Go Solar Power For Homes

Reducing your electric bill and reduce your carbon footprint are the fantastic benefits of solar power for homes, with both Solar Thermal and Solar PV.

Each day the sun shines on the earth and gives us a massive amount of energy. So much power, that we can fulfill the whole world´s energy need for a couple of years. And there are a number of ways how to make use of the advantages of solar power.

The benefits of solar power for homes that it is a clean, pollution-free and abundant power source. With about all we do we require a lot of electricity (taking a bath, using our computer, cooking, washing). We normally accomplish that by burning fossil fuels, a limited, more and more expensive and polluting electricity source. The main advantages of solar power therefore are:

• that you slash your power bill.
• that you reduce your carbon footprint and protect your environment, for you and your children’s future.

Before we should discuss how we are to realize these benefits of solar power for homes, we must first understand the various types in which this electricity source provides us its power.

Initially you can see the distinction between active and passive solar systems.

Active solar energy systems employ devices that switch the sun’s heat or light to a different type of energy we need. The three major ways this is accomplished is through:

1: photovoltaics or PV (direct energy change which require semiconductor (electronic) devices to convert sunlight directly in to electricity).

2. solar thermal (heat gathering by conveying the sun´s heat).

3. concentrated solar energy (energy generated on a huge scale at a central power plant by huge mirrors warming up a small surface.

With Passive solar systems you´re taking benefit of the sun´s energy by orienting your house for optimal solar energy receiving or protection. Passive solar also takes into consideration the necessities for providing shadow to shield your home from too much direct solar radiation and keeping it from warming up too much.

Solar photovoltaics, solar thermal and passive solar power systems can without difficulty be applied to your home, allowing you to use the advantages of solar power. About Solar photovoltaics and solar thermal, both have fantastic advantages.

PV Solar has a lengthy life span (20 years) with little or no looking after required. They are frequently used for small scale home projects such as solar water heaters and they need mostly normal materials (except for the solar cell itself). The PV solar panel performs in diffused light conditions as well, like in cloudy or hazy weather.

Thermal solar systems are less expensive than PV solar and they contain a higher conversion efficiency. They are durable systems with not a lot maintenance necessary and they are extremely good for small scale house based projects like solar water heaters. They too use mostly simple materials which are at once available, like mirrors, aluminum, insulations and so on.

Conclusion:

The question should not be ´which system is best for your home?’ Both solar PV as solar thermal installations will contribute to decreasing your power bill. They serve slightly different purposes but are equally as valid.

You could choose to install a solar power for homes set-up by a professional solar installation company. Here, the payback time is not expected to be below 8 years (despite state grants). Alternatively, if you’re confident with doing electrics etc, you might want to take a look at getting free power for your home by installing a DIY solar power system. Which way you choose to go bout installing your solar PV as solar thermal, bare in mind that the sooner you get it done, the sooner you will start to see the savings!

 Mail this post

Popularity: 7% [?]

Technorati Tags: passive solar power systems, Solar photovoltaics, solar power for homes, solar pv, solar thermal