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There are certain public assistance programs that will aid you with residential solar installation should you need it. Learn about public assistance for residential solar installation with help from an expert with Earth Wind and Solar Energy in this free video clip.
Solar panels create electricity thanks to a number of individual solar cells. Find out about how solar panels create electricity with help from an expert with Earth Wind and Solar Energy in this free video clip.
Connecting a diode in a solar panel doesn't require the help of an electrician. Connect a diode in a solar panel with help from an expert with Earth Wind and Solar Energy in this free video clip.
When it comes to installing solar panels, one thing that is very important is the angle at which they are installed at. Install solar panels at the correct angle with help from an expert with Earth Wind and Solar Energy in this free video clip.
A homemade moist heat compress is a lot easier to make than you might think. Make a homemade moist heat compress with help from a board-certified naturopathic doctor and a licensed acupuncture physician in this free video clip.
While parsley is a common herb in many types of cuisine, growing it from seed is reputed to be difficult and unpredictable. The seeds have a tough outer casing that must dissolve before it can germinate; often, the casing does not deteriorate and seeds cannot sprout. You can speed the process and increase the likelihood of the parsley sprouting with a heat treatment. Germinate parsley with hot water to ensure the tough casing dissolves before you plant.
A solar hot water heater heats water without the need for fuel or electricity. These heaters are usually built of copper or PVC pipes, which carry water into a special heating box. These designs often require a lot of assembly, as well as the knowledge of how to solder or cement pipes together. Many joints between different pieces are involved, any of which are prone to leaking if improperly sealed. The price of so much copper is often very high, as well. As an alternative, use flexible polyethylene pipe, such as Driscopipe, to cheaply and easily build your own solar…
Your dishwasher is the workhorse of the kitchen and, after a few years, begins to look the part. While replacing a dishwasher may not be part of your budget, refurbishing a shabby front is a simple project. Many dishwashers have a removable front panel, allowing you to change the color. However, if you have a serviceable1970s model, the two-sided front panel may grace your kitchen with a choice of harvest gold, avocado or brown. Rather than purchase a new door panel, make a custom front piece that matches your kitchen decor, using a painted polycarbonate panel.
The search for alternative energy sources often focuses on the power of the sun. Unlike fossil fuels, solar power is limitless. The key is to harness that energy to best effect. Scientists, working with computer models, have devised a methodology for using asphalt or blacktop for solar collection. Roadways of the future might also provide the energy for powering homes and office buildings.
Frame ground mounts for solar panels are a simple, relatively low-cost method for mounting solar panels. Ground frames are designed to hold the solar panel off the ground and tilt it toward the sun. Unlike pole-mounted solar panels, this type of frame leaves your solar panel low to the ground for ease of access and maintenance.
As with other solar roofing systems, Worcester Bosch FKT-1S solar panels are held in place on a roof by two rails, one on top and one on bottom. These rails are fastened to the roof with roof hooks. Roof hooks are installed in pairs because each rail is held in place by two roof hooks. The true distance of the hooks is determined by the landscape of the roof and placement of roof tiles because your roof hooks must fall into place in the trough of your roof tiles.
Use a solar air heater to heat your basement for free. Solar air heaters do not consume either fuel or electricity. They only require a south-facing window that receives sun all through the day. You can build a solar-powered air heater out of common parts, even without a degree in engineering. No alteration to your basement is required, as the heating panel sits outside your house.
The Danfoss BD35 compressors are designed to work with a direct current electrical flow, typically from a solar panel. Due to the variety of electrical output from solar panels, the BD35K and BD35F compressors must connect to the DC power through an electrical module. The standard Danfoss electronic unit for use with the BD35 compressors is the 101N0210. The electronic unit is designed so that it won't run if the DC connection is reversed so that your compressor is protected.
A hot water baseboard "furnace" is more correctly called a hot water baseboard boiler. Hot water baseboard heating, also known as hydronic baseboard heating, is the most common type of radiant heating in homes today, with steam radiators generally being found in older homes. A boiler heats water, which is pumped into pipes in baseboard radiators, working on the principle that heat rises. Cooled baseboard water is forced back to the boiler for reheating.
