Comments for Sun in the Afternoon http://www.afternoonsun.net Making Solar energy work Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:42:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Solar Power Benefits by Bob H http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-power-benefits/#comment-32 Bob H Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:42:21 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=26#comment-32 In regard to the warning about the unscrupulous contractors, I would like to suggest consulting with the Better Business Bureau before hiring a contractor you have no knowledge or references for. Also, I have also had extremely good results with Angie’s List for many different jobs that I have had done at my home. In regard to the warning about the unscrupulous contractors, I would like to suggest consulting with the Better Business Bureau before hiring a contractor you have no knowledge or references for. Also, I have also had extremely good results with Angie’s List for many different jobs that I have had done at my home.

]]> Comment on Constructing a Solar Light Tube by Kathy Hjorth http://www.afternoonsun.net/constructing-a-solar-light-tube/#comment-29 Kathy Hjorth Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:37:49 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=79#comment-29 We recently had two of these Light Tubes installed in our home. We have a long ‘L’ shaped hallway with only one very dim ceiling light in the middle. You needed a flashlight just to read the thermostat for the heater. We did go with a contractor, as going into the attic was not an option that we could do ourselves, and it took a very short time and no mess at all. We recently had two of these Light Tubes installed in our home. We have a long ‘L’ shaped hallway with only one very dim ceiling light in the middle. You needed a flashlight just to read the thermostat for the heater.
We did go with a contractor, as going into the attic was not an option that we could do ourselves, and it took a very short time and no mess at all.

]]> Comment on Solar Power Benefits by Rochelle Babcock http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-power-benefits/#comment-28 Rochelle Babcock Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:32:10 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=26#comment-28 If we can identify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would come from a source that is obviously doing great harm to the earth, what I am wondering is; why are there no laws to control this? I have utility bills that come each month that tell me exactly how much power, heating, and water consumption that is used in my household, so is it a stretch to think that they could somehow measure my carbon footprint? Then, I really have to take a moment to realize that it would mean another thing that ‘Big Brother’ is watching me do. What it really boils down to, is that all of us, either as an individual or a multitude, need to get educated about solar power and start incorporating it into our homes, businesses, and all of the other areas of our lives that depend on energy. I have started small on my household and have already realized a savings in my electric bill just by changing to a water heater that utilizes solar power. If we can identify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would come from a source that is obviously doing great harm to the earth, what I am wondering is; why are there no laws to control this?
I have utility bills that come each month that tell me exactly how much power, heating, and water consumption that is used in my household, so is it a stretch to think that they could somehow measure my carbon footprint?
Then, I really have to take a moment to realize that it would mean another thing that ‘Big Brother’ is watching me do.
What it really boils down to, is that all of us, either as an individual or a multitude, need to get educated about solar power and start incorporating it into our homes, businesses, and all of the other areas of our lives that depend on energy.
I have started small on my household and have already realized a savings in my electric bill just by changing to a water heater that utilizes solar power.

]]> Comment on Solar Power Benefits by Fred Greeley http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-power-benefits/#comment-27 Fred Greeley Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:58:10 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=26#comment-27 I, too, had no idea how much of a carbon footprint each of us leaves each year. And for people who aren't careful with their energy consumption, I bet it is way way more! Starting small sounds good, but if you are like me, you begin seeing the big picture really quick, and start doing so much more! I wish more people would just begin to go solar, so we can save Mother Earth. I think with all the savings, many more things could be invented to help save our world. Go solar! I, too, had no idea how much of a carbon footprint each of us leaves each year. And for people who aren’t careful with their energy consumption, I bet it is way way more!

Starting small sounds good, but if you are like me, you begin seeing the big picture really quick, and start doing so much more! I wish more people would just begin to go solar, so we can save Mother Earth.

I think with all the savings, many more things could be invented to help save our world. Go solar!

