There are four
major
components to solar electric systems
Solar
Panels,
Charge
Controllers,
Batteries
Inverters
.All of these components are necessary to have
a functioning Solar Electric (PV) system.
SOLAR
PANEL is the basic building block of the
system.This is your battery charger. If you have several solar modules
wired together you have created a solar array. The size of the solar
array determines the amount of power or energy that will be produced.
Your location is also a factor in the amount of energy produced. If you
live in Florida, Southern California, or Texas you will produce more
than if you live in Oregon, Maine or Maryland. In general the closer to
the equator you live your system will produce a larger amount of energy.
CHARGE
CONTROLLERS come in many different sizes and types.They
all basically do the same thing. The charge controller prevents the
solar panel or array from overcharging your battery.
BATTERIES
are the energy storage for your system. Without batteries there is no
way to store the energy your solar panels produce during the day.
Typically loads receive their power from batteries instead of directly
from the output of a solar panel. A solar panel produces a high voltage
that will damage electronics if loads are powered directly. A common
application for solar panels directly powering a load is water pumping.
Instead of storing energy you store water. This way you can pump during
the day and have water all night. Batteries will provide you with the
energy you need at night.
INVERTER
converts the DC energy stored in your batteries and turns it into the
AC power you use in your home. Inverters are rated by wattage and the
quality of their output. You can use a 50 watt inverter that plugs into
your car 12 volt outlet to power a computer, or you could have a 4000
to 11,000 watt inverter system that powers your home. These major
components can be put together in many different ways. Minor components
like wire, disconnects,circuit breakers, and fuses are also needed for
a complete system.
WIND POWER Image
from the American Wind Energy Association
Wind energy
is a form of solar energy created by the uneven heating of the Earth's
surface by the sun. Most small wind turbines use a horizontal axis
propeller, or rotor, to capture the kinetic energy of the wind and
convert it into rotary motion to drive a generator, which usually is
designed specifically for the wind turbine. The rotor consists of two
or three blades, usually made from wood or fiberglass. (These materials
give the turbine the needed strength and flexibility, and have the
added advantage of not interfering with television signals.) The
structural backbone of the wind turbine is called the mainframe, and it
includes the "slip-rings" that connect the wind turbine - which rotates
as it points itself into changing wind directions - and the fixed tower
wiring. The tail aligns the rotor into the wind. To avoid
turbulence and capture greater wind energy, turbines are mounted on
towers. As a rule of thumb, turbines should be mounted at least 30 feet
above any structures or natural features within 300 feet of the
installation. Smaller turbines can go on shorter towers. For example, a
250-watt turbine may be mounted on a 30-50 foot tower, while a 10 kW
turbine will usually need a tower of 80-120 feet. Towers come in a
variety of designs, including tubular or latticed, guyed or
self-supporting. Wind turbine manufacturers also offer towers, and can
ensure that the tower meets required building and safety specifications
as well as being compatible with the turbine. awea.org
Florida has
very low wind speeds. The outcome from a wind generator may
not be what you may be expecting. Our Air X Marine is
excellent for charging equipment in boats. We are still researching
land wind generators for use in Florida. We refuse to
knowingly sell something that will not work well.
SOLAR HOT WATER
Solar Water
Heating for Buildings
Most solar
water-heating systems for buildings have two main parts: (1) a solar
collector and (2) a storage tank. The most common collector used in
solar hot water systems is the flat-plate collector.
Solar water
heaters use the sun to heat either water or a heat-transfer fluid in
the collector. Heated water is then held in the storage tank ready for
use, with a conventional system providing additional heating as
necessary. The tank can be a modified standard water heater, but it is
usually larger and very well insulated. Solar water heating systems can
be either active or passive, but the most common are active systems.
Did you know
that Solar hot water systems were widely popular in the
1890s?
I found many interesting facts like this from this site
http://energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter15.html
"In
the 1890s solar water heaters were being used all over the United
States. They proved to be a big improvement over wood and coal-burning
stoves. Artificial gas made from coal was available too to heat water
but it cost 10 times the price we pay for natural gas today.
Electricity was even more expensive if you even had any in your town!
Many
homes used solar water heaters. In 1897, 30 percent of the homes in
Pasadena, just east of Los Angeles, were equipped with solar water
heaters. As mechanical improvements were made, solar systems were used
in Arizona, Florida and many other sunny parts of the United States.
The
picture shown here is a solar water heater installed on the front roof
of a house in Pomona Valley, California, in 1911 (the panels are
circled above the four windows).
By 1920, ten of thousands of
solar water heaters had been sold. By then, however, large deposits of
oil and natural gas were discovered As these low cost fuels
became
available, solar water systems began to be replaced with heaters
burning fossil fuels.
Active solar
water heaters
Active solar
water heaters rely on electric pumps, and controllers to
circulate water, or other heat-transfer fluids through the collectors.
