Here’s an easy way to learn how solar panels work
What is solar power ?
Solar power is radiant energy that is produced by the sun. Every single day the sun radiates, or sends out, an incredible volume of energy. The sun radiates more energy in one second than people have used since the beginning of time!
The energy of the Sun originates from within the sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is known as a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms.
The hydrogen atoms in the sun’s core combine to form helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.
During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. However the helium atom contains less mass compared to four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.
It takes millions of years for the energy in the sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, and then somewhat over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to earth. The solar energy travels to the earth at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, the speed of light.
Simply a small percentage of the energy radiated from the sun into space strikes the earth, one part in two billion. Yet this amount of energy is enormous. Every day enough energy strikes the usa to supply the nation’s energy needs for one and a half years!
Where does all this energy go?
About 15 percent of the sun’s energy which hits the planet earth is reflected back into space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, lifted into the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar power is absorbed by plants, the land, and the oceans. The remaining could be employed to supply our energy needs.
Who invented solar energy ?
People have harnessed solar technology for hundreds of years. As early as the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they would cause wood to catch fire. Over a century ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to create steam to drive a steam engine. At first of this century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar power in earnest. One important development was obviously a remarkably efficient solar boiler invented by Charles Greeley Abbott, an american astrophysicist, in 1936.
The solar water heater became popular at this time in Florida, California, and the Southwest. The industry started in the early 1920s and was in full swing prior to World War II. This growth lasted before mid-1950s when low-cost gas became the primary fuel for heating American homes.
The public and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar energy prior to the oil shortages of the1970s. Today, people use solar energy to heat buildings and water and to generate electricity.
How we use solar energy today ?
Solar power is employed in a variety of ways, of course. There are 2 simple types of solar energy:
* Solar thermal energy collects the sun’s warmth through one of two means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.
* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun’s radiation to usable electricity.
Listed below are the five most practical and popular techniques solar power is used:
1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We have seen these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden tools. Portable units may be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems can be used traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.
2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems through a solar collector is a very practical method to heat water for your pool or spa.
3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by the sun’s rays and the heat is then transferred to water in a warm water tank. This technique of collecting the sun’s energy is a lot more practical now than ever. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal to heat water is economically sound. It can pay for itself in 3 years or less.
4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or business power. In numerous parts on the planet, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible method to supplement the power of your home. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other forms of power. In the USA, new incentive programs make this form of solar energy ever more viable in many states. An increasingly popular and practical method of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.
5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. For those who have enough sun power at your site, you may be able to go off grid. You may also integrate or hybridize your solar power system with wind power or other types of renewable power to stay ‘off the grid.’
How do Photovoltaic panels work ?
Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to create photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electrical power. The power created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the energy into basic voltage and AC electrical power.
Solar cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the Photovoltaic cell, a particular share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.
The energy unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Solar cells also have one or more electric fields that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the -Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.
Do you know the benefits and drawbacks of solar power ?
Solar Pro Arguments
- Heating our homes with oil or gas or using electricity from power plants running with fossil fuels is a reason for climatic change and climate disruption. Solar energy, on the other hand, is clean and environmentally-friendly.
- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment can be recovered within a relatively small amount of time.
- Solar hot-water heaters can work in nearly every climate, even just in very cold ones. You just need to choose the best system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.
- Maintenance costs of solar powered systems are minimal and the warranties large.
- Financial incentives (USA, Canada, European states…) can help to eliminate the price of the first investment in solar technologies. The U.S. government, as an example, offers tax credits for solar systems certified by by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation), which amount to 30 percent of the investment (2009-2016 period).
Solar Cons Arguments
- The first investment in Solar Hot water heaters or in Solar PV Electric Systems is greater than that required by conventional electric and gas heaters systems.
- The payback period of solar PV-electric systems is high, as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (only the solar hot water heating payback is short or relatively short).
- Solar water heating do not support a direct in conjunction with radiators (including baseboard ones).
