Solar Power vs Oil

February 14, 2010 by admin  
Filed under Solar Panels

Solar power has long been a limited power source in comparison to the oil industry. As oil costs increase and issues occur in oil countries, perhaps the issue must be revisited.

Solar vs. Oil

The industrial revolution was created around the back of oil and coal. There is no denying that solar had no part at all. This is especially true since solar cells were not invented until the 1950s! Therefore, it looks indisputable that we have attained or are approaching a new discussion about how exactly we contend with our insatiable hunger for power.

Initially, the mere mention of the comparison from solar to oil being a energy source sounds laughable. It’s funny if we are speaking about a huge scale of energy production, however the tide is turning.

In any comparison of solar to oil, solar power has quite a few positive aspects. The power resource for solar, the sun, costs nothing. Solar can be obtained as a resource in every country, regardless of location, financial strength and so on because the sun shines in all countries. The process of transforming sunlight into electricity or heating creates no greenhouse gases. Whether or not you believe in global warming or not, solar still is useful in that it doesn’t make pollution. If you happen to live in a major city, you realize how much pollution is in the air. You could easily see it!

Turning the coin, oil has some significant advantages over solar. We have already created technology to effectively convert oil to power. The price of converting industry, vehicles and like to solar or every other power source will be substantial. Oil as well has an advantage in that it is simpler to use in a wide variety of applications, like vehicles. One merely can’t power a vehicle with solar power, not really on a useful level. Finally, it is easier to make use of oil to deliver power to enormous energy platforms, such as electricity for New York City.

For large scale energy needs, oil is still a top-quality choice to solar for an energy resource. The technology simply does not exist to produce solar energy options for vehicles, national electrical grid systems and so forth. Developments in solar technology, nonetheless, may be changing this fact in the very near future. Technologies like quantum dots, essentially microscopic solar panels which could are present in the paint on your home, may make oil a thing of the past.

For now, oil remains the backbone upon which our energy requires. In the following years, however, fresh technological applications may modify this.

Solar Pool Heaters

February 10, 2010 by admin  
Filed under Solar Panels

Why not use solar power to heat your swimming pool.  By using a solar pool heater you and your family are able to enjoy your swimming pool, Jacuzzi or your spa for a good part of the year.

This article will discuss four of the best and economical way to heat your pool, spa or Jacuzzi with solar power by using a solar pool heater.

Not only is using this solar solution the greenest but it is also the best.  It is very inexpensive to run and you don’t add any gas emissions.   You can keep your pool, spa or Jacuzzi warm while saving money and being green.

Typically a normal electric pool heater can cost upwards of $2500 to run throughout the year.  Building your own solar pool heater will cost you less than this, which means it has paid for itself in one season.

A solar pool heater runs on the passive solar principle.  What this means is that the pool water runs through long sections of bendable tubing. These sections are stationed in front of reflectors which will allow them to receive and transmit the sun’s rays of heat to heat the water in the tubing.  You must be sure that the flexible tubing is protected, with some type of polythene sheeting.  This will keep it warm and not allow it to chill.

The reflectors typically should be made out of storm water piping which has been halved, which should be painted with chrome paint to make the most of their reflective powers.  You will then need a small pump of some sort which will be used to circulate the warmed water through your pool, Jacuzzi or spa.

Once you have all this, the tubing, reflectors and the cover are them assembled and placed within the solar panel.  You will need to determine the correct size and efficiency based on the size of your pool, Jacuzzi or spa.

Although it seems obvious, you should make sure that you place all panels where they will be exposed to gain the maximum amount of heat from the rays of sun.  You could place them vertically on your fence, or you can place them horizontally on a roof.  Best to find the appropriate place by where the sun is in its mid day position.

We have listed some of the best DIY solar pool system kits on this website.  If you choose to find your own kit, be sure that it comes with a good list of materials you will need, as well as numerous diagrams, and skills and equipment you are required to use to build it.