Since drilling an oil well in our backyard is out of the question, nuclear power is not going to be viable, the simplest way we can do this today is by utilizing the sun’s energy and installing solar power. If we use our own tools and perhaps even some spare parts we already have, we can make a difference at home.

How great would it be if we could transform our home into a generator of power rather than a user of power? It is possible to use solar power, capturing direct sunlight with a photovoltaic cell panel along with an inverter to produce our own electricity at home. There are some details to consider like how much sunlight we receive, and from which direction it lands on our home, but these are mere details. 

Can you imagine the difference we could make in the world if every individual homeowner that had sunlight raining down on their roof, placed a single solar panel down to trap the energy? The change it would mean to the world would be earth saving in its magnitude.

There is little doubt the world needs our help. Cities are sinking by gradual rising water, Animals are becoming extinct, glaciers are actually disappearing and this is all a result of our planet getting warmer. If we do not collectively and individually begin to take some serious measures to relieve the planet of the burden placed upon it by burning fossil fuel, we will all be sorry. Enough pontificating though since there are things we CAN do to help.

The sun is beginning to cause disruption on the planet but it can also be harnessed as a form of renewable energy, becoming our solution to global warming. With a bit of do it yourself ingenuity, some tools and some basic education about solar power installation and we will transform the sun into our own personal power source. Eventually you can begin to charge your own utility company for excess power you produce!

Instead of thinking big, think small and scalable. The chief obstacle to converting to solar power for many is the initial set up cost of an overall conversion. Until the idea gains in popularity, the costs will be on the high side – but do not let that stop you. For a small investment in a DIY solar kit and starting out with a very affordable single solar panel, you will be able to see for yourself what the excitement is all about. While installing one or two solar panels may seem a waste of time, it will get you started using the technology.
 
You will still be able to utilize this power source for small electrical devices or perhaps some outdoor lighting. At the same time, you will be learning about the solar power system and as you can afford it, the potential to scale up from a small array to an even larger on now becomes much easier to do.

By simply putting your thoughts toward change means, you can make it happen. With further creative thought, you will be able to come upon more ways to utilize your new source of renewable power. With just a small investment and some collective or individual will, we can begin to make a steady change in how we energize our home. This plan would make a great project for a family to employ as a fantastic learning experience together.

The result will be a cleaner environment, a better and cleaner example will be set for all who witness your unit in action and your children will have a new appreciation for your commitment to their future. Homemade power is as simple as a single solar power and an inverter. You will also have exclusivity on all the bragging rights!

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When one takes a bird’s eye view of the area, they will see thousands of residential rooftops covered in photovoltaic solar panels, providing energy to those major landmarks for which the region has become known. In the not too distant future, even Alcatraz Island, the infamous penal institute, will become part of the green craze with its own renewable power source.

A plan allowing owners of a home to make application for a loan from the city to take care of the installation of solar power units in their residences will be coming into effect. Loan repayment is a simple process of including reimbursement in an increase in property taxes. Doing this eliminates the largest hurdle most residential homeowners toward using solar power, the initial costs involved for set up. The cost can be significant – upwards of twenty thousand dollars – for an average house at current costs.

The “green” loans vary from a modest $5,000 to a ceiling of $50,000, or ten percent of their homes worth – whichever is less. The term of the loan is twenty years and is registered against the property and not the owner so when the property changes hands, the new homeowner takes charge of the loan. The squeeze needs to be placed on other cities and States to take the same strategy as San Francisco, displaying how the future of solar power should unfold for residential installations.

Until other locations take part in their own solar power promotions as San Francisco is doing, the realistic way to put solar power in place for everyone else is by considering the numerous models of solar power kits on the market. This means we could build our own solar power panels at a considerable price reduction over retail, for about a hundred dollars to build the first panel. These kits explain the design, construction, installation and hook up procedure providing the basis for a reliable source of renewable solar energy with the added advantage of inexpensive power!

Since it could be a long while until the remaining population is offered such a sweet deal to convert to solar energy, currently everyone can receive Alternative Energy rebates on any solar power or alternative power system installed by a homeowner on their property. This would certainly assist with the outlay for installation.