These are the three types of active solar water-heating systems:
Direct-circulation systems use pumps to circulate
pressurized potable water directly through the collectors. These
systems are appropriate in areas that do not freeze for long periods
and do not have hard or acidic water. These systems are not approved by
the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (SRCC) if they use
recirculation freeze protection (circulating warm tank water during
freeze conditions) because that requires electrical power for the
protection to be effective.
Indirect-circulation systems pump heat-transfer fluids
through collectors. Heat exchangers transfer the heat from the fluid to
the potable water. Some indirect systems have "overheat protection,"
which is a means to protect the collector and the glycol fluid from
becoming super-heated when the load is low and the intensity of
incoming solar radiation is high. The two most common indirect systems
are:
Antifreeze. The heat transfer fluid is usually a
glycol-water mixture with the glycol concentration depending on the
expected minimum temperature. The glycol is usually food-grade
propylene glycol because it is non-toxic.
Drainback systems, a type of indirect system, use
pumps to circulate water through the collectors. The water in the
collector loop drains into a reservoir tank when the pumps stop. This
makes drainback systems a good choice in colder climates. Drainback
systems must be carefully installed to assure that the piping always
slopes downward, so that the water will completely drain from the
piping. This can be difficult to achieve in some circumstances.
Passive solar
water heaters
Passive solar
water heaters rely on gravity and the tendency for water to naturally
circulate as it is heated. Because they contain no electrical
components, passive systems are generally more reliable, easier to
maintain, and possibly have a longer work life than active systems. The
two most popular types of passive systems are:
Integral-collector storage systems consist of one or more
storage tanks placed in an insulated box with a glazed side facing the
sun. These solar collectors are suited for areas
where temperatures rarely go below freezing. They are also good in
households with significant daytime and evening hot-water needs; but
they do not work well in households with predominantly morning draws
because they lose most of the collected energy overnight.
Thermosyphon systems are an economical and reliable choice,
especially in new homes. These systems rely on the natural convection
of warm water rising to circulate water through the collectors and to
the tank (located above the collector). As water in the solar collector
heats, it becomes lighter and rises naturally into the tank above.
Meanwhile, the cooler water flows down the pipes to the bottom of the
collector, enhancing the circulation. Some manufacturers place the
storage tank in the house's attic, concealing it from view. Indirect
thermosyphons (that use a glycol fluid in the collector loop) can be
installed in freeze-prone climates if the piping in the unconditioned
space is adequately protected.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Remember, when you buy a system from us , we go
over in depth what you need for your specific rebate.
We also offer in house workshops called "Solar
101" They last
a little over an hour and when we are finished , you will be much more
knowledgable about alternative energy. $10.00 gets you a slide show,
Q&A session, free beverages and a gift from us.
We give deep discounts to our products for the people whom attend our
workshops. We also give a discount for future site inspections for a PV
array to anyone who attends our wokshop/lectures.
Sign up by sending an email to sales@windandsolarnow.com Put
workshop signup in subject.
Links for Kids up to age 99
http://energyquest.ca.gov/index.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=kids.kids_index
http://www.touchstoneenergykids.com/farm.php
Financing.
The price of a PV system can be very daunting and unaffordable. Who has
20,000 lying around, right? Skyecrafts Solar Store understands this and
we do have some options that we can suggest for PV installation.
We are partnered up with Synovius bank and they will give assistance to our customers who are qualified.
Here is a listing of some other options:
Energy Efficient Mortgages
Last DSIRE Review: 10/02/2008
Incentive Type: Federal Loan Program
Eligible Efficiency Technologies: Yes; specific technologies not identified
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Passive Solar
Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics,
Daylighting
Applicable Sectors: Residential
Website: http://www.resnet.us/ratings/mortgages/default.htm
Summary:
Homeowners can take advantage of energy
efficient mortgages (EEM) to finance a variety of energy efficiency
measures, including renewable energy technologies, in a new or existing
home. The U.S. federal government supports these loans by insuring them
through Federal Housing Authority (FHA) or Veterans Affairs (VA)
programs. This allows borrowers who might otherwise be denied loans to
pursue energy efficiency improvements, and it secures lenders against
loan default.
The federal Energy Star program has a partnership program for lenders
whereby lenders who provide EEMs to borrowers may become Energy Star
lender partners. These EEMs may or may not be used to purchase an
Energy Star qualified home. Becoming a partner allows lenders to
utilize the Energy Star brand to promote themselves as Energy Star
partners offering EEMs. To become a lender partner lenders must first
provide proof that they know how to write EEMs. To maintain their
partnership benefits, lenders must write a certain number of EEMs per
year. Energy Star does not have a lender certification program or
process. Click here for more information about Energy Star's lender
partnership program. As of August 2008, the federal Energy Star program
lists 61 private lenders who offer homebuyer assistance, HERS
assistance, special financing, and other assistance to applicants
buying homes with the Energy Star rating. Energy Star requires that its
lender partners provide EEMs to qualified borrowers regardless of
whether it is an FHA EEM, Fannie Mae EEM, or VA EEM.
FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
The FHA allows lenders to add up to 100% of energy efficiency
improvements to an existing mortgage loan by insuring a loan of up to
5% of a home’s appraised value with certain restrictions. FHA
mortgage limits vary by county, state and the number of units in a
dwelling. See www.fha.com/lending_limits.cfm for more details.
Loan amounts may not exceed the projected savings of the energy
efficiency improvements. These loans may be combined with FHA 203 (h)
mortgages available to victims of presidentially-declared disasters and
with financing offered through the FHA 203 (k) rehabilitation program.
FHA loan limits do not apply to the EEM. Homebuyers must submit a Home
Energy Rating (HER), contractor bids, and a FHA B Worksheet. This
process may become streamlined in 2009 as a result of the Housing and
Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which requires HUD to report to congress
with ways to remove the administrative barriers and increase consumer
participation and awareness of these financing options.
Presently, up to $200 of the cost of the HER may be included in the
mortgage, and borrowers may include closing costs and the up-front
mortgage insurance premium in the total cost of the loan. The loan is
available to anyone who meets the income requirements for FHA’s
Section 203 (b), provided the applicant can meet the monthly mortgage
payments. New and existing owner-occupied homes of up to two units
qualify for this loan. Cooperative units are not eligible. Homebuyers
should submit applications to their local HUD Field Office through an
FHA-approved lending institution, or they can apply directly online at
www.fha.com/energy_efficient.cfm. See also
www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Energy Efficient Mortgages
The VA insures EEMs to be used in conjunction with VA loans either for
the purchase of existing homes or for refinancing loans secured by the
dwelling. Homebuyers may borrow up to $3,000 if only documentation of
improvement costs or contractor bids is submitted, or up to $6,000 if
the projected energy savings are greater than the increase in mortgage
payments. Loans may exceed this amount at the discretion of the VA.
Applicants may not include the cost of their own labor in the total
amount. No additional home appraisal is needed, but applicants must
submit a HER, contractor bids and certain other documentation. The VA
insures 50% of the loan if taken by itself, but it may insure less if
the total value of the mortgage exceeds a certain amount.
This mortgage is available to qualified military personnel, reservists
and veterans. (See www.homeloans.va.gov/elig2.htm for more details).
Applicants should secure a certificate of eligibility from their local
lending office and submit it to a VA-approved private lender. If the
loan is approved, the VA guarantees the loan when it is closed.
Conventional EEMs
Like Energy Star mortgages, conventional mortgages are not backed by a
federal agency. Private lenders sell loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac, which in turn allow homebuyers to borrow up to 15% of an existing
home’s appraised value for improvements documented by a
HER.
Fannie Mae also lends up to 5% for Energy Star new homes. Fannie Mae
EEMs are available to single-family, owner-occupied units, and Fannie
Mae provides EEMs to those whose income might otherwise disqualify them
from receiving the loans by allowing approved lenders to adjust
borrowers’ debt-to-income ratio by 2%. The value of the
improvements is immediately added to the total appraised value of the
home.
Freddie Mac offers EEMs for one- to four-unit dwellings and also helps
raise the effective income of the borrower to qualifying levels by
allowing lenders to increase the borrower’s income by a dollar
amount equal to the estimated energy savings. Any energy efficiency
improvements can qualify, and these mortgages can be combined with both
fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. Borrowers should apply
directly to the lender. See
www.natresnet.org/resources/lender/default.htm for more details.
LAWS FOR HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS
The 2000 Florida Statutes
Title XI
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Chapter 163
Intergovernmental Programs View Entire Chapter
163.04 Energy devices based on renewable resources.--
(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other
provision of general or special law, the adoption of an ordinance by a
governing body, as those terms are defined in this chapter, which
prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar
collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable
resources is expressly prohibited.
(2) No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding
agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of
prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices
based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected
on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or
binding agreements. A property owner may not be denied permission to
install solar collectors or other energy devices based on renewable
resources by any entity granted the power or right in any deed
restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid,
control, or direct alteration of property with respect to residential
dwellings not exceeding three stories in height. For purposes of this
subsection, such entity may determine the specific location where solar
collectors may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the
south or within 45° east or west of due south provided that such
determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar
collectors.
(3) In any litigation arising under the provisions of this
section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to costs and reasonable
attorney's fees.
(4) The legislative intent in enacting these provisions is to
protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the
development and use of renewable resources in order to conserve and
protect the value of land, buildings, and resources by preventing the
adoption of measures which will have the ultimate effect, however
unintended, of driving the costs of owning and operating commercial or
residential property beyond the capacity of private owners to maintain.
This section shall not apply to patio railings in condominiums,
cooperatives, or apartments
Image
from the American Wind Energy Association
The
picture shown here is a solar water heater installed on the front roof
of a house in Pomona Valley, California, in 1911 (the panels are
circled above the four windows).