- Some air cooling (solar space heating and the solar cooling systems) are costly, and rather untested technologies: solar air-con isn’t, till now, a really economical option.
- The efficiency of solar powered systems is rather influenced by sunlight resources. It’s in colder climates, where heating or electricity needs are higher, that the efficiency is smaller.
About me – Barbara Young writes on RV solar charger in her personal hobby blog 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to eliminate CO2 emissions and energy dependency.
Environmentally Speaking – Who’s doing What & Where are they doing it?
Greensburg, Kansas
Their slogan on the home page of the town’s Web site now reads: “Greensburg: Better, Stronger, Greener!”
City and county officials as well as residents and business owners who call Greensburg home are creating a national model for environmentally conscious living.
Daniel Wallach, has been a driving force in helping the community adapt to this new way of life. He founded the nonprofit organization Greensburg GreenTown (http://www.greensburggreentown.org/) which provides resources and education for sustainable rebuilding.
City leaders are using wind and solar technologies to harness power and geothermal heat. To conserve energy they are building with solid concrete, their focus is on using more natural light and they are installing better insulation and state-of-the-art windows.
Greensburg GreenTown is building a series of “Eco-Homes”. Twelve green houses with energy-efficient features. Wallach wants to turn the Eco-Homes into “living laboratories” to help educate people about energy-efficient construction.
The first home being built is slated to be completed this summer. It’s a silo-shaped building and is expected to be approximately 70% more energy efficient than the average house. The Silo Eco-Home features ground-source heating and cooling, solar hot water and a vegetable garden on its roof to top it off!
The town’s new state-of-the-art John Deere dealership uses recycled oil to heat and cool its floors, wind turbines to create electrical power and lights that require no electricity.
Wallach says that the community itself will have a community-owned wind farm that will power the town’s general power needs.
“This town is definitely an example for the rest of the world. We have people from around the world coming out of their way to come to Greensburg.” “So it’s a great place for people to come and have an emerging experience with what a town of the future looks like and feels like.”
Going… Going… Gone.
Did you know that environmental changes are taking their toll on some of our world’s most well-known tourist areas and travel destinations?
Severe changes being brought on by global warming are producing drastic occurrences such as sinking, melting and might even be the cause of entire places disappearing from the face of the earth.
Global warming combined with tourist wear and tear are breaking down and causing some major problems for some of the world’s most popular attractions.
The Maldive Islands are located in the Indian Ocean and are approximately three feet above sea level. More than 600,000 people visit the Maldive Islands every year which accounts for 30% of the country’s gross domestic product. Scientists fear that it is possible that this chain of islands could be completely submerged by 2050. A buffer was constructed in the 1990s but it has not solved the problem. The government is considering relocating all 386,000 of its residents to Sri Lanka, Australia or India thus bringing an end to the Maldives’ tourism industry.
The Great Barrier Reef located in Australia is 135,000 square miles of live coral off Australia’s northeast coast which are shrinking rapidly due to heavy tourist traffic, ocean acidification and rising water temperatures. In attempts to slow erosion, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has imposed limits on ship passage and has blocked off some areas surrounding the reef to oversize yachts and cruise lines. These measures have had little impact. The Australian Institute of Marine Science released a study in January stating that the coral’s natural growth has decreased by 14% since 1990. Experts say that by 2050, water temperatures will rise by 1.5°C and the reef will have lost about 95% of its living coral.
Mount Kilimanjaro located in Tanzania is one of the world’s most popular climbs and every year approximately 15,000 climbers show up to make their attempt. The glaciers that cover this stately landmark are receding rapidly. 84% of their ice has been lost since 1912 and today covers less than one square mile. Scientists believe the glaciers could be gone completely by 2020 directly effecting Tanzania’s main tourist draw.
The Switzerland Alps attract more than 8 million people to travel to Switzerland every year mainly to ski the country’s world-famous Alps. Because of global warming, it is estimated that about 40% of the mountain range’s pristine skiing areas will disappear by 2100. Low-altitude destinations are especially susceptible because of their warmer temperatures, and owners have already had to turn to artificial snow to get through the season. Making a preemptive move in an attempt to deflect future losses the $125 million InterContinental Davos which is scheduled to open in 2011 is adding attractions that don’t require snow, such as indoor sports facilities and spas.
