Solar Panels

 By Yusuf Chy

Solar Panels

In general, solar energy can be described as the energy that is received from the sunlight and converted by a mechanical source for home use. It's cheaper and reliable for operations since the sun is readily available. On the other hand, solar panels are the mechanically built materials whose main purpose is to convert solar energy to electrical energy. They are built from an element called silicon. It is the core duty of the silicon element to covert the solar energy to electricity. The solar power can either be directly or indirectly gotten from the sunlight. When it's cloudy the intensity of the solar power delivered perfectly, the photovoltaic solar materials deliver sun rays into electricity and the oslar thermal receiver changes the solar power into heat solvents, such as oil and water. This type of power is used in, iPod chargers, charge batteries water heaters, cell phone chargers and spacecrafts.
How do solar panels work? They practically work on the photovoltaic invention. Its name is derived from the technology used, which is also known as PV, which is made from silicon element. They are basically semiconductors made from sand built into large computer chips. When sun rays falls on the PV materials, the PN junction in it with its metal conductor helps produce electricity. At this juncture, the PN junction is the positive and negative charges that assist to produce electric current. Solar energy is available in different systems, grid connection, inverters and power storage. In a different system, the PV takes up large space up the roof to produce more energy. It can also be built on land space and produce up to 5-9 Megawatts per hour. They can also be useful in street lighting.
How are solar panels made? They are basically made from three-dimensional points; the crystalline silicon production, the crystalline silicon panels and the amorphous silicon panels. This stand of the solar-energy production is what is used in the present. In the crystalline silicon production, for example, when the silicon element is melted and cut it is named the poly crystalline silicon. In its other mode when it is built and cut, it becomes mono-crystalline silicon. In both cases, they are about; a hundred percentage pure silicon. In the second case of the crystalline silicon panels, they are normally broken into pieces and then sliced, finally being polished with doping materials. This changes the state of electric charge inside them to cells. The amorphous silicon panels are made from silicon alloys combined with multilayer cells for energy production. This combination explains how the solar power is made.
What are latest technologies of solar panels? The newest technology of solar energy has emerged in a wide range of things. This starts with the green power alternatives which is common for home use. The other aspect of it is the Power cooling and heating systems in homes. The high-technology appliance and periodic lighting at home is the other good examples of solar-energy development. New personal computers development for smart homes is also left out of the latest ideas of the solar power.

Yusuf Chy writes extensively on Solar panels [http://howtoinstallsolarpanel.com/solar-panels/], and provides information on how to install solar panels [http://howtoinstallsolarpanel.com/how-to-install-solar-panels/].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yusuf_Chy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6880309

 

By Anita Van Wyk 

Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages

Many of us know that solar energy is a good thing, but few really understand why. Therefore, I compiled a comprehensive list of solar energy advantages and disadvantages that will enable you to make an educated decision whether on not Solar Power is right for YOU.
Solar Energy Advantages
1. Saves you money

• After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is practically FREE.
• The recovery/ payback period for this investment can be very short depending on how much electricity your household uses.
• Financial incentives are available form the government that will reduce your cost.
• If your system produce more energy than you use, your utility company can buy it from you, building up a credit on your account! This is called net metering.
• It will save you money on your electricity bill if you have one at all.
• Solar energy does not require any fuel.
• It's not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not subjected to the ever-increasing price of gasoline.
• The savings are immediate and for many years to come.
• The use of solar energy indirectly reduces health costs.

2. Environmentally friendly

• Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment.
• It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generations does.
• Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog.
• It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions.
• It's generated where it is needed.
• By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of radioactive waste.

3. Independent/ semi-independent

• Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption. It does not only reduce your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business with electricity in the event of a power outage.
• A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independent, not requiring a connection to a power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations (like holiday log cabins), making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility electricity to a new site.
• The use of Solar Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources of energy, influenced by natural disasters or international events and so contributes to a sustainable future.
• Solar Energy supports local job and wealth creation, fuelling local economies.

4. Low/ no maintenance

• Solar Energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for decades.
• Once installed, there are no recurring costs.
• They operate silently, have no moving parts, do not release offensive smells and do not require you to add any fuel.
• More solar panels can easily be added in the future when your family's needs grow.

