What Steven Cousley Does

Solar Hot Water
Solar hot water heating systems are an effective way of
conserving energy and reducing your energy bill.

Contrary to popular belief, solar water heating is not a
new technology. Solar water heating systems have been used
commercially for over a century now, with the first
commercial water heater (the Climax Solar-Water Heater)
going on sale in 1891 in the United States. By the year
1900, over 1600 houses in California were equipped with
this solar water heater.

Due to its effectiveness and low cost, the solar water
heating gained popularity until, by 1941, more than half
the population of Florida was getting its hot water through
solar water heaters!

Solar water heating only lost its popularity as a result of
lowered electricity rates, and an aggressive campaign by
Florida Power and Light to increase electrical consumption.
This was done by offering electric water heaters at bargain
prices. Thus Florida’s solar water heating was brought to
halt.

The United States is not the only country with a solar
water heating history. There are many other countries where
solar water heating was used in the past and has since
fallen out of use – but not all of them. In fact, currently
more than ten million Japanese households heat their water
using solar water heating systems. This is definite proof
that it is a workable technology.

Important Facts about Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

* Solar water heating can be used in any climate. Sound
unbelievable? Check it out on the U.S. Department of Energy
website. They say so as well.

* The fuel used to run a solar water heater is sunshine.
And, at the time of this writing, sunshine is free – no tax
has been added yet.

* A solar water heater can reduce your water heating bill
by 50%-80%. But with energy prices going up, the amount of
savings will soon be even higher.

* Aside from reducing your energy bill right now, a solar
water heating system will protect you from future energy
price increases. Your heating will no longer rely on fossil
fuels for electricity.

* When building a new home, or when refinancing, the
economic aspect of this becomes even more interesting.

You can, for instance, include the cost of a solar water
heater with a new thirty-year mortgage package. This would
usually amount to about $13.00 -$20.00 a month. Federal
income tax deductions for mortgage interest would reduce
the payment for the solar water heater by about $3.00
-$5.00 per month.

If your fuel savings with a solar water heating system is
$15.00 or more per month (which it likely will be) you will
have reduced your monthly heating bill right then and there.

* Solar water heating will significantly reduce your carbon
footprint, and reduce the demand for fossil fuels which
pollute the environment.

* Solar heaters can be installed in combination with backup
systems. In fact, you could install a solar water heater
next to your existing system and make it possible switch to
conventional water heating whenever necessary. This way you
are guaranteed always to have hot water.

-Types of Solar Hot Water Heating Systems

There are two types of solar water heating systems, active
solar water heating systems and passive solar water heating
systems. They both work on the same principles.

The only difference is that active systems have a pump or
other mechanical means of moving the water through the
solar heating systems, and passive systems rely on nature’s
principles: warm water rises to the top, and cold water
sinks to the bottom. With a passive solar water heating
system, the water storage tank must therefore always be
positioned above the solar water heater collector.

- Active Solar Hot Water Heating

There are two main designs of active water heating systems.
Which one is best for you depends on the climate you live
in.

There is what’s called an “indirect circulation system”
which uses a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid to transfer
heat from the collector to a heat exchanger (a device used
to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the water
in your storage tank). This is good for colder climates.

There is also the direct circulation system, where water is
simply passed through solar heat collector and then routed
to the water storage tank for use. This system works fine
in milder climates.

- Passive Solar Hot Water Heating

Passive solar water heating systems are usually cheaper
than “active solar water heating systems,” as they do not
need controls or pumps to circulate the water.

But generally, they are not as effective as the active
systems. If you live in a warm climate, a passive water
heating system might be all you need. Passive water heating
systems are also known for being very reliable.

Essentially, solar water heating systems consist of a water
storage tank and its solar collectors. The solar collectors
are used to collect solar energy which heats water, and the
tanks store the heated water. That’s all there is to it.

