Solar Lighting Guide

Can You Really Make Money With Solar Power?

What’s the real truth behind all those ads?

Just searching around online for information about solar power, solar energy, and installing solar panels on your own home, you’ve probably run across many claims which say you can earn money from solar power. So is it true? Yes… sort of.

You see, it’s not nearly as cut and dry as many advertisements would lead you to believe. There is a process involved, and for most people it requires extensive investments before you can actually start “making money” from the solar power you’re generating.

It’s becoming a well known fact that installing solar panels on your home can drastically reduce your electricity bills. In fact, if you install enough of them, you can eliminate your monthly electric bill entirely. And if you happen to generate extra electricity… and you live in the appropriate place… you might be able to get “paid” for the solar power you generate.

The catch though, is that you have to be generating more power from your solar panels than you actually use.

Most residential solar installations only provide part of the total household electric usage, because installing a large enough solar panel system to cover the entire load can cost upwards of $10,000. And even though building your own solar panels is much less expensive at an average of about $200 per panel, many standard size households in the United States need 10-20 panels just to get close to covering their own electricity usages each month.

Here’s how the reality tends to work for most American families:

1. They install a small, starter solar panel system that’s relatively inexpensive. This system helps them reduce their overall monthly electric bill, but in most cases the starter system only provides enough electricity to reduce the bills by 30%-50%.

Larger reductions can be obtained easily of course, simply by installing a larger solar panel system right from the start. Not everyone can afford that large initial investment though, so they go with a starter system instead.

2. Over time the family may add to their home solar panel array. As you add solar panels, you continue taking more of the load off of public electricity needs. This of course continues lowering your electricity bills.

3. If the family continues investing in additional solar panels over time, they will eventually reach the point where they are providing 100% of their own home’s electricity needs. This is when the public electric bill is hopefully at $0.00 per month year round.

At that point, if the family wants to start “earning money” from their solar power installation, they will need to reduce their own power consumption, install more solar panels, or both. The only way they can earn money directly from this investment is to generate extra electrical power which can be sold back to the public electric company.

Not all electric companies will actually “buy back” the power you generate either. In fact, most of them simply give you energy credits which can be applied to your existing utility bill. In most cases if you have no electric bill to pay though, those credits can be cashed in a few times each year, for a partial part of their value.

So before you decide to install solar panels as a way to make money, evaluate your true situation first. Figure out how much electricity your family uses on average, and use that figure to know how many solar panels you’ll need to buy. Calculate that cost first and if you’re still determined to try and make money from this venture, research your local laws. Also be sure to talk to your local power company so you’ll know their policies and restrictions before you invest more money than you need to.

Related Reading: How Much Solar Power Do I Need?

Solar Cooking Is Easy and Cheap Too

Did you know you can cook entire meals without any electricity or gas? It’s true. If you have access to the sun then you can cook with it.

Cooking with the power of the sun is commonly referred to as solar cooking, and you don’t need expensive gadgets or equipment to do this successfully either. Solar cooking requires sunlight of course, a bit of time, a few everyday items, and a willingness to experiment.

In the most basic form, solar cooking can be done easily as long as you have decently strong sunlight for a few hours. The stronger your sunlight is of course, the easier your solar cooking will be. In the desert southwestern areas of the United States for example, you can literally just lay food out in direct sunlight in the summer and it will cook quickly for you. We’re going to look at a little more than the basics here though.

There are two primary ways to cook food with solar power. One is to use what’s known as a parabolic cooker, and the other is to simply use reflecters.

A parabolic cooker is actually just anything you have on hand which has a slighly bowled, or parabolic shape to it. Round satellite dishes are excellent examples of this type of inward curved surface. The slight curve of a surface like this will allow you to concentrate the natural heat of the sun onto the food you’re cooking.

Parabolic cookers can be made with simple cardboard, or any slightly concaved material such as an old (small) sattelite dish, a small wok, or even a bent and curved trash can or barbecue lid. Using old materials for this is great because it allows you to recycle and it doesn’t usually cost a thing.

Most people choose to make their first solar oven with cardboard because it’s readily available, easy to work with, and free.

