Underfloor Heating Undertile Heating
Undercarpet Heating systems
Do-it-yourself or let us do it for you (Gauteng areas only)
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Home Improvement – New Solar Technology
By: Rick Chappo
Solar panel systems have always been criticised as bulky and unattractive. New solar technology is
beginning to make such criticisms a thing of the past...
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An Untapped Source Of Eternal Energy: What Is Solar Energy?
By: Taylor Descar
The most exact definition of Solar Energy is plainly – “the energy from the sun”. It is a term used to
classify the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and intercepted by the Earth. It is the
world’s most permanent and reliable source of energy and...
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Historical Advances in Producing Electricity From the Sun
By: Rick Chappo
When politicians start talking about renewable energy, you know we have problems. Solar energy is a
significant renewable energy and here is an overview of how the technology has...
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Save Money With A Solar Pool Heater & Cover
By: Gavin Dye
Heat your pool with a Solar Pool Heater and save the heat with a Sola Pool
cover., Solar pool heating systems are very simple in terms of engineering
and application. The basic priciple...
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Work Starts on World's Largest Solar Power Plant
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
LISBON - Construction of the world's largest solar energy plant started on Tuesday in Portugal's
Southern Alentejo region, General Electric said...
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Kyocera Supplies Solar Modules For Electrical Training Institute of Southern
California
Installation is among the largest privately-owned solar electric generating systems in the
U.S.
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Shining Some Light On Solar Energy
By: Jim Fritz
Without a doubt, solar energy is the way of the future. Solar energy production is an extremely
simple process to understand. A solar, or photovoltaic, cell collects energy from the Sun. A solar
cell is a semiconductor device that is constructed using photovoltaic...
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Solar Boilers - Have The Sun Pay Your Energy Bill
By: Hans Dekker
Residential hot water is a significant energy consumer for most households. In fact, hot water is
sometimes the largest single energy cost...
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Home Improvement – New Solar Technology
By: Rick Chappo
Solar panel systems have always been criticized as bulky and unattractive. New solar technology is beginning to make such criticisms a thing of the past.
Solar Advancement
While everyone agrees solar energy is a clean, cost-effective energy source, there has always been one problem. The solar panel systems tended to be large and rather bulky. Frankly, they don’t add to the beauty of a home. While solar panel designs have improved over the years, a new development involving shingles is getting a lot of attention.
Photovoltaic shingles are a major design breakthrough for those who have a distaste for large solar panel systems. These shingles are, well, shingles. The replace the shingles on a roof, but have the physical appearance of a regular roof. Although they are black, they do not standout from the roof in the manner of panels. Instead, the they simply look like a regular roof and many people cannot tell the difference. Obviously, this seamless design is much better than the bulky designs of panel systems.
The technological breakthrough that makes this new technology possible is the invention of thin film photovoltaic cells. Known as “amorphous silicon thin alloy technology”, the designers essentially stepped back from traditional solar panel designs and did some thinking. What they realized is the materials used in panels were not the only ones that could be used. Without getting overly technical, the design team came up with a solution where more efficient cells could be built on a steel substrate. Each super thin cell was tailored to capture different spectrums of the sunlight. When layered on top of each other, they became extremely efficient at producing power.
The ultimate result is a system that can sit directly on the roof of a home or building, is more efficient than regular solar panels and far more appealing from a visual perspective. If you’re excuse for not using solar in the past was the bulky system, you need to rethink solar.
Will this new technology become the breakthrough we have been waiting for in solar power? It already is if you consider just the following:
1. The United States Army is building a solar powered community using it.
2. Museums in Beijing, China are converting to it.
3. Habitat for Humanity is using the system on many of the homes it builds.
4. Lockheed Martin is experimenting with the technology as a power source for high altitude flights.
In the opinion of many experts, this new technology represent a major breakthrough in solar energy. With energy prices exploding, solar represents the best solution to decreasing our dependence on limited oil and natural gas resources. Fortunately, the sun will be providing free power for the foreseeable future.
About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with
http://www.solarcompanies.com
– a directory of solar energy and solar power companies. Visit
http://www.solarcompanies.com/articles
to read more solar electricity articles.
underfloor heating systems is part of the heat-A-room
group
To go to the main website, click on the link
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An Untapped Source Of Eternal Energy: What Is
Solar Energy?
