Two solar power technologies exist, the passive and the active technology. The passive technology are the photocell panels or the photovoltaic film that receives sunlight and generates electricity more apt for a space station or a home. The active technology is a solar thermal that uses a dish to concentrate sunlight that produces steam, which in turn powers a turbine that generates electricity. Another active technology, which is not being promoted, hidden form public view, is using the Stirling Engine to move a power generator. The passive technology is ready to go, and there are a few homes that have already installed the system. This system is totally clean, backed by the USDOE Solar American Initiative, it requires sufficient space on the roof to position the panels or film, and uses an inverter to turn direct current into alternate current homes can use. The Utility companies have also developed the Net Metering system to buy electricity on their terms, from homes that have generate a surplus of electricity. The new federal tax law “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008″ effective January 2009 provides a 30% tax credit of the cost of a solar system. Some States are also providing large incentives to install solar systems, although with the current economic crisis these paybacks can be curtailed or delayed. The rest of the payback has to come from real savings generated over time by the system from the Utility company. This passive solar system is expensive as of today, and payback is obtained in 8 years of savings. Photovoltaic film or photocell panels are low efficiency and voltage, and compare badly with the option of buying electricity from the utility company. Currently you require from 13 to 15 photocell panels to generate the 2. 5 to 3. 0 Kilowatt hours generating capacity. Walmart has established a pilot plan to install photovoltaic panels in several of their stores. If the system produces a return, they will massively implement it in all their stores, since they have sufficient roof space currently not utilized. The Solar-thermal system is not adequate for homes and mainly will be used for large Utility companies. However, the active system based on a Stirling engine to power a generator which could be applicable for homes, is not available for massive distribution. Although all of its components have been developed, no one has yet integrated the solar power generating kit, or a home appliance. This home system or appliance should be very low cost because it requires: a solar collector or dish which could cost around $200 USD, a stiriling engine with a cost of $350, the 3 KW per hour power generator with a cost of $350, and the battery bank which is the expensive ticket item and could run several thousand dollars, to store electricity if the system is a stand alone not tied to the power grid. If the home is currently supplied by a utility company, then the battery bank is not needed and the Net Metering system with the public utility company can be used. In addition to the sun collector dish the rest of the system can be packaged in two boxes. One which has the stiriling engine and power generator, and the other with the battery if you are a location not tied to the grid. It can also have a gas heater installation as a backup to when there is a lack of sunlight making this a very reliable alternative. Apparently, there are companies in America, New Zealand, India, Sweden, and other countries trying to develop the stiriling engine . A few companies are receiving funding from investment funds to develop the stiriling engine for this home appliance. Infinia Corporation, a US company has a head start, because they are currently producing a big sterling engine to power up 10 homes at a time and installing many of them in a centralized solar farm in California. Other companies should not be discouraged because markets are so huge, there will be enough room for all suppliers. Just in United States alone there is a potential of 124 million homes that could use the solar power appliance, plus commercial and industrial sites. Having the home powering appliance, can be the initial steps for returning to sustainable systems. Today, the sun is light and warmth, provided to us from God and Nature, free for all of us to use and enjoy. A home solar powered generator would provide clean energy, and allow equal footing to all nations rich and poor, to devote their funding into other worthwhile social services such as health and education. Rich nations which have electrical grids and power generation capacity would suddenly feel there would be no need to continue increasing Power generation capacities and hopefully they would discontinue all those plants that contaminate. Please see Poverty generation: http://www. articlesbase. com/politics-articles/poverty-and-the-new-world-order-809385. html
Posts Tagged Technologies
Retail stores experience a substantial amount of loss every year. Retail loss prevention has become a hot topic in the boardroom and the back-room. Considering the current economy, consumers need lower prices and affordable goods in order to maintain their life-styles. Unfortunately, retail loss passes on to the consumer, as companies raise prices to keep up with the losses they are incurring.
Various methods of loss prevention allow retailers to reduce “shrinkage,” and increase profits, thereby benefiting both seller and buyer. Technology allows the business owner to view his or her precious merchandise with various scales of video and monitoring equipment, depending on their budgets. The implementation of this equipment has given many large and small businesses the ability to stand strong against retail loss, thereby allowing them to pass the savings along to the consumer. So how do you accomplish retail loss prevention and what steps can you take?
A popular methodology used by businesses consists of employing closed circuit television to monitor both customers and employees. This type of setup typically allows the owner or manger to monitor the entire store from one command center. The cameras require mounting around the store and may take on the look of a store fixture or be completely viewable to the public, depending on whether the objective is catch the perpetrator in the act, or forestall the act itself.
Technology provides many alternative ways for retailers and other businesses to protect their stores against both external and internal loss. Many companies show an interest in equipment that allows them to keep an eye on their products without infringing on the public’s right to privacy. This would be an example of utilizing “plain-site” cameras; Privacy can’t be infringed if there is no expectation of privacy. Money invested in the system is normally recovered quickly through the reduction of loss. Profits grow, resulting in price-to-value equalization. The security provider has demonstrated value to the retailer, who now has superior control inventory loss.
Both employee theft and customer theft are minimized after implementation of a detailed prevention plan to eliminate retail loss. “Pin” camera placement in areas that view fitting rooms, bathroom facilities and other, more private, areas of the store including warehouses, have helped increase the apprehension of shoplifters and dishonest employees. Such systems also reduce the cost of fraudulent work injury claims.
Retail loss prevention provides businesses of any size the ability to take control of the problem and limit theft to a level that doesn’t endanger the business as a whole. Owners that wish to view their business from home, or an area outside of the store, can access the monitoring system by adding an additional screen at a secondary location, thus allowing remote monitoring.
Another positive aspect for the business owner is that insurance companies take into account security systems of this type when setting premium rates. Just as with cars, increased security equates to lower premiums.
It is manifest that a properly designed and monitored closed circuit television system provides many cost saving values, from reduction in insurance premiums to savings realized from the deterrence of “shrinkage” due to dishonest customers and employees.