Colorado Solar Panel Residential vs Commercial
www.solardave.com SolarDave: How much of your business is residential verses commercial? Cary Hayes: Colorado about 70 to 80 percent is residential and another 20 or so % would be small commercial and medium commercial. The commercial program in Colorado has been slow to take hold for a variety of reasons. One has been some uncertainties with the rebate program there. Xcel rebate program is divided in to three catagories: 1. 0-10KW residential program $4.50 watt 2. 10KW to 100KW is that medium commercial level, $2 watt up front rebate, but then pays 11.5 cent per kilo watt hour for the production of the system for 20 years. That is pretty interesting. We are excited to be doing a couple of products in that category right now. 3. 100KW to 2 Mega Watts (SolarDave – “power station”) large commercial. This is done by RFI (request for proposal) basically come out twice a year, such as the Colorado Convention Center downtown, 1.8MW facility in Belmar neighborhood in Denver with a carport thing. Also 1-2MW at DIA (Denver International Airport) that is going in. The medium to large system are financed through what is called a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) which is basically a financing mechanism to pay for the system without the host customer paying anything. For example one of the projects that we are involved in has a PPA and the host customer pays nothing up front for the system at all. Except they pay for the Kilo Watt hours that the system produces. So a large financing …
Residential Solar Panels – How They Can Save You Money for Years (and Why You Need One)
Residential solar panels could cut your power bill in half each and every month! Wouldn’t you like to have that happen to you? While most of these solar systems can cost an arm and a leg, you can get the same benefits without the same costs. How is that possible? Easy – You can build your own solar panels! With just a little bit of elbow grease and some minimal supplies, you could be well on your way to big savings!
So, how exactly do you build a solar panel? Is it something that everyone can do? Of course it is. You’ll need to grab some basic supplies, which can all be picked up at a local hardware store. You’ll need things like:
- A battery (car batteries work best – it needs to be at least 24 volts, but a 48 volt works better)
- Copper sheeting
- Steel tubing and sheet metal (for the framing of the solar panel)
- Electrical wire
- And a few other materials that are cheap to buy
If you’re really looking to save money (and the environment), you could opt to purchase recycled materials to build your solar panel. Or find scrap metal to use instead of sheet metal. Either way, the possibilities are endless.
Of course, in order to build an effective solar panel, you’re most likely going to need a great set of instructions (unless you’ve build solar panels in the past). This way, you’ll know exactly what you need to do in order to gain the most benefit from your newly built solar panel!
With that said, you can find instructions on how to build your own solar panel with Earth4Energy. It is a complete guide that provides full, detailed instructions on how to build your own solar panel!
Learn how to build a residential solar panel at Earth4Energy.
Tips Build Your Own Solar Panels for Residential Solar Energy
With dwindling resources, global warming and ever increasing prices more than ever people are looking to build solar panels and wind power generators as a means for a solution. But a professional solar system or wind power system can cost into the thousands. That has turned many off on the idea as the solution. But a lot of resourceful people have began looking into “do it yourself” ways to make home made solar panels and home made wind power systems to cut cost.
With enough trial and err these individuals have found ways to build your own solar panels, but there is a lot of work and learning to o it and many of these people end up turning to solar panel kits. These build your own solar panel kits come with everything to build your solar panel in your garage or backyard and could be the best choice for most people.
Solar panel kits are very simple and can be done by almost every one. Several larger companies now sell these kits and compared to having a professionally built system are much more affordable. They include very easy instructions and everything you need to build your own solar panels. When you consider all it takes to try and gather all the parts you need from different sources you could save yourself a lot of time by going with a kit.
If you want to build your own solar panels there are a lot of guides and resources to help you. When you build your own solar panels you then have the understanding and knowledge of how it all works and if there is ever a problem you know how to repair it without having to call someone and that alone could save you a lot of money. Also building your solar panels can just be fun.
Building your own solar panels can be a great investment saving you thousands of dollars. Start building your own solar panels save money and have some fun.
Residential Wind Turbines ? Can You Use Them?
Many people living in cities are itching to take advantage of residential wind turbines, but this may prove to be difficult. Cities are some of the least hospitable places for wind turbines to be located. Wind turbines work most efficiently when placed in undisturbed airflow. Any large obstacles nearby, such as buildings will greatly affect the amount of power that a turbine can produce.
