Solar Energy Guide

Solar Energy: Beginners Guide. The concept of panels for home has been surfacing for quite some time now. After proving its mettle in various commercial set ups and governmental projects across the world, panels have made a splash into the residential sector and are being widely used for residential use in various parts of the world. Countries which are seeking to improve the environment have started creating entire communities that have homes which rely on this form of energy. These houses cost more than the average home, but the amount of money that is saved over the years is worth the initial high cost. So you may definitely consider setting up a solar powered home someday.

Introduction

It’s no secret that the world’s appetite for energy is greater than its supply which is really causing our natural resources like oil, coal and gas to dwindle away quickly. Not only have that but the overuse of these natural resources has been polluting the environment to a point that it could be irreversible some day.

And that day seems is a lot closer than you might think. Fortunately, it isn’t too late to make a difference, to make the changes necessary to preserve and leave a clean environment for our grandchildren and theirs, to live in. Not only that but making these changes at home will save hundreds even thousands of dollars.

 

 

Lot of people are interested in going solar, because most are interested in getting their electricity bills down, and some are genuinely concerned about the environment. There are entire communities now that have their homes running on solar energy. Even though solar panel prices are becoming reasonable, it will still take a few years before you can make the switch off the grid.

Solar Panels For Homes Are No Longer Challenging

Using solar panels for homes is no longer challenging and its also getting cheaper. Purchasing pre-made solar panels or kits to build your own power system is also an option for home owners. Whether they are bought completed or build from the ground up, solar panels does help to reduce electricity costs.

Till few years back, solar panels used to be huge that had to be carefully lifted onto a house with a crane. Over the years they have gotten significantly smaller. Today, there are panels the size of shingles that are integrated into the roofing on new homes. These can also be added onto homes that already exist. Other types of panels are so small that they can be held between the ends of a pair of tweezers.

A solar powered house will always save money in the long run, but then the added benefit is that pollution won’t be created by these homes. The excess solar energy produced also allows you to earn money from the electric company. You may choose to rely completely on solar energy or maybe use solar energy to meet only a portion of the electrical requirements.

 

 

Starting off with a combination of solar power and being hooked up on the grid is more common; there are people who always have this combo effect going on.

 

 

Solar Screens for Windows
These are an efficient way to get relief from the outside heat during the sunny months. You can really save some money by not having to spend on air conditioners.

Do you live in a place where it can get really hot during the summer months?

Planting trees outside your house is one option, but that is something which will take years to give you relief. Besides not every house may have the space to plant one at the desired location.

A better option is to consider Solar Screens for your Windows!

Advantage
Energy costs have sky rocketed lately. This has lead people to come out with new and innovative ideas to save on their budget. Thus it is really a wise idea to implement solar energy as your major source of energy. One of the methods to implement this idea is by using window screens. The solar window screens are used to block the sunlight and heat from entering into your house.

The solar screens help to keep out the sun thus in a way they help in cooling your home. Thus you will need less power now to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, and save some good dollars on air-conditioning costs.

The best solar screens would be the ones that cover the window entirely. That way it blocks a lot of sun and that too without blocking your view from inside. Thus they also allow you some privacy. That is one can look through these solar panels from inside the house but you cannot look through them from the outside.

Things to Keep in Mind
There are two things that need to be kept in mind while going in for the solar screens for your windows:

• Selecting the frame of the window is important. Most companies will try and give you a ¾ inch frame as they need to be competitive in the market but it is always better to go in for a 1 inch frame as these solar panels are generally heavy and you need a good support to keep them to your windows.
• Secondly it is important to install them on all the windows that are not covered by any natural means.

If you have not used solar energy for your home before and would like to get a feel of what it involves, then using Solar Screens for Windows is definitely an option worth considering.

Works in All Weather Conditions
There is a misconception that solar panels can’t work in all weather conditions, especially under cloudy conditions. They are worried about the location of a solar powered house. Most still believe that only homes in warmer or sunny regions can only benefit from the use of the suns energy.

But that is definitely not the case! Solar panels come with batteries that work great on any home for almost all weather conditions. The batteries store the additional solar energy so that it can be used later when the sun is not present.

Installing Panels
Homeowners tend to desire the addition of panels to either save money or to get off the grid. People are tired of paying the rising cost of electricity, which panels can eliminate altogether. Using solar energy for even partial electrical power will drastically reduce the amount of money paid each month for electricity. As the years go by, panels are becoming more and more efficient.

