Solar Power House

This blog provides comprehensive, objective solar power house information and resources for solar hot water panels, solar power electricity and solar home heating.

The distinctions between passive and active solar systems are explored in more depth on the solar hot water and solar home heating pages that follow. Suffice it to say here that active systems are more complex and costly than passive systems, but passive solar has limitations on applications for which it is suitable.

The present status and future outlook of the solar power house is very bright. Solar power is now economically viable for everyday use in the home for four reasons: improved technologies; economies of scale; do it yourself products; and various government incentives.

Most homes in the industrialized part of the globe can currently utilize some forms of this sustainable and clean primary energy resource with adequate cost-benefits to justify installation. So, solar power house installations provide a dual benefit to the user and community: lower power bills and a cleaner environment.

Also, solar heating technologies can be used in most any climate. To take advantage of solar energy, all that is usually needed is to have an un-shaded area that faces either south, southeast or southwest. The appropriate type of system to choose, including the type of collector and whether it is active or passive, depends on several factors. These factors include your site, the climate you live in, installation considerations, cost, and how you would like your solar heating system to be used.

All solar water heater and solar space heater systems are comprised of some sort of solar collectors (panels), and all systems have some kind of storage device. Active systems also have circulating pumps and controls; passive systems work without this added equipment. Three types of solar collectors (panels) are used for home applications: flat-plate, integral collector-storage (ICS), and evacuated-Tube collectors.

By being properly informed and planning carefully you will be surer to choose the proper system for you and your family. Learn and plan, and only then start installing systems as fast as your time, energy and funds permit.

One cost effective approach to learning while doing and stretching your money is a do-it-yourself (DIY) project. And, the easiest and fastest pay-back DIY project is solar power hot water. This is because conventional hot water heating is about 25% of your power bill, and an effective solar hot water installation can save up to about two thirds of this 25%.

Over the years I have reviewed many DIY alternative energy packages. I have never experienced one more comprehensive and as simple to execute as the GreenDIYenergy package presented on the right of this page. It is very modestly priced and it is truly designed and explained for the novice. So, if you’re ready to get started doing while learning I encourage you to check this package out.

My name is Carter Reames; I am an engineer and first became involved in solar and other alternative energy activities during the oil embargo of 1973. My solar interests were frustrated during the era of unreasonably cheap fossil energy. But, with fossil fuel’s ever increasing costs and solar energy’s steadily decreasing costs, my passion for solar power has intensified.

Solar Power House Applications and System Alternatives

The three major solar power house applications are solar hot water, solar home heating and solar power electricity. Development of a solar power implementation strategy will of necessity require an examination and evaluation of numerous critical solar energy facts.

Of first importance is an assessment of macro geographic and site specific factors, and current power usage quantities and local utility rates. House orientation to the sun, shading of the site, area seasonal temperature ranges, and conventional utility cost are all examples of the critical factors that influence the feasibility of different solar power alternatives. Also, if the house to be evaluated for solar already exists, this will most often limit the solar alternatives that are feasible.

These considerations form the foundation of current costs, the potentialities of alternative solar applications, and the basis for calculating the cost-benefit for the alternative solar possibilities. And of course, solar project financial and time availabilities and limitations must also be taken into consideration when developing a solar plan of action.

If all three of the major solar power house applications are feasible and one wanted to implement a staged plan in order of increasing cost and complexity, and in decreasing order of cost benefit; it will usually be solar hot water first. The orders of the other two will more than likely be technology driven rather than cost or cost-benefit driven.

If the type of heat is to be electric, the next solar application will of necessity be electricity. If the type of solar heat is to be liquid or air based, then the decision can be made on a cost and cost-benefit basis. However, it is important to determine what heating alternative is most likely to be used before installing a domestic hot water system. If the solar home heating is to be liquid based, cost savings are possible by sizing some of the basic hot water infrastructure in order to accommodate the home heating application when it is added.

For a solar hot water system the fundamental decision is whether a passive or active system is to be built. Subsequent decisions are refinements of this fundamental decision which are detailed in solar hot water panels.

With solar home heating, there are three fundamental decisions: whether a water, air or electric heating system is to be used. If the system is to be water or air, there are two subsequent fundamental decisions to be answered for this choice: whether to build a passive or active air or water system. Additional details on these alternatives are in solar home heating.

There is also a fundamental decision to be made on a solar power electricity system that has significant cost ramifications. One possibility is to generate solar electricity and dump all excess electricity onto the electric grid and use the grid when the solar generation is insufficient for the house load (i.e., no storage). The other approach is to have a battery system to store excess solar generation for later use when house load exceeds the solar generation. This subject is covered in greater detail at solar power electricity.

