Charles

Solar can reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the utility and help cut fossil-fuel emissions. But whether rooftop solar is a good investment for your home depends on your roof, your utility’s rules, how you pay for it, and the equipment and warranties you choose. Below are practical, plain-language answers to the common … Read more

Introduction: what residential solar PV is and why it matters A solar photovoltaic system converts sunlight into electricity using panels on a roof or elsewhere on the property. For U.S. homeowners, rooftop solar and related options such as solar-plus-storage can lower electricity purchases, reduce household emissions associated with grid power, and improve energy resilience when … Read more

You’re at the park on a nice sunny day when Grandma calls, you answer your cell phone and without warning it dies. You forgot to charge it last night; Grandma will have to wait. However, if a company out of China has its way, that would never happen to you again. Hi-Tech Wealth claims to … Read more

Thinking about installing solar photovoltaic (PV) yourself to lower your electric bill? DIY solar can reduce project labor costs and give you control over equipment selection, but whether it saves significant money depends on your location, utility rules, roof and electrical conditions, and the limits your local authority places on homeowner work. This guide outlines … Read more

October 5, 2007 — Frito-Lay dedicated a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of its Arizona Service Center in Phoenix. At the time, the array was commissioned as an early large-scale commercial solar project in Arizona and was described in contemporaneous reports as the largest business-owned PV system in the state. What was … Read more

Outdoor solar powered lights are becoming a regular addition to many peoples yards and homes. Solar powered lights add a unique ambiance to your yard in the evenings, make great decorations and can be quite practical as well, adding light to otherwise dark areas of your yard. Here are tips for choosing the right outdoor … Read more

Project overview This project builds a small model house with a photovoltaic (PV) panel that converts light into low-voltage direct current (DC) to power a miniature load (an LED, buzzer, or small DC motor). You can use it as an engineering demonstration (showing how a PV-powered device works) or as a focused science investigation (testing … Read more

A rooftop project with two purposes In the early 2000s The Green Project in New Orleans installed a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system as an explicit experiment in both onsite energy and public education. The installation was framed at the time as a small, grid-connected demonstration: a way to reduce purchased electricity for a nonprofit … Read more

Small-scale solar projects can be rewarding and practical when scoped correctly. This guide explains the difference between fabricating a DIY PV module and assembling a safe, small off-grid or portable solar system from commercial parts. It focuses on realistic use cases (sheds, RVs, workshops, lighting), how to size a system, which components you need, important … Read more

Residential energy credit has been enhanced by congress for using solar power. Two other new energy systems have also been included under the new residential energy credit. This is made possible by the energy extension and improvement act. When does it start? The residential energy credit will begin on January 1, 2009.There are eight more … Read more