The Galápagos Islands located in Ecuador has experienced an increase in the number of visitors to the archipelago (where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution) from 40,000 to 180,000 since 1990. Air traffic has risen by 193% since 2001. Those trends are likely to accelerate this year, the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth. Scientists consider the Galápagos to be the world’s purest biodiversity environment which makes them especially concerned about the way the traffic surge will affect the islands’ life forms. They consider 39% of animal species, 50% of marine species, and 59% of plant species to be threatened. In an effort to help control the problem, Ecuador is considering setting a yearly tourist cap and imposing an entry fee of up to $300.
Environmental Creativeness = Our Willingness to Eco-innovate
Environmental sustainability depends largely on actively supporting innovative solutions.
By coming up with creative environmental ideas as solutions to current critical environmental problems companies looking to improve their environmental performance can increase their employees’ willingness to be more environmentally innovative.
For instance, by simply exhibiting supportive behaviors managers can significantly help increase the likelihood that employees will attempt to develop and expand their environmental ingenuity.
Companies with sustainable development policies with stated environmental practices may help encourage an employees’ willingness to eco-innovate. They can then influence managers to adopt behaviors that employees perceive to be supportive of environmental actions. By doing so this will specify which behaviors and policies are most effective at supporting environmental innovations.
Companies have considerable discretion to explore different market strategies to deal with global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Managers can choose between a greater emphasis on improvements in their business activities through innovation or by employing compensatory approaches such as emissions trading. The overall goal of an emissions trading plan is to reduce emissions which helps to achieve pollution reduction at the lowest possible cost to society. They can choose to act by themselves or work with other companies, NGOs, or (local) governments.
Recommended resource where companies can learn more about being eco-friendly
Businesses need help in order for them to be successful at lowering energy bills and helping to save the environment at the same time!
Having an eco-friendly approach to business can actually help achieve a number of cost-saving and revenue-generating benefits. Companies need to find ways to strike a balance between the need for bottom-line success and doing the right thing for the environment.
According to Kevin Doyle of The Green Economy, green businesses are currently growing at an average of 5% per annum.
Going green and adopting sustainable workplace practices has shown to lead to an increase in customer confidence, improved employee morale and promotes a stronger public image for the company all of which help lead the way to financial savings for the business.
Environmental Practice at Work Ltd directly support people at work who want to co-operate in promoting work practices that improve environmental performance
http://energy.environmental-expert.com
The top three things office-based businesses can do to make their offices more environmentally conscious — especially if they have not yet made any effort in that regard
Companies have considerable discretion to explore different market strategies to deal with global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Companies can choose between a greater emphasis on improvements in their business activities through innovation or by employing compensatory approaches such as emissions trading. The overall goal of an emissions trading plan is to reduce emissions which helps to achieve pollution reduction at the lowest possible cost to society. They can choose to act by themselves or work with other companies, NGOs, or (local) governments.
If possible, some companies can take their initiatives a step further by integrating measures using renewable energy. Renewable energy utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are all naturally replenished. Some companies are using renewable energy technologies ranging from solar power, wind power and hydroelecticity to biomass and biofuels for transportation.
All levels of management and employees must be involved.
Companies with sustainable development policies with stated environmental practices may help encourage an employees’ willingness to eco-innovate. They can then influence managers to adopt behaviors that employees perceive to be supportive of environmental actions. By doing so this will specify which behaviors and policies are most effective at supporting environmental innovations.
Make sure everyone is committed to carrying out even the simplest of tasks such as properly recycling paper and plastic. Reducing their water usage and using more environmentally preferable materials, substances or organic products. Shutting off equipment and lights or having motion-activated sensors installed (lighting accounts for 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from commercial buildings).
