Discover Solar Energy for Homes

What is solar energy and how do we get it?

Solar energy is nothing but the energy we get from the sun. Actually, we call this solar energy when we begin to use it in our lives. The sunlight that we all have is actually electro magnetic waves, and it is these waves that the solar energy systems are able to capture and convert into a format in which it becomes usable to us. In recent times, solar energy has become very popular as a source of residential power. And one reason for this is that solar energy is very economical when compared to the conventional alternatives. But to get solar energy, we need many devices such as photovoltaic cells, solar chimney, solar water heaters and others.

Solar energy is also known as radiant energy and this is because of the electro magnetic waves that come from the sun. However most of the sun’s rays (70%) are absorbed by the upper layers of the earth through water bodies, landmasses and clouds. And the rest 30% goes back into space. The little bit of the vast energy that we can capture is forged into various types such as mechanical power, chemical power and electrical power.

How does solar energy for homes work?

The energy that is the main source is the radiant or solar energy and it is this energy that we are all using now. Though it is being used in many areas, but solar energy has probably become most popular in domestic use. Fore domestic uses, solar power technologies come in as very handy. But these solar power technologies can also be divided into two categories and they are active solar technology and passive solar energy technology – this differentiation in made based on the way they work.

There are three main steps involved in the way these solar energy technologies work and this is first capturing the sunlight, converting this into a usable format with which we can get electricity, and finally distributing the power to the ultimate consumer. It is mainly the active solar technology that is used for solar energy for homes and in this the various power conversion systems that are used are pumps, photovoltaic panels, active solar lighting and others. Daylighting system, which is a passive solar power technology, is also however used for lighting up the inside of the home. But this daylighting system can also be both passive and active.

This system works by replacing the artificial lighting and reducing the need for air-conditioning by the use of non-solar energy and thus reducing power consumption, ultimately leading to lower bills. However for daylighting to work, it is essential that the design of the windows, skylights, sawtooth roofs, light shelves and others be done properly. And when done correctly, daylighting can reduce the need for conventional power by as much as 25%. Hybrid solar lighting or HSL is another way daylight saving can work. In this, optical fibers and focusing mirrors are used to track the rays of the sun and then send it properly to the room’s interior. It has been estimated that about 50% of the sunlight can be used in a single storied home in this way.

Solar water heaters are another popular application of solar power at home. As the name suggests, these heaters use the rays of the sun to heat water. The evacuated tube collector and the glazed flat plate collector are the two main types of solar water heaters that you will find. The evacuated version is the one that is used at homes. The solar cooker is another popular application, and perhaps this is the most popular application of solar power technologies.

These cookers work in the same way – that is, they concentrate the rays of the sun to make steam that is used for cooking. But solar cookers can also be of three distinct varieties and they are – box cookers, panel cookers and reflector cookers. Box cookers are really simple and they are very popular too. There is an insulated container and a transparent lid and the temperature can go up to 90 degree centigrade, and sometimes even 150 degree centigrade. The name panel cooker comes from the reflective panel that can direct the radiation to an insulated container.

There are many shaped mirrors in a reflector cooker that reflects the rays of the sun to heat the insulated container. Such a cooker can get up to 300 - 315 degree centigrade and thus the power is tremendous. But the fact remains that these cookers need to be always exposed to direct sunlight and need also to be dislodged for tracking the sun’s rays and this is of course a limitation.

Solar energy for homes - some advantages and disadvantages

The main reason why this is becoming so popular is that, solar power is clean energy and it is very cheap too. All you need to do is just install the system, and there would then be almost no running cost. You will continue to get electricity for as long as 25 to 30 years. And if you install bigger systems, you can also operate gadgets such as washing machines and air conditioners. Such systems can also back up power for using it on the days when it is cloudy. On the other hand, there is still a great deal of mistrust as regards to their skillfulness – this can however be removed through mass awareness and reassurance that such systems do indeed work. And thus, it makes a lot of sense to opt for this environment friendly solar energy generator that comes cheap too.

Planning to get your own home solar power system? Great decision – it has both economic and ecological benefits. You can set up a system easily provided you know where to set it up, how to do it and complete the wiring, where to get the batteries and the parts from, and of course the safety precautions. Get a manual that teaches you about all this so that you can use your very own home solar power system.

Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy". Jim has written dozens of home energy related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

To Learn More about Jim Martin´s Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Solar Energy.