Solar Energy Disadvantages

• The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy system, largely because of the high cost of the semi-conducting materials used in building one.
• The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable utility-supplied electricity. As energy shortages are becoming more common, solar energy is becoming more price-competitive.
• Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency.
• The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain components.
• The production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air.
• Similarly, no solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup system and/or net metering will solve this problem. See http://www.dsireusa.org for details on how net metering allows you to save electricity and money.
• As far as solar powered cars go - their slower speed might not appeal to everyone caught up in today's rat race.

To learn more about solar energy, go to http://facts-about-solar-energy.com/
You'll discover ...

• what solar energy is
• how solar energy works
• interesting facts about solar energy
• how much solar energy costs
• passive solar energy for homes, and
• how to build solar energy systems

There's a whole section for students, teachers and parents; whiles homeowners can obtain FREE QUOTES for their solar energy projects. You'll find book and product reviews some helpful energy saving tips.
Please email any questions to info@facts-about-solar-energy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Van_Wyk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/50178

By Curt Sommer

Solar Energy 101

 

The process of producing electricity with a solar system is not really a great mystery. It's actually a very simple process, and the real mystery is why the US isn't using more of it. The purpose of this post is to provide a brief overview of how solar PV systems work. In essence, the light from the sun hits the panels, and the electrons in the solar cells become activated. What this means is that they start moving around a lot more and in doing so, they start bumping in to each other more frequently. The interaction of the electrons produces electricity in the form of friction.

A solar panel or module, is comprised of individual solar cells. A cell is primarily silicon with some circuitry. The more cells contained in a panel, the more energy it can produce. A string of panels makes up an array and multiple arrays comprise a solar PV system. A PV system (Photo-Voltaic) is different from a hot-water system which is used specifically to heat water. A Concentrated Solar Power system (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight on water, causing it to boil producing steam, which is then used to generate electricity. However, the focus of this post is specifically on PV systems.
PV systems are generally connected to the grid, but for people in more remote locations a battery back-up system is often more practical. There are two primary types of solar panels; mono-crystalline and polycrystalline. Without going into a lot of detail there are advantages and disadvantages to each.
Silicon is most often used in solar panels as the primary active material in a solar cell because it has unique chemical properties. A silicon atom (Si) is comprised of twelve electrons on three separate 'shells' or layers. The outermost 'shell' has four electrons that are highly reactive. The outer electron shell of a silicon atom is seeking reach of state of equilibrium by 'sharing' its electrons with other atoms. Conversely, those other atoms will share their electrons as well.
Of course they're always moving to begin with but the energy from the sun causes their rate of interaction to increase. By bumping in to each other more frequently they generate friction. This friction is a source of electrical energy. From there it's just a matter of channeling the current through all the wiring to the inverter. The inverter converts the electricity from direct current to alternating currently because the electrical grid is not designed to handle direct current.
The transformed current flows to where the demand is the closest. Depending on the demand within the building, the current will go there first to satisfy any existing demand. In a grid tied system any excess current is supplied to the grid. If it's an off-grid system then presumably there is a battery back-up system to store excess current generated by the system for later use.
Most systems are designed to meet the average load of the building they serve, but they are typically not over-sized. Over-sizing a system is not very economical and utility companies generally don't approve them in the first place. Producing electricity from the sun is a very practical way to meet our electrical demand. Producing energy in the same location it is used is more efficient than transporting it over great distances.

How do solar energy systems actually work? This article provides a general overview of how a solar system produces electricity. It is intended for those who are looking for a basic understanding of how a solar PV system works. For more information please visit my blog at http://ezsolarhouse.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Curt_Sommer

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7515992

 

Breast Cancer - 10 Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer

By Cath King 

"Your biopsy tests positive for breast cancer." These is a sentence feared by all women. In 1971 President Nixon declared war on cancer. Since then billions of dollars have been spent on fighting cancer. It seems the only arsenal this war has come up with are the antiquated weapons of poison, slash and burn. There is still no cure. Very little of the money used for the war on cancer is used for cancer prevention. Yet it is far easier to prevent cancer than to cure it.
Cancer is a systemic disease. This means that even if the cancer has manifested itself in your breast tissue, the actual problem is system wide. Because of this, breast cancer can't be prevented solely by specifics. It requires an entire lifestyle change.
Having said that, there are number of changes you can make to your lifestyle that will reduce your risk of getting breast cancer (and all other cancers). I have chosen, what I consider to be, the most effective to share with you.
Before I list them for you, it would be helpful for you to understand what cancer actually is. Jane Plant, "Your Life in Your Hands", describes cancer as "Cells behaving badly." Our cells operate under the control of the genes in our DNA. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The DNA of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. These mutated cells thrive in an anaerobic environment and get their energy from metabolic waste. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumour.
By definition, a cancer cell is a normal, healthy cell that has undergone genetic mutation to the point that it can live in an anaerobic surrounding (an environment where oxygen is not available). In other words, if you deprive a group of cells of vital oxygen (their primary source of energy), some of them will die, but others will manage to alter their genetic software program and mutate in a most resourceful way: the cells will be able to live without oxygen and derive some of their energy needs from such things as cellular metabolic waste products.
Only five to ten percent of all breast cancers are due to genetic predisposition and over 70% of all gene mutations are caused by environmental factors. This puts you in a very powerful position to be able to significantly reduce your risk of the gene mutations that cause breast cancer.
I have listed the suggestions starting with the most important and most effective:

