by Colin Swan | Mar 20, 2014 | Uncategorized
A solar energy fact that opponents like to bring up is that for several hours a day, from sunset to sunrise, solar energy cannot be generated. They like to claim this means that users of solar energy either 1) need an additional energy source for overnight, or 2) that solar energy must be stored for overnight, and that costs large amounts of money.
The truth of the matter is that having a backup energy source is never a bad idea. Just like the electric lines coming to your house from the power plant, your solar panels can malfunction, leaving you without power. When looking at solar energy facts, it is obvious that these glitches happen far less frequently than outages from traditional power sources, but they can happen. So having a backup energy source is just good planning. However, you won’t be needing it every night, as some people would have you believe.
During the day when your solar panels are collecting energy, they also charge the backup system, giving you plenty of energy to keep all your appliances and other electricity drains running all night.
But that backup storage is expensive, according to solar opponents. Again, the solar energy facts prove this to be a half-truth, at best. Storing large amounts of electricity — say, enough to run a city — can be costly, but a switch to solar does not increase the need to store electricity. As it is, according to the International Energy Association, having solar power make up a portion of the nation’s electric generating capacity has no impact on the need for electricity storage.
by Colin Swan | Mar 18, 2014 | News
There has been a lot of effort made to distort the solar energy facts. To help debunk some of the lies, half-truths and misconceptions, here are some realities about solar power:
Solar Power Works on Cloudy Days
Anyone who has ever gotten a sun burn on a cloudy day knows that atmospheric clouds do not block out 100% of the sun rays. Check your average bottle of suntan lotion, and you’ll be reminded that the sun shines through even when it seems overcast.
Opponents to renewable energy try to distort solar energy facts because they distrust science, have a pro-oil agenda, or just don’t understand the truth. While your solar panels can’t collect sunlight at night, they can operate with limited efficiency in overcast weather, and with peak efficiency in direct sunlight.
Some Regions Are Not Suited to Solar Power
Another favorite argument of those opposed to solar power is that some regions of the United States are just not compatible with solar power. The argument suggests that places with heavy snowfall, large amounts of cloud cover, or even those that are heavily wooded might not get enough solar energy to make the investment worthwhile. But solar facts suggest otherwise.
Germany is one of the largest users of solar energy in the world and yet its climate is less suited to solar energy than anywhere in the United States. At the very least, this should give you something to think about when you hear rumors about the lack of power available on cloudy days.
by Colin Swan | Mar 13, 2014 | News
Many people write off solar energy, saying that the disadvantages of a solar power system outweigh the advantages. But the pros and cons of solar energy are rapidly evolving, making solar energy a more attractive option than ever before.
One of the first complaints people make about solar energy is that it is expensive to have the panels installed. While that may have once been true, solar panels are becoming increasingly affordable for the average homeowner. A quick analysis of your energy bills may show you just how quickly solar energy will pay for itself.
Another misconception/complaint about solar energy is that the solar panels only work when the sun is out. Anyone who has ever gotten a sunburn on a cloudy day can attest to how untrue this notion is. Clouds only block out a portion of the visible light spectrum from the sun’s rays, meaning your solar panels can collect in virtually any weather conditions.
The pros and cons of solar energy may not be what they once were or what people think they are.
One of the most important advantages of solar energy is that it reduces our reliance on non-clean energy. Most people only think of their vehicles, when they think of greenhouse gas emissions, but some of the worst offenders are power plants. The amount of fossil fuels being used to send energy to your home for your various gadgets, lights, appliances and heat would astound you, but since it occurs somewhere else, people don’t think about it. Solar energy helps clean up our energy use.
Another advantage of solar energy comes in the form of self-reliance. After major earthquakes and storms, as well as in periods of high usage like especially hot summers, the wires transmitting electricity to your home may be over-taxed or broken. With solar panels, your house may be the only one on the block that still has power.
by Colin Swan | Feb 20, 2014 | News
One of the advantages of solar energy is that it is growing in popularity so quickly. Soon, people who have invested in this energy source may be able to cash in using a new form of crypto-currency that is very similar to Bitcoins.
The company behind this initiative checks up on each homeowner to verify their usage of solar power, and then it rewards them with SolarCoins. This new form of currency can be used online in the same way that Bitcoins are used, but the process of earning the currency is much more simplified. Business owners can get in on the benefits of this new form of money, as well, which could make investing in solar power that much more attractive to homeowners and business owners alike.
The real motivation behind this idea is to reward people who invest in renewable resources. Instead of just realizing the savings that come with solar power, people can profit from their earth-friendly decisions.
One of the additional benefits of this program is that it can continue to incentivize solar energy even if utility companies make further moves to protect their bottom lines by assessing fees for people who use solar power. These fees are designed to protect profits, but may discourage homeowners. SolarCoins could make the decision to switch to solar more attractive even if heftier fees are assessed for solar power usage.
The advantages of solar energy continue to grow, and for those people who are already using solar panels, SolarCoins offer a great reward for sustainable energy practices.
by Colin Swan | Feb 18, 2014 | News
Solar energy technology is a growing industry. New technologies are necessary in this forward- thinking industry that provides alternative renewable energy resources to a growing consumer world. As technologies change, the solar power system will increase to include other viable options for solar technology, to help our energy grids to function in sustainable ways, many still to be invented.
Solar energy is still a young industry that has only begun to tap into the available power the sun provides. The invention of other devices will only prove to further the use of much needed sustainable solar power.
André Broessel has created a new style of solar energy in a globe that, according to him, is 35 percent more efficient than the current standard solar panels that are available, when it is used along with a device that tracks the sun to enable it to get every bit of available sun to create sustainable solar energy.
The power system is a generator. It is a free- standing rotating glass orb that captures the energy of the sun. The round surface enables it to direct the incoming energy to a focal point of solar cells, instead of over a larger area of solar panels. The globe is even more sustainable than solar panels. It uses fewer of the products needed to make the solar cells necessary in a solar power system, but it may not be the most feasible option for the average consumer.
Solar panels are a fixed piece of equipment. The rotating globe would more easily harvest the available sun and not be confined to a stationary flat surface like the solar panels. The solar globe may be one option for additional energy-efficient power sources in the future, for large corporations, but flat panels are still the best choice for the average consumer.
