This article will explore the parts of a solar power (also know as a photovoltaic, or PV) system for your home. There are 3 parts to a PV system: The modules (solar panels), the mounting system, and the inverter.

SOLAR MODULES
The solar modules are where the energy is produced. When sunlight hits the silicon panels, electrons are loosened and an electric current is produced. This current is then harnessed and used to produce energy.

There are 4 kinds of solar modules that are available commercially:

Single crystal modules are the oldest, most effective… and most expensive. Their efficiencies range from 10-17%. They are the octagon-shaped modules you see on satellites and spacecraft.

Poly/Multicrystalline modules are the second most efficient, in the range of 9-14%. They are the blue-colored panels you see on the high-end residential solar panels.

String ribbon modules are significantly cheaper than the first two, but have a significant drop off in efficiency, usually 7-8%.

Thin film modules have a thin layer of silicon on top of glass or metal. They are very cheap to make, but their efficiency is usually around 5%. They are the kind of panel you see is solar powered calculators.

For more information on the costs and pricing of solar modules, check out this article on the cost of installing solar panels for your home.

MOUNTING SYSTEMS
The mounting system is a system that makes sure the modules are at an angle that optimizes the direct sunlight they receive, and as such optimize the energy they produce. Mounting systems can be complex (with computerized, automatic adjustments to maximize at every hour) to simple (a metal tray that holds the panels at the best angle on average). For simple mounting systems, as a rule of thumb you want your panels to be at an angle equal to your latitude in degree. So since New York is at 40 degrees latitude, you’d want your panels facing south at 40 degrees to optimize the sunlight you receive.

INVERTERS
The inverter converts the current produced by your modules from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). AC is easier to transport over large distances using power lines than DC is. Because of this, the system was built to send and receive AC, and it’s what our household appliances are built to use. Solar modules produce DC, so an inverter is needed to change is to AC and make it useable.

Good luck and stay prepared!

Read more from RamboMoe at Preparedforthat.com.

Geothermal electricity production is not the same as geothermal air condition systems. I just wanted to get that out of the way as soon as possible, because there are loads of people who mix these concepts us. Geothermal electricity production is only possible in countries where there are enough geothermal reserves for such uses, as the temperatures required to boil water to steam, which is to be sent through a turbine is substantial.

On the other hand, most houses and buildings, no matter where you live, can use geothermal heating and cooling systems. The principles involved in these processes are fairly similar to regular heat and cooling pumps: Free heat energy that is pumped up only a few meters below the surface, can supply both heat and cooling in a building. The essential thing here is that as much as 4 times the heat or cooling energy is delivered per amount of electricity spent, compared to conventional systems. Read about this in detail on geothermal energy pros and cons.

The downsides are the installment and the hassle of actually digging up land nearby your house where a complex pipe system is to be laid. How do you do this? Well, a contractor is in most cases absolutely necessary as this is not a simple case. This of course adds to the total costs in addition to the system itself, and suddenly you are looking at a pretty steep investment cost.

The neat thing about such a system can first be experienced a few years after investments, when the bills are paid down. You know have a dirt-cheap stream of reliable energy into your house. Such a system should be looked upon as an investment. There is no way you could think short term if you were to install it.

We need to transition to renewable energy sources at one point, the sooner the better, and geothermal air conditioning is a perfectly justifiable way of reducing the stress on the electrical grid, which in many parts of the world are supported by polluting and non-renewable sources. If you want to look into more information about geothermal energy I suggest you visit EnergyInformative.

Choosing to use solar powered lights is a smart way to light up your outdoor areas. You can save money on your electricity bill with these lights because they are powered by free solar energy from the sunlight. The environment will also benefit from you using solar power because there are no harmful emissions that lead to global warming like there is with electricity production. Easy installation means you can set up these lights yourself. With no electrical cables to connect, you can put your lights where ever you want.

