Simple ideas to increase warmth & cut your energy bills. You can build your own passive solar heating device. All you need is a relatively small collection of aluminum cans painted black and drilled with some holes, stacked, and then put in a box. Air coming out of the box is fifteen degrees warmer than air going into the box. You are then free to direct such warm air to anywhere it’s needed. And with just a little bit more work, this exact same design could be a passive water heater.
The Middle East and Japan have been utilizing the sun’s energy for years. Used commonly in Israel, a dude shemesh (sun water heater) is a simple contraption where water from a tank is pumped into pipes coated with a black collecting surface. The black panels of the dude attract sunlight and become hot. The pipes transfer this heat over to the water, which runs back into the water tank. A half-hour pulse of electricity is all that is needed to heat the tank for a shower or doing the dishes.
Some homes use a centrally located masonry wood heater to store heat. The bricks and stones surrounding the firebox absorb the solar gain or heat from short but intense firings and slowly radiate it into the room.
Solar power is produced by solar panels. These panels are made up of silicon cells. They turn sunlight into electricity. There are many advantages to using solar panels:A Relatively modest system only adds about 110.00 per month to your mortgage payment and it pays for itself over the life of your mortgage. Solar power increases the value and resale chances of your home. The equipment purchased will have resale value. You can take it with you or sell it. Solar power helps to protect the Environment by reducing fossilfuel byproducts released into the air. The EPA has said that the value of a home with solar power goes from 11.00 dollars to 25.00 dollars for every 1.00 dollar reduction in your annual utility bills.
Installing a home solar panels in your residence is good for the environment. A typical 10 KW solar power system over the 25 year lifetime eliminates more than 400 pounds of nitrogen oxide which produces smog, eliminates more than 1000 pounds of sulphur dioxide which creates acid rain and eliminates more than 200 tons of carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. Above all government is giving tax incentives to install home solar panels to consumers to reduce carbon footprint.
Grow Your Own Solar Power. Did you know anytime you grow a plant you are using solar power? By creating a roof garden, also called a green roof by many it takes advantage of rainwater to control indoor temperatures and adds to the beauty of your home. Green roofs are more than likely one of the man ways of going solar the green way.
Install A Sun Water Heater. A good way to start your knowledge of solar energy is to use solar thermal systems that use no electricity to heat your homes water. You can find two different types of these systems. · Flat-plate systems are the most common type used. It works by the water being pumped through a series of tubes over a black surface, which converts radiation into heat. The cost of equipment and installation runs around $7,500 to $10,000. It will though drop your home energy costs dramatically and can earn you a federal tax credit of around 30%, which is up to $2,000. · Evacuated tube collectors are the second kind. They work better in cold and cloudy climates where sun does not appear as much. They work by the element in the tube collecting heat from the sun; no heat is lost to the cold air outside due to it being in a vacuum working similar to how your coffee thermos works. Twenty tubes, equipment and installation can cost around $5,500 to $6,000. In return, it can help heat up to 70% of a homes hot water yearly. If you are a resident in the home, you can be eligible for federal tax credits.
How can you eliminate electronics power waste? Think surge protectors (power strips)! After powering down all of your electronics for the night, turn off the surge protectors. But, do not stop there. Unplug electronics in the kitchen and bathrooms. Anything that uses a power pack, unplug it. One of the highest energy using electronic devices is a cell phone charger. When not in use, unplug it. Families, who made a habit of performing these tasks, have saved at least $50 per month on their electric bills.
Also when doing your laundry, wash in cold water. Hang them on a line outside for the sun to dry. Make sure your food is cool before placing in the refrigerator. turn lights out when not in use & install the energy saving ones although more expensive to buy initially they will last for years & reduce your lighting costs by 50% por more.
If you do all of this you would easily see a reduction in $100 per month on your energy bills.
