Solar Home Power Systems: Passive, Active or Grid?
The Solar Energy Industries Association guesses that over 200,000 U.S. Homes will be powered off-grid by alternative solar energy by the end of 2010. While the production of solar clobber needs some inputs of capital, energy and materials, the consequential system will provide power for years with very little cost or upkeep. Home solar electricity systems, and homes that rely on solar power stations ‘on-the-grid ‘ are becoming more popular as many governments offer motivations to home owners to join the solar revolution. So when you are doing your next home remodeling porject, consider these solar options.
There are three alternative ways of capturing solar energy for home use: passively, concentrating light and heat, or by photovoltaic cells. Passive solar is the best and least expensive, where there isn't any mechanical action and the heating properties are simply a matter of good design suited to your local climate. Houses can be designed to capture or reflect heat through placement, ventilation and materials, maximising summer cooling and winter heating. The “One Tonne Home” in Sweden (designed by Gert Wingrdh) is an excellent example of passive solar in action for a cool climate: with a big surface area of walls and darkened windows for heat storage and, and high thermal mass in the walls that maintain an even internal temperature. The home also has a solar system so good it can charge the family electrical car!
Solar hot water systems employ passive solar and can cut your power charges by 30% dependent on your location. Solar hot water systems are inexpensive to run, and in dull weather can be supplemented with and electric backup if you run out of hot water. They work by soaking up heat through a collection of water filled pipes and then storing that heated water in a well insulated tank.
Photovoltaics convert light energy into electricity which is either used immediately or stored in batteries. Power from photovoltaic cells can scaled to your wishes. You could simply want to install solar lights for your garden, or go further and power your entire house with a complete system. The size and value of your off-grid system will rely on your wishes, however a 10kWh system is generally sufficient for the average family of 4, and will cost you about $US40,000 for a professionally installed system. The real cost perhaps a load less when you apply govt inducements supplied in many nations. Incentives to buy solar systems exist in several U.S. States and in California a ‘feed-in tariff ‘ means you can sell your power back to the grid. Many new solar system lease programs like that offered by USA Solar Energy, Solar City and Lease The Sun to help folks milk the emissions and savings reductions of limitless solar energy in their houses.
Concentrating solar collectors are the technique employed by solar electricity stations. Mirrors reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a central location that heats water to turn turbines. Many home made and tiny scale version are being developed for home water heating like these ones at Build It Solar. This principle is what powers the easy home-made parabolic or flat reflecting solar range, but on a much bigger scale such as that of the 354 MW SEGS thermal power plant, in California and the recently authorized Blythe solar collector plant that is mooted to power at least 300,000 houses in the area when in open s in 2013.
Following installation home solar power systems can offer endless electric power at a small part of the cost of conventional grid connected power, with the increased feel good of knowing you do your bit to reduce carbon emissions and make the future a cleaner, greener place.
Are you reworking your house? Let us help you with your solar electricity needs. We can also offer you kitchen, bath or basement remodeling ideas. Check out Archidwell, your final guide to living through a home re-building. Let us assist you with our home remodeling software.