Another small benefit of using these solar power kits is the knowledge gained from instruction guides and video tutorials, not to mention the experience gained from actually doing the job, to promote their own green business. It is a viable opportunity for an entrepreneurial person to help others go green and make an income too.

As the population becomes more aware of the potential of solar power for residential use, there will be a demand for businesses knowledgeable in solar power installation. Thanks to innovative ideas like the City of San Francisco, eyes are being opened to solar power and the huge energy saving potential behind it.

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Let’s have a quick look at choosing the correct solar array for our particular solar power project.

How Do Solar Panels Function?

Solar panels operate via the photovoltaic response to sunlight; this is why they are usually called PV cells or panels. This photovoltaic process was first seen in the 1800s when a French researcher named Edmund Becquerel realized that as particles of light landed on specific materials, like silicon, a small electrical current was produced.

 Over time and some refining, this process evolved to the place it is at currently, and today’s solar cell panels are engineered to generate a considerable amount of power. The cells are linked with each other to make a solar panel and when a few of these are placed together you have a solar array that can produce meaningful amounts of solar power to charge your home and devices.

What Kind Of Solar Panels Are Available?

There are three main types of solar panels on the market for commercial use – monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.

Each of these has its own benefits and shortfalls. Monocrystalline cells are designed from single crystal silicon and have the highest efficiency ratio per panel – they are also the most costly variety. Polycrystalline cells are made with particles of single crystal silicon and are less costly than the mono type, however, they are not as efficient. Amorphous cells or thin film cells are produced by introducing non-crystalline silicon on to a surface like plastic or metal. This kind is the least expensive and also the least efficient.

What Type Of Solar Panel Should I Purchase?

You should consider several points when choosing the right solar panel for your needs. Much is based upon your bank account size and the dimensions of the solar power unit you want to install for your electricity requirements. Another factor to consider is how much available space you have to affix the panels.
 
Though you might have two solar panels the same size, the power they generate may be quite different. This depends on their age, their type, and the quality of the solar cells utilized when they were engineered and built. Newer solar panels could be the same as the older model panels, but because of technical advancements, will quite likely be more efficient.

The thin film kind of panel – the amorphous type – remain the least expensive option on the market but because of their known inefficiency, more will be required to generate your electricity needs and this means you will need to utilize more of your space to install them which could be a logistical issue.

Therefore, the smartest principle to exercise when purchasing solar panels is to measure cost per watt and for your best value, you should be paying about four dollars per watt. Therefore, for one hundred watts of power [buying a 100 watt module – or panel] you will pay four hundred dollars, or somewhere in that vicinity would be fair.

Conversely, if you have no problem finding the space to install your system, your better option would be to buy solar panels utilizing the older technologies if the price is less and they still satisfy your requirements. They do the job just fine and save you money though they require more space.

Because the solar panels are the costliest portion of your photovoltaic system, its significant to understand what it is you are paying for and how much it is going to cost you. With any fortune, you are now in a better position to buy solar panels now, then you were before reading this article and you have the confidence to buy the right solar equipment.

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Managing Toxicity

Over the past few years, much has been mentioned in the media discussing the hypothesis that production of photovoltaic [PV] solar panels is quite toxic to the environment. This conclusion is drawn due to the fact that some serious chemicals are utilized in the development of these PV panels. Certain ones have even being cited as toxic by the US environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for employee safety when working with hazardous chemicals and holds this responsibility very highly. They regulate the disposal of chemicals used in the production process, making sure they are handled in a way that is not a safety concern or a loss to the environment.

The accusations and assertions have been carefully examined at the federal level by groups like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, who concluded that the producers of PVs have reduced the risk associated to the environment. By putting in place, tough scrutinizing procedures of the processes the manufacturing industries are doing a good job following the standards. At the same time, most PV producers are working in far more efficient manners, recycling and reusing from their own PV production processes.