The best parabolic solar cooker will have slanted sides though, not upright ones. A slant of about 60 degrees outwards is ideal. Once you find the object you plan to use for your solar cooking, then you simply cover it with tin foil, mylar, or mirrors. Mirrors can actually be dangerous because too much heat is generated, so it’s best to start with aluminum foil. Cover your concaved object with the foil so that the shiny side is facing out. This will capture more of the sunlight shining down on your solar cooking, and help focus it onto your food.

Simple reflector style solar cookers are another popular option, and in many cases you don’t even have to put things together to make this work. With this style of solar cooking, you simply put a pot or pan out into direct sunlight and surround it on three sides with reflective material to help direct the solar heat to your food.

With either solar cooking design though, you’ll want to use either glass or dark metal cooking pots and pans. Dark metal helps attract and absorb the natural solar heat from the sun, and glass allow that solar heat to pass through easily yet stay trapped inside for cooking.

Depending upon the strength of the sunlight you have available and the solar cooker design you’re using, it can take anywhere from one to three hours to fully cook common meals for three to five people.

Of course you can also use regular solar panels or a solar power generator kit to power a more conventional energy efficient stove or oven when the sun isn’t strong enough to use your solar cooker, or if you prefer to cook foods in a more traditional manner.

How To Build Your Own Solar Panels

How much are you paying for your electricity or gas bill? Would you like to save on the costs of using this energy? Then read through the following article and get an idea of what you could possibly do.

In this write up we will cover the following subjects, DIY Solar Electricity UK, making your own solar panels and Building Solar Panels instruction.

Building your own solar panels is really a sensible choice to make. Why: because firstly the price of electricity is increasing and the prices of solar panels are increasing too. So you would start saving money the minute you decide you will do this yourself unlike purchasing one. It’s not difficult building a panel its actually fun.

There is always the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you were able to do it on your own If you are good at it you might even try it as a weekend money generating project. Yes; that’s how long it normally takes about a weekend’s length and you have your own power.

This is one of the simplest tasks that you could undertake if you’re interested in saving power costs. You don’t have to worry about building your own solar panels as many of the systems are quite user friendly. They come with complete DIY guides. These guides have step by step pictures of how you can go about setting up your own panel. Most even come with instructional videos of methods.

To reduce some of the concerns you might probably have you should select a solar panel system that has a support center or toll free line you can make use of when you get to those finer details that need consulting. They should be able to tell you where and how you can find the components that are required and the prices that you should expect.

Did you also know that when you decide to undertake building your own solar panels and install them in your home you increase the value of your house by thousands? Isn’t that a great incentive to build panels in your house? If you choose to go green as they say, remember safety is important.

A Project on Solar Panels To Educate Youngsters About The Energy Crises

Choosing the right science project for young people to do should include the concept of helping them become more involved in today’s important global issues. A science project on solar panels could be just the thing for them to gain a better understanding of how the energy crisis is affecting us and what they can do about it.

The world as we know it today has undergone drastic changes in the last few decades. Consider the past one hundred years of industry and the damaging effects this has played on the environment. Our lakes, oceans, and rivers are in a pitiable state. The very air that we breathe is infused with pollutants that make us sick. Natural disasters are becoming more occurent and destroy millions in property while killing hundreds of lives each year. The energy sources that have provided the power to fuel so-called economic and technological development and progress have taken their toll on our fragile environment. And the younger and future generations are the ones who are going to pay for the follies of the older generations who thoughtlessly abused our natural resources and the environment.

Teach Your Pupils This School Science Project

It has come to a point that the very survival of the human race is being questioned as being endangered in the coming years. The abuse of Mother Nature and her bounty has led to massive pollution throughout the globe. The biggest impact has been those of fossil fuels polluting, not only the atmosphere but, the water and other resources that maintain our survival. The mining of such fuels causes irreversible damage to the nearby environment.

They are a probable contributor to global warming, which threatens to melt the polar ice caps that could lead uncontrollable floods. The sulphur oxide emissions produced by fossil fuels cause harmful acid rain. Because fossil fuels cannot be recycled, they will eventually run out. The fact that our fossil fuel resources are fast depleting is a serious issue which we will have to face or else we can no longer have sufficient sources of energy to support human civilization.

High School Solar Panel Project

These all being said, you can imagine how educating the future generations of our world about energy efficiency can help in saving what remains of our energy sources and rebuilding the damage fossil fuels have done. The energy crises, the harmful consequences of fossil fuel use on the environment – our young people should be made aware as to how these are both significant issues that affect the very survival of the human race as we know it today.

