The types of homes, we'll get to later on. For now, I'll focus on alternative energy. So let's start with probably the most well known, common and most used source of alternative energy: solar. Believe it or not, there are a lot more options out there in solar besides the standard photovoltaic cells (pvc's). While those are still the standard, new and better options are hitting the market regularly. And many more are in testing and development phases. So let's talk about pvc's and a few of those options. This may be a long post, so bear with me.
Photovotaic cells are what we are most familiar with. They've been around for quite a while now. Although the history of solar energy goes all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome, the photovoltaic effect was first officially observed in 1839. By 1900, the term "solar cell" had been patented, and solar powered generators were being built. They went through several incarnations, from using gold and later, silicon to conduct electricity. However, solar cells as we know them today, came about in around 1950, when Bell Labs produced a lightweight solar cell for use in space. Then, in 1954, the first practical home use solar cell was created, also by Bell Labs. While new technology over the years has improved them slightly, they really haven't changed all that much. They average about 200 watts of energy. Meaning, for 25 cells, you would average about 5 kWh. They are roughly 22% efficient in transferring energy into electricity. There are a number of companies that are working to increase that efficiency. Now, if you don't generally use a lot of electricity, rise and sleep by the sun, and such, you might do well with a set-up such as that. However, keep in mind that the average household uses around 911 kWh per month. That amount can be reduced with energy saving appliances, utilizing passive solar to maximize sunlight and heat without electricity, solar water heaters, and other techniques that can be applied based on the various building styles we'll discuss later. The price of a standard system generally averages between $25,000 and $35,000 for the 25 panel system mentioned earlier. There are a number of government incentives for installing panels, and many utility companies may even offset some of the price. The incentives may come from federal all the way down to local government agencies, and can range in the percentage of refund they'll provide. Some are as low as 30%, with others covering up to 50%. If you stay connected to the grid, some ulility companies will buy back any extra energy your panels create, but you don't use. Not all of them will, however, so make sure you look into that before making any investments.
For a less expensive way to install solar panels, you may look into building your own. You can purchase the individual connections, broken pieces of old panels (assuming you know how to put them together), and any other supplies readily on the internet. Most companies will not recommend that you do it yourself. Whether it's because they want your money, or if it's because you're working with electricity, or for whatever reason, I honestly don't know. Probably a good combination of the above. But please do your due dilligence before undertaking this kind of project. A simple google search will yield pages of links to suppliers and instructions such as this, to help you in building your own panels. And youtube is full of diy tutorials. This site is fairly easy to follow for someone who has never done this before, and offers good information. How many panels you will need will depend on your power usage. Whether you buy or build, when using solar panels, you must also remember to take into account where they will be located. If you want to place them on your roof, make sure that the extra weight is added into the calculations for when building your roof. Obviously, there are some regular standards for roofing, but also snow loads where applicable, if it's intended to be a green roof where plants, soil, and extra precautions are needed... these are all things that must be researched, and most likely approved through building code enforcement. So if you are determined to have solar panels on the roof, this is the time to start planning for the extra support the roof will need. Of course, you can always place them on the ground. To me, this actually makes a little more sense. Not just because of the weight, but it will also make it easier to keep clean and repair as needed.
One of the main objections I've heard to traditional solar panels is appearance. "They're such an eyesore!" is what I commonly hear. If that is the only, or even the main objection, there are ways around that. That's where those options I mentioned earlier come into play. For starters, there are solar roofing shingles. They've been around for a few years now, and are starting to come down in price. Designed to look similar to, and integrate with either standard asphalt shingles or curved roofing tiles, an average roof installation runs $20,000 to $30,000 as of 2013. But the cost can vary as pricing is generally by the square foot. As for efficiency, shingles tend to have just shy of 20% efficiency. So the basic break down between standard panels and shingles would be this: in price, they run slightly less. In efficiency, slightly, but barely noticably, less efficient. And solar shingles are less noticable and take less time to install. A decent option, to say the least.
The next option on the list is printable solar cells. Now these are relatively new to the market. Of course, there are companies that create and sell premade flexable cells. Or you can print them yourself on plastic, paper, or cloth. You can also print them using a screenprinting technique using anthrocyanins, a relatively common component of plants. Most resources I've come across to date state that the efficiency can be up to 20%, putting it on equal footing with most standard cells. However, both the efficiency and the price will vary greatly depending on the type of printing used, as well as the exact materials. The downside is that this technology is so new, there are still issues such as potential contamination from water and other environmental factors. Those are being worked on and improved. But it is something to keep in mind if you're interested in the printable option.
If you want an option for using solar that isn't so obvious, there is always spray-on solar. Spray-on solar? Yes, you did read that right. Now, this is one that I do not believe has officially hit the market, yet. But there is some amazing testing and development in the works. This one, I am very interested in seeing because of the type of home I plan to build. While St. Mary's College of Maryland is experimenting with nanocrystals, the Univeristy of Toronto is using something called colloidal quantum dots. Both are still in testing and development phases, but show amazing promise. As of this writing, cost and efficiency have yet to be established.
Next up, we have solar glass. This is where the solar cells are built directly into glass, turing any window into a solar cell. Don't fret, though. This will not effect your view unless you want it to. There are a few companies that sell these windows, like here and here. But in general, it is still in it's testing phases. When first created, there were a few setbacks. It wasn't truly transparent, and it had a tendency to cast a colored shadow. Now, however, through work being done at Michigan State University, there is now the possibility of it being truly transparent, and looking like any other window. Originally costing between $800 and $1,400 per square meter, the cost has dropped to roughly $80 to $100 per square meter. The efficiency of this technology is a bit lacking, running only between 5 and 7%. That is a drawback that is currently being addressed for future products.
Finally, we have this little gem. If you are looking for a product where science meets art, this could be it. I will freely admit that this is probably my favorite choice when it comes to solar. Not only does it look way more attractive than standard solar cells, but the creator of Rawlemon claims that these spheres are many times more efficient than standard cells. The basic idea as I understand it, is a glass or acryllic-polymer sphere filled with water magnifies light - even moonlight - onto a small collection of panels. If it truly does all that it claims, this would be a major step forward in solar technology. The company does have a Facebook page, but they're website states that it is currently down for improvements.
These are just a few of the options that are available when it comes to solar energy. From traditional panels to new artforms, there are a number of choices out there. Keep your eyes open, as more are constantly coming out. In the meantime, enjoy the search.
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