Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Save Energy Costs With Light Tubes and Lite Tunnels

2009-12-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

Do you have some rooms that don't see much natural light during the day? Maybe you should consider a light pipe. A light pipe captures the sunlight from the sun and displaces the light proportionally throughout the room.

The left photo shows what a light tube looks like. This one is pretty large . It takes the sunlight from above the roof and displaces it throughout this underground subway in Germany. Of course the picture was taken at night so we cannot see the benefits this light tube provides. Its rather large and gaudy; it certainly wouldn't work in with your home remodeling endeavors. However if done correctly a light tube can be neatly installed in the corner of your room and look pretty decent. This light pipe shown here on the lower right is not using natural lite, but sunlight can be used effectively in this scenario.

A sun tunnel is more like a skylight, but with one distinct difference. Sun tunnels have the ability to magnify the light and illuminate the room more effectively. What's more it's not an eyesore like the protruding light pipe we see in the German subway. Sun tunnels are a great replacement for conventional lighting and can obviously save you money as well.

While people consider home remodeling they often are presented with new lighting decisions. The sun tunnel and the light pipe are two great options to be considered. Below are a couple of pictures showing the effectiveness of sky tunnels.

Our guest blogger, Vanbergconstruction.com, does San Diego Remodeling for homes and commercial buildings. Check out their website for more information.

Sports Facilities Adapting to Alternative Energy

2009-09-14T14:06:00.001-07:00

Its unbelievable how many major corporations are starting to see the enormous benefits of alternative energy. Now sports facilities are seeing those same benefits. Solar power remains the top alternative energy source, but wind energy is gaining some ground. The newest example is the US Open in New York, powered entirely by wind energy. Alternative energy gets a huge boost on the biggest stage this time of year. The audience is practically forced into pondering what can be accomplished with alternative energy.

Not to be outdone, solar power is still growing strong with huge projects lined up. 40,000 photovoltaic panels are to be installed at Pennsylvania NASCAR track. It will become become Pennsylvania’s largest solar farm taking up 25 acres of land. This is not just for the environment. Deregulation of conventional power threatens to drive up the cost for large ventures such as sports facilities. Many are switching to alternative energy to avoid these expenses.

Basic Solar Energy Disadvantages

2009-05-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

We will soon go into greater depth of the pros and cons of solar energy, but first, here are some basic solar energy disadvantages.

First off the expense of solar panels and solar panel installation is too pricey for most consumers. What makes it costly is actually the amount of solar panels that are needed in order to keep up with standard energy use. Installations cost more than a year's worth of conventional power for most consumers.

Solar panels demand direct sunlight to be useful; cloudy days hinder power production. This means you must rely on stored power, or possibly convention power. Pollution also acts as an insulator, preventing sunlight from beaming on solar panels. This means a weakened supply of power. To counter this effect, larger panels are being used but this leads to another issue. Believe it or not solar panels create pollution, just not the way you way think. Solar panels are actually made with materials that generate certain levels of pollution. In the short term, with thousands of solar panels being made daily, this is not such a good image for solar energy. Still the pro natural energy experts insure us the amount of pollution being prevented will certainly undermine this.

One Advantage of Solar Power: Thermal Energy

2009-03-10T11:11:00.001-07:00

Thermal energy is heat. As we know direct sunlight produces heat, but to provide more efficient use of the sun, we needed to create a receptacle for that energy and then convert it to more thermal energy. When most of us think of how the sun's rays are captured, we think of solar panels and disks used to convert solar power . There are, in fact, several other ways to capture solar energy. Since ancient times, chimneys provide a vehicle for solar energy to come in from the outside and heat homes. When the chimney gets warmer, an updraft brings warm air into the building. Stone and cement work well for storing thermal energy that is released in the evening.

Solar panels utilize thermal energy and are used quite often to heat swimming pools. The obvious advantage is the cost to supply this energy.

There are many methods of solar cooking that are very efficient and provide a great alternative to pollutant gas stoves. Solar cookers provide a fantastic way to capture the sun's energy. India leads in this industry, cooking several thousand meals a day utilizing solar cooking methods. Personal cookers are easy to come by these days for those looking to lower their carbon footprint.

Thermal energy is the clearly the easiest method to utilize solar energy. There are many more advantages then discussed so far. The major disadvantage is the availability of the source when it gets dark or extremely cloudy, but we have a solution for that that will be discussed next time.

Solar Energy

2009-02-25T09:02:00.000-08:00

This is time for change; a time to look at natural energy. I intend this blog to be insiteful for me and you as we learn about the benefits and pitfalls of solar energy. From the outside looking in (having never owned a solar panel for my home) I always thought of solar energy to be a great idea. After doing some reading and research I discovered some not-so-good experiences that people have had; particularly with home installations. Now, as I'm learning, I wish to share what I know, and perhaps illicit some responses to help me and you better understand the pros and cons of solar energy.