On mentioning solar panels, the first thing that springs to most people’s minds is saving the environment, going green and reducing carbon emissions. However, are there any environmental downsides to solar power?

Photovoltaic solar panels, by far the most common sort, which generate electricity, can amount to over 600,000 tons of waste per year, which doesn’t get recycled. Whilst 90% of photovoltaic cells last for 30 years before a significant loss of performance is experienced, hence their common label as a “fit and forget” technology, they will have to be disposed of at some point.

Estimates places the number of photovoltaic modules already sold, in Europe alone at 1.4 million, and this is set to continue rocketing upwards. For example, many countries are experiencing growth rates about 100% in terms of the number of solar panel systems sold, due to the ever increasing number of valuable government incentives available to pay for them.

The production process of solar panels isn’t without its evils either. A massive amount of energy is required to produce these expensive systems, provided by fossil fuels, and – as with many other products – the waste metals are toxic, including mercury and chromium as the chief trouble-makers. The typical installation also requires environmentally-harmful materials – PVC and glues used both cause damage.

Fortunately, the good news is that the average domestic sized solar panel installation will save approximately 1,000kg of carbon dioxide being emitted every year. Given the long lifespan of these products, this could amount to over 30 tonnes of carbon being saved, which arguably more than offsets the difficulties of their disposal. Environmental groups have already recognised this issue of waste, and PV Cycle, a pan-European country has been created specifically to maximise the amount number of photovoltaic modules which get recycled to maximise the otherwise fantastic benefits of solar panels.

Solar power happens to be the most plentiful power source that the world could use and in lieu of this, home solar power systems have been made.

Among the alternate sources of power, the power from the sun is probably number one.

Nowadays, being “green” is good and once you pick the option of solar power, you are going to understand the fact that making use of the power of the sun equals very little pollution done or none at all. Apart from that, making use of solar power for your home has the following advantages:

1. One can’t really store the traditional means to power a home. However, one can store solar power for later use. The power that can only come from the sun can even be used to avert any power outages that might be experienced. Thankfully, the storage of solar power has become quite a simple thing to do.
2. A home solar power system is notoriously easy to maintain. Such a home power system doesn’t demand that the owner pay any costs whatsoever as well as put a lot of effort in maintaining it.

A home solar system not only provides you with definite advantages, it also has various uses. These uses include:

1. Cooking with the use of solar power – What this is all about is that you cook without the use of fire as well as electricity. The only thing that you need to do is have enough patience as you cook since it can take a bit of time to cook with the use of solar power. Besides, there have been those who have said that using solar power in cooking gives the food a unique taste that is like no other.
2. Normal use of electrical appliances – You will still have the comfort of using all of your electrical appliances when you have a home solar power system installed. Aside from that, you can also use solar power in keeping your house nice and warm, especially when the winter months come.

Patrick Hopkins currently writes for PhoenixKiosk.com, one of the highest rated kiosk manufacturers. They offer a full line of kiosks and software for small business to Fortune 100s. Phoenix Kiosk: Innovative Technologies From Vision to Reality.

Modernization and industrialization is taking place at a very large scale and with it comes the increased dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy such as crude oil, coal, and gas. All this is leading to an alarming rise in CO2 emissions and is adversely affecting our environment. The world market is being controlled by oil – as all commodities and activities are directly or indirectly dependent on it. Now it has become imperative that countries should collaborate and bring a revolution by tapping the underutilized natural energy reserves that do not harm our environment. Amongst all the renewable energy sources, solar energy is the one that has the highest potential and with the help of the state/city Governments – it can be harnessed easily.

There are various policies that states and cities are following in a bid to convince the public to install solar power systems by means of doling out subsidies or by municipal and private financing. Since the initial installation costs are extremely high – rendering solar systems as an expensive proposition – owners are reluctant to invest a lot of money in houses which they would want to dispose off at a later date. However, if city governments provide homeowners a private borrowing facility for installing a solar system which makes them obligatory to pay for the loan only up until they own the house. The new owner would subsequently be passed the remaining loan liabilities – making the solar system a viable option for a lot of households. A lot of cities in the US are committed to solar programs and have introduced bills and legislation to make solar energy an affordable option. Californians receive a 20% rebate on the cost of the solar power system with various other incentives. The city governments should encourage and subsidize this alternative energy to make it more attractive and cost effective. It is also important for the residents of the cities to be educated about solar power and its affordability. If solar energy systems are adopted by urban cities like New York with numerous high-rise building rooftops lined with photovoltaic cells – then the entire city would be capable to cater to 100% of their power needs.