Solar Hot Water Panels

Solar Hot Water

The production of solar hot water is one of the most cost-effective solar power house applications; typically reducing conventional water heating cost by about two-thirds. However, a solar heating system can save as much as 85% on hot water cost in some climates, which can be as much as 25% of total home energy costs. All solar applications provide the dual benefit of reducing fossil power expenses and reducing the associated fossil fuel environmental impacts of conventional energy generation. These are essential solar energy facts to understand for decision making.

The two main components of virtually all solar water-heating systems are solar panels which serve as the heat collectors, and a storage tank. A fluid of some type (which is often water) is used to move the heat from the collector to its point of heat transfer, storage or usage. The type of fluid and way it is handled will depend on how the hot water is used and the system employed to transport the fluid and transfer the heat.

There are two types of solar hot water systems; active and passive, but active systems are the most common. The three main home uses of active solar hot water systems are to heat water for consumption, space heating, and heating swimming pools. There are three types of solar panels (collectors) used in solar hot water systems, but the most common is the flat plate collector.

Active solar hot water systems

Active solar hot water systems use electric pumps, and controllers to circulate water (or other fluids) through the collectors. There are two categories of active solar hot water systems:

Direct-circulation systems which employ pumps to circulate pressurized potable water through the panels (the heat collectors). These systems are suitable only for areas that do not have extended periods of hard freezing.
Indirect-circulation systems pump a non-potable heat-transfer fluid through collectors. Heat exchangers transfer the heat from the fluid to the potable water. The two most common indirect systems are:
- The antifreeze system which employs a heat transfer fluid that is usually a mixture water and a non-toxic food-grade propylene glycol.
- The drainback system, which is a good choice in colder climates, pumps water through the collectors. The water in the collector drains back into a weather-protected reservoir tank when the pumps stop.

Passive solar hot water systems

Passive solar hot water systems use thermosyphon and gravity to naturally circulate water as it is heated. Due to the absence of electrical components, passive systems require less maintenance, and have a longer useful life span. The two main types of passive systems are:

Integral collector storage systems: also known as ICS or “batch” systems, are good for areas that rarely experience freezing, in homes that have significant daytime and evening hot-water needs; but not predominantly morning needs. They have one or more black storage tanks inside a glazed insulated box. Cold water is first preheated in the solar collector tanks and then continues to a conventional water heater.
Thermosyphon systems: use the natural convection of warm water rising to circulate water from the tank through the collectors as water in the collector heats and rises naturally into the tank above. To conceal it from view, the storage tank is often placed in the house’s attic of the solar power house. These systems are moderately priced, cost effective and reliable. Below is a skematic of a thermosyphon system:

Flat-plate solar hot water panels (collectors)

The solar power home hot water applications of consumption, space heating and pool heating only require temperatures at or below 180°F which is in the heating range of flat-plate panels. Although evacuated-tube collectors can reach temperatures higher than 200°F, their cost is approximately double that of flat-plate panels. Therefore, flat-plat are almost exclusively used in these applications.

As depicted below,a flat-plate collector is typically an insulated box with a glass or transparent plastic cover and a black absorber plate.

Graphic of the components that make up a Flat-plate collector. The lower layer contains insulation, followed by an absorber plate and the flow tubes. The top layer is the glazing. The components are encased in a glazing frame. There is an inlet and a outlet connection at either end.

Solar pool heating collectors are typically unglazed as in figure below.

Graphic of the components that make up an unglazed Solar Collector.

A steadily increasing environmental awareness coupled with a steadily growing do-it-yourself interest, has motivated more and more people to build their own solar water heating and other solar systems from scratch or to buy easy to install kits. DIY solar water heating systems are usually much cheaper than commercial ones, and installation costs can usually be avoided as well. With the help of a good DIY solar energy program it is now very affordable and a very easy task to have you own solar power home.

The DIY GreenDIYengery alternative energy package displayed on the right is better than most and among the best. It is well explained, easy to use, and reasonably priced. So if you have interest in a DIY solar project check it out and see if it works for you.

Solar Home Heating

The efficiency and reliability of solar home heating systems and collectors has steadily increased while costs have dropped dramatically since the early 1970s. They have reached the point of providing an environmentally green, cost-effect and sustainable alternative or supplement to fossil fuel home heating in many parts of the world. These more cost-effective solar heating systems, and improved materials and technologies used in them are making it increasingly possible for average homeowners to reduce their utility bills and to help in improving our environment. These are very encouraging solar energy facts.

