Is solar energy perfect from an environmental point of view?

Posted by on Jan 11, 2014 in Posts

The main advantage of using solar energy is that we can achieve our aim keeping our environment clean and tidy. It does not cause any sort of pollution by producing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There is no residue of carbon content while using solar energy unlike fossil fuels While using solar energy it does not produce any kind of noise which can lead to noise pollution. For example wind turbines produce a lot of noise while turning the blades to produce electricity but with the help of solar energy we can get electricity without any noise of the blades. Since its application is to absorb the heat to utilize in different ways it does not have any waste and does not hamper the environment. Even solar energy has some disadvantages if we keep in view the environment because it is not available to us every time everywhere. But in the case of fossil fuels we can avail it whenever we want. So it is one disadvantage that solar energy has but is negligible keeping in mind that it does not hamper the environment. Here is some justification given that solar energy is not sheer perfect keeping in mind environment impact. As we all know that to harness solar energy there has to be machines and devices which are to be manufactured and transported. So for that purpose we need fossil fuels which emit carbon content. Therefore indirectly solar energy produces some carbon content. But it is not right to end up with the statement that more the solar panels is manufactured more carbon emission is taken place because once the panel is manufactured then it does not have any sort of emission and is beneficial in the long run. During the manufacturing process of photovoltaic panels cadmium and many other hazardous materials are used. The small amount of such material can do a lot of damage to the environment and it should be disposed and kept under surveillance. So there is a potential threat to the environment while manufacturing panels as well. We can even consider the fact that solar power plants demand a lot of space to produce energy in mass which leads to the shrinking for flora and fauna in the ecosystem. A lot of water is also required in order to cool the place where solar power plants are set. So it can even lead to water scarcity. So as we can see the demerits related to solar energy is indirect and clearly it can be told that it is a clean energy resource and should be...

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Quick guide to solar hot water systems

Posted by on Jan 11, 2014 in Posts

Solar energy is not only used to produce electricity but it is also used to heat water. Water heating is possible by using solar energy with the help of solar water heating systems. It does not generate electricity and heats the water present in the tank directly. There are generally two types of systems by which we can heat up water. In one of the system pump is present to mobilize the water and to operate the pump electricity is required. A solar water system has mainly four parts. Water storage tank to store the water which is needed to be heated, solar thermal collectors which trap the heat of the sun and help to heat the water, interconnecting pipes which is used to mobilize hot and cold water and fluid systems that transfers the heat energy from the collector to the tank. It is always preferred to use solar water systems because it is a medium by which we can get hot water without spending a single penny and it reduces our monthly bills which is used to be spent only on hot water. The main advantage of this system is during the process of heating water it does not pollute the environment unlike fossil fuels. It does not produce any greenhouse gas which can affect our environment. With this facility we no more have to depend upon fossil fuels. Insulation values in a particular area determine the quantity of heat energy which is produced by a solar hot water system. Areas which are having more insulation value will be ideal for installation of such systems. Tropical areas are well suited to have such systems. There are certain factors which a person should keep in mind in order to have an idea of the cost for installing solar hot water systems in a particular region. Those factors are: 1) Efficiency 2) Electricity cost in that region per kWh 3) Cost of the solar hot water system 4) Availability of state and government subsidies 5) Maintenance charges required for the system Out of all solar hot water systems the most famous are the one which have evacuated tube system. The reason behind its popularity is that it can work and perform an operation adequately when temperature is below zero degrees Celsius and even under gray skies. Just like Spain and Israel each country should make it compulsory to install solar hot water systems in new houses as it has many benefits and its use is...

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Solar water heating systems advantages and disadvantages

Posted by on Jan 11, 2014 in Posts

There is a difference between a solar water heating system and solar panels. Solar panels are used to produce electricity by using the energy from the sun whereas solar water heating system provides hot water by using solar energy. In today’s life solar water heating systems are very popular as solar energy is one of the clean and renewable sources of energy and a person can get hot water free of cost. There are some advantages and disadvantages of solar water heating systems Solar water heating systems advantages: Solar water heating system heats water by using solar energy which is free of cost and while heating water no damage is caused in the environment. So it is one of the safe and efficient ways to deliver hot water. When we use such systems there is no dependency on non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels which pollute the environment while giving hot water. Since solar energy is used there is independence and a person can avail hot water any time he/she feels like. The Major advantage of using a solar water heating system is that it is very cost effective in nature as solar energy is free of cost and no bill comes to using solar energy. Apart from such benefits a person can also get incentives for installing solar systems at their home in many countries. There is hardly any maintenance cost in such systems and a system gives favorable outcomes till 5-10 years. This system is so easy and simple that a person can make their own solar water heating system Apart from so many advantages which are listed above there are some disadvantages as well. Solar water heating system disadvantages. The major disadvantage of this system is that you cannot avail hot water up to its mark at midnight or early morning as at that time no solar energy is present to heat up water. Even the installation process of such systems is very costly. The efficiency of passive solar water heating system is very less. While setting up such a system in the roof top the concepts of overheating and freezing should be kept in mind or else it can lead to an accident. The systems are capable to provide only warm water during winters and there is a need of gas or fuel to heat up the water as a...