To find a suitable residential wind turbine, the best option may be a vertical axis wind turbine or VAWT. You may have seen these turbines before, most commonly they are shaped like large egg beaters and spin around a pole mounted vertically. This is in contrast to traditional wind turbines which have propeller-like blades.
Vertical axis wind turbines have much better performance than traditional wind turbines when used in turbulent environments. This means that in a residential wind turbine application, a VAWT will provide more power than a traditional turbine. There are many different styles of VAWTs and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Savonius type turbines are completely solid, and don’t have blades as you are used to seeing. Instead, a Savonius turbine has two (or more) curved surfaces which face the wind full on, and spin the turbine about its axis. These turbines are large and heavy compared to other aerodynamically-driven turbines and are also less suitable for use as residential wind turbines due to their size.
Darrieus type wind turbines are the egg-beater style VAWTs mentioned earlier. These turbines have curved or even more complex blades to take advantage of turbulent wind conditions. Traditionally, these turbines have been very large. This means that their suitability as residential wind turbines is limited; however they are more suitable than Savonius type turbines. These turbines do have several issues which make their design more complicated. Specifically, the turbines generate maximum torque at two points in their rotation, and thus the power they generate is not “smooth” as it would be in a traditional wind turbine. Additionally, these turbines have issues with vibration that could cause the blades to fail prematurely.
Finally, airfoil based wind turbines, which are a subset of Darrieus turbines. Instead of curved blades, the blades of these turbines are parallel to the main shaft. This means that they generate more constant power than Darrieus turbines, much closer to traditional wind turbines. These turbines are the closest match to the requirements of residential wind turbines. Much research into this type of turbine is ongoing and new developments are happening in this field every day.
Find out more information about this and more renewable energy topics at the Green Power at Home Blog and Home Energy Focus.
Everything you need to know if you are planning to have a residential wind turbine
Lately, advertisements about residential wind turbines, articles about advantages of wind energy, government grants announced for utilising wind energy, opponents of wind turbines, and many more things are flowing into our minds increasingly day by day. Whether you have some basic knowledge about it or you know nothing about it, in this article you will have the chance to know about key facts about wind energy.
We will start from very basics and proceed to more detailed information about wind energy, particularly residential use of wind energy.
What is a wind turbine? How does it work?
A wind turbine is a machine that converts the energy in the wind to electrical energy by means of rotating blades and a generator. Of course the working principles of a wind turbine are much more complicated. They include transmission elements, safety units, controllers etc. The blades rotate by the blowing wind and the rotation is transferred to the generator within the turbine. And this generator is the source of electricity. Then from the generator depending on the configuration of the turbine electricity is fed to the grid or directly to the point of use.
What is the difference between a commercial and a residential wind turbine?
Just their capacities! While a commercial wind turbine can have a capacity of up to 5MW residential wind turbines are generally much smaller, i.e. a few hundred kilowatts maximum.
Why do people consider purchasing them? Isn’t buying electricity from the grid cheaper?
Actually, at the beginning yes. When the investment costs of a wind turbine is considered and reflected over years, for the first couple of years buying the electricity from the grid can be cheaper. However, the aim of using residential wind turbines is not only cheaper electricity. First of all they can be used at places where there is no grid connection. For example, farm houses far from grid connection or special small electrical appliances located in places where no grid exists can make use of small wind turbines for their electricity needs. In addition to these, wind turbines generate “clean energy”. This means that for generating electricity by wind turbines you don’t cause carbon dioxide emission like in many generation processes. Furthermore, in Ireland use of wind turbines for residential needs is also supported by the government and there are grants available for the initial investment. As a final remark, having a wind turbine for part of electricity needs of your house will result in a better Building Energy Rating (BER) report which will eventually increase the market value of your house.
Can wind turbines be used for any house?
No. First of all you have to make sure that there are not much obstacles (other houses, high towers etc.) that block the wind of the turbine. Second, you need to learn how windy your area is. For commercial installations generally measurements are made 6 months-1 year in advance of installation at the exact turbine location but for a small scale turbine you can use the wind statistics published generally by the government offices. Be sure to choose the measurement location closest to your area. For relatively less needs, such as a single appliance, roof-top wind turbines can be also used. Prior to installing a turbine always take the necessary permits that are required in your area.
