Renewable energy sources may be a hot topic in today’s environment but the concept is far from new. Some forms of renewable energy have been practiced for centuries. From the moment the first caveman rubbed two sticks together to start a fire, renewable energy was being used to provide heat or cook food. The sun, long before it was recognized as an engine to produce solar power, was quietly doing its job of warming the earth and producing light. Continue reading Renewable Energy; Common Options
What is a solar charge controller and how does it work?
Photovoltaic panels are the consumer’s choice. With the price of carbon-based fuels on the rise, the power companies that rely on fuels such as coal and oil to generate the bulk of their electricity have been forced to raise their rates; subsequently, homeowners are now opting for solar power to satisfy their electricity needs. Photovoltaic systems are popular with homeowners because the energy is free and recent technological advances have reduced the initial cost of these systems.
Continue reading What is a solar charge controller and how does it work?
Planning / Design Off-Grid Solar System
Modern battery-based off-grid solar systems offer more than just a DC-to-AC power source, they can charge batteries, select from multiple power sources, and control external functions. Here are a handful of steps you will need to take to plan for your off-grid purchase. Continue reading Planning / Design Off-Grid Solar System
Countries That Impress with Renewable Energy
We all like to think we play a part, even in some small way, in keeping the world a cleaner, greener place, but when we switch on a light or turn on a gas stove, how many of us really know where our energy comes from let alone whether it’s renewable or not? These days, most energy providers offer eco-friendly tariffs to help us make the ‘right’ choice for our planet, but the availability of recyclable and renewable fuels depends largely upon where in the world you live. Continue reading Countries That Impress with Renewable Energy
Green Energy Sources Driving Growth in Business
The business leaders of the world have been revising their strategies since the great economic crisis of 2008. We should have clear-cut plans for growth for the long term, and having poor plans will cause disastrous results. This was a lesson we learned from the various causes of the financial crisis, including the real estate bubble. Since 2008, people and government leaders have been looking for growth plans involving sustainable energy sources. In this article, you will learn about how green energy can steer overall business development. Continue reading Green Energy Sources Driving Growth in Business
Planning an Off-Grid Electric System
A typical stand-alone system consists of solar panels and or a small wind turbine to generate electricity connected to a charge controller which controls the pace at which batteries are recharged which is connected the battery bank. You will then need an off-grid inverter to convert the DC (Direct Current) electricity stored in the battery bank to AC (Alternating Current) electricity which is more commonly used in home appliances. Continue reading Planning an Off-Grid Electric System
U.S. Forest Service Grid Tied Solar Panels Saving Taxpayer Money
Revised 5/6/2013 – It’s not all that hard to imagine a facility of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) generating all of its own grid tied power from solar panels. After all, the USFS has a whole lot of facilities in the back of beyond, from offices to outhouses, that are well away from the benefits of civilization and electrical transmission. But the Forest Service’s announcement today that one of its facilities is now power-self-reliant with grid tied solar panels is a little unusual: That facility is in the middle of the suburban San Gabriel Valley. Continue reading U.S. Forest Service Grid Tied Solar Panels Saving Taxpayer Money
MicroInverters, Do-it-Yourself Solar Kits Anyone Can Install
Since home solar became a commercial option some 40 years ago central inverters have ruled the industry. Today about 40 percent of the home solar kit market is made up of Microinverter kits. A inverter is an electronic device that converters the direct current produced by solar panels to alternating current which is the electricity you use to run your home appliances and lights. Continue reading MicroInverters, Do-it-Yourself Solar Kits Anyone Can Install
Buying Best Solar Panels the Question of Efficiency
There is a lot of hype by solar panel manufactures about how more efficient their solar panels are over competion. That may be true by the numbers in many cases all other things being even, but solar panel efficiency is actually of little practical importance. Solar panels with lower efficiencies will simply have to cover a greater area which is usually not a problem except for those applications with limited space. Continue reading Buying Best Solar Panels the Question of Efficiency
Solar Panel Feed-in-Tariffs are coming on board in America
As with any new technology and when big corporations feel they are threatened they put up resistance. Problem is big corporations control Washington DC. Solar panel feed-in-tariffs are going to be the next big thing in this country. It is small business start ups and local governments though that cut the widest swath to success. In America Florida, Sacramento, California, and Palo Alto, California are saying we can’t wait and are pushing forward past the Feds. Continue reading Solar Panel Feed-in-Tariffs are coming on board in America