There are many reasons why someone would choose green materials when building or renovating their home. Many reasons have to do with economics. The right products can not only help to preserve the health of the environment, they can also help to reduce the costs of powering and heating your home. But there are reasons other than financial ones to choose green technology for your home. Here are a few that you may want to consider.

They can add value to our home

It may surprise you to learn that many of the green products that are on the market today can actually add value to our home for reasons other than environmental ones. Solid wood flooring, cabinetry and framing can add beauty and strength to your home and may actually help to increase the resale value. Windows can also help to add value to a home. If a purchaser sees that you have replaced old windows with new ones that are more energy efficient, you may be able to sell your home for more than if you choose windows that do not have as high an energy rating.

The same can be said for other elements such as heating systems as well. Radiant in-floor heating systems can be energy efficient and can also be a selling feature especially when they are installed in rooms such as bathrooms and bedrooms. There is something appealing about warm floors in cooler weather regardless of whether they are environmentally friendly or not.

They will not emit harmful gasses

Although many people are using plywood and pressboard in their homes, they may not realize that these products will emit potentially harmful gasses as they age. Even floor coverings such as carpeting and the paint that we put on our walls can emit harmful fumes that can cause significant health problems in individuals with chemical sensitivities. Environmentally friendly products are generally made without additives such as formaldehyde or are designed to be low in volatile organic compounds. These products are much less likely to cause harm to our systems while they are in our homes.

How to add green items to your home

If you are building a new home it is possible to start from the very beginning and choose materials that are environmentally friendly. If you have an existing home, you may be looking for ways to increase the range of environmentally friendly products that you are using.

By reading up on the products you choose for your home it will become easier for you to make your home a greener and healthier place to live and may just increase its value at the same time.

If you are considering making the switch to solar power as a way of reducing energy costs, you may wonder whether passive solar or active solar systems will meet your needs best. Without understanding more about each of these systems and their applications it can be difficult to make that decision. Here is what you need to know.

All solar systems use the sun but they do it in different ways. Some may be used to provide heat for a home, others can provide a constant source of hot water. Still other systems can generate power so that a homeowner can reduce their energy bill and even go off grid in some cases. One thing that surprises many people is that these systems can be used in areas where sunlight is weak or intermittent. The key is to choosing a system that will work for your needs and the environment you live in.

Active Solar Power

These systems use solar panels to generate power or to heat water. They do require the installation of special panels and can be expensive in the beginning. Over time, the reduced costs that you will pay to heat or power your home will help defray the cost of the system. Because they use panels to actively harness solar energy, these systems are not dependent on the orientation of a home or the construction materials made to build that home.

Passive Solar Power

Passive solar systems rely on home orientation. This is the direction that a home faces. With passive solar systems, a home generally needs a southern orientation in order to take full advantage of sunlight in an area. Windows are positioned in the home in such a way that they let in the maximum amount of light and heat. Using windows and doors that are designed to prevent heat from escaping will mean that the home can be kept quite warm and that heating and lighting bills can be reduced.

Before deciding which system you want to install, you should consider what you want to use solar power to do. If you want to heat your home and it is positioned properly, you may find that a passive system will work best. If power generation is your goal or you have a home that does not have a southern orientation you may find that you will need to look at active solar power systems rather than passive systems.

Up to a few weeks back we knew only of a handful of processes to harness the immense sources of energy transmitted on to the earth surface. All forms of energy except perhaps nuclear energy, originated from the sun. (Sun it self is a huge nuclear reactor, come to think of it!) We have been converting this radiant energy to a form usable in a traditional application. But since time immemorial the most efficient conversion process has been photosynthesis by plant life with chlorophyll.

However much tried we have not been able so far to duplicate this seemingly simple chemical process.

However the latest news coming out from the  Swiss and US solar researchers labs is that a new process has been developed which uses Water, Carbon dioxide and solar energy, to duplicate photosynthesis in a way (though not exact). As you know Hydrogen is the most efficient combustible fuel known to man but hitherto has not been able to produce or store safely and economically. Though not an exact copy of photosynthesis, the new process at least to a certain extend mimic it and provide high energy fuel of Hydrogen along with Carbon monoxide as end products.

The Hydrogen is expected to be used in fuel cells or as Syngas along with the Carbon Monoxide produced.

