Clean Electricity From the Sun

Photovoltaic Systems

As people search for alternatives to fossil fuel Energy, solar Energy emerges as one of the cleanest and most practical sources of electricity. Solar panels can be installed on rooftops or any area that receives a lot of sunshine. The solar panels consist of a photovoltaic system that converts the Energy of the sun into electricity. The word Photovoltaic is a conjuction of the old Greek word "Photon" meaning light and Volt, the force that makes electrons move

Photovoltaic systems have existed since the 1950s but only in recent years has the technology matured to the point of making it a viable alternative to power utilities. Indeed, most solar systems do not replace the utility company instead they work in conjunction with it to produce extra electricity that can be fed back into the grid.

One of the main problems with solar power is storing it for use during non-daylight hours. Batteries can be used but they are expensive and have a limited life span. As an alternative, excess solar electricity can be fed back to the power utility company for a credit, and then power can be drawn when needed. In a sense, the utility company becomes the storage device.

Most municipalities have legislation requiring power utility companies to accept electricity produced by solar panels or wind turbines. This system benefits everyone "there is less dependency on fossil fuel power plants" and electricity costs are reduced for owners of photovoltaic systems.

This is called net-metering, the specifics depend on your location and utility company. A disadvantage of these grid connected systems is that there invertors disconnect in case of a power faillure. This is a quite logical demand from the utility companies point of view. Their engineers have to know for sure that the grid they are working on is really dead. But from our point of view it can be a nuicance. The solution is a grid connected system with battery backup.

Photovoltaic cells produce electricity by using specially treated materials such as silicon that convert light into power. They can be of almost any size and are suitable for providing electricity for small items such as calculators or watches right up to complete industrial complexes. Because they can be wired together, an array of solar cells can produce enough electricity for residential or commercial needs.

The main requirement, of course, is sunlight. This makes solar power most practical for southern areas such as California and Arizona. But it can also be used in more northerly areas as a backup power system. As the technology advances, photovoltaic cells are able to produce usable amounts of electricity even in low light conditions.

Low Energy Lighting

The Best Investment You Are Ever Likely To Make

If you were offered an investment with a guaranteed return of 900% a year or 10,000% over its lifetime, with no tax to pay, and which had a positive impact on the world, you would snap it up, right? Well this is the sort of return you can get by installing low energy lighting inside and outside your home.

Let’s look at some of the figures. Energy saving bulbs now cost from around £1 each. If you replace a bulb that you use for around 3 hours a night, then you save about £9 a year on your annual electricity bill. Because they last much longer, according to the Energy Saving Trust each low energy light bulb can save you up to £100 in electricity bills over its lifetime. If you add up all the light bulbs and fittings in your house, this adds up a surprisingly large saving.

Plus the benefits aren’t only financial. Something as simple as using low energy bulbs can have a big impact on your personal contribution to Climate Change, by reducing the carbon dioxide emissions you are responsible for. Each bulb on its own will save up to half a tonne over its lifetime. If you replace 10 old-style bulbs in your house that you use for 2 hours a day with low energy bulbs, you will save around a quarter tonne of carbon dioxide each year.

Finally, low energy light bulbs save you time and effort. Because they last around 10 times longer than normal bulbs, when you switch to low energy bulbs you won’t have to get the ladder out so often to replace bulbs that have blown.

So why isn’t everyone making the change to low energy bulbs? Sadly too many of us are creatures of habit, and just carry on buying the same bad bulbs we always have. But now with the wide range on offer, and recent developments which have made low energy bulbs perform just as well as old-style bulbs, it makes sense to change all your bulbs straight away.

It does take a little effort to make the switch at first. First you have to go round your house and write down a list of the bulbs you currently use – including wattage (60w, 100w etc.), type of fixture (screw, bayonet etc), size and colour (e.g. are they toned?)

Next you have to work out the wattage for a low energy bulb that matches the wattage of your current bulbs (for example a 20 watt low energy bulb gives off the same light as a 100 watt old-style bulb). You can find simple tables that can help you do this on the Internet at sites like downwithco2.com.

Once you have worked out the bulbs you need to buy, you can then go shopping. There are many retailers of low energy bulbs on the Internet, or now they are commonly available in supermarkets or hardware stores.

Plus you can also save a lot of money by installing more energy efficient lighting outdoors. Just a few outdoor lights left on each night can double your household lighting bill and your greenhouse gas emissions. The best solution is to fit daylight and movement sensors so outdoor lights switch on when they’re needed, but don’t waste electricity. This also improves your home’s security, as you can tell when someone is approaching the house.

For outdoor lights that must stay on for long periods, use energy efficient, compact fluorescent or LED lamps and choose the lowest wattage lamp that gives enough light. In the garden, you can now buy solar powered garden lights that use no mains electricity and so produce no emissions when used. Plus you don’t need to wire up your garden to get lighting.

So now you have seen all the benefits of low energy lighting, it really does make sense to make the switch as soon as you can.

