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Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Solar Energy Answered

gary lyric — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:19:23 +0000

Never before has solar energy been so easily accessible and affordable to the average household. It is becoming more and more regular nowadays to see residential using solar energy to power some if not all of their electrical appliances. This trend was made possible thanks to the easy to install DIY Solar Energy system that was made up by components that you can easily get from your local hardware store.

Okay, I know there are a lot of questions running in your head right now. Let us just look at some of the frequently asked questions about DIY Solar Energy.

How much will it cost to build my own diy solar panel?
What is the size of the solar panel that I need to build?
How much power does my solar panel able to generate?
Is it possible to integrate it into the grid?
How long will it take to build solar panels?
How long will my solar panel last?

Well, since you’re going to do the installation yourself, the costs to build your own solar panel will very much depends on where you get your solar cells. You can get it from any local hardware store, or to buy them online from auction sites. Even broken solar cells can work just fine but might not look convenient to the eye. If you are buying from your local hardware store, just check from a few stores to make the price comparison before you buy and do bring along your friends that has the best bargaining skill.

Then, you will need an installation guide. A good one with illustration and video tutorials may only cost about $50 and the components will cost you around $100 to $200 depending on the size of your solar panel. Okay, generally you will need to build solar panels of about 2 x 4 feet to be able to generate around 100 watts. Look, 100 watts will not be enough to power your whole house and you might need to build seven or more of these solar panels (you will generally need less if your solar panels size is bigger than our example here of 2 x 4 feet) to power a house.

However, the advantage here is that you don’t need to pay an upfront of over $20,000 for the traditional solar panel installation. Instead you can build your own DIY Solar Energy panel as you need them and start enjoying some saving on your energy bill almost right away and scale your project to build more panels to power your house as you can afford. A good installation manual will show you how to integrate your DIY Solar Energy into the grid which allows you to credit the power company when the usage is low.

One of the great benefits of DIY Solar Energy panel is that, they are almost maintenance free and can last up to about 20 years time. After all, it takes only about a week time for a complete newbie to build his own solar panel. And if you are living in the US, you can even get tax rebate with your solar energy system for going green.

This is perhaps the best time to build your solar panel now and start saving up to 60% of your electricity bill every month. If you haven’t get an installation guide, I fully recommended this one because of the easy to follow step by step instruction in the manual which make the DIY Solar Energy project so fun and rewarding.

Author: Gary Lyric

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What You Should Look For in a DIY Home Energy Audit

tom bartels — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:29:40 +0000

It’s hard to save energy that hasn’t been measured. That’s the most basic reason for doing a home energy audit. If you are inclined to save energy for financial or environmental reasons, or both, you will inevitably come to this realization and start looking around for a professional or a program to Do It Yourself. Professional energy auditors offer a wonderful service and will use blower doors and Infrared cameras to help them in unraveling the mysteries of your particular household. But many people are realizing they can do much of it on their own, substituting handy tools and tricks for the expensive route to get roughly the same data. If you choose the DIY energy audit pathway, here are some key areas to make sure are included in the program you choose:

Collect billing history on electrical usage and heating costs: This will give you a critical understanding of where you use energy and where best to save it. It will also be used to compare present usage to future use after changes are made. This is the best way to use data to show how much you save over time.

Define the Building Envelope or ‘Thermal Boundary’ of the home: This is the area that protects your conditioned space from the unconditioned outdoors. There are various ways to do this including a simple visual tour of the home with a sketch pad.

House Pressure test: On a professional audit, they would use ‘Blower Doors’ and ‘Duct Blasters’ to do the pressure test of your home. On a DIY version, you can use the fans in your house and some handy tricks to find the leaks.

Insulation inspection: Your insulation is the first line of defense against the cold AND hot temperatures encroaching on your living space. The priorities should be in the attic first, basement second and main floor walls third. The US Dept. of Energy suggests a minimum of 15″ of insulation in the attic in most regions or an R-factor of 38.

