Solar refers to energy that is collected from the sun. The sun and wind are renewable energy sources that do not produce green house gases that contribute to global warming. One the components needed to collect the sun's energy are assembled, solar energy is a free and non-polluting source of power. Currently, there are both State and Federal rebate programs that can lower the total installation cost by more than 1/2. For a typical home there are basically three types of solar energy systems commonly used. Passive solar energy, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy, and solar domestic hot water systems. Wind turbines or generators are also becoming very common for suitable sites.  To find out what is currently available through Solar Home & RV, please visit our Emergency Power Products and RV Solar Charging Kits pages. 

Passive solar energy utilizes the sun's energy to heat, cool, and light a building without any moving parts. There are not any mechanical or electrical components of a passive solar system. Basically all houses are solar. The question is how does your house utilize the available energy from the sun? All home designs and types of construction can benefit from basic passive solar energy principles. Site orientation, properly sized roof overhangs, and window size and location are simple design factors that can greatly affect a homes heating and cooling bill. A home situated with its long axis running east and west can benefit the most from passive solar.

The ideal orientation for a solar house is with its long axis perpendicular to true south. Within 20 degrees of true south, the cost in solar gain is minimal, but as the orientation shifts more drastically, the house will significantly lose solar benefits.

Roof overhangs on the south of a building can keep the summer sun out and allow the winter sun in. Too many windows on the west side are hard to shade from the intense western sun without providing large covered porches or some other means to block the hot afternoon sun. A balance must be struck between the amounts of window glazing, your views, and the additional heating or cooling windows can provide. Properly designed roof overhangs help with cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems utilize the sun's energy to produce electricity for your home or recreational vehicle (RV). The photovoltaic process is a direct conversion of sunlight into DC electricity. That DC electricity can be used directly to poer appliances and can be stored in batteries for later use. By installing an inverter on a PV system the DC electricity can be converted into AC electricity that can be utilized in the home and sent back to the utility company to lower your electric bill. Optimum efficiency from a home's photovoltaic solar system requires that the PV panels be oriented true south and be set at an angle equal to the latitude for the site (for a stationary system). Increased efficiency can be obtained by mounting the panels on a tracking system that follows the sun. This type of system requires motors and moving parts and could require a technician to lower the tilt angle of the panels in the summer and raise the tilt angle of the panels in the winter.

Optimum orientation (azimuth and tilt angle) for stationary (fixed) PV panels in Steamboat Springs, Colorado would face true south (0 degrees azimuth angle) and 40 degrees tilt up from the ground plane. This example shows the PV panels incorporated into the roof. The south facing roof has a 10:12 pitch (great for shedding snow yet very steep for roofers). Mounting brackets can be used to raise PV panels off the roof and set the proper tilt angle.

A home photovoltaic solar system can consist of PV modules, a charge controller, storage batteries, a synchronous inverter, the existing AC load center (panel box), and the main service panel containing the utilities disconnect and meter. Storage batteries are only required if the home is not connected to the grid or if the homeowner desires an additional source of power if the utility grid shuts down.

The best advantage to solar and wind power is that they are renewable energy sources that do not contribute to global warming.

Solar domestic hot water systems are active systems in which water or antifreeze is circulated from a solar collector through a storage reservoir. The water in the reservoir or storage tank is heated by the circulated fluid and reduces the homes gas or electric consumption for water or space heating. Water that is heated by the sun is especially cost effective for spas and swimming pools. Proper care and maintenance of these systems must be utilized in order to prevent leaks and bursting pipes.  Have a question?  Ask Us!

Solar Powered Computer and Recreational Vehicle