Home Solar Energy

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If you are willing to go slowly enough, all you need from the solar panel is enough to overcome static friction to get the cart started.

I do know that a cyclist cruising along at a moderate speed (say, 10 miles an hour) is expending about 1/10 horsepower. That’s 80 watts. So on flat ground, a 100-watt panel push them over the 10 miles in an hour. Such a panel, if square, would be 2 to 2.5 feet on a side, if made with typical contemporary materials. If the terrain is more than gently rolling hills, more power would be needed.

Perhaps you could scale that answer to your situation.

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Hey Christina, one of the big advantages of solar power is its almost total lack of infrastructure. Infrastructure refers to the structures required to make a system work. Roads, airports and train tracks, for example, are the infrastructure to our transportation system. Our current electrical grid is the infrastructure for our electric supply system in most developed areas of the world. But solar requires only the panels and a storage medium, usually a battery. We have a vacation cabin in the upper midwest that uses both solar and wind power. The entire system fits on, inside and behind our cabin in the form of panels on the roof, a tower and wind turbine in the field, and batteries and electronics in the utility room. By most standards, this does not even constitute a infrastructure since there is no structure connecting it to other locations.

Some homes use what is called a, “Utility Intertie,” type solar system. In this case, they have the same basic equipment we do, minus the batteries, but the output is actually connected to the homes circuit panel, and thereby to the rest of the utility grid. Any excess the solar produces is sent back out to the grid. It is generally used up at the neighbors house, with the solar producing home getting a credit from the power company, and the nieghbor paying their usual electric bill. This reduces the amount of power the power company has to feed into the grid. So again, there really is not any specific solar power infrastructure, it simply uses what is already available, our existing electrical grid. I’ll include some sites below you can check out if you want to learn more. You an also google phrases like, “Solar Intertie,” and, “Solar Grid,” to look for other sources. Take care Christina, Rudydoo

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Well for one, solar panels are not yet fully developed to the point where they’re efficient enough for normal use for everyone and everywhere. Solar panels will gain popularity in the next 10 to 15 years as electrovoltaic cells get further developed. Another draw back is that you need a lot of them to power an entire house for example. You would probably need 5 to 10 panels sized at around 2 by 5 feet. And of course as you mentioned, they are expensive (at least for now). And finally, before solar panels probably get developed well enough, you’ll have better solutions such as panels that can work at night and attract UV rays and get energy from those. (Although that one is still in the works and a big question mark.) Personally I prefer wind energy to solar, and think wind farms are more versatile and aesthetic, and a lot more eco-friendly when constructed compared to solar panels.

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B. Thick, strong
c. Cumulonimbus cloud
c. Freezing rain
e. Amount of solar energy passing through the cloud.
B. Rain, sleet, freezing rain, snow

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Something like:

By eliminating some of these main sources of green house gas, and severely limiting those we cannot entirely eradicate, we can reduce global warming to the degree that it will not have a devastating effect on our environment.

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I have to admit, until you came along I thought Superman was the strongest.
You got my vote because I can SMELL you from here. That’s strong, dude.
Have a safe and great New Year.
.

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A lot of it depends on where you live.
How large is your house.
How many sunny days you get a year.
And how large your utility bill is.

I found this website very informative, especially if you go down to where the questions and answers are.

Http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/selling_solar_t.php

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The Permaculture Magazine often has articles and adverts for products and courses that may help, also the CAT centre in Machynlleth, Wales have much information, run courses etc.

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Here’s some info for you….

Solar electric panels are installed on the roof of your home with stainless steel mounting brackets. Each panel is made of solar cells, also called photovoltaics. Most solar cells are very thin rectangular or circular wafers made of silicon, but some consist of a thin film that is sprayed on glass or thin metal. When sunlight hits the cell, electrons are released. The electrons then flow through wires, forming direct current (DC), which is the same kind of current that flows through a regular battery. Current is then sent to your your electrical inverter. The inverter converts the DC to an alernating current (AC) and produces AC power to the standards of your local power company. The inverter is then connected to your circuit breaker and electric meter, which monitors your power usage.

Isn’t solar energy expensive to install?

It costs less to build a manufactured home than a conventional home. The costs of initially installing solar components raise the price of a home. However, when you offset the cost of solar instatllation by the savings you incur with a manufactured home, you only pay about 5% more for the construction of the home. Remember, though, the real savings from solar energy is in your monthly utility bills.

Don’t solar panels require high maintenance?

No. Your solar-electric system requires little to no maintenance. Photovoltaics have no moving parts and the system needs as much maintenance as your home’s main electrical panel. The photovoltaic panels themselves are warranted for 20 years; the electrical inverter for five years. Normal weatherÑrain, wind, and snowÑcleans your panels sufficiently with no significant loss in efficiency.

