Americans spend tremendous amounts of money on electrical capacity, and moving electricity from a power plant to the home involves a lot of transmission waste, waste that you’re paying for. You’re also paying for the hidden environmental and sunk costs on power generation plants as well. Learning how to save electricity will get more of your hard earned dollars back in your bank accounts while learning how to capture and use solar energy in your home.

Energy star certified appliances are a great way to start “going green”, just by replacing your old appliances with more energy efficient ones you can easily see a drop in your electrical bills. Simple upgrades around your home can amount to great savings in your bank account. Since saving money is such a priority nowadays with the cost of living being so high, there are a great number of kits available on the market to make the load on your wallet a lot lighter.

Saving electricity and learning how to be more efficient is the first level. Creating solar energy on your own is the next level. Solar cells are increasing in popularity and are becoming more proficient at a much lower price. In the past, creating your own solar energy would have been a multi thousand dollar job but today it can be achieved for a few hundred. Furthermore, some governments are now offering tax credits to those that are creating their own form of power.

People are now becoming more and more aware of the idea of solar energy and the possibility of it being used for your home. The photoelectric effect is what solar energy relies on for generating its power. This is a phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from matter after the absorption of energy from visible sun light. This all may sound a little intimidating but is actually quite fascinating and with some help along the way can be easiely achieved by the average individual.

What this array will do is grab solar light and convert it to electricity, storing it for later use. Making dual purpose systems that are also solar thermal water heaters combines both solar energy and saving electricity, often in one installation. All that said, this is a scalable system. Start out small and build up the capacity as you get time, and buy the components. Most of the components are fairly inexpensive at this point.

This is a fairly substantial investment in time, and often times in money though it can be done piecemeal. The calculation you need to do is how quickly the solar cells will pay for themselves in reduced electrical bills, and surprisingly enough, this is turning into ‘pay out’ dates of under a year from installation.

Obviously in this article we are just hitting the basic points of solar energy. The benefits are countless and this is just a quick overview of how easily you can be profiting from creating your own resource for energy rather than the electrical companies profits from you! Furthermore, you are getting mental satisfaction of knowing your doing something great for our planet and your children will thank you for it!

The sun provides energy in two forms, through sunlight and through heat. Much attention is focused on solar panels and these require sunlight to work. However, the Sun’s heat has been used for thousands of years in a variety of ways. Indeed, we have used the Sun to dry meat and vegetables so that they are easier to eat. The latest innovation in using thermal rays to prepare food is the solar powered oven.

It’s fast becoming apparent that we are just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of solar technology and that its applications are limitless and  far reaching across all types of industry.

In fact in April of 2009, inventor John Bohmer used the basic fundamentals of solar technology to create his own environmentally friendly version of a solar powered oven using card board boxes, black paint and a piece of aluminum foil, aptly named the “Kyoto Box” embodying grassroots ingenuity as its finest.

What began as a serendipitous accident turned into a big find as its application was mind boggling in its simplicity yet could be used on a far greater scale for developing nations across the globe, the implications were huge.  So refreshing was his discovery that he won the FT Climate Change Challenge, which was on the lookout for the most innovative and direct solution to climate change.

So simple was his creation that it made you rethink that perhaps we over complicate our existing solutions to climate change.

Bohmer, however wasn’t the first to pioneer the homemade solar powered oven as it was documented as early back as the 1960’s in a Peace Corps manual and yet couldn’t be more timely considering our current global and economic climate.

So clean is this method of energy generation that if everyone were to use it, would drastically cut global emissions and global warming associated with wood fire cooking while decreasing the rate of deforestation to satisfy the demand for it.  It’s as simple as using existing materials without requiring any further resources or the use of recycled materials instead of new, pristine ones.

While building your own solar powered oven may not be your cup of tea there are some readymade versions available out there in the market.

Sun Oven is a company with its own range of affordable solar powered ovens.  They service a global market and have customers from the ice fishers of Minnesota to the Middle East.  Anyone who has access to a decent amount of sunlight make great candidates for their products.  They moved into the solar realm to take advantage of the expanding technology and for its environmental benefits and believe that by using their products consumers will not only reduce the amount of emissions that come with conventional ovens but also their carbon footprints as well.

