Archives for February, 2010
Posted on 2010 under Alternative Energy |
26
Feb
Solar silicon is necessary in order for photovoltaic or solar cells to work. This means that light energy can be harnessed and then converted in to electricity or other types of power. This type of energy production is highly desirable as it is renewable and environmentally friendly.
Many people will use solar power to supplement their current electrical needs and most new houses and buildings are automatically integrating solar power into the power systems. Using solar energy is a great way to save a lot of money as well as helping the environment. Homes and businesses that use solar power also get large tax rebates.
The latest research and development in to solar cells is in creating high efficiency solar cells. The current solar cells do not produce as much power as they can so cells are being produced that can convert more and more energy.
The silicon is the key to the solar cell as this is where the energy conversion occurs. Light can do three different things when it hits the silicon layers it can be reflected off the surface, be absorbed into the silicon or pass through the silicon.
The process you want for solar power is for the light to be absorbed. When light is absorbed electrons become excited and will move from an area of high concentration to low concentration which creates an energy gradient.
This energy gradient occurs because of the two different silicon layers found in a semiconductor. These layers tend to be called a p-n junction as a layer of p type silicon which has a high concentration of electrons is in contact with a layer of n type with a low concentration of electrons. As the electrons move between the two layers you generate electricity.
As I was writing the above article, it struck me that you may be interested in reading this too: I hope you find it useful solar silicon, pump solar and generator energy
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, crystalline silicon solar cells, solar cell silicon, solar energy, solar silicon cells
Posted on 2010 under Alternative Energy |
24
Feb
The phenomenon of air moving into a home or business through cracks and voids is called building air entry. It should also be noted that air can move from the interior to the exterior of the home. Whenever there is an excess of air moving into and out of the home, you can have increased energy costs and a home that is too drafty, too dry or too humid.
Anyone who has ever designed or built a home already knows there is a balancing act that needs to be done. If there is too much air leakage, your home can become too drafty and cold. You could also end up paying a higher energy bill.
Conduits to air leakage are discovered in entrances drilled for plumbing fixtures, electricity, ventilation systems and other utilities. Also, appliances equipped on the outside of a house exponentially increase air leakage in the house. Examples are lighting elements and electrical outlets.
Still another overlooked source of possible air leakage is the spaces between the bottom of the sill plate and the home’s foundation walls. Newer homes usually have a foam gasket installed, but older ones can have gaps that tend to allow a lot of air leakage into basements. Much of this can be remedied by installing foam installation to help keep air leakage at bay.
Without doors and windows, patios are unusable but it’s those very features that introduce new sources of drafts into homes. The doors and windows naturally can’t be a tight fit or they’d become unusable in humid weather when they naturally swell. A silicon seal around fixed joints can remove drafts. Don’t be tempted to use fibreglass batts because, while they’re perfect for wall and roof cavities, they’re too porous to seal a window or door gap. Silicon is flexible, air-tight and the best solution for those patio drafts.
Still another area in the home that often goes unaddressed is the perimeter bands in between the floors. This is because air can come in through gaps in the siding and travel deep inside the home and far away from its entry point.
Several products are being marketed to assist with controlling the air leaks in your house. Caulk gums small holes or crevices. Expandable foam gums up large holes or crevices. Rope caulk secures perimeters around windows and doors. Foam gaskets can be utilized to seal the perimeter around electrical outlets and other entrances. Weather stripping ensures that windows remain snug in their frames.
When many older homes were built, the modern chemical weapons that home owners use to fight drafts weren’t available. Foams, silicon and newer caulks can fix design faults built in decades ago, saving the cost of their installation many times over in reduced energy costs. These days, as homes are designed and built, energy efficiency is at the forefront of the architects’ and builders’ minds. But the drafts that affect many older homes can quickly be brought up to modern standard by sealing with the many methods now available.
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Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, environment, green energy
Posted on 2010 under Alternative Energy |
23
Feb
CNG stands for ‘compressed natural gas’ and is a very clean and environmentally safe alternative fuel to gasoline and diesel. People the world over are choosing to install CNG conversion kits in their vehicles in an effort to save on fuel costs and save the environment as well. This is a good gesture and the many benefits CNG conversion kits offer us is evident from the fact that fuel companies and governments all over ht world offer incentives to change over to CNG from Gasoline and diesel.
Natural gas is a substitute for liquid fuel such as petrol and Diesel oil commonly used to run vehicles the world over. However, these two fuels are fast being depleted with the rate of consumption going higher and higher and with the consumption the cost fo the fuel is also rising out of the reach of the common man.
It became imperative for technology to come up with an alternative ‘ and they did. Natural gas was compressed and used for heating, cooking and lighting for years but it was only with the development of the CNG conversion kits that it became possible to use natural gas to power vehicles.
In order to understand what needs to be done in order to make a vehicle work on CNG one must understand how it is stored and supplied to the engine. Engines are called ‘internal combustion engines’. They need some sort of fuel injection or carburetor system to deliver the fuel to the combustion chamber. In both methods the liquid fuel needs to be turned into a vapor. This process is known as ‘atomizing’. When a vehicle uses one of the CNG conversion kits this process of vaporizing is eliminated making the system more efficient.
