Solar energy consists of the light and heat emitted by the sun, in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

With today’s technology, we are able to capture this radiation and turn it into usable forms of solar energy - such as heating or electricity.

Although one could go into technical dissertations on the subject of electromagnetic radiation, how it is converted into solar energy, and the exact qualities of its electromagnetic rays, this is not something the average person needs or wants to know.

But in order to benefit the most from the use of solar power, there are a few facts you should know. Knowing these facts can assist you to make a sound decisions, when looking at the use of solar power as a clean energy source for your home, RV, or whatever the case may be.

Available Solar Resource

The technical feasibility and economical viability of using solar energy depends on the amount of available sunlight (solar radiation) in the area where you intend to place solar heaters or solar panels.

This is sometimes referred to as the available solar resource.

Every part of Earth is provided with sunlight during at least one part of the year. (I say “part of the year” as the north and south polar caps are each in total darkness for a few months of the year.) The amount of sunlight available is one factor to take into account when considering using solar energy.

There are, however, a few other factors which need to be looked at when determining the viability of solar energy in any given location. These are as follows:

* Geographic location

* Time of day

* Season

* Local landscape

* Local weather

Because the Earth is round, the sun hits its surface at different angles, at different locations on the globe. This ranges from 0? (just above the horizon - a good example of this is the north pole during the winter) to 90? (directly overhead, at and near the equator).

When the sun’s rays are vertical (directly overhead), the Earth’s surface gets a maximum of solar energy. The more slanted the sun’s rays are, the longer they have to travel through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the surface (becoming more scattered and diffuse as they go along).

The more scattered and diffuse the sun rays are, the less concentrated the solar energy is. Because of the fact that the Earth is round, the polar regions never get direct sunlight, and, during their respective winter months, they receive no sun at all.

The Earth travels around the sun, in an elliptical orbit. Because of its elliptical path, the northern hemisphere of the Earth is closer to the sun during one half of the year, and the southern hemisphere is closer during the other half of the year.

When one part of the Earth is closer to the sun, it receives more concentrated solar energy. This is the time of year that is referred to as “summer.”

But regardless of summer or winter, the 23.5? tilt of the Earth’s axis plays a larger role in determining the amount of sunlight striking Earth at a particular location. The tilting of the earth results in longer days in the northern hemisphere during one half the year, and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other half of the year.

Areas such as the United States and Europe receive more solar energy between May and September - not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is almost directly overhead during this season. The sun’s rays are far more slanted during the shorter days of the winter months. Cities such as Denver, Colorado, receive nearly three times more solar energy in June than they do in December.

Diffuse and Direct Sunlight

As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is absorbed, scattered, and reflected.

The following is a general list of materials that cause the sunlight to be diffused:

* Air Molecules

* Water vapor

* Clouds

* Dust

* Pollutants

Sunlight affected in this way is referred to as diffuse solar radiation or diffuse sunlight.

Sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface without being diffused is called direct beam solar radiation or direct sunlight.

The sum total of all diffuse and direct solar radiation in a given location is called global solar radiation. It is the total amount of sunlight hitting the Earth at any specific spot, both direct and diffuse combined.

Pollution and other atmospheric conditions (such as weather patterns) can reduce direct sunlight by 10% on clear dry days. They can reduce direct beam radiation by 100% on thick, cloudy days.

Note that the absence of direct sunlight does not imply total darkness, as some diffuse light will still get through.

Measuring Sunlight and Solar Energy

Scientists measure the amount of sunlight available in specific locations during the different times of year.

They are then able to estimate the amount of sunlight which falls on similar regions at the same latitude with similar climates and conditions.

Measurements of solar energy are normally expressed as “total radiation on a horizontal surface”, or as “total amount of radiation on a surface tracking the sun”.

In this last case, the assumption is that one is using a solar panel that automatically tracks the sun.

In other words, the solar panel would be mounted on a tracking device so that the panel would remain at right angles to the sun throughout the day.

This system is primarily used for industrial setups, when it is used at all.

Solar Energy Measurements

Radiation data (the amount of solar energy available at a given location) for solar electric (photovoltaic) systems is often represented as kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2). Direct estimates of solar energy may be expressed as watts per square meter (W/m2).

Radiation data for solar water heating and space heating systems is usually represented in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft2).

————————

Anna supports of clean living and the use of renewable energy in order to combat pollution and Global Warming, as well as the humanitarian and economic consequences of dependency on fossil fuels.

Visit Anna’s blogs, Solar Energy and Alternative Energy, to find more information on solar power and alternative energy.

You can also find a wide variety of solar power equipment, solar battery chargers, portable solar power, solar water heating, solar powered weather stations, solar fountains, solar lights, home solar panels, and more, at her Solar Power Store.

