A very popular component we use for residential solar power are the solar panels. These are used to transform and convert the sunlight into what we call solar electricity. Photovoltaic technology is behind the magic of the solar panel. With the help of photovoltaic cells, it can convert the solar energy it gets from the sun into solar electricity which can then power our lights, televisions and other electrical appliances.

The main tool needed to maximize the use of solar electricity is the solar panel. It is a specialized panel consisting of solar cells that absorbs sunlight and converts it into useful solar electricity. Photovoltaic works through two or more semi-conductors, which are usually made of silicon that is when exposed to light, produces electrical charges that can be converted into direct current.

Nowadays, no matter what country you are in, news about solar electricity are everywhere. There are more and more people that install systems in their homes daily. Why is that so?

We all know that using solar electricity greatly helps not only your country but also for the greater good of the world. The whole process to produce solar energy is harmless as it does not create greenhouse gases hence doesn’t hurt the environment. The full operation and maintenance of the system goes smoothly with minimal checking needed. It is also better than other sources of alternative energy mainly because it runs so quietly. The bonus of lowering your monthly electricity bill doesn’t hurt either.

So how can we start using solar electricity?

First of course is that, we would have to purchase a solar panel that will be responsible to absorb sunlight during daytime. The purchase alone could amount $4-$6 per watt, depending on the amount of energy that we need. The installation is of course another charge.

But if you’re working on a tight budget, never worry since you can build your own solar panels to produce solar electricity by just few clicks on the internet.

With the help of alternative energy like solar electricity, you can save money and of course, the environment. This will certainly make the lives of our children a better one. So start today and give back to the world. You will never regret it.

Want to learn more about solar electricity? Click here to learn everything about residential solar power so that you get it right the first time, every-time.

Many people are becoming more and more conscious of the environment as news about global warming becomes more mainstream knowledge. There are new companies popping up all the time trying to find new ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Well one of the simple ways that all of us can embrace to reduce our impact on the environment is by use of alternative energy sources. Solar energy is one of those alternative energy sources. In the following article we will explore the various benefits and disadvantages of solar power.

Lets first start with the disadvantages of solar energy. First of all solar panels need a pretty big initial investment as they can be quite expensive. Also they are less cost effective than fossil fuels right now. But the technology is always improving and the cost ever decreasing. Now for the benefits: solar panels are easy to install, produce zero emissions, and are great for the environment. Not only that but the cost to produce them is going down from over $4 a few years ago to under $1 just recently.

The best thing about solar power is that it is great for the environment. With no emissions, solar energy leaves no carbon footprint and utilizes an endless supply of energy. Everyone is getting in on the green movement – even big name corporations like Google and Walmart.

Even when it is overcast, new technology allows certain solar panels to capture enough energy for the day. It works by storing extra energy on sunny days when the power isn’t being consumed as much and then when it is rainy or overcast it uses that stored energy.

There is another type of solar panel setup know as a PV system. The system is connected directly to the power grid and the extra power produced by any panels on the grid is utilized by other homes.

So as you can see solar energy is actually a viable method of energy generation that people can utilize to reduce their carbon footprint. While it may be expensive for some, if you can afford the initial investment you can enjoy years of clean renewable energy without impacting the environment any more than is necessary.

However, it may come as a surprise to you to know that it is not that expensive in the long run and not that tedious to set up solar power for your personal use. Moreover, these will help cut down your power bills. Finally, you will be delighted to know that you are doing your bit to save power for the future generations.

This article is intended to help you become more acquainted with solar power and its uses

Its true! With a solar cooker you can cook food without the use of fuel for a meal of up to five people! If you are thinking that using a solar cooker will reduce your chances of spreading up a varied platter on the dining table, you will be surprised to know that you can not only boil food items in the cooker but also roast and bake! With a solar cooker the only extra measure you have to take is to consider the extra time it takes to cook with it. However, that is a small price to pay in order to save the planet and save money on your energy bill.

Solar power can also be used to light up your house. You can have a solar house lighting system that takes solar energy and converts it into useable electrical energy. This is done via cells that are charged with solar energy. So, in the night, if you wonder how the lights are on in the house, it is because of the solar energy stored in the solar cells. You can have your own solar home lighting system by learning how to build a solar panel for your household.

You can install the solar home lighting system in your house and not worry about the electricity bills anymore.

You may also be unaware that you can also install a solar powered heating system for you house.

