Joseph Abrams asked:




Installing a new solar water heater is a rewarding purchase, buying into energy independence pays for itself. With Tax credits and Utility rebates the time is now to install new solar power and solar thermal home energy systems.

Solar Thermal is the practice of converting the energy from the sun hitting your roof into hot water for your entire home: Baths, Showers, Cooking, all heated with solar energy and stored in your homes new solar water heater, similar to a thermos with backup heating elements for none solar days.

In Tampa Florida we have the most solar days, if your electric bill exceeds 180 a month you should be buying into a new solar water heater today. Solar water heaters save 30-40% off your electric bill, couple this solar thermal system with a new High Efficiency air conditioner, thorough duct inspection and seal , and a new water conditioner and Reverse Osmosis system for the combined savings within 10years of a new car.

-Tax credits pay you back -Fuel savings reduced by 40-50% -Home energy smart

If your family ever needs more hot water than the sun can provide, or in long periods of inclement weather, most include a back up heating element which automatically takes over, insuring that you will always have all the hot water you need during none solar hours.

* Eligible for up to $2,000 federal Tax Credit * Eligible for up to $1,500 from State Government * Eligible for up to $450 rebate from utility company

This system is a whole house solution for family homes with at least 3 persons. We have larger systems as well, if you need two or more collector and a larger thermal storage tank we can still accommodate your family.

Massive savings, Massive Tax Credits, Massive independence from foreign oil. it pays for itself.



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Maureen Smith asked:




I love solar energy, because it frees us from high electric bills and because it allows us to use the sun to power our electronics. If you want to learn about solar power the Waterproof 12V Solar Panel

from Scientifics is a smart simple way to introduce you and your family to the power of the sun. It is light weight and 3 1/2 X 3 X ¾ inches in size. It is also encapsulated in a strong clear plastic shell which makes it durable, sturdy, waterproof and corrosion proof for outdoor use. In other words it can take the heat and a beating.

Click Here To Learn How To Build Your Own Solar Panel & Generate Your Own Energy

The Waterproof 12V Solar Panel is designed with conservation in mind. It contains a blocking diode, “so that the stored energy [from the battery] will not reverse flow to the panel at night time”. This design does two things: it protects the panel from electrical damage and it also stores the day time energy for night time use.

To test the durability of the plastic shell I kept the panel outside for several weeks in all kinds of weather. The panel withstood all the elements – extremely hot days and bad rainstorms- very well. I noticed there was no corrosion or water damage to the panel at all. Then I tested the strength of the plastic shell in another way. The box that the solar panel arrived in reads that the solar panel models 681 to 683 are strong enough to withstand heavy weights and there is an illustration of a car rolling over a few solar panels to demonstrate this. My solar panel model is a 684. Despite the fact that my model does not fit in the category above I decided to take my Honda Civic to it and roll over it anyhow, twice, with the back wheel. It did not break, not one crack, not even a scratch. I’d like to see what a heavy loaded 18-Wheeler can do to the panel.

There is no doubt in my mind that this panel is durable, but does it provide the energy it claims it should? Does it really store the energy without back flow? Honestly, I couldn’t tell if it did. I don’t have much experience or knowledge about solar panels. I was hoping I would learn with this one. Instead I found that after a few weeks of testing the solar panel, the cell phone battery and the rechargeable battery I used to test it with were no longer functional. The cell phone (which was old) no longer turned on at all. The 12 volt rechargeable battery (which was new) no longer provided energy to the lamp. Was this a coincidence? Did I connect it wrong?

It is supposed to be simple product to use and yet I found myself perplexed, because at first it worked so well. I was able to charge up my husband’s cell phone battery so easily. In fact, the first time I tested it I remember standing next to my husband so happy because I kept thinking to myself “not one dime was paid to the electric company to charge this phone”. I couldn’t believe it; my husband cell phone was powered for free. Yes, it took a little longer to power by the sun, but we weren’t in any hurry. Then I began to imagine my whole house powered by the sun and my low or possibly non-existent electric bills and I couldn’t wait to use it over and over again.

I did test it over and over again over the next few weeks only to find that eventually the phone no longer worked and that the battery did not either. Because there was no indicator (voltmeter or multi-meter) to let me know how much power was being produced, if at all, I had no way of knowing if it was the items I was using, if the solar panel was broken, or if it was something that I was doing wrong. I contacted Scientifics and was told to contact the manufacture, but could not because there is no contact information available on the box or anywhere on the solar panel that I could see.

