Solar Panel Systems, Energy Efficiency and Your Home

Reducing ???r Electric Bill w?th a Solar Panel System & Renewable Energy

Using a solar panel, wind turbine ?r ?th?r renewable energy system t? produce electricity ?n? reduce ???r electric bill ??n b? a sound long-term investment. Depending ?n th? type ?f technology, ??? ??n expect a full return ?n ???r investment within 3 t? 18 years. W?th financial ?r tax rebates fr?m ???r utility company ?r state ?n? national government, th? payback period ?n ???r investment ??n b? ??t ?n half.

H?w???r, th? very first step t? considering ?n? renewable energy system m??t b? h?w t? m?k? ???r home ?r business more energy efficient. Generally, th? basic rule ?? th?t f?r ???r? $1 ??? spend ?n m?k?n? ???r location more energy efficient, ??? save $3 t? $5 ?n th? cost ?f th? solar panel ?r wind turbine energy system. L?t?s ?? over ??m? basic ways ??? ??n m?k? ???r home more energy efficient.

M?k?n? Y??r Home Energy Efficient

One ?f th? easiest things th?t ??? ??n ?? t? reduce ???r electrical consumption ?? change out ???r regular incandescent light bulbs t? compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). CFLs ??? 65 t? 75% less energy th?n a normal light bulb th?t produces th? same amount ?f light. B? replacing a normal 100 watt incandescent light bulb w?th a 32 watt CFL, ??? w??? save $60 t? $80 ?n electricity costs over th? lifetime ?f th?t bulb (10,000 hours). Now imagine h?w much ??? w???? save ?f ??? changed out ??? ?f ???r light bulbs t? CFLs!

Th? technology f?r th??? bulbs h?? quickly evolved ?n? improved ?n th? last few years, wh??? th? cost h?? come down dramatically. Y???ll find th?t th?r? ?r? CFLs th?t w??? now fit m??t light fixtures ?n? lighting needs-th?r? ?r? even dimmable CFLs!. Head out t? ???r local department ?r hardware store ?n? b?? CFLs f?r ?? many ?f ???r light fixtures ?? possible. Th? investment ?? well worth ?t.

Another alternative t? traditional lights ?r? tubular skylights . Tubular skylights look a ??tt?? ??k? shiny stove pipes th?t ?t?rt w?th a transparent dome ?n top ?f th? roof ?n? come down ?nt? ??m? room f?r day lighting. W? frequently see customers using tubular skylights t? bring daylight ?nt? hallways ?n? closets. Th? light ??, ?f course, entirely natural ?n? ?n ??m? installations ??n provide ?? much illumination ?? a 100-Watt incandescent light bulb.

Energy Star ?n? EnergyGuide

One ?f th? b?????t consumers ?f electricity ?n m??t households ?? th? refrigerator. In m??t households, refrigeration ?? th? number one electricity consumer ?ft?r ?n? electricity-based heating ?r cooling systems. If ???r refrigerator ?? over 10 years ???, chances ?r? ?t?s electrically very inefficient. Consider replacing ???r current refrigerator w?th one th?t h?? a high Energy Star rating. Remember th?t ???t b?????? a refrigerator m?? h??? earned th? Energy Star ??b?? doesn?t mean ?t?s th? m??t efficient model available-?t ?n?? means th?t ?t? efficiency exceeds th? federally mandated efficiency standard b? ?t ????t 15%. Y?? ??n even ?? much ?f ???r investigation online ?t th? Energy Star website. Th?r? ??? ??n search f?r th? brand, type ?n? size ?f refrigerator ??? want ?n? sort b? energy efficiency. Wh?n ??? shop ?n stores, consult th? yellow EnergyGuide tags th?t ?r? attached t? ??? n?w refrigerators (?n? many ?th?r appliances). EnergyGuide ?? a different government program fr?m Energy Star th?t offers information ?b??t annual energy consumption ?n? shows ??? wh?r? each model lands ?n a comparison w?th similar models. F?r maximum energy savings, select th? model th?t?s a leader ?n efficiency ?n ?t? class.

Ghost Loads

A??? known ?? ?phantom loads?, ghost loads ?r? th? sneaky devices th?t constantly consume small amounts ?f electricity 24 hours a day-even wh?n th???re n?t actually doing anything useful. Wh??? each device b? itself m?? n?t consume much electricity, th? combination ?f ??? ?f th?m within ???r household m?? easily consume th? equivalent ?f two ?r three 60-Watt incandescent light bulbs left ?n ??? day ?n? ??? night. Over th? course ?f a single year th?? adds up t? over 1 Megawatt-hour-?n ?th?r words, enough electricity t? power ?n entire energy-efficient house f?r 2 t? 3 months!

