The ultimate review of the 4 top build your own solar panel guides. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/ en-us energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com 2011 Build Your Own Solar Panel How To Build Your Own Solar Panel - The Basic Steps The purpose here is to give you a quick run down of the steps to build your own solar panel. All of the guides above provide the steps in a lot more detail, but the process is pretty much always the same. The very first thing you are going to need to do is obtain some second-hand solar power cells. Try to get hold of solar panels which are somewhere between 12 volts and 16 volts as they are ideal for this particular approach and tend to be the best value. The very first place to try will be your neighbourhood hardware retailer. Go to the big ones to begin with, or for good specials search for 2nd hand solar panels at the smaller outlets. You should be able to find one which is priced about or sometimes under $100. The second key device you will require is a battery. While you could possibly be tempted to go big here, a small rechargeable solar battery is certainly the perfect option. A twelve volt lead or acid battery pack is going to do the trick. The actual variety you are hunting for at this point is a deep cell battery as they happen to be made the best for frequent and continuous usage. In order to make your solar cell safely and securely you might also wish to invest in a solar battery box. This will provide you with safeguards from the battery pack and also the actual electricity it provides in the event you are operating inside small quarters or maybe have got little kids running around in the area. The next supplies needed are a DC meter which matches the particular voltage of your battery and also a DC input. These products will allow you to convert your electrical power from the solar panel and apply it to power sources about your home. Naturally in cases where you are wishing to power AC appliances you will require some sort of inverter as well. It's now time to actually build your solar power cell. Start using some sort of handheld drill in order to connect your meter and DC input to the topmost end of the electric battery box. Link the battery to the DC volt meter using a little bit of protected wire. Don't forget, these suggestions are just an example of the process and are by no means a definitive guide. If you’re serious about doing this work invest in one of the guides above. Be very cautious to only work with one particular wire at a time and connect the first cable to the negative input first. Once again use a little insulated cable to hook up the battery to the DC inlet socket on the solar panel. OK, now you’re ready to begin converting the sun's power into your own personal usable electricity. Shut the top tightly with some sort of twine and put the whole product out directly into the sun. Wait for about eight hours and then get set to laze in plenty of home made electrical power. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/index.html 16 May 2010 21:43:01 GMT solar neville@build-your-own-solar-panel.net Solar Panels For Your Home Solar panels for your home is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Since 2004 the solar power industry has doubled in size every year consistently, and the global economic crisis has only fuelled this mega growth industry even further. Solar panels cost relatively little to produce, however in the United States alone the photovoltaic (PV) solar cell industry is worth around one billion dollars per year. This figure is expected to climb to over twenty billion in the next twenty years. The main reason for this projected growth is due to the emergence of commercial and residential solar panel businesses and franchises. At present, solar power contributes only 1% of the total national electricity supply. With such a low ratio and considering the growing need for energy the solar power industry is preparing to springboard exponentially. The aim of this article is for me to outline the situation for you so that you can determine the best way for you get solar panels for your home. Solar panels for your home, or residential solar panels, is where a lot of these new franchises will target. Commercial clients will always be able to negotiate deals directly with a supplier or master franchisor, it's the home solar market which is where the big money is going to be made. Just like any new age gold rush (think dot coms and finance companies), where there is money to be made you'll see a flood of new prospectors entering the fray looking to make their millions. As I mentioned earlier, solar panels cost very little to make but if you approach one of these franchises you'll likely get a quote for anywhere between twenty to fifty grand to install solar panels for your home. Solar panels for your home can cost under $200 if you make them yourself. Most homes only need a few of these homemade solar panels to be able to go off-grid. Also, if you consider the federal and state rebates which you can get for installing these solar panels, your solar panel costs reduce even further. It's true that building your own solar panels will require a bit of your time and effort. In fact, solar franchises rely on the fact that this seems like an impossibly difficult task. They want you to think that it's too hard to do yourself. Firstly to justify their ridiculously high mark up on these products and secondly to ensure the continuation of their business. The truth is though that solar technology has, and is, increasing at a very rapid rate. Creating solar panels for your home is a very real possibility these days and these technological innovations make it very easy, given that you have the right guide or instructions to follow. The solar panel costs the franchises charge is well over the actual cost. If you want to get solar panels for your home cheaper but don't really know how to, or want to, make them yourself. My best advice is for you to find a local electrician or trades person who would be willing to make them and install them for you. The total cost will still be considerably cheaper than if you bought it from a franchisee and you wouldn't notice any difference in the finished product. In fact, electricians and handymen are exactly the type of people most likely to be sucked into buying a solar franchise, so you'll literally be getting the exact same standard of work. Here's a quick breakdown of your likely solar panel costs; solar panel guide ($50), solar cells, battery and other gear ($200), construction and installation ($1000 this is a very high conservative figure). As you can see, you can easily get solar panels for your home for as little as $1250, more than likely this will cost under $1000 depending on the experience and quality of your installer. If you're seriously thinking about getting solar panels for your home be sure to take my advice and avoid paying the exorbitantly high solar panel cost which the solar franchises will charge you. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-panels-for-your-home.html 18 Jan 2011 03:49:06 GMT solar neville@build-your-own-solar-panel.net Greendiyenergy Review If you're looking for some real information on Greendiyenergy, you've found it here. We've done the research and background checks and this page explains our findings. All green products are carefully scrutinzed when they enter the market. Most of them are genuine, but there is always some people out there to make a quick buck at someone else's expense. Greendiyenergy Scam Let me say this straight away to put your mind at ease, Greendiyenergy is NOT a scam. Just make sure you visit the correct website and you'll be safe. If in doubt, follow some fo the links from this page to ensure you don't get redirected to a spammy mirror site. The Facts About Greendiyenergy The domain greendiyenergy.com was first rgistered on the 16th February 2009 in the US through the domain registrar GoDaddy. There is a common practice with spam websites to hide or use a proxy for domain registrations to protect the identity of the person or company registering the domain. The owners of the greendiyenergy domain haven't done this which shows that they have nothing to hide. The listed company registering the domain is Online Support Solutions LLC. The listed company address is 3879 E, 120th Avenue, Suite 323, Thornton, Colorado 80233. Colorado is an area with a high density of wind and solar users which goes along with the legitimacy of this company. Byron Walker The listed contact person on this