be overcome, such as not having any devices in a house operating on 12 volt direct current.

Home Solar Power Systems

The amount of energy produced by Home Solar Power Systems can be increased by adding cells. Likewise, by adding more batteries, more power can be stored overnight. Adding a converter to a home solar energy system permits the use of 110 volts AC, which powers most home appliances. Moreover, having a regulator prevents the batteries from overcharging and helps guide the power to where it is needed.

Technological advances have produced photovoltaic cells that are thinner and more efficient, which makes the overall reimbursement time for the installation much shorter and the installation of Home Solar Energy Systems more attractive for residential and commercial use.

A major problem for many families today is continuing price hikes for utilities, such as electricity. In today’s world electricity is absolutely essential. It powers our homes, schools and offices; we can’t imagine a world without it. The problem is that this essential part of our lives is getting really expensive due to the increasing demand and the higher price levels of oil. That is why it is important for us to find ways to make savings on our energy bills. To achieve this, we need to look into alternative energy sources, like installing residential solar power or wind energy.

Small scale home energy sources offer great options to the regular energy supply. They utilize the natural power from wind or sun which costs nothing, is sustainable and emits no carbon. These three major factors are the reasons why many people are opting to fit wind or energy power units at home. According to research, if 25% of households in the United States choose to power their homes using residential power devices, possible thousands of regular power plants could be rendered surplus. This means that there will be a lot less carbon emissions which in turn means less green house gases and a more healthy environment.

Apart from solar units here is the option of residential wind turbines that are great if you want to save money on electric bills, save the environment and even our health. Wind power devices take advantage of this great sustainable energy source, the wind, which will generate energy without any damaging exhausts that destroys the ozone. The one time investment in a power unit will last for many years, generating energy for your household. Windmills work by using the power of the wind to rotate a turbine creating mechanical energy. The mechanical energy created is transmitted to home wind generators that convert it to electrical energy usable for homes. This energy is then stored in a battery to be used when there is no wind.

Two major benefits come from installing residential wind or solar power. One, you can save a lot of money by using residential power, and two - maybe even more importantly - you can help save the environment. Fitting residential wind or solar units is an investment for the future that can help you save lots of money; money, which cn be used for better things for your household and family. There may be another money saving opportunity as well, since some governments offer tax benefits to anyone who installs environment friendly energy sources. Some energy companies also offer the opportunity to sell unused energy if you produce more than what you need. There are also the environmental benefits of using wind or solar energy because you lessen the demand of electricity produced by electric power plants that produce energy while emitting carbon.

So, not only will you save money, you can also save the environment from the ill effects of carbon emissions.

Lots of people are starting to switch their power to solar power since the finite fuel is starting to run out and become expensive. In actual fact, solar power offers many benefits rather than the fossil be doing well for the environment because solar power doesn’t produce damaging emissions or pollution.

It will charge you lots of money for heating a swimming pool when you decide not to use the solar power. You need gas, oil, electric or some other expensive commodity to drive the electric pump in order to move the water from the pool throughout a heated chamber.

Some have learned that using solar power significantlextensively reduces their energy bills, regardless of the kind of fuel required for the heat. The water still has to be pumped at least one way from or to the pool, but heating the water with solar power cuts off a large chunk of the bill.

Using large black plastic or rubberized containers, water is pumped out of the pool and into the bladder where it remains exposed to the sun until it reaches a designated temperature. At that time it can be returned, by gravity, back to the pool with the water heated by solar power. If the system is thought through before it’s installed, the pumps can be designed to work on solar energy as well. It then provides a heated pool at no operational expense.

Remote Access to Electricity Boost Solar Energy Use

There are several locations to which electric power has not been extended. Additionally, in some applications such as hunting or a small fishing cabins , the use of solar power give electricity where it would otherwise be unavailable.

In some of these areas it is not considered a good investment by the electric company to extend their power lines and the cabin’s owner cannot afford to purchase the setting up. By using solar power, they can enjoy many of the comforts at home without the added expense of an electric bill.

