We've all been hearing about solar power and solar energy for the past few years. In an effort to help our environment, many are trying to use solar power in simple small ways they can afford. However, to really make a difference in our lives solar power should be used in homes as the main source of energy whenever possible. Solar power training courses are available in many places, offline and online, as a way to educate the public about the importance of using solar energy every chance we can.

Although it's nice to think that everyone is fully informed and knowledgeable about solar energy, this is just not the case. Perhaps if solar power training was mandatory, more individuals would realize the importance of using solar power as well as the long term savings. Anyway you look at it, the advantages of using solar power fall outweigh the disadvantages. Here are some very important tips and facts about solar power.

- Solar panels save you money, pure and simple. The cost of fuel oil and propane has risen drastically the past few years and we never know from one month to the next how much we'll be paying. Using solar panels will save you money long term. While the initial cost of buying and installing solar panels and solar systems is costly, your energy costs after that are zero. No longer will you have to worry about utility bills every month. As a way to save more money, many individuals are enrolling in solar power training so they can learn how to design and install the systems themselves, saving a bundle of money in the process. If you have many sunny days and produce and store more electricity than you'll need, you may be able to sell it to your utility company.

- Solar Power training courses will educate you on more than just solar energy for your electricity needs. Solar hot water is a great money saver, saving around 60% off the cost of traditional hot water methods.

- Solar panels are non-polluting, renewable and clean, making them very environmentally friendly. The more ways we can help our environment, the healthier lives we'll all live.

- Solar power systems run very quietly and efficiently and require almost no maintenance. They will also last for many years, continuing to save you money.

- Solar energy offers you the independence of not being forced to pay the high cost of electricity or fuel costs. If you happen to live in an area that's secluded, electricity may be very expensive if not difficult to get. Solar energy is the perfect solution for this problem.

If learning all these interesting facts about solar energy and what a great idea it is hasn't totally convinced you, consider checking out some solar power training courses and you'll quickly want to learn all you can about solar power and ways to implement it into your home and daily lives.

As we are all now learning the sun can provide us with an almost endless source of clean as well as renewable energy. This is why many people are now looking to install solar powered systems into their homes rather than relying on electricity companies to supply the power that they need. However before making a decision about whether to install such a system in your home you need to know the pros and cons of solar power.

Below in this article we look at some of the advantages and disadvantages that can be had from having such a system installed either at your home or at your office. It is these, which will then help you to decide whether having a solar powered system is the right investment for you, or not.

Advantages to Using Solar Power

1. The main advantage to using solar power is that it can save you money. Although you will have to spend some money in order to get a good system installed at your property, once installed the energy that you are drawing from the sun itself is free.

2. In a number of cases many governments are now trying to get more people to use alternative methods for supplying power to their properties in order to help cut down on pollution. This in turn is helping to slow down the process known as the greenhouse effect, which is very detrimental to the Earth.

3. Because you do not have to rely on fuel to provide the energy to your home you are not likely to incur the kinds of costs that others have to face. This has become even more apparent in the last few months because we have seen an increase in the cost of a barrel of oil.

Disadvantages to Using Solar Power

1. The main disadvantage, which can often put people off considering having a solar energy system installed, is the cost. Because of the components that make up the system are expensive so having one installed can be. But as more and more people start to weigh up the pros against the cons of having such a system installed, then we are likely to see manufacturers and installers becoming more competitive in order to win business.

2. The other disadvantage that comes with having such a system installed is that if it does not get sufficient sunlight then it will not be able to store the energy that is required. Therefore before having a system installed you need to look closely at where you live and how much sunlight where you live actually gets each year. If you are in a location where sunlight is rare then such a system is really not a viable option.

Above we have shown you a few pros and cons of solar power. But on the whole if you live in a location where you get sufficient amounts of sunlight and are looking to become a little greener in order to save the planet, then getting such a system installed may be a wise investment for you

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Two solar power technologies exist, the passive and the active technology. The passive technology are the photocell panels or the photovoltaic film that receives sunlight and generates electricity more apt for a space station or a home. The active technology is a solar thermal that uses a dish to concentrate sunlight that produces steam, which in turn powers a turbine that generates electricity. Another active technology, which is not being promoted, hidden form public view, is using the Stirling Engine to move a power generator.

The passive technology is ready to go, and there are a few homes that have already installed the system. This system is totally clean, backed by the USDOE Solar American Initiative, it requires sufficient space on the roof to position the panels or film, and uses an inverter to turn direct current into alternate current homes can use. The Utility companies have also developed the Net Metering system to buy electricity on their terms, from homes that have generate a surplus of electricity. The new federal tax law "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" effective January 2009 provides a 30% tax credit of the cost of a solar system. Some States are also providing large incentives to install solar systems, although with the current economic crisis these paybacks can be curtailed or delayed. The rest of the payback has to come from real savings generated over time by the system from the Utility company. This passive solar system is expensive as of today, and payback is obtained in 8 years of savings. Photovoltaic film or photocell panels are low efficiency and voltage, and compare badly with the option of buying electricity from the utility company. Currently you require from 13 to 15 photocell panels to generate the 2.5 to 3.0 Kilowatt hours generating capacity.

Walmart has established a pilot plan to install photovoltaic panels in several of their stores. If the system produces a return, they will massively implement it in all their stores, since they have sufficient roof space currently not utilized.

The Solar-thermal system is not adequate for homes and mainly will be used for large Utility companies. However, the active system based on a Stirling engine to power a generator which could be applicable for homes, is not available for massive distribution. Although all of its components have been developed, no one has yet integrated the solar power generating kit, or a home appliance. This home system or appliance should be very low cost because it requires: a solar collector or dish which could cost around $200 USD, a stiriling engine with a cost of $350, the 3 KW per hour power generator with a cost of $350, and the battery bank which is the expensive ticket item and could run several thousand dollars, to store electricity if the system is a stand alone not tied to the power grid. If the home is currently supplied by a utility company, then the battery bank is not needed and the Net Metering system with the public utility company can be used. In addition to the sun collector dish the rest of the system can be packaged in two boxes. One which has the stiriling engine and power generator, and the other with the battery if you are a location not tied to the grid. It can also have a gas heater installation as a backup to when there is a lack of sunlight making this a very reliable alternative.

Apparently, there are companies in America, New Zealand, India, Sweden, and other countries trying to develop the stiriling engine . A few companies are receiving funding from investment funds to develop the stiriling engine for this home appliance. Infinia Corporation, a US company has a head start, because they are currently producing a big sterling engine to power up 10 homes at a time and installing many of them in a centralized solar farm in California. Other companies should not be discouraged because markets are so huge, there will be enough room for all suppliers. Just in United States alone there is a potential of 124 million homes that could use the solar power appliance, plus commercial and industrial sites.

Having the home powering appliance, can be the initial steps for returning to sustainable systems. Today, the sun is light and warmth, provided to us from God and Nature, free for all of us to use and enjoy. A home solar powered generator would provide clean energy, and allow equal footing to all nations rich and poor, to devote their funding into other worthwhile social services such as health and education. Rich nations which have electrical grids and power generation capacity would suddenly feel there would be no need to continue increasing Power generation capacities and hopefully they would discontinue all those plants that contaminate. Please see Poverty generation:  http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/poverty-and-the-new-world-order-809385.html

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