Renewable Energy: Cost effective solutions for the home or business that will save money and lower green house gas emissions
One of the great aspects of the renewable energy business is that decisions that are made today can have a lasting positive effect for decades.
The energy needs of every family or business are unique. There are many ways to incorporate renewable energy into the energy plan for your home or office.
Solar Electric or Photovoltaics:
Solar Electric technology often referred to as PV which is short for photovoltaic, works by converting sunlight into electricity. Made from refined silica, solar cells are formed into products such as solar panels and solar roofing shingles. When exposed to sunlight, these cells generate electrical current. The electricity created is used in your home or business, thereby reducing your consumption from your utility company. Currently, there are many rebates and incentives that help offset the cost of a PV installation. These rebates and incentives can pay for anywhere between 40% and 60% of the system cost. PV systems are virtually maintenance-free and they have a long life expectancy, ensuring an excellent investment.
Electricity from the sun can be generated from photovolatics on south, east, or west facing structures. A south facing solar array will produce the best results however arrays with a gentle slope on east/west structures can also be very effective. The most important item that needs to be addressed is the impact that shade can have on the array. Chimneys, trees and surrounding buildings can reduce the productivity of an array. Since the angle of the sun changes every day, it is imperative to have an expert access a prospective site to determine its viability for year round energy production.
Solar Hot Water or Solar Thermal:
Solar water heating technology has been in existence for many years. Earliest forms of heating water with sunlight consisted of extremely simplistic designs. Modern systems remain straightforward but with increased efficiency. Whether used to heat your home or your shower, solar water heating has proven to be a long-lasting and dependable form of renewable energy.
Most solar thermal systems rely on the heating of an organic liquid call glycol. Once the glycol runs through the solar collectors and is heated by the sun, its heat is transferred through a heat exchanger to a solar hot water storage tank. That hot water can be used for radiant heating or domestic hot water uses.
There are many ways to incorporate a solar thermal system into the energy plan for your home. Whether you are building a new structure or replacing aging equipment, a consultation with a renewable energy consultant will enable you to understand the many options available to you and help you to narrow down the choices that will work best for your needs.
Solar Pool Heating:
Solar pool heating is one of the most cost effective ways to use the power of the sun. In most instances, an existing pool pump can move the pool water up through the solar pool heating collectors. The water gets pumped from the bottom of the collectors to a return pipe at the top. The heated water then gets returned to the pool. Drawing the water from the drain at the bottom of the pool will assure that the pool will heat to a uniform temperature.
A solar pool heating system can pay for itself in a few years. Whenever the pool filtration system is on a solar pool heating system can be heating the pool with no additional emissions of green house gases.
Wind Power:
Wind turbines can generate electricity to be used directly by items such as pumps, or it can be used to power your home similar to the way PV systems do. Turbines are used in a variety of applications, including residential and commercial, both on land and water.
There are many factors that go into determining if a particular site is suitable for a wind power installation. It is important to have an expert who can analyze individual locations, assess tower height, review town regulations and determine if wind power is right for your needs.
Geothermal:
Geothermal heating and cooling works by using groundwater, which remains at a temperature of approximately 55 degrees year-round, to help heat your home or business during the cold months and to help cool your home or business during the warm months. There are many factors that need to be assessed to assure that a geothermal system will supply the expected results at your location. A site assessment and planning meetings with your geothermal expert are essential in order to assure that the geothermal system will meet the needs and expectations of each customer.
Sun Stream USA is a full service renewable energy company that designs and installs state-of-the-art solar electric, solar hot water, solar pool heating, and wind power systems. We seek to educate and motivate our client base to commit to conservation and to integrate renewable energy systems into their homes and businesses. Our goal is to lower our customer's utility costs today, while helping to secure our environment for generations to come.
Sun Stream USA - Tel: 631-283-0057