I also found the 6ft wire was too short for my mounting on the wall needs, though on the ground it was fine. The stand was easy to put on the panel, but somewhat flimsy. I wasn’t fond of the alligator clips either. Aside from the fact that they did not stay on very well (barely touch them and they would fall off) there was the problem of finding items to test it with. This was my fault. I should have been more careful noticing that this particular solar panel came with alligator clips rather than a different means of connecting to electrical products. This of course limited what I could use from my home to test the solar panel.

Despite the problems, having a small solar panel like this and having the chance to use it really inspired me to learn more about solar panels and perhaps go solar in the future. My first sample may have not have gone as I had hoped, but I did learn a lot from it and I dream of the day when I can afford to go completely solar in my life, to power my air conditioner, my lights, my appliances and everything else electrical.



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Since Al Gore’s documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth” hit the world’s consciousness, local governments and citizen groups have become more vocal in demanding alternative renewable energy sources. One highly viable source certainly in parts of the United States is solar power. One state taking a stand for it’s citizens to have the opportunity to do their part is Arizona. In June of 2007, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, ruled in favor of new requirements that would force the public utilities and their customers to get at least 15 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by the year 2025.

The approval means that the Arizona Corporation Commission can demand that these new measures be met by utility companies it regulates. This includes the following pubic utilities Tucson Electric Power and Arizona Public Service Company (APS). Salt River Project (SRP) is controlled by the Arizona state legislature. Utility companies will start investing more in renewable energy sources. Customers will be charged more to participate in the new guidelines imposed. Additional charges to the consumer will be 35 cents per month on their utility bill. One energy expert said that adding this surcharge to the utility bill is the best way to ramp up Arizona’s renewable energy program.

Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano joined the Governors of California, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington in an alignment to create market based programs to make utilities and their customers curb their carbon emissions by 15 percent from 2005 levels. In September, six Green bills took effect after state legislators approve them and Governor Napolitano signed them into law.

Solar energy for residential home just got a boost with the passing of Arizona State Bill SB 1254 passed the House and the Senate in Arizona at the end of September 2007. The new law will make it illegal for a home owners association to stop a home owner from putting solar panels on their property. The bill, was sponsored by Paradise Valley Republican Barbara Leff. She said that HOA’s can put reasonable restrictions on how the solar panels can be arranged on the rooftops as long as it won’t raise the cost of the installation or reduce the panels’ efficiency. The new law is very clear that an association shall not prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy device. An association may however adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of solar panels if those rules do not prevent the installation, impair the functioning or efficiency of a device or restrict its use or adversely affect the cost or efficiency of the device.

My opinion is that there is a bright future in Arizona real estate with solar. Having solar panels on roof tops of homes will only increase the value of homes over those that do not have panels; the public has spoken and wants cleaner and cheaper power. Additionally, homeowners who are looking for ways to save money can realize monthly savings with solar panels driving their heat, water and electric appliances. Alternative energy and real estate do go hand in hand.

Solar energy is power generated from the heat of the sun. The sun illuminates and provides heat and warmth on the surface of the earth. Technologies that capture and store solar heat for an extended period of time can be applied to benefit homes, offices, and factories. They can transform solar energy to run devices that provides warmth and lighting during night time or during cloudy days.

You can make use of solar energy yourself by learning how. Solar energy as a resource is free. However, the cost of materials and equipment you need to tap that resource ranges from high to low, depending on what suits your needs. The good thing about it is that, unlike oil or gas heaters for which you pay every month, you spend less and less for energizing and heating your home with solar energy. Without ill effects on the environment, solar power can cool, heat and ventilate your home.

If you are thinking about having your own solar power for any particular use, it would be easier if you try to find a solar collector first. A solar collector is any material such as clear plastic or glass that can attract and capture the energy brought on by the heat of the sun in concentrated quantities. An example of a trapped or captured heat is when a car that has sat out in the warm sun all day has become exceedingly hot so that you need to open your windows in order to let the warm air escape from your seats and compartments and allowing the car to cool inside. A greenhouse is another example. It has the same effect as its glass or clear plastic walls and roof can attract the heat of the sun and trap it inside to keep the needed amount of heat for the plants to grow normally and efficiently.

Also, tapping solar energy for home use can offer you optimum benefits if you familiarize yourself about what an active and a passive home means. These are two types of solar homes which give homeowners choices on which part of the homes they want energized or what equipment they want run by solar power. Solar energy can be used to warm your home, heat your water, as well as generate electricity for lighting at night. Consequently, you will need to consider the cost which a particular type of solar home entails when you choose the type of solar home you want.

