Items needed to install a Solar Energy Electric Power System (My short list.)

I have compiled a short list of items someone would need to install a solar energy power system. I thought it might be useful for those of us investigating switching to solar power.

1.       A location on the property where solar panels can be installed away from any obstructions or large pets which can damage solar panels.

You will want to choose a location which will get the maximum sunlight exposure and plan to install the panels facing in the direction of the equator. (Solarpanelinfo.com 2010)This area should not have any shade during any time of the day.

2.       Solar Panels – enough to meet or exceed your energy needs.

Using the Solar Calculator (link provided) on this site will help you determine how much electricity you need to generate to get off the grid or significantly reduce your electric bill.

Using this information, you can calculate how many panels are needed depending upon which panels you choose to install.

3.       Framework to hold the Panels.  – If the panels are installed on a roof using standard construction methods, use a qualified roofing contractor to build the framework for the panels so as not to compromise the integrity of the roof.  Framework for solar panels do not have to be installed on the roof.

Note: e-How suggests to use a map or GPS to determine your latitude above or below the equator and add 15 degrees for your winter solar panel angle and subtract 15 degrees for your summer solar panel angle. (Hessong 2010)

There are three types of mounts for a solar panel system:

                Flush Mounts – these are typically installed upon RV’s or motor homes and should be installed 2 – 4 inches above the surface to allow airflow around the solar panel to prevent the panel from getting overheated. (Solarpanelinfo.com 2010)

                Universal Mounts – these mounts can be installed either on rooftops or on the ground. While they are meant for larger solar panel systems, some city ordinances my not permit you to use this type of mount because of aesthetic reasons. (Solarpanelinfo.com 2010)

                Pole Mounts – these mounts are installed using racks and poles and can be easily constructed on your own. The pole is generally set in the ground with cement to support the weight of the pole and the solar panel with the mount. Poles are usually 2 – 4 inches in diameter with a sleeve or way to attach the framework and panel to the pole. Poles may be set higher allowing panels to be kept up and away from small animals. (Solarpanelinfo.com 2010)

4.       Wiring to wire the solar panel system to your home – This wiring must meet the current electrical codes, check with your electrician or have your electrician wire your system for you.

It should be noted here that it is possible to wire a solar panel system yourself if you are handy and educated in such matters.

I personally recommend an electrician to avoid any costly mistakes. A certified electrician is aware of the proper methods for attaching an electrical system or grid into the public utility meter.  

5.       A Power Inverter to convert the energy harvested into usable electricity for your home. A good inverter will also allow you to switch to the public utility when your solar panel system is down for maintenance.  Or, vise-versa, to stop your solar panel system from feeding the public utility if the utility has a power outage. It should also enable you to sell any excess power back to the public utility.

Solarpanelinfo.com recommends the True Sine wave inverters because they work better when motors are involved such as those found in a water pump. (Solarpanelinfo.com 2010)

Optional item

6.       A meter which allows you to track how much electricity your solar panel system is generating.

References:

Solarpanelinfo.com (2010) Solar panel installation, article, solarpanelinfo.com,  http://www.solarpanelinfo.com/installation, last accessed October 27, 2010.

Hessong, Athena, (2010, May 6). How to calculate solar panel angle, article, eHow.com,  http://www.ehow.com/how_6053185_calculate-solar-panel-angle.html, last accessed October 27, 2010.

Solarpanelinfo.com (2010) Mounts (Solar Panel Accessories), article, solarpanelinfo.com,  http://www.solarpanelinfo.com/solar-panels/accessories/mounts, last accessed October 27, 2010.

Renee’s suggested solar panel system maintenance schedule should include:

1.       Clean the solar panels to help maintain maximum power generation.

Dust, particles and debris can collect on solar panels diminishing power production over time.

2.       Periodic inspection of the solar panel system to ensure continued optimal operation.

Having seen effective maintenance and prevention techniques in motion, many costly issues have been avoided by doing a periodic inspection of any given system, whether it is a heating, cooling or electrical system. A good maintenance and inspection procedure may prevent headaches in the long run.

a.       Ensure the area above and around the area of the solar panels remains free from obstructing sunlight.

b.      Ensure that the panels themselves are not damaged in anyway.

c.       Clear any debris from the mounting frames, including leaves, bird nests, branches and so-forth.

d.      Look at all connections to be sure that there are no broken, brittle or dry rotting issues that will need replacing and make repairs as needed.

 The current guaranteed life of a solar panel is currently 25 – 30 years, by performing periodic maintenance and inspection you will ensure that your power system will perform optimally during the life of the system.

On the edge of the energy revolution

As the fog lifts, farms begin to appear like ghosts upon the horizon in the early morning. The grass is soaked with dew and my feet are feeling the cold wetness of it all. As I watch the fog melt away, I think about all of the possibilities of alternative electricity.

Reflecting upon last night’s Home Makeover edition, where the famous remodelers/rebuilders build new homes in a week, I wasn’t surprised when they included solar panels and a windmill claiming that the two items would cut electricity costs by 90%.

