Solar Power Cost

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:28:59 +0000

So what does Solar Power Cost exactly?

Well, maybe a better question we should be asking ourselves is, what will it cost us if we do not invest in Solar Power. With the effects of Global Warming, pollution from cars, and waste generated from power plants, we are effectively killing our most precious resource. If we do not begin to change the way we create and use energy, we will no longer have a livable earth to make our homes on. We will be handing down a diseased planet not worth living on to our children, where there will be no clean water to swim in, fresh non polluted air to breathe, or nutritious produce to consume. It is time to join a movement that is continually gaining momentum and will continue to do so. However it needs your help, and all that’s asked of you is to save money while saving the earth. Not a very difficult decision is it?

There are so many reasons to install solar power to your home that it makes no sense not to anymore. More benefits are being discovered everyday. For instance the solar power cost of a residential home is dramatically reduced due to the fact that after the initial investment of installing solar panels, the energy created is 100% free. Older methods of energy creation that pollute the atmosphere like coal and nuclear technology are rising sharply in price and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Did you know you can even sell the solar energy to the utility company’s even furthering your savings. Not to mention the positive effects on the earth that come with not needing to use negative forms of generating energy. Solar panels are 100% environmentally friendly, no pollution at all, zilch, Nada, nothing!

Fortunately we are able to utilize solar power in easier and cheaper ways due to advancements in technology and techniques used to create more energy efficient, cheaper, and better looking solar panels. Luckily there are extremely easy ways to lower Solar Power Cost, and also have some fun by making solar panels yourself. Doing it this way can drastically lower the amount of money you’ll spend on your initial investment. I highly recommend trying it out, just be careful when purchasing a kit, they are not all created equal. If you would like more information please visit Solar Power Cost to check out a kit I have personally hand picked and know works great.

This site is dedicated to helping everyday people move towards creating there own self sufficient renewable and cost effective solar electricity. For those of you who think that implementing solar energy into your household is to expensive or that you would like to but have no idea of how to go about it, well then you have come to the right place. It is our hope that we will be able to teach you about Solar Power Cost and the savings it will pass on to you.

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Alright, So Why Do We Need To Switch To Alternative Sources Of Energy Anyways?

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:07:59 +0000

Used with creative commons attribution license from petter palander

So this is really a valid question, and I think it’s something we should be thinking about. Everyday there is something new about emerging alternative sources of energy. We all know it’s important, but that’s really because we are told it’s important by the mass media and by other people. But what is really the major reasons? Why is alternative energy important is what I’d really like to get down to. Is it because of monetary issues? Environment? Social responsibility? All of these are major reasons and we’ll be getting into these, but the fact that these are not the most important might surprise you. Read on to learn the #1 reason why we have to switch to alternative sources of energy, or our lives as we know them will simply cease to exist. So lets start with monetary issues.

Alternative Energy vs Traditional Energy

Are alternative energies cheaper than traditional power generation through the means of fossil fuels? Well, not at the moment. Really it’s not, as far as buying solar or wind energy from your local power company. Now I know what you’re saying right now, “what about alternative home energy installations,” okay, yes these in the long run will end up saving you quite a bit, but as far as buying energy as opposed to creating it, at the moment it is more expensive. This gap is closing at an exponential rate however, because of,

1. Better alternative energy technology.
2. Cheaper production methods.
3. Larger alternative energy project installation’s.
4. Drastic increases in the prices for fossil fuel due to scarcity, and the difficulty of obtaining it. I.e. the BP disaster.

So because of these reasons among others alternative sources of energy will be in the very near future, monetarily viable.

Next lets take a look at the environment. Anybody who tells you not to worry about traditional energy generation and that alternative sources of energy are unneeded is blowing smoke up your a$$. The dollar signs are there for more than one reason, THEY ARE LYING TO YOU TO LINE THEIR OWN POCKET. Either that or they are misinformed by propaganda from the the billionaire’s that are selling them their product. C’mon, really, you want to try to tell me that burning coal has no effect on the environment, or drilling for oil doesn’t totally f$$$ up our coasts. Really, do I need to even write about this? Fossil fuels are horrible for the environment, not just utilizing them for energy, but in the collection and manufacturing processes as well. Alternative sources of energy are clean, renewable, and safe. Fossil fuels are not! When it comes to alternative energy vs traditional energy there’s no contest to what’s better for the environment. It’s as simple as that. Now don’t get me wrong, I use fossil fuels, albeit a lot less than the average American. I enjoy my cushy live with all my entertainment, and comforts. However if there are better and safer ways to create my creature comforts I want that, don’t you?

