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on December 2nd, 2011% ![]()
Renewable energy is what most household in the US is looking in to, this is because of the rising energy costs and taxes as well. the most typical approach these days for producing alternative energy for general household use is by the set up of a solar panel system on or nearby the residence. getting the most suitable solar panel for your is not that easy. These include the solar power panel cost (as well as the pieces), the price of the installation if the specialist does it, and the cost savings in electricity bills. it will help a lot if you have a basic understanding what you will really need. this may also put you in a better position to determine if you may possibly make your own solar panel system.
Surprisingly, the basic parts of a solar panel system and how they work together is reasonably understandable to the layman. We start with the solar cell per se, which can be either obtained complete on the retail level, otherwise you can learn how to make your own solar panels for your home. Naturally, the latter costs much less. In case multiple panel is needed they could be easily attached to work together by utilizing MC4 (multi-contact) fittings.
you will need to convert the raw solar generated electricity before you can actually use it to plug your appliances to it. this particular gadget is called an “inverter”. A “module optimizer” is what you need if you ti build a larger system. When several solar panel systems are connected with each other, however are pulling energy at completely different prices, (one example is if one of the panels is at cooler areas most of the time), then a lot energy could be lost. What a module optimizer does is, it actually keep the stability of the system.
some of the major parts in the Solar panel kit includes the safety and disconnect switches and also the grounding lugs. Switches are essential both to make sure that too much energy and also heat will not increase in the system, as well as to switch in between using solar and typical electrical energy. the grounding lugs are used to safely ground the solar panels. Of course there is certainly a lot more details, but there are many manuals accessible that explain clearly how all of these pieces interact, and how to have them set up. while caution must always be used when dealing with electricity, a growing number of average people are discovering that installing solar panels is both wise economically, and feasible by the do-it-your-selfer.
although a fully professionally fitted, household solar cell product can cost as much as $30,000 or maybe more, there are about three primary ways where this kind of cost might be considerably reduced. because everyday there are a lot of technological advances are made, the cost of the panels are now being lessened.. the second is simply by opting to install the machine by yourself. the high service fee of a professional solar power specialist. all of such additional charges, which have absolutely nothing to do with the solar power system, may be averted by carrying it out yourself. as mentioned, there are many quality guides that can walk you through all of the steps safely and accurately.
Still another approach to reduce costs is usually to really build the solar power panels on your own instead of getting all of them pre-manufactured. A commercially made residential solar panel can easily cost $1,000.00 or more. nevertheless, a well-guided do-it-your-selfer can easily construct his own panels for as low as $200.00 for each or much less, occasionally, much less. this is definitely the ultimate reason why you need to consider the DIY. A further more advantage when it comes to Do-it-yourself price for constructing your personal solar panels is that oftentimes pre-owned elements works really nicely and this could speak for a fantastic savings.
just as it is important to become familiar with the parts of a solar panel system if you are considering making the move to solar energy, so it is also important for you to be able to knowledgeably compare and contrast different features and components of various solar panel systems which are currently on the market. the subsequent are a few terms you will probably encounter when reading about this kind of units as well as a short d escription of just what they mean.
What you need to know first us the type of solar power panel that is available in the market. Presently there are three standard types. Monocrystalline solar panel cells would be the most efficient, however they are also the priciest to create. the polycrystalline is considered as less efficient than that of the mono crystalline, but because of the shape they have they can easily fit into each other real fine. Finally, a third engineering employs amorphous/thin film panels, which are much less efficient, yet carry the advantage of enabling non-inter-connecting cells. the material can also absorb more light and promises great advancement in the future.
there are many different kinds of solar panel ratings that ought to always be analyzed. some of these consist of rated peak power (it is a maximum maintained power output of the panel, assuming the degree of light going down on the panel averages 1 kilowatt for every sq . meter). Always check this before you make a purchase. another kind is definitely the nominal voltage, or Vn. this is simply the system voltage the panel is designed to be used in. Voltage at peak power (Vp) is calculated across the solar panel once the solar panel is generating maximum power. likewise, Current at maximum power (Im) is the maximum current available from the panel at peak power. Lastly, the Open circuit voltage (Voc) is the optimum voltage released on the enquete with no load attached.