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For more information on important facts to consider when
looking for a solar hot water heater, and to find out where
to obtain good quality solar hot water heaters, go to
http://www.squidoo.com/solar-hotwater

Save on Energy: Make a Wind Generator
I do not need to tell you that energy costs are currently
soaring since you are probably all too familiar with the
effect of rising fuel bills on your budget. It may not seem
like it now but time like these can actually be beneficial
over the long run since they force us to seriously consider
alternative when it comes to our energy need. One of these
alternatives would perhaps be to generate your own
electricity. How can you to do this? One of the best
answers to this question would be to build your own wind
generator!

Please bear with me for a second in case that last sentence
almost convinced you to just keep paying your high
electricity bills. It is not nearly as difficult to build
your own wind turbine. There are, furthermore, some very
real benefits to be gained from doing so. Let’s look at the
latter first:

* Cost: The first, and for many the most important, benefit
building your own wind turbine is obviously that it will
slash your energy expenditure. Putting up a simple system,
perhaps combining wind with solar energy, could possible
supply in all of your energy needs. That could amount to
hundreds of dollars of savings per month.

* Environmentally friendly: We are all aware of the fact
that long term dependence on fossil fuels is simply
unsustainable. Using a natural, freely available, resource
like the wind can help you to ‘do your bit’ to help the
environment.

* Profit: Believe it or not, but you can go beyond simply
generate power for your own needs to generating surplus
energy and selling it to the electricity networks. While
few of us have large enough properties to actually make a
living from doing this, most of use would find the extra
few dollars per month very welcome!

This is all well and good you may say, but I am not a
technical person and do not have the skills and know-how to
put up a highly complex and possibly very expensive system.
Good news on both counts! It is not expensive to build your
own wind turbine and you also do not need a great deal of
technical expertise. You can, in fact, use materials that
are freely available and relatively cheap.

I would like to strongly encourage you to seriously
investigate the possibility of switching at least part of
your energy consumption to homebuilt wind generator power.
If you do this you will find that you will reap the
benefits of just a little bit of study and some basic work
for years to come!

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Are you concerned by the way in which your electricity
bills continue to rise? Build a simple wind turbine and
find out how easy it is to reduce your bills to a fraction
of what they are now.  Please visit
http://www.factorfluff.com/Build-your-own-Wind-Turbine.html
to find out more

What Homeowners Need To Know About Getting Solar Panels For Their New Home
Installing a solar power for a new home requires plenty of
planning.  If you don’t have a solid plan in place, then it
won’t work.  The purpose of having solar power in a home is
to help homeowners save on their energy bills.

When everything gets configured with the new home, the
homeowner will determine how may solar panels they will
need.  There are two ways that solar powered panels can be
selected:  there are those that provide power to all of the
needs of the home; the other one connects to the existing
power grid.

The homeowner may or may not have to size up the power with
a separate system.  If they plant to connect to the power
grid in their area, then sizing won’t be needed.  Whatever
the homeowner’s budget is, use what you have and do the
installation.

The grid power is the supplement and starts where the solar
power system stops.  The homeowner should check to make
sure that additional components can be installed later on
if they want it.  Also, they should also see about getting
the grid tied into their area.

With the solar power system, there are several places where
it can be installed:

- Roof

- Ground area

- Posts

If it is to be installed on the roof, the homeowner needs
to make sure that the roof is strong enough to hold a solar
panel.

Solar panels carry a good bit of weight.  Also, the roof
should face the sun for most of the day, if not all day. 
The more sun exposure the roof gets, the more energy your
home will receive.  Make sure that the roof is clear of any
obstacles, including trees or buildings.

There are different providers that make solar panels.  The
homeowner can check online for different distributers that
specialize in solar panels.  Or, they can visit a home
improvement store. Before a homeowner has settled on an
installer, they need to get at least three quotes before
they make a decision.

They should also make sure to check their references.  The
last thing they need is someone that claims to be something
they’re not.   If they’re not sure about who to contact,
one thing they can do is to see if any of their neighbors
have solar panels.  Inquire with them to see who they used
to install theirs. Ask questions regarding the quality of
the installation and the service.

In addition to adding solar power to a home, solar power
can also be used for outside lighting and ponds or
fountains.  The homeowner won’t have to concern themselves
with having wires strung all over the place.

