Solar History: Solar Power Systems in the 1920’s
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Solar energy actually dates back over 2,500 years ago. While nowhere as complex as systems today, the Romans used the sun as a natural heat source to the point where they had to enact laws regarding sun rights.
Commercially, solar power made its debut in the late 1800’s. After black boxes started dotting the rooftops of Baltimore, Charles Kemp patented the first solar water heating system. The original systems were basic: the back boxes held water that were heated throughout the day. Kemp combined this style with the scientific principle of a hot box and the Climax was born.
Known as the simple batch system, the Climax cost $25 and would save homeowners around $9 a year. Sales to wealthier Marylanders supported the business originally, but Kemp would later move to the sun-rich grounds of California. By 1900, the Kemp had sold over 1,600 systems.
By 1909, William Bailey transformed the solar heating system, fixing one of the major flaws of the Climax. Since Kemp’s system was entirely housed outside, it meant hot water was only possible during sunlight. The water would cool off as soon as the sun sank below the horizon.
Called the Day and Night, William Bailey invented and patented a thermosyphon system, which kept the heating component outside to reach the sun, but stored the heated water inside so it would retain heat. Bailey also targeted sunny California to sell his solar energy system, and soon put Kemp out of business. The Day and Night sold over 4000 units from 1909 through 1918.
As production of the solar thermosyphon system prospered during the 1920’s, economics soon made the solar heat irrelevant. With the discovery of large amounts of natural gas in California, the cost to heat water plummeted and solar energy systems could no longer compete for business. Bailey did invent a gas version of the Day and Night that flourished in Florida, but the mass production of electricity made the new system obsolete as well.
Today, the tides have changed. While solar energy is still requires an upfront investment, new technology, financial incentives, and the increasing cost of oil make solar once again a financially viable option (see how much you can save with our Solar Savings Calculator).
Choosing the right solar for your home
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Solar Energy World offers two ways to use solar energy in your home: solar electric and solar thermal systems. Both allow you to create a tangible investment in your home while reaping some of the incentives for yourself.
Solar electric systems use photovoltaic panels in conjunction with a regular source of electricity provided by your utility company. The panels capture solar energy and convert it, then power it back into your electric system. If you don’t use the solar power generated energy, it goes back into the grid and you’re credited with it.
Solar thermal systems heat water, one of the biggest energy consumers in your home. Sunlight will heat your water from about 50 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The resulting energy savings can be drastic!
Solar Energy World can help you navigate the best solar energy systems and help you choose the right ones for your home. Contact us to get started!
World Water Day 2011: Solar Power in the News
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Happy World Water Day 2011! In honor of today’s global event, let’s take a moment to talk about how solar energy can save water, the environment and money!
According to National Geographic Freshwater Fellow Sandra Postel, energy production around the world is the second-largest “slice” of global water usage, behind diet. Yet another reason why dirty energy is unsustainable. She writes:
“Thermoelectric generation accounts for 49 percent of the water withdrawn from the nation’s water sources, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In fact, the single biggest draw on U. S. rivers and lakes is not toilets, golf courses, or even irrigated farms. It’s thermal power plants that generate electricity to light our homes and cities, run appliances and factories, and generally keep our plugged-in society humming.”
Basically, water is used in the production of energy. And a LOT more is used in the production of dirty electricity, such as from coal, oil, natural gas, or uranium.
What if instead of using “40 gallons of water per day to power your refrigerator,” your fridge ran on solar electricity! Additionally, heating your hot water with solar thermal electricity saves water as well.
In 
the Midwest, a St. Paul convention center just unveiled the largest solar thermal system in the region. The $2 million system has enough panels to cover half of a football field, and will generate 1 megawatt of electricity per year! That’s the equivalent of about 1,000 homes turning off their faucets while they brush their teeth for a day.
Solar thermal is a great way to up your water efficiency. Heating your hot water is roughly 30% of the average home energy bill. Think of the (water) (money) (electricity) you can save!
Energy Tip: Shave more off your energy bill with a simple DIY improvement
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Lowering the temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees can create even greater energy savings. Setting the thermostat down will save energy without losing the comfort of a long and relaxing bath.
According to the DOE, for each 10 degrees reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3-5% in energy costs.
Reducing your temperature to 120 degrees also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. It also helps the water heater operate a maximum efficiency.
Water heating accounts for approximately 20-30% of your energy bill so taking smart measures to reduce energy costs can be as simple as reducing the temperature on the heater. If you really want to shave off more, consider solar hot water.
This video shows you how solar hot water systems work.
Commercial Benefits of Solar
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You might think that commercial solar arrays are expensive. The reality is this: it’s costly NOT to go solar. Here’s the breakdown (what you’re missing!):
- The typical ROI (return on investment) is between 12-30%!
- The federal government subsidizes your system by 30% (uncapped)
- The state of Maryland (as an example) offers up to $2.5 million per system in tax incentives, and many counties in the state also offer credits or grants. Other states offer credits and grants as well.
- Increase the resale value significantly without adding to property tax liability
- Write off 100% depreciation in the first year
- Reduction in operating costs while electricity costs skyrocket throughout the country
- “Hedge” against the rising energy costs
- Promote your business’ efforts at going green
These are a handful of the benefits of going solar for businesses.
