Cleaning solar panels

Why, When, and How to Clean Your Solar Panels? Here’s a Complete Guide!

People in many parts of this world are experiencing an extreme lack of electricity, aka energy sources that could light up their homes, act as fuel to their machinery and provide them with a better/ easy life. The energy crisis is a serious issue that has been prevailing for a long time. People have been trying to counter it by using natural resources to generate power, one among them being sunlight. 

Although it can be considered a new-found invention, generating energy directly from sunlight has proven to be more resource and cost-effective because it is available to us in superabundance. Electricity thus generated is better termed solar power, created by maneuvering PV panels (photo-voltaic) that absorb the sun's rays into usable energy. Generally, a power grid is integrated with these solar panels responsible for converting the Direct Current (DC) perceived into Alternating Current (AC), which appliances can use. 

What Are the Common Solar Blockers?

Solar panels are, in fact, quite easily exposed to natural elements that block their usual functionality of absorbing the sunlight. These solar blockers can be leaves, dust, debris, etc. Such recurring blockage could certainly be avoided if you plan to clean your solar panels now and then. Elements in your surroundings could be - 

  1. Dust - Dust particles could easily accumulate on the surface of your solar panels and remain there until an additional force acts on them, like you intend to clean it or it rains.
  2. Leaves or Twigs - Other commonly found items on solar panels are leaves and small branches of the trees in the people's surroundings. This mostly depends upon the geographical location of your solar panels and your home. If tall trees surround your house, you may see leaves falling onto the solar panels, more often in the Autumn season.
  3. Water - A combination of dust particles and twigs could become a bigger hassle when it pours down. The undesirable rainwater could further block the solar panels and minimize your system's efficiency.

Why Clean Your Solar Panels Periodically?

It is common for solar panels to get less cleaning and care due to their owners' busy routines. However, cleaning them occasionally, if not regularly, has been significantly helpful. Let's explore a few reasons why it should be done - 

  • Improves efficiency - System performance and efficiency levels are parameters most owners trust for their solar panels. The more they perform better and generate electricity, the better they are. Regular maintenance and day-to-day cleaning must do the job to achieve such results. Before the summer arises, you must plan and clean the panels from the surface area for them to absorb maximum sunlight and produce power. Doing so, you will surely notice the difference in performance. 
  • Improve Durability - Routine cleaning of the solar panels is often mentioned as a requisite in the user manual guides that come with the mechanism. The reason is that excessive dust and debris could significantly damage solar panels and lower their lifespan. Therefore, you can contribute significantly to the wear and tear of the system. To improve its durability, adopt a cleansing routine for your solar panels. 
  • Aesthetically Appeal - Solar-powered panels are a part of the latest housing trends, and homeowners wouldn't want their premises to look aged or out of trend. To bring a new, fancy look to your solar panels, one must keep them thoroughly cleaned and well-maintained.
  • Get an Opportunity to Inspect - And lastly, when you clean your solar panels more often, you get to inspect and analyze the issues in the system, if any. The earlier the issue is detected, the better it is. The condition of the complete system can be derived if you clean it periodically. 

When to Clean Your Solar Panels?

Extensive cleaning can be ventured once or twice a year and with the aid of designated professionals only. Nevertheless, if your warranty agreement states or provides you with a few additional cleaning services during the contract, do avail the opportunity and take advantage of their assistance. It is recommended to clean your solar panels before the arrival of summer, as the changing season brings with it environmental pollutants.

How to Clean Your Solar Panels?

Homeowners can use professional cleaning services or DIY it to clean their solar panels. The procedure requires a bucket of warm water, cleaning soap or detergent, mushy fiber cloths, and a sponge. 

Start by adding the dish soap to a piece of cloth and pour some hot water on it. Begin to lightly nudge or clean the panel and ensure gentle taps only. Since these panels are the source to absorb sunlight, you mustn't knock them off and damage the system. Continue the procedure till the entire surface is immaculate and looks like new!

Why Seek Professional Help?

If you need a hand, connect with your area's professional solar panel cleaners to expect better results. DIY cleaning is easy to apply, but some homeowners seek professional help to avoid the hassle. Professionals are better at this task because they acquire specialized training and expertise that qualifies them to determine the condition of your solar panels and work on them accordingly. 

Conclusion…

As solar panels are expensive equipment that needs proper care and maintenance, reaching out to expert professionals is beneficial. Luckily, you can contact Emerald Sun Energy, a Solar Installation Company in Orlando that caters to services like panel installation, cleaning and inspection tasks, etc. We have a designated service program that allows our customers to benefit from our dedicated services and experience. At Emerald Sun Energy, we aspire to prioritize our customer's needs and provide an action plan based on their requirements. Reach out to us if you need technical assistance!