Inspection of heating and cooling appliances: This step is fundamental for safety and for finding the base line efficiencies that you can expect your present appliances to attain. Replacement of older gas and electric furnaces and heaters can be a costly but sometimes necessary step. If you have a furnace that’s not too old, but may be overlooked, a good audit program should give you a set of steps to make that system work at its full efficiency, from cleaning the fans, to checking ducts etcâEUR¦

Window integrity and exposure: Windows can loose a considerable amount of energy in the winter. Yet much of it is through the cracks AROUND the windows that can be easily sealed. If the windows are single pane glass, they can also leak a large amount through the glass itself. If upgrading all your windows isn’t in the cards financially right now, there are steps you can take, like shrink-plastic coverings that can save money on utilities each winter. Audit programs will also give you ideas on minimizing window drafts and helping keep your living spaces more comfortable.

Phantom Loads: Phantom loads are those pesky electronic sucking appliances that use electricity even though you have turned them ‘off’. This is one of the best things you can do on your own with a Kill-a-Watt electricity monitor. You move through each room in the house and check which appliances are costing you money when you’re not even using them. Then you can target which ones to replace or at least put on a power strip to turn them completely off when not in use.

Lighting inspection: Lighting accounts for 11% of the average home energy use. In US households that adds up to an average of 940 kWh/yr. If you are still using incandescent bulbs for most of your lighting needs, It’s time to change. It’s a no-brainer. The old filament technology that incandescent bulbs use wastes about 90% of the electricity by turning it into heat. (You realize this once you touch one that’s been on for a while.) The newer Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use 75% less energy, create 75% less heat (cutting home cooling costs) and last ten times longer.

If your DIY energy audit program includes these basic categories, you’re on your way to a comprehensive plan to save energy. Many can be found online as e-books and downloadable programs. They are all a bit different with lesser and greater detail. We rate some of the best on our website. Which ever one you choose, just by taking action in reducing your own energy use, you will help keep your utility costs down to their minimum and help the environment as well.

Thanks for your efforts!

Tom Bartels is an environmental educator and certified energy auditor living in Durango CO. His website is http://www.energysavingathome.com which highlights the most cost effective ways to save energy around the home. The site offers a FREE Report on the “7 Fastest Ways To Save Energy Now” containing many details of the best steps to save energy and money when it comes to your own home.

Author: Tom Bartels

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Do it Yourself Sunroom Kits

tony collins — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:17:44 +0000

Adding on a sunroom to your home can definitely be a wonderful choice, since these sunrooms have so much to offer. Of course once you decide that you want to add on a sunroom, you may try to figure out whether you should have a contractor do the work for you or try to do it all yourself. Well, it’s a whole lot easier to build your sunroom yourself these days with the great do it yourself sunroom kits that are out there for you to purchase and use. You’ll find that they are reasonably priced and come in a variety of different sizes for you to use; however, in some cases you may want to get a custom kit that will meet the specific needs that you have in the sunroom of your dreams.

Precise Measurements are Needed

If you are not planning to go with a standardized do it yourself sunroom kit, you’ll need to provide the company with specific measurements of the home. These measurements are important so that you get the kit that you need to suit your home. Also, not only will they need to have the measurements, but you’ll need to let them know the criteria that you have for the sunroom that you want. This includes letting them know the style you want, the materials you prefer to use, and more. While it may sound like a lot of information to keep straight, the companies can help you with this process so that you are sure that the kit you purchase is going to be just right for the room that you want and need added on to your home.

There Can Be Problems

Of course it is definitely important to note that when you go with do it yourself kits that you can use to build your own sunroom, there are some problems that can crop out along the way. In some cases when you make the order there can be some misunderstandings that could lead to you getting the wrong kit. Also, you may think that the project is easier than it really is, only to realize about halfway through that you are in over your head. It’s important that you realize that the materials that you get in these kits are going to be guaranteed, but since you are doing the job yourself on the construction, problems that are construction related are not going to be covered and you will be liable for anything that happens.

