Solar Photovoltaic Power in Homes

The sun shines nonstop and generates more than 10,000 times the amount of energy the entire world consumes annually.  This vast potential for free energy remains greatly untapped as our dependence on fossil fuels has hindered funding and research into solar energy as a potential substitute. 

The current predominant fossil fuel based power generation system is dwindling particularly oil, natural gas and coal. Fossil fuels are finite and create large amounts of CO2 which contributes to what is commonly called global warming.  Solar power does not create CO2 emissions and as such considered as a renewable energy just like the wind or hydro power source.  Solar power is a source of clean energy or green energy, and coupled with its abundance there is ample reason for us to continue to explore solar energy not just as an alternative energy source, but as a potential foundation of energy production.

At this point in time, I think the development and the refining of a solar power facility is worthwhile.

BENEFITS

Here are why solar power is a valuable alternative energy source.

o   Solar energy is already created for us. It’s not only sustainable, but is renewable. It is about as natural a source of power as it is possible to generate.

o   Solar electricity power plants and personal solar panels produce zero emissions or make no pollution on the environment.

o   Large solar energy facilities can produce electricity regardless of whether the sun is shining or not making them sustainable and reliable electricity producers. The solar power plants capabilities of achieving this feat are generally thermal solar power producers capable of storing the heat generated and using it when the sun is not shining.

o   The installation of solar energy needs space but it also requires little maintenance. Once the solar panels or troughs have been installed and they are brought up to maximum efficiency there is little else to do to ensure they are in working order.

o   This photovoltaic or solar panels do not make sounds when converting sunlight to electricity.

DISADVANTAGES
As it is, there are also disadvantages of solar power that should be noted.

•  The purchase of Solar Cells and Solar Panels that are needed to extract solar energy are costly as of this writing.

• Solar power cannot be exploited during the night, on a cloudy day or a storm. This limits how much power can be saved for future days. On some days one may still need to rely on oil to power homes.

Solar powered home

In a Third World Country like Ph, there are laws reinforcing the use of renewable energy sources. First is RA 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act signed into law in June 2001. This EPIRA Law stated as one of its policies the promotion and utilization of indigenous and renewable energy sources in power generation in order to reduce dependence on imported energy. It also mandated the Department of Energy to encourage private sector investments in the electricity sector   to develop renewable energy sources prompting the DoE to implement the World Bank and GEF supported Rural Power Project. Through the Sustainable Solar Market Packages of RPP’s Project ACCESS, the DoE has been able to provide electricity to the remote Barangays in the country using the off-grid solar PV power plants since 2007.

The 2^nd law is RA 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act was signed on December 16, 2008. It promotes the development, utilization and commercialization of renewable energy sources, and mandates that the country double the energy derived from renewable energy sources within 10 years. It also offers incentives for investors who would undertake renewable energy projects in the country.  

Solar power at Kabayan Highland PH

Ph perhaps is one of the countries with several indigenous as well as renewable energy sources but is also one country that has high energy power rates.   

How solar power works

Solar power is produced by using photovoltaic (PV) cells to capture the energy of the sun and convert it into electricity. The basic unit of the system is the solar cell, which are connected together into modules. PV cells are comprised of semi-conductors, most often made of silicon (like the chips used in computers). The semiconductors absorb power when they are struck by light. These modules or panels of PV cells are what you see installed typically on the roofs of homes and businesses. The electricity created by the solar system is DC or direct current, and the electricity we use in our homes is AC or alternating currents. Thus solar systems include an inverter which changes the DC current into useable AC current. Installing solar systems is a complicated technical process and most people will benefit by using contractors skilled in solar technology and electrical installation.

 

Home solar power systems

There are two main forms of solar systems for residential use: the “grid-tie” system and the “off-grid” or stand-alone system. In a grid-tie system, a home has solar cells but is still connected to the local power grid. The home solar system includes solar cells installed on or near a home that collect the sun's energy and convert it into DC electricity. Then the inverter converts the DC power into AC power, which can then be used directly in your home.