A lot of cities are also initiating the ‘green transportation drive’ and encouraging the use of solar-powered vehicles. A lot of leading auto manufacturers are also joining the green bandwagon and are rolling out models with electric or hybrid engines along with interiors that are made out of recycled materials. A lot of developments are taking place to utilize the sun’s energy for the benefit of the human race without any damages to the environment.

Solar energy is the fuel of the future which has the potential to replace the fossil fuel. Hence, all countries and cities of the world would have to come together to take solar power to the next stage, however, since charity begins from home – solar power would be successful if every individual household adopts it.

About the author: Amanda is a blogger who is passionate about eco friendly lifestyle. Her home is quite eco friendly right from exteriors to interiors, including appliances and furniture. She is a firm supporter of eco friendly buildings to promote green living.

Several countries have joined Germany, Spain, China and the US in recent years in using solar energy. These countries with their supportive government policies have certainly taken excellent strides in installing solar energy. However, these are not the only countries that have installed solar energy. Here’s a list of the top 10 countries that use solar power. Each country is ranked based on their installed PhotoVoltaic (PV) solar energy capacity.

1.    Germany: 9,785 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

Germany uses 9,785 MW of solar energy at present. In the year 2009, a 3,806 MW of PhotoVoltaic solar energy capacity was installed in Germany, which is about 8 times the quantity that America installed in the same year. Germany is blessed with great financing opportunities, an excellent Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme, all of which is aided by several knowledgeable PV companies and PV technology awareness. Germany may well add an additional 5,000 MW of solar power this in 2011, and use 100% renewable energy by 2050.

2.    Spain: 3,386 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

Having installed 2605 MW of PV solar energy in 2008, Spain’s capacity has decreased to a mere 69 MW in 2009. Several reasons have been attributed to this decrease; delays in the new government subsidy program, complexity of the technology, and decrease in demand for energy during the recent economic downturn. Spain is expected to improve its solar energy capacity in 2011, given that it enjoys great PV potential and sun irradiation.

3.    Japan: 2,633 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

Japan enjoys Government support via residential PV programs and net-metering. This country has an ambitious goal to achieve 28 GW of PV solar energy capacity by year 2020. Japan further plans on attaining a PV solar energy capacity of 53 GW by 2030 as well. Having invested $9 billion in 2009 into solar energy, Japan also plans to install solar power at 32,000 public schools.

4.    United States: 1,650 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

The US has several planned ground-mounted solar projects. The current installed PV solar energy is expected to grow significantly in the future. The US is also campaigning for a national legislation promoting solar energy; if this comes through, the US could well become the world leader in solar energy installations in the future. To make things easier, the US also lifted the cap on federal solar tax credit in 2009. The market for residential solar panels went up during the recession, by 37% in just one year.

5.    Italy: 1,167 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

A great deal of sunshine, net-metering and a properly segmented FiT has allowed Italy to grow as a solar energy world leader. In the 2009 survey, Italy was found to be the country with the second-largest solar energy growth. Italy’s future PV solar energy growth depends on how this small country streamlines and harmonizes its administrative procedures, the expected decrease in price and FiT.

6.    Czech Republic: 465 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

The Czech Republic has incorporated generous FiT policies and kept it simple with easy to execute administrative procedures. The Czech Republic has installed more solar power than other countries (excluding Germany) per capita, in 2009. The demand is high but the supply is not keeping up with it, which makes for unsustainable growth. The Czech Republic needs to put appropriate policies in place to slow market growth or fail in their endeavor.

7.    Belgium: 363 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

In 2009, of the countries that were reviewed for PV solar energy installations, Belgium was a surprise package. Belgium Feed-in-Tariff program, encapsulated in its Green Certificates scheme is aided by electricity self-consumption and additional tax rebates. These factors have helped Belgium to make the cut; however, owing to a cut in the FiT, Belgium is predicted to lose its advantage in the coming years.

8.    China: 305 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

China manufactures a great number of solar panels but has not installed much PV capacity yet. However, China now plans to install 12 GW of PV solar energy in several large projects. If these projects are implemented, it’s possible that China will replace Germany at the top of the list. China’s national energy plan indicates that its solar energy capacity might reach 20 GW by 2020.

9.    272 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy: France

Building-integrated PhotoVoltaics (BIPV) dominates the French market, owing to its FiT policies. France is taking measures to ensure that the system is not abused; there are plans to revise tariff in sync with price speculations. France has installed several MW of solar energy; still, many of these installations are not yet connected to the grid. For example, 285 MW was installed in 2009, but only 185 MW of this capacity was connected to the grid.