What is more CNG conversion kits allow for more mileage on a full tank of CNG that costs a lot less compared to a full tank of petrol or Diesel. Natural gas does not wear the engine down like their liquid cousins and so they help save a lot on maintenance costs of the vehicle as well. So the benefits of installing CNG conversion kits becomes clearer.
Since the engine water circulates through the radiator and the engine it is boiling hot. This water is circulated around a diaphragm in an air tight chamber. When the water heats the diaphragm it in turn heats the gas within. This increases the pressure of the gas and it is fed to the internal combustion engine through the carburetor.
The CNG conversion kits consist of a gas tank, a vaporizer, water pipes to circulate hot water from the engine around the diaphragm in the vaporizer, and a solenoid switch to change over from CNG to liquid fuel. When the gas leaves the tank it expands immediately and so it changes into a semi-liquid because this sudden change in pressure lowers the temperature drastically. The gas enters the leather diaphragm that is heated with the hot water on the outside vaporizing the gas instantly. This gas enters the engine through the carburetor and powers the engine.
Converting to CNG is easy and convenient by installing on of the branded CNG conversion kits however it may be mandatory in some states to seek written permission to do so from the relevant department. Whatever the red tape it is worthwhile to switch to CNG from Diesel or petrol.
You can convert your vehicle with a cng conversion kit today! You will find the cng conversion kits that are easy to install and start saving money on your fuel costs now!
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, cars, cng conversion kits, cng powered cars
Posted on 2010 under Alternative Energy |
23
Feb
One of the most eco-friendly ways of cutting away at electricity bills is to generate your own electricity at home. A home solar panel won’t eliminate the need to have electricity delivered by the power company, but it doesn’t require much (if any) upkeep and won’t take too many years to earn back the cost of purchase. Solar panel technology is becoming increasingly efficient and decreasingly expensive.
Back in the late 1970’s there was a big boom in solar technology, though much more short lived than the one being experienced now. Government subsidies and the initial “wow” factor of the science behind solar panels led a lot of people to invest, only to have the subsidies and tax credits canceled in the 1980’s.
However, now that global warming is on everyone’s mind, new tax credits and subsidies will keep the green technology industry vibrant and thriving. These new assistance programs may even become a permanent feature of policy. For the everyday homeowner, solar panels are now completely affordable.
Most people who want to get into solar energy are looking to generate electricity, which means that the type of solar system they’re looking for is called photovoltaic or PV solar panels. There are pre-built systems on the market as well as do it yourself options, which are significantly less expensive.
Even though PV solar cells have been getting more and more efficient, the average setup works at about twelve percent efficiency, while some of the top systems cap out at about seventeen percent. Keep in mind that because of these efficiencies, a solar electricity system is going to take a number of years to earn back its initial cost, even though you’ll save money on the electricity bill right away.
A new photovoltaic panel installed on or around the home will also diminish the amount of carbon your household is responsible for, and these benefits start right away. The carbon and energy used to produce them will also be saved in a much shorter time than the monetary cost. It’s possible to start working down your carbon output right away with solar PV panel.
As I was writing the above article about home solar panel, it struck me that you may be interested in reading this too: I hope you find it useful power bill pay and watt panel solar
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, green energy, homes solar panels, solar energy, solar home panel, solar panels for homes
Posted on 2010 under Alternative Energy |
22
Feb
The long-term damage caused by green house gases is more apparent than ever before. Greenhouse gases rain a damaging viral strain on the earth’s Eco system. Our earth has become diseased by these gases and we do not have a cure. Although the government is spending billions on alternative sources, we should not wait but take control and do our part to stop polluting the atmosphere. Individuals have spent their time and money to make solar panel guides that are affordable and even easy to build.
Building your solar panels is easy if you understand the process of developing one. The Internet is resourceful and has wealth of information on how to design your solar panels. But not every one has the technical knowledge to understand the diagrams and schematics. You need the guidance of the expert to walk you through the process.
Now you can purchase a guide that provides expert advice and guidance on how to build the panel for $200 or less. This is quite economical compared to the fortune you would be spending on pre-made solar panels. The guide offers both the written manual and educational video on how to build your own solar panels. It is so easy to follow; even you kids will have fun following instructions and building a solar panel for a school project.
Another choice to building your panels is to lease them. Just like any lease-to-buy contract when you miss payments they come for your source of energy! You save on the energy cost but pay a higher price to have the panels.
Purchasing the guide and building your own panels sure is the better choice. It comes with the guarantee to help you complete the project and discusses all methods of eliminating problems that you might face.
Buying per-made panels is still very costly. Your panels alone cost from a low end $600 and on the high end $1500 per panel and that is if you buy a bulk rate buy. The cost of installing the panels and hooking it up is not included in the price. This is a problem for people who want to just save on cost and not wait for years to pay off the debt.
The instructional guide on solar panels offers step-by-step instructions through the whole process of building your panels. It helps you build each panel for less than $27. Building your own solar panel helps ensure a clean future for earth and saves money on your energy bills. The expert guidance guarantees your success in building your solar panels.
Tired of high energy bills? Then build your own energy system with Green DIY Energy and start saving money? Then it is time to check out the Green DIY Energy review and decide for yourself. You can build your solar panels today!
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, diy energy, energy, energy conservation, energy efficiency, energy technology, free energy, green energy, home, home energy system, home improvement, renewable energy, Solar Panels, solar power