The old concerns about using Nuclear Power have by no means gone away. It is still a form of energy with inherent dangers and we still have no viable solution to getting rid of radioactive waste! What is holding us back from moving to other forms of energy?

The common argument is that the cost of moving to cleaner forms of energy is far more expensive than sticking with fossil fuels. But what of those unspoken costs staying with fossil fuels or switching to nuclear power?

It is common knowledge that our fossil fuel resources are running out. With the demand for energy on the increase there is only one possible result. More price increases! On the other hand, the renewable energy provided by the Sun, Wind and Water is free and will be there for a very long time.

Harnessing the power of alternative forms of energy may not be cost effective at this time but future developments will surely lead to greater efficiency. For instance, take solar technology. As semiconductor technology moves forward in leaps and bounds, solar panels are becoming ever more efficient. Not so long ago solar panels could only be utilised effectively in warmer climates. Today, we see them being used in many different environments. Indeed, the science of solar technology has advanced so much individuals are investing in their own DIY Solar systems. If people think it worth their while to plan and build their own solar power systems then why can’t it be done on a wider scale.

The financial considerations of sticking with fossil fuel energy resources is not just limited to supply. We will have to deal with CO2 emissions or the removal of nuclear waste material, a cost that will be with us for many years. Alternative forms of energy like solar, wind and Hydro power are all clean and pollutant free. Future generations will not have to pay for what we do now. The cost of short term thinking is a high price to pay for the future of the planet. Let’s keep nuclear power at a distance. The Sun would be far enough.

Government controls on domestic investment have been largely abolished in the last 10 years, and since then it has been agreed that the public sector should wherever possible stay out of any endeavor that could be accomplished by private firms.

This has now led to a sense of optimism in which many view India as perhaps now still only in the initial stages of a long boom that could extend over several decades. However, India remains as a country with a vast army of unemployed. Many families depend on just one earning member for sustenance and survival.

We have seen other countries in the region go down the same road and eventually emerge out of mass poverty at the end of it. August, 2007, saw the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, so it is still a young nation.

The sub continent has always been, through history a land of brave and chivalrous rulers who patronized arts and architecture and had a real knack for rewarding the deserving people. There are many forts and palaces around the land that demonstrate this, and if you visit them they will open up a whole new range of experiences of the local culture, and a respect for old Indian traditions.

Unfortunately, India is generally not cost-competitive with China for low-tech manufacturing work such as producing toys and household goods, because resource india labor and transit costs are higher. However, high-tech manufacturers are diversifying to India for other reasons.

India is also poised to play a major role in the large-scale commercialization of renewable energy technologies and can offer technology transfer to other industrializing nations. The country has achieved installation of over 10,000 megawatts of renewable-based capacity. India has been said by some experts to be short on natural gas, and that is expected to last only until 2012.

India is also poised to play a major role in the large-scale commercialization of renewable energy technologies and can offer technology transfer to other industrializing nations. The country has achieved installation of over 10,000 megawatts of renewable-based capacity. India has been said by some experts to be short on natural gas, and that is expected to last only until 2012.

It’s inevitable that these new types of cars are going to change the automotive landscape. Today’s alternative fuel vehicles, like tomorrow’s, will only be limited by the imagination and how serious the world is in keeping the planet safe for the following generations. The future is now and the horizon for alternative fuel vehicles looks bright and promising.

alternative fuel vehicles
When it comes to alternative fuel technologies, vehicles that are making their mark include Nissan, Lexus, Toyota, Honda and Ford Escort. The alternative power supply models are smart, sophisticated models that are both functional, environmental friendly and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

As the world gets on board as a collective whole to combat the use of fossil fuels, alternative fuel vehicles will become the car of choice for many people. You won’t be giving up comfort or performance either! You’ll be getting the best of both worlds while stretching fuel mileage and making your heard-earned dollar stretch further.

Sorting through the type and models of alternative fuel vehicles that will fit you and your family’s lifestyle should present no great challenge. Your choices will include models that employ biodiesel, hydrogen, propane, electrical, and natural gas technologies. The challenge may be in finding a local alternative fuel station. Yet for those who are environmentally responsible, owning alternative fuel vehicles is a great place to start.

alternative fuel technologies
As alternative fuel vehicles become a part of the automotive mainstream, there will be a hybrid model for the needs of just about everyone. You can expect to see models with bigger and more powerful engines which will be capable of delivering power at the top of the charts.

There will also be vast improvements in performance and fuel economy. Why not be a part of the trend that saves the world for tomorrow?