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Solar has become more efficient. I would like to see conducting and storage technologies improved.

Those 2 elements are the true key to unlocking the alternative energy potentials.

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Well, the government is run by a lot of people with ties to the oil industry. They have to protect their own interests.

Also, the oil industry has a lot of money, so it can influence the views of people without ties to the oil industry, because they all have to worry about getting re-elected.

If the renewable energy industry grew a lot, what do you think would happen to the profits of the oil industry?

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Some states have these tax breaks but not on a federal level because good ol’ oil boys Bush n’ Cheney are still in power.

Meanwhile, in reality-land, individuals can do alot to help conserve energy.

When you buy your next car, look for the one with the best fuel economy in its class.

In some states, you can switch to electricity companies that provide 50 percent to 100 percent renewable energy. In other states, utilities offer “green power” choices. Ask your electric company to provide you with “Green-e” certified renewable power.

When it comes time to replace appliances, look for the Energy Star label on new appliances. (Refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters use the most energy.) These items may cost a bit more initially, but the energy savings will pay back the extra investment within a couple years.

AND finally the simplest solution: RECYCLE!

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Do a google search on solar-power, then refine your search using the ‘search within results’ feature at the bottom of the returns page for books.

Once you’ve found some interesting ones, go to Amazon.com & see if any used ones are available, or, if you live in a large metro area, check out your library. You could also get your library to get you the books thru their inter-library loan program.

Don’t know about any regulations, but many states offer tax breaks for installing the systems.

Good luck…

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Hi there

I recommend you get more information. It takes more than 2,5 yrs to make your profit back.
I your case I would get some guide be for investing.
It can be there expensive to obtain a solar power method installed by a trained, but you can organize it by hand and save many of money on installation on the start and stylish the slow run on energy bills.

Present are three options representing do-it-yourself solar. The principal of these is retail a solar power method, quick to install. The minute, a lesser amount of expensive option is to believe a solar power kit and place it calm on your own otherwise installing. The third, and by far the mainly cost-effective, option is to build your solar power method from cut.

If you pick the third option, the principal fad you need to organize is believe a program of easy-to-follow strategy, counting sufficient of expedient hints and ideas representing getting the mainly away of your just starting out method.

This option is the most excellent fine if you’re really into do-it-yourself projects and obtain the period to place stylish. It command take a quantity of effort but, after you’re completed, you’ll obtain the satisfaction of a career well completed and you can paddle by hand on the back all month after you realize how much you’ve saved.

An added benefit to retail strategy to build your own solar power method is to you command be there able to reimbursement the lowest achievable outlay representing all solar panel – quite a wide benefit!

By installing your own solar power method, whichever method you pick, you command be there significantly decreasing your carbon footprint on the planet. Solar power doesn’t pollute the air, ground or else irrigate and it renews itself all single daytime, the jiffy the sun comes up – even after it’s uncertain.

Here is a site i came across.

Http://tinyurl.com/3xar3tc

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Let’s see…the way I solved this problem is as follows:

Converting photons to Joules:

2.5*10^27 Photons/sq-km * 4*10(-19) joules/Photons =
1*10^9 Joules/sq-km

Converting sq-km to sq m,

1*10^9/(1000^2) = 1*10^3 Joules/sq-m

Introducing Efficiency factor (10%)

1000 Joules/sq-m * .10 = 100 Joules / sq-m (usable energy)

All of these calculations are done on a per-second basis.

So, for a 350 Watt (joule/sec), determine the area

350 (joules/sec) / 100 (joules/sec(sqm) = 3.5 sqm

So you are off by a factor of 10.

Hope this helps.

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Well your estimate for wind turbines is a little low in practical applications.
The 1 billion dollar 500 megawatt wind farm being built in Washington Iowa hopes to have a production cost of .093 per kwh.
Here are some production costs for various types of plants.
Costs are given as cents per kwh.
Nuclear= 7.5 kwh
super critical pulverized coal=6.5 per kwh.
Integrated gasification combined cycle coal(clean coal) =7.2 kwh
same IGCC plant with carbon capture=7.9 to 9.3 kwh
bio mass burning plants=7.5 to 8.8 kwh
solar thermal plants= 17.9 kwh
silicon photovoltaic plants=33.5 to 39.4 cents per kwh
thin film photovoltaic plants=24.6 to 31.5 cents per kwh.