There are no limitations to the types of foods that can be cooked with the solar powered oven as it acts just like a regular oven only that you don’t need electricity to power it.

The oven reaches temperatures of 360 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit ideal for baking, boiling and steaming and best yet, the food does not scorch and is very difficult to burn giving even the hopeless of cooks a fighting chance.

Using a solar powered oven isn’t rocket science to figure out although ironically is based upon science used in the NASA program for solar energy harnessing.  The reflectors are the magic ingredient to the success of its cooking ability and are made from mirror like anodized aluminum.  It works in practice much like a greenhouse trapping the longer waves of the suns energy converting it into enough heat to cook food with.
Some of the benefits of the solar powered oven:

* Save money on electricity that regular ovens use

* Clean form of energy generation

* Reduce environmental impact

* Affordable

* Can be widely used anywhere

Disadvantages of the solar powered oven

May not work as efficiently on overcast days or for those who live in less sunny climates.

Although a solar powered oven may not have the immediacy of a traditionally powered oven, you can still do most of your cooking with it. You may have to wait a while before you use it or start preparing well before you start cooking but once you have gotten used to this change it should be fairly straightforward to use a solar oven. Even if you don’t use it exclusively, you can cook some of your food on the solar oven and some of the normal oven. This will save you a bit of money on energy bills and will do less damage to the environment.

With the cost of energy increasing again, it is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity to find alternative electric energy. The toll on the environment also requires us to explore realistic solutions to preserve dwindling resources.

Many people think of alternative electric energy as to complicated for the everyday man to understand. With the advent of new energy systems, this is no longer true. With the new developments in windmills, hydroelectric power and solar cells, more options are available then ever before.

Today, rooftop solar systems preheat the water before entering a household water heater, reducing the use of natural gas and decreasing homeowners’ gas bills. Reducing the effects of the sun has spurred on new development; during the pursuit to lower energy costs, we examined our home and office glass window systems. New designs and technologies in window film, inert gasses between layers of glass, and neoprene frame seals have helped produced windows with an “R” rating instead of a leak rating.

The most popular alternative electricity system for homes, schools and businesses is solar power. The technology used is the most groundbreaking because it harnesses the sun’s energy with tiny components called photovoltaic cells. These cells convert the energy into electricity, which is able to charge batteries. The batteries store the energy for a converter device called an inverter. An inverter changes the battery energy into our normal 120V / 60 Hz AC energy, which will run small appliances.

For example, I have a friend who has mounted multiple 5′ x 3′ solar panels on the sunny side of his house. From the panels, the electricity is stored in a series of batteries connected to an inverter that converts the electric energy into standard 120V / 60 Hz used in his home. One of his main uses is his computer equipment, i.e. desktop computer, LCD monitors, and printer, all powered by solar panels. When not used for his computer room the electricity is diverted to other home appliances.

Solar energy can be more complex than windmills or pre-heaters for hot water, but with energy prices increasing, more products are coming online every day.

I found some great information on state and federal incentives to help you go green and offset the costs of alternative energy at this website Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE). Just type DSIRE in to the Google search bar.

Michael Edwards

If you have ever wanted to make your garden more environmentally friendly, have you ever thought of buying a solar powered pump fountain? Going one step further, have you ever considered making your own?

So how will a solar powered pump birdbath benefit you?

The pros to getting one are:

a: Fountains circulate the water, keeping the bird bath from going stagnant

b: The fountain is wireless and does not have to be plugged in

c: No inverter is needed since the pump operates on direct current.

d: Only a few inexpensive solar panels are needed to produce around 6 volts

e: Batteries are optional, since you usually only want the fountain to operate in the day when the birds are around.

f: You could learn to make your own solar panels, reducing the cost even further.

g: The birdbath is wireless making it very portable.

What parts and materials are needed to build a solar powered pump birdbath?

The simplest option would be for you to add solar panels to an already working birdbath and fountain.

The more inexpensive, but do-it-yourself method would be to buy a birdbath that is capable of housing a fountain. Then all you need to do is buy the pump, tubing, wiring, solar panels and batteries (optional).

If you want to save money, and build your own system, then you will need:

The Birdbath:

There are a variety of birdbaths to choose from - cascading, copper, terracotta, resin, or ceramic. It does not matter what you get, just as long as it is ready for a fountain to be installed.

