solar technology Archive

Solar panels have numerous personal financial benefits for homeowners. The fact that solar-powered homes sell faster is one of the greatest long-term financial benefits. Selling a home is something of a feat these days, and having an asset like solar panels can make it much easier.

Energy Bills
It has become clear that home buyers are interested in homes that will save them money. They factor in energy bills when deciding which home to choose. This may be one of the main reasons why solar-powered homes sell two times as fast as other homes. Knowing that a home will have no or very reduced energy bills is incredibly appealing to home buyers.

Frozen Energy Rates
Home buyers are also interested in homes with locked in energy rates. Every year energy rates rise by a national average of about 7 percent, which means that every year energy bills get higher and higher. With solar panels a home’s energy rates become locked in for at least 25 years (the length of a typical warranty), while non-solar powered homes are subjected to consistently rising energy costs. This means that every year you or your home buyer will save more and more money on electric bills.

Property Value
Solar panels increase the property value of homes. They are worth more money to home buyers. On average, property value is increased by 15 to 20 percent when solar panels are installed. Being able to sell a home for more money is another great financial perk for homeowners. Solar panels actually have much higher returns than most other home improvements intended to increase home resale value. Statistics actually show that home buyers are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars more for green and energy-efficient homes.

Did You Know . . . ?
+ After the initial cost there are virtually no other fees associated with having solar panels, which means that you immediately begin to start paying them off.
+ Solar panels actually have higher ROIs that the majority of most equity, bonds, savings and money market accounts.
+ Buying power for people interested in your home is increased when you have solar panels. They can qualify for Energy Efficient Mortgages which may allow them to borrow up to $20,000 more than if they were borrowing money for a non-solar powered home.

Looking to find the best deal on Arizona solar energy, then visit www.cambioenergy.com to find the best advice on Phoenix solar for you.

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The solar industry is always brimming with new discoveries. Scientists who work in this growing field are constantly trying to come up with newer and better sustainable technologies. This year was full of exciting developments as usual, and as the year is coming to a close it seems only appropriate to take a look at just a few of the coolest solar findings of 2010.

I. Scientists created a technology for use in outer space that could also be used on Earth. Researchers used an electromagnetic field to repel dust off of solar panels. The technology was created to be used for future rover missions in outer space. The rovers rely on solar energy to be powered. The technology will also be highly useful in areas on Earth where there is lots of dust. Large solar arrays in places like the Mojave desert become much less productive when covered in dust because the build up partially blocks out the sun.

II. Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology found that organic solar cells are greener than traditional silicon cells. Scientists are still working on ways to get organic solar cells to produce as much electrical energy as silicon solar cells. Once this is achievable organic solar cells may be a great new type of cell to use in the production of solar panels.

III. A blood pressure device powered by solar energy was developed and is still in testing phases. It is already showing a 94 percent accuracy rate compared to traditional blood pressure measuring devices. The device was designed in hopes of creating an affordable, green, and easy to use blood measuring tool that could be used in low-income countries.

IV. This year a sticker was devised that is said to increase the efficiency of solar panels by approximately 10 percent. It is a polymer sticker that can easily be applied to any solar system. If it is brought to market it will be a simple way for people to enhance the performance of their solar panels.

Want to find out more about Arizona solar electric, then visit Susan E Freemont’s site on how to choose the best solar companies in Phoenix for your needs.

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These days, just about every product and service seems as though it is getting more expensive. The price of gas, groceries, and more increase ever so slightly in price every year. Another product that has also consistently gotten more expensive on an annual basis is electrical energy. It’s not a product that you can eat, touch, or wear, but it is an important commodity that is an integral part of our everyday lives.

While the price of solar panels may be off putting to some, an investment in solar panels actually reaps many financial rewards. One of the many long-term benefits of having solar panels is that you will not be subjected to annual energy rate hikes. Read on to find out the details of why this is beneficial, as well as to find out a few other great financial benefits of having solar panels.

1. Make a great investment. Arizona solar authorities state that solar panels have a higher ROI than most savings and money market accounts, bonds, and equity.

2. No more energy rate hikes. Solar panels may have a much higher initial setup fee than traditional utility electric systems, but after the initial costs there are virtually no extra fees, according to Arizona solar companies. Unlike traditional utility line systems where there are never ending monthly bills, hidden fees, taxes, and of course, annual energy rate hikes. Energy rates have gone up by about 6 to 7 percent on average in the U.S. annually. Arizona solar authorities further state that solar panels have 25 year warranties, which means that you will have a low, locked in energy rate for at least 25 years.