What if a turbine generates more electricity than required?
Residential wind turbines can be either standalone systems or grid connected systems. If you have enough space to build a larger wind turbine then you can have it grid connected and you can get paid for the electricity you supply to the national grid.
How much can someone save with a residential wind turbine?
Actually, this all depends on your consumption and the capacity of your wind turbine as well as the wind conditions in your site. To give a rough estimation; some studies show that you can decrease your electricity bills up to 80 percent with a residential wind turbine of appropriate size.
What about maintenance of turbines?
Many small wind turbines have a small number of moving parts which make them suitable to use without maintenance for a long time. A wind turbine is expected to have an economic life of 20 years.
Where can I get detailed consultancy about residential wind turbines?
Windturbines is the largest retailer of micro turbines in Ireland, selling and installing over 100 turbines nationwide in 2008. You can visit their website or contact them to get more information about their products and your needs.
John Mahoney is a freelance author who writes about various technology
realated subjects. For more information about John visit his website
www.techstore.ie.
Eagle Solar Heat Pump Testimony (Residential Customer)
Eagle Solar has created a single function solar heat pump that absorbs the heat from the suns rays and, through our panel design, super-heats the air sent through the panel, putting it back into your home 30 to 70 degrees hotter. Using years of research Eagle Solar has developed a way to transfer the air in your home quickly and efficiently so that your home can gain maximum benefits from the sun. This simply means that with as little as 15 minutes of sunlight an hour the Eagle Solar single function heat pump can keep an average 1000 square foot area up to temperature. These panels can be used as a single unit or combined with multiple units to increase the heating area. The Eagle Solar single function solar heat pump is designed to supplement your current heating system no matter what you currently have, oil, gas, electric, wood, ect. and has been consistently reducing our customers heating bills by up to 30% and over. Our unique design allows this panels to be used in almost any application including, residential, commercial, industrial, government, and office settings. Our solar panels are designed to be completely independent of, but complimentary to your existing heating system, no matter how large or what type may currently be in your home or building.
Residential Wind Turbines – Cut Your Energy Bills
Wind turbines have been in existence for a very long time now. As soon as we hear the wind turbine images of huge towers with massive blades come to mind. With rapid advances in technology though, compact residential wind turbines have become a reality. They are so compact in size that you can easily install them in your backyard. You can now cut down on your energy bills, as well as contribute towards a cleaner environment.
The working mechanism involved in residential wind turbines is quite simple. Wind turns the blades of the domestic turbine, which is in turn connected to a DC motor. The current that is induced is then stored in batteries. You can then use it to power various different home appliances such as a computer or a TV.
The internet is a good source of information, if you want to build your own wind turbine. In fact the rising popularity of residential wind turbines can be directly attributed to numerous online guides on the topic.
Proper planning holds the key to building your own wind turbine. You should first of all make a list of all the things that you will need for the project. Building your own wind turbine need not be a costly affair. You can easily shop for most of the supplies at a local hardware store.
For those living in a windy area, a short tower will do. Conversely for those living in an area where there are only low winds, they need to put up a tower that is a tall enough to catch the wind. Even a slight breeze though is enough to turn the technologically advanced blades that you find these days.
If you are someone searching for more information on residential wind turbines, the internet is your best ally. You will be in fact pleasantly surprised to find how easy it is to build one. You can find detailed instructions on building your own wind turbine by visiting, W3Reviews.
Using a Residential Wind Turbine System
Using a residential wind turbine seems like a good way to start with a greener way of living and you can save some money at the same time. But is a residential wind turbine suitable for everyone? Well to be honest no, there are some cases where it is really not a good investment to buy a residential wind turbine, sometimes it is just plain impractical to place such a device especially in a urban setting.
Residential Wind Turbine
When you place a residential wind turbine, for example a Skystream 3.7, to supply electricity, your home will probably rely on your wind turbine and the electricity company. When wind speeds are low the residential wind turbine system will not generate enough power and electricity will be supplied by the electricity company.
When there is a higher wind speed, your wind turbine will generate more electricity. Sometimes the residential wind turbine will even generate more electricity than your house needs, when this is the case, the excess electricity is sold to the electricity company. With the right equipment this is done automatically.
Is my home suitable for a residential wind turbine?
