Posts Tagged ‘Solar Energy’


Installing Solar Panels – Information & Advice

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

The use of solar panels by homeowners has soared in recent years. The reason being that the technology has become much more efficient and much more affordable. Whereas once people wanted to help the environment but could not justify the costs involved, now they have no excuse not to use solar energy to power their home. The installation of solar panels is not as difficult as it you might think it to be. You can even do it yourself if you have a technical / electrical background, though, for the most part, it is easier and safer to call in a professional. The planning process, and finding the right solar panels to use, will take a couple of weeks, and the actual installation just a few days. Therefore, if you are really serious about powering your house with solar energy, then you can be doing just that within a month.

The most important decision you will need to make is what solar panels to use and how many of them to install. There are lots of brands and variations available, so this is not a decision to be rushed. The cheaper solar panels tend to be less capable of harnessing energy, and so you will need to buy lots of them to achieve the same amount of power as a few high range solar panels. You will be able to find precise details of all models of solar panels online, so you will have all the data you need to make relevant calculations. In a typical roof installation of solar panels, holes are drilled into the roof and mounts are bolted in. To keep the bolts properly aligned, you need to draw a carefully measured chalk line across the top of the rafters. The mounts should be secured with stainless steel lag bolts, and then have metal flashing placed over them. Metal rails must then be mounted using stainless steel bolts. Having done so, you can then install the solar panels on the metal rails.

For 95% of people, it is highly advisable to find an electrician to help with the installation of the solar panels. As well as being much safer, it can also work out to be cheaper, as you will have to buy various special cables and drills unless you already happen to have them. Bear in mind that this is beyond the scope of what most standard electricians normally do though. Finding one who has past experience of installing solar panels is the best course of action. Try not to be put off by the initial costs that you will face because solar panels are a good mid to long-term investment. You will probably recoup the money you outlay within 5 years as a result of the money that you will save on reduced electricity bills. After that 5 year period, you will then be making ‘real’ savings each and every month.


Solar Geyser Benefits

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Ever thought about taking a different approach to keeping the family’s electricity bill low? Seeing a sizeable decrease in your electricity bill amidst rising electricity costs in a wavering economy, is what will need to happen if South Africa’s households will want to retain the same quality of life they have been enjoying. Installing a solar geyser will greatly contribute to the reducing of your electricity bill as research shows up to 40% of household electricity use is attributed to geyser usage. It is easy to see then why a solar geyser is worth investing in.

What do you need to know about solar geysers and solar water heating? Well the most important being that it will save you money! Secondly, it saves electricity and conserves energy, so helps out the environment as well. If you are interested in the more technical side of things, a short explanation might suffice. Solar water heating is water heated by solar energy. A solar geyser system is composed of a solar thermal collector, a water storage tank and a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to the tank. There are two chief types of collectors. The first is a flat-plate collector that has a transparent cover made of especially toughened glass, a coated metal absorber plate and a well-insulated weatherproof casing. The second is a vacuum-tube consisting of a series of glass tubes that are connected together.

The geyser may be installed on top of the roof, granted that the structure can hold its weight. The solar water geyser can be linked to an existing geyser, or can completely replace it. Should it be necessary, the storage container can be placed elsewhere, for example inside the roof or even a cupboard but it is essential that the collector be positioned where sunlight can reach it.

If you are looking to invest in a solar geyser for your household, and need reliable and expert references to trustworthy suppliers of solar geysers, heat pumps and sealing insulation, look to www.ensav.co.za for dependable references.

ENSAV is a revolutionary lead-generating system for solar water heating and other energy conservation solution suppliers. ENSAV focuses on finding you multiple quotes from one enquiry, and they have a unique rating system to help you the enquirer find the best installer the first time.

ENSAV also has a valuable information source of news, movies and articles to inform you of the different types of possibilities and their pros and cons. With Eskom recently increasing the rebates for buying a solar geyser it is becoming much more profitable. There is also a big legal campaign to make solar water heater installation compulsory in all newly-built houses as well as for geyser replacements. Many insurance companies already cover a solar geyser as acceptable replacement for a faulty geyser.

