The actual (physical) particle unit of light, as the electron is of
electric charge and the atom and molecule are of matter. Light has both
wave properties and particle properties. Violet light has relatively
short wavelength and higher energy in its photons; red light has longer
wavelength, lower-energy photons. The wavelength and/or energy spectrum
of the sun extends in both directions beyond the visible range of light,
of course, and the silicon module solar cell can capture some energy in
both of these invisible zones. Photons not captured by the cell are
either reflected or converted to heat in the solar array.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Photovoltaic (PV)
Photovoltaic cells are made of parallel clusters of semiconductor
materials such as silicon. Although silicon has been by far the most commonly used material, basically because of its abundance (it's the
second most available element in the Earth's crust), it takes a lot of
effort to generate a quality and efficient PV cell and until recently the cost
for PV arrays restricted most people from using it.
Today those costs have come down considerably and are further diminished by the abundance of federal, state, and local tax credits, reliefs and other monetary incentives to make installing a solar energy system a viable and cost effective energy alternative. The future looks brighter and clearer still as scientists continue to explore different ways to create other non-silicon based photovoltaic panels with the hope of eventually producing solar cells at about one-tenth the cost of silicon based products.
Today those costs have come down considerably and are further diminished by the abundance of federal, state, and local tax credits, reliefs and other monetary incentives to make installing a solar energy system a viable and cost effective energy alternative. The future looks brighter and clearer still as scientists continue to explore different ways to create other non-silicon based photovoltaic panels with the hope of eventually producing solar cells at about one-tenth the cost of silicon based products.
Kilowatt-hour
A common unit of electric power consumption. One kilowatt-hour equals
1000 watt-hours and can be used to define the amount of energy used
over a one-hour period. For example, a 60-watt incandescent light bulb
turned on for one hour would use 60 watt-hours of energy.
A side note: Interestingly, a 19-watt compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) packs the equivalent amount of output as a 60-watt incandescent, but saves 68% of the comparable energy. There are two reasons for this: (1) 75% of the energy incandescent light bulbs use ends up as heat, only 25% gives off light; (2) CFLs last 10 times longer than incandescents and save $30 or more in energy bills over their lifetime. So use CFL bulbs wherever possible to cool down the planet too.
A side note: Interestingly, a 19-watt compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) packs the equivalent amount of output as a 60-watt incandescent, but saves 68% of the comparable energy. There are two reasons for this: (1) 75% of the energy incandescent light bulbs use ends up as heat, only 25% gives off light; (2) CFLs last 10 times longer than incandescents and save $30 or more in energy bills over their lifetime. So use CFL bulbs wherever possible to cool down the planet too.
Net metering
The ability to record both power produced and power consumed. Utility
companies record the information, as they do for all home meters, and
charge customers for the power they use as well as credit them for any extra or excess power they generate and produce..
Passive Solar Design
If you are part of constructing a
new home, consider ways to take complete advantage of the sun – termed
"passive solar design". Houses that incorporate passive solar design can positively augment the effects of a solar power system.
Main features to passive solar design include:
- Positioning a home on an east-west axis and ensuring that the home's south side receives its maximum amount of daylight.
- Designing interior spaces so that rooms used most frequently are along the building's south face.
- Taking advantage of thermal mass spaces to store, absorb, and distribute heat.
- Installing overhangs, selecting windows, and adding insulation to maximize sun (and shade).
- Planting trees and other vegetation strategically around your home to provide natural shading and buffer from intense heat.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources consist of the sun and the wind. Harnessing
energy from water currents, tides, and waves also described as types of
renewable energy. In opposition, the traditional energy sources we depend on
to generate power namely natural gas and oil and coal are non-renewable
sources of power. Once these resources are sufficiently depleted they
become too expensive and costly to retrieve.
Mind it, not all renewable energy sources come devoid of consequences (think about issues surrounding hydroelectric dams in the West). Solar power has the unique advantage of tapping energy from the sun without actually impacting any other natural resource.
Mind it, not all renewable energy sources come devoid of consequences (think about issues surrounding hydroelectric dams in the West). Solar power has the unique advantage of tapping energy from the sun without actually impacting any other natural resource.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Solar Water Distillers
Water is the most precious resource in the desert, and the desert makes up most of Mexico. There are no wells in communities so rainwater is collected in deposits. This rainwater is not safe to drink, and so families need to boil the water using wood fires. A solar water distiller can provide safe drinking water, so there is no longer a need to boil water. The distiller is basically a box in which water is evaporated and collected. The distiller is expected to last many years. Distillers can provide better quality water while reducing the work involved and the health and environmental impacts of burning wood.
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