Solar home heating is one of the central applications of the solar power house in which the thermal energy of the sun in the form of heat is used either directly to heat the house interior or transferred into some kind of storage facility. Liquid and air are two mediums of thermal energy heat transfer and storage.

Solar Home Heating Systems

A solar home heating system will be a passive or active system, or some combination of the two. Passive systems are usually simpler and less costly than active systems, but their applications are largely limited to new home construction.

Passive Solar Space Heating

Passive solar heating utilizes the thermal energy of the sun through design features, such as large south-facing windows with appropriately dimensioned window or roof overhangs. They may also incorporate storage mediums such as masonry floors or walls, or water in tanks which absorb heat during the day and release it at night when it is needed most.

Passive solar home heating systems are usually one of the following three designs:

Direct gain, which is the simplest, stores and slowly releases heat energy collected from the sun shining directly into the house and warming materials such as masonry or water stored in a tank.
Indirect gain, which is similar to direct gain, uses the same heat storage materials. However, the main difference is that these materials are located between the sun and living space (typically the wall).
Isolated gain collects solar energy remote from the location of the primary living area in a collector or a sunroom attached to a house, and then the warmer air naturally flows into the primary living area of the house.

Active Solar Space Heating

As in passive solar home heating, active solar heating systems can also use either liquid or air as the heat-transfer medium. Both liquid and air active solar home heating systems utilize solar panels (collectors) to absorb and collect solar thermal radiation as heat, then transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a heat storage container, from which the heat is distributed. However, unlike passive systems, active systems use electric fans or pumps and controller components to transfer and distribute this solar heat.

Although both air and liquid active systems can have a heat storage component, liquid systems are most often used when one is included. However, active air-based solar home heating systems can employ an air-to-water heat exchanger to supply heat to the domestic hot water system. But, for both solar heating system types, some sort of backup heating system is usually included to provide heat when there is an absence or deficiency of solar energy heat availability and the heat storage component is depleted.

Also worthy of note is the fact that air collectors are less efficient than liquid collectors because air conducts heat much less readily than liquid does. Accordingly, since less heat is transferred from an air collector’s absorber than from a liquid collector’s absorber, it requires a larger surface area of air system collectors to deliver an equivalent quantity of heat from a liquid system.

Liquid based solar home heating systems use the same solar hot water panels and other components as are used to produce solar hot water for domestic consumption. Therefore, with liquid systems, it is often very efficient and cost-effective to concurrently install integrated domestic solar hot water and solar home heating systems.

Flat-plate solar panels are the most used heat collector for solar hot water in homes and solar home heating. Their construction is typically an insulated metal box with a transparent covering of glass or plastic and a black metal or plastic absorber plate. They typically heat liquid or air at temperatures less than 180°F. In active liquid systems the liquid is heated as it is pumped through tubes in or adjacent to the absorber plate. In active air systems the air is heated as a fan blows the air past the absorber plate.

Below are illustrations of both liquid and air heat collectors.

Water system flat-plate solar panel

Graphic of the components of an air flat-plate collector. Cool air goes in one end, through the duct, into the insulation and absorbers and out the other end as warm air.

Air flat-plate solar panel for heating

Both of these panel types are commercially available for purchase. They are also relatively easy to build, especially when using a high-quality DIY project kit. If interested in investigating the DIY approach, take a look at the GreenDIYenergy at the top right. I have researched numerous alternative energy DIY products and this one is as good as or better than any others I have seen.

Solar Power Electricity

The Importance of Solar Power Electricity

Solar power electricity, also known technically as photovoltaic (PV) systems, is for several reasons an important energy source. It has numerous environmental benefits, it contributes to the nation’s energy security, and as it costs increasingly less to produce and use it becomes more affordable and available. Solar power electricity production has virtually no negative impact on the environment as it quietly generates electricity from light. While they’re operating, PV systems produce no air pollution, hazardous waste, or noise, and they require no transportable fuels. And, because its sunlight is both abundant and free, PV systems can guarantee access to electric power. Additionally, a solar power house equipped with solar power electricity generation frees the homeowner from the cost and uncertainties surrounding energy supplies from politically unstable regions. Once installed, PV systems can produce power continuously with little upkeep and minimal operating costs.

Solar Power Electricity Basics

Solar power electricity is actually produced by photovoltaic (PV) technology. The word photovoltaic has two parts: photo, derived from the Greek word for light, and volt, relating to electricity pioneer Alessandro Volta. So, photovoltaics can be literally translated as light-electricity. And that’s what PV materials and devices do — they convert light energy (as opposed to thermal energy) into electrical energy. Currently, PV has so many applications it likely touches the lives of most people in some way.