Go to ENSAV today at www.ensav.co.za to experience it first-hand.

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A Simple Homemade Solar Power Generator- How To Create Solar Panels Cheap.

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Consumers similar to me and you are finding it more difficult to meet the daily living costs like gas and electricity which in turn is spurring demand for more affordable and safer alternative or renewable energies like solar energy generators and system alike. The very thought of using the suns energy as a source of energy for running your home appliances and business tools would have been scoffed at in the early years but with the growing trends in the global economy learning how to build a DIY homemade sun powered generator is not so bad.

Solar energy generators run on the same principles of a battery where energy is stored from the sun until it is required for use of your home appliances and office equipment like computers and photocopiers.

So if you are bearing in mind buying one of these solar power systems for your home then you should consider the costs involved. Buying a solar power kit from a supplier can be expensive and you also have to bear in mind the costs of maintenance and repair plus installation of the equipment. Return of investment of these systems really ahs to do with how much you spend a month on your energy bills and depending on how much you paid for your solar power generator it may require a couple of years to make your money back. If you have a big budget then no worries but if you want a quick return then you seriously need to consider learning how to build solar power panels.

To begin making your own solar panels you need a few bits and pieces that can be easily picked up at the hardware store and found around your household area. Plywood, Copper wire, Solar cells (be purchased cheap!), glass sheets and some timber boards to build a frame can be made into a solar power panel that can generate enough energy that can power your entire home and business.

Homemade solar energy reduces the power bills and protects the nature from depletion. There are many benefits in using homemade solar power. First it saves your money spent in buying costly equipments available in the market to generate electricity from solar power. You can produce the electric power required to run the electrical tools. You need not produce electricity in excess. As long as the sun is available we can generate as much electric power as possible. It is very easy to make homemade solar energy.

To make a generator at home we require to construct a solar panel. To sum up the above noted- the tools required include solar panel, Rechargeable lead or acid battery, Battery box, DC meter and Inverter.

Make sure that if you build a generator that you get a guide that can demonstrate to you the steps needed to create a DIY solar homemade power generator. Make sure this guide is clear and concise and shows you step by step how to assemble one from the ground up.


Finding Trusted Solar Geyser Suppliers

Monday, April 19th, 2010

We have all heard about global warming and the heated debates surrounding it. Living our lives in a country rich with natural resources, we sometimes struggle to see the effects of global warming in our personal lives. One way to change that is by having our pockets feel the punch. With electricity costs hitting the roof, and definite increases anticipated for the future, it has become economical to go green and save our environment while conserving our resources. What better way than saving electricity and money on solar geysers? It would seem as though the trend is fast catching on around South Africa as Eskom’s subsidies on solar geysers are allowing everyday South Africans to reap the benefits of solar water heating.

By cutting the amount of electricity used by a standard household, the end user benefits from cheaper electricity costs. A classic solar geyser has three major mechanisms, namely a solar collector, a transfer medium and a storage container. The solar collector absorbs solar radiation and conveys the energy, in the form of heat to the fluid contained in it. The fluid inside the solar collector is the transfer medium. As with conformist electric geysers the hot water storage container is thermally insulated to retain heat, whereas solar geysers are usually larger than electric geysers, and better insulated.

Solar water heaters can be attached to existing geysers, or it can entirely substitute them. Should the structure be strong enough to allow it, the system can be installed on top of a roof. The storage container may be kept elsewhere, such as a cupboard or inside the roof, but it is imperative that the collector be placed where sunlight can reach it. Geysers mounted on or in roofs are usually placed horizontally. For better thermal stratification they should be mounted vertically. The roof’s structure should be inspected to see whether it can maintain the weight of both the storage container and the collector.

When looking for trusted suppliers to buy solar geysers from, approach ENSAV, a company dedicated to assisting you in finding quality energy saving suppliers. They can put you in contact with trusted solar geyser and ceiling insulation suppliers, among others.

ENSAV is a unique lead-generating system for solar geyser and other energy saving solution suppliers. ENSAV focuses on finding you the client multiple quotes from one query, and they have a revolutionary ratings system to help you the client find the best supplier the first time around.