The Fountain Attachment:

This attachment can be source from your nearby hardware store or garden center. It is an optional extra that helps make the water spout out of the top, instead of a small trickle.

Small DC Pump:

Next is the pump. Usually a small birdbath only needs a small 6 volt DC fountain pump. But if you have a larger birdbath that pumps more water, and at a greater height, then a larger pump will be needed.

PVC pipe for irrigation:

This tubing generally should be narrow enough to keep the water pressure high, so that the water can be pumped properly. My advice would be to visit the nearby garden center and have a look at what piping is used.

Silicon Sealant:

Silicon sealant helps fill any cracks where water could escape, such as where the tubing enters the top of the birdbath. It can also be used to insulate any bare wires.

The Solar Panels:

This is what makes this birdbath unique to your average water fountain. Depending on what size pump you buy, will need to get enough solar panels for the fountain to work properly. A a typical 6 volt pump, you will require solar panels with a capacity of at least 6 volts. But is better to be on the safe side and get a 12 volt solar panel instead, for times when it is cloudy and for late afternoons.

NB: For the solar panels, there are two options:

1 : Buy a small commercial portable solar power kit from a department store such as Target.

2 : Make it yourself. With the right guide it is rather easy and much cheaper to make your own solar panel in a matter of hours. If this is something you would love to try do, then keep reading…

To get the maximum sunlight, the solar panels need to be fixed in simple frame, and be south-facing (if you are in the northern hemisphere).

How simple is it to build?

With the right tools and parts and a the right attitude you could have a fully functional solar powered pump birdbath in an afternoons work. It really depends on your level of experience, but many of our friends (even housewives) have managed to make their own fountains.

A nice added extra is to hook up some batteries to the system. That way you can store any excess power, and the pump could run all day and night. If you do want the fountain to operate for 24 hours, then you will need the following:

1) The right battery:

Because the pump is only 6 volts, a 12 volt battery is more than enough. It should be a deep cycle battery (car battery) that can store the power for a longer time.

Charge Controller:

This is not that important, but to protect the battery from over-charging and to maximize it lifespan, you should a charge controller that sits between the solar panels and the battery.

The nice thing about about building a solar powered pump birdbath yourself is that it is not only cheaper, but once you know how, you can make as many as you want. It could also make a great gift for an energy conscious friend or family member.

Solar shingles are a relatively new innovation in the field of alternative renewable energy technologies. They introduce a new angle to the increasingly common and conventional solar panel.   The trend is catching on as it provides all benefits that come with solar energy harnessing with a solar panel without sacrificing the aesthetic look of a home or residence. This makes solar shingles a popular attraction for residential homeowners and may facilitate the transition of solar energy generation from few and far between to common place in suburbs throughout the world.

Also known as photovoltaic shingles, solar shingles only appeared on the scene as recently as 2005 and is a specialized product manufactured by only 3 companies to date, which are (AES) Atlantis Energy Systems, Solar Components Corporation and SunPower Corporation.

The reason why their popularity is catching on is because they are created to mimic regular asphalt roof shingles and blend seamlessly into existing roofing.  Most people wouldn’t think at first glance that they were actual miniature photovoltaic cells each harvesting and storing the energy from the sun.

Solar shingles act like mini solar panels, each capturing sunlight, converting it into usable energy.  When sunlight strikes a semiconductor layer on the shingle which is composed of a crystalline form of silicon, it generates electricity.  They are around 12 inches wide and of themselves only generate around 100 to 150 watts of energy, however when packed side by side covering a roof can provide adequate surface area to capture enough sunlight to power an entire household.

Having solar shingles doesn’t necessarily mean going completely solo as most solar powered systems work in conjunction with existing power supplies for the days that produce little sunlight and after dark.  The benefits are clear about going down the solar energy route especially in times when you produce an excess of energy, around 39 states support the solar energy initiative allowing residential homeowners to sell unused power back to the utility companies for a credit.  Instead of accruing charges for using power from the power companies, your meter actually operates in reverse, adding up to some decent savings.

Because they are more expensive to install than regular solar panels, these are more of a crowd pleaser because of their ability to blend into a home’s existing look, and although they may be a little pricey upfront, with the energy savings over time you will eventually recoup your initial investment.