In many urban settings the best kind of conditions will have at least an acre of land around it. Or at least free space, because a wind turbine can also be placed on the roof of a building. The condition of the wind around your house will also be of influence if a wind energy system will be of benefit in your situation. The wind need to be higher than 10 mph if you want to get a significant output from a wind turbine like the Skystream 3.7. But there are residential wind turbines these days that can be placed on the roof of your house so that may be a possibility.
When your house is suitable for a residential wind turbine then you can expect to see lower electricity bills. With the Skystream 3.7 for example you can lower your electric bill by as much as 80% if your house has the right wind conditions. Yes this means that you can expect to see a much lower electricity bill, but you will have to invest in a residential wind turbine first.
Is buying a wind turbine a good choice?
A residential wind turbine is made to last you for 20 to 30 years, this means it will be paid back in the long run. Yes you have initial costs when you buy and place your residential wind turbine. But there are many benefits:
- Its is a clean energy source
- it is a renewable energy source
- it is great for the environment
- it will safe you money in the long run
The best thing you can do if you are interested in a residential wind turbine system is to inform yourself about your options. Search and learn before you buy. And installing these systems may look simple but getting at least some technical advice before hand is a thing you should keep in mind.
At her website Unlike Normal Energy, Cathy Patterson, wil provide you with all kinds of helpful information about alternative sources of energy like, for example, the Skystream 3.7 wind turbine.
Guide on Residential Wind Turbine
Residential wind turbines are a wonderful model to produce a cheaper source of free energy. Knowing what to search for and where to buy one is essential in getting you started. If you are looking for a suitable residential wind turbine kit, the good news is that there is lots of places where you can do so. This is not something you can just get at a ironware store. Instead, a little searching have to be done first. In fact, the internet is one of the best places to find and buy residential wind turbines kits.
Assuming you have decided to purchase it online, there are a few points to check if it is a good bargain. You want to be positive you only purchase them online from a site that extends free transport though. Do not purchase them offline if the company does not provide free shipping. If not, the kit will be extremely costly with accumulated charges tallied on. On The Average, a rational price for a residential wind turbine should be around $300. If you find any sales where the cost deviates quite a bit you may want be be skeptical. It may be a scam.
A wind turbine is more commonly referred to as a windmill. It can also be referred to as a wind generator. Though the terms are used interchangeably, each is not the same as the other. What makes a wind turbine different from a windmill? For instance, a wind turbine converts wind energy into mechanical energy that can be further converted to electrical energy whereas a windmill will just use the mechanical energy as is. As a windmill does not convert the energy, it cannot really be considered a wind turbine even though the words are often used interchangeably.
Let’s examine the different types of wind turbines. Wind turbines are classified based on their orientation. There are two basic kinds of wind turbines known as the Horizontal Axis Turbine and Vertical Axis Turbines. The Horizontal Axis turbine contains blades that rotate across a horizontal axis. Conversely, The Vertical Axis turbine rotates its blade on a vertical axis. The Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines are more popularly used in various parts of the world. This is because horizontal axis wind turbines are more efficient than the vertical ones.
The advantages of installing a residential wind turbine includes saving power, cost effective, environmental friendly and perpetual power supply.
Some advantages of wind turbines include:
Perpetual power supply – You do not have to be dependant solely on the government for your power supply. Endless supply of power means never having to deal with a power outage too! Saving Power- Wind turbines use wind energy to produce the same energy that we have to pay electric companies to use so we save power by not having to use regular electricity. Cost Effective – Because wind is free, the only actual costs a user incurs is in installing and maintaining the wind turbine. Environment Friendly – Wind turbines run on a natural energy source and are therefore not harmful to the environment.
The benefits of a wind turbine so attractive that everyone would want to install one, but if it is not correctly done, it can be quite bad. Before installing a wind turbine, do consider the following.
You must have at least an acre set aside to install it on.
Make sure the average wind speed is about 11 miles per hour.
Make sure the tower and base are ironclad. It is the wind turbulence that can mess up your wind turbine so take that into consideration as well.
Make sure that the distance between the wind turbine’s height and the wind generator and cells is optimal.
Study in-depth facts on Residential Wind Turbine Learn the uses, benefits and many other informative tips on saving electrical costs. Learn the knowledge of saving electrical cost using the Earth For Energy.