| Finally The dream of capturing free energy from the | | | | same form as that obtained from a battery. This form |
| sun has is no longer just a quest for many generations | | | | of solar renewable energy is employed in wilderness |
| of scientists. With the latest advances in technology, | | | | areas for a variety of functions, and the space station |
| this form of power is now available to the home | | | | and satellites use this form of power. While it means a |
| owner. | | | | substantial outlay for the homeowner, if you want to |
| Solar renewable energy can be used for lighting, | | | | look at green options this certainly is a worthwhile one. |
| cooking, water heating and even powering vehicles. | | | | You need a lot more roof space for a PV system |
| You have probably already seen renewable solar | | | | than water heating (unless you are heating a |
| energy in action without knowing it, as some traffic | | | | swimming pool) and the amount of wiring required |
| signs already use the sun to keep them functioning | | | | might be best left to a qualified electrician to install. The |
| when other power can't reach them. Portable warning | | | | real attraction for solar renewable energy is that you |
| signs are also powered by solar panels, and even | | | | will always get energy when the sun is shining. There |
| emergency 911 phones at the roadside are fully | | | | are very few working parts in the systems that could |
| powered on solar energy through the use of a | | | | wear out, making them low maintenance as well. |
| rechargeable battery inside and a PV solar panel at | | | | Additional benefits of solar renewable energy systems |
| the top of the pole. | | | | include that they make no noise, and can look stylish |
| You can create a basic solar unit from some black | | | | when mounted on the roof facing in the direction of |
| plastic piping and a small pump - and if it is in full | | | | the sun's rays. There are even panels available now |
| sunlight, within minutes warm, or even hot water, will be | | | | that sit between the ribs of certain types of metal |
| available to be circulated to a pool or under floor | | | | roofing. The average home can easily incorporate |
| heating system. Commercial versions of this simple, | | | | some form of solar power, even if it is just to illuminate |
| low temperature and pressure solar collector look like | | | | pathways around the home. |
| hundreds of small tubes glued side by side and | | | | Major utility companies are slow to adopt solar |
| connected across the top and bottom with a large | | | | renewable energy and this is probably because at |
| manifold pipe. When connected to a swimming pool | | | | present there are few incentives to make change - |
| circulation pump, they can provide essentially free heat | | | | and they can just pass fuel cost increases on to the |
| to the pool. Think about it, the pump has to be running | | | | consumer without any real resistance. |
| anyway to run the filter, so you might as well use | | | | Technology has improved PhotoVoltaic cells to the |
| these panels to heat your pool. I've got about 600 | | | | point where they are becoming a competitive electrical |
| square feet of them on my roof, and they can | | | | generation alternative, but you needn't wait for your |
| increase the temperature of my 25,000 gallon pool by | | | | utility company to get up to speed with this. Take |
| about 2 degrees for every day of full sun. We live at | | | | matters into your own hands and become self |
| about 4000 feet elevation, and even here, the pool has | | | | sufficient for your home's energy needs. If you don't |
| been at 90 degrees on more than one occasion. | | | | want an off-grid or a system that splits your household |
| A more adventurous DIY home owner, might | | | | use between the solar system and commercial power, |
| purchase a set of high temperature, high pressure, roof | | | | you can now get a device called a "grid intertie |
| mounted set of solar panels to provide hot water to a | | | | inverter" that allows you to connect to your power |
| storage tank for use in most household situations. A | | | | panel. This allows you to still use commercial power, |
| circulation pump and controller is typically part of the | | | | but slows or turns the meter backwards when you |
| setup and if you set the control high enough, you can | | | | produce more power than you consume, and still have |
| get the tank to about 180 degrees with a lot of sun. Of | | | | plenty of power from the grid when the solar panels |
| course, if you do set it that high you will want to make | | | | are not producing, like at night. |
| sure you have a mixing valve on the output to temper | | | | To implement solar renewable energy you won't have |
| the water to a safer 125 degrees to supply the house. | | | | to spend a lot at first to get some benefit. You can |
| Though a properly sized system can provide all of the | | | | start with a smaller system to get a feel for how it |
| hot water you are used to, you might want to add one | | | | works, before committing a large budget to a full-blown |
| or two of these solar renewable energy panels just as | | | | system. |
| a top up for other types of heating, and there will be a | | | | We hope that this article will stimulate your interest |
| saving in your utility bills too. | | | | enough to take at least a look at what can be |
| To produce electricity from solar energy, you might | | | | achieved. As more people like you get involved, the |
| consider installing solar photo voltaic (PV) panels | | | | cheaper units will be. |
| produce DC (Direct Current) electricity, which is the | | | | |