The Savings of Doing it Yourself

While there definitely are some problems that can occur, when you decide to use a do it yourself kit for your sunroom, there are some great benefits as well and one of the main ones is the great savings that you can enjoy when you do it yourself. You’ll find that these kits are so much cheaper than having to hire someone to do the job for you. However, you have to consider whether the price savings is worth you having to spend the time working on the sunroom yourself. If you think so, then these kits are a wonderful idea that makes the process much easier for you than having to start from scratch.

For more information on sunrooms and sunroom additions visit TheDiyHomeGuide.com

Author: Tony Collins

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Home Improvement – DIY Or Contractor?

gerry marsh — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:18:26 +0000

Home remodeling should be an opportunity to increase the value of your home with home – not a test of wills. But it can be an overwhelming task if you aren’t quite sure where to start or how to go about it. For some, home improvement simply means keeping up with daily home repair. Others like to tackle additions and major projects to keep growing the value of their home. Unless you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer you will probably opt to leave larger home improvements up to the professionals, by bringing in contractors to handle bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, building a deck and many more dream home remodeling projects.

Will You Do-It-Yourself?

One of the first decisions a homeowner has to make on home improvement projects is whether to do-it-yourself or hire a professional or contractor. If your project includes structural changes, you may even want to hire an architect who specializes in home remodeling. If you decide the project is beyond your capabilities you will need to make sure you find a competent and reliable contractor. Selecting the right home improvement contractors or remodeling contractors is important.

Selecting A Home Improvement Contractor

Home improvement and repair and maintenance contractors often advertise in newspapers, the Yellow Pages, and on the radio and TV. However, don’t consider an ad an indication of the quality of a contractor’s work. Contractor references are a good idea when making your residential general contractor selection. These home improvement references can come from people they work with like sub-contractors and architects.

Ask how many projects like yours they have you completed in the last year. The contractor should be able to give you the names, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three clients who have projects similar to yours. Also, tell the contractor that you’d like to visit jobs in progress.

Is The Contractor Licensed?

If your state has licensing laws, ask to see the contractor’s license. Not all contractors operate within the law. Contractors should have personal liability, worker’s compensation, and property damage coverage. Avoid doing business with contractors who don’t carry the appropriate insurance.

One caveat: Just because there is no record of complaints against a particular contractor doesn’t necessarily mean there are no previous consumer problems.

Most states and localities require permits for building projects, even for simple jobs like decks. A competent contractor will get all the necessary permits before starting work on your project. Be suspicious if the contractor asks you to get the permit(s).

Be Careful Of The “Good Deals”

There are a few less than reputable contractors that you need to be aware of. They are the kind that offer you deals that are just too good to be true. Some of the warning signs are: they solicit door-to-door; offer discounts for finding other customers; just happen to have materials left over from a previous job; asks you to get the required building permits; does not have a listed business telephone number; offers exceptionally long guarantees; asks you to pay for the entire job up-front – in cash; suggests that you borrow money from a lender the contractor knows.

Financing Concerns

You have several payment options for most home improvement and maintenance and repair projects. Take care in selecting any financing options and don’t fall for any home improvement loan scam. You could end up losing your home.

Conclusion

Home remodeling can be a big step in improving both your environment and the value of your home. If you have a problem with your home improvement project, first try to resolve it with the contractor. Planning is an essential part of the building, additions and home improvement process. Plan well, select the proper materials and assistance and you will enjoy your improvements for years to come.

Gerry Marsh is a real estate investor and author. You can find more home improvement tips at his website: http://noqualifyingnocredit.com

Author: Gerry Marsh

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Get a DIY Solar Panel Guide and Make Your Own Energy – Free!

mark i wilson — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:17:45 +0000

There aren’t many hobby projects out there that can eliminate your electricity bills AND help to save the planet as well. Dropping off the grid, or at least reducing your reliance on it as the only source of power for your home, is becoming increasingly popular. And what’s more, you can save a lot of cash by doing it.