Commonly referred to as solar cells, individual PV cells are electricity-producing devices made of semiconductor materials. These cells are made from a variety of semiconductor materials, deposited or arranged in various structures, to create solar cells that have an optimal level of performance. The three main types of materials used for solar cells are: silicon; polycrystalline thin films; and single-crystalline thin film. Solar cells are the basic building block for any solar power electricity system and are several inches across.

Solar Power Electricity Systems

The basic PV solar cell typically produces only a small amount of power. To produce more power, cells are interconnected to form PV panels that may be up to several feet long and a few feet wide. Panels can then in turn be connected into arrays to produce even more power. Because of this modularity feature, solar power electricity systems can be designed to meet any electrical requirement, no matter how large or small. Appropriate sizing of an array for a solar power home is based on several factors, such as the amount of sunlight available in a particular location and the needs of the consumer.

Illustration of solar cells combined to make a module and modules combined to make an array.

The panels, which in a solar power house application are flat-plate panels, of the array make up the major part of a solar power electricity system. However, by themselves, panels or arrays do not represent an entire solar power electricity system. Structures on which to put them that point them toward the sun, and components that convert the direct-current electricity produced by the solar cells into alternate-current electricity are also required. Also, batteries are required if electricity is to be stored for subsequent use. All such additional items are referred to as the “balance of system” (BOS) components.

Combining an array of panels with the BOS components creates an entire solar power electricity system. This system is usually everything needed to meet a particular house energy demand, such as: solar home heating, powering appliances and lights in a home, or all the electrical requirements of the entire solar power house if the system is large enough. Solar power electricity-generation systems such are some of the most elegant and environmentally benign energy systems ever invented.

For the person ready to begin benefiting from solar power electricity who is also interested in exploring the most cost-effective approach, the “Do It Yourself” (DIY) approach is something to be seriously considered. I have personally investigated several DIY packages and the GreenDIYenergy package featured at the right-top is the best value I have found. It is inexpensive, the “how-to” is comprehensively presented, and it is simple to use. Check it out for yourself at no financial risk.

Portable Solar Power Lighting System

In this solar power house episode you can see the impact the Philips floodlighting system has on communities in Africa. The system was tested at the Refilwe soccer grounds in Lenseria, in the northern part of Johannesburg.

Duration : 0:3:27

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Small Solar Power House System

Short video describing a small solar power electricity system. It consists of twelve 1 amp solar panels (15 watts each for a total of 180 watts of power – per hour). It is used to run all lights (CFL’s), fans, tv’s, and stereos in my solar power house. also the microwave, coffee maker, blender, can opener, sandwich grill, toaster, vacuum, and computer. Run time for lights/fans only is approx 8 hours. Add in vacuuming, microwaving or toaster along with lights, tv and the fans and the run time is reduced to 4-5 hours a day. Total cost was about $1200 to $1300

Duration : 0:5:26

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Solar Hot Water System Test Home

A three collector, 120 gallon solar hot water system was installed in the solar power house test. Water in the solar storage tank is heated to 160 degrees using an antifreeze solution which circulates between the solar hot water panels on the roof and a heat exchanger installed inside the storage tank located in the garage. Domestic hot water is delivered at 120 degrees throughout the home summer and winter. Annually, this system generates 16 megawatts of free hot water using only sunlight.

Duration : 0:6:1

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Revolution for Solar Power & Light Emitters

Louise Bailey, a Ph.D. student at the University of Warwick describes her research into nitride semiconductors with real-world solar power light implications. This video introduces examples of semiconductor devices, e.g. mobile phones, solar cells, and light-emitting-diodes, to show the wide field of application and what potential benefits research into nitride semiconductors has for the solar power house and consumers. An explanation of semiconductor energy bands with animations are followed by Louise Bailey demonstrating absorption spectroscopy, including a display of a bright orange indium gallium nitride sample. To conclude the possibilities of using indium-gallium nitride for illumination on Earth and in space, its many advantages, e.g. compact, reliable, relatively inexpensive, and highly efficient, and how nitride semiconductors have the potential to change energy consumption, defence and the environment are discussed.

Duration : 0:4:58

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A Basic Solar Power House Set Up – Part 1 – DIY Cheap Solar Power

This small solar power house set up powers lights and TV at night. Easy to make, cost less than $1,000 US. It uses (1) 65w solar panel, (1) 16a charge controller, (1) 1,200w inverter, and (8) 6v, 220 a/h golf cart batteries. Will run for approx 2 days without being charged.