Installing solar panels for homes requires some knowledge on their placement. These need to be positioned on the side of the house that gets the most sunlight. Typically, the south-facing side of homes in northern climates and the north-facing side in southern climates get the most sun. Correct installation of the panels is important, so that damage doesn’t occur to any of the cells housed within the individual panels. Detailed instructions are available from many online sources for correct placement of panels.

What are its Uses?
Solar panels can be used to power a variety of appliances, the only thing is that you need to know how much power you want to generate. While doing the installation, ensure you have read the documentation/instruction that comes along with the kit.

Solar generators: You can use this as a backup to your main electricity source. With these generators it is possible to run some electrical appliances, fans and lights.

Solar cookers: No emission, no smoke and needs no gas. This is another solar power system that you may consider. Some people find it slow in terms of performance, takes longer to cook. But then it does save you cost.

Solar thermal systems: These systems are becoming far more affordable today and lot of home owners, buildings utilize it to heat water.

Besides, Solar energy is also used for heating, cooling, ventilation, switching windows.

As a home owner, making use of solar panel kits to use solar energy to power your house can definitely be a cost saving option in the long run.

 

 

Residential Solar Power Systems
Residential Solar Power Systems significantly reduce the cost power for heating, cooling, lighting, refrigeration, cooking and so on. A properly designed house with a well planned and integrated solar power system can out perform standard house in cost of usage, maintenance, ecological impact and the plain old ‘cool’ factor.

 

 

Residential solar power systems work most effectively when considered during the design stage of residential building construction. This is a far more effective way to implement the solar design into the home than trying to adapt it after the fact to an already completed structure.

Here’s how it all works:

The Grid
Most homes get power from the local power company and the local power company is what is known as “The Grid”. You must have seen the huge transmission towers which are part of the grid. Electricity from the grid enters the home through a “Meter” which keeps a track of how much electricity you consume and you are then billed accordingly.

Solar / PV System
By adding a solar system or a PV (photovoltaic) system to a home, the home can generate its own electricity. And how does it do it?

By capturing and converting light to electricity. That is what PV cells do! By grouping many cells into panels, enough electricity is generated to run a home or a business.

Inverter & Batteries
The electricity that is generated by these panels is Direct Current, also known as DC electricity, whereas the electricity used at home to power various appliances is AC (alternating current).

DC current must be gather together and changed or inverted into AC so that it can be used at homes. This is done with the help of equipment known as Inverter. And you can imagine that it is one of the most important parts of the solar system.

The inverter is necessary to provide the power needed to run the home.

It is also possible to attach batteries to the inverter so that you can store any excess electricity, which can then be used when there is no sun; especially useful in cloudy regions.

Read here for explanation of jargon’s related to solar energy.

Excess Power to Grid
If there is excess power generated by the PV system, the inverter can push the extra power back into the grid.

Normally the wheel on a meter turns only one way as power from the grid enters the home but with a Solar PV system installed it is possible to turn the meter backwards. This means that instead of the home buying power from the grid, the home is selling power to the grid. This is usually done in the form of credits.

 

 

A well thought out system is going to take into consideration the location of the building, the directions it is oriented within, and the materials it is constructed of. There are also the shapes of the internal rooms, angle of light entering the building through the windows, the amount of space to arrange solar panels, and the necessary plumbing requirements for solar water heaters to consider. Wiring for both 12 volt DC and 110 AC power requirements, inverter requirements, battery draw requirements and storage area, local building codes, local weather patterns, and owners association guidelines also need to be added to the long list of considerations.

Quite often, the buildings most suited for advanced solar applications are so new that they have yet to be considered or approved by local planning commissions or included in zoning laws. The best way to get the most from this sort of lifestyle is to get away from the highly regulated urban areas and into a more rural atmosphere. The key is research and more of it. Then it’s time to test, learn, grow, and implement residential solar power systems.

Solar Energy – Pros and Cons

Residential Solar Energy – Pros And Cons Discussed Here…

People are becoming more and more conscientious of their environment and are willing to do their bit for the environment. Making use of solar energy is definitely a step in that direction, and over the long term this can also help you save some serious dollars.

The technology in this area is undergoing rapid enhancements and the tool kits are becoming more and more cost-effective and at the same time easy to use. With the rising cost of fossil fuels, switching to solar energy is something that many people are trying out.

There are many do-it-yourself (DIY) guides, mentioned on this site, which can help you get educated on how to use the tools to harness solar energy. Besides being able to save money on the electric bill, there are other benefits of solar energy as well.

