ODL Solar Powered Dimmer For Tubular Skylights

With the new Solar Powered Dimmer from ODL, homeowners can save more than 30 percent on energy bills. ODL ENERGY STAR-qualified Tubular Skylights, now with the Solar Powered Dimmer, are perfect for any room in the home where light is limited. Tubular skylights admit natural light into a room without causing “hot spots,” which are typically formed by traditional roof skylights. The Solar Powered Dimmer allows homeowners control over the amount of light entering through their tubular skylight. The ENERGY STAR Tubular Skylight also features the patented Solar Lens Dome, which gathers sunlight even during low-light hours in the morning, late afternoon, or during the winter, to maximize light into the tube. Additionally, the “two-piece” kit makes installation a snap.

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ODL Solar Powered Dimmer for Tubular Skylights

Building A Residential Solar Power System? Know Your History

One of the reasons that people sometimes hesitate to install a residential solar power system is that they're under the mistaken impression that solar power is not going to last. They may think that it's just some kind of modern fad, and that solar power has a good chance of going out of style in the near future. But in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Solar power is actually one of the few sources of power that is permanent. It goes back to the beginning of human history, and it will stay with us for as long as civilization exists.

In other words, next to solar power, the fossil fuels that we currently rely on are fleeting things. Against the backdrop of history, they'll be swept away before we know it. That's why, if you're thinking of building a residential solar power system, you're taking part in a long tradition, and you're making a statement about the importance of energy that is permanently sustainable.

Ancient Origins of Solar Energy

If you think about it, solar energy is what powers the Earth. It's what makes life possible; it feeds our whether patterns, it makes our crops grow; and it evaporates or melts the water that feeds our rivers. So, even before humans came about, the sun was doing it's work.

The Ancient Greeks were the first to consciously harness the power of the sun for light and heat. They invented the practice of building architecture specifically designed to harness the sun to create light and to heat the rooms inside of a building. This helped reduce the need for heat created through wood burning. It may not be the same as a modern residential solar power system, but it is a beginning.

Solar Power in Modern Times

The first modern versions of solar power were created in the late 1800s, when a few inventers pioneered the early versions of the systems that we use today. Although some working solar power collectors were created in England, France, and the U.S., all were too expensive to operate in the long-term, and plans for widespread use of solar power were abandoned.

The fact is that functional modern solar power depends upon the types of scientific advancements that weren't made until the early to mid 1900s. For example, Einstein's discovery of the photoelectric effect is directly applied in every modern residential solar power system.

But even when the science was there, for a long time, there was still no economic need for the development of efficient solar power systems. For much of the 20th century, we were just fine with our fossil fuel options. However, beginning in the 1970s, oil prices began to fluctuate wildly. Given the volatility of the international oil market, it was only natural that people would start looking into alternatives.

Finally, now that we have a better grasp of fossil fuels' negative effects on the environment, alternative sources of energy are beginning to make their way into the mainstream. In fact, in a few more years, a residential solar power system will no longer be considered "alternative" at all.

About the Author:
Rodney Strange is a environmentalist, writer, and contributing editor of the solar power system for home blog. To read all about solar systems for your home visit http://solarpowersystemforhome.com

Building A Solar Powered Home - Critical Factors To Consider

When you are considering building a solar powered home, you will be joining a legion of home owners who have decided to go green. A solar powered home takes its energy requirements entirely from a renewable energy source - the sun. You will not be locking into the local power grid. Which means you won't be saddled with high energy costs at the end of the month since solar energy is essentially free.

However, despite these advantages, there are still many people who are prevented from using solar energy in their home because of what they perceive to be the potentially high cost of installing solar panels. You can build a house that runs on solar energy pretty cost effectively. Here are a few factors to consider that will be a low cost way of building a solar powered home.

1. Getting the right materials
One of the best ways to cut down the cost of building your proposed 'green' home is to locate the right materials for the right cost. Get on over to your local hardware store and look for the materials that will turn your home into a solar powerhouse. Ask the store clerk if they sell any copper flashing. You'll need these to build low cost solar panels. Once you get the copper flashing, you will have to heat it for more than 30 minutes. This will oxidize the copper flashing. Next, place the two oxidized panels together with copper flashing that's not been treated. Then pour a solution of salt water on the copper flashing and enclose the materials in a glass panel that's sturdy. This is the solar panel prototype that you will use.

2. Place your panels in sunlight
The next thing you've got to do is place your panels in sunlight. The more sunlight hits your panels the better will be the energy that you get. Hence building a solar powered home largely depends on the location of the solar panels. You should ideally install the solar panels on the roof of your home. Fix the wiring as well so that you can get electricity to the appliances in your home.