]]> Comment on Solar Power Inverter by Ernest Wilde http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-power-inverter/#comment-31 Ernest Wilde Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:52:18 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=91#comment-31 One thing to note when installing your panels. Measure the area that you are planning to install them. I did not calculate the fact that I had one tree that would shade 2 of the panels in the afternoon when the sun was at its peak and when the panels needed it the most. Fortunately for me, the tree could be pruned way down and not have to be sacrificed. One thing to note when installing your panels. Measure the area that you are planning to install them. I did not calculate the fact that I had one tree that would shade 2 of the panels in the afternoon when the sun was at its peak and when the panels needed it the most. Fortunately for me, the tree could be pruned way down and not have to be sacrificed.

]]> Comment on Solar Power the Cheap Way by Kathy Hjorth http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-power-the-cheap-way/#comment-21 Kathy Hjorth Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:22:34 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=87#comment-21 After reading this article, I showed it to my family. We sat down with a pad and pen and made a list of all of the things we all could do to lower the cost of energy in our household. It's amazing what kids can come up with when they are included in a Family Pow-Wow. For starters, we were not aware of some of the options that are available to us and at a fraction of the cost we had anticipated. For instance, we had no idea that Solar Skylights existed, as well as the attic vents. Those 2 items are going to be our first investment. Our little family meeting was in the afternoon, but when we looked around, it was simply amazing how many lamps and overhead lights were turned on, while all the curtains remained closed. It will be very interesting in a few months to see how our energy costs are affected with all the changes we plan to make. After reading this article, I showed it to my family. We sat down with a pad and pen and made a list of all of the things we all could do to lower the cost of energy in our household. It’s amazing what kids can come up with when they are included in a Family Pow-Wow.
For starters, we were not aware of some of the options that are available to us and at a fraction of the cost we had anticipated. For instance, we had no idea that Solar Skylights existed, as well as the attic vents. Those 2 items are going to be our first investment.
Our little family meeting was in the afternoon, but when we looked around, it was simply amazing how many lamps and overhead lights were turned on, while all the curtains remained closed.
It will be very interesting in a few months to see how our energy costs are affected with all the changes we plan to make.

]]> Comment on Solar panels made Easy by Kathy Hjorth http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-panels-made-easy/#comment-20 Kathy Hjorth Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:06:42 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=57#comment-20 We purchased our home 17 years ago and it had the big solar monstrosities located on the roof. The roof needed to be replaced within 2 yrs and, not having noticed any difference in those panels being gone, we chose not to replace them. With the higher and higher cost of power and the development of much better solar products, we are considering solar panels. Having read this article and finding out that it is possible to build our own solar energy source, we are excited to research this further and accomplish this as a family project. We purchased our home 17 years ago and it had the big solar monstrosities located on the roof. The roof needed to be replaced within 2 yrs and, not having noticed any difference in those panels being gone, we chose not to replace them.
With the higher and higher cost of power and the development of much better solar products, we are considering solar panels.
Having read this article and finding out that it is possible to build our own solar energy source, we are excited to research this further and accomplish this as a family project.

]]> Comment on Solar Energy In a Residential Setting by Richie Adams http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-energy-in-a-residential-setting/#comment-7 Richie Adams Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:04:44 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=38#comment-7 Solar power is a new concept and there will always be apprehensions before adopting it. However, if you can understand the basics of how does solar power work, you'll make an educated decision on which solution works to solar power your house. The building block of solar energy is the photo voltaic cell or PV. There has been a lot of research and development around PV over the last ten odd years, primarily due to a push from the government. Today you have many products in the market and picking one can be really tough. This is where understanding about solar energy is useful. The first thing to understand about solar energy is its source which of course is the sun. The sun is a nuclear reactor with reactions releasing energy every second. This energy is released as heat and light, the important concept for solar power is the light. Light is released as photons that travel like waves. These waves have what is known as a wavelength which is basically the physical distance between two photon particles in the same state of motion. Another aspect that is related to wavelength is the frequency. Solar power is a new concept and there will always be apprehensions before adopting it. However, if you can understand the basics of how does solar power work, you’ll make an educated decision on which solution works to solar power your house. The building block of solar energy is the photo voltaic cell or PV. There has been a lot of research and development around PV over the last ten odd years, primarily due to a push from the government. Today you have many products in the market and picking one can be really tough. This is where understanding about solar energy is useful.

