Solvent recyler as solar energy’s sidekick

. Filed under: Solar Energy

Companies that generate solvent waste understand that the most cost effective and environmentally acceptable method of managing spent solvent is by not generating it in the first place. Source reduction techniques or minimizing the generation of spent solvent at the source as well as pollution prevention (P2) where toxic solvents are replaced with new non toxic solvents recovery should be investigated before examining the feasibility of recycling the commonly used toxic Solvent Recovery System in many businesses today. This fact sheet will only address issues concerning  the commercial recycling of toxic solvents due to their potential threat to human health and the environment.

Companies must consider many issues before pursuing solvent recycling as a waste management option. While some companies have chosen to install in-house solvent distillation units to recycle their own spent solvent, others have enlisted the services of a commercial solvent recycling company.

In house solvent distillation units minimize transportation, disposal and potential liability costs associated with off-site disposal. Sometimes, however, in-house recycling is not cost effective or consistent with existing facilities and labor skills, or it fails to produce solvent that can be reused by the facility. In these instances, a commercial Waste Recovery System may be preferred

Solar Energy Pros And Cons

. Filed under: Solar Energy

Have you been thinking about changing your power source over to renewable energy? I have also listed some of the Solar Energy Cons. A person can’t sincerely arrive at an honest conclusion without acknowledging the advantages and minuses. You should check into every aspect of changing over before approaching to your ultimate conclusion.There are more Pros that are not listed here that may or will not be essential to you depending upon your stance regarding the environment.

* Solar energy is a renewable resource. It doesn’t induce pollution while you generate it.
* Sunlight, unlike fossil fuels is all over, all though it is not evenly dispensed throughout the world. Solar energy can be made anywhere, even when there are no local utility supplier, therefore you are able to have power in inaccessible areas.
* With the correct resources, the components necessary to construct a solar system can be bought or produced rather inexpensively
* The nicest matter about solar power is that it’s costless to all.
* The engineering in use to implement solar radiation as energy to get electricity, heat, and mechanical power currently exists
* Solar systems possess no moving elements and can last numerous years.
* You don’t require fuel to be delivered to your home, and you will never run out.
* Granted the correct data, it’s almost always possible to forecast the amount of power a solar energy system will give.
* The systems are silent and becoming more and more unnoticeable.
* You will be able to qualify for financial incentives from the government to assist with paying for your system and also get tax breaks while it is in use.
* Using solar energy means one less home burning fossil fuels, and reduces the creation of greenhouse gas.

Solar Energy Cons

I’ve listed the Cons for using Solar Energy as well. Although there aren’t many disadvantages, they should still be weighed in.

* If you don’t know where to get the components at a discount, the original costs can be kind of high.
* Solar panels can require a lot of space. That’s why the roof is the optimal location for them to be set up.
* You can’t generate solar energy at nighttime, so you need a way to store it. Batteries are a good energy storage choice. With the right information, you can purchase batteries for as low a $10 apiece or even free!
* Bad weather conditions can impact the amount of energy generated.

As you can see the Solar Energy Pros overbalance the Solar Energy Cons. If you are worried about the environment and you also acknowledge the income saving potential of using solar power, then this can be a good path for you to choose. I think that someday in our lifetime, solar power will become a more popular choice. By harnessing the power of sunshine, the Earth could change for the better one home at a time. Besides, our grandchildren will appreciate it.

Types Of Solar Energy

. Filed under: Solar Energy

Green energy is the newest movement in for home owners, and solar energy is one of the more popular options.  Through the use of the various types of solar energy, homes and be heated and provided with electricity without causing any damage to the environment. For modern applications, solar energy can be used for several different reasons.  Those are;

  • Heating
  • Cooling
  • Water Heating
  • Light
  • Electricity Generation

Each of these, aside from generating electricity, comes in two distinct forms, active and passive.  The difference is simple, active solar energy require extensive interference from technology in order to harness solar power, while passive gets solar energy without the use of any technology.

The sun has long been considered to be one of the greatest natural energy sources known to man.  Now, through both careful planning and creative technology, you can harness solar energy to help deplete your need for the use of fossil fuels.  Here is a breakdown of the different types of solar energy.

solar-4Heating

The sun naturally gives off the heat that makes this planet habitable, so why not use it to heat things like your home, office, or even your car.  Both active and passive solar heating can easily be achieved.  Passive solar heating is by far the better of the two options.  It involve the use of large windows appropriately oriented to get maximum exposure to the sun.  These large windows slightly focus the sun’s rays, slightly magnifying them, heating the inside of the structure.  For those that live in the northern hemisphere, your large windows should face south.  Those in the southern hemisphere, north.  These windows should be double paned and appropriately size to maximize sun exposure.  They should also not be blocked by vegetation or landscaping, providing them with a constant exposure to the sun.