You should contact a custom home builder to identify all the important factors when you want to go solar. When you hire a home design consultant that's well versed in sustainable home building, you will be building a solar powered home cost efficiently.

About the Author:
Janet J Strauss is a full time internet marketer. She has written a number of excellent articles on internet marketing topics for many popular websites. Her passion to help others, and to share knowledge has been the main reason for her presence in internet.

Parabolic Trough Solar Field Technology

The term "Parabolic Trough Solar Field Technology" may be quite a mouth full. But what does it actually mean?

This article will explain what parabolic trough solar field technology is and how this form of alternative energy works to provide solar energy on a broad scale.

Parabolic troughs are a solar energy collecting devices which are used to concentrate sunlight on a specific point.

To understand a little more about this you have to know that solar energy is split up into several different fields or methods.

1. Photovoltaic Solar Energy: this is where solar panels are used to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
2. Solar Water Heating: This is a method of heating up water through the use of solar energy, usually done through flat-plate collectors on the roof of a house. It is a very efficient and energy saving way of heating water even in colder climates.
3. Concentrated Solar Power: Concentrated solar power is created by redirecting or focusing direct sunlight on a certain area in order to heat up liquids or gasses which are then used to generate electricity. Currently this last method is one of the cheapest ways to convert solar energy into electricity.

Concentrated Solar Power

Parabolic troughs belong to the last category I mentioned, concentrated solar power. It is one of the ways of redirecting sunlight and focusing it on a central point.

The focal point (the point where all the sunlight converges) will become extremely hot - hot enough to melt steel, in fact, if a large enough parabolic reflector is used.

To utilize the heat generated by the parabolic reflector, a tube is placed at the focal point and a liquid is pumped through the tube. Due to the amount of heat generated, the liquid inside the tube is heated rapidly, and turned into steam.

Steam then travels through a piping system to a steam turbine, where it is used to generate electricity. And that is what concentrated solar power is in all its simplicity.

Several different methods of achieving the same result have been developed, all of which fall under the category of concentrated solar power technology. Another good example are solar towers.

Parabolic Trough Solar Energy Plants

A parabolic trough power plant consists of a solar field, a number of parabolic mirrors in the form of troughs alongside each other. There are many parallel rows of these solar collectors across the solar field (see picture).

A heat collection element, in the form of tubing placed at the focal point of the troughs, fluid is then pumped through the tubing and is heated as it passes along the sections of parabolic troughs.

The heated fluid is then converted to steam and lead to steam turbines which in turn convert it into electricity.

That's the basic setup of a parabolic trough energy plant.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

About the Author:
Anna supports the use of solar energy for a cleaner environment and a better future. To learn more, visit her website on Solar Power and Alternative Energy.

How To Build Solar Panels

Plenty of people have been looking into installing solar panels in an effort to combat rising energy costs. When most of these people see the prices of the professionally installed panels they realize it may not be a luxury they can afford. There is an easier, more cost efficient way to harness power from the sun and that is to learn how to make solar panels for yourself.

Any motivated do-it-yourselfer can learn how to make solar panels for their home, workshop or business. When compared to the cost of purchasing and installing a pre-made solar energy system, learning how to make solar panels for your energy needs and the materials you need to execute the project are far less. By learning how to make solar panels for yourself, you have greater control over the size and design of your system as well.

Once you have a quality manual and you have learned how to make solar panels, the supplies are fairly simple to find. Most can be found at your local hardware store like, plywood, sheets of glass, and a roll of copper wire. It is also easy to locate inexpensive solar or photovoltaic cells to use in your project. Many are available over the Internet or you may have a retailer available locally. One you’ve learned how to make solar panels and you have your supplies, it usually takes about a day to assemble a 100-watt panel. This is the perfect amount of electricity to operate small appliances or a small workshop.

The most important step is finding a quality manual with detailed instructions for learning how to make solar panels. In many cases you get what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars on a well-reviewed instruction manual. Overall, the cost of the making your own panels is so low, the price of the how to guide is minimal-you will still be paying way less learning how to make solar panels on your own than purchasing a professionally installed system.

With a little bit effort, you can be on your way to learning how to make solar panels to meet your energy needs. Then sit back and bask in the pride the next time the power goes out on your block. Your lights will still be on because you learned how to make solar panels and your energy supply is still in your battery bank.