Duration : 0:3:6

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DIY Solar Hot Water System Controller

A controller is essential in regulating the flow of hot water from the solar hot water panels to the storage tank. This is an example of a DIY solar hot water system controller. An efficient solar hot water system is a very significant part of a solar power house.

Duration : 0:3:21

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Solar Power House Tour

Take a quick peek at what a solar power house system can do for cutting down on energy cost while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Duration : 0:2:44

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Solar Powered House – Solar Power Net Metering

This video illustrates the solar power electricity process of Net Metering, where photovoltaic (PV) panels provide energy with any excess kilowatts generated going back into the utility grid for credit on one’s electricity bill. In addition, rebates and/or tax incentives from your state may be available. The illustrated system is in Vermont. In this case, the solar power house is implemented via panels installed on a separate structure–a garage, but can also be installed on the roof of the house itself or as a freestanding array.

Duration : 0:1:13

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SOLAR HOT WATER – Past and Future

John Perlin, co-author of A GOLDEN THREAT: 2500 Years of solar power house architecture and technology, talks about the history of solar hot water heating, its current deployment around the world, and its future in a post-carbon society. Illustrated with stills from his book.

Duration : 0:34:7

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Forced Air Solar Home Heating – A DIY Solution

One of the largest home energy cost is home heating, especially in the colder climates. One major step in moving toward a solar power house is a cost effective solar home heating solution. Here is one you may find interesting and applicable to your situation.

Duration : 0:16:36

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Passive Solar Home Heating

Passive solar home heating can provide abundant, clean, free heat by eliminating the need to burn expensive dirty fossil fuels to heat. The lowest-cost way to get started is with a passive solar power house design. All it needs is well-designed, properly-oriented glass. Two of Zero Energy Design® key concepts are: (1) Isolated Solar Gain in a greenhouse / solarium, and (2) a unique Thermal Buffer Zone, which uses free natural convection air flow to move warm air from the sunny greenhouse to the cold opposite side of the building.

Duration : 0:7:58

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U S Solar Power Expected to Soar

According to MIT’s Technology Review, in a few years, the United States is likely to be the world’s largest market for solar power, eclipsing Germany, which has taken the lead as a result of strong government incentives in spite of the relative paucity of sunlight in that country. A number of factors could make growth possible in the United States–especially changes in legislation that give utilities incentives to create large solar farms.

Last year, the U.S. solar industry got off to a slow start but sales rebounded in the second half of the year, largely because of a drop in the prices of solar panels of up to 40 percent, partly caused by an oversupply due to the recession.

This year solar installations could double due to several likely causes, including decreasing prices for solar panels and installation costs, as well as increasing government incentives, which can make solar far more attractive.

Click here MIT Technology Review for the entire article.

Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water Panel System

This video takes you through the installation of an evacuated tube solar hot water panel system. A solar hot water system is central to having a solar power house because production of domestic hot water is a large part of total home energy consumption.

Duration : 0:3:4

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Solar Home Heating

Heating your solar power house with solar hot water panels. You can buy them, I made my own. 1 square foot of collector heats 1 1/2 U.S. gallons of water 40 degrees farenheit in Pennsylvania, USA in winter. The more collectors you put up the more water volume you can heat. Most people use one of these collectors for domestic hot water, showers, etc. I used mine to heat my house. Of course insulate well first, then see if you can use this. You’ll need to add radiant floor heat system to get heat out of tank. tonyfixit

Duration : 0:9:42

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Energy Expert Discusses The Future of Solar Power Electricity

At Vanderbilt University Dec. 3, 2007; Lawrence Kazmerski, director of the National Center for Photovoltaics in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, discusses the prospects of solar-photovoltaic (PV) technologies, arguing that this solar power electricity is at a tipping point in the very complex realm of worldwide energy. The future prospects of the solar power house are very good indeed.

Duration : 1:25:49

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Installing A Home Solar Power System

Using solar energy in homes used to be rare. However, today there are many families using solar energy to be environmentally responsible and save money. Installing a residential solar energy system may seem overwhelming but with help appropriate to your needs you can get the job done.

Solar power house systems are not overly difficult to install. They are self contained and modular which makes them easy to service as well. The nature of your homesite and the orientation on your home’s roof to the sun will determine how the solar panels will need to be installed. It may be necessary to install them near your home with a ground stand rather than mount them on your roof to more effectively collect the sun’s energy.

When installing a home solar energy system you may want to also have a battery storage system to provide power when there is a solar deficit and avoid interruption should a power outage occur. With one, when all your neighbors have no power your solar power house is running like normal. Without a battery storage system surplus power is can usually be used to reverse your electricity meter for a reduction on your bill.