The most significant current trends in “green offices”
Companies are making an effort to prioritize their regard for the environment and are heeding advice that may help them in the process of becoming more environmentally-friendly.
Companies are working hard to make better use of the reuse concept of sustainability and converting, using and disposing of already purchased stock in more environmentally friendly manners.
Changes of attitudes and behaviors in the work place are becoming more prominent. There is more recycling being done, less waste being produced, carbon emissions are being reduced, offices are turning down heating and switching off air-conditioning all in an effort to conserve the environment and rebalance the ecosystem.
A common green environmentally friendly choice businesses are making is to use only energy-efficient products that have been awarded The Energy Star or other recognizable energy-efficiency award. Following a ‘green guide’ and tips on how best to use and configure the machines for minimal waste of energy and paper.
Using these management features are important for saving energy and avoiding waste, and are an easy way to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through unnecessary use of electricity. Energy efficient Energy Star compliant photocopiers provide a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of office photocopiers. Such machines come standard with an “energy saving” mode to automatically or manually assume a low power state. This feature alone can reduce the energy needed in periods of low activity by over 60%.
The Ozone Layer & Us
Without the ozone layer not only would mankind and most forms of present day life not exist but the environment of the planet would also be very different.
What is the History of the Ozone Layer?
Hundreds of millions of years ago, only single cell organisms existed on Earth and the planet lacked the oxygen that is needed in order for our survival. Through photosynthesis as these organisms evolved they began to release small amounts of oxygen. Over millions of years, this led to the creation of the ozone layer.
What is the Ozone Layer?
Our atmosphere is split into layers. The troposphere is where we live. Above that is the stratosphere. While ozone exists to some degree in all of the layers most of it (about 90%) is produced naturally in the stratosphere.
By acting like a filter or a web the ozone layer plays a very important part in protecting us from most of the sun’s harmful radiation. It traps harmful radiation while still allowing heat from the sun to reach the Earth.
Scientists believe that without it we would most likely die. We would quickly suffer intense radiation burns. We would be forced to find a way to safeguard ourselves by wearing clothing made from special protective material or by living underground. A lot of the plant life that humans and animals depend on would die out, making food sources extremely scarce.
What is Ozone?
Ozone is a type of oxygen. Unlike the oxygen we need to breathe, it’s a poisonous gas. Ozone in the stratosphere is good and performs a vital function but ozone at ground level is bad.
Do we Affect the Ozone Layer?
The ozone layer begins about six miles above us and extends to around 30 miles above. Scientific records show that until the 1970s, its level remained fairly stable.
There have always been factors such as the seasons, weather conditions and solar cycles which affect its density, but these are all part of a natural cycle where ozone is continually formed, destroyed and formed again.
In the 1970s scientists discovered that this natural balance had been upset and that the ozone layer was being depleted. Ozone was being destroyed at a faster rate than it was being naturally produced. Research determined that much of the damage was being caused by man-made chemicals, most of which had been introduced since the 1920s.
What is the Montreal Protocol?
In 1985, scientists with the British Antarctic Survey discovered a “hole” in the ozone layer over Antarctica. Two years later over 20 countries signed an international agreement, known as the Montreal Protocol.
The Montreal Protocol called for the phasing out of ozone depleting chemicals, including CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) thought to be responsible for damage to the ozone layer. Many other countries have since signed up to the agreement and it has proved to be extremely successful. Former UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan, described it as probably the most successful international agreement ever signed.
What is Being Done to Protect the Ozone Layer?
The phasing out of ozone depleting substances (ODS) is helping to fight climate change since many ODS are also powerful greenhouse gases.
Now that ozone levels are constantly monitored experts predict that by 2070, the ozone layer will have returned to pre-1980 levels. It’s expected to take this long to “repair” itself because the chemicals which caused the damage remain in the stratosphere for many years.
How Does it Affect Us?
It was suggested that higher concentrations of ozone at ground level could affect people’s health and history has shown that ozone is now known to be a main ingredient of today’s city smog and aggravates conditions like asthma, bronchitis and lung disease.
