Dave Simpson asked:

Are you like me and hide every time the utility bill comes in? The average electricity bill in the US is now almost $3000 a year – that’s a big chunk out of our families income. Add this to the rising price of gas, food and just about everything else, and it’s easy to see why more and more people are starting to turn to alternative power sources such as solar power kits to save money and help make ends meet.

Solar power kits come in many shapes and sizes, and to fit a wide range of budgets, but they all perform the same basic function -to turn the suns energy into electricity. Harnessing the suns energy is not a new idea, but todays technology makes it more cost effective and simpler than ever before.

There are two basic ways to use solar power. First you can simply use solar power kits to generate electricity. This natural power can then be stored and used to heat your home, or power your lights. If you have a surplus, then you may even be able to sell this back to the power company and generate, sorry for the pun, a few extra dollars of extra income for your family. The second, and most efficient, way to use solar power is to use the suns energy to produce hot water. This can be stored simply in a storage tank and used for washing, cooking and even helping to run your central heating systems.

Solar power kits normally contain Photovoltaic cells that are necessary to turn the suns energy into electricity. These panels of Photovoltaic cells can be mounted either on the roof of your home or on poles as a ground mount. These solar cells transform the sunlight into energy which needs to be stored, so most kits should also come with some deep cycle batteries for this purpose. Finally, you will need an inverter to convert the DC energy current into 110 AC in order to be useful as an energy source for your home. Depending on how you set up your solar power kit, your home can be powered entirely by solar energy you could have the option of drawing from the storage of battery banks for use when it is needed in times when the cells aren’t generating sufficient power.

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Anna Hart asked:

Portable solar energy power stations may sound, to some, like a dream. They can think of many places where portable solar would be useful, such as the RV they love to take camping, or the boat they use for long fishing trips. They cannot imagine, though, that portable solar energy power stations actually do exist.

Portable solar energy power stations have many practical uses, which we will discuss later, but what is portable solar power?

Description of Portable Solar Power

Portable solar power is energy generated from sunlight, the generator being of a size and form that can be moved readily from place to place.

Most portable solar power units use photovoltaic panels (PV panels) in one way or another. Some are amazingly small, and can be carried in a pocket, while others must be moved on a flat-bed trailer or truck.

Examples of Portable Solar Power

You may already be using portable solar power without realizing it. The following are examples of different sizes and styles of portable solar power.

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Drew Hartanov asked:

WOW! We are almost all in agreement about at least one form of renewable energy; ninety per cent of Americans think that builders should be offering the option of solar power in new homes.

For those unsure of the term: solar power is the term used to describe the resulting energy from the conversion of sunlight into electricity. In order to do this, the sunlight must first be ‘captured’.

Because there is always (so far!) sunlight, this is called a renewable source of energy. This means once we have perfected the technique to turn the sunshine into electric power, we can always use that technique as there is always sunlight and it is always free.

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Farooq Raza Qadri asked:

“SOLAR ENERGY”
 
Today in Pakistan we are facing shortage of almost every basic need of life like water, gas, and especially electricity. It is the worst conditions we are facing now a days. The reason for that is…well we all know “THE REASONS” don’t we!!! Few days back I was reading an article in a local newspaper which was about getting electricity like many European countries which is from “Wind Turbines”. It’s a very good idea and we must have to think other ways of energy to meet our needs. Another idea which I’m going to discuss here is “SOLAR ENERGY”.  As we all know that summer season is longer than winter in Pakistan. So it means we can get more and more sunlight. In my view Solar Energy Systems will be more successful in Pakistan than any European country because thankfully we can have more sunlight than Europe.

Many scientists and engineers from all over the world are working in this field. Some say that it’ll be very costly, YES it’ll be but only in start as like everything when it’s new its price is high but when the competition arises then prices goes down its simple economics. We’ve used the Sun for drying clothes and food for thousands of years, but only recently have we been able to use it for generating power. The Sun is 150 million Kilometers away, and amazingly powerful. Just the tiny fraction of the Sun’s energy that hits the Earth (around a hundredth of a millionth of a percent) is enough to meet all our power needs many times over. In fact, every minute, enough energy arrives at the Earth to meet our demands for a whole year – if only we could harness it properly and preserve it.

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Madison Greene asked:


If you have been paying attention to any current events lately you will have noticed the importance of alternative energy solutions such as solar power. Solar power, like many of the alternate energy sources has its advantages and disadvantages.

For one, solar panels can be costly and tricky to install, but with DIY solar power you can install them yourself at a fraction of the cost. Just make sure that you live in an area that gets adequate sunlight, or you may be living in the dark.

This is not complicated as long as you are technologically proficient. If you are, you can easily install the solar cells and other equipment yourself. There are many companies who sell DIY solar energy kits.

They cost around seven hundred dollars or less and they are the perfect way to get you set up with solar power so that you never have to pay the electricity company again. Just keep in mind that solar power is only cost effective as a long-term plan. Paying to have it set up or setting it up yourself with solar energy is very costly if you move out of the house six months later.