Your decision on what type of system will in part be determined by whether you are going to have it installed by a contractor or build it yourself. Both approaches have different options, and depending on what you want and what works best for your home you will have the choices of what you want to do as far as type. Depending on the particular circumstances, it is sometimes a good idea to have an independent solar consultant give you recommendations if you do not feel qualified to do your own research.

Regardless of your approach, you will want to take a good look at the appearance and of type of system that seems best for your home. Consideration should be given to such factors as the elevation of your home for accessibility and they style of your home.

Installing a residential solar energy system can be done by the homeowner. However, there are some complexity and safety issues related electricity hook-up and plumbing to consider that may require a licensed contractor. However, the labor expense portion of the installation of a qualified solar system will also apply against most government tax incentive programs for solar.

Solar Power House

About 50% of our house energy is provided by solar power electricity which is currently running with 4 solar panels and 1 Air-X 400 watts turbine…

Duration : 0:4:3

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Solar Home Tour

Passive solar heating and hot water production in an earth sheltered solar power house.

Duration : 0:6:41

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Solar Hot Water

This video of a solar hot water installation in a solar power house was created by Bowdoin College students www.bowdoin.edu in cooperation with the Maine Energy Investment Corporation www.renewmaine.org.

Duration : 0:5:27

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Solar Power Advantages

What are the solar energy advantages? The answers are simple; sustainability, a cleaner environment and rates of energy on the rise, etc. Solar power is an affordable alternative. There are so many ways to use solar power, you want to decide which works best for you. This includes finding out information pertaining not only to advantages of a specific method but its installation as well.

The most obvious advantage of solar power is the money that you save in the long run. Installation may be expensive and seem like a big step, until you consider how much you save for the long term. Consider how much you pay to heat up your house from month to month. Wouldn’t you like to save the hundreds of dollars for something else, every month?

Solar power is derived from the sun, which has and will always be free, not unlike the air that we breathe. This consideration alone, is liberating.

This kind of power is traditionally installed on the roof or in the swimming pool. When it comes to solar panels, there are two types and these are; solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic modules. The latter generates electricity while the former generate heat (either in air or water). These panels may be installed side by side and look almost identical in appearance.

One of the great solar energy advantages is that usage of this particular power decreases the usage of foreign oil. This affects our environmental and political concerns.

If the cost of installation is worrying for you, consider a do-it-yourself installation. You can easily recoup your investment in about ten years of usage. Of course, since solar power is environmentally friendly, it is encouraged. Therefore, you qualify for tax credits as well as rebates. An amount here and there helps to off-set the initial cost.

However, if you would rather put it on trial, try out solar power via smaller systems such as passive solar heating and solar water heaters. Feel the solar power difference on a smaller scale and get the systems installed easily. By the time you are ready for a major installation, you can do so confidently.

If you are still unsure, try further research on solar energy advantages. There is plenty of information on this subject on the web. The more you know, the better you can decide and in the process, you up your confidence level. But of course, other than the installation cost, solar power is practically all advantageous for long term usage.

Solar Power Electricity Costs Continues Decline

Solarmer Energy Inc. has recently announced that the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has certified its plastic solar panel efficiency at 7.9%. Breakthroughs like and other mounting solar energy facts make it obvious that cost-effective solar power electricity may soon be a widespread possibility. The PV solar pannel and battery storage are the major cost components of solar electric power systems. This breakthrough obviously deals with the solar panel, but for more information on battery advances for the solar power house click here.

“Breaking the 7% efficiency barrier for organic photovoltaics is a huge accomplishment for Solarmer and the organic photovoltaic (OPV) industry.” said Dr. Gang Li, VP of technology development at Solarmer. “We are thankful for the contributions of our two primary collaborators, Prof. Luping Yu at the University of Chicago and Prof. Yang at UCLA. We believe that our world class team will ensure that we continue along the path to the commercial success of OPVs.”

The company uses low-cost plastic as the active materials to convert solar energy into electricity. The active plastics layer is extremely thin, less than 1/1000 of silicon cell. The company also uses low cost printing techniques to manufacture plastic solar cells. This higher efficiency coupled with the company’s use of low cost printing techniques to manufacture the plastic solar cells has significant ramifications for the cost of solar power electricity.

The combination gives much lower cost of equivalent energy, 10-20% that of silicon technology, and the fabrication process is both low temperature and environmentally friendly, significantly reduces the amount of energy consumption in the manufacturing process, the company said.