There are two types of active solar heating (solar heating achieved through the use of technology).  Those types are liquid or air based heating system.  Liquid systems use the solar power to heat water, typically through tiles and boards on the roof, then store the hot water in a storage tank.  This water is then either used to fuel a blower, distributing hot air through the home, or the hot water is run through the different structures of the home, like the floors and walls.  Air systems heat air using solar power, then pump it through the home just like a furnace would.

solar-5Cooling

Passive solar cooling is much simpler than it sounds.  It involves orienting the home so that it can naturally take advantage of things like wind flow, shade, and the sun’s natural arc.  Consider it to be the opposite to passive solar heating, at least in theory.  Setting up windows in your home to promote a good wind flow in your home will help keep it cool in summer, and having the appropriate windows size will help to reduce the amount of solar heat generated.  Adequate ventilation will keep a nice breeze flowing in your home, keeping you cooler in the hotter months.  You can also incorporate vegetation and other types of landscaping into passive cooling.  A large shade tree will help keep the sun’s rays off your home, or planting a thick climbing vine, like ivy, can help to reduce the amount of heat your home takes on from the sun.

Active solar cooling comes in three majorly used forms.  While many of these are not commonly used in the home quite yet, they have proven quite successful in larger buildings and office complexes.  Solar absorption is an air conditioner fuels by heated liquids.  When the liquids are heated by the sun’s energy, they separate from other substances, starting the air conditioner.  A desiccant system works differently than your traditional air conditioner.  If forces the air from a building though a filtering system that removes humidity from the air, making the building feel cooler.  Then, solar energy is used to dry out the filtration system.

The final can be considered a form of active solar cooling, but it is more a form of electricity generation.  It is included with active solar cooling because it makes perfect sense.  Photovoltaic cooling uses solar panels to generate electricity for a standard air conditioner.  Though there may be some conversion of power involved, a solar panel can more than adequately provide enough energy to to fuel a standard central air unit.  Since you primarily run your air conditioner on those hot, and sunny, summer days, why not use it to your advantage.  Setting up a system like this can save you a fortune on your summer heating bills.

solar-6Water Heating

We use a lot of water in our homes, but for cleaning and bathing purposes, we use mostly hot water.  Unfortunately, passive solar energy will not heat water enough for common application in the home.  Hot water much reach a certain temperature before it can be used to clean.

To get around this, there are two active solar water heat

ing systems, direct and indirect.  More commonly referred to as an open loop system, direct water heating systems push the water through solar heating panels to raise it to a certain temperature.  Then, the water is stored in an insulated collection tank, which serves as your hot water reserve.  It is pumped from there to the faucets of your home.  The water is continuously moved through the solar panels, constantly heating the water supply.

The closed loop system (indirect) is highly similar, but instead of pumping the water itself through the solar panels, the pumps a heating fluid.  Once this fluid is hot, it is pumped through the water supply, heating it in a similar fashion to a pot full of water on the stove.  From the hot water reserve, it is distributed to your home.

solar-7

Light

This may seem like common sense, but creating a home designed to function off of passive solar energy is more complex than you would think.  It can involve several architectural changes and the possibility for a complete adaptation of your living space.  Passive solar lighting involves the use of large windows and sun lights to allow natural light in the entire time the sun is up, eliminating the need to turn on a single light during the daytime.  Having several windows that face south and sun lights (windows in the ceiling) are good starts, but you must also keep these free from obstructions.  You will also need to consider the natural arc of your day.  You wake up at sunrise, and go to sleep at sunset.  You will use your kitchen several times a day, and you will primarily use your living room in the evening.  So, since the sun moves from east to west, your bedroom should be on the east side of your home (first light during the day, completely dark by bedtime), the kitchen should be on the south side of your home (constant light throughout the day, should be on the north side for those in the southern hemisphere), and you living room should be on the west side of the home, so it will be able to harness the evening sun for light.  Using passive solar lighting can really add a new dynamic to your home.