Solar energy is becoming the favorite in replacing conventional methods of producing electricity. The Chinese based Wanxiang Corporation has opened a manufacturing plant in Rockford Illinois to produce Solar Panels, bringing accessibility of alternative energy closer to the local market.

Upon further investigation, one would find that Wanxiang also produces several types of LED Lighting as well. The impressive list of lighting options pricks my curiosity as to what market this company is focused upon.

To my disappointment, it appears Wanxiang is producing for commercial customers. Again, big business is the preferred market approached with alternative energy options indicating the expense currently involved in installing green energy.

Feeling a little discouraged but more determined to locate simple electricity options, my search is on. I do wonder, however, when these lighting options will become available in the local market.

I believe we are on the very edge of an energy revolution that hasn’t fully entered the consumer market. What do you think?

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree, how much can I save this year?

Christmas Items compete with Halloween Items on the store shelves and everyone’s mood seems to be a little lighter. It’s the gracious spirit of the season welcoming us with bright colored packages and excited children.

Though many of us haven’t given it a second thought, I wondered whether the “Green Energy” idea has trickled down into Christmas lighting. If you haven’t yet looked, do so. It has. I found some of the lighting actually nice compared to the standard light strings.

Looking forward to saving some green, I decided to see how much lighting the tree really costs. I also decided to get an idea of how much I spent last year using Christmas Lights.

When I took into account the use of our furnace and regular electricity usage I found that we actually spent just over $200.00 last year lighting the tree and other holiday lights. Whew! . . . Who would have thought that spreading Christmas Cheer would cost that much!

Lighting a tree with the standard light string can cost between $54.00 - $73.00 a month not counting the other decorations you may place outdoors or around the rest of the home.

As you can see from the chart below, going green can pay for itself the first year allowing you to pocket the extra savings during the remaining life of the light strings.

The cost of a replacement string ranges from $7.99 - $8.99, depending on whether you purchase Energy Star or not.

When comparing the cost of upgrading to “Green” Christmas Lights with the conventional lighting I have used in the past, I will definitely be upgrading this year.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, it pays to go green this year.

Getting off the grid

Getting off the grid is a daunting task given that moving to alternate energy sources can be expensive. Upon doing some initial research, I asked myself, “Why don’t more people use alternative energy?”  The answer can be as simple as economics.

Having someone install a solar energy system can cost an average homeowner $30,000. The old life expectancy was 25 – 30 years with depletion in power due to the aging solar panels. The new panels may last 40 years. When comparing the cost of a solar energy system to the cost of the electric bill every month; there seems to be little incentive to spend a large sum of cash when convenience is equally priced.

However, if one is serious about getting off the grid and saving money, one can save a considerable amount of cash by building your own solar panels as instructed in the publication “Make your own Solar Panels and save $$$$”.

When speaking with a friend about his new housing project, he mentioned that he will be using solar energy to power his retirement home. He said that he searched for the best solution given that his home is located in the middle of nowhere with no power lines. He wanted to keep the rugged scenery untouched, so he built his own solar panels and installed the alternative energy system for around $3,000.

Did you see that? That’s right, for those of us who are handy and willing to follow instructions we can build and install our own solar energy system economically, enabling us to get off the grid. One can anticipate spending about $220 - $250 for each panel. My frugal friend, of course spent about $200, and said that once he had the first panel built, the remaining panels were easy.

Panels are about half of the cost associated with a solar energy system. One would also need to determine how to get the electricity into the home. You must decide which converters to install based upon your own personal preferences and whether or not to sell the excess electricity to the local power company.

For those of us still on the grid, selling the excess electricity back to the power company may help off-set the cost of having to purchase electricity when the solar energy system is unable to produce power.

Indeed, this is a daunting task, but one well worth the investment if you can make the change reasonably.

There’s a new energy in town

There’s a new energy in town! This past week at the energy conference held in Rockford, Illinois, some 156 attendees learned of a new bio-mass furnace which will produce electricity. The conference became a common meeting ground for green energy enthusiasts where they could share ideas and explore new solutions to old problems.

Chip Energy’s bio-mass furnace will go on line this month. It will warm sewage eating bacteria which will cause the bacteria to produce methane gas to produce electricity. The remaining waste, biochar can be used to improve land. (Leaf 2010)

The bio-mass furnace is currently used at the municipality of Höör in Southern Sweden to produce 85% of heat used by the network. (Unknown)

With innovations such as this and working together toward green energy, we may soon find bio-mass furnaces popping up across the country positively reducing our waste and creating renewable green energy.

References

Leaf, Brian (2010, October 10) Displays, demonstrations at show nurture new green ideas, (article) Rockford Register Star (The) (IL)

Unknown, Low Emission Biomass plant in Höör Sweden, (article) http://www.aboutbioenergy.info/Hoor.html, last accessed October 14, 2010

From tin cans to green energy

Ahead of their time, that’s what I thought some 30 years ago. Solar Panels installed on houses in Lake Summerset seemed to be of something from science fiction, but today, they are to be installed on the White House. (Cappiello, 2010)

Doing some research, one can find any number of resources about Solar Energy on the internet. You can even find information about building your own solar panels.