Installing raised panel wainscoting can add architectural detail and interest to bare walls, whether around the perimeter of a room or going up the stairs. The availability of prefabricated panels, purpose-built for stairs and other applications, makes the job of installing raised panel wainscoting a practical project for homeowners interested in a do-it-yourself project that will add to the value of their home.
A room's ceiling serves several important purposes, including concealing wiring and duct work, insulating the space and providing a place to mount light fixtures or hanging decorations. The space above residential ceilings is often inaccessible and unused. However, you can open up storage space or gain access to your home's wiring by adding a ceiling access panel. Access panels can be made with prefabricated hatches or take the form of simple openings that you build yourself.
Solar water heaters, or thermosiphons, are passive solar devices. This means that a thermosiphon will heat your water without using electricity or fuel. By using an old hot water heater for a storage tank, you save yourself time and money. The insulation on the tank will also help your thermosiphon to function more efficiently.
The "AjaxPanel" is a Microsoft .NET control you use to create a resizable window within a window on a Web page. The Ajax panel is included as a toolkit with your .NET framework. You must set up the panel's settings to allow your users to resize the panel when viewing it in a Web browser window. The settings are set up in the designer in Visual Studio.
Solar electric panels and solar water panels are the two kinds of solar panels. A solar electric panel consists of silicon chips that convert sunlight into electricity. A solar water panel is made of pipes that circulate water or a glycol solution that captures the sun's heat and transports it into a home. Solar electric panels are not practical for heating purposes, but solar water panels can provide a large portion of a home's heating needs, especially in a climate with sunny, cold winters. They can be used to heat a sun porch, too.
Although setting up panel molding along the ceiling of a room can take up an entire day, the class and character that the detail adds to the room is worth the investment. Connecting decorative panel molding to a ceiling requires simple and inexpensive tools, resulting in more visual bang for your buck. Ceiling molding in particular is a charming addition to a room since it covers the natural angles where the walls meet the ceiling with an ornate alternative angle. The most difficult part of the entire project may be having to choose a style of molding, since they are…
The blower, an important part of your furnace, circulates air warmed by the appliance into your home. If the furnace blower isn't working correctly, heated air won't reach all the rooms in your house. Although your furnace requires an annual checkup from a professional, you can check that your furnace blower is working and functional, which prevents major damage and huge repair bills down the road.
IMVU profile pages don’t include a catalog panel by default, forcing your visitors to leave your home page and go to the separate IMVU catalog page to browse your store. You can add your own, custom catalog panel to your page using the HTML iFrame code. Visitors can see the items you have for sale, browse the store and make purchases without leaving your page. The selected IMVU catalog page appears in its own, scrollable panel on your home page.
With rising energy costs, many people look to low-cost home-heating options, such as homemade solar window heaters. They work on the simple principle of drawing cold air into the unit where it is heated by a solar absorber and pushed back into the room as it warms and rises. While homemade solar window heaters may not be attractive, they are effective at heating small spaces and can be used during coldest winter weather with success.
Whether you are applying for a permit to add wiring to your home or you simply want a quick guide to what is connected to where in your house, it's good practice to make an electrical diagram. A clear diagram of the electricity in your home is not only essential when applying for permits but is also important when the power goes out or a circuit breaker blows.
Making panels for a roof is a simple do-it-yourself task if you have the correct tools and materials. An essential element to homemade roof panels is using straight-grained woods, like lumber from a cedar or fir tree. Straight-grained woods allow you to split the timber easily and are durable in harsh outdoor conditions. Locate your 24-by-36-inch sections of tree trunk by inquiring at hardwood stores and local lumber sites.
Solar energy is generating a great deal of interest among home buyers and homeowners. Solar energy uses sunlight to generate electricity. This is done with solar light-collecting panels that are installed on roofs. The technology has improved significantly over recent years allowing the panels to be used on many types of roofing materials. Even metal roofs can support solar panels, and several different types of roofs are available.
Raised ceiling panels can add depth, dimension and visual interest to a room. The type of material that the panels are made of determines how they should be installed over your existing ceiling. Tin and wood tiles need to be nailed up over furring strips, while foam ceiling tiles can be installed with adhesive, even if the existing ceiling has a popcorn finish.