Solar post lights can be used in some really smart ways around your home for the best benefits. These lights can be placed on the top of most posts, so anywhere you have posts set up, they will just sit on top. The best places will be at your property entrance and driveway to help you and your guests come and go safely at night. At the front entrance to your home they can provide some much needed light as well.

You can also improve the safety and functionality of your deck or patio with solar post lights. When put on the posts that lead into the deck, next to steps, or along the edge of the deck, they will provide you with light that improves safety at night. The extra light will also allow you to enjoy your deck or patio for night time entertaining and dining.

There are some other areas of your home that can benefit from solar fence post lights as well. Pools and ponds will provide lovely reflected light with some solar lights in the right spots. To allow your children to be able to play outside at night, you can place some lights around their playground. You can make it safer to walk around your yard with some of these lights on your border fence posts as well.

The best solar advice is to try some solar post lights to improve your outdoor lighting. Solar energy will provide you with additional safety and visibility around your home in a clean and environmentally friendly way.

There quite a variety of people who find RV fulltiming very appealing. They range from the retired and senior citizens who want to spend their retirement days traveling the country, visiting family and friends in different cities and states while going sightseeing and going on road adventures along the way; to newly married couples who prefer living free from the worrisome life of permanency, opting to travel and work at different places  depending on where their moods take them.

However, living as an RVer will entail having to live a spartan way of life.It requires the ability to live simply, being content on what little luxury the RVs facilities will allow them. Therefore it is very important that these people should look for the right vehicle that will make them most comfortable and at ease. There are quite a variety of recreational vehicles to choose from, depending on the users want and needs for luxuries such as lighting and refrigeration.

Fulltime RVers, who have lived an RVer’s way of life for some years will advise newcomers to choose the right recreation vehicle that will best suit their need and requirements. Recreation vehicles come in different types and classifications, the most common of which are classified as class “C” types of motor homes. These types of motor homes are suitable for couples and a family of four people, providing the amenities of a home such as a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a living room. These types of recreational vehicles are often self contained, providing water, heating and lighting which can be replenished at any RV or trailer campgrounds. RV fulltimers however will caution other new RVers not to depend too much on campground hookups especially when it comes to the lighting system of the unit. RVers spend a lot of time in remote areas which do not have electricity, so they would have to find ways to provide themselves with electricity and lighting. Using solar lighting would be able to help them very much un this aspect.

Solar panels will come handy especially to those who spend a lot of time out in the open, boondocking in the wild, staying at places without any hookups and such. You can have this additional feature in your RV so that you can have lighting even when you go to isolated areas with no electricity. Solar lighting allows you to use solar power as a source of energy so during day time, they would ‘charge up’ thus providing you with lighting during nightime. Having solar lighting is more cost efficient too since you wouldn’t have to buy costly generators that use too much expensive gas. While they may be initially a bit expensive, you would end up saving more since you wouldn’t have to pay for any other electic hook-ups.

It’s far from a boring subject today and when people start talking about the benefits of solar power, others start to listen. This is because everything about it is true. It’s better for the environment, it doesn’t harm the ozone, it’s free, it’s renewable, and it’s sustainable. Who wouldn’t want a fuel that provides all these types of benefits? Solar energy installers are very busy nowadays providing services to those that finally understand that if anyone is going to help save the planet, it starts with one household or business at a time.

Having a solar power system installed will surely save you an astronomical amount of money; however, this isn’t the only reason to have one installed. You are taking the first in many steps to do your part in helping the environment in which you live. By decreasing your environmental footprint you will be less dependent on non-renewable energy and start being more dependent on your own. You will not only be doing your part, but you’ll be doing it using an all natural energy source in the process.

If you are ready to get a solar power system installed, choose solar energy installers that have been in business for awhile. You want an experienced service that can choose the right system for your application. They will need to install your system making sure everything is operating properly and efficiently, allowing you to experience the benefits while you’re doing your part to save the environment.