By: Taylor Descar
The most exact definition of Solar Energy is plainly – “the energy from the sun”. It is a term used to classify the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and intercepted by the Earth. It is the world’s most permanent and reliable source of energy and the most copious.
The uses of solar energy on earth include solar heating for buildings, solar heat for manufacturing or industry and electricity production. So what is solar energy? How does it affect us?
Solar energy is responsible for weather systems and ocean currents. It provides light, heat, and energy to all living things on Earth. It has many uses. It supplies electricity; it can be used to power cars.
Solar energy is also used as a power for satellites in space and in space shuttles. It could also power boats, generators during emergencies, toys, and even security systems.
The amount of solar energy that the earth receives is about 770 trillion kilowatts (kW), an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all other energy, may it be terrestrial nuclear energy, geothermal energy or gravitational energy.
There are two types of solar energy. These are:
1. Thermal Energy
2. Electric Energy
What is the difference between the two types energy?
Thermal energy is kinetic energy. It is everywhere. It makes the earth hot and even heats up our homes. It helps us to dry our clothes. It is used as well to heat up water for household use or even pools. That is why thermal energy is called the heat energy because it is stored in the center of the earth as well.Electric energy is widely known to us as the electricity. It is an essential part of nature and it is one of our most widely used forms of energy. This uses sunlight to power ordinary electrical equipment, such as household appliances, computers, and lighting.
Most applications of solar energy depend on systems including collectors, storage and controls. Storage is needed for a reason that solar energy is only available at daylight hours, but the demand for energy is needed both day and night. Controls are used to guarantee that the storage system works safely and efficiently.
The accessibility of solar energy is determined by three factors:
• The location is usually measured by latitude, longitude and altitude.
• The time.
• The weather.
Aside from knowing that solar energy is a free energy still, you have to realize that it also has advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages are:
• Solar energy is almost limitless; it will be available for as long as there are still humans in the earth.
• It is abundant. You will not worry of running out of it.
• It could provide more power than all known fossil fuel reserves.
• Solar energy is available during the day when electricity usage is really important.
• It is the most inexhaustible, renewable source of energy known to man.
• Solar energy can be absorbed, reflected, transmitted, and insulated.
• It can be collected and stored in batteries.
The disadvantages are:
• It is not suitable in cloudy areas.
• It is not available at night time.
• And it may require large land areas.
As a reminder, solar energy levels are lesser the farther north the site. Considering geography, season is an important determinant of solar energy levels because the Sun’s position and the weather vary greatly from summer to winter.(And the other way around in the Southern Hemisphere).
About the Author:
If man can harness the power of the sun the opportunities are limitless. Solar energy has so much potential that we owe it to ourselves to explore this awesome source of power http://www.solarenergynews.info
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Historical Advances in Producing Electricity From the Sun
By: Rick Chappo
When politicians start talking about renewable energy, you know we have problems. Solar energy is a significant renewable energy and here is an overview of how the technology has developed.
Solar electricity is simply energy produced by harnessing the sun. It comes in many forms including electricity production through panels, home heating through passive systems and mobile packets for powering devices like laptops and RVs to mention only a few platforms.
Historically, sunlight has been used by mankind to produce heat ever since we first built structures. Without electricity, mankind soon learned to orient structures to capture the heat of the sun during the day and store it in ceramic or mud materials much like a blacktop parking lot will radiate heat after the sun has gone down. Early Greek structures show a particular use of this solar strategy as do Egyptian structures.
The production of electricity using sunlight is a much more recent phenomena. In 1901, Nicolas Tesla was the first person to receive a patent related to solar electricity, but he called it radiant heating. He sought a patent for a machine to capture the radiant heat, but nothing much came of the invention.
In 1904, some unknown physicist named Albert Einstein published a paper on the potential electricity production from sunlight. In 1913, William Coblentz received the first patent for a solar cell, but he could never make it work. In 1916, Robert Millikan was the first to produce electricity with the cell. For the next forty years or so, nobody made much progress because the cells were highly inefficient at converting sunlight to energy.
In the 1950s, Bell Labs got involved with NASA. Bell was charged with coming up with a solar platform to power spacecraft once they were in orbit. The solar industry would never be the same.
Gerald L. Pearson, Daryl M. Chapin, and Calvin S. Fuller started researching different areas related to solar, but not active parts of the NASA project. By luck, they meet and exchanged ideas. While their individual projects were failures, their combined efforts produce a much more efficient cell using crystallized silicon to convert sunlight into electricity. The efficiency rate of the cells was roughly 6 percent, a marked improvement over previous technology. In 1958, NASA launched the Vanguard Spacecraft, which was powered by solar panels.