So now lets take a look at social responsibility. Is there any? Are we as “individual, intelligent people” living on earth responsible for our actions? Well, who’s to say really. That’s part of being an individual with intelligence. We make our own choices, the government, your religion, your kids, your best friend, your parents can tell you how to act and whats right or wrong. But in the end it’s up to you, really it is. So what do I think? Hell yeah we’re responsible for our “own” actions, it’s the ripple effect. Everything you do has cause and effect. This is not only the way I was brought up, it’s also the philosophy I live by. My parents instilled this in me, however it was me who made the decision to accept this as part of my life, and to hold myself responsible for my own actions. What do you think? Are you socially responsible to demand whats right, by standing up and saying “hey, we need alternative energies!” because it’s right!

Alright, we have now come to the number one reason why we need to find and cultivate alternative sources of energy. It’s simple really, we’re running out of fossil fuels, fast. Do you know how long it takes for mother nature to make oil, or coal? A really long long time. Like, longer than humans have walked the earth. Since we have started using fossil fuels for energy, which has not been long mind you. We have devastated the earths supply. Some experts think we have “burned” through half of the earths fossil fuels since we started using them!

So lets take a logical look at this,

Fossil fuels take millions of years to make
Humans use all of them in 300 years give or take
What does this equal?

We are screwed if we do not do switch to alternative energy systems fast. That’s all there is to it. Our society, our way of life, is energy. We are consumers of energy just like every organism on earth. However we use it, need it, not just to survive but to thrive as a modern species, and there is no reason why we cannot adapt to new ways to support our energy needs. We just need to stop pushing this under the carpet thinking somebody else will fix it, and accept that we have a problem. We all have a part in this drama, a responsiblity to help out where we can. Can we do it? Of course we can. Will we do it? It’s not like we really have a choice do we.

Technorati Tags: alternative energies, alternative energy project, alternative energy systems, alternative energy technology, Alternative Energy vs Traditional Energy, alternative home energy, Alternative Sources Of Energy, Why is alternative energy important

California Solar Power in Full Effect Ya’ll

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:04:35 +0000

Used with creative commons attribution license from clownfish

Way to go California! It seems San Jose has reached first place with reidential solar power systems and commercial installations, along with several other California city’s close at it’s heel. California solar power is on the rise and hopefully will not be slowing in the future.

Several years ago California adopted a state plan called the California Solar Initiative. The program encourages homeowners, business’s, non-profits, and local government to install solar panels on roofs and surrounding areas. The goal of the initiative is to have 1,750 new megawatts of solar energy installed in the state by 2016. So far there has been 726 megawatts of solar energy installed or are in pipeline taking care of 42% of the initiative.

According to new data, since Jan. 1, 2007, to July 7, 2010, San Jose installed 14.9 megawatts of solar power on residential and commercial roofs, followed by San Diego with 11.3 MW and Fresno with 9.2 MW, according to an annual report released by the California Public Utilities Commission last week.

This came as no surprise to San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, who was quoted as saying in the Mercury News “I’m not surprised that we’re high up the list,” Reed said Wednesday. “We’ve got some major solar installations in the city — including at eBay, Cypress Semiconductor and the San Jose Unified and East Side Union High School districts.”

San Jose is blessed by an average of 300 sunny days a year and is a perfect candidate for Mayor Chuck Reeds vision of a “green city.” The mayor’s platform has been has leaned heavy on green initiatives and renewable energies. The Mayor has also had solar panels installed on his own home.

San Jose is in the number one slot for now but as far as solar energy projects in the pipeline San Diego is first with an astounding 25.1 megawatt pending installation, followed by San Jose with 17.9 and Lancaster with 16 MW.