Yes, you have the option to choose wind power as your clean energy source, but what happens on days that there isn’t much wind, or if you live in a very sheltered location. Solar panels are by far the more popular way of bringing clean, green, free energy into your home.

As a DIY project, building your own solar panels or solar energy system for your home is actually quite doable. The tools and materials are probably a lot more affordable that you might think. However, you do need a really clear DIY Solar Panel Guide to ensure that you don’t end up making any costly mistakes.

Another point that makes Solar Panels a great DIY project is the huge savings that can be made over cost of bringing in a company to provide and install a solar energy system for you. Expect to pay anywhere from $20,000-30,000 overall for the job if you aren’t going to do it yourself. It takes a long time until your ‘free’ energy system starts paying off at those kinds of prices.

By building your own DIY solar panels you can start small – and cheap – and build your system up over time. You can be up and running for as little as $200, and gradually wean your home off the grid. With more and more people trying to find ways to be self sufficient and spend less on their energy bills, building a solar panel system is one of the best ways to do that.

If you are considering the DIY approach to solar panels, here’s a thought to get you going: Did you know that most of the components you need to make a solar panel are available from your local hardware store? Food for though, right?

For more green energy tips and a complete DIY Solar Panel Guide, visit DIY Solar Panel Guide.

Author: Mark I Wilson

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DIY Concrete Resurfacing and Concrete Finishing Tools

dave ray — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:17:44 +0000

Are you thinking about adding on a new patio to your home for those back-yard barbeques? How about running a sidewalk or path around the side of your home? Having the proper concrete finishing tools for the job should certainly be considered before you begin. Weather you are a concrete newbie or a seasoned handy-man here are the hard facts about DIY concrete resurfacing projects.

Probably the biggest factor in deciding if you should do-it-yourself or outsource to a professional crew is the size of the job. A new driveway for example would be quite a task for even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfer! Especially if you must first tear out the old driveway and if there is rebar (steel) in the old driveway the difficulty level and expense just got much higher. The reason you should outsource this type of job is because the concrete should all be poured at once if not separated by expansion joint material. Also, it will take the efforts of a full crew and many concrete hand tools as well as other equipment to remove the old materials and get the new concrete in place before it sets up. As they say on the job-site “wet concrete doesn’t wait on anyone! “

On the other hand, smaller concrete projects and DIY concrete resurfacing can be accomplished with just a little planning and effort. Also you don’t have to break the bank with a complete set of tools. A float and a trowel are a couple of specialty tools you need for the finishing. Concrete projects like patios and sidewalks need to be properly finished. For example, just before the concrete dries a light sweeping with a broom to give some anti slipping texture should be done. Another option would be DIY concrete resurfacing kit for the trendy new decorative concrete styles. Keep in mind that for larger patio projects many concrete finishing tools are available for rental.

So when planning a DIY concrete resurfacing project or adding a new patio and sidewalk addition around the house here are the basic concrete finishing tools needed for the job and there uses:

The Jointer or Groover: The purpose of this tool is to control the location of the cracks that “will” occur in the concrete.
The Edger: The edger produces a radius along the “edge” of the concrete so it is safer and more resistant to chipping.
The Float: Floating should be done after edging and jointing to work the concrete into place and push the rough aggregate into the mix to leave a smoother finish.
The Trowel: The trowel should be the last concrete hand tool to be used besides brooming. Most concrete will require more than one troweling. Also the angle of the trowel should be higher each time you go over the surface to produce a hard finish.
The Broom: This can be difficult. Broom too soon and it will leave an unsightly finish and you have to trowel again. Broom too late and you cannot get the anti-slip finish desired.

Now the list of concrete finishing tools above is just going to give you a basic understanding of the DIY concrete resurfacing and finishing. Please do as much research as possible before you order or mix the concrete because there is a lot more to this task yet to learn and this stuff sets up really quick on a hot day. Although, on cooler days you have much more time to work your material as long as the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing. There are a lot of good information sources available such as books online to learn more before you start.

