| With the economic turmoil taking its toll on the | | | | example you could do with less solar energy in |
| finances of most families, even the slightest | | | | Southern Arizona as opposed to the increased |
| increase in expenditures can wreak havoc on their | | | | requirement in Northern Minnesota. |
| financial stability. And we all know that the cost of | | | | Solar Energy For Water Heating |
| energy is sky rocketing. Besides, our exorbitant | | | | Solar energy can also be used top provide your |
| energy consumption has proved detrimental to | | | | home with hot water. The technique used to heat |
| the environment. If we want to leave a clean | | | | water through solar energy is an extension of a |
| livable planet for our children and grandchildren we | | | | fairly simple principle where you just fill a black |
| should seriously consider using alternative, | | | | plastic bag or some inner tube with water and let |
| environment friendly methods of energy | | | | it stay out in the sun for a few hours till the |
| generation and one way to do so is to change | | | | water is nice and hot. And then this water can be |
| your house into a solar powered home. | | | | supplied to the bathroom through a shower hose. |
| When you use solar power for homes you are | | | | There are two designs that can be installed for |
| capturing the heat of the sun which is an | | | | solar water heating; one uses flat plate collectors |
| inexhaustible source of energy and turning it into | | | | fixed on the roof. These plates are simply glass |
| power. Normally, all houses capture some amount | | | | covered rectangular boxes with tubes of water in |
| of solar energy from sun rays entering the house | | | | them. The water absorbs solar heat and is |
| through the doors and windows; however, this | | | | supplied to the water system in the home. In the |
| energy is often wasted but with solar power for | | | | second design, an insulated black tank is used |
| homes you will be able to capture and utilize it. To | | | | which heats up batches of water that can be |
| convert solar energy into power, you will have to | | | | supplied to the home. You could use the hot |
| install solar panels on the roof of your house. | | | | water thus collected to heat your home through |
| There are three ways in which solar energy can | | | | forced air or radiant-floor systems. |
| be used for solar power for homes: | | | | Electricity through Solar Energy |
| Passive Energy Capture | | | | Solar thermal energy can be converted to |
| Passive energy defines the solar thermal energy | | | | electrical energy with the help of a Photovoltaic |
| absorbed by a structure, for instance, the sun | | | | system. In this assembly, solar panels installed on |
| rays that enter the house through the windows | | | | the roof of a house feed a bank of batteries. The |
| and warms the walls and floor. A home designed | | | | battery's output is in DC power which is then |
| for passive solar energy capture optimizes this | | | | converted to standard Ac power required in |
| gain in solar energy through structural design, | | | | homes through the use of an inverter. This power |
| strategic window placements and massive walls | | | | is then sent to the various power sockets in your |
| called thermal mass on the inside and outside | | | | home. If your home is off the grid, you may |
| which collect the heat during day to release it at | | | | need to install a generator to act as a back up. |
| night. The landscaping, the orientation of the | | | | On the other hand if you get ample of sunlight, |
| structure, venting system, angle of the windows | | | | you could generate enough energy to more than |
| etc are all planned carefully to maximize solar | | | | fulfill your requirements while the additional energy |
| energy capture. The design of the home will also | | | | could be sold back to the power company. |
| depend on the weather conditions in the area, for | | | | |