Electric bills and fuel bills are rising steadily - but the cost of wind turbine energy is zero, and the cost of installing and hooking up a turbine is steadily coming down as demand rises and more commercial success is realized by various companies producing the turbines and researching technologies to make them ever more efficient. In addition, people are moving away from the traditional electric grids and the fossil fuels for personal reasons including desire for greater independence, the desire to live remotely or rurally without having to “go primitive”, political concerns such as fears of terrorist strikes on oil fields or power grids, or concerns about the environment. Again, this motivation to get away from the traditional energy sources is the same one that causes people to seek the power of the wind for their energy, giving more business opportunities to profit from wind turbine production and maintenance, which drives their costs down for the consumers. In nearly thirty states at the time of this writing, homeowners who remain on the grid but who still choose to use wind energy (or other alternative forms) are eligible for rebates or tax breaks from the state governments that end up paying for as much as 50% of their total “green” energy systems’ costs. In addition, there are 35 states at the time of this writing where these homeowners are allowed to sell their excess energy back to the power company under what are called “net metering laws”. The rates that they are being paid by the local power companies for this energy are standard retail rates—in other words, the homeowners are actually profiting from their own energy production.

Some federal lawmakers are pushing to get the federal government to mandate these tax breaks and other wind power incentives in all 50 states. Japan and Germany already have national incentive programs in place. However, “A lot of this is handled regionally by state law. There wouldn’t really be a role for the federal government,” the Energy Department’s Craig Stevens says. And as might be imagined, there are power companies who feel that it’s unfair that they should have to pay retail rates to private individuals. “We should [only have to] pay you the wholesale rate for … your electricity,” according to Bruce Bowen, Pacific Gas & Electric’s director of regulatory policy. However, the companies seem to be more worried about losing short term profits than about the benefits, especially in the long run, of the increased use of wind turbines or wind farms. Head of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies of California V. John White points out, “It’s quality power that strengthens the grid.”

There are two different types of wind turbines; Horizontal axis and Vertical axis.  The most common of these two are the horizontal axis. Horizontal axis features the main rotor shaft and generator at the top of the turbine.  The horizontal axis is pointed into the wind. Most of these horizontal axis have a gearbox that allows the blades to turn quicker to generate more electricity.  The tower is what provides turbulence.  The turbine can be pointed somewhat upward and stand well above the blades.  The blades are made of durable material capable of withstanding high winds.

When you see these turbines in the field you may think that they are no longer helpful but there are several people who believe in using them still. Horizontal axis wind turbines can either turn upward or downward.  If they choose to turn the blades upward, they don’t hold good together for longer periods of time.  They begin to crack and breakdown in high winds.  When the blades are downward facing they stay in line with the wind longer and they can outlast through the high winds without breaking.  Because they are so durable it keeps the cost down as well.

Types of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines

Windmills Consists of four or more blades, usually short, and can wooden blades. These were used to grind grain.  As the winds picked up it would rotate a mechanism inside allowing it to run the grain through a mill crushing it.

Rural Windmills was originally from Australia but later moved over to the USA.  Farmers found that this type of windmill was good to pump water and electricity to the barns and fields. This windmill had several blades and can still be seen today in fields.  They were constructed of metal usually in order to carry electricity for lights or maybe a radio.

Modern Turbines are what we have now standing in fields.  They feature three blades that are pointed at the ends. The reason for their unusual shape is because they have been proven to exceed wind velocity up to 6 times more, allowing for high efficiency and reliability.

The advantages of this type of wind turbine include stability, tallness, bendable, durable and strong.  The disadvantages my include cannot operate well close to the ground,  hard to transport over sea, difficult to install, not in big demand, there are concerns with how they affect radar, structural damage done with storms and wear.

There are good points and bad points to owning these types of turbines. They have been proven to work and you can have one or thirty one out in your field.  They do help to generate electricity and other great things that we would normally have to go without.

There are many different types of renewable energy, including solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, and tidal. Each has great benefits when it comes to protecting the environment, because no harmful byproducts are produced. Solar energy refers to power from the sun. We see this in everyday life as solar covers are placed on swimming pools to help then gather and retain heat. We can even feel the effects of the sun’s energy-wear a black shirt on a sunny day and you will soon be overheated. Solar power takes this heat and turns it into useful energy, which we can use to heat our homes and power other electronic devices. Wind energy is one of the oldest forms of alternative energy, along with water power, Windmills and waterwheels were used as early as the middle ages to produce energy, and are still being used in many countries today in refined forms. By converting their power to useful electricity by using generators, windmills and waterwheels, although ancient technologies are still very useful. Geothermal energy taps into the heat from the earth, by using geological hotspots such as volcanic sites, to produce energy. Biomass is also a very earth-like way of producing heat. This form of renewable energy refers to the use of once living organisms to produce heat and other forms of energy. Tidal energy works by harnessing the power of the ocean’s tides and currents, in much of the same way energy is gathered from waterwheels and windmills. The ocean can also be used for it’s heated surface temperatures and cool deep water temperatures to convert heat energy into useful electricity.