The End Result

When we study the impact on the environment from renewable energy production, we need to assess not just the manufacturing procedures but also the end results to the environment over the long term life of any particular source of energy. Put side by side with traditional energy supplies, like coal and nuclear, the impact to the environment of photovoltaic equipment is rather nominal to nearly nonexistent. PV technologies come out triumphant in the end.

Toxic By Tradition

Traditional sources of power generate a variety of toxic waste and in differing amounts. Power facilities fire coal and other kinds of fossil fuels that contaminate our air supply in a big way and this occurs for the life of the power plant. Pains have been taken to lessen the damage done by burning these fuels but the problem persists. When fuels are burned for power the contaminants produced include carbon dioxide – big trouble for global climate change – sulfur dioxide – responsible for acid rain – particulates – these harm the lungs. There are metals like mercury, arsenic, lead that can lead to brain damage and birth deficiencies and nitrogen oxide that is responsible for smog.

Nuclear power facilities generate waste and no matter what we spend to eradicate this waste, billions upon billions of dollars, there is still no safe way of ridding the planet from this threatening leftover waste material.

Solar Power Means No Toxicity

In contrast, the photovoltaic solar panels do not utilize fossil fuel; there are no toxic emissions and no harmful waste that could wipe out whole regions and populations. PVs generate clean and eco-friendly power without major noise pollution or moving pieces and they do so for two or three decades. The energy required to make the PVs is recoverable in only several years, PV production costs are pretty much cancel out. Because the PV panels have a life span of operational efficiency of from twenty five to thirty years, they will be generating power long after they have paid for themselves.

No question that this is one myth that has been busted, as it is obvious from the facts that solar is by far the winner.

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The public is becoming more aware of their choices available and the methods of reducing their personal environmental “footprint”. It also helps that they are able to reduce their monthly housing expenditure by using solar power systems in their new homes while amortizing the cost into their mortgages. The opportunity becomes even more enchanting to new homebuyers when the costs are not directly paid out of liquid capital.

Solar power popularity is increasing as the overall costs of owning it continue their gradual decline and this should interest many people. From the architect who sketches home plans straight down to the single sub tradesman working on site and about everyone associated with a building project between the two.

Therefore, it is because of this increasing recognition of solar power units that anyone with a vested interest in solar power may want to seek out a training class or school that can educate about the installation and performance of solar power systems in homes or businesses under construction. The training would be exceptional for anyone with even a modest involvement in the building trade.

The knowledge acquired by an architect or construction company would be very helpful in assisting clients to make a decision as well as solidifying a working relationship with them. It will give you a competitive advantage over your peers in the business and offer these construction businesses a specialty they can promote and a certification to go with it. Clients will be impressed with your knowledge and likely refer more business your way.

The popularity of solar power as an alternate source of power in new and even existing homes means there may well be a scarcity of professionals trained in this field. In many cases, future homeowners will educate themselves by doing research on their own putting the contractors at an embarrassing disadvantage when speaking with clients.

Real estate agents specifically should take some type of training about solar power technologies as they pertain to new and existing home solar implementation. Being knowledgeable about all facets of a home’s construction should go without saying so being trained about the various solar units available and the savings potential will become increasingly necessary.

If you are currently a home owner or plan to purchase a home at some point in the future, learning all you can about solar power options and how they work would be beneficial. If you are a handy kind of person, learning about the details of installation by a professional can only be a good thing. The expenditure for a solar power unit for your home will not be inexpensive, so learn as much as you can by taking a class or seminar about the products available.

There is little doubt that with advances made in solar power technology for domestic use or at a place of business, more people will be choosing the solar power option. As the units become more efficient and manageable we will begin to see a major growth in this industry and anyone with a vested interest in building and development should start increasing their knowledge base now.

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A report published by intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007, confirmed that less than 55 percent of Netherlands is below sea level. The previous figure included land that was above sea level but possibly prone to flooding.

However, United Nation, reaffirms these minor errors in the 2007 report of roughly 3,000 words will not influence the conclusion of the study which is that fossil fuel is causing global warming. The information of sea level was background data, which does not affect the overall findings and examinations in the report.