Electricity produced by the solar cells that is not used immediately in the home is returned to the power grid. When this happens your electricity meter literally spins backwards as you are passing energy to the grid. You are also building a credit on your power bill. This is called “net-metering”. The benefit of the grid-tied system is that it does not include expensive batteries to be installed in your home for the storage of power; the grid acts as the storage system and your home and the grid exchange power as you need and produce it.

Off-grid or stand-alone systems are typically used in remote locations where standard grid-based power is not available. These systems are more expensive, but do allow for complete electrical independence. These systems require deep-cycle batteries for storing the electricity as well as a charge controller to assure the flow of electricity from the cells does not over-charge the batteries.

For a solar system to work well it needs an unobstructed view of the sun. In the United States, typically the best orientation for solar panels is to the south as the sun is in the southern half of the sky (lower in the winter and higher in the summer).

Solar panels can either be attached directly to a slanting roof, or bolted onto frames on flat roofs. If your roof is not a good option, then panels can also be mounted on the ground. They can either be placed on a fixed mount frame or on a “tracking mount” that follows the sun across the sky.

The Cause and Dangers of Deforestation

The destruction of our forests has many factors. This occurs due to various reasons and one of the main reasons is due to the short-term economic benefits. It also includes many factors such as corruption at the government institutions, wealth and power due to harvesting of the riches of the forest, population growth and urbanization. Most of these destruction are man made or due to mans greed. Some of the factors are the following;

      Urban Construction

The cutting down of trees for lumber that is used for building materials, furniture, and paper products has a major impact on forest life. Forests are cleared to accommodate expanding urban areas. This results in loss of forest area and massive deforestation.

      Commercial Purposes

Some of the other causes are: clearing forests for oil and mining exploitation, to make highways and roads, slash and burn farming techniques, wildfires, and acid rain. Forest fires can occur naturally or in most cases are deliberate attempts by man to clear huge forests. Most of the time, these forests may recover, but usually the cleared land is used for construction and agriculture purposes. This leads to loss of forests and loss of habitat for the local wildlife.

      Agriculture

Forests are cut down to clear land for growing crops, build farms, ranches and other food growing lands.

      Grazing Land

Forests are cut down in order create land for grazing cattle. Huge herds of animals require food and forests are cleared out to make way for grazing lands for these cattle.

      Use for Fuel

Trees are cut down in developing countries to be used as firewood or turned into charcoal, which are used for cooking and heating purposes.

           Illegal Logging

Many government agencies are fighting illegal logging to protect the forests. However, any type of logging legal or illegal leads to deforestation. Trees are cut down indiscriminately by logging companies, to fulfill the demands of the wood market. This does not give a chance to the local wildlife and trees to regenerate and sustain themselves. Thus, leading to loss of wildlife forever.

Ø  DANGERS OF DEFORESTATION

•Destruction of carbon sinks

Carbon sinks are huge stores of carbon, e.g. Swamps and forests

•Soil Erosion

Deforestation makes soil prone to erosion by agents such as wind and water. The roots of trees hold the particles of soil together thus, preventing the fertile top soil from being carried away. Soil erosion leads to loss of productivity of the land due to loss of mineral nutrients and soil microorganisms

•Destruction of animal habitats

Apart from domesticated animals and marine and fresh water animals, all other animals need forests as their habitats. These forests do not only provide a place for the animals to roam day but also provide their food and act as a source of protection from predators through camouflage. Destruction of the animals’ habitats literally kills the animals.

•Medicinal Plants
Some trees are used as herbs. Trees such as the Cinchona have been used as treatment against Malaria since time immemorial. Destruction of these forests leads to destruction of medicinal plants that could be used as treatment for various ailments.


•Trees act as windbreakers

Absence of these trees enables strong winds and or storms e.g. Hurricanes and Tornados.