The first thing to understand about solar energy is its source which of course is the sun. The sun is a nuclear reactor with reactions releasing energy every second. This energy is released as heat and light, the important concept for solar power is the light. Light is released as photons that travel like waves. These waves have what is known as a wavelength which is basically the physical distance between two photon particles in the same state of motion. Another aspect that is related to wavelength is the frequency.

]]> Comment on Solar Power Inverter by admin http://www.afternoonsun.net/solar-power-inverter/#comment-6 admin Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:18:35 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=91#comment-6 When it comes to the reasons that renewable energy systems are important, there are two main ones. On a personal levels they can help you to reduce your energy bills. And on a larger scale, each installation is helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels which is good for the environment. In terms of the environmental benefits, these come about due to the fact that the more that renewable energy is used, the less has to be generated from fossil fuels. That's important because the more fossil fuels we are burning, the more carbon dioxide we are releasing in to the atmosphere. And that, of course, is what is leading to global warming. When it comes to the reasons that renewable energy systems are important, there are two main ones. On a personal levels they can help you to reduce your energy bills. And on a larger scale, each installation is helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels which is good for the environment.

In terms of the environmental benefits, these come about due to the fact that the more that renewable energy is used, the less has to be generated from fossil fuels. That’s important because the more fossil fuels we are burning, the more carbon dioxide we are releasing in to the atmosphere. And that, of course, is what is leading to global warming.

]]> Comment on The Micro Inverter – To Buy or Not To Buy by Bryan Martin http://www.afternoonsun.net/the-micro-inverter-to-buy-or-not-to-buy/#comment-3 Bryan Martin Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:49:18 +0000 http://www.solar-integration.com/?p=93#comment-3 Swimming Pool Savings Article: Installing a home made energy system to heat your swimming pool is one way to reduce heating costs. Solar swimming pool heaters are the most effective forms of home made energy and are increasing in popularity among energy conscious homeowners. Solar heating systems can be installed by homeowners or they can be purchased in a kit and installed by a professional. These home made energy systems have low annual operating costs and work well in a variety of climates. Solar heating systems include a pump which keeps pool water circulating, a filter to remove debris and an automatic valve that controls the flow of water to the solar collector. The solar collector is the way the water is heated by the sun. Home made energy systems using solar power are typically mounted on the roof of the home. Solar heating systems can be used to heat pool water in cooler months or it can cool water in hot climates by pumping water through the solar collector at night. As with any home made energy system, solar heating system performance and savings vary according to climate and personal energy usage. Homeowners considering installing solar heating systems should also compare system costs, inquire about codes and ordinances in your area and compare the costs of systems against convention heating systems such as natural gas. Solar heating systems for swimming pools can be installed by the homeowner or they can be installed by a professional solar thermal systems contractor. By using the energy from the sun, home solar heating systems are an effective and less costly way to heat your swimming pool. Properly maintaining your home made energy system will help it last for many years to come. Most solar heating systems last from 10 to 20 years with regular maintenance. Swimming Pool Savings

Article: Installing a home made energy system to heat your swimming pool is one way to reduce heating costs. Solar swimming pool heaters are the most effective forms of home made energy and are increasing in popularity among energy conscious homeowners.

Solar heating systems can be installed by homeowners or they can be purchased in a kit and installed by a professional. These home made energy systems have low annual operating costs and work well in a variety of climates. Solar heating systems include a pump which keeps pool water circulating, a filter to remove debris and an automatic valve that controls the flow of water to the solar collector.

The solar collector is the way the water is heated by the sun. Home made energy systems using solar power are typically mounted on the roof of the home. Solar heating systems can be used to heat pool water in cooler months or it can cool water in hot climates by pumping water through the solar collector at night.

As with any home made energy system, solar heating system performance and savings vary according to climate and personal energy usage. Homeowners considering installing solar heating systems should also compare system costs, inquire about codes and ordinances in your area and compare the costs of systems against convention heating systems such as natural gas. Solar heating systems for swimming pools can be installed by the homeowner or they can be installed by a professional solar thermal systems contractor.

By using the energy from the sun, home solar heating systems are an effective and less costly way to heat your swimming pool. Properly maintaining your home made energy system will help it last for many years to come. Most solar heating systems last from 10 to 20 years with regular maintenance.

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