Solar energy for residential houses is nothing new. It has just been relegated to the background following the rising cost of real estate; newer more advanced building materials, design and the limitation of resources.
Building design has always taken into account the aspect of the building in relation to receiving the optimium sunshine through the day and this is always an important factor in architectural design since man started building homes.
The ancients, although not familiar with such phrases as passive solar and thermal mass were building in compact proportion, employing overhangs, incorporating insulation and building in ways that directed the airflow within the structure and producing well lit, well ventilated spaces using the relative position of the sun to the orientation of their structures.
Once again, as the conventional sources of energy have become more expensive, homeowners are turning to the sun for energy requirements.
Since the 1950s, harnessing the suns rays has been developing and today the solar cell technology has achieved very efficient levels that modern (so-called green house) designs apply the sun’s power to provide energy for the home.
Although solar energy is free, the devices that harness and convert it to run our appliances are not. To provide solar energy for the home, solar cells called photovoltaic made from semi-conducting materials, are grouped into modules. These solar panels can then be mounted on rooftops, yards or open spaces where it can capture the maximum amount of sunlight.
Whenever possible, the panels should be installed facing South to catch the most sunlight, but tracking systems are also used to follow the direction of the sun. The solar panels collect energy from the sunlight. The process basically is that when the panels are exposed to sunlight, the electrons are separated form the atoms. This movement of the electrons creates electricity.
To store power, pumps are often used – circulating water in the cells. The water goes into a storage tank where the power is stored, ready for use.
In spite of all the development in solar energy though, the use of this technology is not enough to provide power to the whole house. The best method so far can only fulfill about 80% of a households power needs. The employment of solar energy for the home will still require the use of the conventional power distribution method, however the harnessing of wind power can augment this.
The bon
us for using solar or wind power for a lot of consumers is the positive effect on the environment compared to conventional means, which emit horrendous amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere to produce relatively meagre amounts of elecricity.
With environmental benefits and increases in conventional energy supplies, the technology for solar energy has been undergoing rapid phases of development. Experts are confident that within five years, powering the home through the solar method will be made widely available for those who prefer it as its sole energy source.
If you enjoy DIY projects and have a suitable aspect you can make your own solar-powered ($200 per unit)and wind-powered energy ($140 per unit) gaining all the benefits without being dependent on your utility company.
There are various guides available, which include plans, product directories and online video.
Solar Power is so cool. it is clean and renewable energy. when the cost of solar panels goes down, i think every home should be owning a mini solar power station.
the cost of Solar Cells for Solar Power utilization has been decreasing over the past years. pretty soon, solar energy would be a more viable alternative than fossil fuels,–