Here are some of the benefits of going the solar shingle route:

1. Reduction of carbon emissions through fossil fuel independence

2. Sustainable energy that will never run out

3. Kinder to the environment and to the carbon footprint of everyone using this type of energy

4.Energy bill savings allowing you to recoup your initial outlay

5. Aesthetically pleasing, allowing regular people to make the jump to green without altering the continuity of their homes look

6. Tax breaks from state rebates

7. Increased home value making solar shingles a sound investment

8. Can withstand up to 80 mph winds

9. Long lasting for up to 20 years and comes with a standard 5 year warranty backed by the manufacturer

So convinced this is a viable option for the future of sustainable energy that manufacturers are currently in negotiations with construction companies in the state of California to further explore this avenue.  Their vision is to incorporate this technology into brand new homes, starting at the construction process.

Not only will new homeowners be able to take advantage of the energy from solar shingles but it will be readily available and pre-installed.  This avoids new homeowners from having to go to additional expense to install them at a later date should they opt for this choice.  The cost is already absorbed into the price of the new home without the new home buyer ever feeling the financial impact of having such technology.

Solar shingles will also be used in office blocks and buildings so that they can provide some power to the building and thus reduce energy costs and put less of a burden on traditional energy resources.

The extra perk is the reducing dependence upon fossil fuels for your energy needs, reduced emissions associated with solar energy generation and savings on your energy bills.  It’s a solution that has so many positives to it.

So if you have been put off solar power because you don’t like bulky solar panels atop of your house then solar shingles might be an option for you. However they will be more expensive than normal panels so this has to be factored in if solar shingles appeal to you.

With our current economic melt down and energy prices fluctuating daily, many of us are thinking of installing solar panel power to contribute to our homes’ energy needs, and reduce our power bills.

But how much solar panel watt power do we need to say halve our power bills? And how much will that power cost us to install?

Here is a four step process that you can follow to answer these two vital questions:

1 - Calculate Daily Power Used:

To work out how much power you use on an average daily basis, this is what you have to do: First go back and look at your past 12 months electricity bills. Then work out the average kilowatt hours (kWh) used per month. The reason we do this is because we use different amounts of power throughout the year. The calculation is month 1 + month 2 + month 3 etc… then divide that by 12. If you do not have all the statements, just use last month’s bill.

Then divide your monthly usage by 30 (the average number of days in a month, to get your daily power used.

- Here is an example: Lets say the power used last month was 800 kWh. Your average daily usage would be 800/30 = 26.7 kWh per day.

- So to reduce your electricity bill to half, 26.7/2 = 13.4 kWh of solar power per day is needed.

2 - Calculate Total Solar Panel Watt Needs:

Before you can work this out, you need to find out how many usable hours of sunlight your region gets per day. A simple way to find that out is to have a look at an insolation map - there is one available on our website, where the original article was posted.

Your next step is to take the daily kilowatt hours needed and divide it by the average usable sunlight hours, then multiply that by 1.25 (this is used to take into account the inefficiencies in the solar power system from wiring, charge controllers, batteries, and inverters).

- From the previous example, if you live near California where the average daily usable hours of sunlight is 5.5 hrs, the solar wattage needed is:

13.4 kWh required / 5.5hrs of insolation x 1.25 = 3.045 kW or 3045 Watts daily.

This tells us that our solar panels must be capable of producing at least 3045 Watts of electricity.

3 - Calculate Solar Panel Watt Costs:

This step will help you work out the cost of the solar panels needed to make 3045 Watts of power. At the moment the highest average cost for solar panels in the US is $4.85 per Watt.

- In our example: It will cost us at the most 3045 x 4.85 = $14,768 to install solar panels to halve our power bill. And that’s before wiring, charge controllers, batteries, inverters, and electrician costs.

4 - Take Government Rebates and Credits Into Account:

Before you think you are going to have to fork out at least $14,768 for only 3045 Watt of solar panel power, you need to consider the effect of government subsidies and incentives.

2009’s Federal renewable energy tax credits came into effect from the beginning of the year, and coupled with the state-side incentives in places like Connecticut, California, New York and New Jersey, the cost of the solar power system will be much less.