Advantages and disadvantages solar power

The advantages are that solar power is clean and renewable. So what are the disadvantages of solar power? Well for now solar power is still at a premium. The goal of the California Solar Initiative is to help reach “grid parity” which is the point where solar energy is able to compete with less costly energy production methods like coal and natural gas. The more solar power systems America installs the less solar power cost is involved.

What do you think of California Solar Power and the states initiative?

California solar initiative top 10 cities
1. San Jose “” 14.9 megawatts
2. San Diego “” 11.3 MW
3. Fresno “” 9.2 MW
4. Bakersfield “” 6.3 MW
5. Santa Rosa “” 4.9 MW
6. San Francisco “” 4.4 MW
7. Chico “” 4.4 MW
8. Richmond “” 4.3 MW
9. Visalia “” 4.1 MW
10. Livermore “” 4.1 MW

Source: California Public Utilities Commission. California Solar Initiative statistics can be found at www.californiasolarstatics.ca.gov.

Technorati Tags: Advantages and disadvantages solar power, California solar power, reidential solar power systems, Solar Power Cost

Solar Power Airplane Takes Flight

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:18:11 +0000

Solar power efficiency has in the past been a major hurtle for the industry. There are so many things we could use solar energy for that for the moment we are just not capable of generating enough power for. However one hurtle has just been flown over.

That’s right flown over, man has gained much from flight. It is something that has always captivated us. To be able to break free of our terrestrial shackles and defy gravity. It’s a wondrous thing and because of it we are able to visit tropical paradises, bring aid to desperate people in need of help, and export and import goods from all over the world.

So what does solar power have to do with this? All right I’ll get to the point. The first ever solar powered night flight was successfully concluded on July 7, 2010 by André Borschberg a Swiss Air Force fighter pilot. The Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered airplane was in the air for 26 hours and was powered only by solar power and battery backup system. The Solar Impulse is equipped with panels containing solar power cells that convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The plane flew to 28,000 ft. above sea level and flew at an average of 23 knots, or about 26 MPH, okay so it’s not blindingly fast but this is the longest and highest flight in solar aviation and has monumental significance for solar and wind power and what we can apply it to.

For one, this means that theoretically the plane could stay aloft indefinitely recharging it’s batteries during the day and using it’s stored power throughout the night. The Associated Press quoted the projects co-founder Dr. Bertrand Piccard as saying.“We are on the verge of the perpetual flight.”

This to me is awe inspiring, now we still have a long way to go before we’re seeing solar powered 747’s but this is a huge step for mankind.

Technorati Tags: solar power and battery backup system, solar power cells, Solar power efficiency

RV Solar Power

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:08:20 +0000

Here’s a form of solar energy you might not be thinking of. It’s perfect for those of you who like to jump in an RV and travel across the plains, the wind blowing in your hair as the road drifts by underneath you. Today we’ll talk about RV solar power!

So your hauling down route 66 and you and your family decide to stop for a night at a nearby campground. Only problem is your out in the boonies and this particular campground does not offer electricity, so what are you to do? You could move on down to the next stop, but your tired from driving all day and you just want to relax. That is why you bought your RV in the first place right? Well if you have RV solar power you sir are in luck!

Used with creative commons permission from Sideshow Bruce.

RV solar power kits are able to charge your RV while the sun is out. As long as the sun is out, it’s cheap, reliable, and efficient. An RV solar power kit will include a solar panel, charge controller, RV mount, and cables.

Now if your looking for an RV solar power kit you’ll want to be aware of several factors.

First of all there’s cost. Solar power for RV kits can range from $200 to well over $1000. You’ll have to take a look at al the other factors to see just how expensive of a solar power kit you’ll actually need.
Secondly, how much solar power needed for RV. You don’t need the biggest baddest RV solar power kit available. Try to narrow down how much power you’ll actually need.
Easy Installation. This is a big one, your not going to want to get a super complicated system if you plan on installing it yourself, nor should you need to.
AC/DC. Most RV’s run on DC. This is great because solar panels generate DC, which on a house will have to be inverted to AC in order for you to use it. This means that no conversion is needed for your RV to utilize the energy. However just to be on the safe side, make sure your RV does in fact run off of DC.
You should also plan on getting an RV solar power system that has a charge controller, this will stop the battery’s from being overcharged which is a big no-no.