Also keep in mind that DIY concrete resurfacing and decorative concrete applications are quite a different process so research these as well before you begin.

So before you begin to tackle a concrete project yourself be sure to do your homework and properly assess the tools and labor required. That is probably the most important aspect of any job. Research!

DIY Concrete Resurfacing Secrets and otherinformationto assist inyour researchondecorative concrete overlays and other concrete finishing tool techniques in much more details. I am Dave Ray, a concrete contractor that have used the information above in my own concrete finishing jobs. I also have a Website that I’m working on thatgoes into more detail of some of the concrete finishing tools and their uses. The site is online but still being re-designed and constantly updated but available now at http//:myconcretetools.com

Author: Dave Ray

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5 Top Tips For DIY Solar Panels

evans d. smith — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:17:42 +0000

Let me start this article with a very short story. Two years ago, I discovered how great solar power for homes is and I started studying how to build DIY solar panels. It was extremely difficult for me at that time because I did not have any knowledge about that. But after studying for two weeks, I had built my first functional DIY solar panel.

And now, with my homemade solar power system, I am living completely off-grid, which means that I need not pay for the electric company anymore. Also as I have a rather big-scaled system, the electricity it generates is much more than I need. I sometimes get paid by the electric company because it has to buy my extra electricity by law.

I know you now face the same problem. You want to start a solar power house project but you are overwhelmed. You do not know what to do, where to start. However, this feeling will disappear soon because you will quickly realize it is really just a piece of cake, as long as you get the right instructions.

Before you start the project, there are some considerations for you. No matter you just want to build a solar heating system or a solar electricity system, you first have to calculate how long you will get financial return. It is not worth if you have to wait 10 years to recover the investment although the Earth will thank you because you will be making the world cleaner. To do the calculation, you can just browse the Internet and find some tools that teach you the process.

Below are the five top tips for all homeowners who are ready to start the project.

Check if your roof is big enough for the solar panel arrays. Of course, you can also place it in the garden.
The place where you pit the solar panels arrays should receive at least six hours sunlight directly. It is pointless to build DIY solar panels for areas with no sunlight.
Make sure the trees near your house are not close to the homemade solar panels. You can cut down some of them when necessary but do not overdo it because it is harmful to the environment.
Normally you can build the solar panels in just two days so you should schedule you time for the installation beforehand.
For safety reason, the closer your solar panel arrays to the wiring area is, the better.

Those 5 tips are the basic of your project and you will need to get some tools to let you build the solar power system fast. First, you have to get a copy of a DIY solar power house guide online. Before you purchase it, make sure it is of high-quality. You can do so by reading some reviews. Second, you have to prepare some simple tools and parts. You may not know what you have to prepare right now but a good DIY solar power house guide will tell you everything about that.

I hope you enjoy my story and the 5 top tips. I am sure that as long as you would invest a week and $50 for the DIY guide, you will be living off-grid quickly as well.

If you’ve enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about DIY Solar Panels, you’ll love everything else you find at DIY Solar Panels.

Author: Evans D. Smith

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DIY Solar Power – 5 Steps to a Successful DIY Solar Project

jacob fisher — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:17:40 +0000

Here’s a simple 5-step process for planning and building your home built solar power project. You will find your project is easier to manage and more enjoyable by following a step-by-step process.

1) Work out your requirements. Before buying any parts or picking up any tools you should first be clear about what it is you want to achieve. Defining the outcome of your DIY solar project is probably the most important step of all as it affects every other stage of your project. Some questions to consider are: How much power do you want to generate? Do you want to sell power back to the grid? Do you want to be completely off-grid? Do you need battery storage for night use or overcast days? Now is also a good time to look at the available solar construction guides to see which one is best suited to your project.