The UN report IPCC is the main guide that governments use to establish solid polices and projects to address global warming. There is doubt that over-reliance on some reports may be deceitful. However, the panel says that the sentence written as follows, “The Netherlands is an example of a country highly susceptible to both sea level rise and river flooding because 55 percent of its territory is below sea level.” Yet the sentence should have ended ‘because 55 percent of the Netherlands is at risk of flooding” which was not the case.

The key source for this inconsistency was the Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency. In February 2010, they announced that 26 percent of land is below sea level and as much as 29 percent is vulnerable to flooding.

IPCC confirmed that errors were widespread; the European Commission was uncertain and proposed 50% while the Dutch Ministry of Transport that proposed 60% of the country was below sea level. UN does also apologize for overstating the speed at which Himalayan glaciers were melting and that the glaciers could all be gone by 2035.

The fact remains primordial that fossil fuel is alarmingly leading to global warming. The ramifications might not be as gloomy as the report projected but unless renewable energy grows in supply, the risk is still prevalent.

Source: Reuters

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Some say that wind turbines are an eyesore and others say that they are unsightly. Yet, some claim that it can have negative consequences on health. It sounds quite obscure. Even a particular illness has been coined to its raising debates being ‘Wind Turbine Syndrome”.

“As neighbors of the wind turbines, we find ourselves in the midst of an unexpected, unwanted life crisis. When GE flipped the switch and the turbines began to turn, island life as we knew it evaporated.” Written by Sally Wylie

Physicians even approve the fact that wind turbine syndrome isn’t just a rhetoric. Dr. Nina Pierpont, author of the book Wind Turbine Syndrome, clearly defines a list of possible related illnesses that can be experienced when living near wind turbines. The Wind Turbine Syndrome is in now a clinical name given. Not all people living near wind turbines are affected by industrial wind turbines. The list of possible health problems are headaches, nausea, anxiety, irritability, anger, insomnia (problem to sleep), eye problem, exhaustion, memory loss, ringing in ear (tinnitus) as well as cognitive difficulties to assimilate due to lack of capacity to concentrate.

Wind Turbine acts as an ecologically positive step. However, there is a health issue to be addressed as wind plants come near to our habitual life, near schools and homes.

American Wind Energy Association refutes all these claims by their own in-depth research. It is a research that has been made public by a wide pool of expert medical doctors from around the world. Yet, subjectivity is expressed amidst oppositions. Therefore, the Canadian Wind Energy Association decided to re-gather these very same doctors responsible for the research. The experts were from diverse fields ranging from audiologists to acoustical professionals coming from Britain, Canada, Denmark and U.S. The final word on the say was that ‘annoyance is not a pathological entity.”

Based on the research, most of the people living close to wind turbines in Europe and North America don’t complain. Yet, 20 % of all complaints about wind turbines are associated with noise concern.

Dr. Robert J. McCunney from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and part of the panel declared that there isn’t any solid proof saying that audio-vibration produced has an immediate effect on the psychology of humans.

The question that rises is ‘How Loud is Too Loud”, in medical terms the low frequency emitted by wind turbine can actually be calculated. In theory they have an impact but what is the impact is a subjective research. Read further on “how loud is Too Lound”.

The debate on wind Turbine Syndrome is going to continue for long-time. Wind energy will till then constantly expand throughout the world as renewable energy becomes the sole resort for sustainable development and threatening climate change.

1. Wind Turbine Syndrome Nina Pierpont’s Research
2. Health Impact Of Wind Turbines Debate Continues

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 When the price of a gallon of petroleum rose to over four dollars, it seemed to be a benchmark that caused rationality to come back into play and people stopped buying the gas guzzlers. Nevertheless, crude is going for fifty percent of what it had been at so are we excited about alternate forms of energy now. The information available shows that the association will carry on.

The energy indexes that track renewable energy stocks globally rose thirty six percent from the beginning of April to the end of June, far outdoing the fifteen percent improvement on the S&P 500, based on data revealed recently by New Energy Finance, a research group based in the UK.

