In this day and age of ever growing efficiency, everyday folks are looking to capitalize on today's current technology to save money in all areas of their budget. And since energy prices are getting steeper, and concerns of man-made pollution are on the rise, the choice to retrofit an existing home into a solar powered home is becoming more enticing to the average consumer.
Solar Power use for the everyday homeowner used to be limited to just heating the backyard swimming pool. But these days solar power technology has grown by leaps and bounds. You can now have your entire home be powered by solar energy, including (but not limited to) garden and walkway lights, water heater, interior lighting, attic fans, central air conditioner, and, of course, your swimming pool.
Although the solar powered car is becoming the most popular use for this alternative energy source, the steps to create a solar powered home are not to hard (when using a professional service) and well worth the investment. There are a number of solar power panels and solar power kits available on the market, but if you are interested in solar power to power any part of your house, your best bet is to look up "solar power" in your local phone book.
About The Author:
Dave Moore is the operator of http://www.solar-powered-everything.com which is a website dedicated to informing the general public about the uses of Solar Power.
Copyright Dave Moore - http://www.solar-powered-everything.com
Monday, March 19, 2007
Financial Incentives for Using Solar Power in Your Home
It is undeniable that energy prices are going through the roof. Just take a look at your utility bill. The good news is using solar power can save your bank account, particularly with new incentives.
Personal Tax Credit and Deductions
If anything is more aggravating than exploding energy costs, it's your tax bill. New and established government programs let you attack both by going solar. The first method is by simply saving money on taxes. If you install a solar energy system on your home, the federal government is going to give you a tax credit of up to $2,000. Tax credits reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar unlike deductions which are subtracted from your gross income. A majority of states now also offer tax credits you can use when paying state taxes. Each state handles the matter differently, but you can expect to get a credit for a percentage of your installation cost or a fixed figure.
Net Metering
Net metering is a concept that has resulted in exploding sales in the solar energy industry. Net metering refers to state laws that require utilities to purchase power generated from your residential solar system at the same price the utilities would otherwise charge you for electricity. In effect, net metering lets you use the utility company as a battery. While you are at work during the day, your solar system sends energy to the utility and your power meter actually runs backwards. When you come home at night and use power, the power meter runs forward. All and all, net metering will either slash or completely eliminate your utility bill. With solar panel systems having a life of 40 years, think how much money you'll save! While a majority of states have net metering laws, not all do. Make sure to check if yours does.
Property Tax Incentives
Property taxes. How we all hate paying property taxes. Well, many states now provide exemptions, exclusions or credits for homes with solar power. Each state handles this issue differently, so look into the potential savings in yours.
Rebate Programs
To promote solar energy, rebate programs are offered to homeowners by states and utilities. Again, the characteristics of such programs vary wildly, but typically come in the form of rebates ranging from a couple hundred bucks to $4,000 or more.
With your utility bills going through the roof, it is time to consider steps you can take to save money. The economic benefits of going solar have never been better, which makes now the time to convert.
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.solarcompanies.com - a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles to read more solar electricity articles.
HOW DOES SOLAR POWER WORK ??
The basics of solar power.
Solar power is probably the cleanest, most viable form of renewable energy available and it can be used in several forms to help power your house. Many gardens now use solar lights or solar garden water features. The availability and wide use of solar power in gardens shows exactly how versatile it is as a source of energy. The technology and the systems are becoming smaller, more compact and better looking than when they were first created and used. Early examples of solar power systems can be seen in California where, in the 1980s, enough solar power panels were installed to power over 10 million homes.
How do photovoltaic tiles work?
Simply put photovoltaic tiles and other forms of solar energy work by converting some of the energy in sunlight into a clean form of electricity that can be used in our houses. The PV cells consist of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As the protons of the sunlight beat down onto the PV cell they knock the neutrons off the silicon. The negatively charged free neutrons are attracted to the silicon but are trapped by the magnetic field that is formed from the opposing fields. Small wires on the silicon catch these neutrons and when connected in a circuit an electric current is formed.
This reaction gives Direct Current electricity though, and it must be passed through an inverter to be converted into an Alternating Current used in our homes to power any electrical items. Some of the power is lost in this part of the process as the inverter is only around 95% efficient but this is a much greater efficiency than was once available.
The nature of the PV cell means there is little or no maintenance required and there are no moving parts; this means that a typical PV cell can last up to 40 years with no work besides an annual clean.
How can I use them to power my house?
There are several ways to use solar power around the house and not just for powering. You can use it to heat your hot water, heat your pool or even your central heating or if you have plenty of roof space and a reasonable amount of sun you can get a grid tie system; a grid tie system means that not only can you power your entire house but during those times when you create an excess of electricity you can sell it back to the grid. An efficiently solar powered home will be able to reasonably create between 75 and 100% of their own power and because of the grid tie system this means you may not have to pay for electricity ever again.