Nearing completion of their pilot manufacturing line, this efficiency milestone increases anticipation for their plastic solar panels, which will be available in 2010.

Solar Power House Insurance Benefits

The December 7, 2009 issue of WSJ.com Business reports that homeowners are discovering that for a modest additional premium, they could repair damage to their homes in a green fashion, which typically is more expensive, says Mr. Logan of Ceres. And “if you currently have a solar power house you ought to be able to get a discount under a green insurance policy because of the risk-reduction benefits associated with green buildings,” he says. Such benefits are said to include better health for building residents, due to improved air quality, for example, stronger windows and insulation, and reduced interruptions of business because of on-site renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Construction: Insurers offer discounted policies to encourage new structures that use eco-friendly materials, designs and technology—the results of which are often healthier for inhabitants and more resilient in disasters. One such company, Zurich Financial Services AG, offers a policy in 29 states for homes that obtain green certifications such as those offered by the U.S. government’s Energy Star program, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, an industry effort managed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, based in Washington, D.C.

Upgrades:One of the most popular benefits available from many companies is a homeowner’s policy that offers extra reimbursement for purchases of energy-efficient plumbing, nontoxic paints and carpets, and energy-friendly appliances. These policies usually cost 1% to 1.5% more than a typical homeowner’s policy, but when damaged property has to be repaired or replaced, they will pay for expensive items like Energy Star-certified appliances. For a 2% surcharge on its homeowner’s premium, Farmers Insurance, a unit of Zurich, offers Eco-Rebuild, a policy that provides an additional $25,000 to cover the extra cost of using green materials or processes when rebuilding or replacing. The policy also reimburses for recycling debris rather than disposing it, and for extra costs incurred when other power has to be used in the event of loss of alternative-power generating equipment.

Solar and Geothermal: Several companies offer consumers discounts on homeowner’s policies if they install rooftop solar panels or other energy-saving devices, like a geothermal heat pump. For example, one Pennsylvania Insurance company offers PA homeowners a 5% discount for using solar energy to generate electricity. It also provides a 5% discount for homes with geothermal heat pumps that meet the Energy Star program requirements at the time of purchase.

Good Energy – Solar Power House

In the Herefordshire countryside a couple use solar panels at their solar power house to heat water and generate solar power electricity and help them to lead the good life.

Duration : 0:5:57

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A Major Discovery At MIT Has Potential Create A Solar Revolution

MIT researchers have apparently broken-down what has long been a major obstacle to large-scale solar power: the efficient storage of energy for use when there is a solar deficit. It may well be a revolutionary advancement that could change solar power electricity from a marginal power alternative to traditional electricity generation into a mainstream energy source.

Because storing solar generated electricity has traditionally been prohibitively expensive and very inefficient, solar power has been largely limited to a daytime-only energy source. MIT researchers have apparently developed a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy that requires nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials. If this announcement is accurate, it represents a major advancement for the complete solar power house.

Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT and senior author of a paper describing the work in the July 31 issue of Science. For additional details and a video on the announcement please click here: MIT News

Solar Power Electricity Roof Shingles From Dow in 2010

Dow Chemical recently announced that their new Solar Power House photovoltaic shingles may soon be coming to a home near you. Their announcement of efficient, affordable, and easily-installed solar rooftop shingles has reportedly shaken the building and solar industries quite a bit, as the company itself revels in the expectation of around $5 billion in revenues by 2015 for this solar power electricity producing product alone.

The solar power shingles perform at lower efficiency than do solar panels, but their ease of installation and lower cost will offset the lower efficiencies are likely to generate greater popularity among homeowners. Their use in roofing replacement projects as well in new construction may well help energy savings efforts greatly in the years to come. While Dow’s CIGS cells will be less efficient than the leading polysilicon cells, their cost-effectiveness is geared towards a wide market and will likely compete well with traditional solar panels.

Dow says that one of the greatest advantages the shingles bring to homeowners is their ability to be installed in about ten hours. Since the installation process accounts for about 50% of the cost of traditional solar power electricity systems, this significantly short installation period will likely make the shingles more affordable for a greater variety of people and types of homes.

Rather than requiring an entirely new roofing structure or design, the solar shingles can be integrated with the asphalt shingle pieces used on most modern homes. Unlike the process of purchasing parts for solar panels and putting a system together, Dow indicates that their solar power electricity shingles require little special knowledge or training, a factor that may well lead to their use in areas that are usually averse to solar energy due to a lack of specialized solar workers.

As interest in the creation of green buildings grows, and as homeowners and contractors look for ways to cut costs on “green” initiatives, the solar power electricity shingles may well prove to be one of the company’s most exciting and lucrative products in the solar power house arena.

