Monday, May 28, 2012

Los Angeles Solar Heating

So what’s solar heating you ask? A Solar heating system reduces the need for conventional water heating by about 2/3. Normally a solar heating system has two parts, a solar collector and a storage tank. The collector heats the water, then it stores the water in the storage tank until it is ready to use. A conventional system is set up in addition to the solar heating system in case additional heating is necessary.
They call these active and passive solar heating systems. The conventional system uses electricity and pumps to circulate the water. The solar heating system relies on gravity and circulates the water when heated. The solar systems are actually more reliable because they have no electrical components and are easily maintained and last longer.

The government agency that’s dedicated to energy efficiency says there are five elements that constitute a complete passive solar home design that generates solar heating: 1) the entry point of solar light (aperture); 2) their hard, dark surface of the storage element, (absorber); 3) the materials that retain/store the heat that the sunlight produces and distributes (thermal mass); 4) how solar heat circulates from the collection and storage points into areas of your house (distribution); 5) and elements to shade the aperture area during summer months, like roof overhangs (control). The control ensures that the house will be comfortable in the summer months.

Passive solar design can have total reliance on solar power, or partial use that will produce solar heat and it will depend solely on the geographical location and design. Other things that will play a key role in the passive solar design will be wind patterns, vegetation, topography, and even the amount of sunshine in the area, plus the performance of the building.

New construction can easily be designed with the passive solar design in mind. Even existing buildings can be retrofitted to meet the qualifications stated above.

It goes without saying that the solar heating systems will help the environment and will also provide savings to those who invest in the systems. The savings will be obvious as the electric company statements decrease with their use. Possibly in time even you can resell some of your power to the electric company that will be added benefits to the homeowner or business.

The U.S. Department of Energy publishes estimates to show exactly what we can expect when we invest in solar heating and how the systems impact the environment so we no longer depend on fossil fuel and conventional electricity.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Los Angeles solar energy

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Los Angeles Solar Energy Systems

Many people have become more energy efficient in recent months and are looking into solar energy systems to decrease their utility bills. Much has been said and many are simply confused and want more information before they make their final decision. Without a doubt, solar energy is the cleanest source of electricity that’s available today and it makes sense because that energy comes directly from the sun.
Who can benefit the most from the sun’s energy? Those who live in the sun belt like California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, the southwest deserts and the Rocky Mountain States. States where the sun shines the greater part of every year will receive the most benefit from their solar energy systems.

The most common solar energy systems capture the sunlight and convert it into electricity. The photovoltaic (PV) systems emit no greenhouse gases, and the more we use them, the more we slow global warming. The advantages are numerous and the most popular are low maintenance and the ability of generating electricity for many years to come. Then when you add lower utility bills, the advantages grow far above any disadvantages.

Listed on the plus side, several states offer tax credits and/or rebates, including federal, state and local tax credits.

One of the questions you’ll have to answer for yourself is do you want to just lower your electric bills, or will you use the solar energy systems to completely do away with the local utility company? There are systems that use an independent system that is actually off the grid. They provide practically all or at least most of your electricity. These systems are common in rural areas where utilities are very high.

They usually have a battery system for use at night or in cloudy weather. Many also use generators as a backup.

When you have reached the stage where you need to talk to an expert before that final decision, it would probably be best for you to contact a certified solar electrical contractor. They can help you determine how much solar power system you will need and will give you an estimate how much you should save in the long run.

The company will also tell you the best location of your solar power system. The majority of users install the systems on their rooftops. However there are other systems available such as ground mounted and integrated shade structure like an awning, or one that is incorporated into roofing materials.

The solar power systems have been improved steadily and many are choosing these systems as opposed to other systems such as wind.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Los Angeles solar energy

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Thursday, May 10, 2012

Los Angeles Solar Energy Systems

Many people have become more energy efficient in recent months and are looking into solar energy systems to decrease their utility bills. Much has been said and many are simply confused and want more information before they make their final decision. Without a doubt, solar energy is the cleanest source of electricity that’s available today and it makes sense because that energy comes directly from the sun.
Who can benefit the most from the sun’s energy? Those who live in the sun belt like California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, the southwest deserts and the Rocky Mountain States. States where the sun shines the greater part of every year will receive the most benefit from their solar energy systems.