About the author:
For more more information about solar power please visit http://www.solar-power-energy.info
Solar power is probably the cleanest, most viable form of renewable energy available and it can be used in several forms to help power your house. Many gardens now use solar lights or solar garden water features. The availability and wide use of solar power in gardens shows exactly how versatile it is as a source of energy. The technology and the systems are becoming smaller, more compact and better looking than when they were first created and used. Early examples of solar power systems can be seen in California where, in the 1980s, enough solar power panels were installed to power over 10 million homes.
How do photovoltaic tiles work?
Simply put photovoltaic tiles and other forms of solar energy work by converting some of the energy in sunlight into a clean form of electricity that can be used in our houses. The PV cells consist of a positive and a negative slice of silicon placed under a thin slice of glass. As the protons of the sunlight beat down onto the PV cell they knock the neutrons off the silicon. The negatively charged free neutrons are attracted to the silicon but are trapped by the magnetic field that is formed from the opposing fields. Small wires on the silicon catch these neutrons and when connected in a circuit an electric current is formed.
This reaction gives Direct Current electricity though, and it must be passed through an inverter to be converted into an Alternating Current used in our homes to power any electrical items. Some of the power is lost in this part of the process as the inverter is only around 95% efficient but this is a much greater efficiency than was once available.
The nature of the PV cell means there is little or no maintenance required and there are no moving parts; this means that a typical PV cell can last up to 40 years with no work besides an annual clean.
How can I use them to power my house?
There are several ways to use solar power around the house and not just for powering. You can use it to heat your hot water, heat your pool or even your central heating or if you have plenty of roof space and a reasonable amount of sun you can get a grid tie system; a grid tie system means that not only can you power your entire house but during those times when you create an excess of electricity you can sell it back to the grid. An efficiently solar powered home will be able to reasonably create between 75 and 100% of their own power and because of the grid tie system this means you may not have to pay for electricity ever again.
About the author:
For more more information about solar power please visit http://www.solar-power-energy.info
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The Coming Age of Electric Vehicles
by Kenneth C. Hoffman
Used for plating cheap jewelry, the battery cell was known in Egypt in 250 A.D. The basis for the common lead acid battery found in most cars was discovered by Volta in the seventeenth century. Electric automobiles were common in the early nineteen hundreds but they could never match the power and distances covered by internal combustion engines.
The main problem with inventing a practical electric car was the weight of the batteries. Powerful but heavy electric motors were available but relatively short distances on a charge marred their usefulness. One advantage of an all electric vehicle aside from its quietness and independence from transmissions is its zero emissions.
Ever since then, more powerful and lighter rechargeable batteries were high on the list to be invented. Early radios used wet cells to power their filaments and primitive dry cells to activate their circuits. The common carbon zinc flashlight batteries were much lighter than lead acid wet cells, but were sadly weak in the power department. Alkaline batteries improved their performance four fold but similarly could not be recharged.
The nickel cadmium batteries could be recharged but lacked the high drain power required by an electric motor. Recent advances in nickel metal hydride batteries were found sufficiently long lasting for use in high drain electronics, laptops and cameras but still were not what was needed for a practical electric vehicle.
The most recent advances in battery technology involve the use of lithium and various chemicals such as titanium, disulfide and manganese. These Li-Ion batteries are fully charged in an hour, are half the weight of NiMH batteries and have plenty of power. One company in Berkley, CA has patented a Lithium Sulfur battery that boasts a voltage of 2.1V, an amperage rating of 400 Watt hours, a weight one quarter of a NiMH battery and a charge time of only five minutes. Hello, electric car of the future!
About the Author: A retired portrait and wedding photographer, I enjoy writing , how to articles, helpful articles on photography and many other subjects. My hobbies include quartet singing, shop, bicycling and photography. Please visit my web site at http://www.photoartbyken.com
[Articles, Digital Art, Poetry, Original sheet music.]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_C._Hoffman
Used for plating cheap jewelry, the battery cell was known in Egypt in 250 A.D. The basis for the common lead acid battery found in most cars was discovered by Volta in the seventeenth century. Electric automobiles were common in the early nineteen hundreds but they could never match the power and distances covered by internal combustion engines.
The main problem with inventing a practical electric car was the weight of the batteries. Powerful but heavy electric motors were available but relatively short distances on a charge marred their usefulness. One advantage of an all electric vehicle aside from its quietness and independence from transmissions is its zero emissions.
Ever since then, more powerful and lighter rechargeable batteries were high on the list to be invented. Early radios used wet cells to power their filaments and primitive dry cells to activate their circuits. The common carbon zinc flashlight batteries were much lighter than lead acid wet cells, but were sadly weak in the power department. Alkaline batteries improved their performance four fold but similarly could not be recharged.