- Continuing on from our example: If we lived in California, our state tax incentives would be about 20 % of the investment, and the federal rebates 40% of the remaining cost. So, our solar panels would only end up costing us:

$14,768 - $14,768 x (20%) - $14,768 x (1 - 20%) x 40% = $7,089.

Just remember that this formula is basic way for you to get an idea of what home solar power will cost you. Some things could not be factored in - such as the state or country you live in, the special offers of local solar companies and the cost of the other parts (inverters, charge controllers, batteries, installation fees).

But, from our example it would cost a Californian about $7089 to invest in solar panels that can reduce his electricity bill by only 50%. We, on the other hand, know how to source cheaper and even free solar cells, and build our own solar panels, which makes the cost MUCH lower. If you are a DIY fanatic then it would save you a lot of money if your bought a solar power guide that show you how build your own solar panels.

If you ever wanted to save electricity and improve the comfort of your home without using any high-tech gadgets, then passive solar design is the answer.

Passive solar design is a clever way of using the sun’s natural heat and light energy in your home. An example is the use of different building designs and materials to effectively cool and heat your home. What’s so appealing about passive solar design is that it requires little upkeep, it is easy to setup, it improves the value of your home, and you can benefit from tax breaks.

How your home was built and what is what built from play a big part in determining its passive solar potential. Ideally it should be built either on a sun-facing slope or on flat land. And if you live in a residential area, any trees surrounding your home should be deciduous to let through sunlight in winter, but shade your home in summer.

When constructing a new home, make sure it is built so that the length of the house faces the sun, allowing the maximum amount of sunlight. Also note how the size, shape and placement of windows will determine the amount of natural heat and light in your home.

So how does the sun heat your home? There are three ways:

1) Direct - the heat from the direct sunshine on an object.

2) Indirect gain - radiated heat from objects heated by the sun.

3) Isolated - the hot air that circulates through your home.

To ensure the most natural heat from the above three sources, a number of large windows should be placed on the sun-facing side of your home, allowing maximum sunlight in.

But there is no point designing your home to let in a lot of natural sunlight and warmth if that energy cannot be stored for later use. Ideally you would want to use materials that absorb sunlight and radiate that heat for a long time. In winter, to get the most out of the natural heat in your home, you could close off cold, unused rooms from the rest of the house, and sit in the sunnier, warmer rooms during the day.

During summer, the right length roof overhangs or eaves can be used to control the amount sunlight and heat in your home. The eaves should be wide enough shade out the intense midday sun, but let the let low-angle sunlight through during dusk and dawn to light up and warm the home. Again, the right trees and shrubs can be planted to regulate the house’s seasonal exposure to the sun.

For current buildings, the simplest passive solar design solution is to replace your windows with modern ones, that use various methods to store up 50% more heat. Although they are 10% to 15% more expensive, they pay for themselves in the long-term from all the power saved to heat your home.

Also known as Low-emissivity (Low-E) windows, double-glazed windows are great at letting through sunlight, but retaining that natural heat inside. Some of them have multiple panes of glass with a gap of argon or krypton gas to store the heat. Also to reduce heat loss, make sure your windows and doors are well-sealed.

What your windows are made from can make a big difference too. While metal framed windows generally conduct heat out the house, wood, vinyl and fiberglass frames insulate the heat better. Always ensure any modern windows bought have labels issued by Energy Star or the National Fenestration Rating Council. These labels provide statistics on how effective and efficient the windows are at retaining heat, which helps you purchase the right windows for your conditions and budget.

So you can see, passive solar design is the effective use of nature and physics to maximize the use of the sun’s natural lighting and heat. Always remember, the point of solar passive design is to reduce your electricity usage and bills. So it is recommended to always weigh up the costs against the potential power savings when installing any passive solar solution at home.

In theory you can live off the power grid by taking advantage of renewable energy systems like solar and wind power. This would mean that you never have to pay an electricity bill ever again. How does that sound ? Learn a bit more about how do it yourself solar panels can help you achieve this goal.

Increasingly more people are choosing this method of power generation with the cost of energy prices constantly going up. The obvious benefit of using such a system is that it will save you money but it is also better for the environment than traditional powers solutions. In fact it is one of the cleanest methods of energy generation with no harmful byproducts.