3. Increase property value. When solar panels are installed they increase property value by 15 to 20 percent. Arizona solar experts believe that solar panels increase home resale value because home buyers are interested in homes that will save them money. Statistics show that homes with solar panels sell twice as fast and for more money than homes without solar power. And since solar panels last for at least 25 years, this is an important financial benefit even if you don’t sell your home for the next 10 to 20 years.

Did you know . . . ?
+ If your home produces more electricity than it uses you can potentially sell the extra energy back to the utility company for money. You can ask your solar sales person about this possibility.
+ The price of solar panels has dropped by over 40 percent in the last few years. The price is still steadily falling. Reduced prices mean shorter payoff periods. Today, the typical payoff period is approximately 8 to 10 years.
+ Home buyers may qualify for Energy Efficient Mortgages which are typically $20,000 more than normal mortgages. In other words they have more buying power than they would with non-solar powered homes.

Learn more about Arizona solar. Stop by Cameron E Cruise’s site where you can find out all about Arizona solar energy and what it can do for you.

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Going green is not only good for the environment, it can also be good for your wallet. With solar panels you could be seeing more green in your wallet in the long-term. Homeowners not only want to do something great for the environment, they also want to enjoy the long-term financial rewards that going green has for them personally. Solar panels are one of the best products you can invest in to green your home, and they are also a “home improvement” with one of the highest return values.

Adding rooms, a pool, or even a deck to a home may minimally increase home value, but with solar panels you are guaranteed to maximize home resale value. Solar-powered homes are on the market for a significantly shorter time. They sell twice as fast and sell for thousands of dollars more than regular homes. Solar panels actually have higher ROI values than the majority of equity, bonds, savings and money market accounts.

The cost of solar panels has decreased dramatically over the years, but today’s prices can still be a little intimidating to homeowners. Luckily for them many solar electric companies help homeowners find and take advantage of utility, state, and federal rebates and tax incentives. These financial tax incentives and rebates can help greatly slash the upfront cost of solar panels. Right now, Arizona solar companies state that there are residential federal incentives which can pay for up to 30 percent of the cost of solar panels.

Having locked in energy rates is another great financial perk for homeowners with solar panels. Having locked in energy rates creates substantial savings and in some cases returns for homeowners. Once a homeowner has solar panels their energy rates become fixed for the next 25 years. They are no longer a slave to rising energy costs, taxes, and hidden fees from the utility companies. Nationally, energy rates increase by about 7 percent per year. Arizona solar companies say that homeowners with solar panels can either sharply decrease their energy bills or they can eliminate them entirely with solar panels.

Any spare energy that a home creates goes back to the utility company for a credit. This means that you may owe nothing to the utility company during peak times of the year. Depending on your solar setup there are also programs available that allow you to sell your spare energy to the utility company, which means that you can put extra money in your pocket.

Arizona solar companies state that solar panels can increase the value of a home by 15 to 20 percent. Quality solar panels typically come with a 25 year warranty and can generally be paid off in 8 to 10 years depending on the system. This means that if you decided to sell your home in 10, 15, or even 20 years you would gain a profit because of your solar panels. And home buyers love green and energy efficient homes. McGraw Hill conducted a study which showed that home buyers not only seek out green homes more than other homes, they have also been willing to pay approximately $18,000 more for green homes.

Looking to find the best deal on AZ solar companies, then visit www.SolarElectricFreedom.com to find the best advice on Phoenix solar services for you.

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Scientists and researchers working in the green and solar energy industries are constantly trying to find ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of environmentally friendly technologies. They create these technologies in order to provide products that allow people to live a more sustainable life. And in doing so, they are also always striving to find ways to make these technologies more Eco-friendly themselves.

Making green technologies more sustainable themselves means creating green products that use organic materials that are easy to collect, fabric, and mass produce using little energy. The majority of solar panels and other photovoltaic systems use silicon solar cells. These cells are highly effective when it comes to absorbing light and converting it into usable green energy.

Silicon solar cells have been the norm in the solar world, but scientists have been investing organic solar cells that are made of various carbon compounds–commonly known as plastics. These cells are flexible, lightweight, and easy to apply to just about any material. Recent studies have also found that organic solar cells are greener than inorganic (or silicon) solar cells.

Researchers found that it takes a lot less energy to produce organic solar cells. This is important because it could impact the price of solar panels–potentially decreasing the cost. In addition to this, organic solar panels would have a direct environmental impact because of the materials used to create them and because of the minimal energy it would take to create them.

