Solar Home Energy Systems: Passive, Active or Grid?

August 8th, 2011 |

The Solar Energy Industries Organisation estimates that over 200,000 U.S. Houses will be powered off-grid by alternative solar energy by the end of 2010. While the production of solar apparatus needs some inputs of capital, energy and materials, the ensuing system will provide power for many years with little cost or maintenance. Home solar energy systems, and houses that rely on solar energy stations ‘on-the-grid ‘ are getting more favored as many states offer inducements to householders to join the solar revolution. A great opening for your next home remodeling project.

There are three alternative ways of capturing solar energy for home use: passively, concentrating warmth and light, or by photovoltaic cells. Passive solar is the best and most cost effective, where there's no mechanical action and the heating properties are simply a matter of good design suited to your local climate. Houses can be engineered to capture or reflect heat through placement, ventilation and materials, maximising summer cooling and winter heating. The “One Tonne Home” in Sweden (designed by Gert Wingrdh) is a good example of passive solar in action for a cool climate: with a giant surface area of walls and darkened windows for heat storage and, and high thermal mass in the walls that maintain an even internal temperature. The home also includes a solar system, so good it can charge the family electrical vehicle!

Solar hot water systems employ passive solar and can cut your electrical charges by 30% depending on your location. Solar hot water systems are cheap to run, and in gloomy weather can be bolstered with and electric backup if you run right out of hot water. They work by absorbing heat through a series of water filled pipes and then storing that heated water in a well insulated tank.

Photovoltaics convert light energy into electricity which is either used instantly or stored in batteries. Power from photovoltaic power cells can scaled to your wishes. You may simply need to install solar lights for your garden, or go further and power your whole house with a total system. The size and cost of your off-grid system will depend upon your wishes, however a 10kWh system is generally sufficient for the typical family of four, and will cost about $US40,000 for a professionally installed system. The genuine cost perhaps a ton less when you apply government motivations supplied in many countries. Inducements to get solar systems exist in several U.S. States and in California a ‘feed-in price list ‘ means you can sell your power back to the grid. Many new solar system lease programs like that offered by USA Solar Power, Solar Town and Lease The Sun to help folks use the emissions and savings reductions of limitless solar energy in their homes.

Concentrating solar collectors are the method employed by solar electricity stations. Mirrors reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a central location that heats water to turn turbines. Many home made and tiny scale version are being developed for home water heating such as these ones at Build It Solar. This principle is what powers the simple handcrafted parabolic or flat reflecting solar stove, but on a much more serious scale like that of the 354 MW SEGS thermal power plant, in California and the just approved Blythe solar collector plant that is mooted to power at least 300,000 homes in the area when in open s in 2013.

After installation home solar electricity systems can offer infinite electric energy at a little part of the cost of traditional grid connected power, with the increased feel good of knowing you do your bit to reduce carbon emissions and make the future a cleaner, greener place.

Are you planning to need put solar energy in your 1? Visit Archidwell, for great solar tips. Also if you want kitchen, bath or basement remodeling ideas, we can help. We can lead you through your next home refurbishment with our home remodeling software.

categories: solar energy,renewable energy,basement remodeling ideas,home remodeling software