Tips to Make Your Every Move Green

7 Top Tips to Make Your Every Move Green!

Each year, more fuel is burnt, trees are taken down, landfills are filled, and more pollution is generated. Every decision you make, from the materials you use to how you purchase, travel, eat, and live, can have an effect on the environment. People desire information on how to live green at home and be more environmentally conscious, but they often do not know where to begin. 

If we wish to preserve the planet, we must alter our lifestyles. Thankfully, it is now easier and more convenient than ever to reduce your carbon footprint, and doing so may frequently result in financial savings. According to solar energy consultant Orlando, a list of simple recommendations for being green at home can enable you to make a significant impact on the environment, especially if everyone in the globe takes action.

The Meaning of "Going Green" 

Everyone has their own idea of what it means to "go green," but for us, it's as simple as making a conscious effort to reduce our impact on the environment. Small actions, such as using solar panels, supporting local businesses, reducing your car use, recycling, and landscaping with native plants, may have a significant influence. To lessen your influence on the planet, you need not renounce modern conveniences and live off the grid. Fortunately, eco-friendly living may be less of a hassle than ever before thanks to developments in home technology. 

For those unfamiliar, what exactly does it entail to "go green?" In order to keep you comfortable without wasting energy, your thermostat can track the weather and your daily routine. If you want to avoid sending that old chair to the landfill, you may use your smartphone to get in touch with a recycling facility in your area or maybe even a neighbor who would be interested in taking it off your hands. Going green is compatible with 21st-century lifestyles.

7 Tips to Go Green and Save Limited Earth Resources

  • Gather the Clutter and Donate or Recycle Them

One person's garbage is another's treasure, as the old adage goes. While you may have reached the conclusion that a certain possession is now useless, it doesn't mean everyone else does. Avoiding waste is fundamental to eco-friendly decluttering. 

Donations come in all shapes and sizes; whether it's clothing, tools, cookware, or other home things, or even repurposed construction materials. Materials such as bricks, sand, and rocks may be useful to others in some capacity. 

Long-term decluttering solution: a cardboard box with a label reading "donate" filled with neatly folded garments 

Give what you no longer need to places that can use it, such homeless shelters, women's and children's shelters, the local soup kitchen, and similar organizations. One of the best methods to reduce clutter and help the environment is to donate to a good cause.

  • Replace Your Appliances with Energy Efficient Units

It's a fact: we love shiny new gadgets. The rapidity with which technology is advancing fascinates us, and we would like to be there for every step of the journey. Despite the fact that some models are criticized for being destructive to the environment, advancements have been made in creating energy-efficient machines that are good for both your pocketbook and the planet. If your home's appliances are getting on in years, it might be time to think about replacing them. If you do, make sure to look into energy-efficient models.

  • Turn Your Home into a Smart Home

A smart home system may be both cutting-edge and environmentally beneficial. For instance, smart lighting may be programmed to turn on and off at specific times, and some models have motion sensors that automatically switch off after a certain amount of time. 

In order to save energy and money, smart thermostats can learn your routine and adjust the temperature accordingly, while smart appliances may be programmed to turn on and off at specific times of the day. The newest innovations in appliance design are typically reflected in the energy efficiency of smart devices.

  • Always Choose Eco-friendly Vehicles

Recent years have seen "green" emerge as a worldwide commercial catchphrase. In an effort to portray themselves as sustainable in the eyes of consumers, several businesses are branding their products with eco-friendly attributes and labels. As environmental resources are pushed to the limit, people around the world are becoming aware of the negative consequences of their own emissions. When it comes to the auto sector, companies are trying to get ahead of the competition by taking a more eco-friendly and sustainable route, with an emphasis on electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. It is a symbol of environmentally friendly modes of transportation that won't break the bank. Furthermore, improvements and redesigns are always being made to eco-friendly automobiles, with an even greater focus on minimizing pollution and waste. This means they often need less upkeep than their gas-powered counterparts. 

Until recently, drivers all over the world were satisfied to chug along in large, heavy vehicles that guzzled gas and released copious amounts of harmful exhaust emissions. However, with the introduction of fuel-efficient automobiles, the media began actively promoting the many benefits of green living.

  • Avoid Adding New Plastics to the Stream

The convenience that single-use plastic products (SUPPs) provide is outweighed by the risks they pose to human and environmental health in their manufacture, transport, and disposal. 

SUPPs should be phased out for many reasons, including the open burning of plastic garbage, the ingestion of seafood tainted with plastic, and the generation of dangerous microplastics. 

The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration includes a goal of reducing pollution caused by plastic products.