Another incentive to having solar panels installed is that
homeowners can qualify for rebates for appliances that are
deemed energy efficient.  They can check online to get more
information on this program and similar ones.

In the long run, homeowners may end up paying a lot of
money for their appliances, but in the long run, will
benefit from doing so for many years to come.

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William Rigby is a proponent of saving our planet by using
non-polluting energy resources.  To find out more
information on how you to can help save the planet
http://www.windandsolarpowerforhomes.com

Home Solar Electricity: Module Solar System Designs
Module Structure of Solar Energy Systems

The module structure is designed to protect the solar cells
from the environment.  It consists of a number of layers to
protect the circuit of solar PV cells and to make the
module easy to install. The materials used in these layers
determine the cost and durability of the modules.

The circuit of cells is encapsulated in plastic. A front
layer of tempered glass, covering the solar cells, provides
high transparency and low absorption. It is also tempered
for strength in order to reduce the effects of falling
trees or hail.  The multi-layered back sheet protects the
plastic and cells from abrasions and prevents moisture from
getting into the module.

An edge seal is applied to protect the edges of the glass
from the infiltration of dirt, water, or other non-friendly
substances. The metal frame is secured around the entire
glass laminate. The metal frame gives rigidity and strength
to the module and allows the modules to be attached to a
mounting system.  Common Solar Module Design Types

There are three basic module solar designs. The first is
the standard frame module that you may have experienced in
the past.  This design approach has been used for 30 years
and usually involves an aluminum frame that allows the
modules to be mounted onto a rail structure of some kind
that is then directly attached to the roof.  The modules
are positioned above the roof surface, providing space for
air to flow under the module, which helps cool the system
and makes it work more efficiently.

At the same time, rain water, leaves, twigs, and other
debris can also flow under the solar panels. The rail
structure is attached to the roof by means of posts that
are secured into the roof rafters with long lag screws.
This method is appropriate for most kinds of roofs,
including ceramic tile, wood shingles, and asphalt. The
roof is sealed tightly after the posts are installed to
prevent any chance of leaks.

Modified Metal Frame for a Ground Mount Module Design

This module design can also be mounted to a ground based
frame structure. Such a structure can be built on any
stable terrain, can be made of metal or wood, and can hold
the modules at any tilt angle or azimuth orientation (note:
see previous articles related to sun angles).  The ground
mount can also be a pole structure to cut down on
foundation work to your home. It can be stationary (i.e.
not have a small motor to constantly orientate the solar
panel with the sun as it tracks across the sky) or it can
use a small motor to track the sun throughout the day and
year.

Residential Roof Integrated Solar Energy Modules

A second type of module design is one that allows the
module to be integrated into residential roofing materials.
This is often referred to as a roof integrated module
design. The module frame design is modified so that it has
the same profile as neighboring flat concrete tiles. The
modules are not mounted to a rail structure but are
attached directly to the roof surface.  This low profile
mount allows the module to blend in to the look of the roof
and avoid the retrofit appearance of standard mounted solar
energy modules.

The emergence of this more attractive roof integrated
product has encouraged many production home builders to
incorporate solar systems into their projects. This type
blends in with the roofing materials and is attached
directly to the roof surface.

Types Integrated Solar PV Panels

One is the mono crystalline ridged frame design offered by
some existing manufacturers. These PV panels are becoming
more efficient and they blend well into the roofing
structure.  These solar cells use the same crystalline
silicon technology as standard modules today.  This set up
has more mounting frame with fewer solar cells connected in
series. The can result in a solar system that is a little
more expensive. Because the roof integrated systems mount
directly to the roof, they do not have the air flow of
standard modules therefore the solar cell temperature gets
higher, limiting their efficiency.

The other integrated solar cell product offered, by
UNISOLAR, is a flexible amorphous technology. Often this
type of solar energy module is called thin film or
nano-solar cells. It is made to blend in with an asphalt
shingle roof. It is somewhat less efficient, tends to
degrade more quickly, and may have a shorter workable live
spam. The manufacturer claims that this module is better in
high shade situations.

