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Posts Tagged ‘solar panels’

Solar technology has advanced a lot over the last few years. There are now new types of cell and panel which are much more efficient. The cost of manufacturing has come down and it is now a better time to invest in some solar panels for your home. It is important for all of us to find a cheap energy supply as prices rise and global warming increases the imperative for clean energy.

When you start looking into the different types of solar energy you will see that the systems broadly fall into two categories. You will have to choose whether to install a system to heat water or generate electricity. There are advantages to each type of system.

The cheaper option is solar heating panels which just heat water. They cannot be used for central heating or electricity generation. The system works by changing radiation from the sun into heat. It does not, therefore need direct sunlight to work and can even work on cloudy days. The household water will be heated by the panels during the day and switch to the boiler at night. The saving from this type of system is thought to be around fifteen percent of energy costs.

Reducing your bills more requires a bigger investment in solar panels with photovoltaic cells which might save you around thirty percent of energy costs. You will need a larger space on the roof as they are bigger than heating panels. It is possible to have the main system and some panels fitted and add panels at a later time. There are currently Government grants available in many countries to help with the investment. A big advantage with this system is that any extra power generated can be sold to your local power company.

Technology for solar power is changing all the time. For example, there are new innovations which make them more efficient and able to function with less sunlight. Solar heating panels can be made with evacuated tubes which collect the heat. There are now models made specifically for colder climates which are insulated to stop heat loss.

Photovoltaic panels are now available with three different types of cell. Each new type has become more efficient at generating electricity. Monocrystalline cells are the most efficient with a rating of about fifteen to twenty percent efficiency. However they are of course the most expensive to manufacture and therefore buy.

Once you have decided which type of cell to install then you should work out how much power you want the system to provide based on your usage. Then you have to calculate how many panels using the output figure for each. This figure is called the peak power rating and is derived from a standardized test so that you can work out what to expect from your system.

This is a good time to invest in solar energy for many reasons. There are lots of options available when choosing solar panels for your home so you should be prepared to spend some time considering and looking around before you decide.

Thanks for taking a look at my article. For more ideas, and to read the original article head over to Which Solar Panels For Your Home. Or to learn more about every aspect of Solar Panels For Your Home check out my website.

Homemade Energy – a guide written by Bill Ford, a scientist, researcher and energy consultant – claims that it can show you how to build your own working home solar and wind power generators, even if you have never picked up a tool in your life before. So does it really work? And are the instructions as easy to follow as they claim to be? We put bought it, put it to the test and saw how it compared to Earth4Energy.

Likes

1 – It was an enjoyable experience:

We found the instructions for the wind turbine very well laid out and explained. They were easy to follow, and we really had fun putting the wind generator together. Also, when it was finished, it actually worked, and our neighbors did not believe us when we told them we had built it ourselves.

2 – Very Affordable

Homemade Energy is the cheapest guide out there. Okay, it is only $2 cheaper than say, Earth4Energy, but every dollar helps when you are trying to save on costs.

3 – Easy for anyone to follow:

It is obvious that Bill Ford wanted to write a guide that even a housewife could follow. The language was really easy to understand, and the instructions made it almost impossible for you not to end up with a working wind turbine. This was despite the fact that the diagrams were a little confusing at times.

Dislikes

1 – Not as complete as the other guides

At only around 43 pages long, this guide lacks that extra information and detail. Perhaps you could argue that it is to the point, however, when compared to Earth4Energy, we would rather spend that extra $2 to get that additional info.

2 – Needs to be revised:

This may not be the case with other readers, but we found the solar power plans rather confusing to follow at times. The diagrams did not flow well with the instructions, so we had to contact Bill on numerous occasions for support. We must admit that his response was very good and helpful, but it would be better if he simply updated the guide. What good are free lifetime updates, if we never really get any?

Overall rating:

Home Made Energy is a guide for beginners that are willing to learn as they go along. The instructions and advice are sound, which is crucial any diy guide. However, Bill needs to keep up with his rival, Earth4Energy, and add more value to the guide, such as providing videos and maintenance instructions, which we – as customers – so desperately need.

Tim McDonald has been making his own home wind turbine and solar power since June 2008. If you are serious about making your own power, reducing your electricity bill and becoming more energy conscious, then he recommends you get the Earth4Energy Sneak Peek – before buying any energy guide.