Benefits of Solar Energy
Better for the Environment
Solar panels allow for appliances to be run without burning fossil fuels. Having an electrical source that doesn’t rely on the use of fossil fuels means that there won’t be any pollutants given off, this is better for the earth.

Less Noise
There’s nothing noisy about a solar panel. Cells used inside solar panels don’t have any moving parts, so there’s absolutely no sound to be heard coming from a solar panel.

 

 

Can be Used Anywhere
One of the big benefits of solar energy is that it can be used on a house, car, to run outdoor equipment, and even mechanical toys. Most people think that solar energy can only be used in areas where there is constant sun, such as the desert.

This isn’t true.

As long as there is sunshine for at least part of the day, these panels are able to charge up their reserve pack. They can then run on the sun when it is available and rely on the reserve charge when the sun isn’t around, such as at night or on a cloudy day.

Reliable
Solar cells very rarely just stop working. Using solar energy for a source of electricity means that even when everyone else is experiencing a power outage during a storm, solar panels are able to keep running.

Able to Earn Money
There are people that earn money by selling excess energy back to the electric company. This is a great way to supplement income. Also, tax credits are usually provided to people who are interested in purchasing the equipment to switch over to solar energy.

Check out this cool video for more benefits:

 

 

Many other benefits of energy exist besides the ones mentioned above. Technology is constantly advancing to make there panels more affordable for everyone.

Pros And Cons of Residential Solar Energy Systems
There is no doubt that residential solar energy gives returns over the long term, besides providing ecological benefits as well. But in case you are planning to do a complete makeover of your house, and intend to make a substantial investment, it makes sense to get an idea of the challenges involved as well.

So here are the pros and cons of going in for Residential Solar Energy.

Requires Big Investment
There is no doubt that this need large investment; so a family who wants to lower their power bills and carbon footprint should take this into account. Big companies on the other hand usually have large budgets and the large industrial solar arrays that they use will make them cost effective.

Shape, Sizes, Angles
Residential solar energy systems are far more limited and the shape of a roof and the angle in which the panels need to be placed impacts how much exposure you can gain.

Large industrial arrays on the other hand can be faced in any direction when installed and can also follow the sun as it crosses the sky. Residential solar energy systems are usually stationary and limited to the size, shape and orientation of the house they are to be installed upon, as well as the sizes and types of kits which are offered to the general consumer.

Residential & Society Rules
Some residential areas / owners association may have zoning rules regulating what sort of things can be visible on top of a roof.

Beware of Scams
There are many scams out there claiming to lower power bills and even sell electricity back to the power company during times of low demand at the solar site. Most of them are out there to make money for the manufacturers, insulation companies and finance companies.

Go for Genuine Ones
Going for the genuine ones usually turns out to be an expensive venture, with the most expensive parts being the panels and batteries. A truly useful solar system is going to involve the solar panels which collect the energy, batteries which store it, inverter which converts it, and the wiring and switching which distributes it.

 

 

These are typically the elements which you should taken into consideration when looking into residential solar energy systems. Ultimately, a massive investment doesn’t necessarily mean you get a massive return as well. Prior to making any decisions with regards to investments in solar energy, you may start out by reading a couple of books first, ensure it’s something you could live with and can be implemented in your house. Basically it just boils down to informing yourself and then determining what you really want.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

How do solar panels work? What’s the technology that solar panels use to convert sunlight into electricity, and what are the criteria for choosing efficient solar panels.

 

 

Before we dive further you might want to quickly go through the various terminologies and jargons related to solar energy here…

Solar Cells & Photon Energy
A solar panel is a module of solar cells put together and these solar cells capture photon energy (sunlight) from the sun and convert that energy into DC (Direct current) power.

The most basic part is a Solar cell, which comes in various sizes. A typical simple solar cell is made up of silicon and has two layers of silicon. They typically have metal contacts on their top and bottom, through which current can flow. The layers are different from each other.

1. One is known as n-type
2. The other is p-type

 

Silicon is a semiconductor, so it is capable of conducting electricity. The process of making electricity begins when the silicon atoms absorb some light. The light’s energy knocks some electrons out of the atoms. The electrons flow between the two layers and it is this flow that makes an electric current. The current can pass through the cell via metal contacts which can then be used.

Photovoltaic Effect
This is the process by which the energy of sunlight is converted directly into electricity.