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Water circulation in solar water heaters

Posted by on Jan 11, 2014 in Posts

In the following article we are going to tell about solar water heaters. It is a technology invented by humans which helps us to get hot water for our use very easily without any kind of expenses on it. Such type of heaters are very efficient to use and are gaining popularity all over the world. Its basic advantage is it heats up water free of cost and without making any sort of damage to the environment. Once it is installed there is no maintenance cost in it and it is efficient enough to supply hot water for more than 5 years. There are solar panels which are present in the heater and there are two different methods by which it works. The first type of solar water heating system depends on the electricity which is produced by solar energy and there is a pump present which drives the water to the solar panels from the tank and after heating it is again pumped back to the tank. The water which is heated up the moves upside of the pipe and the cold water is settled down for its turn to absorb heat and get hot. The role of the pipe is to circulate hot water and cold water so that total water present in the tank. The second type of solar water heating system does not have any kind of pump present in it. In this case the water tank is placed in a higher position than the solar panels. The cold water present in the tank is pushed by the hot water towards the outlet tube which is present in the bottom of the water reservoir. The pressure from a reservoir pushes the water towards the solar panel and it gets heated up. It continues to heat water as long as solar energy is present. Both types of solar heaters are eligible to provide you hot water during the day time and works very effectively. The water which is present in the tank also retains its heat at night as well.  A person can even have a gas heater as a backup in case hot water is needed at late night or early morning. Therefore solar water heaters are very useful for a person and very easy to get hot water free of cost and without any kind of pollution in the...

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Is Solar Water Heater the Right Choice for Your Home?

Posted by on Jan 11, 2014 in Posts

One thing with which every home owner is worried about is constantly increasing electricity bills and energy charges and are desperately looking forward to find cheaper and alternative sources of energy which can in the long run reduce their dependency on electricity and thus save good amount of money. One very innovative way to do that is by replacing the conventional water heater with solar powered ones. Electric water heaters consume a large (15 to 20%) proportion of electricity which in the long run adds up to large amounts. If that proportion of energy can be saved it will benefit in so many ways for saving money and reducing carbon footprints and thus nurturing the environment. A solar water heater gives you an efficient, clean and sustainable form of water heating solution to your home. It utilizes the heat energy of the sun’s radiation to effectively heat water and supply it directly to water taps. The sun is an unlimited source of immense power which is free for everyone to use! With all these combined, a solar unit can provide you with perfect hot water without using a single unit of electricity. A solar water heater will start providing hot water wherever you need it as soon as it is installed for no extra cost. It can provide heated water to showers, baths, washing, and kitchen and anywhere the water pipe go. The blessing and perks of a solar heater are immediate and one can keep on reaping the benefits till its use. Home owners who have installed a solar water heater unit keep on praising it and are overwhelmed that they did. They save money on a monthly basis and have abundant amount of hot water for their use. It distinguishes itself from an electric heater which needs a constant supply of electricity and is costly. In the long run solar water heater is eco-friendly and needs no maintenance. The cost savings that one can get is huge and the decision to install one is a cakewalk. To know more about solar water heaters, contact your local dealers or plumbing stations. A technician will be required who will take a survey of your home and figure out whether it is the finest option for your home. Mainly it is required to determine your home’s capability to receive sunshine and the amount of water required and space...

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Solar Water Heater-the sun can set you free

Posted by on Jan 11, 2014 in Posts

Despite the fact that solar energy is “The next” form of energy and continues to advance in terms of efficiency but there is no denying the fact that it still remains costly and outside the reach of the common man. This still makes us dependent on conventional sources of energy and other alternative sources. But the need of the hour is to decrease our carbon footprint and save our mother nature, this calls for using cleaner and greener forms of energy like solar power, wind, etc. Nonetheless a full-fledged solar power plant for your home will burn a hole in your pocket and eat up all your savings. But if one is really concerned about the preservation and sustainability of our environment, starting small and humble is always an option. This is where a solar water heater comes into the picture. A solar water heater uses direct sunlight instead of electricity to heat water and supply directly to our taps. It is the best alternative one can find as it uses zero energy and has maintenance free setup. People who blindly purchase electric water heaters never think about the costs that they will incur in the long run and how much more costly it will prove to be. Let us simplify it with a typical example. The power rating of a traditional water heater is approx. 4500Watts (4.5 Kilowatts). To reduce running costs, it might only be turned on for an hour daily to meet your daily needs. If we assume that the heater is used for 365 days a year, the total usage of electricity goes up to a whopping 1642.5kWH. This when multiplied with the current electricity cost, make it US$657, which in any way is a big amount for a middle class family to bathe comfortably every morning. A solar water heater has a high initial cost, the price which can easily be provided by any nationalized bank at very low interest rates (3% to 5%), which in turn brings huge savings for your family. A solar water heater typically has a life span of more than 25 years and if properly installed doesn’t require servicing and maintenance. Accompanying so many benefits, a solar water heater will always prove to be a good investment with cost savings for a long time. It will also aid to reduce dependency on power grids and a small reduction in the country’s carbon footprint and making earth a better, cleaner and happier place to...

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