1. Eat a whole-food, plant-based diet with lots of raw foods: Diet is the most prevalent cause of genetic mutation. It can also provide the greatest protection against cancer. But which diet? Studies carried out by Dr Dean Ornish show that our blood has powerful anti-cancer compounds. That's a good thing. Even those on a Standard American Diet (SAD) have blood that fights cancer. However, the blood of vegans (those who consume no animal products what-so-ever) decreased cancer growth by nearly 8 times over the blood of those consuming the Standard American Diet. Another study conducted at Loma Linda University found that vegans have 34% lower rates of breast cancer to other women. Other dietary factors include: sugar consumption processed foods, gluten, chemical additives, transfats and over-eating.


2. Give up drinking alcohol: One alcoholic drink per day increases your risk of getting breast cancer by seven to ten percent. Not only that but breast cancer survivors who consume three to four drinks a week increase their risk of a recurrence by 34%.


3. Give up smoking: Although smoking is usually associated with lung cancer, the carcinogens in cigarettes affect the whole system. Women who smoke are 24 times more likely to get breast cancer. The risk doubles if those women start smoking before having their first baby and increases to 61 times more likely if they start smoking before their first mentrual period.


4. Engage in a high level of physical activity: Women who exercise for more than three hours a week reduce their risk of breast cancer by 25%.


5. Don't take Hormone Replacement Therapy: As many breast cancers are estrogen dependent, it makes sense to minimise your exposure to estrogen. Two studies published in 2002 and 2003 link HRT to a higher incidence of breast cancer.


6. Supplement wisely: Three quarters of all women with breast cancer are vitamin D deficient. Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels decreases your risk by 45%. Ensure your vitamin D levels are optimal through regular blood tests and if they're not take a supplement. Those with diets rich in DHA Omega 3 fatty acids are two thirds less likely to get breast cancer. We usually think of fish for our Omega 3. But flaxseeds have shown special protective factors due to their content of dietary lignans, a class of phytoestrogens, which have an anti-estrogen effect. Conversly, artificial folic acid (in the form of supplements) has been shown to increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. So obtain all your follic acid from natural, food sources - green leafy vegetables.


7. Watch your weight: Obesity is said to be the primary cause of 17% of all breast cancers, especially after menopause. Luckily, if you follow the dietary and exercise suggestions listed here, reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is easy.


8. Don't fry or grill foods: Cooking at high temperatures without water or steam creates acrylamides in carbohydrate foods (eg.chips) and heterocyclic amines in meat (especially chicken). Both these substances are highly carcinogenic.


9. Have two or more children and breast feed them for up to two years each: When we are pregnant and breast feeding we are exposed to lower levels of estrogen, which in turn, lowers our risk of breast cancer.


10. Avoid unnecessay radiation: This includes radiation caused by imaging tests, such as xrays (including mammograms), CT scans, PET scans and bone scans. Remember that mammograms are not preventative and cumulative radiation exposure over a person's life time includes exposure from this breast cancer detection tool. Alternatives to mammograms, that are not publised or encouraged by the medical profession for breast cancer detection, include: thermography, MRI and ultrasound. If you are serious about preventing breats cancer, this is something you should look into and discuss with your doctor.

My hope is that these suggestions will not overwhelm you but empower you to start making changes and keep making them.
Remember that permanent change is best accomplished with baby steps. This is what holistic health coaching can help you with by providing information, encouragement and accountability to keep you moving forwards towards your health goals.