The nickel cadmium batteries could be recharged but lacked the high drain power required by an electric motor. Recent advances in nickel metal hydride batteries were found sufficiently long lasting for use in high drain electronics, laptops and cameras but still were not what was needed for a practical electric vehicle.
The most recent advances in battery technology involve the use of lithium and various chemicals such as titanium, disulfide and manganese. These Li-Ion batteries are fully charged in an hour, are half the weight of NiMH batteries and have plenty of power. One company in Berkley, CA has patented a Lithium Sulfur battery that boasts a voltage of 2.1V, an amperage rating of 400 Watt hours, a weight one quarter of a NiMH battery and a charge time of only five minutes. Hello, electric car of the future!
About the Author: A retired portrait and wedding photographer, I enjoy writing , how to articles, helpful articles on photography and many other subjects. My hobbies include quartet singing, shop, bicycling and photography. Please visit my web site at http://www.photoartbyken.com
[Articles, Digital Art, Poetry, Original sheet music.]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_C._Hoffman
Solar Power: Is It Worth It?
by J.R. Ferrara
This is a never-ending debate that will ultimately depend on your point of view. There are certain factors involved in answering the question such as:
* Where do you live * What is your current electric supply * How much does the solar power equipment cost * Do you define "worth" in monetary terms or in terms of its impact on the environment
Before you can consider these factors, Id like to point out certain long-held misconceptions about solar power that are untrue:
: Its too expensive : It wont provide enough power for large appliances : It wont work during the winter : It will only provide power when its sunny : It is very difficult to install and will only last 5 years : Its unreliable and useless at night : Its inefficient and not worth it.
A Look at the Facts
The amount of suns energy reaching the earth depends on where you live. If youre in a sunnier place, the solar power equipment will pay for itself faster. Less sunny places can still make use of solar power, however.
Installing solar power equipment may cost you, but the upkeep costs are negligible, compared to the cost of being connected to the grid and paying a monthly electric bill. The kind of equipment you need depends on how much electricity you need. If you need a lot of electricity, your initial cost of installation will be high, but of course, this will be offset by the high cost youre already paying for electricity off the grid.
Your solar power can be connected to the grid to pass on the extra electricity you are generating. This is known as net metering and adds to your credit. Connecting to the grid will cost you, depending on how far the grid lines are from your home.
Solar power becomes much more attractive when it combines with other solar technologies. A building with passive solar heating and water heating will require less electricity from your solar power source. Modern buildings, made with energy efficient materials will put less pressure on your solar power equipment. This in no way means that older buildings with poorer energy efficient materials cant use solar power. Solar power, once installed, will pay for itself within a reasonable time.
After considering the above, it all comes down to the worth of installing solar power. Is it only the monetary cost one should consider, or the total cost to the environment? It all comes down to how much you value the environment.
http://www.real-estate-magazine.com http://www.tech-tips-now.com
This is a never-ending debate that will ultimately depend on your point of view. There are certain factors involved in answering the question such as:
* Where do you live * What is your current electric supply * How much does the solar power equipment cost * Do you define "worth" in monetary terms or in terms of its impact on the environment
Before you can consider these factors, Id like to point out certain long-held misconceptions about solar power that are untrue:
: Its too expensive : It wont provide enough power for large appliances : It wont work during the winter : It will only provide power when its sunny : It is very difficult to install and will only last 5 years : Its unreliable and useless at night : Its inefficient and not worth it.
A Look at the Facts
The amount of suns energy reaching the earth depends on where you live. If youre in a sunnier place, the solar power equipment will pay for itself faster. Less sunny places can still make use of solar power, however.
Installing solar power equipment may cost you, but the upkeep costs are negligible, compared to the cost of being connected to the grid and paying a monthly electric bill. The kind of equipment you need depends on how much electricity you need. If you need a lot of electricity, your initial cost of installation will be high, but of course, this will be offset by the high cost youre already paying for electricity off the grid.
Your solar power can be connected to the grid to pass on the extra electricity you are generating. This is known as net metering and adds to your credit. Connecting to the grid will cost you, depending on how far the grid lines are from your home.
Solar power becomes much more attractive when it combines with other solar technologies. A building with passive solar heating and water heating will require less electricity from your solar power source. Modern buildings, made with energy efficient materials will put less pressure on your solar power equipment. This in no way means that older buildings with poorer energy efficient materials cant use solar power. Solar power, once installed, will pay for itself within a reasonable time.
After considering the above, it all comes down to the worth of installing solar power. Is it only the monetary cost one should consider, or the total cost to the environment? It all comes down to how much you value the environment.
http://www.real-estate-magazine.com http://www.tech-tips-now.com
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