Solar Power for Homes is the Future of Homebuilding

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Solar powered homes are finally becoming more mainstream these days. This is great for the planet and for a family’s electric bill. Solar power homes can run the same appliances and lights as a regular electric powered home. Experts estimate a solar power home can save anywhere from 50-75% on your current electric bill.

You can convert your existing home to solar power by yourself if you want. Depending on the size of your home and how much electric you use on an average day, will determine what kind of system you will want to install. If you want to just start out with a couple of solar panels, you can easily buy those at your local department store.

Solar Shingles

You will need to purchase a solar power containment systems, often called your “battery” or “cells”. These cells are hooked up to the solar panels, and collect and store the electricity generated from the sun. These cells store the electricity until it is needed. When it is dark or really cloudy your cells can be charged with a generator if needed. You may have enough stored electricity that you may not need to use a generator at all. These systems are not as expensive as many people perceive them to be.

They are not overly complicated, and can be installed by an amateur or a professional. It is probably best to have a professional installer convert your home to solar power. A typical solar panel costs around $1500.00. Of course there are more expensive ones, that will offer more output, but you would be surprise how much electricity is wasted in our everyday lives. A solar powered home will help you see how much electricity you actually need to use.

With the push from worldwide governments, solar equipment is becoming more readily available. Prices are dropping more and more as China has taken the lead in mass producing solar equipment. With a competitive market on the horizon, solar power homes are going to be much easier and cheaper to build.

Some electric companies, offer to buy back electric that you do not need. Talk about really paying for itself! A solar powered home does not need to look any different than a traditional home. Panels placed on the roof or in a nearby area are not an eyesore.

Switching to solar energy now, can also give you a tax break. There are several government rebates that will help offset the cost of switching to solar energy. Now is the perfect time to make an investment in your home and your family’s future.

Solar Chargers

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Solar chargers are one of those cool things that we will continue to learn about and see advance as this green energy revolution continues. Solar chargers can of course cut down on your electric bill because the sun itself does not cost money to be able to use within the context of a phone charger. There is a Chinese company that makes a solar charger called eva esa which can use solar power to charge your cellphone, radio and flashlights among other items. This is cool when a solar charger is very adaptable to whatever the situation may be. You can buy these chargers online if you do enough searching.

Eva esa makes several different types of solar chargers. Most of their models vary in output voltage, overall size and how much it takes to charge. For example the eva esa V 5.0/6.0 actually adapts to different types of cellphones and usually only takes an hour to recharge. The frustrating thing about eva esa chargers is that they are hard to find within North American markets. They tend to be more accessible within Asian and European markets, but can indeed be exported to North America. Another one of the benefits of most of these solar chargers is that they are not too bulky and thus can fit in a backpack or secure handbag as long as the charger is well protected.

You can buy a universal solo charger for your phone made by Solio. These items are selling on Amazon.com for around eighty five dollars. You are getting a real bargain in this situation if you look at the sleek nature and nice color of these chargers. Solio makes some other types of chargers that aren’t as nice looking and tend to be bulkier. Also according to customer reviews they aren’t as reliable as their more classic model. The solar chargers are not always adaptable to every situation, but sometimes this can be a good thing.

This is true because sometimes people simply ask their chargers to do too much and to work too quickly. When you ask too much of them this means they can break down. There aren’t many places that can repair a solar phone charger, but you will be offered the opportunity to exchange it for another charger. We do need more options out there when it comes to repairing solar chargers and regular cellphone chargers for that matter.

Lighting up the Community with Solar

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Northeast Ohio, specifically Youngstown, Ohio, has solar lighting being accessed in Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and in what they call Green Space Project Homes. Green Space Homes constructed traditional homes with energy efficient technology. Mr. Dave Quinlan, a certified geothermal installer held class at one of the homes in 2007 to show how these systems work. His system was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and passed Energy Star Certification and Indoor Air Quality Standards.

solar-neighborhood

One of the houses that were constructed using geothermal materials and solar lighting is The Shades of Green Residence. Methods planned to protect the natural balance of lake and residence called LEED, leadership in energy and environmental design, whose design principles were joined with energy saving framing methods, radiant heat, energy controlling wall systems, thermal mass heater and Loewlyn windows and solar lighting. A residence built to lower fuel bills and decrease carbon emissions, The Carradine Residence, built in a 10kWAbundant Renewable Energy wind turbine.
The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse was built using LEED design and energy saving technology by the General Services Administration. The LEED certification was granted by the U.S. Green Building Council for a building on a city brownfield location. Using LEED certification requirements, The General Services Administration Construction Excellence Program also used solar lighting, reflective heating and a concrete parking lot to resist heat buildup effect.
LEED certification is a global standard for predicting a building’s long term existence. In the United States it is sponsored by the United States Green Building Council based in Washington D.C. as a non-profit building association. Builders who agree to work for LEED certification have third party access to a vigorous commission whose mission is to build structures that produce the least possible negative impact on the environment. This project to encouage builders to plan and execute energy saving projects is also under the guidance of the National Resources Defense Council.
The city of Youngstown has many talented and innovative builders. They hoped that by getting LEED certification on these Green Homes following the LEED design of the Federal Building would encourage media coverage and allow the economy of Youngstown, Ohio, to profit through increased building contracts.
All of the homes that were built following LEED certification principles are wonderful structures that look to neighbors and passer by viewers as tradional homes. Only an expert in solar lighting and energy saving measures would recognize the eco- friendly and preserving technology that was built-in to these new houses.