much like other things, you will find solar energy pros and cons. however, along with the tremendous savings available to the self-installer (and builder) of solar panel systems already discussed, there are also other advantages to using solar energy and doing it yourself. Additional financial rewards include getting subsidies from your federal government for solar power use as well as the capability in certain locations to sell back unused solar energy to the neighborhood utility company. And the value of your property may also increase.
moreover, solar panel systems decrease the reliance on non-renewable fuels, and create zero carbon wastes. this makes them terrific for the environment. These products will also be not too difficult to take care of since there are absolutely no shifting parts. Finally, your friends and family will likely be very impressed when you show them the solar panel system you installed (and perhaps even built) yourself. maybe they’ll even wish to hire you to put in a system on their behalf!
on November 30th, 2011% ![]() OLD SAYBROOK, CT (WFSB) –
Thousands of homeowners bought generators recently as temporary insurance for future power outages. Meanwhile, the phones have been ringing off the hook at businesses who install solar panel systems as another way to power homes after a major storm like Alfred.
But, is that a viable option?
Mark Waldo at Waldo Solar in old Saybrook said he has installed stand-alone systems that are off the power grid. They are primarily for remote properties on places like islands.
Waldo said more people can do it, but it will cost them.
Nearly all solar panel systems are tied into the electrical grid. that means the panels make electricity, and through an inverter box puts that electricity into the grid of your utility company.
The company calculates how much you made, and deducts how much you use.
“The efficiency is a lot greater to send that power back out,” Waldo said.
Waldo said the grid acts like a regulator. he said after Winter Storm Alfred, people were calling his business and were looking to install more stand-alone systems that can be used as a backup system during massive outages.
He said it's an expensive option that requires a generator.
Weighing the costs for the average size home and use of a solar system tied into the grid costs between $3,000 and $7,500. Whereas a standalone system off the grid with a generator carries a price tag of up to $22,000.
Waldo said the big cost in stand alone systems are the batteries.
Copyright 2011 WFSB. all rights reserved.
on November 30th, 2011% ![]()
If you have ever wondered what it would cost to install solar panels on your home, then I will break down the cost for you. I first will show you what a contractor installed system will cost and then I will show you how you can install your own system.
First we must find out what electrical loads you want to power using this system. we need to know also if you have a roof which faces in a southerly position. we will assume for practical purposes that you have a good location for solar panels on your house, and that we are looking at a large system of 10,000 watts. we must also consider your current monthly electric bill of $200 with an estimate of 8% increase over a 10 year period.
Another important factor in are estimate is our home value versus adding solar panels. if you save $700 per year, your solar panel installation will increase your home value $14,000 this is based on national averages.
Based on a 10,000 Watt system the total cost would be $53,000 dollars, but with a federal tax credit of $16,050, plus I am using my own state of Pennsylvania as an example of $7,500 solar grant which would give you a total cost of $29,950 for your system. Understand also that some states offer more incentives and others less.
You are probably wondering what is price includes. this price includes everything needed for a grid tie system which means that at night or when there is no sunlight you are using the power company’s electricity, but during the day you are generating electrical power from your solar system and many times you will actually selling power back to your utility company through a special metering system. I know this may be somewhat technical for some people so I will not dwell on it.
Now the good part, how you can save even more on your system. A 10,000 Watt system is going to have as many as 60 solar panels depending on the wattage of each panel. you can build a complete solar panel yourself for around $150, where a store bought panel can cost up to $400 each. I think you can see how you can save a big chunk of money by doing it yourself. if you can solder and have a little patience, you can build a solar panel in a day, complete.
However, the cost of installing solar panels on your home can still save you money on your electrical cost, especially if you plan on living in you house for many years. going green with solar is one way to help save our planet by using alternative energy.
on November 30th, 2011% ![]() Posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 9:14 am by Solar Energy USA
Think installing a solar energy system is just for the millionaires and billionaires of the world?
Think again.
A new report focusing on the state of California, where the majority of solar installs have taken place, shows that an overwhelming majority of solar panels have been installed on median-income households, or incomes ranging between $40,000 and $84,000 dollars per year. Most people overestimate the cost of installing a solar energy system, which, as we have previously reported, has decreased dramatically in recent years.