The device

Millions of hectares of green vegetation covering the earth’s surface is our life blood. They provide energy, clean our atmosphere, provide Oxygen for us to breath, keep the surface soil bound and many other known and unknown benefits. Our present technology is not yet competent enough to provide all these to us.

The new system that  only partly mimic the natural process consists of a concentrated solar radiation collector, Porous Ceria (Cerium Oxide) lined vessel which is insulated with Alumina ( ie. the simple salt aluminium oxide), an inlet to the vessel interior for Carbon dioxide and water and an outlet at the bottom for hi efficiency fuels Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide. The metal oxide Ceria is a rare earth element but is about the commonest in nature in the series.

The Process

Metal Oxide Ceria is a salt with a peculiar property. It imbibes oxygen when it’s temperature rises and releases oxygen when cools down. What the new device does is that it absorbs the heat from the concentrated solar radiation which passes through the quartz cover of the device. Porous ceria lines the inner surface of the chamber to which CO₂ and Water is entered. The end products are Hydrogen and Carbon monoxide, both efficient fuels.

Currently the problem with Photovoltaic Solar panels and Thermal Solar panels is that they are static and the collected energy is difficult to transport or stored enmasse. The high efficient fuels of the new process earmarked for future environmentally friendly automobiles, air craft, industrial processes etc.  provide ways to store them close by outdoors as well as within the place/machine of usage.

Just like for any volatile fuel or chemical these high energy fuels too will have to be stored or transported with extreme caution and due safety measures observed.

It is expected that the new device will provide solutions for many a current problem experienced with renewable energy usages. The major draw back presently is the low efficiency of the device.  Swiss and US Scientists who are involved in this invention expect to have a break through in this regard soon.

Interestingly this machine can also be used to produce Methane too, another fuel whose energy content is less and easily adopted for domestic energy applications.

Many people understand how active solar power systems work. The distinctive solar panels make it easy to understand. Either they use photovoltaic cells to produce an electrical charge (which can then be stored) or they use a series of pipes in order to heat water which can then be used by a home. Regardless of whether it is hot water or electricity, it is easy to understand, even if only on a basic level, how a solar powered system works.

Passive solar systems are different, however. Because of the way a passive solar system works in a home, it is difficult to even identify which homes use passive solar in some cases. This can be a blessing in many ways. It can actually be easier to sell a home that is heated through passive solar power as it does not require overly specialized equipment in order to take advantage of a natural heat source.

What passive solar power involves

Passive solar systems are simply that- passively using the heat and light that the sun puts out in order to heat a home. By orienting a home in a southerly direction when it is being built, and placing windows and architectural details in certain areas in a home it becomes much easier to let in the light and heat that the sun provides.

This heat and light are often harder to come by during the winter months but it is often still possible to have lower energy bills in general by using passive solar systems. Some of the features include large windows that are constructed using low-e glass and placing those windows in areas of the home where they will receive the most sunlight all year long.

Construction VS retrofitting

An active solar system can be installed at any point. A homeowner can choose to install a panel system and begin to enjoy the benefits that they offer. It may take modification of some areas of the home (such as a change to wiring or plumbing) but in general, it is fairly straightforward to install an active solar system.

A passive solar system, on the other hand, should be built into a home from the beginning. If your home has a southerly orientation, it may be possible to take advantage of passive solar radiation by replacing the home’s existing windows with ones that are more energy efficient but if the home is not positioned properly it can be much more difficult to use a system such as this.

Only you know which system, if any, will be right for your needs.

Solar power is a viable alternative for many homes. They can be used in areas that do not get a substantial amount of sunlight. There are two main ways that solar power can be used in a home or business and it is up to an individual home or business owner to tell which is right for them. BY using passive or active solar systems it is usually possible for a home or business to substantially lower their energy costs and it may even be possible for them to generate enough heat or energy that they are able to go completely “off-grid”.

How these systems work

The main difference is how each of the systems utilizes solar radiation. A passive system uses the orientation of the building and the positioning of windows and other elements in order to capture the sunlight that is naturally present. A home which has a southern orientation and which utilizes high-energy windows and doors can actually reduce their heating bills by as much as 30%. The average energy savings is actually around 10%.