10.           India: 120 Mega Watts Capacity Of PV Solar Energy

India faces a great demand for electricity. Given its high sun irradiation levels, India is poised to move forward with solar energy, with a goal to achieve 20 GW by 2020. With the proper government strategies and support from local authorities, India could well rise higher in this list. The National Solar Mission of 2009 and the market demand together might define a longterm power purchase agreement, which will help start PV installations and deployment in India.

Marina is freelance writer and writes on specialty products like – decorative mirrors, Limoges, music boxes and lot more.

Maybe you want to live a greener lifestyle? Maybe you want to make an investment? Maybe you want to take control of your life and be more self sufficient? Maybe you want all of the above?  Who wouldn’t?

Homeowners can now work towards this by installing solar panels on their roofs. This will work towards freeing them from the grid and will also give them payments for producing power. In a scheme run by the government, homeowners can produce electricity from solar PV panels and not only save money by using the power, but also get paid for it. With the cost of oil going up, never mind the ongoing risks to the environment, more and more people are looking to alternative means of electricity production and the FIT (Feed-in tariff) scheme seems like a viable alternative.

FIT Scheme, the facts:

• There are two types of solar power: Solar Thermal which uses the suns heat to warm up water which can in turn be used as heating; and Solar PV which uses the suns light energy to directly produce electricity. This method of solar power production is supported by the FIT scheme.

• There is an initial investment required for the solar PV installation. But it can add value to your home. You’ll also have to use MCS accredited solar PV installers for the FIT scheme to apply.

• Electricity can still be produced on overcast days, just less efficiently.

• The electricity produced cannot be stored, meaning that it either gets used or goes into the grid.

• No electricity will be produced at night time, so you’ll still be using some from the grid, but your bill can be reduced by up to 50% if you’re efficient with your use of electricity.

• You get paid a generous amount for each kWp of power you produce and get a bonus payment on top of that for each kWp you produce and don’t use.

• The FIT scheme is guaranteed to pay out, exempt from TAX and in line with RPI for up to 25 years.

Don’t dilly dally!

If this is something you’re genuinely considering, be warned, the FIT scheme is to be reviewed in 2012 and it’s looking increasingly likely that the Government will be cutting funding to it. But if you’re on the scheme before then, they can’t touch you.

If you want to hear more about solar PV or the FIT scheme, speak to MCS accredited solar PV installers SDS.

More and more people are considering their options when it comes to meeting their homes’ energy needs. As oil prices rise and we become more aware of the environmental costs of tradition energy sources, people are creating the technology to respond to the growing need for clean energy.

Are you considering using home solar power systems? Perhaps you are interested in solar products or solar energy systems but aren’t sure if the benefits will outweigh the costs of installation. Here is some information to help you in your decision-making process.

Free Energy: One major advantage of solar power is that you don’t have to pay anyone to use the sun’s energy. Once you have set up your system, it will start making energy for you without you having to pay anyone. In fact, the utility company may end up paying you!

Drawbacks: The initial start-up cost for installing a solar system can be high, between $15,000 and $20,000. Solar panels can add up to $75,000. You can find incentives and tax rebates that will help to lower these initial expenses, however.

Payback on your Investment: The initial purchase of solar panels is obviously a substantial expense. They do, however, generate energy immediately, resulting in immediate savings on electrical costs. Even better, after a few years, the initial investment will be paid off, leaving nothing but the pure profit of continued solar power. For the average house, it will take between ten and fifteen years to reach the break-even point.

Note: You will need to make sure that you live in an area that gets enough sunlight each year to cover your home’s energy requirements.

Environmentally Friendly: Probably the number one reason to use solar power is that it is an entirely clean and sustainable energy source. Solar energy protects our environment by not releasing pollutants into the air, and solar power does not damage the ozone.

Low Maintenance Costs: When properly installed, solar energy systems will last a long time with minimum maintenance. More solar panels can also be added to any system as needed.

Cloudy Day? That’s OK!: One of the newest developments in solar power technology are grid-connected power systems. Having a grid installed is like having your own power system. Excess electricity created on super-sunny days converts back to the grid and leaves surplus energy for cloudy days or nights. A battery back-up will even allow the system to generate electricity during a blackout.

Hopefully the next time you enjoy a sunny day you’ll also be making electricity for your home!

