Welcome to Energy Efficiency Guide
Energy Efficiency Strategies And Markets In The Built Environment In India 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.
Other Energy Efficiency Strategies And Markets In The Built Environment In India related Articles
Energy Efficient Lighting
Save Money On Your Energy Bill With A Home Improvement Project
Home Energy Audit
Doors Creating An Energy Efficient Door
Energy Efficient Appliances
Do you want to contribute to our site : submit your articles HERE
Energy Efficiency Strategies And Markets In The Built Environment In India News
Caroline Flint - Building a Green Economy speech, in full - Environmental Expert (press release)
Caroline Flint - Building a Green Economy speech, in full Environmental Expert (press release) Prices - because we must have an energy market that delivers fair, competitive prices and works in the public interest. Jobs - because as the UK seeks new growth and jobs, energy generation and energy efficiency have the potential to transform our ... |
Proposed DOE Transformer Efficiency Standards Are Too Low - Sustainable Plant
Proposed DOE Transformer Efficiency Standards Are Too Low Sustainable Plant By Sustainable Plant Staff February 7, 2012 04:26:08 pm Energy efficiency, environmental and consumer groups strongly criticize the US Department of Energy's proposed new energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers - the metal boxes ... |
Covanta Holding Corporation Reports 2011 Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results - MarketWatch (press release)
Covanta Holding Corporation Reports 2011 Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results MarketWatch (press release) About Covanta Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the US Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency ... |
Graphite and Rare Earth Metals for the 21st Century - The Market Oracle
Graphite and Rare Earth Metals for the 21st Century The Market Oracle A range of facilities, including stores, universities and business parks, are also using this clean, efficient technology for low-cost power that works independent of the grid. Fuel cells convert chemical energy from a fuel source, often hydrogen but ... |
Graphite and Rare Earth Metals for the 21st Century: Jack Lifton - International Business Times
Graphite and Rare Earth Metals for the 21st Century: Jack Lifton International Business Times A range of facilities, including stores, universities and business parks, are also using this clean, efficient technology for low-cost power that works independent of the grid. Fuel cells convert chemical energy from a fuel source, often hydrogen but ... |