Archive for March, 2010
Will time came that solar panels would replace gas as a power source for vehicles?
i have once read an article about the upcoming inventions of vehicles. i saw a model of a vehicle that is entirely powered by a solar panel and a small wind mill on its back. would this be the start of the domination of solar panels and the end of usage of fuels? what do you think? perhaps if you are an expert, you know these upcoming inventions.
have a nice day to all! ! ! ! !
Haha, unless the windmill functions like that of the jets on the futurama’s space ship (propelling the universe backwards while the ship stays still) i’d say you were looking at a "model" of a childs dream.
A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy. If the car is "moving" it is essentially creating simulated wind. To reduce gas mileage, cars are made more aerodynamic so that less "wind" is created thus lowering the drag on the car. Essentially the less it gets hit by the wind, or the easier it can move it out of the way, the less drag, and the less fuel used. So what is a giant wind catcher going to do? Slow the car down.
EDIT: Windmills in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM can create MORE energy then the energy LOST due to drag! Its the laws of physics, no such thing as free energy. Creating wind and then using it to absorb energy WOULD be free energy and thus is not possible (don’t buy into all those magnet motor and so forth scams).
In a more technical sense…
No free lunch, also, no free energy!, you can not charge a system by means of using the energy the system is outputting. You can’t use a battery to recharge itself, and you can’t use a windmill to charge a moving car. (ONLY standing windmills actually absorb energy)
As of now, the solar panels we have are pretty inefficient, between 8-16% i think? Somewhere around there, they are nowhere near the capability needed to drive even a small 1 person vehicle (i’m talking a leightweight bike shaped vehicle, as i’ve tried) let alone something like a car. They could integrate solar panels into hybrids, but judging by how useless the hybrids we have today are, i’m guessing its not profitable enough to the car companies to do so.
A full size solar panel, the large rectangular ones you see about the size of "some" car’s roof’s will absorb about 125watts per hour (10 watts per square foot). The Prius (god help us that thing is a huge awful lie) uses up to 28 hp (21 kW) 21,000watts per hour. So you can see how solar panels are just one brick in the wall.
What are some bad and some good things about Solar Power Energy?
For my science project
I need a list of good things about solar power engery and a list of bad things.
Full best answer given out!
There are various ways to convert the energy of the sun but I will address only solar cells.
Good things:
–No CO2 emissions or other chemicals
–Renewable
–Once the installation is built, it is "free"
–It generates electricity which is a flexible form of energy but …
Bad things:
– The installation must be in a sunny place
– No energy at night
– Under the solar panels, nothing grows and the space cannot be used for something else.
– Difficult to store the energy in large quantities
(example you store In July, August and you use the energy in December)
Future developments and research:
– very efficient solar panels ( currently at beat 20%)
see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell#Comparison_of_energy_conversion_efficiencies
– very efficient batteries
What are some thing to keep in mind if you are making a green living house?
By green I mean earth friendly. I want to know how to make a really well design house, maybe a beach house
Placement on the site, placement of the windows or natural light sources, and the surrounding landscaping are critical. There is a good argument for summer and winter energy reduction through the use of roof over-hangs/porches of 18" or more. We seem to be returning to "zones" throughout the house for both heating and cooling. Window coverings seem to passively mitigate winter and summer extremes pretty well too; in hot/high sun areas this includes exterior shutter arrangements. Essentially, the best way to reduce energy use is to reduce the need to use it in the first place. It makes the operational costs cheaper too.
I have three general concerns about many of the "efficient" houses I see. The first is that there is something "wrong" in my view when one must run one or more fans for hours on end because the house is sealed so tight that the air must be exchanged with outside air using an energy source. Back in the day, and the days before that day, when you wanted fresh air in a place you opened a window. While you may not want to need to open a window when the snow is blowing sideways at 50mph, I think that simply the ability to periodically open windows for fresh air and to circulate air within the house makes things more comfortable with less energy use; for those hot summer days, being able to passively draw cool air from off the beach’s water while pushing interior hot air outside would be nice. The second is that I’m not fully convinced that many of the "green" houses are particularly survivable should there be a house fire. My concern is not so much the sporead of the fire but, the fumes generated. The third is that it seems as if a number of the "green" house designs are not built with repairs in mind. Some are built with cement encased radiant heating and cooling systems and other features designed to last 20 years, or even 50 years. In the world of modular houses, 20 years is a long time; although I’ve seen some 40 year old plus trailers in pretty darned great condition with proper maintenance. In the world of stick houses, it is not. Even 50 years is not that long in the world of better built and better maintained stick houses. It would seem that repair, repair access, and replacement capabilities would be more "green" than building a shorter lived structure.