account is Byron Walker. He is the name and face of greendiyenergy. He is in fact a real person and a part of Online Support Solutions LLC. We did some deeper digging on Byron and found out that he is 41 years old and lives in nearby Arvada, Colorado. He studied at Western State College and at present he is heavily involved in online marketing. If you want to check out more about Byron online, he has 2 active social media accounts which you can view. The first one is a myspace profile, the page ID is 373613357. He is listed as a scorpio and single. Don't read to much into this though as he only has 2 friends on this profile, so probably doens'y use it much. He is far more active on LinkedIn with 79 current connections and a quite detailed profile. You can find his LinkedIn profile with the username onlinesuccess. Greendiyenergy Online The Greendiyenergy brand doesn't have a huge presence online. It's popularity has come solely from viral marketing and social media. Products as good as this don't take long to spread across the web. The guys at Greendiyenergy put a lot of work into creating this product and have been duly rewarded with an absolute raft of free traffic from around Facebook, Twitter and other social sites. Greendiyenergy itself only has a seldomly used Youtube and Twitter account. You can find Greendiyenergy on Twitter using the ID greendiyenergy. This account only has 5 followers and 3 tweets. They also have a Youtube channel with the sme username; greendiyenergy. There are no videos posted on this channel but it still has 40 subscribers. Apart from that you won't find much more than this about Greendiyenergy. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/greendiyenergy-review.html 18 Jan 2011 03:50:31 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Earth4energy Scam We have done the research on Earth4energy and it's co-creator Michael Harvey and the results are here for you to see. We decided to do this Earth4energy review because we noticed that there were a lot of sub standard reviews around which didn't actually tell you anything at all. If the purpose of your search is to find out whether the Earth4energy scam holds any weight, you can stop right here. Earth4energy is not a scam. It's a real genuine product and has been operating and selling openly in the US since June 2008. The product adheres to all Federal and State regulations and FTC guidelines and is sold through Clickbank, a reputable brand. Earth4energy Facts The domain earth4energy.com was first registered on the 22nd June 2008. The person who registered this domain used the domains by proxy service through Godaddy to keep their personal details private. This is a common thing to do for businesses. The book was published by Swerd Publishing pty. The main product consist of a 90 pg downloadable eBook and 3 instructional videos to help you create solar panels for your home. Earth4energy Review We conducted a full Earth4energy review of all of the major social networking sites and found that they seemingly appear to be very active in the social media arena, however none of the major pages and profiles are genuinely from Michael Harvey or Earth4energy. There are also lots of Earth4energy facebook pages, but none of them are genuine. Lots of people create these pages to help popularize this site and drive traffic to the site. Earth4energy also has a very active Twitter account. You can find this page with the username @earth_4_energy. This page currently has over 1000 followers and has posted 126 tweets, however on closer inspection, this profile is also not genuinely from Michael Harvey or Earth4energy. Earth4energy Scams As you can see there a quite a lot of people impersonating Michael Harvey and / or Earth4energy. This is one of the biggest reasons why a lot of people are so sceptical about this product. The people doing this are either trying to poach traffic for their own websites or taking you to a mirror site in which to sell you a phony duplicate product. You have to take care to find the proper home page for Earth4energy. Either type in the address manually, or follow one of the secure links from this page. I hate to the one to break it to you, but Earth4energy does actually show you how to build your own solar panel units for around $200 each. Although one thing you should realise now is that because more and more people from all over the States are doing this, it is becoming more difficult to find cheap parts. There are other options for you get your own solar system, but building them yourself is certainly still the cheapest option. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/earth4energy-review.html 18 Jan 2011 03:54:54 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Homemadeenergy Download HomeMadeEnergy is a guide that helps consumers save money on their electric bills. The guide helps you learn alternative forms of energy and tips to save electricity. The book contains useful and valuable information on how ordinary people can make cheap solar panels at home. The guide also teaches individuals to build panels for less than $200 total in material cost, letting you save thousands compared to pricey readymade models. Today, you can find DIY environment-friendly guides that will help you create homemade electrical gadgets on a budget. These tutorials are slowly changing the energy industry as more and more household owners are starting to build their own alternative energy devices. The incentives include minimized power costs, enhance property value of your home and eligibility for tax refunds. HomeMadeEnergy Review HomeMadeEnergy originated from one man's issue and annoyance with his energy bill, which was continually increasing every month. After he was awarded an energy saving meter which actually increased his monthly electric bill, Ben Ford started to fight back against the utility company. The electric company didn't bank that the 52-year old electrician was dedicating his life's work to get free energy and telling his neighbors to do the same. And due to a series of fortunate events, the electric company even ended up paying him. With electric bills that were increasing each month, any opportunity that cuts off the bill is always a welcome surprise. And although you may not get free electricity at all, the guide guarantees up to 75 percent savings on your monthly bill. HomeMadeEnergy Does It Work The HomeMadeEnergy guide is a 44-page ebook with diagrams and images to assist individuals who are planning to build cheap solar panels. The guide features steps, instructions and tips on how to build a solar panel along with windmills. The book comes with pictures, images, diagrams and step by step instructions that will guide you through the process of making a solar panel. The system also includes a sizing worksheet that you can use to enter information about the lighting and appliances you use and how much electricity they consume. From this worksheet, you will be able to get a good understanding of how much power you need in your home. The ebook also contains comprehensive information on using batteries to save excess energy generated by the solar panels. By using this guide, homeowners are able to make solar panels and wind turbines from affordable materials. The system also features a video guide that will show users how to assemble a solar panel. HomeMadeEnergy.Org HomeMadeEnergy includes over six hours of video content that cover system components, layout, wiring, tools, and measurements needed for making the equipment. The system includes a step by step illustrated guide on how to construct wind and solar panels, easy video instructions, step by step diagrams for installation, and two month money back guarantee. The guide directs users to more cost effective windmills and cheap solar panels. The ebook is ideal for beginners because of its diagrams and step by step instructions. As a conclusion, the ebook is a comprehensive guide that includes videos, worksheets and instructions that is perfect for beginners and experts alike. Given the basic skills and common tools, anyone can make their very own solar power with the help of this guide. HomeMadeEnergy Org Reviews The work in itself is indeed a major industry breakthrough. HomeMadeEnergy is commended for offering solar and wind energy at a very affordable cost. And the savings can be realized within a few weeks only. This alternative energy system is an eco friendly way of generating energy and lets users reduce utility cost. The concept of building your very own wind and solar powered generators that pays you back in only a matter of weeks is indeed something that makes the system a must try for everyone. In the United States alone, there are already 42,000 households that use this power generating setup. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/homemadeenergy-review.html 18 Jan 2011 03:55:37 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Solar Panel Cost Scam - Don’t Believe The Hype! Solar panel costs have gone through the roof due to the fact that the solar industry is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Since 2004 the solar power industry has doubled in size every year consistently, and the global economic crisis has only fuelled this mega growth industry even further. Solar panels cost relatively little to produce, however in the united states alone the photovoltaic (PV) solar industry is worth around one billion dollars per year. This figure is expected to climb to over twenty billion in the next twenty years. The main reason for this projected growth is due to the emergence of commercial and residential solar panel businesses and franchises. At present, solar power contributes only 1% of the total national electricity supply. With such a low ratio and considering the growing need for energy the solar power industry is preparing to jump exponentially. The aim of this article is for me to outline the situation for you so that you can determine the best way for you to get your solar panel costs down. High solar panel costs have led to the emergence of new businesses looking to capitalize on this surge. Solar panels for your home, or residential solar panels, is where a lot of these new franchises will target. Commercial clients will always be able to negotiate deals directly with a supplier or master franchisor, it's the home solar market which is where the big money is going to be made. Just like any new age gold rush (think dot coms and finance companies), where there is money to be made you'll see a flood of new prospectors entering the fray looking to make their millions. As I mentioned earlier, solar panels cost very little to make, but if you approach one of these franchises you'll likely get a quote for anywhere between twenty to fifty grand to install solar panels for your home. Solar panels cost under $200 if you make them yourself. Most homes only need a few of these homemade solar panels to be able to go off grid. Also, if you consider the federal and state rebates which you can get for installing these solar panels, your solar panel costs reduce even further. It's true that building your own solar panels will require a bit of your time and effort. In fact, solar franchises rely on the fact that this seems like an incredibly difficult task. They want you to think that it's too hard to do yourself. Firstly to justify their ridiculously high mark up on these products and secondly to ensure the continuation of their business. The truth is though that solar technology has, and is, increasing at a very rapid rate. Creating solar panels for your home is a very real possibility these days and these technological innovations make it very easy, given that you have the right guide or instructions to follow. The solar panel costs the franchises charge is well over the actual cost. If you want to get solar panels for your home cheaper but don't really know how to, or want to, make them yourself. My best advice is for you to find a local electrician or trades person who would be willing to make them and install them for you. The total cost will still be considerably cheaper than if you bought it from a franchisee and you wouldn't notice any difference in the finished product. In fact, electricians and handymen are exactly the type of people most likely to be sucked into buying a solar franchise, so you'll literally be getting the exact same standard of work. Here's a quick breakdown of your likely solar panel costs; solar panel guide ($50), solar cells, battery and other gear ($200), construction and installation ($1000 this is a very high conservative figure). As you can see, you can easily get solar panels for your home for as little as twelve hundred and fifty dollars, more than likely this will cost under $1000 depending on the experience and quality of your installer. If you're seriously thinking about getting solar panels for your home be sure to take my advice and avoid paying the exorbitantly high solar panel cost which the solar franchises will charge you. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-panel-cost.html 19 Jan 2011 12:56:36 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Domestic Solar Power Domestic solar power is the final frontier to bring America closer to the realisation of sustainable renewable energy. So far solar power has proved to be the most dependable and energy efficient option when compared to wind power and magnet power. This short article is going to explain for you some of things you need to consider when looking at domestic solar power and also your likely options. Domestic Solar Panels When it comes to domestic solar power there are really only 2 options; build your own solar panel system or get someone else to build it for you. Whichever way you choose to go will depend on your budget and personal preference. The current commercial pricing levels for domestic solar panels severely limits the growth of this technology. In other words, the prices solar franchise companies charge are way too expensive for the ordinary American family home. If America is to really go green and move towards a sustainable energy economy, there needs to be a move towards more user friendly DIY solar energy options. Domestic Solar Power Franchises The commercial prices these companies charge for solar panels is well in excess of ten thousand dollars. More often then not, the price will be double or even triple this amount depending on your consumption and requirements. This is a serious barrier for most regular families. Most people relate home made solar energy to wealth. Sadly, it is true that the only people who can afford this option are the top 5% of the population. The domestic energy market is very lucrative and there is a lot of money to be made. The profitability of these firms is comparable to the oil sector, which is good news for investors and businesses in this sector. However, it's bad news for domestic solar power growth and consequently, the environment. Build Your Own Domestic Solar Power System Given the current state of the domestic solar power sector the only foreseeable way forward is through the promotion of low cost DIY solar kits and guides. If you haven't heard by now, there is a growing trend and demand for these products which help the regular American family to create their own domestic solar power. The guides themselves cost less than fifty bucks and they include comprehensive plans, videos and support. They describe exactly where to find all of the parts you'll need and also how to put them together yourself. Even if you're not that technically inclined, you can always get the plans and all the parts and then hire someone to put them together for you. An electrician or handyman would do this for an hourly rate. State and Federal Domestic Solar Power Initiatives Currently the tax breaks and rebates for domestic solar power producers are tailored mostly to those who use a solar company or franchise to supply and install their solar power system. Forward thinking states like Florida offer tax rebates to home owners who proactively install renewable energy solutions. This can literally save you thousands on a commerciallt installed system, or if you do a DIY install you could end up paying nothing at all. For a complete list of the state, federal and local entitlements check out the national database at dsireuse.org. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/domestic-solar-power.html 17 Apr 2011 14:31:49 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Solar roof panels systems will cost you a fortune if you buy and install them through a solar company or solar franchise. To produce enough electricity to power a small apartment, about one kilowatt, will cost you between $10k - $15k. Most of the time this won't be enough power to allow to go off grid. For a 2 kW and 5 kW solar system the prices range from $20,000 - $50,000. Bear in mind of course that these prices are for new modern houses and only provide a set amount of power. They don't provide enough electricity for you to become self sufficient. The good news is that there is a cheaper way! You can either build and install them yourself, or pay an electrician to do it for you. Doing it this way will literally save you thousands! The following review outline the current top DIY solar roof panels guides on the market. Solar Roof Panels If you have an old house and you want to have enough solar roof panels to power your whole house, it'll set you back a minimum of $100,000. Most of the time it's going to cost you upwards of $200,000. It's really only worth getting solar roof panels in an old house if you're replacing the roof, and even then you'd still have to be in the house for a long time to get a return on your investment. The news regarding solar roof panel costs is not all bad. The federal government has solar rebates in place in order to encourage more homeowners to go green. What this essentially means is that the government will pay for up to 30% of the total installation costs for your solar roof panels. If you're in the states it's also well worth checking the local policies on this. Eco-friendly states like California have their own rebate system on top of federal rebate which can save you even more on the total cost. Before considering solar roof panels it's important to determine the direction your roof is facing. This is obviously easier for new builds a you can engineer exactly the best angle for maximum efficiency. This angle will be different depending on which country you live in. In the states you'll want to place them on the south facing aspect of your roof to capture maximum sun. Solar roof panels technology has advanced considerably in recent years. The panels are now both slimmer and more energy efficient. The solar roof panels now are made to look more like part of the actual roof. In some cases these solar roof panels actually double up as roof tiles, shingles or slate tiles, thereby completely blending into the design of the building. The installation of these types of systems requires each panel to be wired in separately. This option is obviously more costly as compared with a grid tie system which sits on top of your existing roof. It is really only viable for new executive style homes if done through a solar roof panels company or franchise. The availability of solar roof panels has also become easier for the home consumer. A lot of families install these solar roof panels systems themselves, or hire someone local to do it for them. If you're thinking of getting solar roof panels for your home it's important that you know it is very possible to build your own grid tie solar roof panel system for under $200 per panel. Read more: http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-roof-panels.html#ixzz1Jn6bPLEv The price difference between doing this and using a solar franchise is purely the greedy profit these companies skim from you. It's very possible to get the same solar roof panels they use on your own if you know where to look. Beware of the free in home consultation! Of course they'll give a free consultation, but don't think that they're being generous here. As soon as they spring the quote on you and give you the hard sell, before you know it you've shelled out a hundred grand on your solar roof panels. Read more: http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-roof-panels.html#ixzz1Jn6gP1VL http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-roof-panels.html 17 Apr 2011 14:32:24 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com cheap solar panels If you're looking for cheap solar panels you've come to the right place. I've really tried hard to make sure I get as many visitors to this page as I can because a lot of the larger companies have the market cornered. The truth is the if you really want cheap solar panels you shouldn't go with one of these big companies because they'll charge you 5 figures for something you can easily get for 3 figures. The big guys seem to have the search engines pretty much sewn up. This makes it harder to get the word out about your other options to really get cheap solar panels. Luckily for you however that you managed to find this page. Where NOT To Get Cheap Solar Panels If you want to pay inflated prices of up to 1000% be sure to get your solar panels from a solar franchise company. These businesses are on the rise. Solar is the new gold rush on the west coast and everyone is jumping in with their pans and pick axes! Solar franchises are middle men who buy a license to distribute and install solar panel systems from the manufacturers. You won't find any cheap solar panels here. As with any business the more links ine chain, the higher the end price will be for you. If you're interested in making some good money doing this, then by all means look into it. These companies are extremely profitable because most people don't realise there are other options. Most consumers just don't realise that you can get cheap solar panels which work just as well. Some of the most well known solar companies offering these franchise licenses are {ambigrid|solar univesre|light house solar} and {iqpower|oneplanetsolar|usasolarstore}. How To Get Cheap Solar Panels The best way to get cheap solar panels is to buy a kit, or the individual parts, and make them yourself. If you don't have the tools, equipment or simply just don't want to do it, you can still get cheap solar panels made by paying hiring an electrician, engineer or handyman to fit the peices togather and install them. Unless you can find someone experienced you'll need to get yourself good guide to show you exactly what you need to do in order to build your own solar panel system. These guides are hugely popular, however they unfortunately stay under the radar for most people because they just don't have the money and resources to compete with the big boys. The Cost Of Cheap Solar Panels You can get your hands on a cheap solar panel guide for under fifty bucks. The solar cells and other electrical parts you'll need should set you back less than $150 per panel. The number of panels you'll need will depend on your needs. Most of the guides have solar energy calulators which will tell you exactly how many you'll need. Places To Get Cheap Solar Panels As you can imagine there are already a lot of people who build these panels for themselves who are not affiliated with one of the expensive franchises. Just like I mention here, these guys have already bought a guide and taught themselves how to make cheap solar panels. You can find examples of these on eBay and Craigslist You can find cheap solar panels on eBay in the Alternative & Solar Energy section under Home & Garden. There are always numerous listings for home built cheap solar panel systems as well as cheap second hand panels and cells for you to build your own system. Craigslist is similar and more popular depending on whether you're in, or near, a major city. Hopefully, I've managed to save you thousands of dollars with this information. Be sure to help spread the word and use the social links to tell your friends about it. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/cheap-solar-panels.html 21 Apr 2011 08:36:53 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Best Solar Panels As complicated as solar technology seems, there is still one very easy way to discern which are the best solar panels. That is by the solar panel cost per watt. There are a number of other factors to look at too. This short article is going to discuss these factors and explain them to you in plain english. Other factors to look at are what is included in the price. Some solar roof panels are simply sold as stand alone units, while others come with a controller and inverter. You'll need to have both of these to run your panels and bought separately these items will set you back around a couple of hundred bucks. This page covers only the best solar panels which are in the DIY or semi DIY category. These are the units which you can install yourself, or get them installed by a local installer / electrician. This site strongly advocates this type of domestic solar power over the hugely expensive commercial and 'so called' professional installers, which charge the earth for the same kind of thing you can buy yourself on Amazon. Best Solar Panels Top 5 List 1. Sunforce 260 Watt Solar Kit with Sharp Modules $1043.35 = $4 per watt - poly includes controller and inverter Solar Torrent, 150 Watts Solar Panel, Monocrystalline $468 = $3.12 per watt - mono includes nothing Epcom 85 Watt Solar Panel - 5 year warranty $264.99 = $3.11 - poly includes nothing Grape Solar CS-P-230-DJ 230 Watt Polycrystalline PV Solar Panel $669.99 = $2.93 per watt - poly includes nothing HQRP 60W (Size of 50 Watt / 50W) Mono-crystalline