The cost of oil rose more than twice as much from February to late June and hit a record high of $70.00 per barrel. Certain experts are forecasting an economic about face that could start prior to the end of the year. This is due to stronger banking institutions and a healthier housing sector. That would bring an increased call for oil and probably a tighter source of supply.

The NEF data placed responsibility for the upswing in the energy indexes to the reduced oil costs of last winter and an optimistic outlook from billions being poured into stimulus programs internationally as well as green revolution plans globally. These will stimulate sales and produce high yields for the renewable energy sector for the next few years.

The turnaround belies the NEX indexes production during the most difficult of economies in generations. The first quarter of ’09 saw the index recede by nine percentage points and the last quarter of ’08, it dropped thirty six points. Over the course of the whole year of 2008, it fell sixty on percent.

The elevated price of oil has sparked investor interest I the clean power stocks but this was not the only contributing issue. Some major countries economies dedicated $162 billion to renewable energy stimulus agendas since last fall.

The unconventional energy industry was knocked around more by a poor economy than from a reduction in oil costs. Stimulus financing has aided in persuading some investors to move forward but there are hurdles to overcome. Quite a few companies are bleeding money, so any tax credits have little impact. However, investment may come down the road as the government shifts to green energy away from conventional energy sources. They see a future in low carbon energy production.

The US administration needs to execute a tax on oil and petroleum now when the cost is relatively small so they can carry alternative energy supplies and transportation systems. When the cost rises, the taxes could be repealed. 

If people could understand the connection between the new tax and the benefits they got in transportation systems that were advantageous to them perhaps, folks could be persuaded to live with a new tax. When money is spent overseas on energy supplies, it is dollars not being spent within the national economy and on occasion, this money only makes our enemies more powerful. Changes will require some time but they need to be unscathed by the to and fro of the market.

Federal governments internationally are becoming vital partners in the realm of renewables and the stimulus packages are acting as a lifeline to maintain some semblance of stability in the economy and markets. The credit market is returning, albeit slowly, but it is still more impactful than the cost of oil. The industry is strong due to some very capable technologies that are becoming available and they only need to be able to get there projects funded.

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Marine solar panels can be a critical tool for an avid boater or sailor to utilize. They must acquire the knowledge necessary to install the solar panels, and also investigate which solar panels are their best options. There are three varieties of solar cells that are most often use; each brings its own benefits. The boater needs to understand these benefits and choose the proper solar panels that suit their needs.

Solar Panel Varieties.

You must avoid shading of your solar panels; shaded cells will pull energy from other cells for themselves.

• If a solar panel is using monocrystalline cells, it will have a high rate of efficiency, it will occupy less room, but it will not have any shade defense.
• Solar panels, which use polycrystalline cells come with even greater efficiency ratings, will use still less room, but also require a shade defense.
• A solar panel, which utilizes amorphous silicon cells does not have very good efficiency ratings, they use more room, but they do offer more shade protection. On a sail boat, this becomes a critical factor.

Marine solar panels can be purchased in a flexible variety or hard model. You can attach the hard model directly to your deck; the flexible panels can be connected to either the deck or to canvass.

Choosing The Size And Quantity Of Your Solar Panels

When you install your new Marine solar panels, you will be asked to make calculations to choose a size and the number of solar panels that you may require. You can easily locate this kind of information over the Internet by searching the following phrase – which size solar panels, should I install – and you will receive multiple returns from your question. Generally, you should allow for about 20% more solar panel energy than what you think you will actually require.

Properly Placing Your Solar Panels

Now that you know how many solar panels you will require, you will have a better idea of where you will place them since your options will be limited. The ideal location depends on how your boat is designed and how large your solar panels are. Now is the time to review your installation instructions that came with the solar panels. Read the information carefully so you are sure you will not be violating any of the terms of your warranty when installing your new solar panels.

The easy answer to installing your solar panels is to make sure they are in the sunlight. The installed location should have maximum sun exposure with as little shade as possible.

