Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
any case utilizing renewable energy requires the homeowner to have some technical
knowledge and the willingness to experiment. I suggest starting with a simple solar
power system to understand the principles of creating electrical energy from the sun
and storing the energy for later use.
Using solar power to supplement electricity needs involves many different cri-
teria. One of the most important, if you intend to put the solar panels on your roof,
is to determine the orientation of your roof to the sun. The most ideal situation is to
have a roof slope that faces south. This allows you to get the most hours of sunlight
per day onto your solar panels. You should also investigate the incentives from the
federal, state and local governments. These incentives sometimes allow tax credits
for installing solar panels at your home in order to offset the cost of the equipment.
There are different types of solar power systems.
Off grid
systems always include
backup batteries to store the energy for use when the sun is not shining.
Grid tied
systems do not have battery backups but sometimes provide energy back onto the
electric grid. When the sun is shining, this can result in earning credits on your elec-
tric bill. In
grid connected
systems there is a connection to the utility grid but also
a bank of backup batteries. There are also portable solar systems that can charge
small electrical appliances like phones computers radios and televisions. A simpli-
fied solar power system includes the solar panels themselves, a charge controller, an
inverter to convert the solar panel direct current electricity into alternating current
that is useful for the home, batteries to store the electricity and the wiring to connect
them all. Some systems, more simplified and specific, do not need the inverter or
the batteries.
Much smaller, more specialized, solar power systems help to provide energy to
specific areas of the home. For instance, a solar water heater consisting of a series
of black heat conducting tubes placed on the roof circulates liquid through a heat
exchanger transferring heat from the sun's rays into water. These systems are useful
for supplementing the home hot water supply or heating a swimming pool. Solar
water pumps are a great way to pump water for irrigation systems. Another excel-
lent small solar power system is the solar attic fan to add a little extra power to the
process of purging hot air from the attic. The possibilities for using solar power are
almost limitless. There are even examples of solar electric fences to place around
gardens and prevent wild animals from destroying garden plants. Another more pas-
sive example of solar energy use is the solar light tube which is similar to a skylight.
Light travels down a tube and then into a home and acts like a recessed ceiling light.
Wind power is another excellent way to supplement the home electrical energy
needs. Wind systems, tied to the electric grid just like solar power systems, also
provide energy back to the electric grid and earn credits on the homeowner's elec-
tric bill. It's important to determine the wind speed in your area to decide if you are
in a location where utilizing wind as an energy source is beneficial. Obviously, if
your home is high on a hill the more wind you will have. Similar incentives exist
for these systems as with solar power systems. Wind generating systems are usually
mounted on tall towers 24 to 50 ft tall adjacent to the home.
If you happen to have a fast flowing stream next to your home it may be possible
to use hydroelectric power to supplement your home energy needs. Criteria such