Active solar lighting comes in two types of solar energy, either through electricity generation of photovoltaic lighting.  Most homes will need a complex energy generation system to light an entire home, but this type of system would be used to provide your entire home with electricity.  Photovoltaic lighting is most commonly used on the outside of the home.  These lights create enough energy to run that individual light through smaller photo-reactive electric semiconductors.  These semiconductors produce small amount of electricity when exposed to sunlight.  This energy is stored in the light until it gets dark, when the light will automatically turn on.  These are commonly used to light gardens, walkways, driveways, and various architectural structures.

solar-8Electricity Generation

This is what most people will think of when you mention any type of solar energy.  It is the use of technology to turn solar energy into usable electricity, which can then power anything you want to in the home.  This is thanks to photovoltaics.  Certain substances can convert solar energy into electricity, and placing several panels made of these photo-reactive substances can be used to generate a substantial amount of electricity.  Now how does this work in the home.

To start, your home will stay hooked to the grid, that way you will never go without power.  Solar panels, made of these photovoltaic material, are installed on your roof, typically facing south to gather the most sun light.  When solar energy hits these panels , is generates electricity, which then flows through a converter to change it from a DC current to an AC current.  This energy is then used first to power your home, or, with certain systems, it can be stored for future use.  One of the bigger advantages is that energy you don’t use can back flow through your connection to the power company.  This provide the power company with additional energy, and pushes your meter back, lowering your bill when you’re not using your stores of solar power.

Electricity generation can be used to only power specific appliances as well.  This is a good gradual step into green energy.  Photo-reactive solar panels are used to power individual large appliances, eliminating their need to be attached to the grid, lowering your energy bill.  This can be set up to work on things like electric stoves, washers, dryers, air conditioners, or a number of large appliances found in the home.  Imagine eliminating your air conditioner from your electric bill during those hot summer months.

Solar History Timeline: The Future

. Filed under: Solar Energy

Here’s a look at some things we can expect in the future from solar technologies.

All our buildings will feature energy-efficient design, construction, and materials as well as renewable energy technologies. In effect, each building will both conserve energy and produce its own supply, to be one of a new generation of cost-effective “zero-energy buildings” that have no net annual need for nonrenewable energy.

In photovoltaic research and development, there will be more breakthroughs in new materials, cell designs, and novel approaches to product development. In a solar future, your mode of transportation—and even the clothes you wear—could produce clean, safe electric power.

With today’s technology roadmaps to lead the way, concentrating solar power will be fully competitive with conventional power-generating technologies within a decade. Concentrating solar power, or solar thermal electricity, could harness enough of the sun’s energy to provide large-scale, domestically secure, and environmentally friendly electricity, especially in the southwestern United States.

The enormous solar power potential of the Southwest—comparable in scale to the huge hydropower resource of the Northwest—will be realized. A desert area 10 miles by 15 miles could provide 20,000 megawatts of power, and the electricity needs of the entire United States could theoretically be met by a photovoltaic array within an area 100 miles on a side.

Within 10 years, photovoltaic power will be competitive in price with traditional sources of electricity.

Solar electricity will be used in an electrolysis process that separates the hydrogen and oxygen in water so the hydrogen can be used in fuel cells for transportation and in buildings.

solar-3
The world’s largest solar power facility — near Kramer Junction, California—consists of five solar electric generating stations with a combined capacity of 150 megawatts. At capacity, this is usually enough power for about 150,000 homes. The facility covers more than 1000 acres and has a collector surface area of more than a million square meters.

Solar Water Heaters

. Filed under: Solar Energy

Thirty some years ago, just after I first started building houses, a friend (another builder) and I took on a solar hot water franchise as a side line to home building. We thought solar heating was cool and avant-garde, and that everyone else would too.

Boy, were we wrong! We couldn’t give solar heating away. People thought that the solar collectors were ugly and no one wanted those ugly contraptions on their roofs. Besides, electricity and gas were cheap, plentiful and we would never run out of either.

My, how times and thinking about things change.

Here’s the scoop from the NAHB Research Center:

“Harnessing energy from the sun to heat water is nothing new. Solar water heaters have been commercially available since the 1800s. What’s new is how solar water heaters look these days.

Most modern solar water heaters mount flush with a home’s roof and resemble skylights. Solar water heaters are an environmentally sound way to reduce energy bills.

Solar energy can meet part or all of a home’s domestic hot water needs. Geographic location, system design, collector orientation, and collector size will determine how much energy can be provided for domestic hot water heating.

Solar water heaters come in a variety of configurations. Each differs in design, cost, performance, and level of complexity.

Most systems have back-up water heating such as electricity or gas. A solar water heating system usually consists of a hot water storage tank, a solar collector that absorbs solar energy, a back-up energy source, and (for forced circulation systems) a pump and controls.

There are two main types of systems: passive and forced circulation. Within each type, there are several configurations. A passive water heater consists of a water tank integrated into or located above a solar collector. In an integrated collector storage (ICS) system, also called batch water heater, the water is heated and stored inside the collector.