Wh?t ?r? th??? mysterious ghost loads? Th? m??t common examples ?r? th? ?power brick? adapters, ?r power supplies, th?t charge ?r operate cell phones, laptop computers, cordless drills, answering machines, radios, inkjet printers, ?n? many ?th?r household devices. Th???re actually small transformers, turning AC electricity fr?m th? wall outlet ?nt? DC electricity f?r ??? b? th? device. Wh??? ?n? one ?f th??? devices m?? ?n?? consume a small amount ?f power (e.g., 3-20 watts), a dozen ?r ?? ?f th?m, running simultaneously ?n? continuously, consume a significant amount ?f electricity. Wh?t?s worse ?? th?t even wh?n ????re n?t charging ???r cell phone ?r th? battery f?r ???r cordless drill, th?t AC adapter m?? continue t? consume power ???t b?????? ?t?s plugged ?nt? th? wall. Oth?r well-disguised ghost loads ?r? those devices wh??h h??? th? ?instant ?n? feature, such ?? m??t modern television sets, VCRs, DVD players, many radios ?n? even many computers. Wh??? ??? ?f th??? devices ?r? supposedly turned ?ff, th?? ?r? actually consuming anywhere fr?m 3 t? 20 watts continuously-???t t? stay ready f?r ??? t? ??? th?m.

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H?w ??n ??? decrease th? consumption ?f energy b? th??? parasitic loads? One ?f th? simplest solutions ?? t? simply plug th??? devices ?nt? a power strip wh??h h?? ?n ?ff/?n switch. Wh?n ??? ?r? done using th? devices ?n? shut th?m ?ff normally, th?n ???t hit th? ?ff switch ?n th? power strip. Many people m?k? ?t ??rt ?f th??r nightly routine t? shut ?ff th??? power strips ???t before th?? ?? t? bed. F?r AC power adapters th?t ??? ??? ?t night, ??k? f?r charging a cell phone, ??t those ?n a separate power strip th?t ??? turn ?ff during th? day wh?n ??? take ???r phone w?th ???. Simple solutions ??k? th??? ????? reduce ???r ghost electric loads b? ?? much ?? 80%. In real-dollars terms, th?? means saving upwards ?f $120 per year ?n electricity costs, depending ?n ???r local electric utility rates ?n? h?w dedicated ??? ?r? t? reducing ???r ghost loads.

A Special Note f?r People Wh? ?r? P??nn?n? t? Live Off-grid

If ????re ???nn?n? t? ??? ?n ?ff-grid solar panel, wind turbine ?r hydro electric system ?n? ???n t? h??? a 12 ?r 24 volt battery bank, ??? w??? ?ft?n b? ?b?? t? find devices ?n? appliances th?t work directly w?th th??? DC voltages. Th? benefit t? using th? devices ?? th?t th?? w??? n?t need ?n AC power adapter wh??h needlessly consumes electricity whether ?r n?t th? device ?n ???. Aft?r ???, wh?t ?n AC adapter plug ???? ?? convert normal AC household electricity t? DC type ?f electricity t? power th? device, ?n? ?t rarely ???? th?t conversion efficiently.

Energy Efficient Cooling

During th? summer (?n? ?n warmer climates) air conditioning ?? frequently th? ??r???t consumer ?f electricity. An inexpensive way t? reduce th? demand ?n ???r air conditioner ?? t? keep ???r attic ?????r w?th a solar attic fan. Powered b? a built-?n solar panel, solar attic fans turn ?n wh?n ???r attic warms up during th? day. B? venting th? hot air out ?f ???r attic ??? day long, th? floors below stay ?????r ?n? ?? a result ???r air conditioner runs significantly less.

Solar attic fans ??n b? installed b? ???? ??-?t-yourselfers ?r carpenters. Th?? require n? wiring. A hole needs t? b? ??t ?n th? roof, th? attic fan ?? slipped ?n ?n? th? edges ?r? sealed up well w?th roof caulking. Th? solar panel built ?nt? th? fan unit ?? designed t? last ?t ????t 25 years. A solar attic fan ?? another wise investment th?t pays f?r itself very quickly.

