We have always known that big bright ball of energy that is some 93 million miles away warms us when it shines down. But it is also capable of giving us an unlimited supply of energy. That means energy for our electricity to keep us warm or cool, to light our way and run our appliances. One of the oldest and most effective ways to warm our homes is by adding large windows to allow the sun’s rays to enter and thoroughly warm the air inside. That is known as passive energy. Now we have learned to take that to another level by capturing the energy from our sun. Solar panels gather energy from the sun and store it like batteries for use when it is needed in our home. Lights can be powered by that energy and so can our air conditioner or electric range and stove top. Solar power is defined as the conversion of light from the sun into electricity which is something we never seem to have enough of today.
Photovoltaics and concentrated solar power have so much to give
Photovoltaics or PV are used to concentrate that solar power beaming down on the roof. This converts that energy form into electric current which can then directly be used as a source of power. CSP or concentrated solar power creates energy by heating water to the boiling point before it is used as a power source. This is a more indirect form of energy and needs to be kept hot by constant energy from the sun. Begin with a solar starter kit to see how well solar power will work in your particular circumstance. Those who live out in rural areas may see benefit from installation of some solar panels by realizing hundreds of dollars in savings on their electric bills in the first year. Even residents of larger cities can save huge amounts of cash by adding panels attached to a grid so they work along with your existing source of power.
Living “off the grid” is possible with solar power
Those who invest in a solar power kit that includes the solar panels, charge controller, power inverter, a DC amp meter, Battery, DC to AC power inverter, plus an A/C plug that’s built into the inverter can possible live independently from a conventional power source through the local electric company. It depends on how much electricity is required and how large the solar power kit is. Many people dream of some day living “off the grid” or being independent as our forefathers once were.
Some really good ideas for use of solar energy include:
- With the use of DC/AC power inverters the uses for solar energy can be realized.
- Running small appliances requires little electricity but to keep them functional around the clock with solar power you will need a battery to store the solar energy when the sun is shining so it can be used over night or on cloudy days. If you have a 40 watt solar panel it will provide approximately eleven hours of energy. That can be increased to well over one hundred hours worth if connected to a battery; and this can even be increased to double that simply by adding on another solar panel.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs which use perhaps 20 watts can be powered for at least 5½ hours with that energy produced during a day, and that is without a batteries storage capacity.
- Cabin owners can benefit from solar energy and eliminate the candle power when replacing with real electricity generated by their own solar panels and solar powered system.
- Solar pool covers save money by conserving water through less evaporation, warming the pool water, and less need for chemicals to treat the pool water.
- Solar fountains are amazingly beautiful and practical. You can power the pump with solar energy, light the fountain, save money, and enable the fountain to run night and day independent from any other power source.
Investing a few hundred dollars or more can save many thousands, enabling you to live economically as well as preserve the planets resources. Living green means we all live cleaner and longer.