Cath King is a nutritionist and holistic health coach who specializes in creating optimal health on plant-based diets. She has had success in helping clients reverse cancer, diabetes, crohns disease, ulcerated colitus, heart disease and obesity. Her clinic "Seeking Health" is in New Zealand.

solar energy

We Cannot Cure Cancer Unless We Know What Caused It

By Alan Wighton

Our orthodox medical system with their drug base medicine uses treatments that are toxic and nearly always damages and weakens the body, whereas dealing with the reasons why cancer first appeared will aid the body to heal itself. Our orthodox system of treatments is a money orientated system with their patented drugs whereas no one can profit from natural ways to treat it.
Cancer is similar to a handful of diseases in the past which has plagued mankind such as scurvy, rickets and pellagra which were all deficiency diseases. The only way you can overcome these diseases is to correct the deficiency. The reason cancer will appear is when something has gone wrong with the immune system because it is impossible for a person to get cancer unless their immune system has been weakened.
The key to solving the problem is to not focus on the growth itself but to strengthen the immune system that allowed these growths to first appear and that means a change to a more healthy diet and a healthier lifestyle. That is the reasons why our current treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy often don't work. Unfortunately there is no money to be made from treating the body naturally and that's why it won't be offered by our profit driven medical system.
Cancer seldom has a single cause but nearly always many contributing factors. A hundred years ago it was a rare disease but today it is different and it is caused because of the way we are now living. Our diets today include many processed foods and they contribute to cancer. Also we lead a more sedentary lifestyle thanks to motorcars and other labour saving devices and that also influences cancer. Then there are the chemicals we use, especially those we apply to our body and believing them to be safe and they do cause us harm.
We are what we eat, that is, our state of health is directly related to what we put in our mouth. Many people spend most of their lives abusing their bodies by eat junk food and not exercising then expect their doctors to give them a pill to solve the problem. There is no such thing as a pill to correct a problem caused by bad diets. To regain the health of your immune system which will eliminate cancer you need to turn to Mother Nature as only nature has to answer to your problem. There is no other way.
With cancer there has never been a quick and easy cure and there is certainly not a pill or a treatment which will heal anyone. It's up to you to do something about it, not your doctor. Doctors represent the pharmaceutical industry and will only offer you treatments from those industries. They have a money interest in your disease so that is the only options you will be offered.
There is no point in weakening the immune system further in an attempt to remove cancer because that will only cause it to grow again. A much better way is to refuse any toxic treatment and instead treat the whole body which will help you overcome the problem. It works for all cancers and works for everyone.

Alan Wighton is an experience health researcher and has specialized, how a natural approach to cancer can have a far better outcome than our current way of treating the disease.

Solar energy

Waiting for a Diagnosis - Is It Cancer?