Active systems are more recognizable as they use solar panels to harness the light of the sun. These can be used to either generate electricity or to heat water that is then used in a variety of ways. The benefit to active solar systems is that they are able to capture solar radiation even on days when it is overcast, whereas a passive system may be more dependent on outdoor weather conditions.

Solar water heating VS power generation

Solar systems that generate power are slightly different than those that heat water. With a system designed to generate power, photoelectric cells are powered by sunlight and create an electric charge. This is then stored in batteries and can be harnessed at any time of the night or day, even when the sun is not shining.

A system that is designed to heat water is set up slightly differently. It uses a series of tubes that travel through the solar panel. As the water travels through the panel it is heated by solar radiation and is then stored in a large tank. When the home requires hot water it is pumped into the home where it is able to do its duty. As it cools, it travels back through the system of tubes and is reheated by the solar cell.

Both forms of active solar energy can be used even when sunlight is not strong. All a solar panel needs is to be fairly unobstructed by trees or buildings in order to generate enough power for a home or office.

Hard times are on Ireland. Cash is hard to come by. Social welfare benefits and minimum wages will be reduced in an attempt to cut down the 2011 budget by Euro 6 bn, it is said. Only way for you to come out of the quagmire is to cut down your own wastages and improve the efficiency to optimize the usage of your earnings. The winter too is on you and imported fuel is going to take it’s toll. It’s time to think of going for indigenous sources of fuel sources and how to harness it with minimum expenditure.

Greener Homes Grant Scheme for awarding energy efficiency upgrading grants prescribes Solar Thermal type solar energy converters for home heating and domestic hot water applications. As you know, for such a system   you are entitled for grant of up to Euro 1,500 and Euro 1,800 for Flat Plate type thermal collectors and Evacuated Tube type thermal collectors respectively, (based on Euro 250/m² and Euro 300/m² respectively for up to a maximum of 6m² panel surface area).

Now, it becomes evident to you that there are two different technologies available in hot water systems to select .Which is the best suited for your requirements? What if your choice is the wrong one?

We give below an insight into the two different solar thermal panels to enable you be aware of where you stand.

Types of Solar Thermal panels

The two basic types of solar thermal panels as mentioned before are:

• Flat Panel Type
• Vacuum tube type

In addition there is another type incorporating semi conductors to entrap solar energy and known as PV panels which are integrated with Solar Thermal Panels in a hybrid design. This design primarily cools the PV semi-conductors while heating up the fluid in the Solar Thermal collector, serving dual purposes.

Flat Panel Type Solar Thermal Panels

This is the oldest design of the two and is also the most widely used in homes. It is very simple in design, construction and operation. Therefore they are economical too.

A quality Solar Thermal Flat Panel may basically comprise of*:

• Ultrasonic welded, selective surface coated copper plate Panel
• Low iron, tempered glass with 91% transmission certified to EN 572-5, EN 12150-1 or their equivalents.
• UV durable EPDM and silicone  enclosure sealing against water
• One piece, channel type glazing gaskets with moulded corners against water penetration
• Electro statically black coated  all Aluminium collector cases
• CE certified high density Rockwool Insulation
• Flexible connections for ease of installation
• Back sealing provided by clamps and silicone
• Air vent holes to prevent internal condensation
• Back plate of embossed aluminium sheet.
• Special black coloured (for better absorption of solar heat) glass wool wall insulation

As you see the components are uncomplicated and simple.

Evacuated Type Solar Thermal Panels

In contrast these panels are more complex but are more efficient, durable, longer lasting and more reliable. Interestingly evacuated type solar thermal panels can provide heat energy during all seasons and cold, wet and windy conditions. (This is achieved by the low thermal losses provided by the vacuum of 10 _-6 in the collector tubes).

This eliminates two of the three ways heat energy is lost, namely conduction, convection and radiation. The elimination of the conduction and convection makes it possible for the tubes to make use of low levels of diffused radiation. Evacuated type Solar Thermal Panel is also highly efficient.

They can also therefore be adopted for domestic central heating systems.

The evacuated tubes are made of special glass which gives it good transmissibility with low reflection losses. They are highly durable too. As a consequence they are also relatively more expensive.