Knowledge is a powerful weapon which can arm the future generations in their fight to rescue our ailing planet through resolving the issues on energy sources. Putting it into application makes it even more powerful. Showing the young ones the application of that knowledge is the best means to get their interest and win their support.

The Theory and Pracitical on a DIY Solar Panel Project

Imagine the future effects on the energy crises if pupils and students in all learning establishments were to undertake a school science project that included theory and the building of a solar panel. Solar panels harnessing the energy from sun rays are very appropriate to demonstrate to the youth the alternative energy solutions that are available. Doing the project by themselves will help them realize just how efficient solar power is. Harnessing power from the sun is a concept that young people of today should be familiar with. Let them have a hands-on project on alternative energy sources such as this one and this will help everyone benefit from the knowledge that the energy and environmental crises can be solved with modern scientific solutions.

A fantastic way of generating electricity today is by way of wind power. There is a great deal of interest in home made energy all over the world today due to the costs of installation being so low and how effective home made energy is.

For another fantastic article, I would highly recommend. see: How Does Wind Power Work

Using wind power at home to generate electricity will certainly give you a great result, with the possibility of reducing your electricity bill by up to 75%. Taking advantage of just a wind power system has been proven to give great results but for even better results this can be combined with a solar energy system. A wind power system that is used on its own will work best in windy conditions. A solar system will work best in sunny conditions. However, that varies according to the geographical position of your location. Being situated close to the equator may be an advantage having more sunshine all year long. Whereas other areas like in U.S in Mount Washington are known for a consistency of windy weather. If you get to the benefits of both then it is suggested to be a better option to install a wind power system combined with solar. On the whole by assessing the overall weather conditions overall where you are residing this would help determine which system would be your best choice.

Building a home wind power generator is not a difficult task. A wind generator can be easily assembled by any competent DIY enthusiast. Granted that some motivation and dedication will come in handy, so really to steer you in the right direction to conquer this project you would need a step-by-step manual. A manual like this would direct you from start to finish in the simplest possible way. A great guide will consist of every step you need for assembling and provide you with the correct details of what materials and equipment you will need, with all technological aspects.  Apart from the manual, you may also need some basic power and hand tools.

The size of your wind power generator or turbine will depend mostly on the individual power requirements of your home. For example, higher than 2000 watts, then you would have to build a larger wind generator. On the other hand, if your needs border 700 to 2000 watts of power, then a smaller wind generator will be sufficient.

Don’t forget to make the time to check out more great articles about using wind power at home and how you can generate energy of your own. Take a look at: Things You Should Know About Wind Power

The most popular wind turbines used for home are the smaller installations. Mostly, since the larger the turbine or generator gets, the more complex its assembly and installation become. However this would also depend on how much space you have and on your budget, there is certainly no doubts that this cannot be achieved at home. If you are considering building or installing a wind turbine at home and have a smaller backyard, then I suggest for your first turbine a smaller one would be more suitable. You may require a metal lathe and a welding machine to construct your wind turbine.

It’s important with whichever size of wind turbine you choose to go with, that it is constructed properly and that it maintains a strong foundation. The height of the turbine will partially affect its performance, since better winds can be caught at higher altitudes. A good turbine will guarantee a constant supply of electricity, regardless of the intensity of the wind.

There are many advantages for using wind power at home, some of these include the production of clean energy, great for the environment, very affordable installation costs and ofcourse the main attraction is its completely free. What’s more, wind power is not limited to homes. Actually, it is frequently employed in the commercial sector. Hence, many office buildings run exclusively off of wind power.

A home wind power system is very capable of producing surplus energy. Some utility companies depending on where you are located will purchase it which can also make you a little extra money. Imagine saving on your elecricity bill, producing clean energy and having the opportunity to sell any surplus energy just by using wind power at home. At the end of the day if you do make that decision and go for it, I can guarantee you will be very satisfied with the results. Really you can only expect a positive outcome.

I trust that you liked this article, take a look at: Energy Of Your Own Here you will find a great ebook with step-by-step instructions and video lessons to help build and complete your very own turbine which you can use to start generating power of your own instantly.  I have also written a little about myself and my reasons behind my motivation to set this site up and help you save a fortune in electricity bills, just like myself.