Advantages of Solar Energy to our Environment

We all know that pollution kills and fossil fuel is a fast depleting source of energy keeping in mind the climate change which is a harsh reality. Therefore, solar energy is a solution that is not only sustainable but also extremely cost-effective.

Utilizing solar energy is the basis for a secure future we all are hoping for. Moreover, the harmful effects of pollution, the benefits pertaining to costs, maintenance or energy independence make extremely viable. Either you are interested in this energy source because of a profound environmental concern, or you are enticed to the idea of low-cost energy and money saving, choosing solar can prove to be a smart idea.

Given below are some points highlighting the advantages of choosing solar energy by using solar panels.   With a wider perspective than before, you might be able to make a wiser and more informed decision before you contact a Solar Panel Company .

1. Saving the environment

The first advantage is the environmental friendly nature of solar energy. The over-exploitation of non-renewable resources is causing rapid depletion and toxic effect on the environment.

However, there is a finite supply and we will run out of them sooner. Therefore, the usage of fossil fuels leads to an alarming level of pollution. Turning to a clean, safe, healthy and renewable source or energy becomes imperative.

a) Solar energy is renewable

The sun will remain here for billions of years. Using its energy will not diminish it, fossil fuels. Solar energy can and will become our primary source of energy once the fossil fuels will be consumed.

b) Solar energy is clean& green

The second advantage is that there is no gas emissions, unpleasant smells and smoke. Considering the growing problem of the greenhouse effect and the climate changes it triggers, finding cleaner sources of energy is the best way to protect the environment and reduce the negative effects fossil fuel energy has on the atmosphere. It’s imperative we choose this source of energy to give our future generation a healthy environment.

2. Economical

Solar panels give an edge to you and reduce your utility bills with the following factors;

a) Solar energy is free

No one owns the Sun and the sunlight is also free. These days, solar panel companies give you flexible options, where you can choose to just buy electricity from them or buy your own rooftop solar panels and become an independent power producer.

In the first option, your electricity bill drops at least 10% or more immediately. In the second option, after the initial investment, you get to enjoy free electricity for life.

b) Low maintenance costs

The maintenance of a solar system is very reasonable. After the initial investment, the chances of spending money on it will be limited to just maintenance and occasional servicing

c) Fast recovery of the initial investment

After you install the rooftop solar energy system, you will recover your investment in a short span of time, and you will be able to enjoy its benefits sooner than you thought. When it comes to the long-term advantages of solar power, cost efficiency differentiates this energy source from the rest.

3. Energy independence

a) Solar energy is self-sufficient

Free energy is the best thing that can happen to us. Pakistan has abundance sunlight and if we are successful in converting into solar rooftop, there won’t be any place which will be without electricity.

Having a house, an office or a factory that provides all the energy it requires by itself makes you free from any frustration of depending on various energy suppliers.

b) Solar energy is available anywhere

The sunlight is everywhere. No matter where you’re located, solar panels will be able to bring light to locations where power lines cannot be installed. No one has to be without power now.

4. Flexibility

Whatever may be the size of your house or office, solar panels can be customized to suit your requirement. The flexibility to choose the size of the system, the location of installation or the model you want to opt for, is perhaps one of the biggest takeaways of going for rooftop solar panels.

Needless to say, going solar not only looks promising but it may be the only natural progression to sustaining our lives, our environment and our future.

Solar Panel Installation Procedures

Have you decided and ready to use solar and save your earth? It is an efficient decision actually. You are welcome to the growing community of homeowners around the globe who have used this energy and created a healthier planet for future generations.

The first step you have to do is to choose the best solar panel installer in your area.  Along with that, you should know about the overall functioning and price of solar panels and its installation.

Before going for solar installation, you should ask them the following questions:

1.  How long it takes to install and connect a solar system to the grid?

2.   What are the subsidies, if they provide or not?

3.   What solar panels and other equipment are offered, which include the types of inverters and solar panels they use.

4.   What financing options they offer and at what rates?

5.   What accreditations they have?

6.  What they take care of in terms of permitting and your responsibility in terms of the permitting process. 

Consider all these things to choose the perfect installer. Then the actual process of solar installation starts.