This conversion takes place in a solid state device which is popular known as Solar cell (it is also known as photovoltaic cell or photoelectric cell).

A solar cell is the basic building block that makes electricity, but then it can only make a certain amount of electricity. To produce more electricity, solar cells are linked together in groups. Such groups are known as Solar Modules, and more popularly known as Solar Panels.

 

 

 

 

DC to AC Power
Most household appliances don’t use DC power but instead run on AC (Alternating current) power. For that reason, you need an inverter in between, thus allowing the energy from the panels to become usable by your household appliances.

Most inverters in solar installations have a meter attached to it that records exactly how much energy your solar system produces throughout the day. Any excess energy is sent back to the grid, and is credited back to your bill.

 

 

How Are Solar Panels Built?
Solar panels/modules have a frame that holds the solar cells together, and if you need to generate more electricity, you can join solar panels together to form a large solar array.

For solar panels to work best, they need to directly face the Sun. This is achieved by placing the solar panels on “trackers”. The trackers are designed in a way so that they turn the panels to follow the Sun as it moves across the sky.

Forming arrays of solar panels is how huge amounts of electricity is generated. You would have noticed outside many solar homes, where you can see an array of solar panels lined up outside the house to absorb more energy from the sun.

Solar power plants on the other hand use much more panels. Typical examples would be plants that generate 50 megawatts of electricity using 300,000 solar panels, each with 48 solar cells. I’m sure in the future these solar plants will be able to generate much more electricity.

Efficiency
Solar cells come in various sizes. Some are tinier than a stamp. Some are 5 inches (12 centimetres) across. Not all the light that falls on a solar call is absorbed. Only some percentage of the total light gets absorbed and converted into electricity. More efficient solar cells are capable of converting more of the sunlight’s energy into electric energy than a low efficiency cell.

 

 

To take up a solar project you need to have understanding of at-least the basics. Photovoltaic (PV) panels are sort of hardware that generate electricity when hit by sunlight. A photovoltaic cell (or PV cell) is made of a semiconductor, usually silicon. These cells are put them together to form a solar panel and harvest more energy at the same time. Solar panels have no moving parts, and they emit no harmful gases. This makes them quiet and environment friendly. Using solar pv panels we produce free and clean energy from the sun.

How Long do Solar Panels Last

Here’s an educational video that explains more about Solar energy.

In one of the frames, it says that solar Panels last about 20-25 years, but the fact is that they usually have a 25 year guarantee, after which the power generated reduces a little. However, by then you should be able to recycle used panels, with advancements in technology.

 

 

Most reports suggest that solar energy can be used to meet around 15% of US electricity demand by 2020. As energy demands increase, markets for these sources will only grow. Power companies have whitepapers on the renewable energy market in the United States. But then there are many who are also looking at hybrid systems that use not only the sun, but also combine it with wind & water powered sources to meet our ever increasing energy demands.

Though solar panels are still expensive, they have actually reduced a lot in prices over the years. And you can recover the money that you spend, over the next few years in the form of reduced electricity bills.

Most countries also give subsidies to those who use this form of energy. In fact, in some countries, its now mandatory to have solar power in all new buildings that are coming up.

DIY Solar Panel Kit Training

Here’s a cool video showing how to put together a SOLAR PANEL KIT, PV PHOTOVOLTAIC HARBOR FREIGHT System.

Lot of users who try to install their own solar power kit face challenges while installing and have several open questions.

There are eBooks available which claim that they can help you get this done, and its very easy to set things up. Though it’s possible, you still have to do lot of fiddling around. One of the biggest challenges is to get the power back into the grid, for which you need a Grid Tie Inverter, and they don’t come cheap.

DIY Solar Panel Kit Training

A typical DIY solar panel kit will often include most (or all) of the following:

• Commercial quality solar cells
• Solar cell interconnection material
• Soldering iron (and perhaps other tools that may be needed)
• Flux (for soldering)

 

So did you buy these panels lately but have not been successful in setting them up?.You can’t get any power from them? Does the meter show some reading but it doesn’t run even the lights? The video will give more answers to your questions such as how much the meter need to read to be able to run the lights and so on.

Many users want to know if hooking up all the panels make them draw power from each other? Will one in the shade draw from the others and so on? Lot of users notice that when they stood in front of one of the panels, the current dropped lot more than expected in this style of installation.

Check this $250 solar panel sysytem in action. This easy system is affordable and there is no need to take out a 2nd mortgage:-)

 

 

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost is an important question as the total cost involves more than just the price for the panels. It’s easy to understand the advantages of going solar, be it for home or office. But then you need to determine how much solar power is needed for your situation which could drive the costs.