Passive homes do away with special facilities or materials for heating. They merely use their windows for maximized entry of sunlight. The sunlight gets stored by having the doors totally closed during the warmest hours of the day and keeping the heat trapped inside. In the evenings, thick curtains can be used on the windows to keep this heat concentrated inside the home. This allows the natural heat of the sun to warm your home without using any special or elaborate equipment and materials.

Active homes, on the other hand, use equipment such as blowers and pumps. Substitute heating sources also need to be used when the sunlight captured during daytime is not enough for the heat to circulate inside the house. Active homes use specially-designed boxes placed outside to attract sunlight and store the heat, thereby providing more supply of energy to heat the homes. These boxes heat water or air inside pipes and ductwork which in turn facilitate the circulation of heat inside the homes.

In the long term, solar energy is cost-effective. It can heat our homes without spending for artificially-generated heat. Solar energy does not harm the environment and can be found anytime and wherever the sun shines.

The American homeowner has the option to produce their own renewable energy from the sun and keep the energy savings every month. Homeowners who follow the steps and complete the requirements have a good chance of getting a residential solar energy system installed on their home on a rental basis.

To be Evaluated for a Home Power System: * Be the title holder of the home, provide at least 1 year but preferably 2 years of electric bills, have good exposure to the sun, qualify and finish a site evaluation, and be able to wait up to 1 year for the system installation.

Step One – Complete Home Feasibility Study

A solar panel manufacturer is working to remove the barriers to wide-scale solar adoption in the United States. Its business model is to rent all of the equipment needed to power a residential home. There is an energy auditing process and required feasibility study to better determine suitable locations. Unfortunately, homeowners may not qualify to have a system installed. The requirements related to sun angle, energy consumption, and a few other things listed here must be met. Below is the minimum requirement that you must comply with in order to rent a solar system.

Step Two – Be the Mortgage Holder

You must be a homeowner. Unfortunately, people who rent or lease are not qualified to rent a solar electric system. Only homeowners who hold title or have a mortgage on their can have a solar rental system installed. This has to do with legal and insurance related issues. You must own your house before a system such as this can be installed. However, renters and other homeowners do have the ability to purchase their systems out right from hundreds of solar manufacturers and installers. The point of this solar article is to highlight the steps and requirements process to enable the average American homeowner to rent a solar energy system not purchase one.

Step Three – Retain Connection to Existing Utility

You must be a current residential utility customer and you must maintain your interconnection with the utility. If you fail to maintain your connection with your local electric utility, this may be grounds for default in the solar rental agreement, and your solar energy unit may be removed.

Step Four – Maintain Telephone Line

You must maintain a dedicated residential telephone line. Again, if you fail to maintain a connection with your local telephone service, this may be grounds for default. You have your solar energy unit removed. There are other options other hard, land lines such as Internet-based, WIFI phone services but it is often easiest and most cost effective to utilize a normal phone connection.

Step Five – Provide Adequate Roof Space

Your house should have a roof with enough space to accommodate the solar unit as well as have an unobstructed, south facing flat or sloped roof. This may not always be necessary. However, in order to ensure that you are eligible, this prerequisite should be researched completely.

Step Six – Live in an Area with Net Metering

This solar rental program is presently limited to U.S. states that offer grid connected alternative energy systems. The service areas and the first to have installs approved are those located in the states and local utility areas that have net-metering laws. Grid tied or grid connection is the law in dozens of states that request that utility companies give the homeowner credits for the solar energy generated from home solar energy units. Net-metering laws do vary state by state. If is best to do some further research with your state government to ensure your state offers net-metering.

Concluding Considerations & Tips

* Research service availability and net metering laws for your state before you go to the trouble of reserving a system.

* There is a substantial waiting list of interested homeowners. A homeowner can request to have a site evaluation and suitability study completed if they wish. The actual system installations may be 1 or 2 years from the time of system reservation; if the above mention prerequisites are completed.

The first thing you might ask – what is solar radiation and how does it related to solar generated electricity? A good question and one that is discussed in one of our article dedicated to home solar power. This article, on the other hand, explains how kilowatts are calculated based upon the energy output of your solar array. We will also highlight the difference between solar cells connected in parallel versus in series.

The average American home uses about 25 kWh of electricity per day. The following example illustrates how to calculate the power produced by a residential solar energy system. By consulting a solar radiation map, we find that a house receives 5 hours of direct solar radiation a day, averaged out throughout the year.