In the following years, solar technology grew in leaps and bounds. Solar panels today are roughly 15 percent efficient, but also much smaller than they use to be. More importantly, companies are abandoning the panel platform and coming out with amazing new products. The first are shingles that look exactly like regular roof shingles and perform as such. Nanotechnology is also offering amazing possibilities with quantum dots, which are essentially solar panels on the quantum level. Eventually, these dots will be incorporated in things such as paint. Yes, the paint on the walls of buildings and homes will eventually also produce all the electricity needed for the structures.
Man has used the power of the sun for heat for a very long time. Only now, however, are we starting to master the technology to turn it into large amounts of free electricity.
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy .
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo
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Save Money With A Solar Pool Heater & Cover
By: Gavin Dye
Heat your pool with a Solar Pool Heater and save the heat with a Solar Pool Cover. Solar pool heating systems are very simple in terms of engineering and application. The basic principle being: run enough water through enough black stuff on the roof and the pool gets warm.
Most pool heating systems include a:
Solar collector : The device through which pool water is circulated to be heated by the sun.
Filter : Removes debris before water is pumped through the collector.
Pump : Circulates water through the filter and collector and back to the pool.
Flow control valve : Automatic or manual device that diverts pool water through the solar collector.
How pool heating systems work.
Pool water is pumped through the filter and then through the solar collector(s), where it is heated before it is returned to the pool. In hot climates, the collector can also be used to cool the pool during peak summer months by circulating the water through the collector at night.
Some systems include sensors and an automatic or manual valve to divert water through the collector when the collector temperature is sufficiently greater than the pool temperature. When the collector temperature is similar to the pool temperature, filtered water simply bypasses the collectors and is returned to the pool.
Solar pool collectors.
Solar pool collectors are made out of different materials; the type that you buy depends on your climate and how you intend to use the collector. Collectors designed to operate only when temperatures are above freezing are inexpensive, made from specially formulated plastic materials, and generally do not include glazing (a glass covering). Collectors appropriate for colder climates, or that are designed to operate year-round, generally have metal components and a low iron-tempered glass glazing (glazing greatly increases the cost of the collector).
Solar Pool Covers
The largest heat loss from a swimming pool is from evaporation, by adding a simple barrier such as a pool cover can cut almost all of these losses. Covering the pool with a pool cover when it is not in use is the single most effective means of reducing pool heating costs. Savings of 50-70% are possible. It is also worthwhile investing in a pool cover reel, to make covering the pool easier.
About the Author:
Gavin Dye is author at http://www.solar-power-4u.com where you can learn more information about how solar and wind power can help you
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Work Starts on World's Largest Solar Power Plant
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
PORTUGAL: June 7, 2006
LISBON - Construction of the world's largest solar energy plant started on Tuesday in Portugal's southern Alentejo region, General Electric said.
General Electric will invest US$75 million to build the photovoltaic power plant, which will cover 60 hectares (150 acres) of gently rolling hills with solar panels.
The panels, which will be raised around 2 metres off the ground in an area dotted with olive groves, will produce 11 megawatts of electricity, or enough to supply 8,000 homes.
The plant is expected to be ready in January 2007 and will have 52,000 photovoltaic modules.
It is near the town of Serpa, 125 miles (200 km) southeast of Lisbon and in the heart of Portugal's Alentejo, an overwhelmingly poor agricultural region and one of the sunniest spots in Europe.
The scheme fits into Portugal's plans of reducing its reliance on imported energy and cutting output of greenhouse gases that feed global warming. Portugal's emissions have surged about 37 percent since 1990, one of the highest increases in the world.
"The Serpa solar power project, along with other renewable energy initiatives, helps lay the foundation for Portugal's energy future," said Piero del Maso, joint chief executive of Catavento, a Portuguese renewable energy company involved in the project.
"Serpa must not be a single case but a true starting point for solar power in Portugal."
Although the plant will only create five or six new jobs -- the solar panels will be shipped in -- GE hopes the plant will bring benefits.
A project to build a solar power plant in the neighbouring town of Moura has been considered for years but has yet to materialize.