Opting for the path of solar energy generation is not without its disadvantages.  While solar panels can dramatically reduce your electric bill and make your home more ecologically friendly however, the start-up cost for a solar powered electric network can be very expensive and set you back a small fortune.  In fact, some estimate that it will take on average around 15 years or more to completely make your money back.  Not very encouraging when you want to save money and help the environment at the same time.  However, there are some ways you can get around the huge start-up cost and install solar panels on your roof.  While installing an entire solar array on your roof may be a little complicated, it is possible.

If you plan on installing a solar power system in your home, there are a couple of things you’ll need.

First, of course, you’ll have to purchase the solar panels.  This is going to be the most expensive part of your DIY solar panel setup.

Second, you’ll need the generator that will hold the power you collect.

Finally, you’ll need to know how to connect the generator to the panels and the entire solar panel system to your home’s electrical system.  This may be a bit complex for anyone who has no experience in wiring, although the generator and panels should come with instructions on how to connect them.

You may want to contact your electric company and talk to them about installing your solar panels.  They will be able to instruct you on how your home is wired and what you need to do to connect your system.  In some cases, a company electrician may need to come to your home and modify some wiring.

Regardless, you will need to know how to shut down your home’s power system so you don’t run the risk of electrocuting yourself.  That is the main concern when installing your solar panels.  The second largest risk is falling off the roof or otherwise injuring yourself when installing the panels on your house.

Other than the wiring, the rest of the installation is fairly simply.  You will install the solar panels on your roof and then install the generator in a location that is easy to access.  Then you simply connect everything together and turn your home’s power system back on.  If all goes well, your home will be up and running on pure sunlight.  Just be sure you connect your generator.  It collects any excess solar power your solar panels generate, power that you’ll need when it’s dark or on an overcast days.

Despite the perceived unreliability of solar power as an energy resource, it is far more versatile than grid electricity. There are not many places in the world that do not get some form of direct sunlight from time to time. In fact you can use solar power to provide energy for your weekend retreat in the woods or your suburban residential home. The only difference might be the scale and quantity of electricity that is needed. There are four main components to all solar power systems that use the photovoltaic (PV) process to produce electricity.

The photovoltaic cell is the principle technology the conversion of the sun’s energy into electricity. Photons are converted to direct current electricity in each particular cell. The cells are arranged in series and an electric current is created. The series of cells are what you see on roofs of houses that used solar power and are commonly referred to as panels. Depending on the amount of electricity you need will determine the size and amount of panels that you need.

In addition to the PV cell panels, a charge regulator is needed. This connects to a battery that stores direct current electricity. When the battery charge is low the charge regulator will direct the converted solar electricity to the battery and thus keep it topped up. The regulator also knows when the battery is fully charged and will stop electricity being directed to it when this is the case.

The third component is the battery pack itself. This can be one or more batteries and again this is dependent on the amount of sunlight and the amount of electricity that will be needed when the sun is not shinning (at night)

The fourth component is the power inverter or converter. This transforms direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). This is needed as most household appliances use AC. If you are joint venturing with a utility company they will require that the current is AC as it is more efficient to transport.

It is often tricky to know how big the solar power system should be. As the systems can be quite expensive to set up it is a good idea to monitor your energy usage so that you know exactly how much power you will need on a regular basis. Another important consideration is to insulate your home to the best possible standard. This will save on heat loss and less electricity will be needed.

All solar panels are rated by watts, similar to the rating of light bulbs. Since they are all 12-volt output, calculating the amperage is a simple formula. Knowing that volts times amps equals watts, and a 12-volt solar panel produces 60 watts, it can be figured out that the panel is capable of just over three amps.

Based on this, it is easy to understand why solar power systems do not work well for units that draw a lot of amps, such as appliances with a heating coil such as electric heaters, furnaces or air conditioners. However, there are 12-volt versions of many of this type of appliance that can be used, provided the solar array is large enough to produce the required amperage.

With most residential solar power systems it is easy to work with a utility company to begin with. They bill you for electricity used minus the amount of solar electricity that you have created. As you become more comfortable with the technology and the amount of power you use, you can think about being totally self reliant or going off the grid.

This is quite a big decision as there is more responsibility and it may even affect the price of your home should you decide to sell it (mortgage companies don’t like off grid homes but this will change as solar power becomes more accepted)