Alcatraz to go Solar
The Rock is going solar.
In its heyday, Alcatraz prison locked up mobsters such as Al Capone, “Machine Gun” Kelly and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis. Now, the famous penitentiary in San Francisco Bay will capture something new: the sun’s rays.
On Friday, the National Park Service announced it will fund a project to put about 1,360 solar panels on the main prison and laundry building at Alcatraz Island. The panels, which are scheduled to be installed later this spring, will provide 40 percent to 60 percent of the electricity for the iconic island, reducing the need for two aging diesel generators that currently keep Alcatraz’s lights on — yet also belch out heavy smog and cost $700,000 a year to fuel and maintain.
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Personal Solar Panels
The Joss Orange Solar Charger is the best use of the sun’s rays since pale people discovered tanning. I am a pale person, that’s how much I love this product.
The Joss Orange Solar Charger is an affordable solar panel. Affordable as in it’ll retail for around $100. This bad mamma jamma can generate enough power to charge six regular cell phones or four smart phones. The charger also provides two and a half hours of talk time for every one hour of charging. It is made of durable material, so it won’t get all namby pamby and break on ya.
Read More Here:
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joss-orange-solar-charger
A Bright Idea on Solar Panel Leasing
Some deals are so good, there’s only one thing to do: Act fast.
That’s my take on a new solar program offered by TXU Energy and SolarCity, a California firm based near Silicon Valley. The plan lets North Texas homeowners lease solar panels for about $35 a month and recoup all that and more from smaller electric bills, the companies say. Customers can even sell their excess generation back into the grid.
Read more Here:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/05/2018937/a-bright-idea-on-solar-panel-leasing.html
Solar Wind Power: Another Alternative
Unknown to many, wind creates energy through the help of the sun. Solar Wind power is actually solar power that has been converted to a mechanical form of energy. This energy has been used worldwide for centuries.
A wind turbine or tower is an equipment that converts energy to electricity.
The wind tower revolves when the heat from Earth’s atmosphere is dispersed in the air in patches making some of it warm and others cool. The warm air rises because cooler air pushes it upward. This movement causes the propeller of the wind tower to turn thus producing electricity that can be used in everyday living.
Wind towers are usually seen in fields and coastal areas because these are the places where wind is strong. Wind turbines come in various forms but it all has the same parts which are the propeller blade, gearbox, generator and the tower. The higher the tower, the more energy is produced. Large and light propellers also produce more electricity.
Solar Panels Cost: Is It Really Worth your Money?
Most articles that you can read in the Internet would state that solar energy cuts electric bills and help protect the environment. It is really very appealing but one major factor to consider in investing into solar technology is the price.
Solar panels cost money but not the environment. Putting money in solar technology is probably one of the wisest financial investments.
With the money that you have, you can actually buy your family, especially your children, a greener world. Other sources of energy have long polluted the planet creating various environmental problems that people have never imagined. And through the use of a solar panel, you can help reduce these pollutants because it makes use of clean and renewable energy. Also, the solar panels are known to have properties that reduce greenhouse gasses. That is what you call priceless savings.
But finances really do matter especially in this time that the economy is having its ups and downs so again the question pops up. How much does it cost?
Solar panels cost depends on some factors. Let us first look in to quality. Long lasting solar panels can have a higher price than standard solar panels. It can also depend on the type of solar panel you will use. Crystalline silicon panels, the commonly used panels that are fixed and glass covered can be more expensive because of the tedious process it goes through and the installation costs.
Speculating on Solar Power Cost
Solar power systems can be really attractive with all its uses and benefits. But most of us are hesitant to invest money in one because it can be expensive. Well, that is what most people think.
Though the trend of solar power cost is going down, the estimate price range for setting up a system upfront is still $20,000-$50,000. That can be a lot but you have to explore options if you really want to use solar energy and save money.
First, check your location. There is a possibility that you can spend more in putting money in solar devices if your location doesn’t receive enough sun. If it gets sun at an average of 4-6 hours a day then that could be sufficient already for your needs.
