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Posts Tagged ‘green living’

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to build solar panels, build homemade windmills, and go green

You can now purchase solar shingles that look like your existing asphalt shingles. They have a similar matte finish and are the same size. The big difference is that they are covered with thin film solar cells that collect sunlight and turn it into electricity. The thin film technology means you won’t have to construct a large structure (an array) on top of your roof to hold solar panels. And the solar shingles will collect the same quantity of energy as a solar panel array, but are much less visually intrusive.

Some homeowner associations won’t permit solar panel arrays to be built on a rooftop or in a back yard. And even if you still have to get your homeowner association to allow you to install solar shingles, it will be much easier to convince your neighbors (and board members) to say yes to solar cells that look just like the shingles on their roofs.

Solar shingle systems can be off-grid or tied to the grid. These means they can be used with a solar energy system that is self contained (off-grid) or that is tied into the public utility system (tied to the grid). The thin film technology works essentially the same way as the bigger panel systems. Sunlight is still being captured by photovoltaic cells and converted into energy. but the materials used in manufacturing the solar shingles are smaller. Advancements in solar technology have allowed improvements that reduce the size needed to produce the same amount of energy. The smaller shingle-sized cells are now efficient enough to produce the same amount of energy as the larger arrays.

Besides the visual appeal, another nice feature of the solar shingles is that they can be replaced as easily as traditional shingles. They’re made to last for more than 20 years, depending on the manufacturer. And they’re built to withstand harsh weather like hail and high winds. But if they do need to be replaced, it’s as straightforward as replacing traditional asphalt shingles.

Still, these solar shingles are rather new on the market, so you may have to do some research to find a supplier close to you. You’ll also need to find a honest installer who is familiar with the product. your best bet is to search online for solar shingle manufacturers and suppliers. they will e able to refer you to a professional installer in your area.

While solar shingles may not be the right choice for every homeowner, they can certainly offer an attractive alternative to traditional solar panel arrays.

A source of energy that should not be overlooked is wind power. Many homeowners have reduced or eliminated their electricity bill by building their own windmills. More information can be found at www.GreenLivingRocks.com

By Jason Livingston-the operator of GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to make solar panels, make homemade windmills, and go green

You know about the energy benefits that are possible from switching to solar energy from established power-plant energy. Maybe you would like to live off-grid because you care about the environment and desire to reduce your carbon footprint. But there’s a dilemma…you live in an apartment, so you’re not about to invest several thousand dollars into solar panels for your dwelling. What are your options?

Here are three ideas that can help you attain your dream of using solar power:

1) Invest in your own portable solar panels for your small appliances. If you have a window, courtyard, deck or balcony that gets enough sunlight during the day, you can get a portable solar charger that will collect the sunlight and store enough of it to recharge your laptop or power your TV. These portable systems will only provide an hour or two of use, though. And the cost of portable panels isn’t yet cheaper than running your laptop and TV off the grid. But they’re a good backup power source if you live in a place with frequent brownouts. And they’re a wonderful way to keep your rechargeable batteries fully charged.

2) Talk your property-owner into installing a solar panel system for the whole building. You might be able to get together with some neighbors and make a presentation to your landlord. This approach can be especially effective if your apartment building is located in a city or town where solar energy is popular and already being used. You’ll have to gather some facts from the local utility company to find out what their policy is on purchasing back energy from solar installations, and how much money your landlord might save from installing solar panels. Do some research on state and local tax credits for installing solar energy systems. In addition, find out if there are any other apartment complexes in your town (or even neighboring towns) that use solar energy, and ask them how they market that fact to their future renters. The plan is to show your landlord that he can save money on utilities, and decrease vacancies because renters would rather live in energy efficient apartments. With a little research, you can come up with a presentation showing your landlord that solar panels are a good business decision.

3) Make a point of seeking out apartment buildings and complexes that already have solar panels installed. You might be surprised to find out that there are apartment communities in your town that are ahead of the curve on solar energy. This is especially likely if you live in the “Sunbelt” area of the US, or if you live in a progressive-minded university town, or if your state or city offers attractive tax benefits for solar energy installations.

Even if you can’t live your off-grid energy dream at the moment, take heart. Solar energy technology is under rapid development right now around the world. That means your dream of better solar technology for lower prices is not far away.

By Jason Livingston-the operator of www.GreenLivingRocks.com where you can learn how to build a solar panel, construct a homemade windmill, and go green at home

Your utility bills are getting higher each month, so you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels on your home. You know how to use a screwdriver and drill, and you’re wondering…how tough could it be to construct your own solar panels? This article will give you an overview of the procedure so you can make a good decision.

To make clear, we’re talking here about building solar panels that will deliver electricity to your house. (These are not the same as “solar energy” devices that will heat water, but won’t deliver electricity). The most widely used solar panel designs for generating electricity are photovoltaic arrays. They convert sunlight straight into electricity.

There are at least two prevalent ways to build do-it-yourself solar panels. First, there are solar panel kits. These are straightforward designs and can be built by anyone who has average handy-man skills. Second, there are built-from scratch-solar panels. These are a bit more complex, and are better projects for more courageous people who don’t mind experimenting.

Solar Panel Kits:
You can buy these from various local or online suppliers. Use yahoo to look for “solar cell kits”. You’ll find hundreds of sites that offer books, online videos or DVDs of plans and instructions, along with the materials you’ll need.

The kits basically supply you with the photovoltaic cells, the wiring, the assembly hardware and the mounting devices. They’re somewhat like putting together a computer desk kit from the hardware store. But you’ll need to check your local building codes to find out whether or not you need permits and a licensed installer.

Build Your Cells From Scratch:
This is an economical, but labor-intensive way to construct your solar cells from scratch. It uses raw copper sheeting, like the copper flashing available at hardware stores, and a heat source. You need to heat the copper for about a half hour, or long enough to cause the chemical reaction that produces copper oxide on the surface of the copper sheet.

After the copper panel is cooled properly, combine it with other similar-sized non-oxidized copper panel, add saline solution and encase all of the components in a shatterproof glass panel. Add wiring and mounting components after the panel is assembled. This produces a low-voltage panel. You’ll need to make a large number of them in order to have an array that produces enough electricity to power household devices.

Building your solar panels from scratch is relatively cheap, but takes a lot of time and space. Solar kits are a good solution if you like to work on projects around the house, but don’t have the time for building solar panels from scratch. Either way, be sure to check your local building codes for installation requirements. And be sure you really have adequate time to complete the project. You don’t want to leave it half finished and leave yourself with no electricity during a hot summer or a cold winter.