First Inception:

Solar installation company will send an engineer to your home to assess whether your residence fits the criteria for solar power. They’ll check where the system will be located on your home, evaluate the roof inside and make sure its sound enough for the solar panels and racking systems and where additional equipment, including the inverter, if the system is not using micro inverters, and the power controller.

If you clear the roof test, the solar panel installation company will assess how powerful you want your system, and what will be the cost.

Permitting Procedure:

Your solar contractor will help you getting all of the permits and paperwork required for the solar system they’ll install. Once signed, the documents will be submitted to the local agencies and utility for approval.

Equipment:

After the permit is granted, the installers will give you the custom design, get your approval and the equipment. If your solar contractor don’t have the equipment in stock, they’ll order it from a distributor.

This can be done during the permitting process or after. The solar inverter is the device that collects the electricity generated in your panels and sends it to the grid. They generate direct current (DC), and the grid runs on alternating current (AC), so you need a device to convert one to the other, and that device is the inverter. Inverter is installed on your garage wall, or on your home wall and you will need the power to your home disconnecting while it is being installed.

Installation:

The actual solar panel installation will take between one to three days in installation, depending on the size of the system and the roofing materials.

At this time, the installer may have to install a new power meter that allows for bi-directional metering of electricity, allowing for net-metering. The installer will installing the wiring for the new solar system. They will install racking equipment on the roof, followed by the solar panels. Finally, they will connect the solar panels to the inverter or power controllers.

Solar Energy in Transportation

As we all know solar energy is generated from the sun’s radiation and it can be converted into electricity or heat. It is free and thanks to development in technology, we can use even more of the solar energy that is available to us all the time. Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and we will never run out of it. It is a natural source of power as it is possible to generate electricity.

The production of solar energy requires little maintenance. Once the solar panels is installed and working at maximum efficiency, there is a small amount of maintenance required each year to make sure they are in working order. They are a producer of energy without noise. There is absolutely no sound made from photovoltaic panels as they convert sunlight into usable electricity. There are advancements in solar panel technology, which increases the efficiency and lower the cost of production, thus making it, cost-effective.

Solar transportation is one of the important uses of solar energy in our daily life. An innovative practice to make use of the sun is with transportation powered by photovoltaic (PV) energy.

Railroads, subways, buses, planes, cars and even roads can all powered by solar, and solar transit is now a popular offering in the renewable energy sector. Solar power can also used to provide power for communications, controls, or other auxiliary functions.

Solar vehicles are not for practical day-to-day transportation devices; they are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. However, indirectly solar-charged vehicles are widely available and solar boats are available commercially.

The world’s first solar-powered bus was introduced in 2013 in Australia. Adelaide’s city council was on the mission to reduce the city’s carbon emissions because more than 30% of it came from transportation, both public and private.

The Tindo (name of the buses) buses are unique as they are 100% electric, which means a pollution free buss, unlike gas-powered and hybrid fleets. The bus does not produce power; it doesn’t have any solar panels installed on it. It is run by a battery that is charged at the Adelaide central bus station before setting out on routes around town. On an average weekday, the bus covers about 200km before it’s battery is drained and needs a recharge.

Solar buses are also helping China and reduces carbon footprint while maintaining efficient mass transit in densely populated cities like Beijing. Finally, solar cars are also playing an important role in racing competitions around the world, especially in Australia, where the Solar Spirit model is highly popular. With these advances and more, there’s no question that solar power is transforming transportation sector around the world.

For more details: Green Companies

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Using Solar Energy

Solar power means energy from the sun, which is converted to be used for either heating or electricity. This is utilized by private households or even businesses. Solar power is generated by a panel that attracts the energy of sun. You can use solar panels to generate electricity or use a solar thermal collector to produce heat.

