Solar Panels – Cheap Alternative Energy

December 18, 2008 by greenenergy08

With the cost of fuel rising, most consumers are feeling the energy pinch. Even through times of brief respite in the price, we can be pretty sure that the lower prices won’t last. It should not be an excuse to stop searching for alternative energy sources however. If the government is taking to long to move the nation into alternative fuels, we can all do something ourselves to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Solar Panels, cheap alternative way to produce electricity for the home is one-step in the right direction of reducing our dependence on foreign fuels, that individuals can take on their own. Solar panels for the home that are used to produce electricity are also known as a photovoltaic panel. A photovoltaic panel is an assembly of interconnected photovoltaic cells or solar cells. Solar cells are a crystalline-based structure that is able to take sunlight and convert it into electricity. The more cells on a panel, the more electricity that can be produced. In order for the solar panels to be useful in practical applications of an alternative electrical source, they must be constructed in a certain way. The solar cells must be:
1) Electrically connected to each other as well as the rest of the system.
2) Protected from physical damage from situations such as hail, wind and snow, because some types of solar cells are brittle.
3) Protected from moisture such as rain and humidity so the metal contacts don’t get corroded, or the cells don’t form an oxide layer, which will decrease performance.
4) Electrically insulated, especially under rainy conditions.
5) Sturdily mounted.

Since sunlight is really made from a huge range of electromagnetic frequencies, solar cells only are able to convert a small percentage of sunlight into useable electricity. Solar cells can now be created to maximize their efficiency by using the different frequency ranges of sunlight, yet that would require an additional device to separate the different frequencies and shine them on the appropriate group of solar cells that are designed to specifically convert that frequency of sunlight. It is estimated that this technique would increase the efficiency of solar cells by 50%. Currently without this method, solar cell efficiencies are in the range of 5 to 19%, which is actually a higher efficiency than solar panels produced in earlier years. There are new processes being researched, which will concentrate the solar light to the photovoltaic modules and can raise the efficiency up to 30%. With today’s technology, the average solar panel can produce about 140 watts of electricity.
The benefit of using solar panels is that they create electricity from an unlimited resource, the Sun. When the Sun stops shining, not having electricity will be the least of your concerns. The traditional standard crystalline silicone solar cell modules have about a 25 year life span. Over 4 million of these modules were sold in 2007 alone.
Solar panels cheap provide a cheap alternative to energy in the long run because the power source is isn’t a fossil fuel and creates electricity from a renewable resource and the byproducts are not carbon dioxide, or other waste products that will damage or affect the environment. Old solar panels can be recycled so they don’t end up in landfills. It is easier now than ever to create a solar system for your home and reduce your energy costs needed to power your home.


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What do Solar Panels For The Home Mean To The Consumer?

December 6, 2008 by greenenergy08

Solar energy is a great renewable resource that is growing in popularity with the average consumer. As energy prices skyrocket and the average income stagnating, if not falling, consumers are looking for a way to reduce their costs of living in any area possible. The rise of renewable energy, and the desire to wean our society off of fossil fuels, makes using solar panels for the home a great alternative for power.

What is a solar panel?A solar panel is a packaged interconnected assembly of solar cells that are cased in a housing unit to protect the cells from the weather and from physical damage. A panel generates electricity which is then used to directly power devices in the home, or charge battery cells to store the power for nighttime use. A solar power kit typically includes solar panels, an inverter and interconnection wiring to connect the solar panel to the electrical system in the home. For those that want to live off the grid, batteries are included for continuous power during the day and night. The use of infrared solar cells also allows the homeowner to generate electricity at night, thus increasing the efficiency of solar panels.

There is a ton of information out there. Do research, find information and discover just how easy it is to run your home off of renewable energy. You can get most of the parts from your local hardware store to create your own renewable resource. Solar power kits and solar energy don’t have to be complicated.

Save on Home Energy Bills With Solar Panels For The Home

November 27, 2008 by greenenergy08
Neat review site in information products that help you reduce your energy bills by using solar energy. This site reviews 3 popular products that show you how to make your own alternative energy power!
clipped from solarpanelsforthehome.wetpaint.com

Solar Panels For The Home Review

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***2nd Place***

Click here to visit Make Natural Power At Home

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If you want to start saving money on your energy bill and help the environment at the same time then I highly recommend Earth4Energy. This is the absolute BEST DIY green energy guide available.
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What Can A Solar Power Kit Can Do For Your Home

November 26, 2008 by greenenergy08

Solar energy is one of those renewable and unending resources that we can use readily.  The sun doesn’t stop shining and the day it does we have bigger issues to worry about than not having this resources to power our laptops, that is if we are even still on the planet….

So why don’t more of us use solar power?  What can it do for us exactly?

Well most people think that solar power is too expensive to use, but it isn’t really!  Here are some of the things that some of the different solar kits out there can do…

Solar home lighting: A solar home lighting system converts solar energy into electrical energy for your home. This is done via cells that are charged with solar energy, usually by solar panels installed on the home. You can install a solar home lighting system in your house and not worry about the electricity bills anymore.

Solar heating system: Installing a solar heating system in your home helps cutting down your electricity bill along with saving the world’s quickly-exhausting power. If you are worried that a solar heating system will  be an expensive investment, your concerns are misplaced. Companies providing solar power solutions for homes make it a point to install aesthetically-pleasing and affordable heating systems in your home. As per as expenditure is concerned, investing in a solar heating system is wise because you get a return on your investment within 3-4 years, giving you absolutely free energy service after that.   So if you plan on being in your home for a while, a solar heating solution is the way to go.

And a more unique and specialized use for solar energy is….

Solar cooker: A solar cooker is a cooking appliance that uses absolutely no fuel or electricity for cooking. You can cook food for up to five people in the small box. If you are thinking that using a solar cooker will reduce your chances of having more than one dish for dinner, you will be surprised to know that you can not only boil food items in the cooker but also roast and bake! The only limitation with the solar cooker is the time it takes to cook. However, given the free source of energy it uses, this is a great option for cutting down those sky-rocketing bills and saving some power.

The above is a list of some of the things that a solar power kit can do for reducing the size of your utility bills.  You can actually make some of these things yourself for under $200 from you local hardware store!

This site reviews some of the different DIY off grid solar power systems, building a solar panel and solar panels for the home information products.