The most common solar energy systems capture the sunlight and convert it into electricity. The photovoltaic (PV) systems emit no greenhouse gases, and the more we use them, the more we slow global warming. The advantages are numerous and the most popular are low maintenance and the ability of generating electricity for many years to come. Then when you add lower utility bills, the advantages grow far above any disadvantages.

Listed on the plus side, several states offer tax credits and/or rebates, including federal, state and local tax credits.

One of the questions you’ll have to answer for yourself is do you want to just lower your electric bills, or will you use the solar energy systems to completely do away with the local utility company? There are systems that use an independent system that is actually off the grid. They provide practically all or at least most of your electricity. These systems are common in rural areas where utilities are very high. They usually have a battery system for use at night or in cloudy weather. Many also use generators as a backup.

When you have reached the stage where you need to talk to an expert before that final decision, it would probably be best for you to contact a certified solar electrical contractor. They can help you determine how much solar power system you will need and will give you an estimate how much you should save in the long run.

The company will also tell you the best location of your solar power system. The majority of users install the systems on their rooftops. However there are other systems available such as ground mounted and integrated shade structure like an awning, or one that is incorporated into roofing materials.
The solar power systems have been improved steadily and many are choosing these systems as opposed to other systems such as wind.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Los Angeles solar energy.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Los Angeles Solar Power: Stickers for Solar Panels?

Whenever a new product comes on the marketplace, there’s always someone who will invent ways to increase their productivity. In the case of solar panels, they call them stickers. They’re made of polymer film and can be installed on your existing solar panels. They emboss the stickers with microstructures that will bend the light and use it to reflect and boost the amount of energy the panels use, as much as 10%. Otherwise this light would just reflect off the panels and be of no use.
The preferred way to use the stickers is to install them when the solar power units are still at the factory. They can also be installed on your solar panels after installation, and they can be added with the same rate of benefits.

You may ask if the addition of the stickers will increase the energy of the solar panels. Yes they do enhance the solar panels. They also claim that the stickers are cost effective, and should last for the duration of the solar panels themselves.

There are other additives on the market such as solar trackers and micro inverters that will add to the efficiency of the solar panels, they can both be added at the factory or after the panels have been installed.

As you strive to improve your footprint on this old world, you’ll want to keep track of all of the improvements that will improve your ability to control your costs. When a new product that works alongside your solar panel and increases its productivity by 10% that will definitely show up in your utility bills. Say your electric bills runs in the neighborhood of $200 per month and probably higher in the summer months, when you decrease your bill by $20 that should lower the total costs of the entire solar panels.

Check with the professionals as you debate the ins and outs of solar power. They can explain how the solar panels work and what would be most advantageous for your property. They’ll come to your home and give you a written estimate of your costs, the types of rebates available from the government, and how much energy you will save.

Go online and you’ll find many local companies, and ask several for quotes. Ask for references, and you may want to also contact your utility companies. The Better Business Bureau may be helpful in suggesting good competent licensed businesses. Get everything in writing and read their contracts.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Los Angeles solar energy
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Monday, April 23, 2012

Los Angeles Solar Power Becoming More Affordable

Like any new product once it becomes popular, the prices go down. Think back to televisions especially color. A twelve-inch TV would cost hundreds of dollars. Now they practically give them away. In time, solar power will be cheaper, easier to install, and competition from all of the companies investing will drive the costs down. That’s how it works in this country. People investing in people, and when the government moves aside and let the public buy the products, you’ll find they are cheaper and more affordable.

Ever since their inception people have liked the idea of solar power, actually much more popular than the wind. After all, the sun always shines even on a cloudy day. It’s always there, and for us to ignore that truth, the longer it will take us to jump on board.

The twenty-year pay off plan scared many people and no wonder. Who wants to be obligated for twenty years? However with all the breakthroughs, the range is between three to five years. The huge advantage of solar power is that you may be self-sufficient long before that. Especially when you figure in reduced utility bills.

Unsightly was another drawback. People didn’t want those ugly things on top of their roof. Today they place them on the backside of the property, a back yard shed, or any other place that the sun shines for the largest part of the day. They can hide them out of sight, and only the utility company knows.

You’ll know too when the utility company sends you a credit on your monthly statement. They’ll owe you, imagine that. Soon there will be investors who see the potential of solar power especially when you live in a sun state like California. They’ll take the ideas and run with them. They’ll create new ideas and we’ll laugh at the old solar power collecting systems.