The report also states that top income earners, those making over $160,000 dollars per year, accounted for less than 3% of the total percentage of solar installs in 2009, 2010, and 2011. this means that 97% of all solar panel systems installed are being bought by everyday Americans, not the super rich!
Available state tax credits for installing solar, like those in Georgia and North Carolina, cover 35% of the total cost, and a federal tax credit covers another 30%. these two combined together give homeowners a “65% OFF SALE” for installing solar panels on a home to generate power.
Whether you want to reduce your power bill, protect yourself against rising power increases, or power your electric vehicle with free fuel from the sun, there has never been a better time to consider purchasing a rooftop solar power plant for your home or business. because of the innovative microinverter technology Solar Energy USA installs utilize, it is very easy to get started with an initial system that fits your budget and then add more solar panels over time, just like the Georgia homeowner below:
Be sure to visit our ‘About Solar’ section of the website to help explain the concept of going solar and to address any questions or concerns you may have about acquiring a new solar energy system. Or contact Solar Energy USA if you require immediate assistance.
this entry was posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 9:14 am and is filed under Blog, Energy Efficiency, General Articles.
on November 29th, 2011% ![]()
You might remember that a few weeks ago the U.S. Commerce Department opened up an investigation into alleged unfair trade practices by Chinese solar manufacturers. the investigation — instigated at the behest of some, though not all, U.S. solar manufacturers — had been brewing for some time, as Chinese solar companies were accused of essentially dumping panels at rock-bottom prices, aided by generous government subsidies.
There was little chance that China wasn’t going to respond. at the end of last week Beijing announced that it would start its own investigation of U.S. renewable-energy policy. from the New York Times:
More from TIME: How an Artificial Leaf could Boost Solar Power
The announcement comes two weeks after the United States Department of Commerce said that it had accepted a request by SolarWorld Industries America and six other companies in the United States for an investigation into whether Chinese solar-panel manufacturers had obtained export subsidies from the Chinese government, or had dumped solar panels in the United States for less than it cost to manufacture and distribute them.
The difference here is that American exports of solar panels to China are almost nonexistent, in part because domestic companies are so dominant. so it’s hard to see the Chinese investigation as much more than retaliation. the Chinese government has said that the investigation will run until may 25, which would give Beijing time to launch retaliatory action if the U.S. does decide to slap tariffs on solar imports.
One way or another, this looks to be a major trade issue — especially considering how big the renewable-energy sector is getting. According to calculations by Bloomberg new Energy Finance, last year investment in renewable energy totaled $187 billion, compared with $157 billion for fossil fuels. That’s an important milestone, as U.N. Environment Programme head Achim Steiner told the Los Angeles Times:
The progress of renewables has been nothing short of remarkable. You have record investment in the midst of an economic and financial crisis.
More from TIME: The Fallout from Solyndra
With the annual U.N. climate summit about to get under way in the South African city of Durban, the news is well timed. but it’s worth noting that the past year has also seen ruinous price wars on solar and wind. That’s great for users — solar-panel prices have tumbled in recent months, which makes solar power that much more affordable.
But those low prices are cutting into the margins of renewable-energy companies, which is one reason why the WilderHill new Energy Index, which tracks renewable-power stocks, has dropped 40% this year. low prices for solar and wind turbines are great, but renewable energy won’t be sustainable if companies can’t make money on it.
More from TIME: Green Jobs vs. Brown Jobs
Bryan Walsh is a senior writer at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @bryanrwalsh. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME
on November 28th, 2011% ![]()
As a homeowner, it is important to always consider what types of investment are good for your home and which may not be. Adding value to your home is always a sound investment and one of the more popular and cost effective ways to achieve this is to install a solar home energy system which will include solar home panels. Whilst the installation of such a system is not very difficult, the main cost involved is for the panels themselves and finding methods of reducing this cost will dramatically increase your return on investment.
An average that is the industry standard is a cost of around $4.00 to $6.00 per watt used per day for pre-manufactures and factory installed panels. for larger households, this may require a massive investment that may or may not pay for itself depending on how much electricity you use, how much energy your panels will be able to produce and also how many panels you can accommodate. the lifespan of a standard solar panel is in the region of twenty years, but the advantages of installing a solar systems is that you are not only reducing your electricity bill, but also your dependence on fossil fuels for your power requirements. this in itself has its own intrinsic value that you may wish to consider as part of your calculations.