Scientists in America believe it has already led to an increase in the number of deaths from the most fatal form of skin cancer. and experts are concerned that new factors could continue to damage the ozone layer causing a slow down or even preventing its recovery. Some scientists believe that global warming is likely to accelerate ozone depletion.
What are the Dangers of Lower Ozone Levels?
Low levels of solar UV are vital in the production of Vitamin D. Without exposure to the sun, people would suffer from diseases linked to Vitamin D deficiency. Too much UV exposure damages our DNA and causes skin cancer, causes damage to the eyes and scientists now believe that it affects the immune system, allowing people to become ill more easily.
There are also serious impacts for biodiversity. Increased UV-B rays reduce levels of plankton in the oceans and subsequently diminish fish stocks. It can also have adverse effects on plant growth resulting in reduced agricultural productivity.
What is The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer?
Celebrated on September 16 every year to focus on the importance of protecting human health and the environment. On this day primary and secondary school educators throughout the world organize classroom activities that focus on topics related to the ozone layer, climate change and ozone depletion. Some teachers use educational packages from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that have been specifically tailored to address topics about the earth’s ozone layer.
Other activities organized by different community groups, individuals, schools and local organizations across the world include: the promotion of ozone friendly products; special programs and events on saving the ozone layer. (http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-ozone-layer-preservation-day)
How are Trees Beneficial?
Trees are vital, nurturing forces which provide many benefits to our environment. The air we breathe is improved by the presence of trees. Trees absorb harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide and in turn give off oxygen. They filter and trap pollutants such as smoke, dust and ash making our air cleaner.
Trees absorb water thus preventing flooding and also help disperse rainfall over a more even area. By retaining water, trees help reduce the amount of topsoil that runs off into our sewers and streams. Leaves on the ground, keep moisture close to the ground aiding growth and trapping chemicals keeping them out of lakes and rivers.
Trees help maintain our global environment by acting as enormous carbon sinks. Trees absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. If there were no trees to perform this essential function, little could be done to alleviate the effects of global warming caused by the Greenhouse Effect.
Trees not only benefit our physical environment, but also attract birds and other wildlife.
Trees are also a source of medicine for the human race. Many people, tired of chemical treatments, turn to trees and plants for assistance.
For instance the ginkgo tree dates back more than 300 million years and is the oldest know species of tree. For centuries the Chinese have used tea made from ginkgo seeds as a cure for respiratory illnesses, such as asthma. In more modern times, ginkgo leaf extract has been used as a treatment for a wide range of ailments such as Alzheimer’s and depression. The Native Americans use Aspen bark for reducing fever and fighting influenza. More recently, the medical community has taken more notice of the natural cures found all around us as herbology continues to grow in popularity.
Earth Day – April 22, 2009
Earth Day April 22, 2009 will mark the beginning of The Green Generation CampaignTM which will also be the focus of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. http://www.earthday.net/earthday2009
Plan a special Earth Day event. This issue is important enough to be elevated to a national day of recognition. That should be a good enough reason for all of us to take a closer look at how our current habits and actions are impacting the environment.
Everyone should be figuring out ways and implementing efforts they can exercise in order to help protect our environment not only for this one day but every day of the year!
Encourage friends and family members to get actively involved in environmental education programs. Strive to support and bring awareness to issues that have great personal importance to you and your community.
Teach your children the importance of their role in helping to preserve and save our environment as well as the environment that will be their future. This offers a wonderful opportunity for you to connect with your children. Get outside and plant some flowers, bushes or trees. Collaborate with teachers and faculty members to initiate green campaigns that actively involve and educate children on the importance of saving our environment.
Once habits have been established they are difficult to break. Make reusing and recycling a way of life. Pay attention to what your children are most interested in doing then work toward getting them directly involved to help support, maintain or improve the causes that are important to them.
There are so many environmental agencies helping to connect people with nature making it easier to research and get educated on all the spectacular environmental efforts going on not only in your area but all around the world!