cool things about solar energy

Most people are familiar with solar photovoltaic panels, but far fewer know about using solar as a source of heat in their homes. Active solar heating uses solar energy to heat fluid or air, which then transfers the solar heat directly to an interior space or storage system for later use.

Solar Charging

 Solar heating systems often supplement other heating systems, such as radiant heating, boilers, absorption heat pumps, or forced-air heating. 

Here are five cool things you may not have known about active solar heating:

Active solar heating systems are actually most cost-effective in cold climates that have good solar resources.

Both liquid and air systems can help supplement forced-air heating systems in your home.Commercially sold systems usually come with warranties of 10 years or more, but should last much longer.

Some states offer sales tax exemptions, income tax credits or deductions, and property tax exemptions or deductions for solar energy systems.

Solar heating systems reduce the amount of air pollution and greenhouse gases that generally come from the use of fossil fuels for heating and electricity production.

If you’re interested in finding out more about solar heating systems, Energy Saver has plenty of helpful tips and hints to help you navigate which system might be best for you! 

Source :Enegy.gov
Tags : solar, solar energy, south africa solar, solar heating, technology

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Eskom signs a huge loan to go green

Eskom has signed a US250 million (about R1.9 billion) loan that will finance the building of South Africa's largest solar energy and wind power generation projects.


Signing the guarantee, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said South Africa had "a huge comparative advantage" when it came to solar power generation.


Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said the loan was an indication that there was "great investor confidence in South Africa".


The 40-year loan, signed in Pretoria, will help finance the building of a 100 megawatt solar power plant near Upington and the 100 megawatt Sere wind farm near Vredendal in the Western Cape.

Renewable Energy

The 200 megawatt capacity of the two power plants could generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes.


Eskom chief executive Brian Dames said the wind farm would be completed by 2013 and he the solar farm a year later in 2014.


Repayments on the loan will start in 10 years. It is expected to be paid off over the following 30 years at an interest rate of 0.25 (CORR) percent annually on the amounts dispersed.


The loan was approved by the World Bank on October 27 and comes from its clean technology fund.


Eskom has already received US100 million (more than R700 million) from the African Development Bank for the two projects, which will be the largest in South Africa.


The loans are being guaranteed by the South African government.


It is hoped that each project will reduce South Africa's carbon emissions by five million tons a year.



Source : http://www.timeslive.co.za
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