You can build a solar battery charger using photovoltaic cells as an experiment to understand the basic principles of photovoltaic power. It is an effective way of conserving energy, as well as saving money required for new batteries.

The example given below is a basic design for a solar battery charger:

You can experiment using more solar cells, or using other types of batteries like “AAA” or “D” or “C”.

Find out what happens if the cells are connected in parallel versus series.

Materials Required:

• Silicon Solar Cells (3)
• Two “AA” rechargeable batteries

Solar energy used to be considered the energy source of choice for the tree hugging, granola eating set. Since then the cost of fossil fuels has skyrocketed and virtually every major power supply conglomerate has raised the rates of supplying the public with electricity and other sources of energy.

Suddenly, solar energy is not looking so bad anymore and with the help of public pressure, solar energy investment trends now encompass the spending of not only the private investor by also the governmental backer.

Solar water heating is an important area for renewable energy development. Heating water is one of the basic needs in our everyday life. Solar hot water systems can be used to heat swimming pools and to provide hot water in homes and industry. You are strongly urged to design your own models by using the one given below as an example.

The procedure described above for building a solar cooker is also very similar for solar water heating. Instead of cooking food, you can heat water. The only additional material required is a large zip-lock bag filled with one gallon of water and laid flat in the bottom of the box.

Energy is an inseparable part of our lives. Energy provides for our basic survival and gives shape to our aspirations and dreams.

Our resources of energy, like fossil fuel reserves and natural gas, are decreasing day by day; while at the same time, the demand for energy in our country and across the globe is increasing. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand, develop and explore other forms of energy resources.

Renewable energy resources like the sun and wind play a major role in the development of a
sustainable future. The younger generation, especially, have to understand that the issue of energy has a major impact on their future lives.

There are thousands of different solar powered gadgets available from solar mailboxes to solar watches and more. Solar powered gadgets are getting cheaper as the solar panel technology improves and gets less expensive to manufacture.

Heres a few of the innovative solar gadgets available on the market today and some examples of specific solar powered products to consider.

What about gadgets with built-in batteries? When it comes to charging your phone or iPod, the sun has been left you cold.

When many people hear solar cell they give you the deer in the headlights look. To keep it simple consider the solar cell calculators that came out in the 1980’s. No battery simply powered by light. This is the dream and soon the reality of what could be powering your next family sedan.

Solar cell powered vehicles are making their way to us in the near future. With companies such as Honda making great strides in solar cell testing we may all be using solar cell energy by the year 2030. Not only our vehicles but also our homes our business and so on will be powered by the sun. The Honda FCX clarity is not solar powered at this time but it is a zero emissions vehicle.

In the early 1980’s inventors dabbled with solar power vehicle creations and raced them annually for fun. From this time to now companies such as Honda have made a fuel cell vehicle that is zero emission. No fumes or gasses to be expelled into the air.

The Honda FCX clarity only expels water. This was a dream in 1986 and has been released in California the year 2008 as a reality. With this project completed and soon to become widespread the next task is to create a solar cell vehicle.

Chances are that you either have a set or know someone who does when it comes to solar lighting. There are over 300 solar powered products available from a single site on the Internet. You may be surprised to hear that there are lamp posts, road signs, highway traffic signs, fountains, chargers and more that are all powered by the suns energy.

No fumes or fuels or other non-renewable energy sources to use up. No pollutions are entering the air from these items. And on top of the health benefits the cost of electricity goes down because the power of the sun is free. There are government offices that have installed solar panels atop of their buildings.

The use of solar powered products can save you thousands of dollars in energy costs. An example of this is an office building within the United States that installed solar panels. In a short period of two years they saved $14,000 in energy costs. Not only did they save money but the have been saving the environment.

Our nation runs mostly on fossil fuels. This non-renewable energy resource costs us millions of dollars to drill, extract, ship and burn all while causing toxins to be emitted into the air. The ozone is being eaten away into extinction and the polar ice caps are melting away.

By using solar panels on your home you can find savings in energy cost in the thousands. These savings are provided from the use of free renewable power of the suns rays. Solar panels are not as costly as one may believe and the cost is refunded ten fold over the years in savings.

As our society pushes the importance of being more environmentally friendly it is no wonder why solar panel use is increasing in popularity. Solar panels can produce indoor lighting; can be used for water heaters and more. One building alone saved energy costs at an amount of $14,000.This is in a two-year period. This method is also pollution free saving us from noxious fumes in the air. Your home is not the only limit to harvesting the power of the sun.