Finding A Supplier of DIY Solar Energy

Finding a solar energy company who has all the equipment you need shouldn’t be too difficult. There are many available. Simply look in your local yellow pages or do an internet search.

Even if you have to have the items shipped, it’s worth it if you can save a little bit of money. The instructions for how to set up the DIY solar energy equipment will be included and many of them have money back guarantees.

Think of it. All you have to do is pay your fee once for all the DIY solar power equipment and then you’ll have free, unending energy that comes directly from the sun. You’ll end up saving loads of money in the long run.

Before you decide on a company for all your solar energy equipment, make sure they have a provision where you can order replacement parts in case any of your solar cells or converters becomes damaged. The parts that come with a DIY solar power kit are intended to last a long time, but as in anything else, life can come at you fast. So make sure there is some kind of warranty or system available that will enable you to use your solar equipment for as long as you own your home.

If you need help installing your DIY solar power equipment and don’t want to pay any labor costs, search the internet for how-to articles on how to install it yourself. Then, you can finally say goodbye to the energy company once and for all.

Converting to alternate energy sources, such as solar power is a way to do your part to help reduce our need for electricity. Not only is it good for the environment, but switching to solar power will also save you money in the long run.

If you are going to live in your house for longer than the next eight months you can get the full benefits of going DIY solar. Just don’t install DIY solar power where the sun doesn’t shine.

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Anna Hart asked:

Solar energy facts for kids in New Zealand are considered unnecessary by some. When winter hovers over New Zealand, it may seem that day after day is cloudy and grey – especially in some parts of New Zealand. On such days, it is difficult to imagine that solar energy could supply enough electricity for a New Zealand home. Most areas of New Zealand, however, have plenty of solar energy that can be harnessed.

Solar energy can be calculated with a map such as the one on the Sun Wize website. This is called a world solar insolation map. “Insolation” means it is exposed to the sun’s rays. The map shows how many hours of each day a country is exposed to the sun’s rays – in the worst month of the year. In other words, the map shows how much solar energy the country gets each day.

When you find New Zealand on a world solar insolation map, you will see that most of the country gets between 3 and 5 hours of solar energy each day. Remember that 3 to 5 hours is the amount of solar energy in the worst month! On average, counting good and bad days, New Zealand gets approximately 2000 hours of bright sunshine each year.

Solar Energy Facts for Kids

Solar energy facts for kids might include many things, depending on the age of the children involved. A small child of 6 years might understand only simple concepts such as the heat generated by solar energy. Older children of 14 to 17 can grasp the technology of solar panels and generators, and how they convert solar energy to electrical power.

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Bryan Wong asked:


When the electrical utility bill is increasing each and every month you can do a few things. You can cry and pull out your hair; refuse to pay and get cut off and have no utilities; you could work harder and more hours each month to keep up the rising costs; or you could invest in other alternative sources of energy to cut the electrical utility bill. One of these alternative sources of energy is solar energy. And indeed, you will need to invest that means putting in your own (or borrowed) money, but the investment can make a huge difference for now and many years to come.
Solar energy is derived from the power emitted by the sun to produce energy. The sun emits enough energy on the Earth in one day to supply the needs of the world for one year. The amount of solar power that the Earth receives from the sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all energy resources we are using, may it be nuclear, geothermal, or gravitational energy. The estimated remaining life of the sun is around 4.5 billion years.
Solar power is produced primarily through the use of photovoltaic cells, or commonly known as the solar cells. The process of converting solar power into electricity is as follows: The solar cells are placed under direct sunlight. The rays of the sun hits the cells initiating a chemical reaction that creates an electric current. This current is later turned into electricity.
There are two classification of solar power: passive solar and active solar. The first classification does not make use of panel systems or other moving mechanisms to produce solar power. Instead, it involves planning a structure in such a way that it can capture the rays of the sun with windows, tanks, and other permanent structure. This system can be used to provide heat to houses, water, and so on.
The second classification involves the solar panels or the group of solar cells. These panels are placed in such away that its exposure to the sunlight is maximized. It will convert sunlight to electricity, which is transformed later on from direct current (DC) electricity to alternate current (AC) electricity, and consumed it immediately or store it in batteries. It may be also fed into the grid system of the local utility.
The Pros and Cons of Solar Power
There are some disadvantages of using solar power. These are the following:

Initial costs on installation of solar power systems can be quite expensive.
Cloudy weather condition can be a problem in collecting solar power for some systems.
If you live in area where there is little sun shine this will be a problem.
Solar power can not be produced at night.

There are numerous advantages of using solar power. These are enumerated in the following items:

Solar power is almost limitless. Remember that the remaining life span of the sun is estimated to be 4.5 billion years.
It is relatively abundant.
It can be absorbed, reflected, transmitted, and insulated.
It can be stored in batteries for night time use.

Using solar power is not only a solid investment for years to come it also saves the environment. Thus this investment is not doesn’t only saves you money but you making this world a better place to live in for years to come. Investing in solar power is worth your money, don’t overlook the potential.

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