Solar Panel 60 Watt 12 Volt in Anodized Aluminum Frame plus HQRP Coaster $229.91 = $3.83 - mono includes nothing Best Solar Panels DIY Essentials To install the best solar panels in your home you're going to need some good instructions. The best guides are all available online for under fifty bucks and some of the best ones include Earth4energy, Greendiyenergy and Homemadeenergy. The majority of these guides show you how to build your own solar panel system from scratch using cheap solar panels which you can find online and also locally, they'll tell you where to go. Even if you buy a solar panel kit, most of the time you'll still need to get one of these guides as the instructions that come with the kits are notoriously difficult to understand and only give you the most basic information. The best solar panels guides are the online ones because they include videos and offer support via email and forums. Best Solar Panels Factors Explained If you've been looking into solar panels you'll have noticed that they are described either as monocrystalline or polycrystalline. Without going into great detail, the main thing you need to know is that the best solar panels are the monocrystalline type because they are more efficient and are known to last a lot longer than the polycrystalline ones. The main difference between the two varieties is that the mono panels, as the name suggests, are made up of mainly large fully intact pieces of silicon, while the poly panels are made up of smaller pieces of silicon which are aligned closely together. Most solar panels for your home come with a wattage (watts) reading. The watts is basically the measure of power the panels will produce and is calculated by the voltage (volts) of the solar cells multiplied by the amperage (amps). The best solar panels don't just have a high wattage. It has to be relative to the cost per watt. Very high wattage panels become inefficient once they get to a certain level. Solar cells have a set voltage of around half a volt each. This cannot be increased easily, so the best way to increase your overall wattage output is to connect a series of solar panels in series. All of the online guides tell you how to calculate exactly how many solar panels you'll need to match your current electricity usage. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/best-solar-panels.html 10 May 2011 06:51:53 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Most Efficient Solar Panels The maximum limit of solar efficiency of ANY crystalline silicon solar panels is predicted to be capped at 29%. Currently there are NO solar panels which even get close to this level of efficiency. The most efficient solar panels are currently the Sanyo HIT Series range which boasts an efficiency rate of 21.6 percent. It goes without saying that these Sanyo panels will cost you an absolute fortune and are not a good option as solar panels for your home due to a very low cost to wattage output ratio. The most efficient solar panels are generally strictly for instances where there is a limited amount of space and where the cost is not an object. Solar Panel Efficiency There is a big difference between the most efficient solar panels and the best value solar panels. In terms of pure efficiency, the cost per watt is not a factor in any of the calculations. The efficiency of solar panels is simply the ratio of how much energy is generated in relation to how much energy is input. For example, if a panel produces 200 watts from 2kW of sunlight, the resulting efficiency is 10%. This calculation is quite often a subject of debate as the measurement of sunlight is far from an exact science. For domestic solar power a more suitable measure of solar panel efficiency is the cost per watt produced. The most efficient solar panels offer terrible value for money as the price per watt increases exponentially after the median output range. The best solar panels in terms of value are kit sets and DIY solar panels. Putting together your own solar panels is the BEST value option, offering efficiencies of less than $1.50 per watt. To build your own solar panel system this way requires you to buy a guide which will tell you exactly what to buy and where, and also how to out the bits together and install them. A detailed list of the best guides is listed on this page. Solar panel kits are the next best option and offer efficiencies of around $3 per watt. The cost is double that of the DIY panels. The difference being that everything is provided for you to save you the time and effort of buying each of these parts separately. The end result is the same in terms of the panels you get. When looking for a kit set be you can get some great deals online. Be sure to check the price per watt to make sure it's not over $3.50 max. Most Efficient Solar Panels Technology The most efficient solar panels are still the monocrystalline silicon panels. The polycrystalline panels are sometimes cheaper but offer a lower efficiency and they also won't last as long, thereby increasing their overall lifetime cost. The new batch of cheap solar panels are the thin film and ribbon silicon technologies. These are just like the ones you see in calculators and watches. They are essentially polycrystalline cells which are either arranged or poured from molten silicon. They have the same limitations as the other types of polycrystalline panels. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/most-efficient-solar-panels.html 16 May 2011 02:55:39 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com How Long Do Solar Panels Last For most people looking at going solar there are usually two big questions. Firstly, most folks want to know how long do solar panels last, and secondly they want to know are solar panels worth it? The short answers are; a minimum of 25 years and YES, solar panels are definitely worth it! It is quite unfortunate that so many people have to actually ask these questions because for anyone who knows anything about domestic solar power these days the answer is a no-brainer. There has been a quiet green energy revolution happening due to a drastic price drop in the solar panel cost for the regular Joe consumer. Coupled with high energy prices and an economic depression this industry has been bubbling away under the surface and is ready to explode! Solar Panel Lifespan One of the hardest aspects of answering the 'how long do solar panels last' question is actually finding a decent amount of actual domestic solar panels which have been around for longer than 20 years and are still being used today. Believe me, there aren't many out there. Of the few that have been found by ourselves, and using information collated from other solar panel reviews, it has been found that the majority of the systems assessed are still producing electricity at around 80% of their original power output. This includes a large sample of systems in California which were installed in the 1970's, an amazing result! Solar Panel Warranties According to studies on rooftop solar panel systems it has been found that all types of solar panels lose about 0.5 - 1% efficiency per year. These findings are consistent with the observations of older installations showing that systems 20-30 years old which are still running at around 80% output have dropped efficiencies within this range. The majority of solar roof panels come with 25 year warranties. While this is more than enough for most folks, it is becoming a well-known fact that your solar panels will last a lot longer than this if you look after them right. It's just not practical to give warranties longer than 25 years due to the drop in efficiency. How To Increase Your Solar Panel Lifespan To get the most life out of solar panels for your home it's important to know a little bit about maintenance. Looking after your solar panels mainly consists of regular cleaning. When I say regular I don't mean every day. Solar panels are relatively low maintenance. Keeping them clean with regular wipe downs to remove dust, dirt, smog, pollen and other airborne particles will increase the efficiency of the panels. How often you do this cleaning will depend on your conditions and the weather. In windy areas and places known for dirty or dusty air, cleaning will obviously need to happen a bit more. Additionally, be sure to keep clear any obstructions which might get in the way of sunlight coming on to your panels. Trees should be trimmed regularly and if you have fixed obstructions such as power lines or buildings, seriously think about moving your panels because loss of light during any part of the day will drastically reduce your system efficiency and output. Conclusion It has been proven that solar panels last well over 30 years and can still produce over 80% of their original output. The best solar panels in terms of efficiency are monocrystalline solar panels because the silicon is more stable and they won't lose efficiency as fast as polycrystalline panels or solar panel shingles. To find out how to get cheap solar panels for your home check out our Top 10 list of green energy guides. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/how-long-do-solar-panels-last.html 07 Sep 2011 02:49:40 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Solar Cells For Sale Bulk While individual solar cells are available for purchase, in the majority of cases when we are talking about solar cells for sale we are referring to solar panels. Panels are simply a collection of individual cells and come in many sizes and strengths. It can be difficult to accurately compare the prices of solar panels because often times two panels of equal size produce very different levels of power. Many factors go into the value of a panel, including the materials the individual cells are made of, the technology used to construct the panels, and the age of the panels. Because of these differences, the best way to compare solar panel costs is by cost per watt of output. Each solar panel puts out a specific amount of wattage regardless of its age, or size, or technology. Therefore, by comparing only what the panel produces, there is a level playing field no matter how differently two given panels are constructed or how old they are. For example, let's say you are comparing two different panels. One is comparatively large, two years old, and uses lesser technology. It puts out 50 watts of power and costs $245. Now let's say the other panel is smaller, brand new, and uses a better quality cell than the other one. It puts out 75 watts of power and costs $375. Which is the better deal? We simply do the math. For Panel A, 245 divided by 50 equals $4.90 per watt. For Panel B, 375 divided by 75 equals $5.00 per watt. So, even though Panel B is newer and produces more power, Panel A is actually the better deal. You would just have to make sure you had enough space to go with the bigger panel(s). One more important thing to keep in mind here is how the wattage of a given panel is measured. Unfortunately, one "50-watt" panel may not actually be equivalent to another "50-watt" panel. This is because two different rating systems are commonly used to determine the wattage of solar panels and you must be sure you are comparing apples to apples when making comparisons. Most manufacturers use the STC rating system, while reviewers and informed shoppers prefer to use what is called the PTC rating. The PTC rating will be lower than the STC, and better reflect the actual efficiency of the panel. Just make sure the ratings you are comparing are the same, preferably PTC. Since efficiency is also related to cost you can read more about the differences between STC and PTC in solar panel efficiency. Solar Cells For Sale Ebay It is relatively easy to buy solar equipment using E-bay. They have a wide assortment of products available from many different sellers. As above, the important thing to remember when comparison shopping is to compare using the same rating system on a cost per watt basis. Since buying solar panels usually involves more than a very small amount of money, on E-bay something else to be aware of is the seller's rating. It might be unwise to buy from a seller with a rating of less than 100. Look for sellers who are more established with higher ratings with no (or very little) negative feedback. Another statistic to look at is the feedback of the buyer. It should reflect at or very near 100% satisfaction. Once in a while there is a problem that is not the seller's fault so 100% isn't required, it should just be very close. Finally, feel free and do ask questions of the seller. Don't feel intimidated if you don't understand everything there is to know yet. If they are selling a good product at a fair price, then they should WANT you to understand everything, and should be happy to help you. Solar Cells For Sale Bulk As with most goods, there are usually cost efficiencies that can be achieved by buying solar panels in bulk. The standard bulk unit for solar panels is the pallet. The trick with pallets is that one company's pallet may likely be nothing like another's. Even though you might think there would be a standard size there really isn't. Therefore, when comparing purchases by the pallet from different sellers you must be sure what each company's pallet holds. Or, even more simply, just compare how many watts each pallet represents or the overall price per watt for a given pallet or shipment. That way we are back on an even playing field like we were when comparing individual solar panels above. Solar Cells For Sale Cheap If you are in the market for solar panels and on a very tight budget, there are several things to consider. One is knowing that right now the cheapest solar cells for the money are being manufactured in China. This is mainly due to the labor costs being very inexpensive there. While true today, this may change, though, as new technologies are developed. For now it is just something to keep in mind. Another choice would be to look into the used solar cell market. As we saw from the example above, it is possible to find older solar cells which are actually more cost-efficient than newer ones. If exploring this option just take into account that solar panels right now have an average life span of about 20-25 years. With some technologies it is more, but it is a factor to consider when comparing new and used panels. A third option for discounts would be to buy straight from the manufacturer. It is not always possible, but very possibly worth a try. Finally, to save money you can always build your own solar panel. You can either start from scratch or look into the scrap market. During manufacturing, certain solar cells/panels are invariably damaged and are then sold for deep discounts. It is not that difficult to take several of these partial panels and solder them together. You could then have a perfectly usable solar panel for a fraction of the price. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-cells-for-sale.html 27 Oct 2011 02:06:50 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Petra Solar Petra Solar, Inc., is a privately-owned company which specializes in solar power electronics. It was founded in 2006 and has its headquarters in South Plainfield, New Jersey. It aims to reduce costs through the use of innovative electronics, and hold ten patents in the field of power electronics. These items were originally invented for the Air Force and NASA. The company had acquired $54 million of venture capital in the three years up to 2010. Petra In The Middle East Petra Solar purchased the Jordanian company, EnergyFlow Consulting LLC, which provide hard- and software to consumers and produces of energy. This will expand Petra's presence in the Middle East. In a statement, Petra's CEO, Shihab Kuran, said, "EnergyFlow Consulting is a huge asset to us as we expand our business.? The customers of EnergyFlow include water and power utilities, gas and oil producers, and chemical companies. It offers project development consultancy. Petra In Noo Joizee Petra is providing solar panels for use on utility and street light poles throughout Jersey City and other suburban and urban areas of New Jersey. As there are hundreds of millions of such poles in the United States, the potential for growth is tremendous. The system is known as SunWave. The five foot by two-and-a-half foot panels are attached around 15 feet above the ground, and are tilted south to face the sun. Each generates about 225 W of electricity, which is helping utilities to meet governmental renewable power stipulations. Kuran said that rapid and cheap deployment was possible because there was no need to obtain land, and no transformers and substations have to be constructed. Permitting and nimbyism are also obviated. Petra's Contract Petra is halfway through it $200 million commitment to supply 40 MW of solar power to six cities. The contract is with the Public Services Enterprise Group Inc., which is the largest utility in Jew Jersey. Generation capacity currently stands at 20 MW, which is obtained by around 95,000 panels and is sufficient to power 3,250 homes. In this way, pressure is taken off power stations. Utility companies are responsible for