Plastic panels, also known as corrugated fiberglass panels, are commonly used for a variety of structures including patios, sheds and decks. These panels are used as skylights when inserted into roofing, allowing light to filter through but blocking rainfall and snow, and as siding for sheds. A fiberglass panel fence allows light to pass through while maintaining privacy. Installing a fiberglass fence is much like installing a prefab wood or plywood fence. Before you begin the project, obtain the required building permits.
Colorful raised-panel shutters give windows the little something extra that helps them stand out from the brick or siding walls they’re surrounded by. Installing the shutters is a quick project, needing little more than a drill and hammer. Once installed, they’ll last for years with the occasional washing being all that’s needed to keep the vinyl colors as vibrant and fresh looking as they were the day you nailed the shutters into place.
Remove old, scummy tub paneling and install new paneling to freshen up an outdated bathroom and make the entire room seem cleaner. You will normally receive five panels when you purchase a new tub-paneling kit: two end panels, two corner panels and a back panel. Paneling works best when installed against drywall; therefore, remove the tile if you currently have a tile tub. Before you begin this project, remove all the old bathtub fixtures and check that the location of the plumbing will work with the new tub panels.
Homemade saunas are typically built using the same general building code measurements as any other structure meant for human habitation. As such, the methods for insulating the sauna panels is the same as those for insulating the walls and ceilings of your home. Fiberglass batting is the insulation material of choice, providing a high enough R value for both walls and ceilings, depending on the layers of batting used. The R value is a measurement of the effectiveness of insulation in preventing heat from traveling through it, with higher ratings indicating insulation that is more effective. For walls, a rating…
Installing panels is an option for wood siding in many houses. They install much faster than individual cedar shakes, clapboard planks or tongue and groove special siding. With fewer seams, they can also be more weather-resistant. Most wood panel siding is plywood, which can have many surface textures, from a rough-sawed look to grooves that make it appear like vertical planks. Newer siding options include engineered panels, made of wood products, or cement fiber, a cement-based material made to resemble wood. Corrugated metal and vinyl are other panel siding options, but they lack the visual appeal of wood or wood-type…
Panel track blinds are full length sheets of fabric that collect to one side when open and overlap a few inches when closed. This window treatment style has emerged as an update to narrow vertical blinds. The tracks are less fussy and the fabric covering looks more modern. The best hanging and appearance is achieved by lining the panel over interfacing to keep the panel stiff. This is an easy window treatment to make.
Build your own solar water heater to provide hot water for household use as well as space heating within your home. The main challenge when building a solar water heater that will be used in a cold climate is the threat of water freezing within the system. The most common way of overcoming this problem is to install a glycol loop, with all of the exterior components of the system circulating a glycol antifreeze solution, which transfers heat to water inside the house through a heat exchanger.
Heating an individual room, rather than a whole house, can help save on energy costs and reduce carbon emissions. Numerous means of heating individual rooms exist. From space heaters to baseboard and cove units, the latter technology produces enough heat to warm small spaces without wasting energy or losing hot air through dilution. Cove heaters combine two types of heating technology. Understanding how these heaters works requires a basic understanding of the two types of technology used.
Solar screens are a superb addition to a home if you’re aiming to reduce electricity costs and gain daytime privacy. Not only do solar screens block heat from the sun, but they also act as regular screens, keeping insects out but still allowing fresh air to flow through. Unlike traditional window screens, which function mostly to keep bugs at bay, solar screens are made of material that absorbs or reflects solar rays. The main difference between dark and stucco solar screens is the way they appear from the outside and the level of visibility from the inside. The darker the…
Fish tanks seem relatively simple in passing – you put some water in them, maybe a few plants and some fish, and feed the fish every now and again. In reality, aquaculture – keeping aquatic animals and plants – requires a great deal of attention. Aquatic environments need a very precise balance to flourish, including the right temperature. Various means of regulating aquarium temperature exist, including heaters like the submersible heater.
Raised panel shutters are a more heavy-duty version of the louvered shutters that are common on many homes. Panel shutters feature solid surfaces of wood that are mounted inside of wooden frames. A raised panel shutter can be permanently affixed next to a window as a decorative accent, or mounted on hinges to create a functional shutter that can be closed to protect the window from inclement weather.