The good thing about going for solar power is the initial investment to install the desired system, which results in a free energy generation. Moreover, there are other benefits that pay you for the green energy you produce, and if you are connected to the grid, you can even sell your surplus electricity to energy supplier and get paid. In addition to this, both solar panels and solar thermal collectors need almost no maintenance once installed.

Since, solar energy relies exclusively on the energy of the sun, which is not only free and always available, but also green and pollution free. Regardless of the solar panel you install, it makes no noise. It just needs some roof space for the panels to attract enough sunlight.

Solar power is cost-efficient for the homeowner by reducing their dependence on the hydroelectricity, but it also helps reduce their carbon footprint. This is the best part for helping the environment by reducing CO2 emissions and conserving resources through renewable energy.

What is Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint includes direct emissions from fossil-fuel combustion in manufacturing, heating, and transportation, as well as emissions required to produce the electricity associated with goods and services consumed.

Moreover, the carbon footprint also often includes the release of other greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

This changes the temperature of earth’s atmosphere. If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, etc. increases, the average temperature of Earth would increase, which will pose a serious threat of melting of glaciers and polar ice-caps. The temperature also plays pivotal role in the weather pattern, and rising temperatures may cause it to change.

Solar power is non-polluting which means no greenhouse gases. Going solar is by far the cleanest form of renewable energy to power your home and community. So installing solar panels means you’ll generate your own pollution free energy, diminish your carbon emissions and be part of a clean energy revolution.

How to generate electricity and reduce your carbon footprint?

Using electricity from a solar panel system on your roof can be cost effective than buying it from your electric company. It’s one of the most significant activities your household can do to reduce your carbon footprint.

Not to mention, when added to a smart energy management system, you can manage your power-hungry appliances to use energy.

In summary, solar power has an affordable cost, saves money yearly on energy bills, and affect our environment.  An investment in solar power makes sense all around.

For more details: Natural Energy Solutions

Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?

Solar energy is in great quantity on earth. And experts believe that using solar energy will play an integral role in solving the world’s energy problems. One of the best options is to store solar energy through solar panels.

Solar panels store a fraction of the 173,000 terawatts of solar energy that sun delivers. That’s about 10,000 times more than the total energy used in the world! Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels produce the most energy per square meter when they receive direct sunlight.

But what happens when it’s cloudy?

Depending on the cloud formation, not all light is blocked from entering the earth’s surface. Though sunlight is important in solar panel output levels, other important factor is radiation. Solar radiation is the key source of solar panels that is used to convert to electricity, and will still cut through cloud layers. Solar cells are made to capture a broad range of the solar light and will continue to translate the sun’s energy into electricity during cloudy days. When clouds block the sunlight, the solar panels will still produce clean electricity. This is true even in the wintertime.

Read More: How do solar panels work?

Solar panels harness both visible light and infrared light in order to create usable electricity:

During the greyest days, visible light still gets through rain and clouds. Since, sky isn’t completely black—it’s just several shades darker, infrared light gets through easily because it has longer wavelengths than the visible spectrum does. Therefore, we see distant galaxies using infrared telescopes, despite all of the interstellar dust spanning the many light-years in between.

Could adverse weather conditions damage solar panels?

Panels withstand virtually anything that weather throw at them. So, wind, rain and even hail are unlikely to cause any damage. Extremely large hailstones may cause damage, but these are rare and are just as likely to damage your roof.

Read More: 8 of the most commonly asked questions on solar energy

What happens to solar panels when it’s raining?

How about solar panels performance in rainy days? The one big difference is that rain is actually beneficial for your energy output! It washes and cleans the dust, pollen and leaves off your panels. This helps in improving efficiency when the sun shines again. Clean panels turn out the most electricity!

Although solar panel systems do not work for every household, those with unshaded rooftops can benefit greatly from a solar energy system. Not only you can produce sufficient electricity to power your own home, you can also sell electricity back to the grid.

For more details:

https://www.reonenergy.com