maintenance over the expected 25 year lifespan on the equipment. Installation of a panel takes only 30 minutes, which is preferable considering the high labor rates of New Jersey. Power is fed directly to power lines, at a rate of 200 W per panel, which will soon rise to 225 W. Electricity lines are monitored remotely, which facilitated a faster response when power outages followed Tropical Storm Irene's appearance in New Jersey. Petra Won An Award The SunWave system was one consideration which earned Petra the title of Clean/Green Company of the Year from the New Jersey Technology Council. Other contributory factors were the company's growth rate, success in the marketplace, contribution to industry standards, and impact on the industry. In 2009, Petra was the first business to receive funding from New Jersey's Clean Energy Manufacturing Fund. In the same month, the Department of Energy awarded Petra a prestigious grant of millions of dollars for research. Petra In California Petra hopes to repeat its success in New Jersey in California, where regulatory, litigious, and environmental concerns prevent the construction of large solar plants in the Mojave Desert. Only about 100 panels have so far been set up. In a recently-released white paper, Petra estimated that addities lityit nng solar panels to half the utility poles in California would increase generation capacity by 720 MW. Around 10,000 MW is presently generated from the sun in California. Petra In Bahrain Plans are afoot by Bahrain's National Oil and Gas Authority to install SunWave solar panels in that country. A pilot project is underway. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/petra-solar.html 05 Nov 2011 08:16:03 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com How Solar Cells Perform The sun generates an estimated 3.846 x 10 to the 28th watts. Only a tiny fraction of that energy strikes the surface of the Earth, but it is still enough energy to supply the needs of the entire world's population some 7,800 times over. Most of this energy goes to keep water liquid and grow plants, but a small (and growing) amount is tapped to produce electricity or generate heat. The production of electricity or heat from solar radiation is what is usually meant by "solar energy" or "solar power." Solar energy works in one of two ways, either by collecting and concentrating the sun's radiation to produce heat (solar thermal energy), or by using the photoelectric effect to produce electricity from sunlight. As the cost of photovoltaic cells and panels has dropped, they have increasingly come to be preferred over solar thermal methods for producing electricity, but solar thermal techniques remain viable for other applications such as heat generation in manufacturing. Solar Energy - A Simple Explanation To produce electricity from sunlight, the most common process (and the one most adaptable to rooftop solar or domestic solar power) uses photovoltaic cells (also called "solar cells")collected into "solar panels" and the photoelectric effect. Solar cells are made of purified crystalline silicon with electrical leads at the ends. A silicon atom has electrons surrounding the nucleus in "shells" which have different energy states and may be visualized as being at different distances from the nucleus. When sunlight strikes the silicon wafer that makes up the solar cell, some of its photons are absorbed by the material and their energy transferred to the electrons of the silicon atoms. An electron in an outer (or higher-energy) "shell" that absorbs a photon sometimes gains enough energy that it escapes from the atom altogether, and flows away as current. The electrical leads attached to the solar cell create a circuit through which this power flows. Solar Energy: How A Home Solar System Works In addition to the solar cells, solar energy systems for home use include at least one and often two other important components. One of these is a device to regulate and moderate the power flow so as to generate a constant output, while converting the direct current from the solar cells into alternating current. Throughout the world, alternating current (which is output by generators) is used for home electricity use, so this transformation is necessary, and of course a consistent voltage is needed for optimum use and appliance safety. The other component, which is necessary for a stand-alone home solar system, is a battery for power storage. The peak times for energy use in the home are not necessarily the same as the peak times of sunshine; in fact, more energy is typically used at night. The battery system stores electricity generated during the day and keeps it for night use. Many rooftop solar systems are "on the grid," however, which means that the home is connected to the commercial grid and the solar system generates power which is sold to the utility when not being used at the source. An on-the-grid system has less need of batteries because the electric utility itself stores the excess energy; the home buys power from the utility as needed. How Solar Energy Works: The Economics The only costs associated with a solar power system, whether rooftop solar or commercial scale, are the initial construction costs plus maintenance. The "fuel" for solar power is free. Prices for solar cells and other components are dropping as improved techniques are refined, and as the market for solar energy grows and economies of scale enter the picture. If you build your own home solar system, the cost can be as low as $200. A solar panel has a long lifespan, but will eventually have to be replaced. Most companies warrant energy output from solar cells at 90% of capacity for ten years and 80% for another ten years. The life expectancy of a solar cell extends beyond the warranty and runs 30 to 40 years. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/how-solar-energy-works.html 09 Nov 2011 08:12:08 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Green Power Easy Review As the cost of green energy continues to drop and the cost of fossil fuels (and hence of commercially-generated electricity from your utility) continues to soar, a lot of products are finding their way onto the Internet to help people save money on electricity and to make their personal energy economies greener. These products range from simple and useful guides to producing solar or wind power at home, to scams involving scientifically unlikely (and usually unexplained) techniques. So that's the first thing we should always determine up front: are the methods of power generation or saving being addressed here ones that we know are real and will actually work? In the case of Green Power Easy by Peter and Jennifer Lowe, the answer is yes. There is nothing controversial here. The power sources described are solar power using photovoltaic panels and wind power using turbines. In addition, the four-volume e-guide set goes into ways to improve energy efficiency and conserve power. It's advertised at a regular price of $49.97 (currently discounted to $39.97) which includes all four e-books plus some bonus videos. The set gets good reviews from those who have used it, who generally say that it is well-written, easy to follow, and thorough. The authors come with plenty of experience: twelve years in the green energy consulting business, and seem to be something in the way of missionaries for green energy. So far, so good. Let's take a look, then, at some of the claims the authors make for their guide. Green Power Easy Claims One claim is that the guide will tell you how to build a solar panel for as little as $125 and a wind turbine for as little as $100. So let's consider whether that would be possible, and if so what the specifics of these devices would be. First with regard to the solar panel, a solar panel is built of solar cells, and the cheapest solar cells that I could find came to about 25 cents a watt (on Ebay). So this claim is certainly true, but may be a little misleading; allowing for costs other than the solar cell (frame materials, leads, wiring), you could create a solar panel generating at most a few hundred watts of power for that price, if you shop carefully. Now, there's nothing wrong with that! It means that a 3 kilowatt home solar system could be constructed for much less than the cost of having such a system installed. But you certainly could not do it for $125, although you could indeed make one solar panel for that price. Still, this looks like a decent guide to home-built green energy. The guide has plans for various sizes of wind turbine: 500-watt, 800-watt, and 1500-watt. Its solar system plans can be expanded to meet the needs of just about any household. Its tips on how to improve energy efficiency are sound and common-sense for the most part. The authors' website allows visitors to download videos on green energy and to sign up for an email newsletter. Advice is provided for using net metering in conjunction with your local utility, as well as for going completely off the grid (a more difficult proposition but by no means impossible). As anyone knows who has looked into converting a home, wholly or in part, to renewable energy, the up-front cost can be daunting. If you can follow well-designed instructions and don't mind putting in some work, Green Power Easy can help you to shave a lot off that up-front cost, while also helping you cut your power consumption through simple, common-sense steps. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/green-power-easy-review.html 06 Jan 2012 13:44:31 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com My Solar Plans Review With the exploding cost of electricity, the dropping price for solar power technology, and the increasing need to lower humanity's environmental footprint, a rooftop solar system has obvious appeal. But when you call a solar power contractor for an estimate, the up-front cost can be daunting. Sure, you'll save money on your electric bill, but even at today's electric prices it could take 15 years before your solar system is paid for from those savings, and the system's life span is only guaranteed for 20 years. That's why it's even more attractive to install your own solar system rather than paying someone else to do it. And if you can actually make the solar panels themselves, you'll save even more. There are a number of guides available online to building your own solar panels. Many of these guides are free. My Solar Plans by Mark Wells is not; Mark charges just under $50 for his e-book and video guides to making your own solar panels and solar system. My Solar Plans Website The most irritating thing about My Solar Plans is actually the web site (mysolarplans.com). When you first go to this website, you are put into a video presentation with a guy with a thick (but understandable) Australian accent describing the product. There is no way to skip the presentation and get into the meat of it. Once the presentation is done, the web site puts you into an ordering screen where you can order the e-books and other materials. The video presentation is about 15 minutes long. After that, you can immediately download the product and start reading. A more user-friendly way of presenting the information might have been a good thing. My Solar Plans Refund The video explains that the guide comes with a complete no-questions-asked money-back guarantee good for 60 days after you order (and you can keep the guide itself just for checking it out). The plans are sold through Clickbank, which guarantees the guarantee (so to speak). So My Solar Plans really is no-risk. The Plans So are the plans any good? On the whole, yes: this is a good, easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide to making your own solar panels and using them to create and install your own rooftop solar system. The guide presents all of the tools and materials you'll need, how to shop for solar cells (the working component of solar panels) online to get the best prices, and what steps to take to make the panels and put them together into a system. As the video makes clear, making your own solar panels and installing your own system can be a fair amount of work. However, it can also save a lot of money compared to having the system commercially installed. A system that might cost $15,000 fully installed would require outlays of less than $5,000 if you do it yourself from start to finish. Most of the tools are things that any homeowner would probably have already. A soldering iron is the main likely exception. You might also have to buy clamps, eye protectors, a long-nose nail punch, a respirator, a multi-meter, a paintbrush -- or you might have these already. The components can mostly be ordered online or, in some cases, even bought at a hardware store. All of this information is available online for free, but you have to look for it and it might not be in such a convenient format. For those who aren't heavily armed with technical knowledge and electronics skill already, and who are willing to put in the time to learn the techniques and build your solar system, it's probably a good investment. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/my-solar-plans-review.html 06 Jan 2012 20:29:56 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com Solar Stirling Plant Review Solar power for home energy production is becoming big, as costs of the technology drop and prices for commercially-produced electricity continue to rise. Solar power is efficient, amenable to a decentralized home-production approach, and environmentally friendly. Most solar power systems used for home energy production take the form of solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof. Solar panels generate energy without moving parts and, barring significant damage to the equipment will continue producing energy for many years. However, solar panels are not the only option for producing energy from sunlight. The other category of solar electricity production is solar thermal power, in which mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight on a point target and a process at that target generates electricity. The solar Stirling plant is an application of this principle. A guide to building one is available from solarstirlingplant.com for a bit less than $50. It's also possible to find solar Stirling generators for purchase online. The web site (solarstirlingplant.com) uses language that is unfortunately similar to certain free-energy scams based on magnet power, perpetual motion, or alleged secrets from the work of Nicola Tesla rediscovered; however, in this case the principles behind the power generation are scientifically sound and well-understood. The technology is even used commercially on a large scale; most commercial thermal-solar plants employ Stirling engines to power their generators. The only caution would be that the information of how to build a solar Stirling plant is surely available elsewhere. It's also possible that the unsupported claims on the web site are not accurate, for example the claim that the solar Stirling plant in the design produces power 12 times more efficiently than solar panels. The company offers a 60-day refund, but this applies only to the e-book describing how to build a solar Stirling plant; the actual plant itself and/or its components would not necessarily come with a guarantee. The solar Stirling plant uses a parabolic mirror that can be moved to face the best direction for gathering sunlight, focused on a Stirling engine that powers a generator. A Stirling engine is a variant on the same principle as the steam engine (it was invented by Robert Stirling as a safer alternative to the steam engine), in which a contained gas is heated and cooled, expanding and contracting as a result, and generating motion that drives a motor. The heat source for the Stirling engine in a solar Stirling plant is of course sunlight focused by the parabolic mirror. One thing I wasn't able to discover about the solar Stirling plant described in the e-book sold at solarstirlingplant.com is how much energy can be generated from one such motor. Clearly, that's an important consideration in comparing it to solar panels. The cost per generator seems on the whole fairly low, probably less than $200 for materials and components; the question remains then of how many of them would be required to power a typical house. One advantage of the solar Stirling plant is that, like all generators, it will produce alternating current, negating any need for a converter as is required with solar panels. At least two clear disadvantages are apparent. One is that the solar Stirling plant has moving parts, which means that over time it will necessitate more maintenance. Another is that it requires elevation, which means that if installed on a rooftop it will be more exposed than solar panels and could be damaged more easily by birds, animals, thrown objects, etc. However, there's no doubt that the system works, and is worth taking a serious look at as an alternative for generating power. http://www.build-your-own-solar-panel.net/solar-stirling-plant-review.html 06 Jan 2012 21:00:14 GMT energy efficiency, green energy, solar neville@nevillepettersson.com