These systems are suitable only for warm climates where there is no risk of freezing. In a passive system where the storage is separate from the collector, as water in the collector warms, water flows by natural convection through the collector to the storage tank. A forced circulation system requires a pump to move water from the storage tank to the collector. Most solar water heaters in the United States are the forced circulation type.

There are several types of solar collectors. Most consist of a flat copper plate, painted black, that has water tubes attached to the absorber plate. As solar energy falls on the copper plate and is absorbed, the energy is transferred to water flowing in the tubes. The absorber plate is mounted in a casing that has a clear covering and insulation to protect the absorber plate from heat loss. Other collectors include an integrated collector and storage system and the evacuated tube collector.

Integral collector and storage systems combine the function of hot water storage and solar energy collection into one unit. Evacuated tube collectors produce higher temperature water and are more complex than flat plate collectors. Evacuated tube collectors consist of a series of tubes that contain a heat pipe to absorb solar energy and transfer it to a liquid medium. The tubes are evacuated (vacuum) so that there is very little heat loss from the tube.

Most solar collectors are roof-mounted. Solar water heaters are used for domestic hot water, pool heating and space heating needs.

There are a number of manufacturers of solar water heating systems. Manufacturers can provide information on local dealers and installers. The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation provides evaluations of solar collectors and solar hot water systems.

The evaluation includes an estimate of the performance of different systems based on the location where the system will be used.

Solar water heating systems may require periodic maintenance and have a relatively high initial cost. The payback period however is different depending on the cost of energy for heating water. In areas where electricity is used for water heating, the payback periods are shorter than for areas that use natural gas for water heating.

Care must be taken to guard against freezing of the collector and piping. Solar collectors may have installation limits some communities

An active, flat plate solar collector system will cost approximately $2,500 to $3,500installed and produce about 80 to 100 gallons of hot water per day. A passive system will cost about $1,000 to $2,000 installed but will have a lower capacity.

An experienced contractor should install solar water heating systems. Usually, a roof penetration is required

Solar water heaters save energy and use a renewable resource. By replacing electric energy or fossil fuel use for water heating, environmental carbon emissions associated with water heating are reduced or eliminated. Buy water heater with payday advance service

Home Solar Energy

. Filed under: Solar Energy

There’s nothing wrong about being organized for emergencies. In the present economy, nothing is certain: jobs, food, even utilities. Because of this fact, people are now opting for solar powered homes. You don’t need to be wealthy and famous to use solar energy since the solar systems are more within your means these days.

There are advantages in using solar energy for homes. How much are you spending for electricity bills every month? Many residents have empty pockets because of the expensive electricity expenses. One way to lessen your bills is by going with solar power.

You don’t need any wiring if you use solar energy systems. For illustration, for your garden lights and water features, you can make use of solar energy. Most of the devices have night sensors and you no longer have to be concerned about turning them off. Solar lights are easily to be had and you will just need to take them out and set them in the right location where you want to get some good light.

Solar energy is environment friendly. It is an excellent form of renewable and clean energy. You won’t contribute to pollution unlike fossil fuels. By using solar energy systems like the solar cooker, solar thermal systems, and solar generators, you can cook without emissions.

During the opening phase of using solar energy, you will need to pay out money. Just think of it as an investment where you can profit in the long run. With less than $500, you can already use solar energy in your home. Solar energy is free of charge since you will use the sun’s power to make electricity. You can make use of solar lights, solar panels, etc. Don’t cut off your conventional electricity supply even when you’re already using solar energy. It’s not always sunny all throughout the year and so you will need conventional electricity during rainy days. The paramount thing about solar power is that you can reduce your monthly electric bills. If you can switch your home into a full solar energized house, you can surely profit significantly and you will not be anxious even if fuel prices grow.

Power outages usually take place when there are troubles but as long as you have solar power, you can benefit from using electrical appliances continuously. For those who are interested in solar energy, you can start off with undemanding projects like the water features and lights in your garden. These features are simple to develop and you won’t need any wiring.

In all you find here on Earth, there are advantages as well as drawbacks. True enough, solar energy has many advantages but you also need to look into the disadvantages. You need to think over things first before you consider opting for a solar powered home.

These days, you can easily acquire solar power gadgets like flashlights, pool purifiers, ventilators, mosquito inhibitors, heaters, fountain pumps, radios, lighting, and many others. Get ready to spend for the solar energy devices but don’t be troubled. After several months, you will start saving a lot of cash on your monthly bills. Think of it as a one-time investment and in the future, you can unquestionably benefit. buy solar panel with payday loan service