Welcome to Redneck Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Solar Energy Use for Increasing Home Energy Efficiency
from:We all know that the sun has been producing energy for billions of years. When the sun’s rays reach the earth this produces solar energy. This energy can then be changed into other energy forms such as heat or electricity. In this day and age people are using the sun’s energy for many different purposes. The energy from the sun can be a very useful and energy efficient way to power your home and can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Solar energy can be changed into heat energy and can be used to heat water to use in your home or swimming pools or it can be used to heat spaces such as in greenhouses or homes. By doing this, you can decrease your dependence on traditional energy methods and in some areas you can even eliminate your need for other energy sources altogether.
There are two ways to convert solar energy into electricity. You can do this through photovoltaic devices which change the sunlight into electricity directly. These systems are mainly used in rural areas that are not in an area where there are other energy sources available and that cannot be connected to the power grid. These devices are also used to power calculators, watches, and road signs.
The other method to convert solar energy into electricity is through solar power plants. These plants generate electricity indirectly when the solar thermal collectors heat fluid which then produces steam that is used in generating power. There were 15 recognized solar electric generating plants in the United States in 2006. Of these plants, there were 10 located in California and 5 in Arizona. Statistics are only compiled for plants that produce more than 1 megawatt of electricity, but there are smaller solar plants in other states.
There are some serious disadvantages to using solar energy however. There is not a constant amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth’s surface. The amount depends on factors such as your location, the time of day, the time of the year, and the weather conditions. Also, using solar energy for electricity requires a large area because the sun does not deliver a lot of energy to one single place at any given time.
Converting sunlight into energy is done through photovoltaic energy. A solar cell, otherwise known as a photovoltaic cell is the process that is used to change solar energy directly to electricity. Photovoltaic cells are devices that are non-mechanical and are most commonly made of silicon alloys. Photons, or particles of solar energy, are absorbed when they hit photovoltaic cells. If there is enough energy absorbed electricity is created. This energy is converted in many different ways and can be used for a variety of things. Some houses, in very sunny regions are powered completely by solar energy.
Related Articles for Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency News
Los Angeles Taxes Consumers for Energy Consumption - Triple Pundit
 Environmental Leader | Los Angeles Taxes Consumers for Energy Consumption Triple Pundit Revenues from the rate hikes would pour into a Renewable Energy and Efficiency Trust Fund, which would pay for new conservation programs and a solar feed-in ... LA carbon surcharge to boost renewable energy DWP rates may rise between 8% and 28% to pay for mayor's green initiatives Los Angeles Mayor Proposes Carbon Reduction Surcharge |
New York Data Centers, Factories Get $100 Million for Energy Efficiency - Environment News Service
 Environmental Leader | New York Data Centers, Factories Get $100 Million for Energy Efficiency Environment News Service "The investments NYSERDA is making in energy efficiency are absolutely critical for both improving New York's economy and protecting our environment," said ... NY Injects $100M into Energy Efficiency Projects Hill named to energy consortium board |
Biden to visit NC manufacturer of semiconductors - The Associated Press
 New York Daily News | Biden to visit NC manufacturer of semiconductors The Associated Press The White House says boosting manufacturing in renewable and energy-efficiency technologies like Cree's light-emitting diodes will create jobs for products ... VP To Visit Triangle Business |
County gets grant for energy efficiency - Salt Lake Tribune
County gets grant for energy efficiency Salt Lake Tribune Davis County Commissioners finalized an agreement Tuesday to put about $749100 in stimulus funding toward a centralized energy system. ... |
Bowie gets its report card on energy efficiency - Business Gazette
Bowie gets its report card on energy efficiency Business Gazette The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy report was completed by Energy Resources Management, an environmental consultant, and presented to City ... |
Daylight Saving Time: What's it Saving? - CalFinder (blog)
 CalFinder (blog) | Daylight Saving Time: What's it Saving? CalFinder (blog) At that point, it seemed like the jury might be in on DST — that contrary to popular belief, it actually hurt energy efficiency and cost homeowners and the ... |
Gov. Christie budget takes proceeds from energy efficiency program - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
 The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | Gov. Christie budget takes proceeds from energy efficiency program The Star-Ledger - NJ.com These monies were mostly spent on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the state. The state made $9.1 million in the last auction, ... Christie Seeks CO2 Revenue to Close NJ Budget Gap |
AT&T masks true energy sucker with Zero Phone Charger - Tainted Green
AT&T masks true energy sucker with Zero Phone Charger Tainted Green So, advantage AT&T in energy efficiency, right? Not so fast. The product itself is promising. Take an existing flaw in energy consumption and create a ... |
Iris Servers and Velocity Workstations from Pogo Linux Feature 12x Better ... - PR Web (press release)
 Digitimes | Iris Servers and Velocity Workstations from Pogo Linux Feature 12x Better ... PR Web (press release) The newest Intel Xeon is based on the “Westemere-EX” 32nm die shrink processor microarchitecture, which enables industry-leading energy efficiency and ... New Energy-Efficient Servers Feature Intel's 6-Core Processors Roundup: New Intel Xeon 5600 Processors Dell Helps Customers Achieve New Levels of Efficiency with Enhanced Systems ... |
Can Small Lifestyle Changes Lead to Huge CO2 Cuts? - TIME
Can Small Lifestyle Changes Lead to Huge CO2 Cuts? TIME And even if people maximize their energy efficiency and choose to conserve, there's still no guarantee that it will translate into the level of emission ... |