The following pages are designed to give you examples on how people typically build their solar power system, and ideas you might find useful. Start and continue to work where you have the greatest need, and over time you'll get where you want to be. "By the inch it's a cinch, but by the yard it's hard." Don't quit! In our case the 'summer cabin' we purchased was plumbed and wired for electricity. From lack of use the home was very nice inside.

Basically, almost every building is suitable for a solar power system. A building requires a roof or fa?ade surface that faces south, east or west. A surface facing south with approximately a 30? angle is ideal for an optimum yield. A deviation towards the southwest/southeast or angles between 25? and 60? only slightly reduce the energy yield. However, shade caused by trees or neighboring buildings should be avoided.

Solar Power is the energy of the sun, converted into eco-friendly electricity, which can then meet your daily ???power??? requirements.

Solar Power and evaporative cooling rather go hand in hand. Both are energy efficient and both use the power of Mother Nature's natural benefits for their operation. We recommend you use The MightyKool MW1 as it draws less than .9 to 1.6 amps (11 to 20 watts) and produces a nice steady stream of cool air. Click on MW1 for more information

Though aesthetics are a matter of individual preference, most domestic solar water heating systems can be either designed to blend with the building exteriors or can be designed so that they are hidden from view. If systems are well installed and maintained, they might even add to the aesthetics.

Yes. Solar electricity systems that are tied into public utility systems sell power back to the utility grid in the summer, while still producing smaller amounts of power on cloudy days. In the summer, when electricity use is highest, solar systems generate the most power, thereby offsetting some of the increased demand. The result is less dependence on non-renewable energy and more clean power from the sun.

Yes, the cleaner the power the cleaner the car. Putting solar PV on your home or business makes even more sense with a plug-in car. The investment pays off faster, and the car becomes truly zero-emission. Maybe for some people. But most people have access already to electricity. And electricity is cleaner, cheaper and domestic.

Solar cells are made of thin layers of silicon. When sunlight strikes the cells, a reaction releases electrons, generating electric current. A device called an inverter changes this DC power into AC which is the electricity needed to power our homes and businesses. A solar cell can operator for more than 40 years with minimal maintenance .

Yes, this is possible. For flat plate collectors, manufacturers will specify a 5W photovoltaic panel, and a 5-10W low voltage pump. This is because flate plate collectors do not work efficiently in low sun conditions, so the pump only needs to function in bright sunlight. This is insufficient for evacuated tubes, which due to their high efficiency, will require pump circulation even in overcast conditions.

The selling price of Solar Tower renewable energy will be based on the average peak pool electricity price paid to generators plus an additional renewable energy credit incentive paid by retailers.

Increasingly, the world over, people are making a transition from conventional energy sources to Solar Power because they find it is more efficient, more economical and much, much more environment-friendly. Solar Power is as reliable as the Sun: no power cuts, no black outs, no voltage fluctuations. It pays for itself in the long run.

I considered it, but you need a panel of at least 60W to power the units and charge the battery for an overcast winter's day. The cost for the parts was about $800. And then:

PV technology brings many benefits. It's a quiet, clean source of energy, is reliable requiring minimal maintenance, and lasts for decades. It is not only competitive with other sources of energy in terms of costs, but directly contributes to reduction in greenhouse gases. What's more, it's an effective back-up power source in case of emergencies.

Solar and thermal technology actually creates energy. Solar power systems convert sunlight into heat, and having captured the heat, the solar technology deploys the thermal energy in water heating. Solar power systems produce hot water using power from the sun without creating carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gas and create no pollution. They produce energy from renewable sources without using scarce fossil fuels and are cost effective.

Yes and no. Solar requires a large installation cost that means paying "upfront" for many years of energy. Once the system has "paid for itself" the energy you gain from the system is free. Proper financing of a system can create a positive cash flow after installation of a system. Look at our financial page for some information.

Solar Power requires the panel to be exposed to sunlight to operate. Assuming that the unit is placed in a sunny area, with the panel properly tilted and facing due south, most areas can expect an average of 5 charging hours per day. For a 64 Watt solar panel, this means that it can provide about 26 amp hours of charge per day. For most IST products, this is sufficient to recharge the battery every day, thus extending the run time indefinitely (i.e. weeks).

Yes, it is sometimes possible. The governing factor is often the lender. The cost of improving your building site can sometimes be prohibitive. Be careful in choosing property where there are many unknowns such as well depth and the costs to bring in power and other services. To compensate for these extra costs, the purchase price should be lower to reflect these needed expenses on your part.

Planning a Solar Power system is extremely important. It requires thinking beyond your current needs so that future expansion doesn't require you to rebuy and redo unnecessarily. If you can anticipate your future needs you can usually find ways to ensure that the equipment you buy will fit neatly into your future plans. Conservation of electricity is paramount. The less electricity you use, the less you need to generate.

There are number of different motivations for choosing solar power over public utilities. It's usually a lifestyle choice driven by economic considerations and ideology. Here is a summary of reasons that illustrate the wide range of considerations that make solar power attractive. Tell us if your reasons are not on the list. In many locations (like where we live), the costs to get a line to our house is very high.

Solar modules can be installed on almost every type of roofing material. You’ll need a sunny place on your roof about 120 square feet (10’x12') for smaller systems and about 500 square feet (10’x30’) for midsized systems and 10'x50' for larger systems.

Different technologies make different amounts of noise.? Grid-tied inverters make almost none. Battery back-up systems are louder; you might not want to mount them on the wall behind your bedroom.

Yes. Solar electricity systems that are tied into public utility systems sell power back to the utility grid in the summer, while still producing smaller amounts of power on cloudy days. In the summer, when electricity use is highest, solar systems generate the most power, thereby offsetting some of the increased demand. The result is less dependence on non-renewable energy and more clean power from the sun.

Grid-tied without battery back-up solar electric systems must be connected to the utility to function; therefore they do not operate when the power goes out. However, solar electric systems with battery back-up will continue to operate. Yes. The solar modules are warranteed for 25 years by the manufacturer. The inverter is guaranteed for five years by the manufacturer and all of our labor is warranteed for five years.

Make sure you have a solar hot water heater to pre-feed a backup LP gas or electric water heater. Try to avoid using electric water heaters only. 2) By spending $1.00 on energy efficient fluorescent lights, appliances, etc you will save $4.00 on the cost of solar electric equipment (solar panels, batteries, inverter etc) to power energy inefficient loads. For example, a 25 watt fluorescent bulb will give the same amount of light as a 100 watt incandescent lamp that uses 4 times the solar power.