The health-care profession is notorious for waste.  Billions of pounds of medical waste make their way to landfills every year, and with single-use items considered to be the safest option in hospitals, that doesn’t look to change any time soon.  And most patients would probably agree that unused medical supplies are preferable.  However, there are many ways that modern hospitals are working to make both their buildings and their practices better for the Earth (and their patients).  Here are just a few that you may soon see in your own local health-care facility.

1. Energy and water conservation.  Despite the fact that hospitals have many pieces of essential equipment that must draw electricity constantly, and they require that both instruments and people are clean and sterilized, there are ways to cut back on energy consumption and water usage.  Low-flow toilets and aerated faucets conserve water resources while the use of natural lighting in patient and guest areas (recuperation rooms, waiting rooms, cafeteria, etc.) not only saves electricity, but has also been shown to potentially speed patient recovery.
2. Safer building materials.  Hospital buildings are often composed of materials that are less susceptible to holding allergens, bacteria, and any pathogens that could potentially spread (hence the lack of carpeting).  Unfortunately, many of these materials contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds, most commonly found in paint) that are believed to cause potentially harmful side effects such as headaches, nausea, and even some forms of cancer (just to name a few).  Eco-conscious hospitals are looking to reduce these materials within their walls in order to create an environment that is safe for patients and for the planet.
3. Meditation garden.  Not surprisingly, bringing nature into the presence of those who are ailing has shown positive results in helping them to heal.  Hospitals that have chosen to include meditation or “healing” gardens as part of their building plan have reported that patients who take advantage of these areas seem to respond more quickly to treatment (enjoying shorter stays) and even require less medication, in some cases.
4. Alternative energy.  Although it can be expensive to retrofit a building for alternative energy (or to add it to a new building project), the process will pay off in the long run, as some hospitals have discovered.  By using the natural elements present in a particular climate, such as solar, wind, water, or geothermal energy, utility bills can be significantly reduced over time, helping facilities that employ them to move additional funds into more important areas.  And every hospital can get behind the use of compact fluorescent bulbs, which burn a lot less energy than regular compact fluorescents and last about ten times as long.
5. Reprocessing.  This is an interesting idea for cutting waste that will help both the environment and the hospital budget.  Here’s how it works.  FDA-approved facilities remove certain disposable items from the hospital (such as finger oxygen sensors and compression stockings) to be recycled.  These items are sterilized and individually tested before being returned to the hospital, currently saving the medical industry over $130 million and keeping 4 million pounds of waste out of the landfill (although it’s only a small percentage of the 4 billion pounds that get dumped every year).  And patients will also benefit since individually tested items are much less likely to fail.

Sarah Danielson writes for seareach a manufacturer of asset marking and security printing solutions.

Unlike traditional energy source specialists, like electricians, natural gas professionals, and plumbers, there are few people in the green industry with a great deal of experience. Every home and business owner takes a risk when embracing green technology and hiring someone without a lot of experience to install solar or wind systems. Builders who specialize in green technology run some special risks when designing, assembling, and installing green systems that are not encountered in traditional building projects. Some of the most important aspects of insuring a green building project are discussed below.

During the Building Effort

Standard builder insurance will not cover some of the specific situations that can occur during a green building project. Since experience is lacking within the green building industry, care must be taken to carry sufficient coverage for each of the following possibilities.

• Design Mistakes – While designers strive to be innovative and efficient in their green building designs, there are instances where the designed systems will not deliver the results necessary to run building systems. Green systems must be compatible with standard and green appliances so the design specifications must be complete for all components. If the design proves to be unworkable, the cost of starting over can be covered with the right kind of green building insurance coverage.
• System Alignment – If the installer follows the design perfectly and assembles the systems according to all of the specifications, the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems should work within the design specifications for the anticipated levels of energy savings. When the commissioning engineer evaluates the systems and finds major deficiencies in the energy output, the cost of the changes to the system must be absorbed somewhere within the project unless sufficient insurance coverage has been purchased.
• Updates to Existing Systems – When existing green energy systems must be enhanced to generate more energy for expanding needs, chances are that some component will be damaged during the project. When these mistakes happen within a standard build, the components are replaced and work continues. For a green project, a cascade of system failures can be caused by installing the wrong component. When major losses occur, either the builder will have to pay for the losses or the insurance company will cover the loss.
• LEED Certification – Once all the systems are installed and the commissioning engineer arrives, there is always a change that the system will not be approved for LEED certification. The cost of making the necessary changes can be exorbitant if the designer or installer were not experienced enough to handle the project. The cost of updating the system to bring it into LEED compliance can be covered by certain types of green building insurance.