The high solar energy absorption of evacuated tube solar thermal panels is achieved by the use of an absorber which consists of absorber plates coated with a special high efficiency selective coating which enable maximum solar radiation absorption and minimum loss  of thermal radiation.*

Whatever may be your selection for your home hot water and space heating needs, approximately 70% of the annual fuel need may be shared by a solar thermal panel installation in your home.(The balance  small portion will be provided by a conventional fuel or electricity using heaters). Best part is you will receive the solar thermal energy virtually at no cost to you or the country. Additionally the Greener Homes Grant will ease your initial investment too. Keep it in mind even in the low solar intensity

and snowy winter too up to 30% of home hot water needs can be shared by a solar thermal installation.

*The given data are based on Kingspan Marvel Flat Panels and Thermomax solar vacuum collectors the pioneer and premium product.

For further information on Greener Homes Grant scheme, the sizing and costing of a solar thermal installation, how much it will save you by way of fuel costs etc. please  contact Greentech.ie on call save 1890 245345 for a free consultation. You may also contact Kinggroup.ie on call save 045 838376 should you require more information on Thermomax or Kingspan solar thermal panels.

Thermomax – World leading solar vacuum tube collectors
Thermomax products have been designed specifically for Northern climates:

 

 

 

 

> Supplies up to 70% of your annual hot water needs
> Works from dawn until dusk and throughout the year
> Provides heat even in cold, windy or humid conditions
> Rapid conductivity and transfer of energy into heat
> 30% more effective than flat plate collectors

Solar thermal technology transforms direct and diffuse solar radiation into
useful heat using a solar collector.Each Thermomax collector consists of
a highly insulated water manifold and a row of tubes.

The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation
and therefore, protects the system from outside influences,
such as cold and windy weather or high humidity.

This vacuum insulation also ensures that the energy
collected from the sun is very efficiently and effectively

transferred into usable heat as there is minimal heat loss.
Thermomax are the original and still the best all-round,
highest performing vacuum tube collectors in the world

Thermomax vacuum solar tubes are acknowledged as the most efficient method of generating
solar hot water whatever the weather – designed specifically for North American climates.

In addition to domestic hot water, the superior performance of a Thermomax vacuum
tube collector can also provide central heating support for standard, specialized industrial
hot water heating for high temperature applications and solar cooling.

Benefits:

* Provides up to 70% of your annual hot water
* Vacuum tube technology provides rapid conductivity and transfer of heat,
30% more effective than flat panel collectors.
* Thermomax products are designed specifically to work in North
American climates, even in cold, wet and humid conditions.

* Works from dawn until dusk and throughout the year.
* 5 year standard warranty, 20 years if installed by a Kingspan Solar Accredited Installer.
* Average 25-year lifespan.
* SRCC approved
* Certified to withstand hail impact test DIN EN12975-2:2006 using ice-balls.

The Benefits of Thermomax

Solar energy is free, clean and safe. It is environmentally friendly
and produces no waste or pollution. Using solar energy enables you
to reduce your carbon footprint as well as your energy bills.
Grants are available through many Government Schemes (see links section).

The Sun radiates enormous amounts of energy to the earth. As an example,
the UK and Ireland receive on average per year, as much as 60% of that
received on the equator. This radiation is similar to the output of 1,000 power stations.

Solar Thermal Vacuum Tube Systems

Solar thermal technology transforms direct and diffuse solar radiation
into useful heat using a solar collector, which should face as closely
as possible to the south at an angle perpendicular to the sun.

Each Thermomax collector consists of a highly insulated manifold and a row of tubes.
The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation, protecting the system
from outside influences, such as cold and windy weather or high humidity.

This vacuum insulation also ensures that the energy collected from the sun is very
efficiently and effectively transferred into usable heat as there is minimal heat loss.

Benefits of a Thermomax System

With over 25 years of experience, the Thermomax brand is firmly established as a
world leader in solar thermal products. Thermomax collectors are the premium
product in the market, designed specifically for a Northern European climate.

Contact Us
If you are interested in a complimentary consultation, click here to fill out a form
and schedule a complimentary meeting with our staff.
We can also be contacted at 1890 245 345 and would be happy to meet with you.

Thin film solar PV cell panels are now being marketed in Ireland by reputed renewable energy promoters.
A recent innovation, thin film solar cells are technologically different in their production while
being chemical different to the traditional Mono crystalline or Polycrystalline silicon PV panels.

