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Homeowners and businesses are turning to solar power to reduce their energy bills. Purchasing a DIY solar power kit is perhaps the fastest way to implement this kind of renewable energy to your system. However, there are five important things with which you should be familiar before you make such a purchase.

Dimension of the Solar Panels

The DIY solar power kit should list the panels’ precise measurements, which will help you determine if you have the proper roof space for the solar module. Further, ensure that you know the solar panels’ weight, which is necessary information if you have roof tiles as they will factor in determining if your roof can support the solar panels. You will be able to more easily determine if your roof is stable enough structurally to handle the added load if you know the weight and dimension of the panels.

Total Power Generation

You should calculate the amount of power you use in your home before you install any DIY solar power kit. Then decide on the number of appliances you’ll be connecting to your solar power system. Choose an appropriate DIY solar power kit once you’ve come up with this figure. Kits of a variety of sizes are available; further, some kits can be interconnected if one alone is not sufficient.

Durability

Solar power panels are constantly exposed to harsh outdoor elements like rain, hail, sun and snow. Due to this exposure, the frame should be constructed of aluminum or another durable material, while the solar cells should be covered with tempered glass.

Long-Term Warranty

It can take years before you see a return on investment, or ROI, from the installation of a DIY solar power kit. It is important to consider the length of a product’s warranty before buying one. Most experts recommend getting a 20- to 25-year warranty on new solar panels.

Installation and Maintenance

Select a DIY solar power kit that has easy installation. Kits that contain all the necessary components to start your own solar power system are on the market. Additionally, you should also consider one that will require only minimal maintenance over the years in service. Solar panels that require an annual scrubbing to keep them working at their maximum potential are your best bet.

Anna Vera Williams helps others understand how to utilize solar power to live cleaner and more eco-friendly lives.

This article was originally published on Anna’s blog, at Five Things to Consider When Purchasing a DIY Solar Power Kit.

Tags: alternative energy, DIY, DIY Solar Power, Do-it-Yourself, Eco-friendly, energy, Energy Efficiency, Gadgets, green, Home Improvement, Renewable Energy, Solar, solar power

One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market is the Toyota Prius. It is both compact and economical, with a starting price of just $22,400. This price puts the Prius within the realms of reality for the average, although environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg city, and 49 mpg highway. That’s pretty good even for a hybrid, and it’s a step up from earlier Toyota Prius models.

But now a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid. The Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The most economical version is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

The new line of Priuses will include a range of features, but it gets better.. A solar-roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – although not for the V.

The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500. It uses solar panels to supplement the vehicle’s power and get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control AC (for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?)

With this new combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be within grasp. The solar powered hybrid is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible, under the right circumstances.

If you live in or often drive through a sunny climate, a solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and pollution emissions.

Under some (although somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But minimally, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s “eco” settings and follows basic guidelines can expect to stop for gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how they can live greener and more environmentally friendly lives.

To learn more, visit her blog, Green Gadget Blog.

Source Article: Toyota Goes Solar

Tags: alternative energy, Auto, Automotive, Car, Cars, Eco-friendly, Energy Efficiency, Fuel, green, Green Gadget, Green Gadgets, Hybrid, Solar, Solar Roof, Toyota, Transportation, Vehicle

Homeowners and businesses are turning to solar power to reduce their energy bills. Purchasing a DIY solar power kit is one of the simplest ways to add this type of renewable energy to your system. But before you make such a purchase, you should be familiar with these five important aspects.

Dimension of the Solar Panels

The DIY solar power kit must indicate the exact measurements of the solar panels, because this will let you know if you have enough roof space for the solar module. You will also need to know the solar panels’ weight, since they will determine whether your roof can support the solar panels if you have roof tiles in place. The dimension and weight are needed to determine if your roof is structurally stable for the added load.

Total Power Generation

Calculate how much power you consume in your home before installing a DIY solar power kit. Additionally, determine how many appliances you want to connect to the solar power system. Choose an appropriate DIY solar power kit once you’ve come up with this figure. There are a variety of kit sizes available on the market; additionally, certain kits are designed for interconnectivity if one is not sufficient.

Durability

Due to their outdoor installation, solar panels suffer constant exposure to harsh elements like sun, snow, rain, and hail. Due to this exposure, the frame should be constructed of aluminum or another durable material, while the solar cells should be covered with tempered glass.

Long-Term Warranty

Be aware that it can take years to see a return on investment for a DIY solar power kit. It is important to consider the length of a product’s warranty before buying one. Most experts recommend getting a 20- to 25-year warranty on new solar panels.

Installation and Maintenance

Select a DIY solar power kit that has easy installation. You can purchase kits that come with all the components you’ll need to start your own solar power system. Additionally, you should also consider one that will require only minimal maintenance over the years in service. Solar panels that require an annual scrubbing to keep them working at their maximum potential are your best bet.

Anna Vera Williams helps others understand how to utilize solar power to live cleaner and more economical lives.

This article was originally published on Anna’s blog, at 5 Things to Consider When Buying a DIY Solar Power Kit.

Tags: alternative energy, DIY, DIY Solar Power, Do-it-Yourself, Eco-friendly, energy, Energy Efficiency, Gadgets, green, Home Improvement, Renewable Energy, Solar, solar power

One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market today is the Toyota Prius. It is both compact and economical, with a starting price of just $22,400. This price puts the Prius within the realms of possibility for the everyday, although environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg in the city, and 49 mpg on the highway. Even for a hybrid, that’s not bad, and it’s a step up from earlier years’ Toyota Prius models.

But now a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid. The Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The lowest priced model is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

While the new line of Priuses will include a range of features, it gets better.. A solar powered roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – although not for the V.

The solar roof costs between $3,600 and $4,500, and uses solar panels to supplement the vehicle’s power and get even better mileage. This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control air conditioning … for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?

With the combination of hybrid technology and solar power, an entirely different range of fuel efficiency may be feasible. The solar powered version is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible, under the right circumstances.

If you live in or often visit a sunny climate, a solar-powered roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and pollution emissions.

Under some (somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But minimally, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s “eco” settings and follows basic speed guidelines can expect to need gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should probably take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how they can live greener and more environmentally friendly lives.

To learn more, visit her blog, Green Gadget.

Source Article: Prius Goes Solar

Tags: alternative energy, Auto, Automotive, Car, Cars, Eco-friendly, Energy Efficiency, Fuel, green, Green Gadget, Green Gadgets, Hybrid, Solar, Solar Roof, Toyota, Transportation, Vehicle