The stability of your solar panels is important so you may want to consider adding extra bracing to ensure the panels are secure.

Installing Your Marine Solar Panels

Your new Marine solar panels come with detailed installation guidelines. Follow these closely, and also consider the information that follows.

The majority of marine solar panels will have three primary parts:

• The solar panels, which will capture the sunlight and generate electricity for you.
• It will also have what is referred to as the charge controller, its main function is to maintain the power going into the battery to make sure it does not overcharge it.
• There will also be batteries to store the power that your solar panels will be producing.

When your new marine solar panels have energized the batteries, this power can be utilized to operate many of your 12 V DC devices and equipment. This could be your lighting for safety purposes, any ordinary lighting for rooms and on deck etc., any pumps, and food preparation devices – generally small appliances. When you include an inverter, you will be able to operate 120 V, AC bits of equipment like your microwave oven, satellite communication, entertainment systems, radios, etc.

Your inverter is a self-contained unit that will change the electricity current discharged by the battery that you will need to operate most of your onboard domestic devices. You should see if your system has a voltmeter and if it does not, then you need to buy one and get it installed. Your voltmeter let’s you monitor your charge for optimum use.

Once your solar panels are properly connected and secured, it is time to hook them up following your instructions that came with your kit, carefully. Be sure, you only use marine grade quality wire cables to connect the panels to your batteries. Please be sure to investigate the wiring you’ll be using to make sure it’s the right kind, do not be afraid to ask questions. Were you to use ordinary automotive cabling, it might look the same, but conditions on the water can be harsh, and they will lose their capacity as a conduit for the electricity to flow.

A Useful Pointer:

If possible, purchase a prepackaged Marine Solar Power Kit, as this will make your installation process that much easier.

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How Is Solar Energy Calculated?

Solar energy is a mix of the number of hours of direct sunlight as well as the strength you could count on beaming at your location. This mix is referred to as insolation and is the average irradiated density calculated in kilowatt hours in a given square meter per day. As an example, the solar radiated density level of 1000 watts per square meter is an expected quantity for high noon in the heart of summertime when the sun is at its pinnacle of energy irradiation. Measuring solar irradiance on kilowatts per square meter daily basis if the sun remained brilliant and at its peak for an eight hour period, the solar radiant density would be 8.0.

Solar irradiance or density levels will fluctuate widely over the course of a year, particularly in more northern locations. For example, New York City is 6.0 in the month of June but merely 1.7 in the month of December calculating out as an annual average of 4.0. Therefore, you know that solar energy levels are seventy percent less in the initial winter month of December than it will be when June rolls around. When evaluated against Phoenix with a solar irradiant level of 7.8 in June and only 3.0 in December which averages out to 5.5 annually.

If your solar power unit is an off grid model it will be necessary to attain a capacity over 2.3 to 3 time than average June numbers would indicate. If all of these equations and solar lingo is confounding you, the internet has the standards for all locations available for you. This is courtesy of NASAs weather satellites, which have been collecting this data for a good number of years.

Using Irradiance Calculations To Design Your Solar Power Unit

Once we understand how many kilowatts are necessary to satisfy the electrical needs of your residence, we can evaluate which sized system we will need. With a grid tied system, it is fine to use your average annual irradiance for calculating and you want to have a goal of paying zero dollars to your utility provider for the entire year. If you want an off grid unit, you must use the irradiance calculation for December as the yearly power requirement must be adequate.

Divide the daily electricity required by the irradiant density level calculation and your total will be the quantity of kilowatt production your solar unit must be able to generate. Therefore, if your home is in Phoenix and you need six hundred kilowatts each month or twenty kilowatts daily, you have to produce roughly thirty six hundred watts per hour getting full sunlight. Solar cell panels give the number of watts of power of combined generation using the standard one thousand watts per square meter; you divide thirty six hundred watts by the production of your panels to total the number of solar panels you will require for your solar unit. Using this previous example, if the solar cell panel rating is set at one hundred fifty watts, you are going to require twenty four panels.

Remember that just like making a final cut to a piece of wood – calculate twice and buy once.

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