.

Here are three of many sites you can find if you just do a web search.

After you do a bit of research, you will find that the cost for a solar system will take about 9 or 10 years for you to save enough money to pay for the system. By then it will probably need to be replaced. Not a very economic deal.

A Wind blows across a hill, has done since time inmomorial, that wind is part of the global weather system, so someone comes along and builds a wind farm on the hill, most of the energy is removed from the wind, what effect does that have on the global weather system?
Wave power, many years ago it was demonstrated that wave farms caused or increased costal erosion at a point some distance from the "farm".
Geothermal, taking heat from the earths crust, what will be the long term effect of this accelerated cooling?
Solar, the production cost of photovoltaic cells has been questioned elswhere but what about heat extraction. placing large solar powered boilers in the desert may seem like a good idea but what are the effects on the flora, fauna and geology of removing that heat source?
maybe the sun will go out before the effects are apreciable but has anyone ever done any reasearch in to the down side of "green" energy?

all energy is the same, the waste that each type generates is the only difference…

I have seen DIY software which explains everything for novices. Specifically, how to build your own solar panels and tie them into your home electrical system for about $100 in parts.

Has anyone tried doing this? Was it easy?

The local codes in most areas in the US won’t allow you to install a homemade solar panel on your house, it needs to be UL listed. Don’t believe all of those bogus sites that promise you can power your house for $200, you can’t. Also, besides the solar panel, you also need an approved inverter to convert the DC power from the solar panels to AC that your appliances need.

Factory built solar panels are generally guarantied for 20 - 25 years, with a life expectancy of twice that. You will never get that life from a homemade panel.

To save money on a solar installation, you may be able to install at least part of it yourself, but the equipment needs to be UL listed or equivalent.

You can see an example of a very small grid-tied electric system here. You can see that the solar panel is just one component. http://www.altestore.com/store/Kits-and-Package-Deals/Grid-Tied-Systems/Alt-E-Designed-Grid-Tie-Packages/AltE-Grid-Tied-Package-Micro1/p5642/ The output of this system will be very small, but it is a staring point.

You should consider solar water heating as a way to save on your energy bills. Heating your water accounts for about 25% of your energy use. If you can cut that by 75%, you will save a lot of money. Depending on where you are and how many are in your household, it may cost about $5000 for a do-it-yourself installation. There are tax incentives available that could potentially pay for as much as half of the system. These systems can pay for them selves in as little as 4 - 5 years.

What is the amount of solar energy required to drive a 250 pound cart with a 250 pound person 10 miles? How many square feet of recharged paneling would be required?

If you are willing to go slowly enough, all you need from the solar panel is enough to overcome static friction to get the cart started.

I do know that a cyclist cruising along at a moderate speed (say, 10 miles an hour) is expending about 1/10 horsepower. That’s 80 watts. So on flat ground, a 100-watt panel push them over the 10 miles in an hour. Such a panel, if square, would be 2 to 2.5 feet on a side, if made with typical contemporary materials. If the terrain is more than gently rolling hills, more power would be needed.

I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:

http://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/

i have a homework project for n.s. we have to take one energy and convert it into another one any ideas would be helpful too?!

There’s a fabulous site that has lots of build it yourself solar projects. http://www.builditsolar.com/ This is not to be confused with those scam sites promising to power your house for $200, avoid those at all costs.

Build it Solar has projects for solar water heating that would be perfect for you.

Currently there are about 2,000 jobs in solar, and around 8,000 in wind.

Basically, he plans to throw billions of dollars at it and hope for the best.

If green energry was truly cheaper and more efficent, the Market would already be using it. But, instead Obama wants to the world to confrom to his wishs. Obama’s plan will distort the free-market, it will raise the prices of foods, gasoline, and everything else. Obama is willing to sacrifice the middle class in order to stop rising temperatures. Obama is perfectly fine with this, since he beliefs it will be in the "world interest" Who cares if a 100 million people have to pay higher prices and people lose thier jobs as long as we stop Global warming at any cost!

I was trying to look online for solar panels for my home to take some of the strain off of using oil and electricity but I find it very hard to understand exactly how they are used.
Like one that I looked up is 100 watts…..is that like a light bulb watt? How many things can that power?
Is it really cheaper in the long run because the panels are very expensive?
If anyone has web sites that can explain this to me I would appreciate a link, or anyone to answer part of my question.

Solar panels produce low voltage direct current electricity. To be used in a home that electricity must be stored in batteries and converted to 120-240 volts 60 hertz AC (alternating current). And its frequency must be synchronized to the electricity supplied by the power company.
A 100 watt solar panel produces 100 watts of power, enough to power one 100 watt light bulb. To generate enough power to power a home, the solar panel must be capable of producing at least 1500 to 2000 watts per hour (1.5/2.0 KW/hrs)

And you’re quite correct, it’s an expensive proposition to install a solar panel system… and it should be installed by experts.

How expensive is solar energy to produce?

What does a solar energy power plant look like and how do they work?

What are the hidden costs to society and the world? ( pollution, etc)

You do not produce solar energy; it is free from the sun. However it can be converted to electricity using solar panels. If you check a picture of a satellite or the space station in orbit, you will see large solar panels to produce electricity to run the machines.
One environmental problem could be the disposal of old and derelict panels.

I came accross a new, proven and tested home made wind power system and solar power system which eliminates our electricity bills. It was written by a Renewable energy enthusiasts Michael Harvey the diy called Earth4energy. You can get your copy to save energy and help environment while eliminating your power bills. Get it from here:

http://how-to-build-cheap-solar-energy.blogspot.com/

Hi Konrath,
If you take a look at the link below it will show you all you need to know to make as many solar panels as you want.
http://www.homemadenergy.com/recommends

I mean everyday you dig in there, there’s always a surprise waiting. It’s like magic!

I don’t think my belly button can handle the pressure :((