•Greenhouse effect and global warming

Nature balances the flow of energy and nutrients. Forests plan a very vital role in these cycles e.g. the carbon cycle where deforestation causes carbon dioxide to remain in the atmosphere. Accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a blanket that traps long wave radiation of heat and prevents it from escaping the surface of the earth back into the atmosphere. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect. The trapped radiation is converted into heat. This heat causes global warming.

Destruction of forests also causes modification of climate of an area mostly leading to desertification and aridity.

Eco Living or Green Living

ECO LIVING OR GREEN LIVING, an environment friendly lifestyle

God is all around

Perhaps most of the people living on planet earth benefited from its rich natural resources and the modern comforts derived from the development of information and technology.

But then we came to the time where commercialism embraced our lifestyle and became dependent on technology.

As to the food we ate, most are processed, refined then packaged making it a junk food. Its preparation was intended for profit and the nutritional values were sidelined. 

And as man’s needs increased, more natural resources were extracted and human activity increased thereby threatening our environment from its natural cycle process.

As of now, we are already experiencing the horrifying effects of ecological imbalances or severe extreme weather events like tropical storms, hurricanes, floods, heat waves, drought, or global warming.

However, we are not totally on a dead end spot. It is in our own making of how our planet earth will continue to exist. And of course there are many ways to help mother earth thrive. 

A starting point is to go on eco living or an environmental friendly lifestyle. Eco living or call it green living is a self sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle. It is an active and conscious lifestyle choice where the individual is able to sustain life with all the basic needs while nurturing nature and working with others to sustain an ecological balance in the community.  It is like tracking back the traditional practice of living wherein the biological aspects are considered thereby preserving the environment and harvest its benefits. The natural and practical way of living is adopted thereby the use of commercial and toxic products is minimized if not bypassed.

These are simple and inexpensive practices or others say it as a simple living but healthy lifestyle. These practices could be one solution to the dilemmas we are actually facing like the problems on pollution, depletion of our natural resources, hunger and even poverty. 

A natural living that considers biological aspects as an equal in importance to the natural chemical processes of food production. Natural living involves efforts to stimulate the natural environments to stabilize and sustain it. 

  

To enter with eco living, the popular 3 R’s used by environmentalist which are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are involved. Another vital mantra could be added and used is Convert, such as to convert waste to energy or waste to fertilizers. 

Ideas for these propositions are numerous such as reducing garbage, saving energy and reducing land degradation and many other suggestions.

For individuals or at home;

§  Recycling of products is convenient where wastes are minimized.

§  Purchasing and using energy efficient appliances for home.

§  Using homemade non-polluting cleaning supplies reduce the amount of staff to buy,

§  Growing your own backyard vegetable and herb garden,

§  Support the use of available alternative energy and many more.

With the use of this method, of course our budget is reduced.

In the community, there are many environmental projects one individual could do and join.

§  Volunteer in the clean and green project such as recycling and composting of wastes.

§  Tree planting activity and adopting a tree until it matures.

§  Following the rules for fishing and hunting or the environmental laws of the community. Small actions, when taken by a large group, can yield great change.

Some argue that this system is not a practicable idea especially those whose sources of livelihood on the mainstream industries like the production of processed food, fuel, transport, and big business, all of which have massive carbon footprints.

Living without most of the modern comforts and conveniences is just unimaginable for many people.  

But eco living can be one of the ways by which mankind can ensure survival in the future and help slowdown environmental destruction. Eco living is an integration of the knowledge gained through advances in technology with more traditional practices that respect the environment- the source of all living things. 

We must continue to work together in reducing overall consumption to protect the environment on which modern economies and lives depend. The task presented to consumers is this: first and foremost reduce your consumption, then buy “green,” but only buy as much as you need to live.

Environmentally friendly living not only helps the planet (giving a lighter ecological footprint) but also provide you healthy, simple and more economical lifestyle. Just a few small changes in your day to day life will be helpful in addressing some of the global issues such as global warming and also local issues such as solid waste disposal, energy crisis, land degradation and water scarcity.