Business owners also have options to meet their needs, as Solar Energy World offers a type of “rent-to-own” option called “Power Purchase Agreements” or the ability to own your own system and fast-track MAXIMUM savings and earnings.
Learn more about our company’s commercial solar energy options, and the government incentives for solar power that are available.
Remember, “Go green, save green!“
Five Myths of Solar Power
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With so much information available to consumers, it’s no wonder that some people have many misconceptions about the benefits of solar power. We’re here to bust those myths! Here are five common misconceptions about solar power:
MYTH #1: Solar devices require more energy to manufacture than they produce in their lifetime.
FACT:
In a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conclusively demonstrates that energy payback for photovoltaic (PV) power is, in the worst case, less than 4 years. Given that PV module lifetimes are generally in excess of 30 years, a PV system will produce far more energy than it consumes over its lifetime.
Energy output and input ratios for concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar thermal devices are even more favorable, given their simple manufacture. This myth has its origins in the early history of PV power, when devices were essentially custom-fabricated for military, space and research markets.
MYTH #2: Solar won’t work where I live.
FACT:
Solar thermal is dependent on heat and PV Solar devices are dependent on light – and this light does not need to be direct.
More important than place-to-place variations in solar intensity is the price of daytime electricity where you live and the existence of state incentives for clean energy.
MYTH #3: Photovoltaics cannot significantly offset environmental emissions.
FACT:
PV systems produce no atmospheric emissions or greenhouse gases. Compared to fossil-generated electricity, each kilowatt of PV electricity annually offsets up to:
- 16 kilograms of nitrogen oxides
- 9 kilograms of sulfur oxides
- 2,300 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2)
If the industry grows by the 25% per year as predicted PV in the United States will offset 10 million metric tons of CO2 per year by 2027 — equivalent to the annual increase emitted by U.S. fossil fuel electricity generation. This means that the emission rate will become negative thereafter as the PV contribution grows!
MYTH #4: Photovoltaic systems are too expensive and will never compete with “the big boys” of power generation. Besides, you can never get the energy out that it takes to produce the system.
FACT:
The energy payback period is dropping rapidly. For example, it takes today’s typical crystalline silicon module about 4 years to generate more energy than went into making the module in the first place. The next generation of silicon modules, which will employ a different grade of silicon and use thinner layers of semiconductor material, will have an energy payback of about 2 years. This means that these modules will produce “free” and clean energy for the remaining 28 years of their expected life.
MYTH #5: Solar power systems are too expensive for widespread usage.
FACT:
Solar PV technologies have declined in price every year since they were introduced onto the market, driven by improved research and development, and most of all by steady increases in sales volume. (In 1954, approximately one watt of PV generating devices was manufactured. In 2004, approximately one billion watts will be manufactured worldwide.)
Every solar panel purchased makes the next one cheaper, in stark contrast to nonrenewable sources, which become scarcer and more expensive with every ton that is burned.
PV has recently exploded into a number of industrial markets, where it is quite simply the lowest -cost source of power available. These include highway warning signs, rural irrigation applications and remote electrical and communications devices. Similarly, for any application more than about half a mile away from the electrical grid, a solar system will likely prove less expensive than will power line construction.
The most rapidly-growing segment of the solar industry is for “grid connected” systems – rooftop solar panels on homes or businesses that remain connected to the conventional electrical grid. In some cases, as where electricity is more expensive during the middle of the day, or when solar is used to support power-critical applications (e.g. banking, microchip manufacturing), the economics are very compelling without further incentives. In other places, comparatively modest state or federal incentives can make solar a great investment for home or business owners that better with every year.
Solar Photovoltaic vs. Solar Thermal
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One of the most asked questions we get is whether a person should get solar photovoltaic panels or solar thermal panels. While the answer to that question lies in how much direct sunlight a roof gets, how big a roof is, and other factors, we thought it’d be helpful to first understand the differences between the two types of solar panel systems.
Solar Photovoltaic
Also called solar electric, photovoltaics are primarily used to provide energy to your home. They consist of an array of photovoltaic cells, made of silicon, that capture sunlight and convert it into energy. These systems integrate with your electric company’s power grid, off-setting the amount of energy you receive from the power company. Solar electric systems allow you to receive the financial benefits of both SRECs and Net Metering.
Solar Thermal
Solar Thermal systems, also called solar water heating systems, collect the sun’s energy and use it to heat the water in your house. The panels contain tubes filled with glycol, a non-toxic liquid similar to anti-freeze. Solar thermal panels trap the sun’s heat, which heats the glycol. Then, the glycol is moved through the tubes to a heat transfer system that heats your water. Depending on the size of the system, you can heat the water you use for bathing and washing. Or, if your home is heated with water radiant heat and can support a larger system, you could heat your entire house! Either way, you’ll save a lot of money on your electricity bill.
How to choose the right system
There are many factors that go into choosing which type of solar panel system to install. Here are a few questions that we typically ask when we do a solar analysis:
- Do you want to reduce or eliminate your electric bill?
- Are you concerned about future energy costs?
- Do you want to have a positive impact on the environment?
- Are you concerned about the appearance of a solar panel system?
- How much space do you have?
- Do you want to improve the resale value of your home?
- How much are you currently paying for electricity?