F?r people wh? live ?n zones th?t ?r? relatively dry b?t hot, evaporative coolers (???? known ?? swamp coolers) ?r? a cost effective ?n? energy efficient alternative t? traditional air conditioners. Evaporative coolers ??? ?b??t 25% th? energy ?n air conditioner w???? need. Unfortunately, m??t people live ?n climates th?t wh?n ?t?s hot ?t ?? ???? relatively humid. In th??? conditions evaporative coolers won?t work effectively.

Another simple ?n? green method f?r reducing ???r home?s air conditioning costs ?? t? plant deciduous trees whose leaves w??? shade ???r home ?n th? summer time ?n? shed ?t? leaves f?r more sunlight ?n th? winter time. B? shading ???r home ?t heats up less, ?n? therefore requires less cooling b? ?n air conditioner. Planting a tree ?n th?? scenario h?? double th? environmental impact, ????re reducing greenhouse gases b? both using less electricity ?n? b?????? th? tree itself absorbs carbon dioxide.

Energy Efficiency ?n? Household Appliances

Many ?th?r appliances throughout ???r household w??? h??? a newer ?n? significantly more energy efficient version available. Here ?? a short list ?f ?th?r appliances ??? ?h???? consider replacing w?th higher efficiency versions: water heating tanks, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, telephones, VCRs ?n? DVDs, ceiling fans, fax machines, computers ?n? copiers. T? see wh??h brands ?n? models h??? Energy Star certification ?n? t? figure wh??h ones ?f those ?r? th? m??t efficient, visit Energy Star?s website: www.EnergyStar.gov. T? find out h?w much power ???r appliances ?r? really consuming, invest ?n ?n inexpensive power meter ??k? th? K???-A-Watt meter.

F?r many households th? b?????t bill ?? th? heating bill. Probably th? q???k??t, ????t expensive ?n? easiest way t? reduce ???r heating bill ?? t? b?? a programmable thermostat. Y?? ??n set th??? thermostats t? turn ?ff th? heat automatically wh?n ????re n?t home ?n? turn ?t ?n ???t before ??? arrive. Y?? w??? easily recoup ???r small investment ?n th? n?w thermostat within one winter b? running ???r heating system less. See ???r local hardware store ?r HVAC company f?r pricing ?n? availability ?f different models.

Another basic step t? reducing ???r home heating bill ?? sealing air leaks ?n? adding insulation. According t? Energy Star sealing air leaks ?n? adding insulation ??n reduce ???r heating bill b? ?? much ?? 10%. F?r homes w?th attics, one ?f th? easiest ?n? m??t effective places t? ??t down insulation ?? ?n th? attic. Visit ???r local home improvement store t? find out h?w much insulation ?n different areas ?f th? home ?? recommended f?r ???r region.

In th? last few years, th? ??? ?f solar air heating systems h?? become more ??????r. Mounted ?n ?n exterior, southern-facing wall ?r ?n th? roof, solar air heating collectors ??n reduce a home?s ?r business? annual heating costs b? ?? much ?? 30%. Costing far less th?n a n?w conventional heating system, solar air heating systems usually pay f?r themselves ?n 3-6 years. Th???ll typically last f?r 18 t? 35 years ?n? require minimal maintenance. Working ?n conjunction w?th ???r existing heating system, th? solar air heating system simply reduces ???r heating demand whenever ??? h??? even partial sunlight.

Th?r? ?r? two basic flavors ?f solar air heating systems. Th?r? ?r? ones th?t heat up fresh outdoor air ?n? blow ?t ?nt? ???r home ?r business. Th? th?r? ?r? ones th?t take th? air fr?m inside ???r building boosts up th? temperature b? another 50 t? 90 degrees fahrenheit ?n? blows ?t back ?n (known ?? recirculating air solar heating systems). Newer homes ?n? buildings wh??h tend t? b? tightly sealed ?n? h??? stale winter air w??? benefit doubly fr?m th? fresh air solar heaters. Older homes tend t? b? inherently draftier ?n? experience full air exchanges w?th th? outdoors a few times a day. Th??? homes w??? benefit more fr?m th? solar air heating systems th?t recirculate th? indoor air ?n? boost ?t up ?n temperature. Typically, one 4?8 foot solar air collector ?? recommended per 750 t? 1000 square feet ?f home space.

Water Heating Efficiency

More efficient models ?f domestic hot water heaters h??? ???? become available ?n th? last several years. If ??? h??? ?n ??? hot water heater, chances ?r? th?t ?t w?? n?t designed w?th efficiency ?n mind. Again, check out Energy Star?s website? t? find out wh??h boilers ?r? th? m??t efficient.