You dont have to break the bank for a solar heating system. The people that make solar power heating systems know how to limit cost and make systems exclusively for household use, so it is not like you are going to be charged for factory building prices. The initial investment of a solar heating system is going to be worth it in the long run as people get a return on investment within 3-4 years, as youll have free energy after that period.

Want to learn more about solar power information? Learn more about how to build a solar panel at Go-SolarEnergy.com!

So why would you want to make a solar powered pump birdbath?

The Advantages Are:

a: The moving water in the fountain stop its from going stagnant

b: The pump does not have to plugged into your power supply

c: No inverter is needed since the pump operates on direct current.

d: The pump uses minute power (only 6volts) so very few solar panels are needed

e: No batteries are required, since the pump only really needs to operate during the day when the sun is out and the birds are in the garden.

f: You could learn to make your own solar panels, reducing the cost even further.

g: The birdbath is wireless making it very portable.

What parts and materials are needed to build a solar powered pump birdbath?

The simplest option would be for you to add solar panels to an already working birdbath and fountain.

The cheaper, more labor intensive approach would be to get a birdbath with the right holes drilled for the fountain to be installed. And then add on the pump, fountain attachment, irrigation and power supply.

If you decide to make your own fountain, you will need:

The Birdbath:

Here you have a choice of cascading fountains, copper fountains, terracotta birdbaths, resin fountains, or the conventional ceramic birdbath. Just make sure a pump system can be installed on the birdbath.

The Fountain Spout:

Depending on whether you want the water to trickle or spout out the top, you can get the right attachment from most hardware stores or garden centers.

Small DC Pump:

The next part is buying the small dc pump. A typical 6 volt pump should be adequate, but you may need to go bigger, if the birdbath or water feature is larger than normal.

Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe:

This is what the water will flow through. It is best to ask your nursery about the various irrigation options. Otherwise, get ideas from finished pump powered fountains. As a rule of thumb, the PVC piping needs to be narrow to maintain enough water pressure.

Silicon Sealant:

This is used to seal all joins where the water could escape from, and also to insulate any bare wire from getting wet where it has been joined.

The Solar Panels:

This is what sets this off-grid system apart from conventionally powered birdbath fountains. The pump will help determine how many solar panels you need. For a 6 volt DC pump, you will need at least a 6 volt solar panel, but rater double up on the solar panels for times when the sun is weak.

NB: For the solar panels, there are two options:

1 : Buy a small commercially available solar panel from any outlet, such as Wallmart.

2 : Make it yourself. With the right guide it is rather easy and much cheaper to make your own solar panel in a matter of hours. If this is something you would love to try do, then keep reading…

For the solar panel to operate effectively it needs to be fitted in a frame and angled in the direction of the sun. Placing it under a tree will not help.

How simple is it to build?

If you have all the tools and materials and any diy experience, you could have a working solar powered pump birdbath within in a matter of hours – that’s if all goes to plan…

A good idea would to add some batteries to the birdbath, so that the excess solar power can be stored and to power the pump at night. For a 24 hour fountain, you will need:

1) The right battery:

Because the pump is only 6 volts, a 12 volt battery is more than enough. It should be a deep cycle battery (car battery) that can store the power for a longer time.

Charge Controller:

This is not essential, but it prevents your battery from over-charging. So it can really extend the life of the battery. It will be wired up between the solar panels and the battery.

Over and above it being affordable to build, what I like about putting together my own solar powered pump birdbath, is that once the first one is finished, making the second or third one just gets easier. It could even be a fantastic gift for a close friend or newly wed.

If you want to make your own solar panel for the birdbath, then have a look at the Earth4Energy Sneak Peek – a FREE preview of the top-rated step-by-step solar power guide. It may also help to read the Earth4Energy Review.

Who in the entire world does not wish to have their energy bills reduced by 80% or more? Many of us would jump at the chance to take advantage of such a great deal. You can make your own homemade solar panels and install a system for less than $200. Earth4Energy sells a step by step guide that shows you how to do it.

The Earth4Energy guide has: quick and easy instructions, what parts to buy and where to find them, a bonus section on how to build a homemade wind generator to save more money off your energy bill, and a 60 day guarantee that if you are not saving hundreds of dollars a month off your monthly power bill you get all your money back, no questions asked.

There are videos as well for those of us who learn better by seeing.