What are thin film solar modules?

A thin film solar module is made up of thin film solar cells (TFSC).The cell itself may be made by depositing ( by a process known as chemical vapour deposition) one or more fine layers of Photo Voltaic material on a substratum using modern technology.
The substratum may be glass, plastic or metal. The thickness may vary from a few nanometres to several micrometres.

They are categorized according to the PV material used in them. As opposed to the conventional PV cell material of crystalline silicon, thin film  PV cells use amorphous silicon or other thin film silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide, all of which are causing a revolution in the solar power generation and sustainable building architecture.

The crystalline silicon conventional modules can reach efficiencies up to 20% in domestic applications.

The efficiency in current commercial thin film modules is less in comparison (TFSC i.e. the cell) having up to 20% while the production modules reaching only about 9 %). But in all likelihood soon TFSC modules might catch up with the established conventional panels in that aspect, due to the hectic R & D now on.

However one thing is certain. The world price of silicon material is increasing in leaps and bounds due to the heavy demand by mass producers of crystalline silicon PV modules. And if the industry and the consumer needs low prices they’ve got to look where less material is needed and where the mass production techniques lowers the prices. In this respect TFSC modules future seems to be the most secure.

Currently the problem seems to be the inability of the manufacturers to meet the demand world over.

Problems associated with conventional modules and how TFSC may be an answer

As we all are aware, PV modules present a nightmare for architects, structural engineers and designers, when installed on roof top or even at ground level. The strict requirement of southerly orientation, problems associated with shaded or low sunlight areas when the panels are installed some times in these locations are not the least. The cost of tracking systems too is prohibitive in small capacity applications.

The thin film PV panels provide you with a flexible solution for all these complications.

• They are thin composites.
• They have only a thin film of PV material coated on substrata of plastic, glass, thin metal sheet etc. and are easy to handle.
• The substratum itself could be any rigid and smooth material and not necessarily glass and less prone to damage.
• The PV material is totally unlike mono or poly crystalline silicon panels in that they can withstand higher temperatures.
• The thin film panels are much lighter due to their reduced dimensions and less material used.
• The efficiency is not high as in the conventional, but it is compensated by the low price (even in this initial stage) and the ability to cover a larger area easily.
• On flat roofs as well as pitched roofs the output is unaffected due to vast areas covered.

The thin film technology is already here with us in Ireland. Compared to Germany, Ireland is lagging behind among the other leading countries in the EU in this regard. The Japanese, along with the North Americans carry out a lot of R& D (and production) in this field. The Mitsubishi Corporation is marketing their thin film modules through the leading engineering contractor King Group (kinggroup.ie, call save 045 838 376).

Also if you are interested in free consultancy on thin film solar PV application for your home or apartment, how it will save on your energy costs, SEAI grants available for solar energy utilization etc. Greentech.ie itself may be contacted. Call them today on call save 1890 245 345 for an appointment.

Countries all over the world except a few backward ones, backed by their governments
are concerned with fossil fuel energy usage and are promoting renewable energy
sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, bio mass  generated thermal energy etc.
Ireland and other members of EU are in the forefront in this exercise.
The simplest and best money saver in the long run is harnessing solar energy for water heating.

 

 

Harnessing Solar Energy

Harnessing solar energy is done with three different   basic methods. viz.

• Passive Method

Using various techniques that harness the sun’s energy just the way it comes for day lighting, visual aesthetic effects, heating, and also insulating and air  sealing, shading and landscaping, orientation of building features etc. by the architects (whether new construction or retrofitting).

• Active Method

Active method is mainly dealing with Water Heating for domestic service or space heating. It is one of the most popular methods the world over including Europe for the purpose. The basic technique is the use of a solar collector to entrap solar energy in the medium of water (or occasionally  an antifreeze) heat it and use it for  a remote space heating or use it for service hot water (after sending through a heat exchanger).

When solar energy heated water (medium) is used for both applications the system is called a solar combisystem. A system gaining popularity in low energy homes in Ireland is a solar combisystem using air as a medium of thermal energy transfer. The regulated ventilation system and the heat energy collected at the solar collector are transferred to the indoor space to be heated in a single system.

Another newer Innovation uses the collected thermal energy as a source of heat in small capacity heat pumps.