After Completion

One of the most important roles of the builder of a green project is to educated the homeowner or business owner with the information necessary to have their building, business, and home insurance policies updated with appropriate coverage. While there are certainly many different business insurance companies to choose from it is imiportant to note that standard coverage will not pay for the additional expense incurred by loss of a green energy system.

1. Owner Understanding – Every homeowner or business owner wishing to generate green energy must understand the need to purchase more insurance to cover the systems that cost much more to repair and replace than conventional energy systems.
2. Additional Coverage for Loss – Replacement insurance limits must be increased on the insurance policies to cover the expensive components that make up the green energy systems. Damage to standard appliances must also be covered to prevent loss.
3. Mishaps and Malfunctions – When the green energy system does not sustain a consistent energy current, components can burn out because of the power bursts or lulls that cause circuit boards and motors to absorb excess energy. Very expensive equipment must be insured against these possibilities.

Replacement after Loss

Natural disasters occur where green buildings currently exist and the cost of replacing systems after tornadoes or hurricanes can add substantial cost to rebuilding projects. Experienced green builders will work with owners to update the damaged green energy-producing systems with more efficient models. Expense of upgrading the systems must be covered by the insurance.

• Component Replacement – Damaged components must be replaced, but other undamaged components may require replacement to make the system LEED compliant once again.
• Cost of Traditional Energy – While the system is being repaired, power must be purchased from a utility company to sustain other business operations and power the construction equipment. Insurance policies exist that will reimburse the owner for the cost of the energy purchased while the green energy system is being repaired.
• Removal of Debris – Solar and wind components require special disposal and these additional costs can be covered by the right insurance policy.
• Extended Replacement Period – Green energy systems require longer replacement periods and the increased cost of repairs must be covered by the insurance policy.

Careful Planning

Only a couple of insurance companies have designed highly specialized insurance policies to cover the multi-dimensional green energy project. Experienced builders can discuss their coverage for the building project and answer questions for home and business owners in search of green energy solutions. Care must be taken to mitigate loss from the many ways a green energy project will come in contact with traditional appliances and systems.

About the Author: Shawna enjoys researching and writing about green technology and tips for saving money on insurance. She contributes for a website to compare insurance providers and a website with a guide to electric car insurance. Shawna is a voracious reader and when she is not writing she is most likely reading.

When people discuss solar powered cars, it’s generally in the context of solar-gas hybrid vehicles, or the little vans used by some postal workers. Currently, modern solar technology isn’t at the level it needs to be to make a viable alternative for fossil-fueled cars, but the recent advances made in the practice of making alternative energy-source powered cars are promising to change all that.

The main issues with solar cells right now are size, efficiency, and expense. Many homeowners don’t yet have solar panels to power their homes, and it’s generally because the cost isn’t worth the amount of power and savings they can generate. With solar panels priced at several thousand dollars, thinking about the amount of energy required to move several hundred pounds of metal can make anyone hesitant to buy a solar powered car! Solar panels tend to have take up quite a bit of space as well, while producing a fairly small amount of energy when compared to a gasoline generator. This makes portability an issue, as well as the fact that the surface area of a car is relatively small and offers limited placement for solar cells. Many cars simply aren’t large enough to hold the number of photovoltaic cells that they would require to draw enough power. Fortunately, that won’t be the case for very long.

With the increase in fuel costs, more and more interest in alternatively-fueled cars is being generated. Smaller cars, like the little two-person SmartCar, are becoming more popular, particularly among young people and college students who don’t have the money for a larger vehicle (let alone all the gas it would require). Rumors of mainstream companies, like Toyota, playing with the idea of creating a small, solar-powered vehicle have been hotly debated, and the Venturi Eclectic, produced in France, is one of just a handful of all-electric vehicles on the market. Using a unique combination of power sources, Venturi has managed to make a vehicle that’s great for short-distance travel, and overcomes the deficiencies each alternative power source experiences on its own.  The Eclectic has solar panels, a small wind turbine, and can be plugged in to draw outlet power and recharge. While solar energy or electric vehicles in general are not yet practicable for long-distance highway driving, manufacturers like Venturi are making steady gains in improving the necessary technology.

Even for owners reluctant to give up their gas-guzzling cars and trucks in favor of smaller cars or hybrids, there are companies that exist that can outfit a gas car with solar panels to improve fuel efficiency. More and more hybrids, as well as retrofitted gas vehicles, are appearing on the roads each day, and it’s only a matter of time before all-solar cars start appearing among them.

Frank is a writer for a used car warranty website that has helpful tips on maintaining your car and even how to find a great deal on an Infiniti extended warranty.