When I researched this topic as a high school student, I found sources which used tin cans installed on rooftops to collect solar heat. While I thought the topic I choose would be dry, I found it intriguing.

Can you imagine a world without electric wires? And the savings doesn’t stop with your energy bill. Legislation was put in place in 2009 to offer a tax credit of up to 30% for using green energy. You will want to check with your local tax preparer.

Green energy, what does it mean to you? Will you perform some science experiment because it’s really cool?  - or-  Will you choose to install solar panels on your home?

Why not put some green back in your wallet?

References

Cappiello, Dina, October 5, 2010, Solar Panels on the White House: Obama to install Solar Panels in 2011, (article) Huffington Post, The, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/solar-panels-on-white-hou_n_750525.html, last accessed October 8, 2010

The Cost of a Light Bulb – is there really a savings?

While thinking about green energy and what impact it would have on my electric bill, I decided to go to the local hardware store and investigate the cost of a light bulb. I wondered, “If everything was equal, what is the real cost or savings of a light bulb?”

On display I discovered various lighting options from the regular light bulb to the Energy Saver options. I settled in on a 60 watt bulb. A 60 watt bulb if left on for 24 hours continuously will use about 43.2 kwh in a 30 day period. Using a calculator I multiplied that by what our average cost per kwh was over this past year and discovered that a 60 watt bulb would cost us $5.48.

So . . . I then looked at the poplar Energy Smart Bulb equivalent which uses 13 watts of electricity. Same scenario, if left on continuously this bulb will use about 9.36 kwh or would cost $1.19. And then an LED bulb which uses 5 watts of electricity would use 3.6 kwh or cost $0.46.

Using this information, you can definitely see the savings you would realize each month by going green. But, all light bulbs are not created equal. This is obvious when you look at the life of the bulb you purchase.

I decided to compare the life expectancy of a 60 watt bulb and equalize the price. When doing so I discovered an additional savings as demonstrated by the chart below.

So how much are your light bulb(s) costing you? Why not put a little green back in your wallet and save on your monthly electric bill too?



Gre-newable Heat – Defrosting the corn stove

The wigwams still dot the town to remind us that we are all responsible for green energy. As I pull up to Oregon Lawn and Farm, Oregon, Illinois, the owner begins his day by setting out displays. I follow him inside to find the smiling gentleman behind the counter eager to help me. I walk past the wood and corn burning stoves, which sport ample product information displayed upon the tops.

Behind the counter I notice a picture of his friend from Milledgeville, Illinois, who recently built an electric car. The owner of this small business is no stranger to green energy as he explains that he also built an electric car in the 70’s. Though he no longer has the car, he still has a photo of his accomplishment. He admits that he has moved on to other things.

He explains that the corn stove he installs has a long-life. In fact, he displays and uses a model which is 25 years old and currently has no issues so his customers can see the quality. The owner explains that if you perform proper maintenance, you will not have many issues with this brand of corn stove. He also offers to install a battery backup system, which comes in handy during the cold winter months of Northern Illinois.

He explains corn stoves currently do not offer a battery back-up system of their own so he and his son have engineered one, as an add-on item. Having experienced power outages during the winter, this is a nice option to have when the thermometer reaches sub-zero and the lights go out.

The owner also explains the difference between a corn stove and a pellet stove which can burn corn. The recommended fuel for a pellet stove is pellets, he explains. If the stove says it can burn corn as well, it is in fact suggesting that you mix corn in with the pellets as opposed to just burning corn in a pellet stove which can cause some issues and possible costly repairs.

He recommends that when purchasing a renewable energy furnace, that you consider the cost of your fuel source. For example, if you have wood in abundant supply you should burn wood and if you have corn, corn, otherwise you defeat the purpose of saving money on your heating bill.

On my way out of town, I stopped by the dam to listen to the cool water falling. The tranquility of the park made me wonder if the hydro-energy station in Dixon was still in use. I can’t wait to discover this hidden treasure.

You may contact Oregon Lawn and Farm at www.olf1.com or by email at olf1@verison.net.

Backup electricity when the lights go out

The fog hasn’t completely burned off the Rock River as I drive along the picturesque banks toward Oregon Illinois. I am anxious to discover the answer to my burning question, what is it’s fuel source?

A couple days ago while I was surfing the net, I discovered an idea I hadn’t really considered before, backup house generators. I was excited about the one made by GE, but the website didn’t specify the power source.

When the lights go out, it would be nice to have backup electricity, wouldn’t it?

When I arrived at Oregon Lawn & Farm, Oregon, Illinois, I was expecting to see a display of the item the GE Website pointed me to. Instead, I was surprised to learn that, while they didn’t have a generation system on display, it only takes a couple days to get one. The model they install is the Briggs and Straton Home Generator System.

After speaking with Bob, the owner, he suggested “When considering installing a backup electricity generation system, you need to consider which items you deem essential when the lights go out. This will determine which model you install.”

These generators work on a system similar to GE in that they come on when the lights go out. These models are available in either propane or natural gas.

While this isn’t the brand of a backup electricity generator I was seeking, it is still a good option for short term use.