It still seems incredible to me that anyone can follow this guide and build a homemade solar panels and wind power system and save 80% off their monthly energy bill. I think the reason we do not hear about this in mainstream media more is because of special interests blocking this kind of technology. Think about it. The big energy companies hate you for producing your own energy and the government hates you because they can not tax it.

I built my own homemade solar panel system and am saving about 40% off my monthly power bill. The reason I am saving only 40% is that I’m starting off small, with only a few panels and a very small battery bank. I plan on expanding my solar power system when I get more money.

Do not give more of your dwindling cash to the large power corporations, you need to look at Lance Jensen’s incredible free blog on making homemade solar panels and how to make a solar panel

Wind power and solar power, through the use of a battery bank, reduces your electricity bills, saves the planet, and is a superior supply of energy during power outages.

If you are thinking about making a home wind power turbine then here are a few things you should consider first.

Farmhouses and houses that are spread over an acre achieve the greatest cost savings from a wind power turbine. Less homes and buildings are present to block the flow of wind.

Take a moment to think about the amount of wind in your area. If you do not have much wind flow, then a wind power generator will save you little. Ideally, you want to live in an area that has an average wind speed of 11 miles per hour.

One of the best things about solar and wind power generation at home is that you are no longer at the mercy of power companies and their power outages that routinely effect us all. By producing your own electricity, black outs are a thing of the past. Plus there is nothing like seeing the look on your neighbors faces when they are standing outside because their power is out and they see your power on.

A typical wind power system comprises of a tower and five blades to churn out wind energy. The length of the wind tower varies depending on the location of your house. You may need a longer tower if you are in low-wind zone; you can work with a shorter tower if you live by the beach. Using a wind generator, this wind energy can be converted into useful electrical energy to be employed at home for running various electrical appliances. You can even store the power generated for later use, making wind generators more efficient than convention power systems.

If you are confused with the wind power terminology, this bit of information will help you. The terms, wind power generator, wind mills, wind turbines, and wind generators are all used to refer to the same machine.

If you are ready to take the next step in lowering your monthly power costs then you must see Lance Jensen’s awesome free blueprint for making a homemade wind generator. Go to home wind power

An ordinary citizen, albeit brilliant, has solved the energy crisis and our dependency on oil. He has created a 6 kwh solar system one can make at home for under $5,500. If a 6 kwh system was build with PV panels, it would cost about $80,000 to install.

What really gets my goat is that the powers that be in the United States want us all to think that after 15 years, and hundreds of millions of dollars in “government grants” to big oil companies to develop alternative energy projects, they could not come up with a system with this much yield for so cheap. Whatever! Chevron, Exxon, and the U.S. Department of Energy are not interested in these kinds of DIY homemade solar systems because they can’t make money off it. Big oil wants an alternative solution that keeps you as a paying customer while the U.S. government wants to be able to tax the solution. If everyone could pull as much energy as they needed completely from the air, the government could not get tax revenues with such a system, unless they taxed sunlight. Both big oil and the U.S. government only want an alternative energy solution that enriches them.

The billionaire oil executives in America will not let a DIY homemade solution hit mainstream America. They do not want you empowered and able to produce your own electricity simply by pulling it from free light.

The truth gets much darker than this. The oil trade is killing average people in Nigeria, Burma, and other countries. Nigeria and Burma are just two countries in which big oil has brought great harm and death to average people. Big oil is telling the Nigerian government where they want their luxury houses to be built. The government is sending in bulldozers to remove entire neighborhoods of poor people. They are even destroying churches. You can find videos of what is happening in Nigeria courtesy of YouTube.

Nigeria is only a portion of the cruelty to people in the name of profits for big oil. The U.N. Security Council has condemned the Burmese military junta for its treatment of its people. All companies have left the region except for Chevron. While the pipe line was being built, supervised by oil executives, the Burmese military junta forced villagers along the pipeline into slavery. Here are a Burmese citizens own words, “When there was no pipeline, there were no problems with soldiers. No soldiers came to this area. The soldiers came when we were harvesting rice. After the pipeline reached our village, we were told we had to work for the white people at gun point. We were forced by the soldiers into slavery. If we said we had to plant rice and would not do work for the white people, they said they would kill us and all our children. Because of the white people, our home was destroyed and the men had to run into the jungle or be killed. Many were killed. My husband escaped into the jungle. I waited for him to come back. While I was waiting, a soldier walked up to me and hit me with his rifle. I hit my head on a stone when I fell and lost consciousness. When I awoke, my baby had been burned alive in a fire. She did not cry. Her body was burned and all black.”