For many, the cost of having solar home panels built and installed is too expensive, but fortunately the ability to build your own will not only reduce the cost per watt, but can also be a skill worth learning in this day and age. even with just a rudimentary diy knowledge, you can build panels at home that will reduce the cost to around $1.40 to $2.00 per watt. the cost of building solar home panels must include the cost of learning how to construct them professionally. Various diy manuals are available online that offer full building instructions including video training and material lists for around fifty dollars and will require a small investment in equipment required to get the project completed such as soldering iron and volt meter.
For this small investment, you can dramatically increase the value of your home while at the same time having the skills to build solar home panels when and if the need and finances allow. as the demand for cost effective solar energy grows, you may even be able to benefit by building additional panels to produce an additional income.
on November 26th, 2011% ![]()
About the Author:
Best Residential Solar Energy Systems and other Related Resources:
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GreenDIYEnergy is a guide on how to start generating your own green energy at home. Developed by Ultimate Results, LLC, GreenDIYEnergy’s page promises to give users a step-by-step video and manual on building and installing their own personal solar panels. GreenDIYEnergy’s site also gives users a snek peek at the video that shows them how to buld and install their own solar panels.
Homemade Energy is fast becoming the buzz word in environmental circles. Consumers are becoming fed up with the problems associated with using conventional energy resources. Tired of rising costs, changing our lifestyle and in some cases being subjected to rationing, many home owners are turning to the newest trend in energy conservation DIY Solar Power Kits. a number of companies are now producing homemade energy guides, available for instant download on the internet, which give you step by step instructions on how to assemble the materials for your own DIY solar power kits.
Author: Neville Sinclair
on November 23rd, 2011% ![]() ALEXEI ORESKOVIC BILL WEIHL: With solar panels on Google’s Mountain View campus in 2009.
Google has abandoned an ambitious project to make renewable energy cheaper than coal, the latest target of Chief Executive Larry Page’s moves to focus the internet giant on fewer efforts.
Google said on Tuesday that it was pulling the plug on seven projects, including Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal as well as a Wikipedia-like online encyclopedia service known as Knol.
the plans, which Google announced on its corporate blog, represent the third so-called ”spring cleaning” announcement that Google has made since Google co-founder Page took the reins in April.
the changes come as Google is facing stiff competition in mobile computing and social networking from Apple and Facebook, and as some investors have groused about rising spending at the world’s No 1 internet search company.
”To recap, we’re in the process of shutting down a number of products which haven’t had the impact we’d hoped for, integrating others as features into our broader product efforts, and ending several which have shown us a different path forward,” wrote Google Senior Vice President of Operations Urs Holzle in the blog post.
Google said that it believed other institutions were better positioned to take its renewable energy efforts ”to the next level”.
Google began making investments and doing research into technology to drive down the price of renewable energy in 2007, with a particular focus on solar power technology.
In 2009, the company’s so-called Green Energy Czar, bill Weihl, told Reuters that he expected to demonstrate within a few years working technology that could produce renewable energy at a cheaper price than coal.
”It is even odds, more or less,” Weihl said at the time. ”In three years, we could have multiple megawatts of plants out there.”
a Google spokesman said that Weihl had left Google earlier this month.
Google noted in its blog post that it would continue efforts to generate ”cleaner, more efficient energy,” including procuring renewable energy for its data centres.
Among the other projects included in Tuesday’s ”spring cleaning” were Google Knol, Google Search Timeline, Google Gear, Google Friend Connect, Google Bookmarks Lists and Google Wave, an ill-fated social networking and communication service that Google had previously said it would cease developing.
Google said that in December its email and calendar applications will no longer work with Gears technology, which allows Google’s software to work when not connected to the Internet. Google said it is working to create offline capabilities into HTML5 technology instead.
Google Friend Connect, which allows website publishers to add social features to their sites, will be retired in March for all non-Blogger websites, Google said. it suggested that websites use its Google+ social network instead.
Earlier this year, Google said it would ”wind down” Google Labs, a website that offered public access to experimental Google products, as well as terminating products that let consumers monitor their home energy consumption and keep track of their personal health records.
