Home and Garden Wisdom » Green Issues

The Solar Home Heating System

John — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:52:41 +0000

Perhaps you are undecided on the installation of a solar heating system in your home, or maybe your interest in the concept has just been evinced; anyhow you should get to know something more about solar power for homes.

The solar home heating system is operated entirely by solar power. And as we all know the solar power is readily available and offers several benefits to the world in general and the home owners in particular, in terms of saving in electricity costs and helping towards achieving a greener and cleaner environment.

Before the installation of the solar heating system in your home, some questions are to be answered. The size of your solar heating system and the quantity of energy required should be known. Keep in mind that these values may differ according to the quantity of heat and water that is required for your home.

You may erect your own solar heating system or you can entrust the job to a professional concern. Many home owners go in for the latter option as they know that best results can be expected, and they need not worry about the money spent in case something goes wrong with their erecting of the solar heating system.

Some excellent professional concerns that specialize in solar power for homes are there in the US and they will get the job executed for your satisfaction.

Durability and reliability are two most important benefits available with the solar heating system for homes. When a solar heating system has proper design and installation, it will last your lifetime with the minimum care and maintenance. The usual maintenance procedure comprises of simple steps like checking the insulation of the pipes, holes on the roofs and mountings of collectors.

Please visit the links to know more about generating home made solar energy and setting up your solar power system.

Solar Lighting:More accessible than ever!

John — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:07:26 +0000

Solar lighting is not just a trend anymore. These days, there are more homes being built with some form of solar lighting, than homes that have traditional lighting. With our world becoming ever so aware of the importance of the conservation of energy, it is becoming more of a necessary thing, to have solar lighting in your home. When this form of lighting first came available, it was not the most cost efficient thing to do. It was quite the opposite to have those big and bulky solar panels installed . They were not much to look at either. We have definitely come a long way since then. Solar lighting is now almost as cheap as traditional lighting and the solar panels can be installed in such a way that most people will probably never know that they are there. The slight difference in cost to install solar lighting is well worth the extra money that you will not be spending on your home’s energy bill.

If you are considering solar lighting for your new, or even old home, take some time and check it out. You will be amazed at how many different ways solar power can be incorporated into your home. A great place to see all of the different things that are available is at a home improvement store. Most of these stores now carry a lot of the items that you will need to install solar lighting in your home. If you do not find what you are looking for at a home improvement store, you will more than likely be able to find it online. There are a wide variety of online stores that specialize in solar lights. You will find everything from solar lights for your garden, to complete lighting systems for your entire home.

If you decide to go with solar lighting for your home, not only will you be doing yourself a favor, but also the planet that we live in.

Go Green with Solar Powered Lights

John — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:17:43 +0000

One easy, budget friendly way to go green with your outdoor decor is with the use of solar powered lights. Some people contemplate the idea of going green but feel overwhelmed when trying to decide how to actually adopt a green living lifestyle. If you begin with one small step, additional steps may follow and possibly you will soon find yourself making environmentally friendly choices in all areas of your life.

Not only will solar powered lights enhance the appearance of your outdoor area, they operate at no expense to you. You can illuminate your landscape, patio, porch, or deck without causing an increase in your power bill. You can use solar powered lights to line the pathway that leads visitors to your door. Solar stepping stones can illuminate a path through your garden. It is easy to find solar powered lights that you can attach to a fence, hang from a pole at the entrance to your front steps, or use in many other outdoor situations.

As part of your going green lifestyle, you might find yourself spending more time outdoors. Extending your living area to a patio or deck is an excellent idea. You can enjoy the beauty of nature rather than sitting in front of energy consuming electronic devices inside of your house. There are some very decorative solar lights that can enhance the beauty of your outdoor living room. If you don’t have a deck or patio, you can create a sitting area in your yard using a garden bench, a canopy swing, or a table and chair arrangement. You can use solar lights to softly lighten up your outdoor arrangement.

When you go green with solar powered lights, your neighbors and friends might decide they want their outdoor space to be as attractive as your space. Your choice of lighting could encourage others to take the first step toward living green by decorating with solar lights.

uPVC Windows And Doors – Frequently Asked Questions

John — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:39:10 +0000

Many people every year select uPVC windows and doors as replacement for their existing windows and doors. Surprisingly, however few of these people really know what are the actual benefits of these windows and doors and why they have made such a good decision. In this article we will deal with the question that are most frequently asked regarding uPVC windows and doors.

Why are uPVC windows and doors so beneficial when it comes to insulating your home?

Good home insulation is vital in these times of high fuel costs and energy conservation awareness. UPVC windows and doors will help insulate your property properly, thereby increasing its energy capacity and lowering your fuel bills. Consider carefully the different ‘R-values’ of the uPVC windows you are considering purchasing. The higher the ‘R-value’ the more resistant the window unit is to heat loss.

What style of uPVC windows are available to me?

The production of uPVC has improved dramatically in recent years and all styles of uPVC windows and doors are now available for selection for your home. Look at the present style of window that you have in your home and either replicate it or consider changing the style to something that is more appealing to you. Be aware of possible planning restrictions that may exist with regard to your existing windows or the windows that you are proposing to install.

