What is Solar Energy
Mon, Aug 24, 2009
As with any decision, the consideration to begin using any source of clean, renewable energy to fuel your business might be lengthy; consider the pros and cons of going green and make sure it truly works for you. New options in alternative, green energy continue to emerge, so keep in mind – there are plenty to choose from. One of the most popular sources seems to be solar energy.
Solar Energy
Solar energy has probably been the most prolific source, of clean, renewable energy in the United States.
How It Works
According to solarhome.org, non-reflective glass panels, mounted on top of a layer of silicon, make up photovoltaic panels that you can attach to a rooftop or flat surface close to the sun?s rays. The panels then “collect photons from the sun, converting them to DC electric power,” which then passes through an inverter, which converts the power into “basic voltage.”
Advantages
- Solar energy is probably the farthest-reaching clean source of energy in the United States; look around you, sunshine is everywhere. Even if your business is not located in a sunny area, solar energy may still be doable.
- While solar energy may have expensive start-up costs for your business, according to Seia.com, going solar may have economic benefits: the website claims that expansions of solar energy companies resulted in 6,000 new jobs, 265 megawatts of energy and more than $2 billion of investment in the U.S. economy by Wall Street firms such as JP Morgan, Chase and Goldman Sachs.
Disadvantages
- Solar energy only works when the sun shines. However, there are ways to capture the energy the sun produces and funnel it into batteries.
How You Can Get It
- First, try to find out if using solar energy will be cost effective for you; for some, sticking to traditional fuel for energy will be the most cost effective, but for many, this is not the case. To see if it’s right for you, click here. Fill out the “solar calculator” to help you decide whether or not installing solar panels is worth your time and money. The calculator will tell you how much money your business will save over the long run when you enter how much energy it requires to run.
- Many states also offer incentives for going solar; to find them, enter your state here.
- Next, you’ll need to install photovoltaic panels on a flat surface like the roof of your building. Visit this site to find a dealer near you; you can also find useful information about residential and commercial solar energy and a few tips on how to live and work sustainably.
- One such solar panel dealer is New Jersey based Arosa Solar Energy Systems; review the information under the company’s “commercial” tab at their website. Contact the company if you’d like their technicians to set up solar panels.
- Look here for more information.
By Fallon McCormick.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I think solar should be considered only after a company has done the most cost-effective retrofits. These are cheaper with shorter ROIs and there are many incentives and rebates available. Change out your old lighting and use timers if possible (20%) of your electric bill or replace/make your HVAC and heating systems more efficient (38%) of your bill first. This will save you a lot of money. Seal your building. Insulate your building properly before you get any alt energy system. Solar panels on a drafty structure makes no sense at all.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I think solar should be considered only after a company has done the most cost-effective retrofits. These are cheaper with shorter ROIs and there are many incentives and rebates available. Change out your old lighting and use timers if possible (20%) of your electric bill or replace/make your HVAC and heating systems more efficient (38%) of your bill first. This will save you a lot of money. Seal your building. Insulate your building properly before you get any alt energy system. Solar panels on a drafty structure makes no sense at all.