Solar Energy Options Hitting a Roofs Everywhere

It is encouraging to see new solar energy systems hitting
the market with enhanced technology, better integration
options, and less complexity. It will take time to work out
the bugs with these cutting edge products. It will be the
newer solar technologies will increase solar usage
dramatically as wells as enhanced financing options to help
pay for the residential solar energy equipment.

Although these new technologies are coming, it is hard to
argue about the time tested, silicon solar cells that have
been up and running for over the past 30 years. The only
deterrent, until now, has been the high price for the
systems. With the option to rental the entire solar energy
system including the ongoing maintenance of the system for
up to 25 years, the choices homeowners now have related to
renewable energy adoption in their homes is very exciting.

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At Solargies, we plan to make the right Eco-friendly, green
solutions available to the American homeowners. My role
involves the leadership, communication, and the education
related to the adoption solar energy system rentals. We
provide homeowners the option to rent a solar electric
system and avoid the huge, upfront investment in solar
technology. Learn more at: =>
http://www.solargies.com/solar_panel_rentals.htm

Solar Battery Chargers, Clean Energy in the 21st  Century
Though solar battery chargers have been around for decades,
their popularity has increased a lot in just the last two
years.  This is partly due to advancements in technology,
and partly due to our increased awareness of the need to
shift to cleaner renewable energy sources.

Advancements in technology have reduced the sizes and
weights of solar panels, while increasing their efficiency.
 This allows for small lightweight portable solar chargers
to be produced.  Another factor which plays a part in the
rapidly expanding field of portable solar power, is the
increased amount of electronic gadgets that we carry around.

Twenty years ago there were not many people walking around
with cell phones.  Today, a cell phone, iPod or MP3 player,
and a digital camera tend to be the least that carry around
with us – either on a daily basis, or during our time off
or when going on a trip.

With all these electronic gadgets comes the need for
electricity and power.  And, thus portable solar chargers
have found their niche.

There are several advantages to solar chargers and portable
solar panels.  First of all, they are
eco/environment-friendly.  They do not produce harmful
waste, and can be used anywhere where there is daylight.

Many people think that solar chargers can only be used in
warm sunny areas.  This is not necessarily true.  Solar
panels are more effective in colder temperatures.  In fact,
a solar panel or charger would create more electricity on a
clear day in Alaska, than it would in the sun of the
Arizona dessert. This is because the temperature of the
solar panel influences the effectiveness with which it can
convert solar energy into electrical energy.

The above fact, combined with the increased effectiveness
of solar panels, has made solar chargers an attractive
method of powering or recharging small electronic gadgets.

These days, a small solar battery charger can run your cell
phone, iPod, or MP3 Player.  It can recharge your digital
camera and it can be used to recharge batteries.

Some solar chargers, such as the Solio Charger, even come
with internal batteries which are automatically charged
when the solar charger is exposed to daylight – allowing
you to recharge your cell phone or other electronic device
from the solar charger, later on.  Solar chargers with
built-in batteries commonly store enough power to recharge
your cell phone twice, or to run an MP3 player or iPod for
many hours. A digital camera can also be fully recharged by
one of these devices.

Solar chargers are starting to be a part of many standard
emergency kits.  They are a reliable source of power so
long as there is daylight available.

Solar chargers are a convenient source of power in remote
areas, on field trips, or when out hiking and camping.
They can recharge batteries, cell phones, or other gadgets
in any location.

In addition to being convenient, solar chargers are  a
clean energy source and do not cause pollution or other
harmful emissions while creating electricity. They also
reduce the need for disposable batteries, and thus reduce
the overall volume of harmful chemicals and toxic waste in
circulation on the planet.

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Anna Stone supports green energy and a cleaner environment.
 For more information about solar battery chargers, see
Anna’s website, at
http://www.findportablesolarpower.com/batterycharger.html
You can also find information about the Brunton Solar
Charger at
http://www.findportablesolarpower.com/batterycharger/brunton
solarcharger.html