By Margaret Phalor Barnhart 

Missy cleans my home once a month. She is a single mom raising three daughters. Two different times she talked to me about symptoms she had regarding her menstrual cycle - it wasn't working and she also had severe cramping. About this time I received a book by Nora Hampton telling her cancer experience. Some of the author's symptoms were the same as Missy's. I wanted Missy to read this book but was hesitant because I would be introducing her to the world of cancer. She read the book and decided to make an appointment with a gynecologist.
The doctor examined her and explained that what she was seeing was not typical. There was evidence of a yeast infection so that was treated with medication. Missy was extremely relieved and joyful that her pain and cramping was nothing more than a yeast infection. She was booked for a follow-up appointment.
This time was different. The GYN removed some tissue to be biopsied. Now FEAR came on stage and took the leading role. Missy fell apart. She was faced with the possibility of a cancer diagnosis. Would she live long enough to see her girls grow up? If she had to do chemotherapy how would she be able to clean houses and the church building? This was her only means of financial support.
The FEAR of cancer was palpable. Missy's mind focused on the horrible possibilities. There were many tears. Fear ratcheted up another notch when the biopsy showed some unusual patterns and the doctor wanted to do another biopsy from a different location. Her reaction reminded me of the day in 1987 when I was told my breast biopsy was "suspicious." The month prior I had been referred to a surgeon who found three lumps in my right breast. I was 46 years old. That night I had a vivid dream that I expressed in poetry and titled, "Elevator Dream."
"February
A tall city building unfinished, under construction.
Seven stories completed. Above them open girders.
Upon entering the elevator I touch the button labeled 'TOP.'
Alone, I cling to the center pole as surrounding buildings diminish
and city lights dim.
This upward journey leading to the unknown
creates PANIC... TERROR! Yet an inner peace
-- a strong sense that the elevator is connected
to a cable that I cannot see but know is anchored."
I think the majority of men and women in this situation would find themselves on this cliff, ready to plunge into the unknown. It is a very scary place. Waiting for a diagnosis seems an eternity. Throughout my personal experience with breast cancer, mastectomy and chemotherapy, I found myself overwhelmed when thinking of the worst possibilities imaginable. I expressed this in poetry titled, "Waiting for a Diagnosis."
"September
Yesterday, I thought I was dying -- dying of brain cancer
as I awaited the results of a CT scan because of headaches
--headaches that for two months now come and go.
I know someone who just died of brain cancer.
Awaiting a diagnosis can seem an eternity.
Do I plan for next week, next month?
Is the future cancelled --or at least postponed?
Do I fear death, or do I fear losing life --or the quality of life
to which I am accustomed?
Today, the phone call came. CT Scan normal,
--cause of headaches, unknown.
Headaches now seem unimportant. Cancer cells are not the cause.
Will this fear of cancer remain forever --
a curse I relentlessly bear?"
Missy's reaction to her cancer scare is so typical. First the tears (at least for females) and difficulty focusing on the demands of every-day life. I believe the younger the person the greater the impact. Parents of a young child who is suspected of having a life-threatening illness go through the same cycle of emotions. The world changes.
There is no "right" way or "best" way to deal with the fear of cancer. Some people are stoic and keep their feelings buried within. Others pray and seek spiritual comfort. Finding a good listener is a blessing. Trusting your doctor is important. Internet searches must be verified. Ultimately you realize that today's fear is not necessarily tomorrow's fear. Life is finite and there are limits to what we control.
Missy now shows no signs of cancer. She is being treated with medications for the menstrual cycle and once again is focused on her girls and work. I recently asked her what she learned from this experience. Her answer was that she would no longer joke about nor ignore symptoms she doesn't understand. I asked her if I had done the right thing by giving her the book written by Nora sharing her cancer experience. Missy responded positively. That is what convinced her to seek medical help. I felt relieved that I had done the right thing.

Solar Energy

Cancer and Subconscious Reprogramming

By Bern Walters 
Having an illness like cancer is nothing short of short of terrifying, to say the least. Nevertheless, cancer is not always terminal. If detected early enough there are non-surgical methods to stop it from growing into any danger. Besides chemotherapy and radiation treatments, a more holistic approach proves itself as a great aid when coupled with the other treatments available. One of these is subconscious reprogramming or guided meditation specifically designed for the cancer patient.
Knowing the aspect of healing that every cancer survivor has gone through has helped developed this particular type of treatment aid. The aspects are the treatment preparation, clearing of cancer from the cells and the emotional support for the process of healing. Just surviving a cold is stressful enough both physically and mentally for the average person. Think of the emotional rollercoaster one would go on with any diagnosed form of cancer. The design of subconscious reprogramming for the patient is to get an emotional handle, so to speak, on their condition. This is because the effect of the other treatments additionally depends on the psychological attitude of the patient.
The Desire to Win the Battle
Subconscious reprogramming enables the individual to picture the infected cells and to visualize changing the condition of the cancerous cell by chasing the cancer out. In this aspect, the individual declares war on those cells affecting their health. By doing so, it gives them a powerful look inside their own desire to survive the disease. Their guide takes them to see the control in their hands that will eliminate the cancerous cells from their bodies. At every turn on this guided path, they confront this winning scenario by defeating the internal enemy thus becoming triumphant in the end. This kind of imagery builds confidence for the next step that takes emotional control to navigate.
The second aspect is the preparation to accept the treatment that taxes the body both physically and psychologically. The subconscious reprogramming in this step paints the picture of the body opening up to the treatment like the clouds open up for the sun after a summer's rain. This sets the subconscious mind up to allow the body to heal using the radiation and the chemotherapy. The imagery implanted into the subconscious mind builds the emotional strength to control any manifestation of weakness.
Nurturing the Inward Emotional Strength
It takes a strong will and emotional fortitude to combat any illness especially any form of cancer. Therefore, with the right mental attitude and proper care from a physician a cancer patient has a higher survivability than those who let the healing process overwhelm them from the beginning. With the last part in place the individual, through the aid of a guide, will regain the power taken by the anger, sadness and fear that try to chip away at the strength and will to survive.

solar energy