Questions to Ask
Don’t let cost be the only factor when choosing solar panels; it makes sense to think about the aesthetic aspects as well. You want your house to look good from the outside as well. Don’t You?

There are also other things you should think of before planning your installation.

So you will need to think of what type of installation you are aiming for – Is it going to be residential, commercial or is it going to be on the roof or on the floor.

Solar Panel Installation, in most areas / countries, is normally seen as an improvement to your house, so you will need to find out what the zoning rules in your area are, and whether you need any permits, and so on.

The general experience however has been that, larger solar systems usually cost less per watt generated. However, larger roof installs will need stronger roofs to handle the extra weight. So these are some of the things to keep in mind.

Payback Period
Most homeowners are not opposed to the idea of using solar energy but the most important thing going on their minds is how much would it cost.

Solar panels is one of the key components to get solar energy but if you are going to get the installation done by somebody else, then it could turn out to be quite expensive. And because you can use solar power either as your primary source of power, or as a simple supplement, how much the solar panels cost will depend on a few factors.

You will need to know the things/appliances that you want to power so that you have a fair idea about what your wattage requirements would be. Knowing the area of your house (in square feet) will also help.

Solar panels are priced dependent on many factors like brand, model, durability, and most importantly output.

An interesting survey was done few years back on solar panels and the findings said that it would take about 22 years (average) for the solar panels to pay for themselves (in savings). With advancement in technology, that number has come down to around 16.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
Here are few pointers so that you get an idea of the costs that is involved.

Solar panels Cost – Currently around $4 and $6 per watt of rated power output. So a typical panel (rated for between 100 and 300 watts) will cost around $400 to $1500.

But then you will need some more components and you’ll incur installation charges as well, so you can assume the cost to be around $8-$10 per watt of rated power.

What is a typical wattage requirement for a mid-size home? Most home sized systems are rated in the 1000 to 10,000 watt range. So considering $8-10 per watt, the cost comes to around $8000 and $100,000 dollars to install.

I’m sure these figures will put-off a lot of home owners. But then over the long term you indeed recover these costs.

How Do You Get Back Your Investment?

• Rebates and tax savings can reduce this cost by as much as 50%
• Every year you can expect $300 to $2500 in saved electricity costs
• So over a period of 30 to 50 years (typical life span of Solar panels) you can expect around $9000 and $120,000 worth of electricity bills savings

 

Looking at the way things are moving, electricity costs will definitely increase in the future so the savings could be even more.

Of course doing things on your own always reduces cost, and with so many do-it-yourself guides available in the market you can even create your own solar power kits nowadays.

Technological Advancements Bringing the Price of Solar Power Down
Despite the initial investments, the solar industry is quite positive about the growth of the industry because there has been clear trend in decreasing costs for PV panels and installation (around the globe).

It means, many who were waiting in the sidelines (because of the high prices) are now willing to give it a try, be it for home or for businesses, as the prices have lowered.

Of course, government incentives and subsidies did help (and still helps), technological innovation is another reason why the prices are going southwards.

In recent years, the following major developments in the field of solar technology, promises to take the solar industry forward.

Thin-Film Solar Cells
The emerging thin-film solar technology promises to change the way people look at solar (bulky & expensive). Traditionally, solar panels were heavy (looked like over-sized windows), were expensive to produce & even to ship, and didn’t leave enough profit margin for the manufacturers. However, with thin-film technology, manufacturing & shipping is cheaper, thereby reducing the cost of solar power systems.

 

 

Its just that manufacturers are currently catering to large utility scale projects. However, with potential for increased profits, the major solar manufacturers will soon start rolling out thin-film models for the average consumers as well. Finally, something for the end-user at a price that is almost compatible with grid electricity.

 

 

Micro-Inverters
Solar panels produce direct current (DC) whereas most appliances at home require alternating current (AC). An inverter is the essential piece of a solar power system that does the conversion.

The only problem is that inverters can be expensive; even the cheapest ones cost around $3000, which pushes up the overall cost of even the simplest solar power system by thousands of dollars.

Microinverters is all set to change that equation!

 

 

Currently, available for under 200, it also allows you to start very small, even with just one panel! Its possible to have an inverter on each solar panel, and have a system that consists of as little as one solar panel.