ENSAV also has a vast information portal of news, articles and videos to educate you the client on the different types of systems and their advantages and disadvantages. With Eskom recently doubling the rebates for installing a solar geyser it is becoming much more viable. There is also a big legislation drive to make solar geyser installation compulsory in all new buildings as well as replacements. Some insurance companies already cover a solar geyser installation as replacement for a busted geyser.

Visit ENSAV today at www.ensav.co.za.

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Easily Make Your Own DIY Solar Panels

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

The sun’s power is essentially the most plentiful type of power available on earth. The sun is capable of giving us more than heat and light. The sun has been one of the biggest elements dictating every living being’s stay on the earth. Indeed, the Earth receives more energy from the Sun in an hour than the human race uses in a year. If we go the proper way, by creating DIY solar panels, we will harness more from this solar power, like producing energy for every day use.

What are the benefits of solar power and DIY solar panels?

The solar energy solution is gaining popularity amongst the alternate energy solutions.

• Green power solution: When you look at the solar energy solution, you will notice that DIY solar panels and their resultant solar power uses completely no gas aside from the sun’s light. Moreover, it doesn’t release anything harmful into the atmosphere.

• Least expensive power solution: First, the energy from DIY solar panels comes free. Then, the set up price for you to make solar panels is a one-time cost. Lastly, the investment of DIY solar panels could be recovered within just a few years of installation, making the power generated by DIY solar panels absolutely free.

• Convenience of storage: You can’t store conventional power but you possibly can store solar power for future use. The sun’s energy comes to the rescue even in the times of darkness! Storing the solar energy harnessed by your DIY solar panels in good high quality batteries ensures a 24×7 provide of energy, thus saving you from any energy outage.

• Low on maintenance: solar power for homes systems are straightforward to maintain. DIY solar panels don’t result in excessive costs or an excessive amount of effort. This allows you to reap the benefits of the solution comfortably.

How can solar power from DIY solar panels be used?

Solar power can be utilized in our everyday lives by adopting the following solar energy systems:

• Solar cooking system: Solar cooking is about cooking without lighting a fireplace or using electrical energy! Before you wonder, let me tell you that solar cooking just isn’t about bland food. You may cook in more ways than one – boil, roast, or bake, prepare dinner the way you want! The one demand that solar cooking makes of you is being patient. Cooking in this manner could take quite a few minutes. Nonetheless, it’s not asking for too much given that you’re going to get tasty and wholesome meals without worrying about paying your gasoline or electricity bill. Your DIY solar panels just covered the coast for you!

• Solar lighting system: Now you can light up your entire house. You possibly can even use each electrical equipment without thinking about reducing down bills. The solar lighting system lights up your house even in the nights, due to the power storage function it has.

• Solar heating system: You’ll be able to keep your own home cozy and warm using a nicely designed solar thermal heating system, and you can do that with out worrying about any extra prices whatsover. Again, your DIY solar panels have taken care of all of your worries.


How Solar Power Can Save You Loads Of Money

Monday, March 29th, 2010

When you think of solar power for homes it is best to be thinking of heating and lighting for your home. Jumping into running your home completely on solar power can be overwhelming. We advise that you take small steps. Consider starting with one or two DIY solar panels to begin with.

Solar power is all about using the sun’s natural energy to supply electricity, heating, and more. When you use solar power you are using the planet’s abundant natural resources in ways that cause little or no harm. Therefore solar power is known as sustainable energy.

There are four completely different types of solar power for homes: passive solar, thermal solar, photovoltaic solar and thin film solar. Solar electricity is currently the mainstream choice for home improvement since photovoltaic prices have been driven down lately. This has lead to increased savings for solar power users.

Solar power for homes is one of the most reliable renewable energy sources available. It’s an excellent means for saving money. No surprise it’s rapidly becoming one of the top ways to conserve energy and go green.

There are some excellent manuals obtainable on-line that walk you through the method of constructing your very own solar panels, typically for as little as $200. Once installed, a DIY solar panel installation might possibly take over from the boiler’s job of heating hot water during daylight hours.