Other convenience that is offered by the solar power is available these days. You can find the flexible and portable panel for various purposes. Since it can be rolled up and carried in backpacks easily, you can use it when go camping. This portable solar power. By using this device, you can charge your cellular phone or listen to the radio.

Still being curious about solar power? Just explore more on the links here and you will get much more about solar energy as well as any thing related.

This article will describe how solar energy is created and cover some of its basic principles.

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 benefit the most from the use of solar power, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make a 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.

- Available Solar Resource

The technical feasibility and economical viability of using solar energy depends on the amount of available sunlight (solar radiation) in the area where you intend to place solar heaters or solar panels.

This is sometimes referred to as the available solar resource.

Every part of Earth is provided with sunlight during at least one part of the year. (I say “part of the year” as the north and south polar caps are each in total darkness for a few months of the year.) The amount of sunlight available is one factor to take into account when considering using solar energy.

There are a few other factors, however, which need to be looked at when determining the viability of solar energy in any given location. These are as follows:

* Geographic location

* Time of day

* Season

* Local landscape

* Local weather

Because the Earth is round, the sun hits its surface at different angles, at different locations on the globe. This ranges from 0� (just above the horizon - a good example of this is the north pole during the winter) to 90� (directly overhead, at and near the equator).

When the sun’s rays are vertical (directly overhead), the Earth’s surface gets a maximum of solar energy. The more slanted the sun’s rays are, the longer they have to travel through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the surface (becoming more scattered and diffuse as they go along).

The more scattered and diffuse the sun rays are, the less concentrated the solar energy is. Because the Earth is round, the polar regions never get direct sunlight, and they receive no sun at all during their respective winter months.

The Earth travels around the sun in an elliptical orbit. Because of its elliptical path, the northern hemisphere of the Earth is closer to the sun during one half of the year, and the southern hemisphere is closer during the other half of the year.

When one part of the Earth is closer to the sun, it receives more concentrated solar energy. This is the time of year that is referred to as “summer.”

But regardless of summer or winter, the 23.5� tilt of the Earth’s axis plays a larger role in determining the amount of sunlight striking Earth at a particular location. The tilting of the earth results in longer days in the northern hemisphere during one half the year, and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other half of the year.

Areas such as the United States and Europe receive more solar energy between May and September - not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is nearly overhead during this season. The sun’s rays are far more slanted during the shorter days of the winter months. Cities such as Denver, Colorado, receive nearly three times more solar energy in June than they do in December.

- Diffuse and Direct Sunlight

As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected.

The following is a general list of materials that cause the sunlight to be diffused:

* Air Molecules

* Water vapor

* Clouds

* Dust

* Pollutants

Sunlight affected in this way is referred to as diffuse solar radiation or diffuse sunlight.

Sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface without being diffused is called direct beam solar radiation or direct sunlight.

The sum total of all diffuse and direct solar radiation in a given location is called global solar radiation. It is the total amount of sunlight hitting the Earth at any specific spot, both direct and diffuse combined.

Pollution and other atmospheric conditions (such as weather patterns) can reduce direct sunlight by 10% on clear dry days. They can reduce direct beam radiation by 100% on thick, cloudy days.

Note that the absence of direct sunlight does not imply total darkness, as some diffuse light will still get through.

- Measuring Sunlight and Solar Energy

Scientists measure the amount of sunlight available in specific locations during the different times of year.

They are then able to estimate the amount of sunlight which falls on similar regions at the same latitude with similar climates and conditions.

Measurements of solar energy are normally expressed as “total radiation on a horizontal surface”, or as “total amount of radiation on a surface tracking the sun”.

In this last case, the assumption is that one is using a solar panel that automatically tracks the sun.

In other words, the solar panel would be mounted on a tracking device so that the panel would remain at right angles to the sun throughout the day.

This system is primarily used for industrial setups, when it is used at all.

- Solar Energy Measurements

Radiation data (the amount of solar energy available at a given location) for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems is often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2). Direct estimates of solar energy may be expressed as watts per square meter (W/m2).

Radiation data for solar water heating and space heating systems is usually represented in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft2).