Solar Power House in Virginia

Energy expert Alden Hathaway and his wife Carol live in a solar powered house in Londoun County near Hillsboro,Virginia. If one in every four houses in Virginia were solar powered, our power needs would be cut in half.

Duration : 0:2:48

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Small Home Solar Power Electricity System

A brief layout of my solar system that I installed about 2 weeks ago.

Duration : 0:5:22

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Solar Hot Water

Duration : 0:3:32

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Solar Home Heating: Part 1

SWITCH Renewable Energy Workshop #1: Solar Home Heating – Solar Thermal Part 1

Duration : 0:9:4

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Solar Home Heating Part 2

SWITCH Renewable Energy Workshop #1: Solar Home Heating – Solar Thermal Part 2

Duration : 0:9:24

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Solar Home Heating Part 3

SWITCH Renewable Energy Workshop #1: Solar Home Heating – Solar Thermal Part 3

Duration : 0:9:10

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Solar Power Electricity

Details on how solar can provide clean electricity for your solar power house. Solar power electricity systems allow you to sell power back to the electrical grid for credit against your utility bill. Using solar power electricity reduces your carbon emissions and environmental footprint. This educational video is suitable for homeowners, educators, businessses, and solar contractors.

Duration : 0:3:26

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Solar Power Electricity 101

Please sign the Declaration of Endependence at www.endependence.info/declaration . Short and concise explanation of solar photovoltaic systems. How do they work? Do I need batteries? Produced by the on-line local action network, Endependence.info. Show us how you are saving energy. We’ll copy your great ideas. Energy independence, we can’t do it alone, but we can do it together.

Duration : 0:2:4

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Solar Hot Water

Talk about tank sizing and configuration as well as mechanisms for eliminating excess heat.

Duration : 0:8:40

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The Solar Power House Gets a Game-Changing New Battery Technology

Solar energy has been around for a while, but it has historically been prohibitively expensive. However, costs have recently been dropping sharply due to new photovoltaic (PV) thin-film chemistry and manufacturing techniques. Some solar companies are reporting PV panels for under $2 a watt which is a four-fold cost reduction from the $8 it was only a few years ago. These solar power facts make it clear that the convergence of these and other solar PV technology advances with a new deep-storage battery technology has profound implications for the solar power house and our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

After 10 years of research and testing, a new generation of cost-effective, deep-storage battery has arrived that’s small and safe enough to sit in your basement and power your home. It may be the single most important breakthrough to date for the potential availability of plentiful solar power electricity. The battery breakthrough comes from a company called Ceramatec.

The essence of their huge battery breakthrough is that high energy density (a lot of power storage) can now be achieved safely at operating temperatures below 90 degrees C temperatures which allow solid components instead of hot liquid. It’s an amazing breakthrough because the most energy-dense batteries currently available are huge containers of super-hot molten sodium, swirling around at about 600 degrees. At these temperatures the material is highly corrosive and toxic – conditions very unsuitable for use in the home.

Ceramatec says its new generation of battery, about the size of a refrigerator, will store about 20 to 40 kilowatt hours of energy for 3,650 daily discharge/recharge cycles over 10 years of battery life. With the batteries expected to sell for approximately $2,000, this translates to less than 3 cents per kilowatt hour battery cost over its life. Conventional power from the grid typically costs in the neighborhood of 8 cents per kilowatt hour, and typical deep-cycling lead/acid batteries are only good for a few hundred cycles so they last for only a year or so.

Ceramatec’s new battery technology also has profound ramifications for the U.S. electrical grid which is an inefficient, aging relic of a century-old approach to energy, and is a weak link in national security in an age of terrorism. Taking a load off the grid through electricity production and storage at home could extend the life of the system and avoid the expenditure of hundreds of billions dollars to make it “smart.” However, centralized management of the energy grid requires the use of computers, which creates security issues like hackers and terrorists. Also, large-scale power generation from centralized power plants creates the opportunity for regional grid blackouts caused by a “point failure” on the grid. The opportunity with this new battery technology is to ease pressure on the grid and move homeowners closer to greater energy independence.

With small-scale solar power electrical generation and battery storage taking place at millions of individual homes these problems could be either eliminated or significantly reduced. Can you imagine anything more secure than generating energy with the sun at your own solar power house, and having a safe, cost-effective way to store it? It’s the ultimate in security, and the ultimate in control.”

Ceramatec indicates that they are close to moving from initial scale-up toward a commercial product, and this presents an unparalleled opportunity for home generation of solar power electricity.

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