RV solar power kits are a good investment for several reasons. They allow you to have power in areas where there are no electricity, they are better for the environment as you are using clean and renewable energy, plus in the long run the kits will pay for themselves.

Technorati Tags: how much solar power needed for rv, rv solar power, rv solar power kits, rv solar power system

Solar Power Cost News : Corporate Entities and Solar Hippy Energy

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:30:13 +0000

According to the South Brunswick Post, Dow Jones has launched a massive solar project.

On Monday a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the solar project which will be built on it’s route 1 campus. 13,000 solar panels will be installed on parking areas throughout the 2,000 acre campus. Depending on how much sunlight their is the solar system will account for between 15% to 50% of energy consumption of the campus.

Used with creative commons permission from Brighton Earthship

During the ribbon cutting ceremony U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, made mention of the BP oil spill fiasco, and encouraged a need to move away from traditional dirty forms of generating power, such as oil, and coal, and move towards clean renewable sources of energy. The Senators heavily praised Dow Jones for it’s efforts to go solar, and encouraged other large corporate entities to follow in their foot steps.

The solar system will deliver 3.6 megawatts from the solar panels installed on the parking areas. Another 522 kilowatts will be generated from solar installations attached to roofs.

The generated power will be used to offset the campus’s needs from electric company PSE&G during times of sunlight. When their are times of less energy consumption the generated power will be fed into the grid.

The massive solar power system is expected to be completed in 2011, and will be constructed by SunPower Corp.

For more information about how you can help with spreading the solar love check out Solar Power Cost.

Technorati Tags: How do Solar Panels Work, Solar Energy facts, solar installations, solar panels, Solar Power Cost, solar power facts, solar power system

Breaking Solar Power News: Holy Quantum Dots Batman!

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:00:37 +0000

Photo used under Creative Commons from James Cridland

So what’s the major aspect of solar energy that’s really holding it back? Don’t know the answer?

Well I’ll tell you, it’s efficiency.

Efficiency of silicon solar cells at the moment is limited to around 30%. That’s not a lot when you think about it. That means 70% of the sunlight that’s hitting your panel is completely wasted.

So why is it wasted, and why can we not figure out a way to utilize more?

Well first you need to understand a bit of the science of how silicon solar cells work… Nope, not gonna get into a long winded discussion right here, if you would like to know more about that please visit Solar Energy Facts.

The problem is that most of the energy coming from the sun is just to high to be turned in to usable energy. Hot Electrons is the term used to define this energy and it is lost as heat during the conversion process. Enter Quantum Dots! Sounds like a new candy!

Here’s the theory behind quantum dots, or semiconductor nanocrystals as some like to call them. If you were able to separate the higher energy from the sunlight “hot electrons” and be able to capture them, the efficiency of a solar power system could be increased to a theoretical 66%. That’s more than doubling the efficiency, which amounts to a whole lot more energy.

According to Xiaoyang Zhu, professor of chemistry and director of the Center for Materials Chemistry, “There are a few steps needed to create what I call this ‘ultimate solar cell,’”. “First, the cooling rate of hot electrons needs to be slowed down. Second, we need to be able to grab those hot electrons and use them quickly before they lose all of their energy.” This is where quantum dots come in, it has been shown that hot electrons can be slowed down in semiconductor nano crystals. So that’s the first step, for the second, how to take those hot electrons out, Zhu’s team has discovered that they can be transferred from photo-excited lead selenide nanocrystals to an electron conductor made of widely used titanium dioxide.

So in a nutshell the sunlight comes in and the higher energy “hot electrons” are grabbed and slowed down by lead selenide nanocrystals (quantum dots), and transferred to an electron conductor, which allows the system to work with them instead of just casting them off as heat like conventional silicon solar cells.

Zhu cautions that this is just a first step and theirs still a lot of engineering that needs to take place before any technology is viable, but hey, it seems like a lot of good progress to me.