Your solar power usage could simply be allocated to account for the fridge, or the house lighting system. Either way, by installing your own home made solar panels, you’re a lot less dependent on fossil fuels to heat your water supply. Thereby, DIY solar panels are undoubtedly the way to go if you want to save money on energy bills and help the planet’s environment at the same time. They can be quickly installed and are extremely versatile. Many homeowners are already benefiting.

Some, for example, have converted to a solar heated pool to save even more energy every month. As another example, they will act as heat collectors in a solar thermal system producing scorching water for your home and heating.

Today, nicely-constructed DIY solar panels may be made to blend in with your house’s architecture with new, simple, yet elegant and efficient design.

Installing DIY solar panels for your residential solar power system offers you the opportunity to live your life independent of the national grid. It’s a great and easy way to make your own electricity and thereby scale back your electricity bills.

There are plenty of guides on the web to show you the way to install solar power for homes. Of course, the sooner your DIY solar panels and your overall solar power for homes system is in place, the sooner you’ll be able to get rid of those scary electricity bills.


Create A Greener Home

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

All the advances clothed in the sphere of environmentally friendly energy expertise, creating your own solar energy on behalf of your land of your birth is easier than constantly has been. A immature energy take in utilizes renewable wealth to provide electricity, passionate stream, roast and concord of mind. Which clothed in junction strength of character help you save on all your function overheads time about. Near are several ways to employ your natural energy land of your birth determined up and start saving on your overheads.

The quantity single is solar energy. Inside a natural energy land of your birth you can install solar passionate stream panels which heat and accumulate stream on behalf of expenditure and you can install solar panels, which expenditure photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. These can take place very costly especially while getting it installed by a specialist. But, near are many numerous channel dazed near with the aim of strength of character teach you how to set up it by hand on behalf of a tiny proportion of pardon? The cost would take place. If you are presently building your land of your birth, a substantial way to construct it a environmentally friendly energy land of your birth is to employ passive solar design by the side of particular stage clothed in construction. This channel taking benefit of south facing sides of the land of your birth on behalf of heating and cooling. By installing lots of highly efficient windows and roast retaining bricks and seed on your south facing areas, you are taking benefit of passive solar techniques to develop your immature energy land of your birth.

A additional addition to the immature energy land of your birth would take place a windmill. Windmills are used to generate electricity from the renewable resource wind. Windmills can take place installed on rooftops or else clothed in yards and offer pollution uncontrolled exciting. Windmills can take place purchased from retailers or else near are a extensive variety of reasonable kits to be had on behalf of the motivated do-it-yourselfers to run the implementation of their own immature energy land of your birth strategy. By liability the installation manually, you strength of character take place saving alot and strength of character additionally take place making your land of your birth a greener land of your birth and create uncontrolled energy with the aim of strength of character constantly take place at this point. The ultimate immature energy land of your birth would bring as one all of these wealth. By using wind, stream and solar to generate electricity you strength of character take place biting on the overheads on behalf of your utlities, but you strength of character additionally take place conserving our natural wealth on behalf of the imminent and strength of character take place making it a greener place while biting on total warming the same as well. To additional intermix passive solar design and solar passionate stream systems, you are dropping your energy needs massively and strength of character create a greener the makings on behalf of you and the opportunity on behalf of your children and theirs, and that….

A environmentally friendly energy land of your birth doesn’t require additional maintenance than traditional homes. In point of fact, clothed in several ways, a greener land of your birth requires a on sale amount of maintenance in that case traditional homes and if desired the maintenance would take place partly the cost. Solar technologies require modest to rebuff maintenance and wind and stream turbines require rebuff other than regular oiling on behalf of optimum performance. Near is rebuff better clock to create your immature energy land of your birth and start saving on your energy expenses.

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What Is Renewable Energy?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

When asked about alternative energy or renewable energy, most people think of solar electricity. Generating electricity from the sun is a technology that everyone knows well. Whether it is your pocket calculator, home, or workshop, regardless of your power needs, solar electricity can get the job done. Solar energy not only will get your energy when you need it, it will also create a greener world for everyone. Not to mention that it will help you on your costs of energy bills as well. Creating your own type of solar energy is the answer for almost everyone in todays economy.