It means almost everyone can have a solar power system consisting of just one or two panels (to test it out), and then continue adding every year if you see the potential.

Another advantage of microinverters is that it makes the installation much faster.

In future, microinverters could come integrated in the solar panel itself, which means you just have to plug the solar panel right into the wall/roof, or even on your car!

 

 

More Innovations
Besides these, there’s a lot of research and development happening to make the panels more efficient, and also in the area of energy storage. All these innovations will only translate into falling prices for the consumers.

Solar Panels Price Per Watt
Cost has always been an issue for consumers, when it comes to embracing solar power. However the good news is that, the prices have been falling consistently over the years.

Panels that use traditional crystalline technology still cost around 2/watt range, however thin film cells cost closer to $1/watt, and that price is expected to fall further.

Some time back ‘First Solar’ Inc. was in the news as its manufacturing costs for its thin-film photovoltaic panels had dipped below $1 per watt for the first time. Price per watt, or $/W is a common way to compare the capital costs of various forms of electricity generation. First Solar used cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology in its thin-film photovoltaic cells to reduce the manufacturing cost compared to the standard silicon panels.

 

 

Almost all the major energy companies are aiming to achieve “grid parity,” which means making solar power cost the same as competing conventional power sources (minus the subsidies), and ‘First Solar’s is the first company to have achieved that milestone.

There are other technologies on the horizon including solar cells based on copper indium gallium ­diselenide (CIGS), silicon on glass, and the combination of ­germanium, gallium arsenide, and gallium ­indium phosphide all of which are competing to lower the cost of solar cells.

How to Finance Your Solar Power System

If you are a clean energy enthusiast and always look for ways to make your home greener, there has never been a better time to switch out of the fossil fueled electric grid and instead power your home with solar energy. In the last few years there has been a dramatic drop in solar panel prices, making the equipment affordable for a lot more homeowners. Understandably, even with the lower prices, spending 10-15K out of your pocket is still a big expense for many people.

The good news is that there are actually a number of ways you can finance this system and get all the benefits without strenuous upfront costs. Its not the typical solution of renting or leasing the solar system, these solutions actually allow you to OWN the system: Home Equity Line of Credit or FHA residential solar loan. If you qualify for either one of these programs, you will not only have immediate access to clean solar energy, but will also be able to make money in the long run by selling your access solar power back into the grid. Here is some information you need about both the Home Equity Line of Credit and the FHA Residential Solar Loan to figure out whether either one of these solutions is right for your situation.

Another great reason to outfit your home with solar panels that many people are not aware of is that current research shows that by adding any energy improvement to your home, you are actually increasing the value of your home. How much is the actual increase? Well, any energy improvement you make, adds 20 times the yearly energy savings in value. This means that if your solar system saves you $1000 on electricity every year, the added value to your home is $20,000. This is significant and you will be hard pressed to find an energy home improvement like solar power, that not only adds value to your home, but also produced a priced commodity year after year.

Home Equity Line of Credit/Loan for solar installations
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a home equity loan (HEL) allows you to take advantage of the equity that you have in your home to make additional home improvements or use this money to finance a car or have it as a back up in the time of need. Both are essentially a second mortgage. One of the most attractive things about these loans is their low interest rate, which is typically much lower than ones you can get with credit card cash advances or other conventional bank loan, because it is secured against your home.

The primary difference between Home Equity Lines of Credit and Home Equity Loans is that the first allows you to draw money up to a predetermined amount whenever you need money. There is a minimum payment each month with the option to pay off as much as of the line as you want. With a Home Equity Loan, you receive a lump sum of money and have a fixed monthly payment that you repay over a predetermined amount of time. Both loans offer a few different financing options; some offer rates and payments that are fixed over the life of the loan, some are fixed for the first five years and then adjust every five years thereafter. Consult a loan specialist to determine which option would save you the most money. Moreover, some institutions, such as Affinity Credit Union, offer special Green Home Equity Line of Credit for green home improvements such as solar panel installation. This credit line has the additional benefit of a .25% APR rate reduction, your choice of terms and fixed monthly payments.

How to Qualify for solar loan
To qualify as well as the amount you can borrow is determined based on your credit score, the amount you still own on your home, your other debts, the value of your home, and your credit history. With your application, you will be typically asked to submit proof of home ownership, proof of income and proof that at least 20% of the value of your home is payed off.