Overall, the only drawback to using renewable energies in place of fossil fuels is the current cost. However, as these technologies are further researched, cost of production is sure to go down, making these forms of energy production more efficient. Solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, and tidal energies are just a few of the renewable alternative energies being studied today. Critics agree-fossil fuels will not last forever, and so, it is time to begin looking for healthier and less expensive means of producing energy to run the world.

These areas of trouble can be replaced by using energy efficient renovations to enjoy your home in a perfect way. By using energy efficient renovations in your house, you will be benefited from the following:

* You can experience relaxation and a feeling of comfort because now your home cool in summer and warm in winter.
* The resale value of your property can be increased by these energy efficient renovations.
* You can enjoy better health by eliminating the different health problems like drafts, chills and pollen and pollutants.
* There is no need for scrubbing the doors and windows hard with a brush. The airborne dust and dirt will be kept away from your house and thus maintaining your home will become an easy and a simple task.
* You can save considerable amount of energy and money to live comfortably. Thereby, lowering the energy costs by using less energy.
* You are also desirable for the cash sent to you directly by the government

A home renovated with energy efficiency has a greater impact on the way you feel it. It improves the quality of your work space. Every house has their particular needs for saving energy. You van take advice from experts to make the energy efficient renovation for your house. No doubt, that upgrading this energy efficient equipment may be costly, but you can offset it by reducing its operating costs. Sometimes, you may need to hire a contractor for making the necessary changes in your mechanical systems.

What we have to rely on in the future is renewable resources. These resources are all resources that offer us an abundant supply and will never run out. They recharge and allow us to enjoy them again and again.  The renewable resources consist of Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydrogen, Geothermal, Ocean, and Hydropower We need all of these and right now we have access to each one of them.  What do they do and how do they help us with solar power? Let’s find out.

Solar refers to the solar energy that we get everyday either directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar energy can be used for several things, such as heating, electricity to home, schools, businesses, or buildings, heating water, cooling and ventilation.

Wind helps the suns heat down to earth. When the wind combines with the heat of the sun, it causes evaporation.  When the water turns into precipitation it produces energy that can then be captured by hydropower.

Hydropower takes energy from flowing water and captures it turning it into electricity. Hydropower is very complicated and requires a great deal of technology in order to successfully accumulate energy from water.

Biomass is an organic matter that can help to make up the plants. It can be used for the production of electricity, transport fuels or chemicals.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element found on earth, usually with other elements. If hydrogen is found alone it can be burned or converted into electricity.

Geothermal looks toward the inner parts of the earth for heat and can be used for power, heating, and cooling.

Ocean produces thermal energy using the heat from the sun. It can also use mechanical energy for the tides and waves.

As you can see the renewable resources are all around us.  We know what they do and how we can use them.  There are so many benefits to using renewable resources. If we don’t use them now we may not have a choice later. The knowledge we learn from today will help us use the energy more wisely.

The weather is getting decidedly warmer.  For the most part, the United States has already warmed up some.  In some places, the average rise in temperature is around four degrees Fahrenheit.  However, all the states show some degree of warming.

The first and second warmest years on record were 1998 and 2006, respectively.  In fact, every year from the first to the second warmest years, ranked within the warmest 25 years in the US.  In 2006, the annual average temperature was 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Recent warm years point to a climate change being brought on by global warming.

Climate changes due to global warming can be seen in the prevalence of drought.  Years are becoming drier in recent decades due to global warming.  This is caused by the heat that is building up around the earth’s surface.  Excessive evaporation intensifies drought even more during the spring and fall.

Global warming has upped the level of drought.  A major drought in the US lasted from 1999-2002.  There were only two other droughts in the last forty years that were so widespread and devastating.  Crops were damaged or would not grow at all, thus shortening the food supply.

There have been more and more frequent droughts in the West in recent years.  The last 30 years in particular have seen numerous droughts.  These droughts have spawned wildfires that set new records in 2006 for number of fires and of acres burned.  Further proof of global warming is seen in these destructive wildfires.

While the overall effect of global warming is heat followed by drought, there are still storms.  Since global warming energizes the atmosphere, these storms will be different.  When all is going well, a gentle rain will soak into the earth gradually, causing no more than a minor inconvenience to people.

Because of global warming, storms are becoming more destructive.  While there have certainly been droughts, rainfall totals have risen in the past century.  This surprising fact is due to the fact that when the rain comes, it comes in rapid downpours.  The sky opens up and dumps water on the earth very quickly in many cases.  This is followed by dry periods.

The number of times it rains in a year has increased during the last 50 years due to global warming.  What is more, global warming is causing storms to intensify.  Storms which would have been ordinary thunderstorms in the past are morphing into raging tempests.  Hurricanes have been rated higher in recent years as global warming affects their intensity.

Global warming is responsible for many climate changes.  Often, people cause the increase in global warming that precipitates these changes.  If people could make it a common goal to cut down on activities that promote global warming, the earth would be a much more stable environment.