Another ???? alternative t? th? traditional hot water heating tanks ?r? instantaneous hot water heaters. Th??? systems heat th? water ?n?? wh?n ?t? being used. Normal water heating systems used ?n much ?f North America maintain a large tank ?f hot water t? b? used ?n?? a few times a day. T? keep th? water hot ?n? ready ?t a moment?s notice th??? traditional hot water heating tanks consume energy throughout th? entire day, whether ??? need ?t ?r n?t. Instantaneous water heaters ?n?? consume energy th? moment ??? need th? hot water, saving th? typical household 30 t? 50% ?f th? cost ?f hot water heating. Y?? ??n find instantaneous water heaters th?t ??? natural gas, propane ?n? electricity fr?m a variety ?f manufacturers.

Solar Water Heating Provides Y?? th? Best Return ?n Y??r Investment

Th? energy (natural gas, propane, electricity, etc) needed f?r hot water heating ??n b? reduced b? 60 t? 90% b? using a solar water heating system t? pre-heat water before ?t enters ???r existing traditional water heater. Remarkably effective ?n? efficient, even ?n northern climates, solar water heating technologies h??? matured significantly ?n th? past 30 years. Designed t? easily last 30 years ?r more w?th minimum maintenance, typically solar water heating system w??? pay f?r itself ?n ?t? first 3-7 years ?f ???. Solar water heating systems heat ???r home?s water w?th collectors th?t ?r? usually placed ?n th? roof ?f th? home. Th? hot water produced ?? stored ?n ?n insulated tank until ???r home ?? ready t? ??? ?t. Y??r traditional hot water w??? ?n?? kick ?n t? heat up th? water wh?n th? water temperature ?? n?t quite high enough. Solar water heating systems ??n b? installed b? advanced ??-?t-yourselfers, b?t ?t ?? recommended th?t a licensed plumber ?r installer review ?r ?? th? more complicated plumbing.

Energy Efficiency ? Y??r First Step Towards C???n Energy ?n? Energy Independence

Th? first step before purchasing a solar electric ?r wind power system t? meet ???r electricity needs ?? t? intelligently reduce those needs. M??t homes ??n inexpensively reduce th??r electricity demands b? 20 t? 30% without ???r having t? m?k? ?n? adjustments ?n th? lifestyles ?f th? occupants. W? provided ??? w?th many energy saving tips ?n th?? article, such ??:

Replacing incandescent light bulbs w?th compact fluorescent ones.
Upgrading ???r older appliances w?th EnergyStar star ones th?t h??? a very low annual energy consumption rating.
Minimize th? many hidden phantom (ghost) loads ?n ???r house.
Insulate ???r home well f?r ?????r seasons.
Creatively ??? vegetation t? keep ???r home ???? ?n th? summer ?n? maximize sunshine entering th? house ?n th? winter.
U?? solar heating technologies (n?t t? b? confused w?th solar electric technologies) t? cost effectively reduce h?w much ???r traditional air ?r water heating systems h??? t? work.

Th?r? ?r? literally hundreds ?f ?th?r ??tt?? tricks ?n? smart tweaks ??? ??n m?k? t? ???r home th?t w??? further reduce ???r electrical demands. Consider picking up a copy ?f th? book ?10-Minute Energy-Saving Secrets ? 250 Easy Ways t? Save B?? Bucks Year Round? b? Jerri Farris t? learn ?f many ?f th? ?th?r q???k ?n? easy ways t? reduce ???r home?s consumption ?f energy.

? 2009 altE?Store, Inc ? ?M?k?n? Renewable D?-?b????

Sascha Deri ? Ab??t th? Author:

F?r more information ?n solar panel, wind turbine ?n? renewable energy systems designed f?r DIY?ers, visit th? altE? Store ?t www.altEstore.com. T? view more free articles ?n? webinars ?n solar power, wind power ?n? renewable energy systems visit th? altE U. Th? altE U ???? offers live workshops f?r th? green energy enthusiast, D?-It-Yourselfers? ?n? up ?n? coming professional photovoltaic system installers wanting t? become NABCEP certified.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/solar-panel-systems-energy-efficiency-?n?-???r-home-911399.html

Tags: Efficiency, Energy, Home, Panel, Solar, Systems

Source: http://www.daricawebtasarim.com/2011/05/solar-panel-systems-energy-efficiency-and-your-home.html

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