Take the first step to a more Efficient, Greener and Healthier you!

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more efficient, greener and healthier you!

http://www.evolutionsolar.com.au

 Solar power usage is on the rise worldwide. In
Australia, the government would like to be
using 20% renewable energy by 2020, by
means of such sources as
solar, wind, geothermal and hydro energy.


 You can do your part to contribute to this trend
in clean and green energy use by having solar
power panels and a solar water heater added to
your home.

 This form of energy is healthier for the
environment because it does not require the
burning of fossil fuels such as oil and natural
gas, which cause greenhouse gases.


Solar power is basically using the sun’s rays
and converting it into energy that can be
withdrawn to make all sorts of things work.


You’ve most likely seen an electronic
calculator is sourced by solar power, and
now the technologies range to items such
as e-books, wheelchairs, keyboards and
even automobiles.


While these advances in using solar
electricity are new, the use of solar power
energy for the home has been around for
some time.


In fact, it’s been found that in
Leonard Da Vinci’s notebooks from
the 15th century, he had plans for
capturing the energy of the sun.


The first is passive solar power, in which
the design of a structure is made so that
sunlight can be available to both provide
light to function in the space and to store it
in materials such as masonry and tile for
warmth.


 Trees and other growth can protect windows
from the sun in order to shade the structure in
the months of higher temperatures.
 Another form is thermal solar power, in which
the heat of the sun is captured to heat water
used in daily use or for a pool.


Having these two forms of using the sun
are relatively inexpensive and do not
require huge installations.

It’s a good first way to introduce
using solar power in the home.


The third way to capture solar power is to use solar power
panels. These are becoming used more frequently in the
home and business place as a way to affordably depend
on renewable energy such as the sun. To understand the
production of these panels, we must explore a bit of
chemistry.


Silicon is the agent used in the production of solar
panel cells because of its ability to combine with other
elements to create a positive or negative charge.

The silicon by itself has four electrons circling around the
nucleus in its natural state, yet has room for four more. In the
production of solar panels, two silicon plates are
combined, yet with this arrangement; there would be no
charge, because it allows for just the eight electrons. Five
more electrons gives the silicon a negative charge and three
more gives it a positive charge.


The silicon must be combined with
another element to create a charge
to generate electricity.

Two commonly used elements are phosphorus, with five
electrons, and boron has three. The additional phosphorus
electron must stay bonded to the phosphorus atoms, but
isn’t needed by the silicon, while the three boron electrons
create a positive charge in the silicon.


 When the two plates are combined, electricity
is created when the electromagnetic photons of
the sun hit the silicon/phosphorus plate and it
releases the electron.

 This one electron by itself does not create a
great deal of solar power energy, but the
combination of many cells will produce much
electricity.


This combination of light and the panels is called a
photovoltaic (PV) system, and refers to the use of
light (photo) to create energy (voltaic). Solar
panels are undergoing development to make them
even more efficient and less expensive to the
homeowner. There are excellent possibilities to
increasing the bandwidth of useable light that can
be converted into electricity in the future.


 Solar power electricity is measured in kilowatt
hours, meaning that 1 kilowatt equals 1000
watts – or the power needed to generate light for
10, 100 watt light bulbs. The reason it’s good to
know that wattage is that as a homeowner with
solar power panels, for every kilowatt hour that
your solar panels contribute to the electricity
grid, you will be credited.


 Extra solar energy that you do not use in your
home is fed to the electricity provider if you
have established a contract and a metering
system with them.

 Other methods are for the system to collect
that solar power in a battery where the energy
is stored for later use.


Solar power electricity can be used in the home in many
ways. One method is merely for lighting. People typically
start with a solar panel to fulfill outdoor lighting needs, yet it
can easily be incorporated to indoor lighting as well.

Path lighting and spot lights on a patio, shed or garage are
most commonly used outdoors, while indoor solar lighting
will function to softly illuminate a living or dining room or an
indoor security light.


This system will most likely not be fed off of
the power provider electricity grid, however.
Otherwise, everything in the home can run
off the solar power when available, from the
blender to the blow dryer.


 The more space that a home can utilize to install
solar power panels, the larger they can be to
absorb the sun’s rays and thus create more
electricity for use in the home.


The panels can be installed on rooftops
and as stand alone facilities.

To perform optimally, they should receive
maximum sun exposure.


 When installed, the considerations of the angle
of the sun at all times of the year should be
taken into account. In addition, any trees that
will shade the panels will need to be
trimmed, and check for any other obstacles
that will shade the sun.


The variables included in setting up solar
electricity include latitude and
isolation, which can be determined by a
solar power installer.


 The solar power panels must be pointed correctly
to harness the power.

 For an existing space, a professional can help
determine at what angle the solar panels should
be set up.


When designing a new
build, these factors can best
capture what is required for
establishing solar power.


Take the first step to a more Efficient, Greener and Healthier you!

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