Shares of Google, which finished Tuesday’s regular trading session down 94 cents, were up 86 cents at $580.86 in after hours trading.
– Reuters
on November 22nd, 2011% ![]()
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MetLife, inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today that it has received a 2011 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The annual award recognizes the country’s leading green power users for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market. The EPA presented MetLife with the award at the 2011 Renewable Energy Markets Conference yesterday.
“MetLife’s initiatives deliver on our commitment to not only be a global environmental leader, but to ensure we operate responsibly. our green power purchasing program helps support clean energy alternatives and helps combat climate change.”
MetLife was one of ten organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for its green power purchase. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves through purchases of green power from a utility green-pricing program, a competitive green marketer, or a renewable energy certificate. MetLife is currently purchasing more than 65 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 53 percent of the organization’s electricity use.
“We are proud to be recognized with this prestigious award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said John M. Vazquez, vice president, vendor sourcing and corporate services. “MetLife’s initiatives deliver on our commitment to not only be a global environmental leader, but to ensure we operate responsibly. our green power purchasing program helps support clean energy alternatives and helps combat climate change.”
According to the EPA, MetLife’s green power purchase of more than 65 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 9,000 passenger vehicles per year, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 6,000 average American homes annually.
MetLife is committed to addressing its environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions, implementing recycling and energy efficiency programs in its facilities and conserving natural resources by investing in renewable energy projects. To date, MetLife has reduced its energy consumption by 16% over the past five years and our carbon emissions by 40% since 2005; and has invested more than $1.7 billion in renewable energy ventures, including solar, wind and geothermal technologies. in addition, nearly all of MetLife’s corporate owned and/or operated U.S. buildings are Energy Star certified and six of its properties are certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating system.
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.
About MetLife
MetLife, inc. is a leading global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers in over 50 countries. through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. for more information, visit metlife.com.
on November 21st, 2011% ![]()
FOXBOROUGH – if Kevin Paicos was hired to be an agent of change, then Foxborough got what it paid for in its new town manager, whose head-spinning first year was paced by a 42-point “to-do’’ list.
Yet the local Board of Selectmen’s recent performance review, highlighting both successes and things to improve for Paicos, has caused him to rethink his approach.
“I’m trying to learn what it is the town wants me to do,’’ he said in a recent interview, coming across as thoughtful, and somewhat frustrated.
A career National Guard Special Forces medic with 30 years of municipal experience, Paicos began work in October 2010 after a two-year stint in Hingham. He replaced Andrew Gala, a quiet, unassuming man who had served the town for three decades.
Paicos said selectmen hired him to be an aggressive manager who brings modern ideas to the table, then allowed him to move too quickly for the town’s good.
“I took my staff, department heads, and employees on a pretty wild ride,’’ he said. “I thought I was doing a great job and delivering a great body of work. But we probably did too much and went too fast.’’
Now, he said, he is being told to be less of an agent of change “and more of a folksy person like Andy was.’’
Paicos said he was initially told to run the town of 17,000 with an annual budget of about $58 million like a business, and he did. Among his successes, according to a memo released by selectmen, is greater accountability in Town Hall, his work to address personnel costs, and initiatives like creating an efficient Department of Public Works.
Paicos was lauded for taking direction, delivering a balanced budget, implementing health care cost savings, and pursuing economic development, like a new big Y Supermarket and a proposed pedestrian footbridge over Route 1. He also pushed for an unpopular meals tax that will bring the home of the New England Patriots an additional $600,000 a year in income.
But selectmen also ripped Paicos’s communication skills and said employees have been threatened by his strong-arm style. He is also too wordy, they said.
“While you are a solid communicator, you sometimes fail to stop ‘after the sale’ and continue to talk too much,’’ selectmen chairman Larry Harrington wrote in the memo. “You tend to use words that make people feel threatened, or words that exaggerate your point… . Even comments like the ‘Town Hall is sick and getting sicker’ and that ‘someday there will be a crisis’ negatively impact the point you are making.’’
Paicos defended himself, saying he feels at home in Foxborough and is confused at also being told by selectmen to learn about the town’s culture and history before submitting future proposals or making decisions.
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