Can I select glazing to suit my requirements?

As with the styles of windows that are available to you, there are many different types of glazing that can be used with your uPVC windows and doors. Consider your needs, do you want glazing that helps restrict noise pollution from entering your home, or have you a window placement that gets a lot of sun that would benefit from glazing the reflects the sun’s rays. Glazing can be obtained that will aid security, energy retention, sound suppression and many other needs.

Is the range of available colors for uPVC windows and doors limited?

In earlier years of uPVC production most windows and doors came with a very limited color choice. However in recent years product technology has improved to such an extent that uPVC windows and doors are available in most colors and in wood finish styles also. One point to note is that uPVC windows and doors cannot be over painted, so the color you choose when you purchase your windows is the color the windows and doors will have to remain.

Adding Solar Panels to Your Home

John — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:31:34 +0000

At the moment, solar panels are the most feasible and doable way to create an alternative power supply to your local power station. These panels can be located either on one’s roof, which can be adapted to fit nicely onto the roof tiles already on your roof or on the ground. If one wants to supplement one’s power supply with solar panels only in order to save on utility bills, then the roof fitting panels would be the first choice. However if you were hoping to become completely independent of the national power supply you would want to look into a larger, ground based system.

The next consideration would be the orientation of the actual solar collector for maximum efficiency. If located on the roof the angle and direction at which the panels are placed at are really quite negligible, but if they are placed on the ground then you should make sure that are placed at the optimum angle. The basic rule of thumb is if you are located in the southern hemisphere, then your solar panels should be facing north and if you are located in the northern hemisphere, then they should be facing south. There are also other considerations such as the latitude of your location, weather and seasonal variables, but again these are negligible. Most people will not be taking the DIY path when it comes to such a specialized product, so you can elaborate on the finer details with the company whose services you are going to make use of.

The real question most people will be asking is what the cost of solar panels for homes installation will be and how will it benefit one economically. The costs are on average measured in what the potential power output will be from the particular system one is investing in. There are low end estimates of $7 to $9 a watt to higher end estimates of $10 to $12 a watt. Now you can deduce your particular monthly power consumption from your power bill and if, for example you plan on a 2kW system you can calculate installation costs ranging from $14,000 to $18,000 and $20,000 to $24,000.

Keep in mid that although the set up costs do seem high, these home solar energy systems are designed to be durable and save you money long term and once you have saved the cost of installation through lower utility bills, you will have free power for life. Also, take into account the exponential advancement of the technology and keep abreast of the latest designs available and the inevitable cost saving benefits.

5 Startling Facts About Solar Energy and Solar Lights

John — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:10:45 +0000

It’s impossible to imagine the Earth without the sun because it is such a huge source of energy for everything we do. If we take the time to learn a little about the possibilities of utilizing all that energy, it will enable us to make informed decisions about how best to use solar lights for our homes, offices and public buildings:

1. Some countries have far more solar power potential than they could ever use. If Australia for example harnessed all the solar energy that it received from the sun, it would amount to the equivalent of over 10,000 times more energy than the nation currently consumes. Even at the poorest conversion rate of 12 – 15%, it would still represent at least 1,200 times more energy than they need! This puts into perspective just how easy it is nowadays to make a few solar powered garden lights function in my part of America.

2. For every 1kw of convention electricity you can replace with solar energy you will prevent the burning of over 150lbs of coal which would have released almost 300lbs of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you replaced all the lighting in your home with solar powered lights, you could save this amount of pollution every other day depending on your usage. So think of solar power not only in terms of how much money you can save, but also how much you can help save the environment.

3. The world’s largest single solar energy plant is in the Mojave Desert in America. This one plant produces almost 90% of the world’s commercially produced solar energy, and has an area of almost 2 square miles of solar reflectors. This plant is still relatively ‘small scale’ if we compare it to what we could be doing, it is estimated the Sahara Desert in Africa could generate 35 times more energy from solar power than is needed by the entire world.

4. The uptake of solar energy is increasing world-wide. The production of solar cells for lighting and other household applications is estimated to be rising by up to 60% each year. The largest movement is being seen in Japan which now consumes over 50% of the world’s production of solar panels. And it is not just in warm climates where this type of power can be effective, even in rainy Britain, some new office blocks have been clad in solar panels to provide power.

5. As the rate of technology increase, the price of solar power accessories continues to tumble. It is estimated that components were dropping by around 3% per year until recently when they seemed to have bottomed out – and while prices were dropping, government support in the form of subsidies have continued to rise. Solar powered has never been more cost effective to install, and in some US states you can receive up to $10,000 in State and Federal grants towards installing a system for your home.

We should see solar energy as our future, fossil fuels are in limited supply and if we leave it too long to make the switch over we might get caught out. Even if you only convert your outdoor lighting over to things such as solar path lighting (probably the simplest form of installation), we will be doing a little bit to help tackle the world’s energy crisis.