Looking for a Loan
When looking for a home equity line of credit, there are a couple of ways you can go: you can find your own home equity line of credit either through your bank or through an independent home equity loan provider, or you can have the solar company that you plan to work with to connect you with a home equity line of credit provider that they work with and trust. Another option is to use your existing home equity line of credit, if you have enough funds to finance your solar system. In your search, be sure to look for programs that offer no closing costs, no application charges and no pre-payment penalties. You can use various online solar calculator tools to estimate cost of new solar PV system installation, and financing options

The great thing about home equity lines of credit is that due to surging numbers in solar panel installations, many home equity line products are starting to take into account the value that the solar energy system adds to your home when they calculate the cumulative home to value ratio. This means that as a homeowner, you have a greater chance of qualifying for a home equity line of credit. Also, keep in mind that currently interest rates are at an all time low, so getting the home equity line now and locking in your rate will allow you to have low monthly payments on your loan.

FHA-backed residential solar loan
If you are in a situation where you have no equity in your property and therefore cannot qualify for a home equity loan/credit, you can still finance your solar system with a FHA-backed residential solar loan. The FHA-backed loan allows eligible homeowners to make energy efficient home improvements of their choice, which include: installation on insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, geothermal systems and solar panels. With this loan, you can be approved for credit with or without home equity and an appraisal will not be needed. The loan is available in increments up to $25,000 for a single family home or $12,000 per unit (up to 5 units), up to 20 years with no prepayment risks. The interest rates on this loan are higher than those on a home equity line, and are fixed at between 6.95%- 13.95%. You need to carefully calculate how much your monthly payments will be and how they will compare to your savings on electricity as well as long term profits you will make, to see if this financing options makes sense. With an FHA loan, you will get 100% upfront funding, which means that you will not have to spend a penny out of your pocket to purchase and install the solar system.

How to Qualify
You do not need perfect credit to qualify for an FHA loan, as the federal government is committed to helping eligible homeowners to make energy improvements to live greener and healthier lives. To qualify your credit score can be as low as 650. Other factors that will determine your eligibility are proof of income, proof of home ownership, and credit history. Decisions are made as fast as 1-2 business days.

Looking for a Loan
Currently, you can get an FHA loan directly through the solar installer. Look for solar installers in your state that can quickly and easily do all the necessary paperwork for you. For example in MA, you can get this loan through a solar systems installed, BrightStar Solar. Another option is to find an FHA approved independent lending institution, such as Quicken Loans, Stonegate Mortgage Corporation, HomeStreet Bank and many others that offer this loan.

Source: solarprices.org

Price Trends for Solar Power: Business Dynamics At Play
Prices of any commodity does vary based on the market/business dynamics as well, such as supply & demand. In the case of the solar industry, the last few years have seen a global downward trend in the prices for solar cells and microchips.

There are several reasons for this trend:

• Oversupply of the commodity materials required to make solar cells
• Oversupply of cheap solar panels produced in markets such as China
• Mew players from China and Taiwan acting as suppliers
• Government subsidies to various solar companies and manufacturers

 

Though this has been positive news for most consumers, whether this price trend will continue in the long term remains to be seen, as there are several factors involved.

Polysilicon Prices Drop: Polysilicon is a cheap raw material that is used in the manufacturing of solar cells and microchips. In the last few years, the top five producers have more than doubled their output of Polysilicon, causing the prices to drop almost 10 times, and this trend is likely to continue further.

Suppply of Raw Materials: Though several innovations are taking place in this area, companies will face challenges as they try to scale up and will require lot more raw materials for their production needs. Whether those demands can be met in the future will need to be seen.

Government Incentives: Most governments across the world (especially in the developed countries) have started pulling the plug on subsidies and incentives that were rolled out to the solar industry. Reasons being:

• Economic crisis and its aftermath that affected the banking industry
• Policy makers now believe that the industry is mature enough to survive on its own without government subsidies/incentives

 

As with other industries, suppliers from China and Taiwan are flooding the market resulting in retail solar module price reductions. European, Japanese, and US manufacturers are now losing out to the Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers who’re able to offer solar panels at significantly lower prices. Reasons for that being:

• Lower labor, materials, production and infrastructure costs in China & Taiwan
• Government subsidies/incentives available in those countries to make the solar industry competitive.

 

Prices for solar panels have been falling consistently with price points approaching $1 per watt. Most analysts are
predicting that soon solar electricity will be as cheap as grid electricity in most countries around the world.

Passive Solar Energy Is Cost Effective

One of the most cost effective ways to heat a structure once it has been built is using Passive solar energy.