BTW the biomass plants currently in operation burn agricultural & industrial wastes ranging from saw dust to turkey manure

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It will depend on a variety of things. Since you live in CA you should get a great rebate through your utility. The size of system will depend on your location, any shade, roof orientation and usage. I can tell you a little about my system.

I have a 2000sf tri level home in No. CA, I got a 3.74 kwdc system which cost $26K, I got a $10K rebate and a $2K fed tax credit (would have been $7800 if I waited till this year). I am generating about 90% of my summer energy and 75% of my winter energy (shorter days, less light). It took my summer bill from around $250 to under $20. I should break even no later than 6 years, most likely sooner with the rate increases they are proposing.

There are programs in some areas that lease panels, but I advise you get a no cost no obligation quote from a licensed contractor. They should be able to advise a system that is right for you, let you know about local rebates, net metering (buying back excess energy) etc.

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I don’t know how much the panels themselves cost, but in my area (and i’m sure in other parts of the country it costs more or less) it would cost about 10,000 dollars for me to have a company come and do all the work. I called them and got an estimate, and for them to come out and install the panels and everything else you need that’s what it would cost.
I was trying to convert the whole house to solar power, not just heat.

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Good question.

Alternate energy seems to be failing at this stage, efforts in developing a new power source is a highly tedious task for our government. So if they go for solar power it will require lot of solar cells and energy storage backup at night times. The place suitable for this will be somewhere in Thar Desert, Rajasthan. On the other hand nuclear power plants can produce large amount of energy and can be installed like Kudangulam in Tamil Nadu which is under construction in collaboration with Russia. But anyway Solar power plants can also be constructed under collaboration with any foreign country.

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While the idea is good, it is not good to post this as a question here, esp. Since there is no question in your question. You have made a statement and at least you could have asked ‘do you agree?’

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2–http://www.rocksandminerals.com/coal.htm also 5
5–http://www.rocksandminerals.com/coal.htm
7– http://stason.org/TULARC/science-enginee also 6
6– http://stason.org/TULARC/science-enginee
11–http://www.manganese.org/aboutmanganese….
12–it is there it is “free”

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Solar spectra has all UV as well as Infra red radiations , apart from visible light. The UV kills all the germs on cloths if cloth is neatly spread to expose more surface area. Infra red rays also help to kill many surface active pathogens and cloth get dried up to due this heat radiation. But Solar radiation has even cosmic rays in it.

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Http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/Natural-Home-Living/Solar-Power-Gainnesville-Florida.aspx

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It depends.
A small one is $10 and one to keep a big house supplied with power can be more than $50000

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Join Pinkie and the Brain

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If it is your residence in 2010 you can probably claim the credit

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Solar is an excellent option in California. But California gets a great deal of sun.

In Pacific Northwest, though, it will take many, many years for a homeowner to recover the cost of solar panels in energy savings. And likewise, in the most populous areas of the country, it isn’t windy enough for people to recover the cost of wind turbines in a reasonable amount of time. And really, by the time people recover the cost, the equipment will need to be replaced.

I think that large-scale renewable energy is the solution, not small-scale. Building large solar plants in the southwest to convert water into hydrogen could fuel all of our cars. Building wind turbines off-shore could fuel all our homes. But power companies are going to be needed to do those things.

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Let’s start with the Sun — there’s ongoing thermonuclear fusion reactions going on there, which release a lot of energy. We get a tiny fraction of that energy here on earth as electromagnetic radiation, in the form of light (infrared through ultraviolet, mostly, but from gamma rays down to low frequency radio waves at lesser intensities as well).

That energy from the Sun can be concentrated by mirrors or lenses to heat things (I remember melting the tar lines on the school playground’s concrete ball court with magnifying glasses — it would solidify right away when you moved the focused sun image). On a larger scale this can make a working fluid (water) boil, and its vapor (steam) can turn a turbine and that turns a generator.

Another technique is photovoltaic cells (solar cells) which use a semiconductor material which sunlight is able to free electrons which then can power things, charge batteries, run satellites, or whatever. The details of this are more complicated than the generator idea.

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There’s solar energy as most people think about it, converting the energy in sunlight into electricity. Some new cells treat the light as radio waves (which it is, but very, very high frequency) and use tiny “antennas” to convert it to electricity. These may make solar power more practical.
Other types of “indirect” solar power include wind (which the sun drives) and hydroelectric which works because the sun evaporates water which then falls as rain in higher locations. The water running downhill can be made to drive turbines and create electricity.

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It works by having a layer of n-type silicon over a layer of p-type silicon, such that when the p-type silicon absorbs photons it’s electrons, now in a higher orbit, are motivated by the positive charge of the n-type layer to transfer to the n-type silicon. This generates current.