Alternative fuels including wind, solar, geo-thermal, ethanol, coal seam gas and natural gas.
Posted: November 21st, 2009 | Author: Shawn Washington | Filed under: Wind | Tags: Alternative Energies, solar energy, solar panel kits, solar panels, Wind | No Comments »
I used a home solar panel kit to build my own solar panels and install them. I found the kits directions to be easy to follow and would recommend anyone thinking of going solar take a look at using a solar panel kit. The results were as good as a professional at not even half the cost.
How difficult is installation of your new solar panels? You’ll find it is really not that hard at all. You and some of your friends using a good home solar power kit can probably build a good system in a short time. Then since you already have the solar kit you can do your friends home as well.
The cost per solar panel will only run you around $200.00. All the home solar power kits come with a list of all the materials you’ll need to build your new solar power system. You will find everything to be pretty cheap at any hardware store. You can also look to buy used solar panels and just used a kit to install them. You’ll find good deals on sites like craigslist.com and even EBay.
Use their panel building skills to your advantage. Then as I said earlier, the home solar power kits come with all the instructions you will need to install a complete home solar power system. But make sure you get yourself one of the better kits, they have much easier to follow instructions and guild lines.
It is important that you read everything over and go through the videos before you begin. The you can get on your way to building your solar panels following their instructions. Follow what they say in your home solar power kit and I guarantee you will me happy with the outcome of your home’s new solar system.
You can check out another article on Home Solar Power Kitshere. Stop by Homesolarpowerkits4all.com where you can find out all about Solar Power Kits and what it can do for you.
Posted: September 3rd, 2009 | Author: Miles Novak | Filed under: Solar | Tags: alternative, DIY, Do it Yourself Home Energy, energy, home, off grid living, power, renewable, Residential Solar Panel, Solar, Solar Energy for Home, solar panel kits, solar power, Sun | No Comments »
Light emitted from the sun can be used in a variety of different ways to produce usable energy. A few options include:
- Passive solar energy: taking advantage of the heat displaced by the sun to help regulate home temperature
- Thermal solar collectors: with the use of mirrors, the suns energy can be intensified and used to heat water or air
- Through the use of photovoltaic panels, the light emitted by the sun can be turned into electricity
Simply taking advantage of or controlling the heat given off by the sun is known as Passive Solar Power. Although most of these techniques are relatively straight forward, they can have a substantial impact on monthly utility bills. Some easy things that can be done around the house include:
- A well insulated home. This should result in an inside temperature that stays fairly constant. It is vital to have properly insulated ceilings, walls, and floors. Other key areas include around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. This is the most important step in taking advantage of passive solar energy.
- Another effective technique for keeping warm air in or cold air out is using curtains. Similarly, window shutters or clear insulating strips can also do a good job at regulating inside temperatures.
- Strategically placed vegetation, both inside and outside can help prevent heat from entering your home. When placed around windows or door ways, plants serve as a sort of heat barrier and can surprisingly keep a house quite cool in the summer. In addition to this, plants also provide fresh air, which is a nice thing to have!
In addition to taking advantage of the sun in a passive way, one can use a more active approach. As mentioned above, a thermal solar collector is a great tool for using the suns tremendous temperature output to heat water or a space.
A thermal collector is a device that features an array of dark metal plates, covered in a sheet of glass. The sun warms these metal plates, which absorb the heat and transfer it to a substance, for example water or air. This heated substance can now be used immediately, or stored in a well insulated container for later use.
Finally, light emitted from the sun can be captured and converted to electricity. Basically, this is achieved through a reaction that happens within the photovoltaic panels which results in charged electrons creating an electric current. This can then be stored in a battery or used directly.
Author Miles Novak is a writer and enthusiast of home energy. Visit his webpage for a guide to Do it Yourself products and Home Energy Solutions.
Posted: July 14th, 2009 | Author: Tariq Ajram | Filed under: Solar | Tags: home solar panel kits, homemade energy, living off grid, renewable energy, Solar, solar energy, solar panel kits, solar panels, solar power, Solar Products | No Comments »
by Tariq Ajram
Have you driven by homes that have these large tinted windows and wondered why? It may seem odd for people to have such tall windows in their homes. The most common explanation for this is the homeowners are creating solar energy to power their homes. With just a few minor alterations most homes can be built to make solar power, in turn saving you money by cutting out your monthly electric and/or gas bills.