Buy Wind Turbines
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Duration : 0:4:15
Wind Energy is Growing Fast
Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world. Here in the US wind farms have popped up in more than 30 states, producing enough energy to power an estimated 2.5 million homes a day. Thanks to growing concerns over natural gas prices, a desire for energy independence and incentives for renewable energy production, it’s expected this trend will continue. Interviews with Eric Silagy, FPL Energy and Mike Revak, Siemens Power Generation. Footage of Horse Hollow wind farm.
www.powergeneration.siemens.com
Duration : 0:2:14
Hangar 25, The World’s First Solar Powered …
Shangri-La Construction has completed Hangar 25, the world’s first solar powered airplane hangar. It is the first hangar to achieve Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System.
Duration : 0:2:6
TRIPLE ACTION SOLAR CAR Toy Car Review Solar Powered Teaching Aid
This is a Solar Kit I got for Christmas from Denise:-) It is pretty cool and cost less that $40. You can find sellers on the internet. WORTH BUYING. Thought it was worth sharing.
PRODUCT INFO:
Triple Action Solar Car Robot Kit
from OWI Robots
Sleek, powerful, unearthly, and very cool… this futuristic solar car is an exciting way to demonstrate the use of alternative energy. It features an aerodynamic sports car shell design, a 4-wheel chassis, a powerful 1.4 volt, 350 milliampere solar cell (included) and transparent plastic body that can be painted or left clear to display the car’s inner mechanical construction. The steerable front axle, rear wheel and adjustable (directional/angle) solar panel mount are all independent parts, allowing for separate solar projects. The TRIPLE ACTION SOLAR CAR kit is also convertible: (1) The two-way battery source allows for battery or solar power; (2) the kit design is aerodynamic racer or tractor, and; (3) it features a multi-speed transmission. This is a marvelous educational science project for ages 9 and up.
Duration : 0:2:24
Home Solar Power Systems – How To Make Solar Power For Home
http://www.EnergyBrainiac.com – Home Solar Power Systems – How To Make Solar Power For Home
How to Make a Solar Power Generator for Less Than $300. [IMAGE]. Using parts easily available from your. Make your very own solar panel! Here’s how! Want to know how to … · Space Exploration
How to Make A Solar Panel: How and why you should seriously consider a passive solar home. The basics of solar home design. More ways to make money at home working online.Home Power Magazine: Solar | Wind | Water | Design | Build · Electrical Eng.
Independently published since 1987, Home Power magazine and HomePower.com are resources dedicated to small-scale renewable energy and sustainable living . YourGreenDream – Homemade solar, wind and green power diy projects … · Alternative Energy
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Making Cheap, Inexpensive DIY Solar Panels at Home Mike Davis is an astronomer. To practice his hobby away from the light-pollution of cities Solar Panels, Home Kits, Solar Lights, Fountains, Residential Panels · Alternative Energy
Residential solar home kits have everything you need to create the perfect energy-efficient solar powered home. You’ll find panels and cells are easy to Make a solar cell in your kitchen. … If this were to form the roof of a home, each home would be 30 meters long and 30 meters wide, assuming all theyHow to Build Solar Panels – Building a Solar Panel at Home How to Make A Solar Panel: How and why you should How Can I Make Solar Power at Home? · Environment
So, it is very easy to make solar power at your home and you only need a small Solar Panels For Home Use – How to Build Solar Panels – Solar …
There has been a lot of people wanting to know how to build solar panels recently. As weve all seen in the past couple of years, the price of energy is How Can I Make Solar Power at Home?
National Grid proposes more solar power – Oct 1, 2008
A typical home solar installation – generating 3000 to 5000 watts – would … “Governor Patrick’s goal has been to make Massachusetts a national leader on Home Solar Power Systems – How To Make Solar Power For Home
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Duration : 0:1:37
Unlimited Energy Solar Solutions
Unlimited Energy is the largest, locally owned solar contractor in the Central San Joaquin Valley. We have been in business in Fresno since 1984 and have designed and installed some of the largest PV projects in the State of California. With over 2.75 million watts installed spanning over 400 installations, we’ve earned the right to be called the authority on solar.
Solar energy can be a complicated endeavor. We make it simple. This video explains solar energy and shows Unlimited Energy’s depth and breadth of work.
Duration : 0:8:36
Urban Homestead – Solar Outdoor Shower
Water Conservation Efforts:
- low flush toilets
- toilet lid sink
- reusing laundry water
- limit toilet flushings
- limit baths/showers – mulching
- handwatering
- clay pot irrigation
- solar outdoor shower
DIY Projects:
- solar oven
- cob oven
- solar outdoor shower
- depaved driveway/patio
- installed solar panels
- roofing
- sheds, etc
- animal enclosure, etc
- this website
- urban homesteading
- front load washer
- food not lawns
Duration : 0:3:33