Solar radiation maps are highlighted on may websites throughout the Internet. You can do a quick search for “solar radiation” to find one. They essentially plot the amount of sunlight based upon time of year and physical location that will hit the United States in any given area.

Calculating the power from a solar energy system

Divide the average kWh per day by the average sun hours per day. For this example, we take 25 kWh divided by 5 hours of sun per day = 5 kW system This 5 kW system will generate 25 kWhs under optimal conditions in direct sunlight for 5 hours, or 25 kWh on an average day with some at peak production and most of the sunlight at less than optimal angles.

Future articles related to solar energy will continue to explain the effects of sun angle, reflection, and refraction on the design, output, and installation of solar panels.

Energy as it Pertains to Solar Modules

Individual solar modules that are measured in watts have a particular voltage (around 40 volts) and a particular amperage (around 5 amps). A solar module with 40 volts and 5 amps is called a 200-watt module, which means that it has the potential to produce 200 watts of electricity when in direct sunlight, away from trees or shading, and clear of snow or debris. Since most electrical components around your house are only rated for 600 volts DC, it is rare to see a solar array with a string larger the 15 solar modules. On the other hand, since inverters need a minimum voltage or pressure to turn them on, you will seldom have a solar array with a string solar modules with a size smaller then 6.

Electrical components, like solar cells, panel modules or batteries, can be connected in either series or parallel. This makes a big difference in the total quantities of energy produced from the solar energy system, as well as the stability of the technology over time. Each solar module or component has a positive and a negative pole. In essence, this is the same way batteries have their negative and positive poles arranged. Take a look at how you but batteries in a flashlight. Same idea here. The manner in which these poles are connected makes a big difference. Connect Solar Panels in Series

When you connect residential solar energy systems in series, you connect the positive (+) pole on one component to the negative (-) pole on the next. When modules are connected in series, the voltages are added. Adding voltage together in this fashion creates a long chain of solar modules all working together, depending upon each other, and creating a flow of current that increases along the length of the system.

These modules in series are called Strings. The average string is 8-12 modules so the voltage would be 320 – 480. Unfortunately, we encounter some negative aspects of of this type of construction.

Connecting Solar Panels in Parallel

When you connect solar panels or components in parallel, you connect the panels so current can travel to your inverter and to your house via multiple paths. Unlike adding solar modules in series which increases the volume of current as it goes, the solar panels connected in parallel has the effective of leaving the current or volume of electricity passing through the system the same.

Solar panels or strings of solar arrays tied together in parallel are called parallel systems. Their amps are combined together but the total voltage remains the same. Adding amps is like increasing the volume, the pressure stays the same but the volume goes up. Inverters can only handle so much volume so you will seldom see more than 1 to 3 strings in parallel; positive ends to positive ends with negative ends to negative ends.

One of the advantages of parallel connection is that electricity continues to flow, even though one of the components (or strings) is damaged. If a system is entirely in series, one damaged component stops the entire system. You may remember the ever-frustrating Christmas lights that were connected in series. Often difficult to trouble shoot, strings of lights connected in series are hard to fix when one bulb blew out. Now, the modern Christmas lights are connected in parallel. You can see this because there are two wires connecting each lamp. You can feel this via their less frustrating maintenance and operation.

Options for Residential Solar Energy Systems

In this article, we explained in some detail how solar modules calculate the power they produce as well as how connecting solar arrays in series or parallel can have an large impact on energy output as well as complexity of design. Our next article will cover how sun angle affects solar energy systems and how to quantify the solar power produced from the sun.

New solar energy system rentals allow you to upgrade your home to solar generated electricity with no large system to purchase. You can rent the solar energy equipment needed to generate up to 100 percent of your electricity needs. Exciting aspects related to clean, green solar energy are emerging all around us.

Energy conscious homeowners find themselves in the midst of a solar energy revolution and an unstable financial market. While we know in our hearts home solar energy is a good idea, practically speaking, it must make economic sense for the average American to embrace it. Organizing your home energy use around a 3-phase plan can make solar energy affordable.

With rising energy prices, dwindling fossil fuel supplies, and environmental and human concerns, all ears are attuned to the solar energy possibilities. But the road to solar euphoria is not a well-worn path. You are a pioneer on a new frontier.

Solar energy makes logical sense. Solar energy is a clean, abundant, and local energy source. No moving mechanical parts mean minimal maintenance requirements. Busy people love low maintenance. And who would not want a home running on a limitless, local energy supply that put no pollutants into the air? But current solar prices can cut the energy conversation short.