Solar electricity has a number of unique advantages over conventional or grid-based electricity. Solar electric systems can be designed for a variety of applications and are extremely beneficial in remote areas where other electric opportunities do not exist. In addition, photovoltaic systems that generate solar electricity have no moving parts therefore requiring minimal maintenance, are easily expandable, and with many smaller units, transportable.

Environmental compatibility is a huge selling point for converting to solar electricity. The fuel for generating solar electricity is a free renewable resource, the sun. Solar electricity offers no noise pollution and actually almost no pollution from their operation. Another appealing factor for many who choose solar electricity over conventional electricity is simply the independence. It is an attractive offer to many rural dwellers to know that when the lights go out due to storms or blackouts, theirs are still working. No longer a slave to waiting on hold to report an outage to find it will be 10 hours before their service will be restored.

The hardest part of converting to solar electricity is the cost of the system. Investing in a solar energy system can be a substantial upfront cost. The value of solar electricity is realized over several years. A professionally installed solar array for an average dwelling (avg. $100/month in electric bills) could pay for itself in 5 years. You could reduce that number by building your own solar panel system or by purchasing a used system. With many solar energy systems in less rural areas and only in some states, you can sell your unused solar electricity back to the electric company. In these situations the return on your investment is realized much more quickly.

Using the power of sun with solar electricity is a benefit to the environment and to your home. Solar electricity is already being used to supplement power for a number of large cities in North America. By using solar energy to power your home, workshop, business, etc…, you will be conserving earths natural resources and creating a better future for you and your family. Start building your very own solar energy system now and you will be saving in no time at all. Conserve our natural resources.

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Letting Sunlight Energy Into Your Drinking Water And House

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Pv energy is a great resource that scientists have long explored as a means of providing energy to meet human wants. Thanks to progress in technologies, you will find now prototypes of different machines that operate on solar energy. These include pv driven cars, solar-heated homes, and solar-powered drinking water heaters. In fact, a lot of of these machines have gone over and above the prototype stage and are getting used in a lot of green houses throughout the planet, where their users are determined to help conserve the natural world by decreasing their reliance on fossil fuels.

There are lots of methods to harness the energy of the sunlight to permit our turbines to operate, our drinking water to be warmed, and our homes to be conditioned at just the right temperature. One such method may be the use of the solar panel, which you can often glimpse as a dark platform stuffed with glowing grids that glisten in the sun. This array of thermal collectors is linked to an unit that may run on solar power.

The capability of devices to run on solar power rests within the energy of the individual grids on a pv panel. Each grid, known as a photovoltaic cell or photovoltaic module, is arranged in a strategic array that’s meant to collect the most sunshine and use the consequent energy most efficiently. Such photovoltaic arrays are in wide use nowadays, and have enjoyed an upsurge in manufacturing as their manufacturing expenses have because diminished.

Photovoltaic cells use semiconductors to make use of sunshine and turn it into electricity. You can see such cells in your solar-powered calculator, emergency telephones on the roadside, and even in some large industrial complexes. With the reduce cost of maintaining and manufacturing pv panels, you are able to use pv energy to warm your water and provide insulation for the home.

If you are thinking about using solar energy to heat your drinking water and your house, you then may wish to get note from the subsequent suggestions. Remember, that even if using solar energy has decreased in price, it’s still fairly costly compared with other energy providing and making use of technologies.

- Usually inquire in as many solar energy panels providers as you can. Appear for the solar panel and heating bundle that can fit your needs and budget. Search for machinery that can allow you to warm drinking water, your home, and even power your cooking apparatus. If you are able to use solar power broadly in your house, then you are able to save money on your energy bills.

- Solar hot water systems can use the sun’s rays in different ways to heat different sources of water inside your house. You are able to have hot water via your faucet, as well as route lines to warm your children’s pool. Ask at your pv energy panels companies on what packages they’ve for drinking water heating, and if their apparatus can warm pools. Swimming pool water consists of various minerals, so it might require various modifications in conventional heating apparatus so that you can keep the minerals from precipitating out from the water.