6 Ways To Reduce Your Energy Usage At Home

Today, a good deal more people are more and more aware of the amount of energy they consumed every day and what effect it was having on our planet. If you are among these people and are looking for a way to help out with the environment and cut back on your energy usage, here are six simple steps to assisting you save on the amount of energy you use.

1. 1. Turn off all of the lights in your home that you are not using, and can you do with less lights? For the next month try to making a genuine commitment to stick to it and compare your current utility bill with next month’s and see how much money you actually could save over the long term just by doing this simple adjustment.
   
   As a matter of fact your mother likely taught you to turn off the lights when you are not in a room, and mother always right. Even with low wattage bulbs, it can help to make a difference to keep them switched off when you are not using them.
   


2. Replace your old thermostat with a digital programmable thermostat if your home does not have one. This way, you can set the thermostat to run the heat or air conditioning less when you are not at home, and then set the temperature to go back to comfortable levels just before you return home. If the system is not running all day it will cut back significantly on the amount of energy you use.


3. Use solar power whenever you can. If you use outdoor lights, then switch these over to run on solar energy. You can also get a portable solar charger that can charge up small appliances like cell phones and laptops. While people mainly use these devices on the go, you can also routinely use them in the home as well.


4. Cut down your hot water use. You can achieve this by using warm or even cold water to wash your clothes and hang up your clothes outside to dry, it will smell fresher too.


5. Be sure all the bulbs in your home have been changed over to the low wattage compact fluorescents. The old style incandescent bulbs can almost triple your energy usage. Also, have outdoor lights with the capability to turn on at night and able to turn themselves off during the daylight hours. This way even if you forget to turn the light off it will not be operating all day.


6. In the winter months, open your drapes on the sunny side of your house to let the sun in to warm your home, you will be amaze how much energy you could save. And naturally you do the opposite in the summer and close the drapes to keep the sun out.

Simply by utilizing these simple steps and you will be able to cut back on your energy consumption. Not only will you be working to save the environment, but you will also be reducing your utility bills as well.

About The Author:
For more ideas and tips on saving energy (and you money) please visit http://www.healthygreenlivingtoday.com and produce your home made energy here... http://www.funbiznow.com/product/home-made-energy.html

Converting To A Solar Home

There are many affordable options to convert your home into a solar home and solar energy technologies can supply for several different uses in a solar home. Passive solar design can provide heating, cooling and natural light for your home. Solar electricity options are available to power home appliances and solar water heating can provide hot water options for laundry and general household water use (showers, cooking, cleaning). When planning a solar home it is important to consider which solar energy options are most efficient, and cost effective for your situation.

A passive solar home utilizes home design to provide heating, cooling and natural light without the use of any special equipment. A passive solar home basically uses the environment to accomplish great reductions in energy use. A passive solar home uses construction materials and design to utilize the sun’s heat during winter months and block the sun’s heat during summer months. There are several passive solar techniques you can use in a solar home, direct gain, radiant heat from sunlight passing directly into a living space and being absorbed by furniture, flooring etc and usually achieved with south facing window installations, indirect gain, involving an attached Trombe wall that collects heat and distributes it throughout the home by the use of fans, thermal mass, which are materials that naturally collect and store heat such as brick or stone, and passive cooling, which generally includes overhangs for south-facing windows to block the sun during summer months for cooling the solar home.

Another feature often found in a solar home is the use of solar electricity. Solar electricity is generated when photovoltaic cells are used to absorb sunlight and convert it into usable electricity. The energy produced by solar panels must be converted to DC (household power) through the use of an inverter. Solar electricity can be used to supplement metered electric already being received by a solar home or with the use of a battery storage bank, can be used as the only electric source for the home. If the later is going to be used, it is suggested that owners of the solar home have a generator available for backup power.

Solar water heating is one of the most common uses of solar energy in a solar home. There are two kinds of solar water heating available for solar home use. The first is a closed loop system, which can be used in areas that are not prone to freezing. These systems use water filled tubes that are heated directly by the sun. A closed loop system uses an anti-freeze type liquid to collect heat from the sun and then the heated liquid is used to heat household water via a heat exchanger.

Regardless of which steps you take toward converting to a solar home, energy efficiency is the most important attribute to a successful solar home operation. Energy efficiency minimizes the need for heating, cooling and electricity. Using higher insulation levels, more energy efficient windows, appliance and lighting than used in traditional construction, you will already be saving yourself a lot of money and energy. However these changes may not be an option when converting an existing home into a solar home, so make any changes possible to your home energy efficiency and adapt other solar practices to convert your existing home into a solar home.