What they need to do though is create them in this country, not abroad. The businesses that operate today are promoting themselves and claiming that their products are better, nicer looking, and better affordable. They’re silent as well, and your quiet time will remain quiet and they won’t blast you like those wind machines. They won’t kill a bunch of birds either.

So what are you waiting for? Go online and find a local company that focuses on solar power, and when the utility bills start coming in with zero balances you’ll brag to your neighbors and convince them to buy solar as well.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Los Angeles solar energy

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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Los Angeles Solar: Why We Are Encouraged to Use Solar Power And Why Most People Don’t Have It

When any new product hits the market place, people are naturally skeptical, and if that product is expensive most want nothing to do with it, and tack on ugly, the product usually falls by the roadside. Possibly those are a couple of reasons why solar power hasn’t taken hold in our country. However you can’t rule out the economy in the equation either. There are a lot of people out of work, have taken lower paying employment, and have no interest in a product that has never been proven.

However as we sit by and watch our utility bills rise higher and higher, we realize that something needs to be done. Even if we don’t agree with the go green crowd, we still realize that the costs hit us too. We do care about the environment so possibly now is the time to check on solar power.

Without a doubt, there have been changes and improvements in the product, and the number one fact that we can’t ignore, solar power does decrease our utility bills. If you’re still in doubt, check around and find someone who has solar power, and ask them, “Has it helped lower your utility bills?”

Are you aware that solar power captures sunlight using photovoltaic cells and converts them into electricity? Imagine how you will feel when your neighbor’s lights go out during a storm and your home’s unaffected. Then compare your neighbor’s electric bill with yours, and there is actually no comparison. You even may be able to sell some of your unused electricity to the utility company. Your electricity bill will come with a minus amount.

The initial investment is high, but when you spread it out over a period of years, you will still be saving money in the long run.

To deal with the ‘ugly’ part of the equation, there are some products that look more like roof tiles than solar panels. Or you may even be able to hide them on the backside of your property. One of the biggest assets, the value of your property increases.

If you’re still in doubt, contact a local company that knows all the ins and outs of the business. Look on the internet and see what’s available. Do your homework, sit down and figure out how much you can expect to save on your utilities, and that alone should convince you.

Above all, realize that solar power is here to stay, and will give your family stability in a world where there’s not a lot out there.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Orange County solar.

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Los Angeles Solar: The Different Solar Power Systems

You’ve probably seen and possibly used solar power systems without being aware of it. You’ve seen calculators powered by the sun. Well, that’s the integrated solar panel that’s built right into the object. You’ll find many other small electronic devices that powered by the sun, things like garden lights, fountains, flashlights and many others. They work great, and have continued to work throughout the years.

Then you’ll find the portability integrated solar power units that you can move easily and they don’t require power cords or fuel. They are maintenance free. They have an internal battery that lasts much longer than regular batteries. The problems with these they may not be practical with larger appliances. If the battery quits working, you will have to replace the entire unit because parts are difficult to replace.

Direct Solar feeds the energy to a pump or appliance without a battery. It consists of a small panel, a mounting mechanism, and the pump or appliance. The cost is usually not expensive because they don’t require batteries and are easy to install. They use them for water systems and well pumps. They only run during sunny days.

Solar Battery DC systems consist of the solar panel, mounting system, battery bank, charge controller and connection to the electronic device. The charge controller prevents the PV units from overcharging the battery. These systems store the sun’s energy even on cloudy days or at night and also have a remote capability. Businesses use them to light their signs, water features that use high efficiency pumps that they made especially for these systems.

One of the disadvantages is they produce DC direct current while many appliances require AC alternating current. Depending on how much storage you need, the cost can increase with the amount of batteries needed, and the batteries require regular maintenance.

These have been a few of the simple solar power systems for those who may not want to invest in the entire house systems that are available today. Regardless of the type system you may need, the variety has increased the popularity of solar power. It is the coming way we will supply the needed electricity to our homes and for those who want to be self-sufficient, solar panels are the way to go, from simple to complex.

Your best bet is to talk to a professional, a solar power company, and they will be able to help you in your search for all your solar power needs.

SolarGEM specializes in Los Angeles solar power, solar Los Angeles, and Los Angeles solar energy

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