2) Work out your budget. Now that you have specified the final product of your project it is possible to work out the quantities of materials and parts your DIY solar system will need. Components such as Solar cells, batteries, inverters and charge controllers as well as the materials like timber, wires and tools can usually be priced online. This is where you compare prices and alternatives and possibly even look for bargains on auction sites. At this stage you may need to adjust your requirements from step 1) until your budget is acceptable.

3) Purchase the parts and materials. Now you can go ahead and purchase all of the parts you will need, knowing that you are getting the results you want within your budget.

4) Construction and installation. Here’s where you follow the step-by-step instructions from the guide you found in step 1 and build and install your solar powered system. You will need to have a registered electrician perform at least the mains related wiring, depending on your local codes.

5) Testing the system. Now that your DIY solar system is online you will need to pay close attention to it for a while to ensure everything is operating correctly. The solar design guide you chose should contain a section about ongoing maintenance to keep things running smoothly.

I spent ages looking for the best way to build a DIY solar power system, you can read about my experiences at DIY Solar Power. You can see the results of my tests at DIY Solar Panels. For more information visit homesolarwind.com

Author: Jacob Fisher

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Before You Build Your Own DIY Solar Power System

jacob fisher — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:17:04 +0000

When planning your first DIY solar power project it’s worth considering a few important things that will help you produce a successful system.

The first thing to consider is how much power do you want to generate and will you need to have power supplied overnight? This will determine the size and number of solar panels you need, and if you are disconnected from the grid then also the size and quantity of batteries. This is the first question to ask yourself because the entire system will be based upon the requirements you set here.

Now you can determine the estimated cost of the system. As you will be performing much of the work yourself and sourcing your own components, a DIY solar power system can expect to save a great deal over a standard commercial installation. From the requirements above you can determine all of the parts you will need and begin to find the best sources and prices. Remember to factor in the cost of a registered electrician if you want to use any mains-connected equipment such as a grid-tied inverter. A quick phone call from the local business directory should give you a good idea of what to expect here.

You will need to develop a couple of simple technical skills if you don’t have them already, such as using a soldering iron. This will be particularly important if you intend to wire individual solar cells into panels. A basic understanding of electricity can go a long way and you will be surprised how much you can do with just the basics.

Finally but probably the most important is to be sure you are working to a proven and trusted set of plans. Many a DIY solar power project has not worked out so well due to incorrect information or faulty designs. An author who has already produced some successful DIY solar powered projects and can share their experience with you is the best source of your design instructions.

Author: Jacob Fisher

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How to Make Your Own DIY Solar Panels

jacob fisher — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:17:03 +0000

Homemade and DIY solar power is now a very popular activity, with many people choosing to build their own systems. Hobbyists everywhere are reaping the enormous benefits of building and installing their own solar power systems. If you are new to solar power technology or you are thinking of beginning a solar power project then now has never been a better time to get involved in this exiting and rewarding field.

Until recently the specialist knowledge and materials required to build solar panels were not generally available. Nowadays, because of the enormous growth of renewable energy in general and solar power in particular the parts are now much easier to find, and can even be had for bargain prices if you know where to look.

Likewise with so many people now involved in the DIY solar industry there are becoming available more and more how-to guides that can walk you step-by-step through the construction process.

Unfortunately not all of the information available on the Internet is accurate and this poses a problem to the newcomer who has little experience and is looking to build their first project. How do you know the plans you are following really work? I have personally found numerous errors in online solar guides. Before investing your time and effort it would pay to be sure the guide you are using is preferably produced by a genuine enthusiast who has already built their own systems. Only then can you be assured of a high likelihood of success for your DIY solar project.

The information should also explain every step you need to take and include pictures and diagrams to make each step clear. It should contain sources for parts, explanations of technical terms as well as how to safely work with electricity and batteries.

Here’s a good way I have found for telling the quality of a DIY solar guide: check to see whether the author offers technical support and then ask them a question before you buy the guide. If they pass this simple test then it is more likely the author is genuine and the information is accurate.

Author: Jacob Fisher

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