Solar power is an alternative energy source that is created when sunlight is converted into electricity in one of two ways – indirectly using Concentrating Solar Power or directly by using Photovoltaic.  Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems creates electricity by using lenses or mirrors, as well as tracking systems to focus large areas of sunlight into smaller, more concentrated beams of light that create heat, as the power source.  Photovoltaic (PV) are “cells” or panels create electricity by converting sunlight and ultraviolet radiation into power. Read the rest of this entry

Pricing of Solar Panels

Depending on the size home that you have, purchasing and installing a solar energy system can be fairly costly.  Fortunately, the government and utility companies are offering incentives such as tax breaks for installing one of these systems due to the fact that solar energy does not impact the environment.  The following are a few cost factors to be aware of where solar panels are concerned and related solar energy equipment is concerned: Read the rest of this entry

Definition and Overview

A Residential Wind Turbine is defined as a piece of rotating machinery that is capable of converting kinetic energy, or energy that is created by motion, into energy that is mechanical in nature.  When this type of mechanical energy is used to operate certain types of machinery (e.g. grinding stones or pumps), it is typically called a “windmill.”  When mechanical energy is converted into electricity, the device is called a wind energy converter (WEO), wind generator, or wind power unit (WPU).

Many people today are investing in residential wind turbines which are usually installed atop a tall tower and works in conjunction with a local utility company in order to supply a home with electricity.  The amount of electricity these produce is determined by wind speed and when the turbines produce more electricity than what is needed to power up the home, a lot of utility companies will purchase the excess power from you.  Additionally, the turbine operates automatically so there are no batteries required. Read the rest of this entry

A Brief Overview of Solar Water heating

By using solar energy, you can provide enough electricity necessary to power your entire home, including your hot water heater.  There are typically components to a solar heating system including:

• Hot water solar panels
• Solar thermal collectors
• Fluid system needed to move the hear from the point of collection to its end use
• A reservoir or tank for storing heat and subsequently using it

These solar hot water heating systems can be used to heat water for businesses and industrial structures as well as for your home.  Some of the more specific applications for solar hot water heating include: Read the rest of this entry

Taking the First Steps

With the growing concern for the condition of the US and global environment, solar energy is no longer a fad.  It is becoming a necessity and a way of life for a growing number of individuals worldwide.  As a result, companies who provide and install solar energy equipment are springing up everywhere, so there are certain things that the consumer needs to consider before investing in a solar energy system.

Despite the fact that budget means everything to the consumer today, it is important to be aware of what you can afford where solar panel costs and the price of all relative equipment is concerned.  However, the following are 5 critical steps that you need to take before making your decision: Read the rest of this entry

At one time, solar energy, along with water and wind energy, was viewed as a fad that came out of the onset of environmental concerns that arose early in the 1960’s rather than the necessity that it has truly become.  It’s no secret that the global environment is in trouble and has been greatly abused by virtue of utilizing fossil fuels for the production of energy and power, so it becomes incredibly important to understand the importance and the relevance of solar energy.  The following is a list of both known and unknown solar energy facts compiled for the sake of gaining additional knowledge on the subject. Read the rest of this entry

Basically, solar powered lighting is manufactured for indoor and outdoor use.  The interest in using solar energy to power this lighting for both businesses and homes is increasing every day based on growing concerns about the utilization of fossil fuels as energy sources.  It’s no secret that our environment is in serious trouble, so consider the fact that investing in solar power lights means that you are investing in the protection of that environment.

Solar power lights have numerous indoor and outdoor applications with indoor lighting not needing much explanation due to common sense about the concept.  However, the applications regarding outdoor solar lighting are growing.  People are now using outdoor solar power lights to light up their gardens, driveways, decks, patios, pool areas, porches, and other exterior features of their homes. Read the rest of this entry