Solar Home Energy Devices: Passive, Active or Grid?
The Solar Energy Industries Association guesses that over 200,000 U.S. Houses will be powered off-grid by alternative solar energy by the end of 2010. While the production of solar equipment needs some inputs of capital, energy and materials, the resultant system will supply power for a few years with little cost or upkeep. Home solar energy systems, and houses that rely on solar power stations ‘on-the-grid ‘ are getting more popular as many governments offer incentives to property owners to join the solar revolution. A great opening for your next home remodeling project.
There are 3 alternative ways of capturing solar energy for home use: passively, concentrating heat and light, or by solar cells. Passive solar is the easiest and cheapest, where there is no mechanical action and the heating properties are simply a matter of good design suited to your local climate. Homes can be designed to capture or reflect heat thru placement, ventilation and materials, maximizing summer cooling and winter heating. The “One Tonne Home” in Sweden (designed by Gert Wingrdh) is a nice example of passive solar in action for a cool climate: with a large surface area of walls and darkened windows for heat storage and, and high thermal mass in the walls that maintain an even internal temperature. The home also features a solar system, so efficient it can charge the family electrical car!
Solar hot water systems employ passive solar and can cut your electrical charges by 30% dependent on your location. Solar hot water systems are inexpensive to run, and in gloomy weather can be bolstered with and electric backup if you run right out of hot water. They work simply by absorbing heat thru a series of water filled pipes and then storing that heated water in a well insulated tank.
Photovoltaics convert light energy into electricity which is either used straight away or stored in batteries. Power from solar cells can scaled to your needs. You may simply wish to install solar lights for your garden, or go further and power your entire house with a complete system. The size and value of your off-grid system will rely on your wishes, however a 10kWh system is generally sufficient for the typical family of four, and will cost about $US40,000 for a soundly installed system. The real cost maybe a lot less when you apply government motivations supplied in many states. Incentives to buy solar systems exist in several U.S. States and in California a ‘feed-in price list ‘ means you can sell your power back to the grid. Many new solar system lease programs such as that offered by USA Solar Electricity, Solar City and Lease The Sun to help folks milk the emissions and savings reductions of infinite solar energy in their homes.
Concentrating solar collectors are the method utilised by solar electricity stations. Mirrors reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a central location that heats water to turn turbines. Many home made and small scale version are being developed for home water heating like these ones at Build It Solar. This principle is what powers the straightforward home-made parabolic or flat reflecting solar stove, but on a much more serious scale such as that of the 354 MW SEGS thermal power plant, in California and the recently authorised Blythe solar collector plant that's mooted to power at least 300,000 houses in the area when in open s in 2013.
After installation home solar power systems can offer limitless electric energy at a fraction of the price of conventional grid connected power, with the additional feel good of knowing you are doing your bit to reduce carbon emissions and make the future a cleaner, greener place.
Are you planning to want put solar energy in your 1? Visit Archidwell, for great solar tips. Also if you want kitchen, bath or basement remodeling ideas, we can be helpful. We can steer you thru your next home renovation with our home remodeling software.
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