A solar water heating system if correctly designed and installed, will easily account for 50 – 60% of the space heating requirement of an average Northern European home.

• Photo Voltaic  (PV) systems

A PV Solar system converts sun’s energy rays impinging on it’s semiconductor panels (also called modules) converting them to DC (direct current) electricity. An array or a group of solar modules are either series or parallel connected to obtain the required voltage (generally 600 VDC maximum) and the generated power is conducted to an inverter panel where it is converted to AC electricity at 230 VAC/50hz/single phase.

Where there is no grid power supply close at hand, even in Ireland, stand alone solar PV panels or arrays are used. The electrical power supply thus available at home can be used just the way low voltage grid power supply is used, including water heating, lighting, in appliances etc.

It is interesting to note that it is not necessary at all to have direct sunlight falling on the panels for the conversion of solar energy to electricity. The panels in the Northern hemisphere are always southerly oriented for optimum collection. The generation of electricity is less in the colder seasons (when the least amount of it is needed) and high in the summer (when you require it most).

A “buy back” system is in effect in Ireland now where if your production of AC power is in excess of your needs, you can feed it to the national grid for financial benefits.

According to available statistics in year 2005, there have only been 3500 Irish homes equipped with solar heating system compared to over 5 million EU households, all using free solar energy.

The technology to heat water for domestic or commercial property applications with solar energy is today well developed. The collection of solar thermal energy, heating water with efficiently, storage, distribution, minimizing losses in transit are some processes that have been fine tuned. It is also a process with low contribution to CO₂ emissions in the fight against global warming.

Irish commercial organisations like King Group CES have introduced purpose designed packaged solar kits for specific applications which prevent a lot of sweat and tears. If you want more information on solar water heating for your home, free consultation is available from greentech.ie (callsave 1890 245 345).

In discussing safety of Solar PV module installation, “handling and installation” safety are aspects that are of prime importance. These guide lines are meant to safe guard your property and loved ones from possible injury and damage. Follow them and you will avoid a lot of head aches.

Handling safety

• Avoid imposing loads on the surface, twisting of the module frame, heavy impacts etc. to avoid physical damages to it. The surface is glass and should be treated accordingly.
• Standing or stepping on the glass module surface may damage it and you might be subject to bodily injury by shards or electrical voltages from exposed components.
• The looks are deceptive. The PV modules are quite heavy. Therefore lift and carry carefully.
• Just like the front surface the rear surface of the module too is susceptible to damage by impacts, high pressure etc. Avoid by all means as the PV cells may break.
• Do not twist the cables for interconnections unnecessarily. They might snap off and cause open circuits.
• Do not drill the PV Module frame as this would weaken the design strength of the panel. The stresses may lead to corrosion of the metallic parts.
• The edges of the metallic frame of the PV modules are sharp and may be burred. If handled with bare hands it may lead to injury.
• Handle carefully. If you drop the panels or let objects fall on them, these valuable equipment will be irreparably damaged.

Installation safety

• Always wear protective head gear, padded leather gloves and rubber soled safety boots.
• Due to potential electrical hazard do not work on the modules if the terminals are wet.
• Stop working on the modules if the weather is wet, snowy or windy.
• Insert well and true all inter connecting connectors. Double check connections for trueness.
• Secure cables to module frame, installations supports, raceway or structures to avoid movement and make them sag.
• Avoid direct sunlight falling on the connectors.
• Do not touch interconnecting cable ends, or terminal box with bare hands under sun light or during installation, whether or not the modules are connected to each other or the system.
• Do not disconnect a connector while the system is in operation with a working load.
• Do not damage the back cover during installation as this too is an important component of the module.
• Take extra precaution when replacing a module from an array so as to not damage other modules or the supporting structures.
• Keep in mind the PV modules are always installed out doors. Any components used in installing should withstand rigors of nature. Use UV resistant cable ties, corrosion resistant material, sealants and components etc for electrical interconnections.
• Avoid physical injury by taking appropriate safety precautions suitable for working at heights. Always avoid body grounding through un-insulated tools etc.
• Keep away children and pets during installation.
• Last but not least, ensure your work to reliable and approved professional such as Kinggroup.ie Keep in mind, there is a warranty applicable on your PV Modules, Grants are available and that taking insurance cover is a good practice. All these will require a professional installation.