Now keep in mind that an average, ordinary American, albeit very intelligent, created an affordable DIY solar power system. The U.S. Department of Energy has been giving big oil companies like Chevron millions of dollars each year of tax payers money to create an alternative energy solution to break us from our dependency on oil. It sounds like big oil has been running a tax payers scam using the U.S. Department of Energy as the vehicle. During the Bush Administration and Republican control, the Department of Energy was staffed with pro big oil corporate executives and lobbyists. They have come up with very little and yet here is an ordinary citizen without any kind of multi-million dollar tax payer funded research budget, and he has created an affordable solar energy solution.

Here is the video. Prepared to be blown away.

Written by Lance Jensen. For free plans to build your own solar power system and other ways you can stick it to the big oil companies go to diy homemade solar panels

Well, we asked our server what was going on. She told us that “corporate” had put a new rule in place at all the restaurants instead of investing in green products. The rule was that no spoons were to be placed on any place setting. I grew up in an environment where a full place setting was always set before a hungry customer, consisting of a fork, knife and spoon. Now, “corporate” in its wisdom has said that only if a customer ordered coffee was a spoon to be given to the customer. I have a six year-old that uses a spoon for her fruit bowl; we had to ask for a spoon.

After inquiring why this had occurred, I was informed that “corporate” believed that there would be an energy savings and yet not a single CFL bulb was in use. I asked how that was possible; I was told that if an unused spoon was rewashed it was costing the company money and energy. So to prevent this energy loss it was better to not put the spoon on the table. The customer would just have to wait as their coffee or hot cereal got cold or until the overworked and over utilized server was done handling the other customers who needed spoons (more likely food).

I find it hard to believe that the amount of money saved would be significant as opposed to using CFL bulbs to save money. I seem to remember, just after high school, I worked in fast-paced restaurant chain. Everyday practice was to wash the plates, pot, pans and miscellaneous items in one or two baskets, followed by the glassware, and then wash the silverware in the last basket. So, where would the energy savings be if dishes are washed this way?

While pondering this, I happened to look up. Having written a few articles on energy savings, I noticed that they were still using incandescent bulbs. From where I sat I could count more than fifty bulbs burning energy as I waited for my order, and no green products like CFL bulbs in sight. Everywhere I looked and in every room that a customer had access, there were no green products in use. If they were trying to save money, you would think some green products like energy saving CFL bulbs would be used.

It looked like each incandescent light bulb was running around 75 watts. I inquired as to the hours of this store and was told they were open 138 hours a week.

So I did a little comparison; incandescent vs. green products like CFL bulbs. Using a little math: 50 incandescent bulbs * 75 watts = 3750 watts per hour. To figure the total watts per week for the store, take the watts per hour 3750 watts * 138 hours the store is open per week = 517,500 watt hours per week. The grand total for one year would be 517,500 * 52 weeks = 26,910,000 or 26 megawatts for this store alone so I wondered what the saving would be using green products like CFL bulbs.

Being of a curious nature, I looked up the restaurant on the Internet and found 88 stores in the chain. So if I multiply the 27 megawatts by the 88 stores, I get around 2,368 megawatt hours per year.

Now, what if we replaced all the incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs? Well, a replacement for a 75 watts bulb runs 18 watts. So 50 bulbs times 18 watts would equal 900 per hour. Then we multiple 900 watts times 138 store hours and we get 124,200 watt hours per week. Then multiply 124,200 * 52 week we would get or 6.46 megawatt hours per year. Now, take the megawatt hours per year (6.46) times the number of stores (88) and we get around 568 megawatt hours per year for the whole chain using green products. If we do a little subtraction, we would get around 2,368 minus 568 = 1800 megawatt hours savings. I would say that they would be saving more than pennies if they were using green products like CFL bulbs.

Michael Edwards has more interesting article on going green, checkout his green energy

The United States does not have a home solar incentive near as good as Australia. For the last 8 years, Republicans have blocked solar incentives at the request of big oil. It is sad that the United States is who invented solar panels and yet we have lost our first advantage and continue to fall further behind the world.

But I digress. This article is about new legislation in Australia that gives a big boost to the home solar industry there.