When you are ready to build your solar powered home, you might consider some of these ideas. It is common in most parts of the country for the sun to shine southward towards your home. The best location for most of your windows would therefore be on the south side of your home. By strategically placing your windows, you are letting the sun flow naturally through your home making it easier to heat with solar energy. You should also consider how many trees are close to this side of the house, because they can block the suns rays making it more difficult for the solar panels to absorb the sun light for the solar energy. When decorating your home you might also consider decorating with lighter colors which help distribute the heat from the sun more evenly than darker colors do.
Home solar panel kits work by collecting heat from the sun and transforming it into energy for your home. This renewable energy works to power your home as well as heat your water. The initial cost for building a solar powered home is a little more than a conventional home, but the savings far outweigh that initial expense. Homemade solar power really is the smarter choice when you consider the outrageous rise in the cost of electric power over the last few years. Living off grid has not only become easier but solar panel kits and other solar products have become more affordable.
Tips for using solar energy to heat and cool your home:
1.) The amount of time you run your air conditioner can be reduced by the use of ceiling fans.
2.) Ceiling fans also distribute the amount of heat and air more evenly so you do not have hot and cold pockets throughout your home.
3.) By using insulated metal doors, they will help keep out the cold and bring in the heat.
4.) By keeping the doors shut on the side of your home most exposed to sunlight, it will help save the heat inside your home for a longer period of time.
The many advantages of building a solar powered home also include the peace of mind that you are building an environmentally friendly home and preserving our natural resources. Another great benefit is being free from the burden of a monthly energy bill, and the constant worry of rising gas and electricity prices. You are taking the first step in creating efficient homemade energy by acquiring a home solar panel kit and building your new solar home.
Posted: July 8th, 2009 | Author: Tariq Ajram | Filed under: Solar | Tags: home solar panel kits, homemade energy, living off grid, renewable energy, Solar, solar energy, solar panel kits, solar panels, solar power, Solar Products | No Comments »
by Tariq Ajram
It has become very popular to build solar powered homes. Several years ago this might have seemed impossible but in fact it is easier than you think.I am sure you have driven by homes with excessively large tinted windows and probably thought how ridiculous but they are smarter than you think. Most homes can be built with a few modifications and the help of a home solar panel kit. You could not only have solar powered lights but heating, solar water and all of your modern appliances and conveniences powered by solar panels. In these tough economic times do you really want to keep feeding the beast that is your local power company. Wouldn’t you love to be able to save money and help the environment at the same time? Living off grid is no longer just for hippies.
Here are a few ideas you should consider when building your solar powered home. Depending on what part of the country you live in will determine which side of the house you should put the most windows. Generally it is more common for the sun to rise toward the south side of your home, therefore you would want most of the windows located on the south side of your home. By doing so you will allow the sunshine to flow through your home warming it naturally. Making sure there are not a lot of trees blocking the suns rays is also very important when using solar energy to power your home. Another good tip would be to use lighter colors in decorating your home because they tend to attract the heat more evenly than darker colors.
Adding a home solar panel kit outside your home, will work by attracting the heat from the sun and transforming it into energy that powers your home and heats your water. Although initially the cost for setting up solar power for your home is more than if you built a conventional electric home the savings over the years are immeasurable. Solar photovoltaic products have become more affordable over the past few years and the cost of electricity has skyrocketed! It really just makes sense to spend the initial investment on homemade solar power.
Tips for using solar energy to heat and cool your home:
1.) The amount of time you run your air conditioner can be reduced by the use of ceiling fans.
2.) Ceiling fans also distribute the amount of heat and air more evenly so you do not have hot and cold pockets throughout your home.
3.) The use of metal insulated doors will help retain the heat and also keep out the cold.
4.) By keeping the doors shut on the side of your home most exposed to sunlight, it will help save the heat inside your home for a longer period of time.
Along with converting your home to solar power comes peace of mind from not worrying about the increase in the cost of gas and electricity. The benefits of building a solar home are not purely economic, it also means you are using the power of the sun therefore preserving our natural resources. By relying on renewable solar energy to heat your home and the numerous other functions it performs, it allows you to do away with your monthly energy bill. Investing in a home solar panel kit is just the beginning in building your solar powered home.