Oil Prices Today
Posts tagged Electrical Power
Do You Need a License to Install a Solar Powered Electric System?
Aug 10th
This is a controversial topic in which many people feel that they should be allowed to perform their own solar panel system installations without being told that they need licensing. It is true that as a homeowner you can do whatever you like to your property because after all it is YOUR property but when it comes to what your property is connected too outside of its boundaries then this is where utility companies and building inspectors draw the line. For the most part homeowners tend to want what is known as a grid-tie solar panel system configuration and this simply means that the home will be powered by both your solar electric panels and electric utility grid provided power where the solar energy takes precedence and is used first. However, this type of configuration is what I would refer to as a give and take configuration which requires the approval of both the homeowner and their electric utility company.
During the daylight hours while your solar panels are supplying electricity to your home there may be times when the solar is generating more energy than the home needs.? It is at this time when the excess energy is actually being sent back out onto the utility grid power lines through a bi-directional electric meter. This process is more commonly known as “Net Metering” and is how a home can generate and bank electric credits with their electric utility. These same credits are then used in whole or in part during the evening hours when the solar panels can no longer generate electrical power and depending on your energy usage at night could result in there being left over credits each month. These credits are then paid out either monthly, quarterly or annually at a given rate per kilo-watt hour depending on your electric utilities payment schedule.
Considering all of this it is reasonable that the electric utility company expects the solar to have been installed by a licensed electrician who has full knowledge of all electrical codes that must be met during its installation. The fact of the matter is that any grid-tie configuration immediately goes beyond the boundaries of the homeowners property when this connection is made to the grid. So not only will your utility require this work to have been performed by a licensed installer it will also require an inspection by their personnel to ensure that all safety precautions have been taken for shutting off the solar matrix. The reasoning for this is in the event that their personnel have to conduct repairs to any part of their grid that is connected to a solar power source they can de-energize it to protect their workers from potentially lethal electrical shock.
Agencies such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) take these requirements even further by requiring solar installers to receive additional training in a mentored program which maintains their certifications through continuous training requirements. Licensed electricians are also required to maintain their licenses through on going training credits and these programs are in place to ensure that safety procedures and building regulations are adhered too always. Only through using professionally licensed personnel who abide by these program requirements is the onus of responsibility placed squarely on the installer. Homeowner’s who attempt these installations without proper training and certification or licensing are in fact opening themselves up to potential problems that could mean very expensive financial ramifications. After all, if a family member needed surgery would you actually consider performing it yourself without actually being a trained and licensed surgeon?
Solar Energy – How Do We Educate the Children?
Aug 9th
Children these days can discover so much about so many things especially on the web. We as parents, need to educate and enlighten them about solar energy, so the impact will stay with them for a life time. This resource will be our children’s future and it will be up to them to take care of it. Kids need to learn that solar energy is everywhere, the sunshine for instance which they can actually see and they can feel the warmth. Teach them how It can heat drinking water, heat houses, heat their schools, heat all the different companies out there, and how the sun can create power. It is so important to educate our children today as much as possible about solar energy functions and just how we are able to use it wisely,by doing so, we will ensure their future is protected.
They must first understand the dangerous impact of too much power usage these days and how it is being wasted, so they can comprehend why there ought to be better methods to create power. Due to the fact that the electrical power people use these days comes from non-renewable assets, we are setting ourselves up for a huge fall. When that source runs out we will have to depend on another source of energy. Scientist are working hard to make sure that when we do actually run out, we will be in a position to change over to another source without missing a beat.
However, we really do not want to wait until our energy source is completely depleted before switching to a different source. We need to be in a position to switch over to a different source in the near future so we are able to preserve the electricity we have left. Another issue with power production now days is the fact that it is dangerous to the atmosphere. It pollutes the air and can ultimately allow it to be impossible for us to utilize the sun as an organic source. We cannot afford to lose that essential alternative. So that we can save our environment, we must teach our children how to join together to save their precious solar energy.
We need to be able to find solar sources that are not expensive but can provide the solar power that we need to be able to generate energy using natural resources and man made solar sources. A standard home can benefit significantly if they were to switch to solar energy. It is not difficult to do. Also, in constructing a new home, it should be constructed to utilize energy as a method to naturally create electrical power and to heat the drinking water, as well as other features that could be controlled by utilizing solar energy. In the long run, we benefit by not having to pay for any source that is gradually taking away from our valuable natural sources. Our children will be rewarded for our careful planning but every one of us need to do our part.
Teaching the children the best way to save the energy is key. Children of all ages can learn to conserve energy but it is crucial that we begin doing this now. We need to educate them on how we must come up with a way to save solar power in the future so we all will continue to have an endless supply of heating, water, and other necessities. This must be a group effort in order for it to work, rather than by an individual homeowner, which is how we do it today. We need to thrive for one day being able to stop running power lines through fields, streets and yards and strive to have solar power boxes in our back yards instead.