The Sliding Panel Homescreen is a function first added to Windows Mobile phones in 2008. It offers a variety of horizontal plugins from the home screen, which can be expanded by clicking on them. It gets the name “sliding” because it is easy to change the order. You can add plugins to the home screen via a two-step process. Installing them is easy, but you have to take an extra set to actually get them to appear on the home screen.
In most climates, a commercial or DIY hot air solar system can provide much of the annual heating for an average home. They're relatively easy to build and install, and can be controlled by a regular thermostat. Unlike a gas furnace or an electric baseboard, solar won't provide heat after dark. To prevent a solar system from venting cold air into the house, most systems incorporate a rudimentary controller called a snap disc. It's a simple bimetallic switch that will only allow the fan to come on if the temperature in your solar collector is above a predetermined level.
Using bubble wrap as an alternative to a solar pool cover typically will not last as long as commercial solar pool covers, and it may not trap heat as efficiently. Commercial solar pool covers are made from a heavy bubble wrap type vinyl and coated with a UV coating, which provides a durable and long-lasting way to heat your pool’s water. However, bubble wrap will work in a pinch, even if the material degrades faster.
Electroluminescent panels are sheets of plastic material made to emit light through exposure to electric current. They are useful in illuminating designs or displays, particularly in ads or LCD displays in computer monitors or TVs. Setting up your own electroluminescent panel requires designing images on an acrylic sheet, on which you can then attach electroluminescent, or EL, wire and connect it to electricity.
Slate ledgestone panels install directly to wood or drywall surfaces, and can be used indoors or out in a variety of configurations and installation sizes. Using ledgestone around a fireplace will transform the enclosure into a slate structure with a sturdy appearance. The installation process requires familiarity with saws and masonry work, but since the job is relatively small, you can complete it in a weekend without necessarily needing an assistant, though there is a 48-hour drying period. You can vary the pattern of the panel attachment by cutting the panels in halves or thirds and varying the attachment order.
Installing an overlay panel on a refrigerator gives it a custom appearance. It makes it look trimless and as if the panel was part of the original design. If your refrigerator has an option for an overlay panel, it should include a channel on the front of the appliance to hold the panel. Installing the panel only requires accessing the channel and switching out the current panel with the selected overlay.
Homeowners who have to face the reality of hurricane damage often find their worry greatly reduced when they take proactive steps to protect their home from damage. One of the most straightforward ways to protect the home's highest risk areas is by installing hurricane panels over the windows. Hurricane panels are high-strength industrial shutters that are installed on tracks for easy and quick installation in the event of a hurricane. The tracks are left up year round, and the panels slide on during times of risk or when leaving the house for an extended period of time.
Additional circuits in your home can give more convenient access to electricity needed to run electronics and appliances. One problem that you may run into, however, is the amount of room in your electrical wiring panel box. If you run out of room in your panel box, you can take a few measures to ensure that your electrical system is wired correctly.
Using photo voltaic, or PV, solar panels is one way to provide energy to your home or business. When it isn't feasible to install PV panels on the ground or roof, you can install them on poles. Pole mounting can help maximize sunlight exposure to solar panels. Installation of the pole and solar panels will take 1 to 2 days, depending on your level of experience. Some supplies are available at solar panel suppliers and more common tools are available at many home improvement or hardware stores.
Raised panels add instant elegance as wainscoting on walls. These can look particularly nice on stairways where the walls tend to be more bare. The real positive for using this type of treatment is that the wood treatment is painted like trim. This means that as much as 36 inches of lower wall space will have a durable, semi-shiny paint that is easy to wash when small children and animals scuff or leave marks on the surface. Stairways often look tattered long before other rooms because they are subject to items and people bumping against the walls frequently. Adding the…
Heat exchangers transfer heat from one medium to another. When water is not readily available as as a cooling agent, building owners have the option of installing air-cooled heat exchangers. Sometimes air-cooled heat exchangers replace water-cooling units due to economic or operational reasons. At energy plants, air-cooled heat exchangers are used for pipeline applications, gas reinjection and cooling machinery oil.
Solar power is nature's gift; almost limitless, free and potentially capable of providing all your energy needs. Over 84 terawatts of power are beamed down onto the Earth every year, and the infrared part of the sun's rays can be harnessed to provide a source of free heating. Creating your own aluminum solar heater is a way to save money, recycle materials and educate your kids with a bit of practical physics.