  • Use Eco-friendly Paints

Using paint products that contain harmful chemicals is not worth the risk to your family's health and happiness. Eco-friendly paint allows you to take pride in dazzling, luminous results while also protecting the environment. Green paints are cutting-edge materials developed to contain negligible or no volatile organic compounds. Eco-friendly paints are frequently water-based rather than oil-based and include no harmful plasticizers, adhesives, hardeners, pigments, or drying accelerants like their oil-based counterparts. Milk protein, clay, balsam, and other minerals are used as foundations by some producers of natural, eco-friendly paint. 

Installing a solar power system on your roof can help you reduce your carbon footprint by producing electricity for your home. Using solar panels, you can convert solar energy into clean electricity for your home without contributing to global warming. 

Home solar panels may reduce your reliance on the grid, which normally runs on fossil fuels, by providing you with clean, renewable energy. Going solar with Orlando solar energy company is a great way to help the environment and save money at the same time.

How Will Our Solar Energy Consultants Help You?

Earth would benefit much from harnessing solar power, especially in terms of preservation of the natural world. 

A good Orlando solar energy company has the potential to significantly lessen the reliance on fossil fuels and the rising cost of energy in the long run by improving air quality, decreasing emissions, and conserving resources like water. With recent advancements in technology, solar panels are now competitive with other energy sources and affordable to homeowners. Emerald Sun Energy is dedicated to assisting commercial and residential clients in realizing the financial and environmental benefits of switching to solar power. The world benefits each time someone makes the switch to solar power. 

Investing in solar energy has advantages beyond helping the planet. Both your credibility and bank account will benefit greatly from this.

References:

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/where-solar-is-found.php

https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-resources

what-is-solar-inverter

What Is a Solar Inverter and You Do You Need?

If you're considering solar power, you might find yourself asking yourself "what is a solar inverter?". Well, you're in the right place to find the answer.

In essence, a solar inverter is a device that helps alter your electricity current for mainstream use. But that's not all it does. 

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about solar inverters. So that you can decide if you would like for your own solar system.

Whenever you're ready to acquaint yourself with the power of a solar inverter, keep reading.

What Is Solar Inverter?

A solar inverter is defined as a type of electrical device that modulates the dysregulated direct current output of a solar panel into alternating current. This type of currency can be subject to use for various applications, such as an off-grid network for electricity.

In PV systems, a solar inverter is a balance of a system that allows the use of normal alternating current devices. These inverters very variable functions, starting with the prevention of anti-islanding and power point tracking.

If you're using a solar system as part of your home, the installation and selection of the device are very important. The principle by which a solar panel inverter works was already mentioned. 

The power generated will range anywhere from 240V to 600V. This conversion is done via insulated gate bipolar transistors in most cases. When the solid-state entry of these devices is in H-bridge form, it oscillates the current from DC to AC.

A step-up transformer is usually used so that AC power feeds to the grid after the acquisition. A few entities have started to employ inverters without a transformer, which can prove to be more efficient when compared against transformer-equipped inverters.

In all solar edge inverters, a programmable microcontroller is used to push various function algorithms with precise predictability. The controller improves the output power from teh panel via maximum power point tracking.

A step-up transformer is employed so that the AC power can be subject to acquisition and feeding to the grid. A few designers have started designing inverters without a transformer which has high efficiency as compared with the inverters which have a transformer.

Now that you know what is a solar inverter, let's examine the various existing types of technologies used in them.

The Solar Inverter Types

Solar inverters fit into classifications of various kinds. There's no preset standardized type of solar inverter that is a one-size-fits-all solution to all solar setups.

String Inverter

A string inverter is subject to form as a string, where many other strings are jointed to a single inverter. Each string has DC power and modulates into AC power.

Based on the size of the setup, you might have several string inverters with each string getting DC from other strings. These inverters are great for setups in which panels are installed on the same plane facing the same direction.

String inverters are also used with power optimizers, as well as each solar panel. Manufacturers of panels use these technologies and sell them as a single solution, known as a smart module. 

Power optimizers are beneficial just like microinverters, but they don't cost as much. 

Central Inverters

Central inverters are relevant to string inverters, but they are larger and support a greater number of strings. Rather than having the string open, the strings are joined in a single box so the DC power runs into the inverter where it is transformed.

The inverters needles of the component connections will need a combiner box and pad that is suitable for large installations on production arrays. The range of central inverters goes from MWs to many KWs. They can handle up to 500kW in the area.

These inverters are not used for homes, but they are more common in utility-scale solar farms and commercial projects.

Microinverters

Microinverters are great for residential and commercial projects alike. Just like power optimizers, these are module-level technologies. Hence, each inverter is installed on each panel.