Sticker shock stops us in our tracks. How do we afford a solar home energy system? Still financially more expensive than fossil fuel, solar is becoming more affordable. Recent government tax incentives should stimulate the market for all renewable energy resources, solar included.

So how do we make it affordable?

Here are the three (3) steps to affordable home solar energy.

1. Conservation – The less energy your home uses, the smaller your carbon footprint, and the less you will spend on solar energy.

The process begins with mental attitude. Develop, maintain, and teach a habit of conservation in all areas of your life. Plan ahead so you drive less. Recycle even though it takes planning. When you landscape use plants native to your area; you will spend less time on yard maintenance. Take your lunch to work; it saves grocery and fuel dollars.

As you practice these conservation habits, discuss with your kids why the habits are good. When you visit with your neighbors and co-workers ask them how they practice conservation. They may share some new ideas with you.

To learn how to conserve energy at home, have a professional home energy audit. Call your local energy provider and ask if they will do home energy audits for their customers. If they do not offer this service, they should be able to give you names of local home energy audit professionals who can help you.

2. Efficiency — A home energy auditor can tell you how to conserve electricity. But more importantly, he will assess your home for energy efficiency. Learn to be efficient in our home energy consumption. Efficient as apposed to wasteful. Some items they check include insulation, windows, hot water heater, air conditioning, and heating systems.

Here are some simple things your energy auditor may suggest. Change to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Weather-strip your doors and windows. Install a timer on your hot water heater. Have your air conditioning and heating systems serviced. Turn off lights when leaving a room.

Greater efficiency means fewer kilowatt-hours used. Know the amount of energy, measured in kilowatt-hours, your home requires per month. The fewer kilowatt-hours needed the less costly the solar energy system.

3. Solar Energy Production — Finally, we investigate the best solar power system for a particular home. Making an informed choice about solar home energy requires knowing how many kilowatt-hours your home uses. When we actually know how many kilowatts of energy own home requires, a solar professional can calculate the solar panels necessary for that much energy.

For example, in my area of Texas installed solar systems cost $8 – $10 a watt. That’s $8000 – $10,000 for a 1-kilowatt system. I would need approximately $48,000 to purchase a 6000-watt array.

But the recent passing of the Federal Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency would bring the price down to roughly $33,600. Depending on your own state’s policies, this number could be further reduced.

Also in my state of Texas, there is a Renewable Energy Systems Property Tax Exemption. This property tax code reduces my property tax by the amount the solar device increases my property value. I am not taxed on the increase on the increased property value attributed to the solar energy equipment.

Tax incentives and rebates differ from state to state. A local solar professional should be able to give you current tax incentive and rebate information applicable to your state. They can calculate your final costs after incentives and rebates for a solar electric system best for your home.

After conservation and efficiency measures, you may still consider getting a smaller solar array that would supply a portion of your energy needs. Put the money you save on your monthly energy bill toward the next array of solar panels. Keep adding more solar panels until you can create as much energy as your home uses.

Solar energy made right on our home rooftops sounds inviting. For nearly all Americans, solar energy is the renewable resource which integrates most easily into our home energy equation. With proper conservation and efficiency measures and current tax incentives, solar energy can be made affordable to more homeowners.

How do we use a Do It Yourself (DIY) home solar energy system to reduce our electricity bill? One of the major expenses of our homes is the electricity bill. We use electricity to power all our household appliances. Most electric power plants use either oil or coal to generate power. We know the supply of this material is limited therefore as housing development grows, the cost of electric power will increase as well. How do we shield ourselves from future rising cost of electricity? One option is to use a renewable energy source such as solar power.

The current challenge of using solar energy to power our homes is the high cost. If you were to engage a contractor to do the retrofitting, be prepared to invest a few thousand dollars. Many people would not be able to afford that. As an alternative, we can build our own homemade solar energy system via a DIY approach.

The idea of extracting the power from the sun ray is quite simple. We need to install an array of solar cells on the roof to collect the energy from the sun and convert it into electric power. The power from the sun is stored in rechargeable deep cycle batteries. Since most or our home electric components use AC current, we need an AC converter to change the DC power from the batteries into alternate current.

To reduce our household electricity bill is a matter of connecting our home appliances into the solar power system. The amount of power we can use from the system will depend on the size of the solar panels and also the number of batteries. If we were to aim for 10 percent energy cost reduction, the amount of money saved will be quite substantial after a few years.