There are lots of benefits of utilizing solar energy to heat your home and water. Using solar energy to power your heating system apparatus also entails that you simply emit much less air pollution in comparison with the use of other energy-generating techniques. Because electrical grids and gallons of fuel are hard to transport to faraway places, such as deserts and islands, solar panels can be cost effective and functional, especially because deserts and islands will often have sun all season. Pv panels are also much more practical for transports like boats or airline carriers, which need power with out having to transport gallons of fuel or carry large electronic grids.

Despite these benefits, solar power is still expensive compared with grid-based electricity. Present technologies for photovoltaic cells can also be restricted: you’ll require a greater number of photovoltaic cells in order to collect enough solar energy to drive larger applications. This could entail greater purchases and maintenance expenses. Much more photovoltaic cells also need a higher land area, which can be difficult should you stay in the suburban area, where lands are limited. Pv cells, furthermore, produce a direct electrical current, which must first be transformed to alternate current, or AC, a modify that outcomes in an energy loss of about four to twelve percent.

Pv power can still help conserve the natural environment, so if you are thinking of using it for your house and drinking water heating, do as a lot research as you can. Research and compare prices. Should you find a bundle that fits your needs and price range, then you can go ahead and help conserve Mother Earth.

Take a moment to go to these web sites: homemade turbine generator and how to make a solar panel for free

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Solar Water Heaters: Saving Your Money Utilizing A Solar Water Heater At Home

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Solar water heaters or, as they are likewise called, solar domestic hot water devices, can become a cost efficient way to produce hot water in your house. They are able to be implemented in virtually any local weather, plus the fuel that they utilize – sunlight – is cost-free.

The prospective benefits may possibly help sway you to the option of making the investment in a solar water heating product as a part of producing an environmentally friendly home, along with other more traditional means of reducing energy costs.

What They’re Made Of

Sunshine driven water heating systems consist of storage tanks and solar collectors. There are 2 sorts of these heating systems: active – which use circulating controls and pumps – and also passive heating devices, which don’t.

Passive heating systems are generally less pricey than active systems, but they’re commonly not as efficient. Still, passive systems can easily end up being extra dependable and may likely not wear out as quickly. Pertaining to active devices, you may want to discuss the upkeep requirements with your system provider and consult the system’s user guide.

Heading Down the Tank

The majority of water heaters which run on sun power require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks include an extra electric outlet and inlet attached to and from the collector. In 2-tank models, the solar heat tank preheats water just before it penetrates the regular water heater. In 1-tank designs, the backup heater is combined with the solar storage in a single tank.

Energy When the Sun Isn’t Out

Solar water heating devices practically always call for a backup device for dark days and times of greater need. Traditional storage water heaters typically supply backup and could be a portion of the solar heating system bundle.

A backup system may additionally be an element of the solar collector, like roof tanks with thermosyphon models. Because an integral-collector storage system already holds warm water as well as accumulating solar heat, it might possibly be grouped together with a backup water heater.

Up Front Issues to Consider

Prior to when you pay for and mount a solar driven water heating system, you need to look into the economics of solar energy devices, evaluate your home’s solar resource, determine the right system measurements and power efficiency, and then scan through your regional requirements and limitations.

The right assembly relies on your solar resources, weather factors, regional building code standards along with basic safety challenges. It’s best to hire a certified, solar energy systems contractor install your system.

Routine upkeep on simple devices can certainly end up being as infrequent as each 3–5 years, and if at all possible handled by a solar service provider. Models having electrical components typically demand a replacement part after 10 years.

The Payback

While you can find small difficulties with present solar water systems, the technological innovation is quickly improving. As a customer, these devices make for a sensible investment decision due to the fact the expenses will be recouped within a short period of time, therefore decreasing your energy payments.

Also, many government authorities provide rebates to individuals who invest in eco-friendly solar power products. As well as preserving funds with solar power and other measures to reduce energy costs, you are able to also be environmentally friendly by trimming back on your need for standard fuels.

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