Resource: University of Texas at Austin (2010, June 18). Highly efficient solar cells could result from quantum dot research. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 18, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/06/100617143930.htm

Technorati Tags: quantum dots, semiconductor nanocrystals, silicon solar cells, Solar Energy facts, solar power facts

Solar Roof Tiles

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:23:42 +0000

Photo used under Creative Commons from jhritz

If you are looking to add a solar power system to your residence but you absolutely hate the look and bulkiness of photo-valtaic panels (Solar Panels), than solar roof tiles or solar shingles might be exactly what your looking for.

Solar roof tiles are shingles that operate in he same way as solar panels. Meaning they use the same technology and properties as solar panels to generate electricity by using the suns natural photons to create DC which is then converted into AC for use within your home. Solar shingles are designed to look like regular roof tiles and come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Because of this they are a much more subtle and aesthetically pleasing package plus they offer the same benefits of it’s bulkier counterparts such as drastically reduced electricity bills, and non negative affects on the environment. Win, win right?

When solar roof tiles first came out on the market they were quite expensive and traditional solar panel’s were ultimately a better choice economically. However in the last couple of years new technology has been incorporated into solar shingles making them much more efficient such as thin film (CIGS) or copper indium gallium selenide therefore driving the cost considerably done.

Installation time has also been greatly reduced by this new technology as well. Add to that the fact that you do not need to hire a solar installation crew to install the solar roof tiles, as the shingles are similarly attached to the roof as traditional roof shingles.

If your interested in saving a ton of money and consider yourself a little handy you can make your own tiles with easy to follow manuals. Take a look at solar roof tiles for more information.

Technorati Tags: Solar Roof Tiles, solar shingles

Solar Air Heater

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:22:02 +0000

Photo used under Creative Commons from mjmonty.

Traditional heating systems can take up a lot of energy and cost quite a bit of money. A good way to deal with this is utilizing a solar air heater. Solar air heaters can be used in any building whether it’s your home, business, or a work shop like a garage or a green house.

Most solar air heaters work a little bit different then you might expect. When we talk about solar energy it is usually in the context of energy generation. However for a solar air heater we are only generating heat by using the sun not electricity. This simplifies the process quite a bit, and makes it very easy to build your own. Just like with most things in life, it really is quite simple as long as we look at it that way. Lets take a look at the process:

The first part deals with collecting the heat. You can do this through many methods, you just need something that will collect air and allow the sun to warm the air up inside of it. A good example is a soda can painted black. The can will hold air and because it is painted black it will absorb the heat from the sun. Because heat rises naturally the heated air can then be introduced into the second part of the system.

The second part is ventilating the heated air through a duct system by either natural ventilation or a fan system. Their are two types of solar air heaters, passive and active. Passive collects the heat naturally and then uses a siphoning system, while active utilisizes a fan to draw heat through a solar array. Because heated air rises it can be naturally collected by a duct system and spread throughout a space without using any electricity. The use of a fan in the system can make it more efficient depending on how large the system is and how far the air needs to travel. The heated air can then either be directly sent to rooms or sent to a storage medium such as a water tank.

A good solar air heating system usually utilizes solar panels as a heat generator/collector. The heated air is then siphoned or fanned through the duct system to a water tank as a way of storing the heat, which then can be distributed throughout rooms at a later time.

Solar air heaters are an easy and cheap way to use solar power, they are extremely easy to make as well. Find out how to easily make your own solar air heater.

Technorati Tags: Solar Air Heater, Solar Home Heating

Solar Power Garden Lights!

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:20:54 +0000

If your looking to switch over to solar energy but want to start out small how about solar power garden lights?

There are a variety of light styles available to choose from. You can get some that look like ordinary run of the mill garden lights or something that will really stand out like solar power garden lights that are shaped like fairy’s or butterfly’s! If you are proud of your garden and like to show it off then why not save energy and money at the same time buy getting a couple of low cost solar lights. There are plenty of places to get them online but we suggest for best savings to shop at either Yardiac.com or Amazon solar power garden lights. These will definitely get you the best prices on solar power lights. So what are you waiting for go get some lights and start gardening. If anyone would like to send me pictures of their solar power garden lights in action send them through the contact us page. I would love to display them on this site!

Technorati Tags: solar power garden lights