Organic solar cells are still being heavily researched. There are a few draw backs that scientists are still figuring out how to remedy. For instance, organic solar cells currently only produce about one-fifth of the energy that silicon solar cells do. However, new findings have pinpointed why the loss of energy is occurring, so it may be just a matter of time before scientists figure out how to get organic solar cells to generate just as much energy as inorganic cells.

Looking to find the best deal on solar companies in Phoenix, then visit www.solarelectricfreedom.com to find the best advice on Phoenix solar for you.

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There are three polysyllabic words that have gained a whole lot of attention over the last decade: sustainability, efficiency, and effectiveness. And they will continue to do so as people become more conscientious of the fact that we are living in a world with finite resources. Phoenix solar experts state that developing green products that generate renewable energy is only one part of the job for scientists and researchers–another significant part of the job is to make these new technologies as environmentally friendly as possible in and of themselves.

Greener Than Your Average Solar Cell
There are a few ways to do this. Arizona solar energy experts believe that there are a few things we need to focus on. They state that we must aim to create solar technologies composed of organic materials that are easy to fabricate and produce on a mass scale using little energy. It is also important to use effective but inexpensive materials. There are many researchers who are in the process of doing this. As a matter of fact, for about a decade scientists and researchers have been working on trying to create effective organic solar cells that produce electricity.

Inorganic Vs. Organic Solar Cells
According to Phoenix solar officials, most photovoltaic systems–or solar panels–use silicon solar panels. Silicon has been an effective material in conducting solar energy and converting it into electricity. However, it takes a lot of energy to manufacture silicon solar cells. Silicon is also a more expensive material to work with than the materials used in organic solar panels.

Phoenix solar experts state that organic solar cells are composed of carbon compounds–commonly known as plastics. They are therefore lighter in weight and more flexible than silicon solar panels. They can also be easily applied to a number of different materials. More significantly, the most important aspect about organic solar cells is that recent studies found that they are actually greener than silicon solar cells. This is primarily because they require much less energy to create.

Organic Solar Cells Could Produce Cheaper Solar Panels
Since organic solar cells take much less energy to create, it means that any future solar panels that use the cells would be less expensive. Phoenix solar experts state that since the cells would cost less to make–because they require less energy to manufacture–they would therefore be more affordable. The materials used to create organic solar cells are also easier to collect and fabricate.

Organic Solar Cell Issues
While these cells may be more green than silicon solar cells, they currently do not produce as much electricity as silicon cells. They only produce about a fifth of the electricity that silicon solar cells produce. The rest of the energy is lost for reasons that were a bit of a mystery until recently; there have been some current findings that have pinpointed why this is occurring. Phoenix solar experts believe that once the kinks have been worked out, organic solar cells will make a huge impact in the solar energy industry.

Looking to find the best deal on Arizona solar energy, then visit www.cambioenergy.com to find the best advice on Phoenix solar products for you.

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When it comes to converting to solar you have probably heard the following phrases: free yourself from the grid or disconnect from the grid. However, these popular solar catch phrases are actually a bit off the mark. In reality, the vast majority of solar panels are grid-tied systems. When solar systems are connected to utility power lines it is actually beneficial for the system owner and for the grid. In addition to this, grid-connected systems are known to be more efficient.

Homeowners with grid-tied solar systems can still pull energy from the utility lines. This is one of the major reasons why solar companies highly suggest grid-connected systems. When your system is not producing quite enough energy then you can get energy in the traditional way. And if your solar panels are producing more energy than you need, the excess power is fed back into the utility grid. This means that you may eliminate your electric bills entirely.

Grid-connected solar panels are often suggested by solar companies because they help stabilize the grid. When homeowners use grid-tied solar systems it helps to reduce blackouts and brownouts. Along with this, these systems actually help the nation’s energy infrastructure overall.

Grid-tied solar systems are also important because they help to decrease the congestion that can occur at peak times of energy use. The official term for this is “peak shaving”–grid-tied systems “shave” electricity needs when electricity demands are at their peak.

Solar experts also believe that it is important to have grid-tied solar systems because they bolster the nation’s overall energy infrastructure. Currently, our electricity demands are higher than the infrastructure can handle. Unfortunately, this has caused many grid system “failures.” There have been numerous power outages and “power quality disturbances” that cost America a large sum of money, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. An increase in grid-connected solar panel systems helps combat these problems. The ASCE found that these failures cost us billions of dollars every year. Specifically, they found that we waste around $25 billion to $280 billion annually.

Looking to find the best deal on AZ solar companies, then visit www.solarelectricfreedom.com to find the best advice on Arizona solar electric products for you.

Technorati Tags: energy-efficient products, environment, green products, home accessories, solar, Solar Panels, solar technology