100% Solar-Powered House: a Realistic Goal or an Unattainable Dream

 

Living in a 100% solar-powered house is a dream for many people who care for nature and aim to have a green lifestyle. Is it a realistic goal or an unattainable dream? In fact, this is a real possibility, and today there are many houses that run on solar power alone. It is certainly possible for a residential solar power system to collect and store enough solar energy to power an entire household. Even if you have a large house, there is a possibility to switch completely to solar energy using batteries.  A solar power system and solar thermal system (or PVT photovoltaic thermal hybrid) can provide solar electricity, hot water, heating, and cooling so, you can run your house solely on solar energy throughout the whole year. Of course, going solar entirely is not as easy as it seems, and it is definitely not cheap. Also, you have to consider some basic things before going off-grid. And you have to be very precise during the planning.

First, you should determine your energy needs – how much energy your house typically uses. You may see your previous electricity bills, as well as, calculate your electricity needs using online calculators. Also, important factors are the size of your house, how many people live there, the roof’s surface, what direction the roof faces, trees around that may shade, your location, and peak sunlight hours. You may take a look at meteorological data for your area, too. This information will help you plan a solar panel system that will make enough electricity. Concerning the weather forecast, you should be prepared for the worst scenario.

Solar energy is free, but to convert this energy to electricity, you will need equipment that is expensive, especially if you want to power your entire house. You will need a solid initial investment before reaching the moment when you and your family will enjoy free and clean electricity. But think of it as a long-term investment. Although to use solar energy you will need the equipment and installing that equipment, which comes at a high price, solar energy is now among the least expensive forms of renewable energy. And if you care for the environment and want to have a green lifestyle, going solar is the right step.

There are also energy-related incentives and rebates that will help you reduce the cost of your solar power system. Keep in mind that the benefits vary in different countries and different states that’s why you have to check them carefully. Taking advantage of grants, tax credits, and per-watt rebates might make the initial investment more affordable for you.

To power your entire home with solar energy you will need to buy more solar panels. But the number of solar panels is not all that matters. Their quality, panel output, and efficiency are important, as well. Most residential solar panels have between 16%-20% efficiency (22% are the best). If you can afford to buy more efficient solar panels, then you would need less space. It is essential to find a good solar installation company that will help you choose the best solar panels for your home and design, and install your solar panel system. It is great to do your own research and have as much information as you can gather before going solar, but professional help and advice are absolutely needed. 

In general, the average home in the United States uses 10,715 kWh of electricity per year. If you buy the average 340-watt solar panel, you’d need around 20-24 solar panels to generate enough energy to power your entire home. But as I wrote above, you have to consider many other factors.

Living in a 100% solar-powered house is possible with a solid initial investment and a proper setup. It will make your home more eco-friendly, and it will be good for the environment. Besides, this is a long-term investment and powering, heating, and cooling your home with solar energy will save you a lot of money in the future.

Source: https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/run-house-on-solar-power.htm

"100% Solar-Powered House: a Realistic Goal or an Unattainable Dream"

Solar Pool Covers/Blankets

Solar pool accessories such as solar covers or blankets can help you maintain the temperature in your outdoor swimming pool comfortable, extend your swimming pool season, and save money. Solar swimming pool covers made of heavy-duty polyethylene material are specifically designed to capture the sun’s free heat, transmit it to the pool water and prevents night time heat loss.

A solar pool cover is the least expensive kind of swimming pool cover. For about $75 - $150, it can raise water temperature anywhere from 10-15 degrees F, by absorbing sunlight during the day and retaining the heat at night. A solar pool cover can reduce heating costs by up to 75%.

The new generation of solar swimming pool covers let the sun’s rays to pass through to warm the water. They resemble giant colored sheets with tiny air pockets or “bubbles”. The absorbent coloring increases solar heating, while the tiny 'bubbles' magnify the sun. It is most popular to get clear or blue pool covers, but there are also black, silver and gold.

Solar swimming pool covers are classified by the thickness of the plastic they are made from. The thickness is measured in microns. The bigger the micron count the longer the cover will last.

Solar cover float freely on top of a pool without tie-down or anchor to hold it in place. You can remove a solar cover just by pull it off and store it. However, folding a giant wet blanket by yourself can be a difficult task, especially if you have a very large swimming pool, so a helper or the aid of a solar pool cover reel makes the task much easier. Solar covers are usually folded and stored or rolled-up on a large reel and wheeled out of the way.

Solar pool covers/blankets have some other benefits as well:

• they prevent water from evaporation from the pool
• reduce the amount of expensive chemicals consumed by 35 to 60 percent
• they can also help to keep the water clean and reduce cleaning time

But is important to keep in mind that although any cover will reduce some of the debris that enters a pool, solar pool covers are not specifically designed for cleanliness, nor to be used as safety covers, and access to the pool must be restricted for young children and animals. And they should be completely removed before swimming because the solar covers clings to the surface and could trap a swimmer under water.

Solar pool cover/blanket are the most practical and economical way to save on your swimming pool heating costs. They might actually be thought of passive solar heating for your pool and can be used on their own as well as in addition to a pool heating system. Solar pool covers work equally as well on both above ground and in-ground swimming pools.

Solar Pool Heater
VORTEX 4x12 Panels
Standard System Kit

Types of Solar Pool Collectors

Solar pool collectors are available on the market in many different types to accommodate the many different varieties of pools and conditions. Generally, there are two main solar pool collector types - unglazed collectors and collectors with a glass covering (glazing). The type you need depends on the climate in your region. Unglazed solar collectors operate only when temperatures are above freezing and they are highly cost effective for outdoor pool heating. They are generally made of thermoplastic rubber (types of solar pool collectors called flexible rubber mat) or polypropylene plastic treated with an ultraviolet (UV) light inhibitor to extend the life of the panels. Currently, the solar industry is widely using black polypropylene plastic collectors. These solar panels may be either rigid or have individual pipes running lengthwise. Individual collectors are normally 4'x8', 4'x10', or 4'x12'.

Glazed solar collectors are similar to domestic hot water heating systems but they are not normally used to heat swimming pools. Glazed collector systems are generally made of copper tubing on an aluminum plate with a sheet of glass covering to prevent heat loss but it increases their cost. They can be two to three times more expensive per panel than unglazed solar panels. In addition to high costs, high levels of chlorine, or having a salt-water pool, can be extremely corrosive to the copper piping inside glazed panels. But if you plan to use your solar pool collectors in colder climates, or they need to operate all year-round even in sub-zero temperatures, you will probably need glazed collectors.

Before you purchase and install a solar pool heating system you need to determine the size of the collectors. Basically, you should take into consideration the following factors:

• your pool’s location and size
• average regional temperatures
• desired pool temperature
• all year-round uses or uses restricted to a part of the year
• the system’s type, model and efficiency

Solar Pool Heater
VORTEX 4x12 Panels
Standard System Kit