Solar Energy News and Information

Solar energy is all the rage these days. With the current concerns about global warming and energy rates going up every day, it’s no wonder people are looking for alternative ways to power their lives.
But what is solar energy? How does it work? Do I need to spend days on end learning all the technical jargon and engineering before I can figure out how to use it? Not at all. For instance, it is not necessary for you to know that solar energy is produced through the use of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The process works by placing the cells in direct sunlight. Sun hits the cells causing a chemical reaction that creates an electric current. The current is then turned into electricity.
Active solar energy systems typically involve some form of solar panels or shingles. The panels then are oriented on a roof, garage,patio roof, or ground, to maximize exposure to the sun. Depending on the system, the panels will then either directly convert sunlight to electricity, which is then transformed from direct current electricity to alternate current electricity and stored in batteries or fed into the grid system of the local utility. Now it is not necessary for you to understand all that, but you do need to understand the basics.

Just like driving a car. It is not necessary for a person to understand the technology and engineering that makes a vehicle run in order to drive. But you did have to understand the basic principles before purchasing a vehicle right? Like the difference between a V-6 vs a V-8, standard transmission vs manual transmission, 4 WD vs 2 WD and so on. You needed that information so as to enable you to make an intelligent, informed purchasing decission.

Solar energy and other forms of alternative energy are the same way. Yes you need to understand the basic's of solar power, so as to enable you to make informed decisions, such as what type of alternative energy system is best for your needs, what size of a system you'll need in order to obtain the result you want, and what processes that are involved in installing a solar power system.

Without that knowledge, lets say you decide the time is right, you have the money to have solar shingles installed on your house. So you call a contractor. Then on the morning of a blistering hot summer day, the contractor and his crew arrive and start work. Then you realize they're tearing off the roof of your house! All of a sudden your mind, filled with uncertainty, conjures up visions of you and your family bursting into flames as the scortching heat fills your home! Eee gads! What have I gotten myself into?, you think to yourself. OK, now take a deep breath and relax, because that is not going to happen, and you won't have to experience those types of fear or anxiety.

When the time is right, and you decide to start implementing solar power, by reading our "Solar Energy News and visiting our website, you'll know exactly what is going to happen, what it will cost, what the savings are going to be and so on, because we are going to give you all the information you need.

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October 7, 2008 07:05 - Alternative Energy Gets Green Light

As Wall Street sat, like a deer in headlights, waiting for Congress to resolve the credit crisis, investments in new alternative energy projects have all but stopped.

Not having credit facilities to fund projects is one issue, but there was an even bigger roadblock: The energy tax credits for the manufacturing, production and use of alternative energy systems and devices are due to expire at the end of 2008.

And up until a few days ago, it looked as though that might just happen, which would be a giant step in the wrong direction with regards to U.S. energy independence.
But nearly lost amongst all the "bailout" hubbub of Congressional hearings this week was a key piece of legislation that passed by a 93-2 vote in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
I’m talking about H.R. 6049, entitled the "Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008."

Read the rest of this historic bill passage here.

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October 4, 2008 06:50 - It's Solar Powers Time To Shine

It's solar power's time to shine

Soaring oil and gas prices have finally persuaded US industry and government to get serious about renewable energy -- and solar thermal energy looks particularly promising.

The dirty little secret of the energy biz these days is that exploration executives don't want to see $130 oil, $12 natural gas or $4 gasoline any more than we do. For they fear two words that strike terror into the hearts of oilmen everywhere: demand destruction.

Nobody really knows where the tipping point of energy prices is -- that last straw on the camel's back that makes ordinary citizens and business planners decide enough's enough and, in masses, stop using so much -- but it sure seems close. From where I stand in California, it's already here.

It's that moment when a soccer mom decides not to drive across the state in her Chevrolet Tahoe for a youth tournament, letting her daughter carpool with teammates. That moment when a father in Tucson decides to just keep the home windows open in 95-degree heat instead of turning on the air conditioner. That moment when a regional food-products salesman decides to call his customers on the phone, rather than spend $200 on gas to visit them in person.

It's almost as if you can hear the balance tip, conversation by conversation. And once long-held habits begin to change, the effects can be like a dam burst: shocking, widespread and long-lasting. On the consumer side, we can just look at the report out of General Motors (GM, news, msgs) last month, that shows sales of its macho, gas-guzzling trucks were down 87.5% in May compared with a year ago. Now that is what I call demand destruction.

Our Saudi Arabia of sunshine

And yet it's the business side of the ledger that is far more important, as industry uses an order of magnitude more energy than the public. It may have taken a quintupling of oil prices in five years to ring the alarm bells, but the nation's industrial giants and their lackeys in government have finally decided to get serious about renewable energy and not just talk about it in PR campaigns.

Click Here for The Full Story
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May 7, 2008 07:41 - Energy Savings

Calculate Square Footage into Energy Savings

Window treatments are an efficient and cost effective way to conserve energy. During the summer months the sunlight that enters into the home through the windows and doors loses about 20 to 50 percent of the total energy. More energy enters in one square foot of clear glass than an entire insulated wall. This increases the workload of the air conditioner by 50 percent. In hot, arid environments such as Arizona it is important to have effective window coverings for energy conservation. Blinds reduce energy consumption, lower energy bills, prevent the sun from fading the interior, and maintain a comfortable and consistent temperature within the home.

Window coverings can control the amount of energy that enters into the home and the style determines the efficiency of the blinds. The shading co-efficient measures the window treatments ability to block solar energy from entering into the home. Customers should keep in mind the lower the shading co-efficient the more the blinds keep the home insulated.

Blinds Chalet has created an energy calculator so customers can calculate the most energy efficient window treatments for their home. The tool is easy to use; the customer simply enters the square footage of their home, then Blinds Chalet lists several styles of blinds and lists their estimated energy savings. The calculator displays a savings from $200 to $400 dollar savings on average sized homes. Windows that face east and west need more protection from sunlight than windows positioned on the north and south sides of the house.

The most efficient blinds are honeycomb cell shades and wood or faux wood blinds. It is important to know the color of the blinds makes a difference because various colors respond to light differently. Dark colors tend to absorb more heat than lighter colors and shiny surfaces reflect the light. (I personally have two sets of blinds for my home, a winter set (darker color binds-because I want to attract and hold heat, and a summer set, to refelct heat. )

Blinds Chalet, has more than 25 years of experience in dealing with many different types of window coverings. Blinds Chalet offers consumers the best in attractive blind options, while also offering high quality blinds that are made from some of the most durable materials available. Blinds Chalet has a variety of blinds that are available for any home, any style of décor, and any budget.

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