Among the green energy for the home we have wind energy and photovoltaic solar energy.
Wind power
It is the turn of the wind as a source of renewable energy for your home. Wind energy is used primarily to produce electricity.
The energy contained in the wind makes the blades of wind machines rotate, transmitting its movement to a generator that produces electricity.
We can consider that wind technology is already in its maturity phase and presents a great commercial development. The installation of these machines, when they are of low or very low power, is indicated for isolated homes, which are also in windy areas. The wind turbines that currently exist on the market for domestic use are:
1.Very low power (less than 10 kW): traditionally used for pumping water (multi-bladed wind pumps).
2. Wind mini-generators for the production of electrical energy (usually forming mixed photovoltaic wind farms in isolated homes).
Currently we can choose from about a thousand mini-generators, from more than 200 different manufacturers. Which to choose? The size will depend on the wind, the production we want, but also our anchoring possibilities. A 1 kW power wind turbine can have 80-90 centimeter blades, which is almost 2 meters in rotor diameter, which requires a height similar to a television antenna. One of 5 kW has a rotor of 4-5 meters and that must be raised to about 15 meters.
Vertical Axis Mini Wind Generator
Saying that a wind turbine has a nominal power of 1 kW means that this is the maximum capacity it can supply each hour while the wind is blowing. In a good area, it is then possible to achieve that this 1 kW power turbine produces about 6-7 kWh at the end of the day. For comparison, a very efficient refrigerator consumes about 1 kWh in a whole day. To generate as much electricity as a household needs, this mini turbine has to be in a windy area. But, even if it does not reach that much, at least it can reduce an important part of what is consumed from the electricity network and that we will stop paying the bill.
After reviewing the main options we have to make the energy supply for our home more eco-intelligent, we would like to summarize what we have seen in a few ideas:
1. The energy consumption of a home has a great impact on our quality of life and on the family budget. For this reason, at the time of purchase it is very important to request information on the energy quality of the home, both its structural components and the air conditioning and hot water production systems, and take into account the quality of the facilities in our purchase decision.
2.The equipment for thermal use of solar energy constitutes a reliable and profitable technological development for the production of sanitary hot water in the housing sector.
3. A good bioclimatic design can achieve savings of up to 70% for the air conditioning and lighting of your home.
4. Renewable energies can be used to supply energy to our houses by incorporating equipment that takes advantage of energy from the sun, air, biomass and geothermal energy.
5. Since 2007, the energy certification of buildings became compulsory throughout Europe, which provides information on the energy efficiency of our home, depending on the characteristics of insulation, glazing, heating systems, hot water production sanitary and air conditioning.
6. Likewise, biomass boilers are a very interesting and competitive option, especially for the replacement of coal boilers. They are also an option that should be considered in new homes.
7. By means of a suitable collection system and a geothermal heat pump, in winter the heat from the interior of the earth can be used for domestic heating and obtaining hot water. In summer, this heat is extracted by transferring it to the subsoil and cooling the building.
We hope that after this series of articles on the possibilities of including renewable energies in your homes, you will see this question as something possible and not an issue that only applies to large power generating companies.
See: How to make a wind generator for the home
Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar electricity converts sunlight directly into electricity. This electricity generated from solar energy can be used exactly the same as electricity on the grid, for homes, businesses, offices, etc. for lighting, air conditioning, household appliances, computers, etc. Photovoltaic energy is very useful in remote places as a source of energy to pump water, electrify fences, aeration, etc.
As a conscious energy consumer, you want to do everything you can to use energy efficiently and use cleaner, renewable energy. This section contains information on solar electricity to help you evaluate your options and make an informed decision.
If you have already decided to install electric solar panels (also called photovoltaic or photovoltaic panels), you have already thought about and considered all the advantages of using the sun as an energy source: a reliable, abundant, and environmentally intelligent source of energy.
Why use solar electricity or photovoltaic energy?
The sun generates enough clean energy in one day to power your home for a year. Why not use this abundant resource of clean energy? Solar electricity also preserves the earth’s fossil fuels: coal, oil, natural gas, and reduces air pollution and noise associated with these energy sources.
Provincial and state aid have greatly reduced the costs of photovoltaic systems to generate solar electricity. Other benefits of solar electricity are the availability of energy when there are power cuts in the grid and not suffering future increases in the price of electricity.
Solar electricity can be a very good alternative to traditional energy sources considering the current price of electricity, subsidies and other advantages. The reliability and durability of photovoltaic installations are exceptional, a typical photovoltaic installation can last 30 years with minimal maintenance.
Is your building, factory, premises, etc. a good place for a solar energy installation?
A solar electricity system can be installed on any type of roof, although some types of roofs are simpler and cheaper to work with than others.
The size of the photovoltaic installation will depend on your habits and energy needs, but you will need enough space: a photovoltaic installation for an individual home may need from about 5 square meters, for a small installation to start, up to 100 square meters for larger installations. A photovoltaic system needs unobstructed access to the sun’s rays, most of the day, throughout the year. Photovoltaic modules are hardly affected by extreme climates, in fact, some photovoltaic cells perform better in cold climates.
Photovoltaic panels are installed at the right angle to capture as much solar energy as possible and are not damaged or hail.
An energy efficient building needs a smaller photovoltaic system, that is, the more energy efficient your home or office is, the less electrical solar energy you will need to produce.
As part of your process of buying a photovoltaic installation, we will help you determine your needs and the appropriate size of the solar installation you need.
What does a typical solar energy installation look like?
A typical photovoltaic installation consists of solar cells electrically connected to form a photovoltaic panel, which can measure from half a meter to a meter wide and one to two meters long. Some solar panels mimic traditional roof tiles .
solar energy installation Usually several interconnected photovoltaic panels are necessary. The panels are typically mounted on the roof of a building, facing south and at the optimum angle for the solar cells to receive the maximum amount of sunlight.
Another typical component in a photovoltaic installation is the inverter, which converts electricity from direct current to alternating current, so that it can be used by most household appliances, computers, etc. Batteries can also be used to store solar energy when there is no grid power or for emergencies in the event of a power outage.
How can I use solar electricity in my home or business?
Today’s solar installations can be installed in virtually any conceivable home or commercial building structure. You can find solar electricity being used outdoors for lighting, security in gardens, parking lots, etc. These solar installations can also serve as a roof, which generates energy at the same time.
solar energy installation
Solar electricity can be used for all electrical systems, including lights, cooling systems, and appliances.
If your house or building is already connected to the electricity grid, with solar energy you can lower the cost of your electricity bill by reducing the amount of energy you consume from the grid and by selling excess solar energy that you do not consume.