Alex Perry is a founder of DownwithCO2.co.uk, which helps people cut their personal contribution to climate change through providing information and contacts.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Plumbers

A plumber is one whose job is to ensure that you are not standing in knee-deep water after every trip to the bathroom or every washing day, or every hour of dish washing. In a building, there are many systems in place and the system of drainage, drinking water, pipe work for heating and cooling systems, and other water pipes – and these all come under the domain of the plumber.

For effective execution of all work under the banner of plumbing, a plumber has to hold a valid license. He must have a thorough knowledge of all the practical and theoretical aspects of the job. A good grasp of math, science and English helps. This job requires one to be ready to work whenever called, in cramped, often dirty places. Duct fixing, mechanical services, gas fitting, sanitary problems, water supply, Roofing and draining are some of the main areas of expertise. To get a license, one has to have the requisite number of years in practical experience and pay the fees and the necessary insurance cover. References are needed from previous and current employers as well as the plumber under whom apprenticeship was completed.

The plumbing code gives a broad spectrum idea of the best and most modern methods of carrying out plumbing operations. Licenses ensure that only capable individuals are given the responsibility. Inspection and permits ensure that work is completed as per regulations.

In a house, plumbing constitutes almost 15% of the value of the house. It has to an efficient system. Drains, toilets, tubes, floor drains, fittings, faucets, compression faucets, kitchen sinks, lavatory bowls and bathtubs, water closets, tanks, shower equipment, water heaters, and pipes all come within the ambit of a plumber’s job.

An efficient plumbing system in your home ensures good health for everyone and goes a long way in protecting the environment. A knowledgeable plumber makes sure the plumbing is as efficient as can be.

Plumbers provides detailed information on Plumbers, Emergency Plumbers, Registered Plumbers, Plumbers Supplies and more. Plumbers is affiliated with Snow Blower Parts .

Solar Energy for Your Home

Advantages and Disadvantages of

In the past few years solar power is being seen as the solution to our Energy needs. On average during the middle of the day the sun provides about 1,000 watts of Energy per hour per square meter. That translates to 1000 watt per hour per square meter or 1 kWh/m2. To put it another way, according to the United States Department of Energy, in a 100 square mile area in the desert southwest of the United States receives enough Energy from the sun to meet the entire US daily Energy needs. Now, here is the challenge: how to effectively convert all of the sun’s Energy in this 100 square mile area into usable electricity.

Advantages of Solar Energy

Solar power for homes via photovoltaic power systems is the most commonly thought of method. There are many advantages of owning and operating a residential solar power system.

• Solar panels have a long operational life. Most manufactures warrantee their solar panels for 20 years.
• Producing electricity from solar panels is completely silent process. No noisy diesel or gas motor running to produce the electricity.
• The solar panels provide some shade for your roof. The area that the photovoltaic panels are covering on your roof is not being heated by the sun which will result in a slightly cooler attic.
• Once you have reached the pay off point, the amount of time it takes to pay for the residential solar power system's installation cost, from there on the system is earning you money. Money you did not have to spend buying electricity from the power company.
• Once the solar power system is installed and configured it is pretty much a maintenance free electricity production system. If your system includes a battery pack you will need service the batteries periodically.

With all of these advantages why isn’t everyone using solar power for the home?

There are some disadvantages to solar Energy that you need to be aware of. These need to be taken into account as you consider installing a residential solar power system in your house.

• A residential solar power system once installed becomes part of the house. When you move, the system stays with the house.
• Solar power does not work well for large devices that use an electric heat element. Devices like electric hot water heater, electric whole house furnace, electric oven and range.
• During the night and on cloudy days the solar power system does not produce any electricity.
• Replacing your composition roofing will require extra work and cost because the solar panels and related mounting hardware will have to be removed from the roof. After the roofer has completed the reproofing work, the solar panels will have to be reinstalled and reconnected by a qualified electrician.
• The cost per peak watt to have a residential solar power system installed is still much higher than what the electric utility company charges per kilowatt hour.
• Depending on where you live, hail can be a real problem for the photovoltaic panels. Before purchasing a residential solar power system, find out from the manufacture how durable the panels are with respect to hail.
• Check with your home owner's insurance agent if your insurance policy covers replacing residential solar power system in the event of a covered event such as fire or weather related damage.

To have a 3.6 kW photovoltaic power system costs about $9 per peak watt on average. The installation cost would be around $32,000. Now, there are some tax incentives and rebates to help off set the installation cost, but there is a sizable investment that still needs to be made out of your own pocket. The 3.6 kW solar power system will provide about half of the power needs of the average home. You will still need to purchase electricity from the electric company, just not as much.

The advantages and disadvantages of solar power are many and these are a few of the major ones that you need to be aware of, especially if you are considering having a residential solar power system installed.

Want more information on solar power for homes? Try visiting http://www.homesolarpowerguide.com , a popular website that offers tips, advice and resources related to do it yourself solar power, solar power generation, finding a solar power installer and residential solar power.