A $7,000 discount will be given to anyone who installs a 1.5 kW (9 panel) solar system thanks to the Australian passed legislation called RET (Renewable Energy Target).

The Coalition and business and green lobby groups pressured the Australian government to split the RET portion of the bill from the disputed Emissions Trading (ETS) bill. Previously they had both been one bill but as the fighting heated up over the ETS bill, it was clear that it was better to split the RET and the ETS into two separate bills and so that the RET portion of the bill could be passed.

The $7,000 home solar discount is for all grid connected structures. It can be an owner occupied home, a renter occupied home, a vacation home, or even commercial buildings. The rebate threshold in earlier home solar discount programs of a taxable income of $100,000 has been eliminated.

The home solar credits scheme is ingenious in that it assigns a value of 500% the market value of what are know as RECs or Renewable Energy Certificates.

RECs or Renewable Energy Certificates were introduced in Australia at the end of 2001. Renewable Energy Certificates are what places a measurable value on the displacement of greenhouse gases. A single Renewable Energy Certificate is the equivalent of 1 mega Watt hour of electricity produced. This, in turn, is equal to about one ton of prevented greenhouse emissions. Renewable Energy Certificates provide a financial incentive to burn less fossil fuel.

It depends on where you live and how many hours of sunshine you receive on an annual basis but there are about 33 RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) given for a 1.5 kW solar energy install. The value of a REC is subject to market variation but they are currently trading around $37. This translates into 33 x $37 = $1,221. You now multiply this by 500%, which is the amount set in this new home solar credit, $1,221 x 500% = $6,105.

The first 1.5kW of solar panels installed get the discount. For higher output solar panel installs, the usually 1:1 rate of Renewable Energy Certificates applies. The ORER (Office Of Renewable Energy Regulator) will issue the discounts. People having solar panels installed can decide if they want to use the Renewable Energy Certificates to pay the solar power installer in order to lower upfront costs, or they can hold on to their certificates like a stock with the idea of selling it in the future when they increase in value.

Now why can not something like this be done in the United States of America were solar panels were first invented. I guess in America it is all about money and the big oil and energy companies do not want you producing your own energy, even if it is better for the environment. They would rather destroy all life on the planet rather than lose you as a paying energy customer.

I lowered my energy bill without solar panels. Almost everyone thinks that the only way to lower your energy bill is with solar panels. This is not true. I was about to lower my energy bill by 23% and now I’m going to share with you exactly how I did it.

Insulate Windows – Making sure that your windows insulate correctly is probably the single best thing you can do to lower your monthly energy bill. If you have single pane windows your money is literally going out the window. Single pane windows are really bad insulators. Changing to double pane windows will save you a ton of money but they are expensive. You can put up heat sealing drapes in the summer and storm windows in the winter. This will save you a ton of money. You may want to take a room by room approach. The first room you should do this in is the family room.

Ventilate Your Attic – Hot air needs to escape from your attic. If your attic air vents become clogged, which they will over time with dust, your attic will hold the hot air and ultimately making your air conditioner work too hard. You must clean your attic vents to allow the hot air to escape from your house (remember, hot air rises). If your attic does not have air vents you need to go down to your hardware store right now and buy some ventilation kits and put a few in.

Air Conditioner Filters – A dirty air filter makes your air conditioner work much harder which means it takes more energy to do its job. Changing your air conditioner filters once a month will save you money off your monthly energy bill.

Range Filter – The fan above your range uses a ton of energy. If the filter in your range hood is clogged with grease, the fan will work a lot harder to do its job and cost you a lot of money. You should change your range filter once every 3 months depending on how much you use it.

Save Money By Turning Off Lights – You should go around to all your lights and lower the wattage on all your bulbs. Do not leave lights on when you leave the room. Do not use outside lights. A single outside light that uses a standard 60-watt bulb will cost you about $10 a month. Forget using dimmer lights as they don’t save you very much. Use fluorescent lights whenever and wherever possible.

Learn How To Calculate Energy Costs – You need to learn how much the things in your home are costing you in terms of energy cost each month. The formula is wattage / 1000 x hours used per day x your kWh charge (found on your monthly bill) / 30 days in a month = total cost of energy per month for that appliance. Let us do an example problem. If you are using a central air conditioner for 10 hours per day during the summer, it is costing you: 4000 / 1000 x 10 x 0.15 x 30 = $180 a month.