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Anna supports of clean living and the use of renewable energy in order to combat pollution and Global Warming, as well as the humanitarian and economic consequences of dependency on fossil fuels.

For more information on solar energy, visit Anna’s blogs, Solar Energy and Alternative Energy.

You can also find a wide variety of solar power equipment, solar battery chargers, portable solar power, solar water heating, solar powered weather stations, solar fountains, solar lights, home solar panels, and more, at her Solar Power Store.

Go back 30 years and you’ll see that the green movement was positively anti-nuclear. It seems odd that 30 years on some of the very same people are placing their hopes on nuclear power to stop the global warming Crisis. It could well be that we have no choice other than to go Nuclear but “why aren’t we placing more emphasis on cleaner types of energy?” Some governments (Denmark is a case in point) have already made great strides in harnessing cleaner and safer forms of energy including both wind farms and solar power systems. Introduction of these alternative forms of energy have been very successful so you have to ask why other countries are placing their hopes on Nuclear Power?

The old concerns about using Nuclear Power have by no means gone away. It is still an intrinsically dangerous form of energy and we still have no good solution to removing nuclear waste! What is holding us back from moving to other forms of energy?

The common argument is that the cost of moving to cleaner forms of energy is far more expensive than staying with fossil fuels. But what are the hidden costs of staying with fossil fuels or moving over to nuclear power?

It is general knowledge that our current fuel resources are running out. With the demand for energy on the increase there is only one possible outcome. More price increases! On the other hand, the alternative energy provided by the Sun, Wind and Water is free and will be available for a very long time.

Utilising cleaner forms of energy may not be cost effective at this time but future developments will surely lead to greater efficiency. For instance, take solar technology. With semiconductor technology advancing in leaps and bounds, solar panels are becoming increasingly efficient. Not so long ago solar panels could only be used with any effectiveness in warmer climates. Today, we see them being used in many types of environment. Indeed, solar technology has advanced so much people are investing in their own DIY Solar systems. If individuals think it worth their while to plan and build their own solar power systems then why can’t it be done on a wider scale.

The financial considerations of sticking with fossil fuel energy resources is not just limited to supply. The cost of lowering our CO2 emissions or removal of dangerous waste material is a cost that will stay with us for many years. Alternative forms of energy like Hydro, solar and wind power are all clean and pollutant free. Future generations will not have to pay for what we do now. The cost of short term thinking is a high price to pay for the future of mankind. Let’s keep nuclear power at a distance. The Sun would be just about right.

Electricity is one of the most widely used form of energy. Electricity has a great importance in our daily lives. Every household appliance needs electricity to run. Electricity is a controllable and convenient form of energy used in the applications of heat, light and power. But do you ever wonder how this electricity is produced? So this article will help you in understanding electricity and ways to generate electricity.

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a secondary energy source. We get it from the conversion of other sources of energy like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power and other primary sources. Moreover from earth 4 energy Michael Harvey you can gain so much knowledge.

The methods to generate electricity are as follows:

1.Electricity through fossil fuels:

Electricity can be produced by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels can be petroleum, coal and natural gas. Fossil fuels are used to make fire and boil water. When the water is heated enough, its vapor are used to move turbines and make electricity.

2.Electricity through water:

This is also known as hydropower. It is a process in which a running water is used to spin turbines connected to a generator thus making electricity.

3.Electricity through wind:

This is also known as wind power. It is a process in which wind is used to move turbines and make electricity.

4.Electricity through nuclear:

This is also known as nuclear power. It is a method in which steam is produced by heating water through a process called nuclear fission. This steam spins a turbine generating electricity.

5.Electricity through sun:

This is known as solar power .Solar-thermal electric generators use the radiant energy from the sun to produce steam to drive turbines, thus producing electricity.

6.Electricity through biomass:

Biomass includes wood, municipal solid waste (garbage), and agricultural waste, such as corn cobs and wheat straw. These sources replace fossil fuels in the boiler. The combustion of wood and waste creates steam that is typically used in conventional steam-electric plants.

Click here Renewable energy enthusiasts for some more information on earth, power, energy and electricity.