What is Passive solar Power?
Passive Solar Power is energy generated using minimum mechanical systems. The angle of the Winter Sun is ‘lower’ and the Summer’s is higher in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. When this fact is harnessed properly, it minimizes the need for traditional heating and cooling systems such as a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning).

The most effective passive systems involve large windows which allow the sun in during the cooler months and are shaded in the warmer months. Usually the windows are slanted at an angle which allows maximum solar energy to land on a concrete floor and then collect and radiate the energy inside the structure.

Often these passive solar energy systems are designed into structures before they are constructed but sometimes, if the location permits, existing structures can be successfully modified into incorporating a successful passively heated solar energy system.

Design is Important
A better design incorporates both direct and indirect solar energy for space heating. For example, a solar chimney for enhancing natural ventilation, the use of thermal mass and phase-change materials for slowing indoor air temperature changes, solar cookers, and solar water heating systems.

The diagram shows a thermo-siphon water heating system; it warms up the cold water that is supplied to your house from the local council/municipality/well. The water warms BEFORE going into your gas or electric water heater, saving you money on your heating bill.

Here’s another great example. Notice the ‘solarium’ below; notice the ‘southern’ facing windows, and the tile floors that will retain the heat in the winter months well after the sun goes down in the evening.

 

 

More Passive Systems
Some of the more notable passive systems include rammed earth homes with long structure length banks of windows. The orientation of the entire structure is such that the sun will be shining through these windows in winter, but not during summer. This is also true with a number of different styles of dome structures.

Monolithic domes, earth bag domes, cob and reciprocal framed roof domes are all quite easily adaptable to passive solar systems when it’s considered during the design stage and implemented during construction.

All of these structures are well insulated and have thermal masses which are kept at relatively constant temperatures, this then requires far less energy to heat and cool. These designs take much more advantage of passive solar than an existing frame and drywall house is going to. Even with good windows and a concrete floor.

Several Benefits
Although adding passive systems to existing structures can get quite costly, many people still feel the benefits outweigh the financial drawbacks. These benefits can be seen when building a passive system that includes remodeling features which are also aesthetically pleasing.

If you are wondered how all this passive solar heating works then here is a nice video showing how it all works. Check this out, its around a couple of minutes of explanation using a house built by passive solar power.

 

 

Sometimes, when deciding to switch over to a life with passive solar energy is worth reevaluating the entire lifestyle and the types of homes and locations involved. It is often much more effective to come to the decision to completely change a traditional house into a more sustainable house which lends itself to using passive solar more effectively.

Solar Energy Power: Videos

How Do Solar Panels Work? Here’s a useful educational video that shows how solar energy panels work. Learn all about photons, electric fields, silicon and electrons and why they are important when it comes to generating electricity from sunlight.

At the most basic level, it works this way — the sun’s rays hit the solar cells (on the panels) and heat them up which causes an atomic reaction. The reaction is responsible for generating the electricity. However, the electricity that is generated is (DC) and that is why it is sent to an inverter where it is converted to AC current.

Electricity in the AC format can then be used around the house and, in certain countries, also sold back to the power companies.

 

 

Various countries are also looking at other alternative sources for electricity generation, such as hydroelectric and nuclear, including wind & solar power to help us meet our higher energy demands.

How to use solar energy power: There are many who want to do their bit for the environment and don’t mind spending money on experimenting. It all starts by installing solar panels on the roof to generate power at home.

And though solar can be used in any part of the world, in certain locations you may have to couple it with other forms such as wind turbines if you want to be totally off the grid.

Here’s a video that shows how you can use solar energy power to zero out your energy bill, water your animals, and a host of other useful projects. Download a FREE e-book filled with tips on solar energy power when you visit our site.

 

 

Solar tower energy: This was supposed to be a big solar project solar power towers in Australia. However, it seems that it failed due to inadequate start-up resources, not because of technology problems. The project is now moving to Arizona, going ahead on a larger scale.

Its a nice video and what the creator of the video means is that you cannot rely on solar power at night or in rainy days. You would still need to use electricity in those times. In contrast, you can still burn coal at night.

 

 

In terms of project costs, it all depends on the design, production means, and most importantly on regulations. It could be anywhere from 1.5 to 4.5 billion dollars for a 1 GWe system that produces 600-700 million dollars worth of electricity per year. With current regulations, factory production of small modular units could lower the cost down, but ideally, you’d want to build singular large units for utmost fuel burn-up and heat conversion efficiency.