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Shining Some Light On Solar Energy
By: Jim Fritz
Without a doubt, solar energy is the way of the future. Solar energy production is an extremely simple process to understand. A solar, or photovoltaic, cell collects energy from the Sun. A solar cell is a semiconductor device that is constructed using photovoltaic materials. It contains no liquids or chemicals, and no moving parts. Solar cells convert sunlight into electricity.
A solar panel generally consists of a series of individual cells, which are supported by a module that allows the cells to work in unison. The energy that is captured by the panel is stored in a battery. Solar panels generate direct current (DC) energy. Many solar energy systems have inverters in them which allow direct current (DC) electricity to be converted to alternating current (AC). Most consumer products such as appliances and electronics operate on AC current.
Unless you have a vast expanse of land to house an array of solar panels, it is unlikely that you will be able to power your entire home with solar energy. However, it is possible to power a single room in your house with a small array of panels fixed to the roof of your house. Multiply the wattage of each individual electrical device by the number of hours you expect to use them each day. That combined number will be your benchmark, or the bare minimum your system must be able to generate.
There are a number of options available to consumers that are considering converting to solar energy. A basic system that can be used to power a computer and a few other small items can be purchased for approximately $1000.00. Naturally, the price will increase with the production capacity of your system. In most regions, the price of an installed system will cost somewhere in the area of $10.00-$12.00 per watt.
Solar energy is one of a few truly renewable resources that can be used in energy and power generation. Every hour of every day, the Sun blankets our planet with enough energy to sustain our global energy needs for a year. As the technology behind photovoltaic energy advances, consumers will be unable to resist the urge to convert.
A lot of resources are being put into the development of solar energy technology. Most of the major oil and energy companies have entire divisions committed to solar energy. Researchers and engineers are spending countless hours trying to develop the technology today that will vastly improve conditions in the world tomorrow. It is no secret that we cannot continue down the path we are on. Fossil fuels are no longer a feasible option for energy production. The future is solar. The future is now.
About the Author:
Jim Fritz has been a devout environmentalist for most of his adult life. He has been researching the benefits of solar energy for many years, and he is a contributing writer to http://www.thesolarguide.com.
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Solar Boilers - Have The Sun Pay Your Energy Bill
By: Hans Dekker
Residential hot water is a significant energy consumer for most households. In fact, hot water is sometimes the largest single energy cost. Using solar energy to provide at least some of the hot water in your household can result in significant savings.
There are several ways that solar energy can be integrated into a hot water system. Although solar boilers can be used on their own, they are most often used in conjunction with traditional water heaters which are powered by gas or electricity. In this kind of system, the water heated with solar energy can be used on its own (if it is hot enough) or as preheated water for the traditional water heater. Pre heated water will also dramatically decrease your energy bill.
Solar boilers can be used in any type of climate but are most practical in areas which don't have freezing weather during the wintertime. Solar hot water systems in colder climates can use indirect heating systems which do not expose the water to the freezing temperatures. Instead, a fluid that resists freezing circulates through the solar panels and is used to heat the water. Southern climates can use direct heating systems where the water itself passes through the solar panels installed on the roof.
There are two basic types of solar hot water systems -- active and passive. Passive systems rely on gravity and the natural flow of water from hot to cold. They are simple systems and require very little maintenance. They are durable and long-lasting. You can easely build simple systems yourself all you will need are parts that you can find in any hardware store.
Active systems make use of pumps to circulate the water. In some systems, the pumps can be powered with solar energy; otherwise they must be connected to the household electrical supply. In both systems a storage tank is needed to hold the heated water.
On hot days with plenty of direct sunlight solar systems can heat water with surprising efficiency. During this kind of weather, there may be no need to use electricity or gas as a backup. When the weather is colder, the solar heaters can preheat the water which passes into the traditional water heater. This preheated water requires much less energy to bring to proper temperatures which can result in significant savings on your energy bills.
As with all alternative energy systems there is a lot of room for your own imagination if you like that. If you don't you don't and just use the technology, but for those who like to play around with technology like myself these systems offer a myriad of possibilities to think about.
For example, a stirling engine converts changes in temperature into mechanical motion, for example to generate electricity. Mmm, that's a nice thought. A change in temperature is something this system will provide, but it will also heat your water. A double benefit?
About the Author:
Hans is an off grid enthusiast and author at http://www.alternative-energy-guide.com/ Visit us for introductory and more advanced articles.
("Grid" means electricity supplied by a power station)