Second, you have the option of installing it by yourself or having it professionally installed. There are lots of homeowners who have installed their own power systems even if they have no experience. Going for professionals is the safe route but professionals can also guide you do the job through self-help books. Of course, it is more cost effective to do it by yourself.
Solar Power Systems: The Basics
As the world’s population increases, the need for energy as well as energy costs is rising too. While most people are still troubled on how to keep up with this dilemma, others have already found the solution by using solar energy to light up their homes.
Solar power systems are used to generate energy for a person’s home. It can be a basic or high end model. This can be set up to provide electricity, heat water or both. It is made up of four primary components which are the solar panels, a charging controller, a battery and an inverter.
The power system works likes photosynthesis. When the sun’s light hits the surface of the solar panel, the electrons are absorbed by the panel and converted to direct current (DC) electricity. This DC passes through a charging controller which regulates the amount electricity that goes into the system. The DC then goes to the battery for storage.
Think Twice about Home Solar Power
The high demand for energy which has caused problems worldwide is primarily attributed to the fast growing number of people around the world. Some of us have done our part to solve this dilemma through conserving electricity and cutting down on fuel consumption which in reality is some of life’s little sacrifices. But another win-win solution to this problem has been found through man’s ingenuity through the use of solar energy.
Home solar power is simply using solar energy for your home to run appliances, light homes and even pump water. It is getting attention nowadays but some people are still hesitant about going solar. Let’s weigh the pros and cons.
Weather issues can be a real problem for home solar power. Enough sunlight is very important to produce the electricity you will need. So during night time or cloudy days when the system will not generate electricity, you can make use of solar energy stored in batteries.
Looking at it in a positive light, running your home with solar electricity can save you money in the long run. It may be expensive at first. But since the equipments you’ll need to make your home solar powered can last for almost two decades, you can surely save more than 10 years cost of electricity. The government also offers incentive programs for homeowners who opt to use solar energy so the costs will be defrayed in buying home solar systems.
Live on Solar Power Energy
For centuries, the sun has been very important and useful to man. The sun is said to be the source of life. All living things, great and small, need the sun in order to survive. But as the years pass by, we do not depend on sun for life alone. We also use it to get solar power energy.
During the 1400s, DaVinci has foreseen the use of solar energy with his prediction that the world will be transformed by solar industrialization. True enough, it is widely used nowadays to produce heat and electricity. Almost anything can run on solar power; calculators, laptops, cooking stoves and even cars!
These machines can run on solar power through the solar power system. It is a system composed of solar panels, an electric inverter and a battery. The solar panels convert the sunlight to electricity. The electricity will then pass through an electric inverter that would change its current. After that, the electricity produced can now be used to run appliances, transportation and give houses electricity. The battery is helpful for storing unused energy for future use.
The Light & Dark Side of Solar Energy
Solar energy is simply energy that we get from the sun through its rays. This energy has been used for years but is gaining more popularity today. It is known as an alternative source of electricity which can be used for everyday living. But little do other people know that this energy, like any other sources of energy, has its disadvantages too.
Let us first look at the brighter side of things. With solar energy, you can be environment friendly. Since this energy comes from the sun, it is clean and has basically no pollutants. It can totally cut or lower your electric bills. Also, it can be used to heat water and homes which are much more affordable than using traditional heaters. And if you live in a far place where there are no utilities, you can also make use of solar energy to make potable water by the process of desalination. Given all these uses, solar energy is indeed very helpful.
But using solar energy can be initially expensive. Though the energy is free and available for everyone’s use, you would need solar energy collectors to use it. These solar collectors can be very expensive depending on its kind. It may take years before your investment will be returned. Other expenses would be for the other parts of the solar electric system, installation and some for the maintenance. And though the solar collectors can last decades, you need to know that the longer these panels are used, the less efficient they become. In the end, you will need to replace the good old solar panels.
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