Microinverters transmute DC to AC at the panel, so there is no need for a string inverter. Due to panel-level conversion, if the panel performance is shaded, the residual panels are not exposed.

The inverters will monitor the single panel function. This is unlike a string inverter in which the act of each string is necessary for good panel installation. By using microinverters, lots of benefits come from solar optimization. 

Battery Inverters

Battery inverters are getting quite common now. These have a battery charger and inverter, they are unidirectional. The operation of these inverters is subject to assistance with a battery. 

The inverters are grid-interactive, grid-tied, and off-grid. The primary benefit of such inverters is that they give a continual function for critical power loads of the grid. 

In all cases, the inverters handle the power between the array and grid while simultaneously charging the batteries. They also monitor the battery status and regulate how the battery charges.

Hybrid Inverter

The hybrid inverter is a multi-mode inverter, it allows the use of batteries as part of the solar power system. It provides an interface for the battery via DC coupling. 

Electronics in this inverter manage the discharge and charge of the battery.

Pros & Cons Of A Solar Inverter

There are many benefits to having a solar inverter as part of your solar power system. Some people would beg to say it's an essential part of any solar system. But there are also some drawbacks to using a solar inverter.

Advantages

With the use of a solar inverter, the energy depletes the greenhouse effect. With solar products, you also save money on utility bills. 

The solar inverter helps your solar system be reliable for electronic use via DC to AC transmutation. The inverters are great for businesses that want to reduce their energy needs. 

Inverters are multifunctional with many functions for large energy consumers who want to optimize costs. Inverters are easily maintained and they work very well with regular maintenance.

Disadvantages of Solar Inverter
The primary disadvantage to using a solar inverter is that it can be expensive for many people. Sunlight is a necessary part of electricity efficiency, without it the inverters are useless.

Inverters often require lots of free space for safe installation. Some inverters also require a battery for night-time functionality, which can be problematic for some people.

Solar Solutions for You

Now that you know what is a solar inverter, you are that much closer to deciding if you would like to have one as part of your system. However, some of you might not even have a solar setup yet. 

If that's the case and you're interested in installing solar for your business or home, get in touch with us and we will happily accommodate your needs.

Solar Energy Revolution Is Now

Solar Energy Revolution

Solar Panels Orlando

Solar Panel Installation Revolution

Solar Power is a safe and abundant energy source in Orlando Florida that can reduce pollution and solve our energy crisis for the future.  There are so many positive reasons for the expansion of solar energy that many people find it hard to believe.  Because if that was the case we would be using it already.  Unfortunately, because of special interest groups and oil monopolies, the expansion of solar has been repressed.  However, in recent years the expansion of solar has begun due to a variety of reasons that we will explore here. First off our Government back in 2006 realized the need for us to become more environmentally responsible and decided to pass an incredible financial incentive to add solar to homes and businesses.  That was the introduction of the 30% federal tax credit.  What this means, so long as you have enough taxable income you will receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost of your solar panel system.  If your home solar panel installation cost $30,000, you would receive $9,000 back from the Government.  Effectively lowering the net price of your solar energy cost to $21,000.  This credit is available through 2019 so now is the time to take advantage of this while you can. Next, the cost of solar panels for your home have dropped by 70% since 2008.  This is due to the laws of supply and demand.  After the tax credit came into existence the demand for solar began to increase which started to drive down the manufacturing cost of solar panels.  As the demand continued to rise more contractors entered the solar industry and created even more competition which drove the price down even more.  The prices have now plateaued and according to consumer reports in June of 2016 “now is the best time ever to buy solar”. With Federal Tax Credit still available and prices at their lowest point has now created an atmosphere for a solar energy revolution.  If you wait much longer you will lose 30% discount.  Most experts agree that prices are at their lowest and will slowly creep up from here.  So for all of the people who were waiting for cheaper pricing the time has arrived. The biggest reason for the dawn of the solar energy revolution in Orlando Florida is you can now purchase a system using the money you pay the power company and actually save money from day one.  Because of no money down financing options and 20 year terms as low as 5% you can add solar to your home today and lower you energy expense immediately.  For example, if you are paying $200 per month to the power company, you can now have a situation where you are paying $160 to finance your solar power system and $30 to the power company.  Effectively saving $10 per month in year one.  Please keep in mind this is an example and results can vary but not by much. I typically recommend a shorter payoff period which will give you a better long-term return on investment but it is clear that the above example creates an atmosphere for people to take advantage of owning their own power instead of renting it. In conclusion, it will be exciting to see over the next few years how the solar energy revolution explodes and people start to take control of their energy needs for themselves.  Now that solar has passed the 1,000,000 home mark the expansion should be exponential and the benefits shared by all
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